Search

The aim of this study was to investigate the antiglioma effect of Cecropia pachystachya Trécul (CEC) leaves extract against C6 and U87 glioblastoma (GB) cells and in a rat preclinical GB model. The CEC extract reduced in vitro cell viability and biomass. In vivo, the extract decreased the tumor volume approximately 62%, without inducing systemic toxicity. The deficit in locomotion and memory and an anxiolytic-like behaviors induced in the GB model were minimized by CEC. The extract decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species, nitrites and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes in platelets, sera and brains of GB animals. The activity of NTPDases, 5'-nucleotidase and adenosine deaminase (ADA) was evaluated in lymphocytes, platelets and serum. In platelets, ATP and AMP hydrolysis was reduced and hydrolysis of ADP and the activity of ADA were increased in the control, while in CEC-treated animals no alteration in the hydrolysis of ADP was detected. In serum, the reduction in ATP hydrolysis was reversed by CEC. In lymphocytes, the increase in the hydrolysis of ATP, ADP and in the activity of ADA observed in GB model was altered by CEC administration. The observed increase in IL-6 and decrease in IL-10 levels in the serum of GB animals was reversed by CEC. These results demonstrate that CEC extract is a potential complementary treatment to GB, decreasing the tumor size, while modulating aspects of redox and purinergic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro influence of prior silane application on the microshear bond strength (μSBS) of Scotchbond Universal Plus to glass ceramic. Materials and Methods: Thirty blocks of lithium disilicate ceramic were etched with hydrofluoric acid for 20 s and distributed into Group 1 (no silane and no adhesive), Group 2 (adhesive), Group 3 (silane + adhesive). Three cylinders of resin cement were made on each ceramic block. Five blocks (n = 15 cylinders) were subjected to the μSBS test after 24 h, and the other five blocks (n = 15 cylinders) were tested after 6 months of water storage. Results: According to two‐way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test, the means of μSBS (MPa), denoted by different letters, show significant differences (p < 0.05): after 24 h—Group 1 (31.7)B, Group 2 (43.3)A, and Group 3 (31.3)B; after 6 months—Group 1 (14.8)B, Group 2 (33.6)A, and Group 3 (30.3)A. After 6 months of storage, there was a significant decrease in μSBS for Groups 1 and 2, along with an increase in adhesive failures across all groups. Conclusions: Prior application of silane did not increase the μSBS between Scotchbond Universal Plus and ceramic, and there was degradation at the bond interface over time. Clinical Significance: Prior application of a silane agent is not necessary when using Scotchbond Universal Plus for bonding to glass ceramics. Regardless of the prior application of silane, there is degradation at the bond interface over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background and Objectives: Flow assessment using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides important implications in determining physiologic parameters and clinically important markers. However, post-processing of CMR images remains labor- and time-intensive. This study aims to assess the validity and repeatability of fully automated segmentation of phase contrast velocity-encoded aortic root plane. (2) Materials and Methods: Aortic root images from 125 patients are segmented by artificial intelligence (AI), developed using convolutional neural networks and trained with a multicentre cohort of 160 subjects. Derived simple flow indices (forward and backward flow, systolic flow and velocity) and complex indices (aortic maximum area, systolic flow reversal ratio, flow displacement, and its angle change) were compared with those derived from manual contours. (3) Results: AI-derived simple flow indices yielded excellent repeatability compared to human segmentation (p < 0.001), with an insignificant level of bias. Complex flow indices feature good to excellent repeatability (p < 0.001), with insignificant levels of bias except flow displacement angle change and systolic retrograde flow yielding significant levels of bias (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). (4) Conclusions: Automated flow quantification using aortic root images is comparable to human segmentation and has good to excellent repeatability. However, flow helicity and systolic retrograde flow are associated with a significant level of bias. Overall, all parameters show clinical repeatability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of 2-propanol with Co3O4(001) was studied by vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations of 2-propanol dissolved in a water film to gain an insight, at the molecular level, into the pathways of catalytic oxidation. The experimental study has been performed under near ambient conditions, where the presence of water vapor is unavoidable, resulting in a water film on the sample and, thereby, allowing us to mimic the solution–water interface. Both experiment and theory conclude that 2-propanol adsorbs molecularly. The lack of dissociation is attributed to the adsorption geometry of 2-propanol in which the O–H bond does not point toward the surface. Furthermore, the copresent water not only competitively adsorbs on the surface but also inhibits 2-propanol deprotonation. The calculations reveal that the presence of water deactivates the lattice oxygen, thereby reducing the surface activity. This finding sheds light on the multifaceted role of water at the interface for the electrochemical oxidation of 2-propanol in aqueous solution as recently reported [Falk et al., ChemCatChem 13, 2942–2951 (2021)]. At higher temperatures, 2-propanol remains molecularly adsorbed on Co3O4(001) until it desorbs with increasing surface temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation Microbial sequencing data from clinical samples is often contaminated with human sequences, which have to be removed prior to sharing. Existing methods for human read removal, however, are applicable only after the target dataset has been retrieved in its entirety, putting the recipient at least temporarily in control of a potentially identifiable genetic dataset with potential implications under regulatory frameworks such as the GDPR. In some instances, the ability to carry out stream-based host depletion as part of the data transfer process may be preferable. Results We present SWGTS, a client–server application for the transfer and stream-based host depletion of sequencing reads. SWGTS enforces a robust upper bound on the maximum amount of human genetic data from any one client held in memory at any point in time by storing all incoming sequencing data in a limited-size, client-specific intermediate processing buffer, and by throttling the rate of incoming data if it exceeds the speed of host depletion carried out on the SWGTS server in the background. SWGTS exposes a HTTP–REST interface, is implemented using docker-compose, Redis and traefik, and requires less than 8 Gb of RAM for deployment. We demonstrate high filtering accuracy of SWGTS; incoming data transfer rates of up to 1.65 megabases per second in a conservative configuration; and mitigation of re-identification risks by the ability to limit the number of SNPs present on a popular population-scale genotyping array covered by reads in the SWGTS buffer to a low user-defined number, such as 10 or 100. Availability and implementation SWGTS is available on GitHub: https://github.com/AlBi-HHU/swgts (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10891052). The repository also contains a jupyter notebook that can be used to reproduce all the benchmarks used in this article. All datasets used for benchmarking are publicly available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the fracture load of monolithic, single-tooth implant-supported crowns cemented on solid or Ti-base (Variobase C) abutments. Materials and Methods: Besides abutment types (solid and Ti-base abutments), two ceramic systems (IPS e.max CAD and Zirconia inCoris ZI) and two occlusal thicknesses (0.5 and 1.5 mm) were also investigated in this study. In total, eight groups (n = 8) with 64 maxillary second premolar crowns were fabricated. All the crowns were cemented with resin cement, and the screw accesses in Ti-base groups were sealed with composite resin. After mechanical cycling, the specimens were submitted to fracture load test with the maximum force recorded in Newtons (N). Three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post hoc test were used for statistical analyses (α = .05). Results: Both the abutment type (P = .0001) and the ceramic system (P = .0001) significantly affected the results. Screw-access channels reduced the fracture load of crowns by half compared to those cemented on solid abutments. The 1.5-mm and 0.5-mm zirconia crowns placed on solid abutments had similar highest fracture loads, while the e.max CAD groups positioned on Ti-base abutments showed significantly lower values compared with other groups. Conclusion: The screw access reduces the resistance of crowns supported by Ti-base abutments compared to crowns cemented on solid abutments. The inCoris ZI showed a higher fracture load than the IPS e.max CAD regardless of the abutment type and thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rehabilitation of severely worn teeth is a complex challenge for dental practitioners. There are many different types of dental materials and restorative techniques, and there is not a single way to achieve the desired result. This clinical report demonstrates a complete oral rehabilitation with composite resins when using an indirect application and direct techniques, with the support of the Lucia Jig technique, the Willis technique, and diagnostic waxing for the vertical dimension correction. The wide clinical improvement was achieved with the recovery of the function, the esthetics, and the increase of vertical dimension of occlusion through the planned treatment. The proposed treatment maintained the natural teeth, without the intense wear by the application of the composite resins instead of ceramics, together with excellent conditions for the patient to control the posttreatment and extend the durability, with the correct follow-up of appointments. Young patients with extensive dental wear and the loss of vertical dimension should not be directly submitted to ceramic treatments, with preparations for full crowns. Oral rehabilitation using composite resins, either directly or indirectly, allows for the recovery of the function and esthetics, without the intense predictable dental wear, and reduced financial investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This laboratory study evaluated the effect of three polishing systems on the surface roughness and gloss of resin composites. Materials and Methods: Thirty specimens (6 mm Ø × 8 mm) were fabricated from each of three resin composites: Z 350 XT (nanofill), Harmonize (nanohybrid), and Estelite Omega (supranonofill). All specimens were photopolymerized using a multi‐peak LED curing unit (VALO—Standard mode), having a exitance irradiance of approximately 1000 mW/cm2 against a polyester strip (PS). 2 mm was then removed from the irradiated end (finished) using #320 abrasive paper (F). Specimens were then randomly polished (P) using a one‐step (1S) (OneGloss), two‐step (2S) (EVE Diacomp Twist Basic CA), or 3‐step (3S) (Astropol P) system (n = 10). For PS, F, and P groups, surface roughness (Ra) was measured using a surface roughness tester, and surface gloss was measured with a glossmeter. For each specimen, the percent recovery to the PS value (%R) of surface roughness and surface gloss were calculated. Data were analyzed using two–way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test. Surface roughness and gloss values were submitted to Pearson's correlation test (α = 0.05). All statistical testing was performed using a pre‐set alpha of 0.05. Results: The interaction term [resin composite × polishing system] was significant for both surface roughness (p = 0.001) and gloss (p = 0.0001). For all resin composites, the 2S and 3S systems provided a higher %R of surface roughness and gloss compared to those of the 1S system. There was a negative correlation between surface roughness and gloss, but only a few combinations showed strong correlations. Conclusions: The 2S and 3S polishing systems provided surfaces having greater smoothness and gloss compared to the 1S system. The ability to recover surface roughness and gloss was dependent on type of resin composite filler classification. Clinical Significance: The 3S and 2S polishing systems were more effective in achieving PS values than was the 1S system for all tested resin composites. However, individual polishing systems performed differently depending on type of resin composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Tempo e Argumento is the property of Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Here, we evaluated the influence of outdoor environmental conditions (synoptic weather conditions) on human thermal discomfort in the five macro-regions of Pelotas city, located in the southernmost region of Brazil. To do this, meteorological sensors (HOBO MX2301A) were installed outside the residences to measure the air temperature, dew point temperature, and relative humidity between 18 January and 20 August 2019. Two well-established simplified biometeorological indices were examined seasonally: (i) humidex for the summer months and (ii) effective temperature as a function of wind for the autumn and winter months. Our findings showed seasonal differences related to human thermal discomfort and outdoor environmental conditions. The thermal discomfort was highest in the afternoons during the summer months and at night during the winter months. The seasonal variation in human thermal discomfort was highly associated with the meteorological conditions. In summer, the presence of the South Atlantic Subtropical Anticyclone (SASA) contributed to heat stress. The SASA combined with the continent's low humidity contributed to the perceived sensation of thermal discomfort. In the winter, thermal discomfort was associated with the decrease in air humidity caused by high atmospheric pressure systems, which led to a decrease in both air temperature and air moisture content. Our findings suggest that a better understanding of the complex interplay between outdoor environmental factors and human thermal comfort is needed in order to mitigate the negative effects of thermal discomfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gut microbiome is a diverse ecosystem, dominated by bacteria; however, fungi, phages/viruses, archaea, and protozoa are also important members of the gut microbiota. Exploration of taxonomic compositions beyond bacteria as well as an understanding of the interaction between the bacteriome with the other members is limited using 16S rDNA sequencing. Here, we developed a pipeline enabling the simultaneous interrogation of the gut microbiome (bacteriome, mycobiome, archaeome, eukaryome, DNA virome) and of antibiotic resistance genes based on optimized long-read shotgun metagenomics protocols and custom bioinformatics. Using our pipeline we investigated the longitudinal composition of the gut microbiome in an exploratory clinical study in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT; n = 31). Pre-transplantation microbiomes exhibited a 3-cluster structure, characterized by Bacteroides spp. /Phocaeicola spp., mixed composition and Enterococcus abundances. We revealed substantial inter-individual and temporal variabilities of microbial domain compositions, human DNA, and antibiotic resistance genes during the course of alloHSCT. Interestingly, viruses and fungi accounted for substantial proportions of microbiome content in individual samples. In the course of HSCT, bacterial strains were stable or newly acquired. Our results demonstrate the disruptive potential of alloHSCTon the gut microbiome and pave the way for future comprehensive microbiome studies based on long-read metagenomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare, in vitro, resin cement excess removal techniques at the veneer-tooth interface. Materials and methods: Anterior human teeth were restored with ceramic veneers and randomly divided according to the following techniques (n = 10): removal of excess resin cement with brush and dental floss, followed by light-curing with Valo (Group 1) or Elipar (Group 2) for 1 min and 40 s; tack-curing with Valo (Group 3) or Elipar (Group 4) for 1 s; and tack-curing with Valo (Group 5) or Elipar (Group 6) for 5 s. The tack-curing was followed by removal of excess with probe and dental floss and light-curing for 1 min and 40 s. The area of excess resin cement (mm2) was measured in micro-CT images using AutoCAD program. The failures at the cervical margin in the X, Y, and Z axes (µm) of greater value were measured using the DataViewer program. The specimens were submitted to microleakage with 2% basic fuchsin. Results: According to the Kruskal–Wallis and multiple comparison test, the highest area of excess resin cement was found in Group 1 (5.06 mm2), which did not differ statistically from Groups 2 (3.70 mm2) and 5 (2.19 mm2). Groups 2, 3 (1.73 mm2), 4 (1.14 mm2), and 5 (2.18 mm2) did not differ statistically. Group 6 (0.77 mm2) obtained the lowest value, which did not differ statistically from Groups 3 and 4. According to the Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn test, there was no significant difference in failures in X (p = 0.981), Y (p = 0.860), and Z (p = 0.638) axes and no significant difference in microleakage (p = 0.203) among the groups. Conclusions: Tack-curing for 1 s or 5 s, followed by removal of excess resin cement using a probe and a dental floss, tended to result in a lower amount of excess material around the margin. Clinical relevance: The technique used for resin cement excess removal influences the amount of excess leaved at the veneer-tooth interface. Tack-curing for 1 s or 5 s is recommended to mitigate the excess resin cement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to know the population fluctuation of the mites in apple (Malus domestica Borkh: Rosaceae) orchards with different crop management strategies, with emphasis on Aculus schlechtendali Nalepa (Eriophyidae) and Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Tetranychidae) and their natural enemies. The studies were carried out in 2020-21, in three organic orchards (Eva, Fuji and Gala), from Antônio Prado, two conventional (Fuji and Gala), from Muitos Capões, RS, Brazil, and two of regenerative agriculture (Fuji and Gala), in São Joaquim, SC, Brazil. Forty plants/orchard were sampled, from which three leaves/plant from the apical, median and basal offshoot were detached. The material was screened and identified in the laboratory. A total of 7.193 specimens, belonging to 14 families, 29 genera, and 40 species, were collected. The most common phytophagous mites were A. schlechtendali (46.2%), P. ulmi (16.9%) and Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks (Tarsonemidae) (10.9%). Panonychus ulmi was observed in all orchards, being abundant in conventional and regenerative orchards. The most common predatory mites were Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Phytoseiidae), Agistemus riograndensis Johann and Ferla (Stigmaeidae) and Agistemus brasiliensis Matioli, Ueckermann and Oliveira (Stigmaeidae). Among predators, greater diversity was observed in organic orchards, while in conventional and regenerative orchards N. californicus was the most common. Greater acarine abundance was observed when there was an increase in temperatures, and the predatory mites increased their populations in response to the presence of phytophagous mites. The results suggest that the mite populations were influenced by the cultivar and mainly by the management used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Latin-American Journal of Physics Education is the property of Latin-American Physics Education Network and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

High-power PW laser systems (HPLS) provide intense beams of accelerated reaction-driving protons simultaneously with spatially localized keV-plasmas. We herein depict our groundwork and strategy to use these unique features of the HPLS at the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI-NP) by exposing the long-lived nuclear isomer 93 m Mo at 2.425 MeV ( t 1 / 2 = 6.85 h) to plasma facilitating the local petawatt beamlines. An intermediate short-lived ( t 1 / 2 = 3.52 ns) state situated only 4.85 keV above 93 m Mo constitutes a gateway to allow for its prompt release. The controllable release of the nuclear isomer energy will henceforth enable harvesting energy densities in the nuclear regime of GJkg - 1 (‘Nuclear Battery’). The campaign was inspired by the observation of the triggered release of 93 m Mo via the intermediate state by Chiara et al. [1] published in Nature. They assigned the hitherto elusive Nuclear Excitation by Electron Capture (NEEC) as the driving process and claimed a very high probability of P NEEC exp = 0.010 (3) . However, these claims are challenged by experimentalists [2-3] and theory [4]. We herein outline our strategy following bespoke theoretical guidance in the quest to unambiguously and independently demonstrate the onset of NEEC in 93 m Mo . With the yield estimations derived for our forthcoming HPLS experiment at ELI-NP, we draw optimism to resolve the current conundrum between the conflicting experimental observations and theoretical interpretations as discussed in world-leading journals and to pave the way for the future utilization of isomer depopulation in applied physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lobelia dortmanna is an iconic keystone species of northern softwater lakes in Europe as well as North America. It has suffered a dramatic decline in distribution in recent decades and the root causes are not well‐known, although elements such as eutrophication, acidification and brownification have been suggested as underlying reasons for the decline.In order to quantify the causes of change in the occurrence of L. dortmanna in Danish lakes, we firstly mapped the historical distribution of the species and secondly collected the available recent information on the presence of L. dortmanna along with data on environmental variables and plant community composition from the lakes. We identified 168 original Lobelia lakes of which L. dortmanna had, by now, gone extinct in 48%. A subset of 80 lakes formed the backbone of this study owing to the availability of data related to environmental conditions and aquatic plant communities.Using piecewise structural equation models, we identified that only the mean height of the lake plant communities had a direct negative influence on the occurrence of L. dortmanna. The expected adverse effects of eutrophication and alkalinity were all indirect, and funnelled through the trophic affinity of the plant community, which in turn influenced the mean plant height. Direct effects of eutrophication via shading from phytoplankton, acidification or brownification were not observed.We show that eutrophication, particularly in more alkaline water, is likely to have caused the dramatic decline in occurrence of L. dortmanna, but our models indicated that the effect of eutrophication acted via interspecific competition from other larger rooted aquatic plants.Conservation efforts aimed at protecting small aquatic plant species should be prioritised in more alkaline lakes where such species are most at risk. Furthermore, managers should be aware of the threat of interspecific competition posed by larger aquatic plants on their smaller counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The bond capacity of universal adhesives should be comparable to a specific primer for zirconia. Thus, this study evaluated the bond strength to zirconia of four universal adhesives and a zirconia primer over long-term storage. Materials and Methods: The surfaces of 75 samples of zirconia were sandblasted with 50 μm aluminum oxide particles and then divided into groups (n = 15): G1 – Single Bond Universal (SBU); G2 – All Bond Universal; G3 – Peak Universal Bond; G4 – Ambar Universal (AU), and G5 – Z-Prime Plus (ZP). A cone of resin composite was constructed on the applied materials. The samples were submitted to a tensile bond strength test after 24 h using a universal testing machine. Then, the remaining materials were removed from the sample surfaces, and the surfaces were polished and sandblasted again as previously described to obtain the same groups. These new samples were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 12 months and then submitted to a tensile bond strength test. The data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (α =0.05). Results: The material factor (P = 0.001) and the storage factor (P = 0.001) were significant, and the interaction was not significant (P = 0.117). According to Tukey's test, bond strength mean values (in MPa) followed by distinct letters were significantly different. After 24 h, G5 = 21.12 A, G1 = 20.55 A, G4 = 19.19 AB, G2 = 14.22 B, and G3 = 8.44 C. After 12 months, G1 = 7.37 A, G5 = 5.61 AB, G4 = 4.97 B, G2 = 3.32 C, and G3 = 1.93 D. After 12 months of storage, all groups' bond strength significantly decreased. Conclusions: SBU and AU had bond strengths comparable to ZP after 24 h. No material resisted water degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Differentiation of gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) from chronic inflammatory enteropathies (CIE) in cats can be challenging and often requires extensive diagnostic testing. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have promise as non‐invasive biomarkers in serum and feces for diagnosis of GIC. Hypothesis/Objectives: Cats with GIC will have serum and fecal miRNA profiles that differ significantly from healthy cats and cats with CIE. Identify serum and fecal miRNAs with diagnostic potential for differentiation between cats with GIC and CIE as compared to healthy cats. Animals: Ten healthy cats, 9 cats with CIE, and 10 cats with GIC; all client‐owned. Methods: Cats were recruited for an international multicenter observational prospective case‐control study. Serum and feces were screened using small RNA sequencing for miRNAs that differed in abundance between cats with GIC and CIE, and healthy cats. Diagnostic biomarker potential of relevant miRNAs from small RNA sequencing and the literature was confirmed using reverse transcription quantitative real‐time PCR (RT‐qPCR). Results: Serum miR‐223‐3p was found to distinguish between cats with GIC and CIE with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.760‐1.0), sensitivity of 90% (95% CI, 59.6‐99.5%), and specificity of 77.8% (95% CI, 45.3‐96.1%). Serum miR‐223‐3p likewise showed promise in differentiating a subgroup of cats with small cell lymphoma (SCL) from those with CIE. No fecal miRNAs could distinguish between cats with GIC and CIE. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Serum miR‐223‐3p potentially may serve as a noninvasive diagnostic biomarker of GIC in cats, in addition to providing a much needed tool for the differentiation of CIE and SCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between air temperature data against hospital admissions due to respiratory diseases of children (under five years of age) and the elderly (over 65) in subtropical Porto Alegre, Brazil, comparing outcomes for 3 sequential years, 2018–2020, pre- and post-COVID 19 pandemic. Meteorological and hospital admission (HA) data for Porto Alegre, marked by a Koeppen-Geiger's Cfa climate type with well-defined seasons, were used in the analyses. HA was obtained for respiratory diseases (J00–99, according to the International Classification of Diseases, ICD-10) from the Brazilian DATASUS (Unified Health System database). We performed correlation analysis between variables (HA versus air temperature and heat stress) in order to identify existing relationships and lag effects (between meteorological condition and morbidity). Relative risk (RR) was also obtained for the two age groups during the three years. Results showed that the pandemic year disrupted observed patterns of association between analyzed variables, with either very low or non-existent correlations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Bibliothekswesen und Bibliographie is the property of Vittorio Klostermann and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Freshwater ecosystems have experienced a great loss of biodiversity in the recent century due to eutrophication and loss of habitats, particularly in agricultural lowlands. Some of these ecosystems have recently been re‐established, or entirely new lakes have been created to improve nutrient removal, biodiversity, and recreation.Fish have an important structuring role in lake ecosystems, but little is known about the temporal development of fish species richness or composition in new or re‐established lakes, especially in comparison with natural lakes. We investigated the influence of environmental variables and landscape features on fish species richness and fish assemblage in drainage basins and in 34 new (between 0 and 99 years) and 193 natural lakes in Denmark, using structural equation modelling.Fish species richness in drainage basins is influenced primarily by basin elevation, lake area, and salinity at the basin outlet; low‐salinity coastal regions are important migration pathways for many freshwater fish species, not just for anadromous or catadromous species. Land use does not appear to influence richness at the drainage basin scale, indicating that the influence of anthropogenic activities is minor or that significant effects thereof occurred a long time ago (decades to centuries).The drainage basin richness defines the apparent pool of species that may colonise lakes within the basin, but the actual number of species is particularly influenced by stream network connectivity. Disconnected lakes have fewer species, a deficit that is sustained over long time scales.In addition to the influence of stream connectivity, lake characteristics such as elevation, surface area, and water chemistry (alkalinity and pH) are also important predictors of fish species richness, whereas we did not find any effect of lake nutrient concentrations. The direct effect of land use was not evaluated. Ordination analysis shows that fish assemblage depends on both lake type (new/natural) and stream connectivity (connected/disconnected). Furthermore, species‐specific occurrences reveal some differences between new and natural lakes and indicate that stocking plays a role in new lakes.While new and natural lakes may initially differ in terms of both how many and which species they contain, they converge over time in a process that can be enhanced by improving stream connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivation of plants in environments polluted by metals at toxic levels can affect the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Here, we analysed the effect caused by excess copper on the concentration of chlorophylls a and b and the profile of secondary metabolites of Lantana fucata leaves. Five copper (Cu) treatments (mg Cu kg−1 soil) were tested: T0, 0; T1, 210; T2, 420; T3, 630; and T4, 840. We found that the concentrations of chlorophylls in the plants decreased when compared to the control. However, this did not lead to a significant reduction in its growth, possibly due to the low translocation of the metal to shoots and the activation of plant defence systems to tolerate the environment in which they are exposed, increasing the emission of lateral roots and activating pathways for the production of secondary metabolites. Therefore, we found a decrease in the concentration of two key compounds in secondary metabolism, p -coumaric and cinnamic acids in treatments with higher copper concentrations. We also found an increase in phenolics. Decreases in p -coumaric and cinnamic acids may have occurred because these are precursors in the synthesis of phenolic compounds, which are increased in the high Cu treatments. Six secondary metabolites were characterised, described for the first time for this plant species. Thus, the presence of excess Cu in the soil may have triggered an increase in the amount of reactive oxygen species in the plants, which that led to the synthesis of antioxidant compounds, as a defence strategy. The cultivation of plants in environments polluted by metals at toxic levels can affect the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. In this study, we found an increase in the concentration of phenolic compounds caused by the excess of copper (Cu) in the culture medium. Described here for the first time, we identified six secondary metabolites in Lantana fucata leaves when exposed to high Cu environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dimerization of RAF kinases represents a key event in their activation cycle and in RAS/ERK pathway activation. Genetic, biochemical and structural approaches provided key insights into this process defining RAF signaling output and the clinical efficacy of RAF inhibitors (RAFi). However, methods reporting the dynamics of RAF dimerization in living cells and in real time are still in their infancy. Recently, split luciferase systems have been developed for the detection of protein–protein-interactions (PPIs), incl. proof-of-concept studies demonstrating the heterodimerization of the BRAF and RAF1 isoforms. Due to their small size, the Nanoluc luciferase moieties LgBiT and SmBiT, which reconstitute a light emitting holoenzyme upon fusion partner promoted interaction, appear as well-suited to study RAF dimerization. Here, we provide an extensive analysis of the suitability of the Nanoluc system to study the homo- and heterodimerization of BRAF, RAF1 and the related KSR1 pseudokinase. We show that KRASG12V promotes the homo- and heterodimerization of BRAF, while considerable KSR1 homo- and KSR1/BRAF heterodimerization already occurs in the absence of this active GTPase and requires a salt bridge between the CC-SAM domain of KSR1 and the BRAF-specific region. We demonstrate that loss-of-function mutations impairing key steps of the RAF activation cycle can be used as calibrators to gauge the dynamics of heterodimerization. This approach identified the RAS-binding domains and the C-terminal 14–3-3 binding motifs as particularly critical for the reconstitution of RAF mediated LgBiT/SmBiT reconstitution, while the dimer interface was less important for dimerization but essential for downstream signaling. We show for the first time that BRAFV600E, the most common BRAF oncoprotein whose dimerization status is controversially portrayed in the literature, forms homodimers in living cells more efficiently than its wildtype counterpart. Of note, Nanoluc activity reconstituted by BRAFV600E homodimers is highly sensitive to the paradox-breaking RAFi PLX8394, indicating a dynamic and specific PPI. We report the effects of eleven ERK pathway inhibitors on RAF dimerization, incl. third-generation compounds that are less-defined in terms of their dimer promoting abilities. We identify Naporafenib as a potent and long-lasting dimerizer and show that the split Nanoluc approach discriminates between type I, I1/2 and II RAFi. Ah1kwifp3aoZnF_eXdbERz Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effect of sperm concentration of boar semen doses, for intrauterine artificial insemination (IUAI), on semen quality and established concentration limits for their production. Twenty ejaculates from four crossbred mature PIC® boars were collected to produce 50 mL semen doses in a split sample, reaching the following sperm concentrations: ~20, 30, 60, and 100 × 106 cells/mL. Doses were produced using Androstar® Plus, stored at 17°C, and evaluated until 120 h of storage. There was a linear decrease in sperm motility as the sperm concentration increased (p linear <.01). The concentration which no longer affected the total and progressive motility was 59 and 55 × 106 cells/mL, respectively (corresponding to 71% and 62%, respectively). The pH linearly decreased as the sperm concentration increased (p <.01); yet, at 72 and 120 h, the parameter dramatically reduced in boar semen doses with 60 and 100 × 106 cells/mL. The percentage of cells with intact plasma and acrosomal membranes or with high mitochondrial membrane potential was not influenced by the sperm concentration (p ≥.15). In conclusion, sperm motility was negatively affected in highly (60 and 100 × 106 cells/mL) concentrated doses. To achieve suitable sperm motility, boar semen doses may not surpass the sperm concentration of 55 × 106 cells/mL. The effect of low‐concentrated boar semen doses on sperm quality still needs to be better evaluated, mainly considering the influence of extender type and thermo‐resistance conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frontal darkened teeth have shown to be one of the most challenging treatments for esthetic dentistry in recent years. This case report, along with a 30-month follow-up, describes the application of a partial ceramic veneer, restricted to the mid-cervical third region, made in the upper left central incisor darkened by trauma. The procedure consisted of maintenance of the entire incisal face, as well as esthetic and morphological rehabilitation of the smile line with veneers and ultra-thin partial ceramic veneers. The planning process was thoroughly elaborated by photographs, study models, a virtual smile designed, diagnostic waxing, and reproduction in the patient's mouth through mock-up. Following, dental home bleaching, esthetic gingival contouring, and minimally invasive tooth preparation were performed. Two types of glass ceramics (lithium disilicate and feldspathic) were used in different regions due to the peculiar characteristics of resistance, finishing, and polishing. According to the present case report, preparing a cervical partial ceramic veneer is an innovative, viable, and safe approach to maintaining the incisal portion of the tooth preserved and setting a detailed tooth morphology/color. The application of partial ceramic veneer provides incisal edge preservation and simplifies the reproduction of the adjacent tooth characteristics, avoiding multiple esthetic appointments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders with high rates of prevalence and mortality. MDD is pathophysiologically complex, and treatment options are limited. Blueberries are rich in polyphenols and have neuroprotective potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of blueberry extract on neuroinflammatory and neuroplasticity parameters, as well as Na+/K+-ATPase, monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of mice subject to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive-like behavior. We also analyzed the interaction between anthocyanins and indoleamine 2 3-dioxygenase (IDO). Male Swiss mice (60-day-old) received vehicle, fluoxetine (20 mg/kg), or blueberry extract (100 or 200 mg/kg) intragastrically for 7 days before intraperitoneal LPS (0.83 mg/kg) injection. Twenty-four hours after LPS administration, the mice were subjected to behavioral tests. Both fluoxetine and blueberry extract (200 mg/kg) decreased the immobility time in the forced swim test, without affecting locomotor activity. Fluoxetine attenuated the decrease of Na+/K+-ATPase in the cerebral cortex, while blueberry extract promoted this same effect in the hippocampus. Additionally, fluoxetine and blueberry extract attenuated the decrease in the activity of MAO-A in the hippocampus. Blueberry extract (200 mg/kg) also prevented LPS-induced increase in AChE activity in the hippocampus as well as LPS upregulation of relative mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-10 in the cerebral cortex. Molecular docking analysis revealed binding sites for malvidin 3-galactoside (− 7.8 kcal/mol) and malvidin 3-glucoside (− 7.9 kcal/mol) residues with IDO. Taken together, these results indicate that blueberry extract improved depression-like behavior and attenuated the neurochemical and molecular changes in the brains of mice challenged with LPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There remains a debate whether the ventricular volume within prolapsing mitral valve (MV) leaflets should be included in the left ventricular (LV) end-systolic volume, and therefore factored in LV stroke volume (SV), in cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) assessments. This study aims to compare LV volumes during end-systolic phases, with and without the inclusion of the volume of blood on the left atrial aspect of the atrioventricular groove but still within the MV prolapsing leaflets, against the reference LV SV by four-dimensional flow (4DF). A total of 15 patients with MV prolapse (MVP) were retrospectively enrolled in this study. We compared LV SV with (LV SVMVP) and without (LV SVstandard) MVP left ventricular doming volume, using 4D flow (LV SV4DF) as the reference value. Significant differences were observed when comparing LV SVstandard and LV SVMVP (p < 0.001), and between LV SVstandard and LV SV4DF (p = 0.02). The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) test demonstrated good repeatability between LV SVMVP and LV SV4DF (ICC = 0.86, p < 0.001) but only moderate repeatability between LV SVstandard and LV SV4DF (ICC = 0.75, p < 0.01). Calculating LV SV by including the MVP left ventricular doming volume has a higher consistency with LV SV derived from the 4DF assessment. In conclusion, LV SV short-axis cine assessment incorporating MVP dooming volume can significantly improve the precision of LV SV assessment compared to the reference 4DF method. Hence, in cases with bi-leaflet MVP, we recommend factoring in MVP dooming into the left ventricular end-systolic volume to improve the accuracy and precision of quantifying mitral regurgitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For rational design and improvement of electronic and optical properties of water-splitting photocatalysts, the ability to control the band edge positions relative to the water redox potentials and the photoresponse as a function of environmental conditions is essential. We combine ab initio molecular dynamics simulations with ab initio many-body theoretical calculations to predict the bandgap and band edge energies, as well as the absorption spectrum of pristine and N- and S-doped TiO2 nanotubes using the DFT+U and G0W0 approaches. Both levels of theory show similar trends, and N+S-codoping appears to be the optimal system for photocatalytic water splitting both in dry and humid conditions. However, the effect is rather moderate. Compared to DFT+U, the enhanced many-body effects in the G0W0 calculations push the absolute energies of the band edges to higher values and yield increased quasi-particle bandgaps in better agreement with experiment. In dry and humid conditions, the electronic bandgap for all systems is found to be in the range of 6.0–6.2 eV with a redshift from electronic gap to optical gap. The absorption spectra show an optical anisotropy and different absorption thresholds for different light polarizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Allometric scaling between stomata and xylem for terrestrial woody plants is a widely observed pattern that may be constrained by water transport. Floating-leaved plants, a particular life form of aquatic plants, have leaves in direct contact with both air and water and a poorly developed xylem that may not be limited by water supply as for terrestrial plants. However, whether such an allometric scaling relationship still exists in floating-leaved plants has not been explored. Methods We analysed 31 floating-leaved species/varieties with a range in leaf area covering six orders of magnitude. For all 31 floating-leaved plants, we studied the allometric relationships between leaf area and petiole transverse area, and between total stomatal area and petiole vascular area. Key Results The slopes of both relationships were similar to the slope of the allometric relationship (1.23) between total stomatal area and xylem area of 53 terrestrial plants. However, for ten of them with xylem that can be clearly defined, the strong positive relationship between total stomatal area and petiole xylem area had a significantly smaller slope than that of terrestrial plants (0.64 vs. 1.23). Furthermore, after considering phylogeny, the scaling relationships between total stomatal area and petiole traits in floating-leaved plants remained significant. Conclusions We speculated that for floating-leaved plants, the hyperallometric relationship (slope >1) between the construction of leaf/stoma and petiole was promoted by the high demand for photosynthesis and thus more leaves/stomata. While the hypoallometric relationship (slope <1) between stomatal and xylem area was related more to hydraulic processes, the selection pressure on stomata was lower than xylem of floating-leaved plants. Allometric relationships among the hydraulic traits on water transport of aquatic plants are the result of natural selection to achieve maximum carbon gain, which is similar to terrestrial plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: PIPAC (Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy) acts by applying aerosolized chemotherapy in the peritoneal cavity, enhancing tissue penetration of chemotherapeutic agents. This method of chemotherapy delivery still raises several concerns related to the operating room's environmental exposure, arousing discussions related to the occupational risks of this technique. This work aims to demonstrate the pattern of aerosolization distribution in the absence of safety mechanisms in an operating room. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional experimental work of 31 aerosol applications was carried out. Aerosolization was performed with a 1% aqueous solution of caffeine Cellulose. Nitrate membranes were used to capture the concentration of caffeine in different sites within the operating room for 5 periods of fixed exposure times. Results: 930 samples are obtained in 31 rounds of aerosolization. Comparing the changes in concentration per minute between the different time intervals. There were statistically significant differences between the 0-2 minutes interval and the 15-30 interval (P<0.001). Surgeon site shows a significant difference between the times (P=0.010). There were no difference between changes in concentrations in the time intervals for the anesthetist site (P=0.094). At the injector site, there is a statistically significant difference (P<0.001). The time assessment between 30-35 exposure showed a median of 0. Conclusion: The study pointed out that the moment of greatest risk of contamination of the surgical environment occurs during aerosolization, especially during the first 15 minutes after the start of aerosolization. The sites that were most exposed to contamination were the patient, the surgeon and the injector, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief background highlights Brazil as a 'climate-health hotspot', i.e. a country where climate affects local populations negatively through multiple pathways (Di Napoli et al. BMC Public Health 22(1):1-8, 2022). Knowledge gaps still need to be filled concerning the various climaterelated dimensions of tourism, vector-borne diseases, mortality and morbidity in urban centers in the country (Krüger et al. Int J Biometeorol 66(7):1297-1315, 2022). Motivated by this, the first Brazilian Symposium on Human Biometeorology (Simpósio Brasileiro de Biometeorologia Humana 2022) was organized and held at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in Natal, northeastern Brazil, between July 4 and 8, 2022. The symposium was organized as a hybrid event by a committee composed of researchers acting in different regions of the country, and who had an ongoing research collaboration on matters related to human biometeorology. The event was partly sponsored by the ISB and partly self-supported by the organizers and institutions involved. The symposium aimed to promote the development of the research area on human biometeorology in Brazil in facing challenges imposed by a globally and locally changing climate. To achieve this, the symposium focused on five main topics of discussion: a) climate-driven diseases; b) thermal comfort, urban and architectural biometeorology; c) atmospheric pollution and health; d) climate change; e) climate, health and climate change. This summary highlights the main findings, future research directions, and policy implications in each topic from the presentations and panel discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russia additionally tends to be more abrasive internationally than China.[8] Finally, whereas one of the two countries is ruled by a party inspired by Marxism-Leninism and Marx (whose new statue it erected in his home town of Trier in 2018), the other is led by someone whose heroes include Peter the Great, to whom Putin once compared himself in his "quest to take back Russian lands", and Alexander III, known to be his "favourite tsar", and who once quipped that "Russia has only two allies: the army and the navy".[9] Yet in spite of all these very real differences, China and Russia still managed to establish an increasingly close relationship. As its predecessor had done, the Blair government understood that this prospect was, as the UK ambassador to Moscow Sir Roderic Lyne put it, "pretty neuralgic for the Russians".[96] It suggests some I quid pro quo i in response to Russia's support after 9/11 that Blair announced a new NATO-Russia Council at the meetings with Putin. Putin as we know views the war almost entirely through the lens of the United States, or this "empire of lies" as he prefers to call it, whose principal goal he insists is nothing less than "world domination", something which can only be achieved, he argues, by first destroying Russia and then presumably getting rid of him.[4] But there has been another, very different kind of player involved in this "great game": namely the People's Republic of China (PRC), once the USSR's bitterest enemy, now locked into a very special relationship whose terms were outlined in great detail in a 5000-word communiqué published only three weeks before Putin launched his invasion. Ukraine is far more important to Russia than Afghanistan ever was to the Soviet Union, and Putin has tied his own reputation and his sense of Russia's historic destiny to Ukraine.[161] But this could all change. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Tempos Históricos is the property of Tempos Historicos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Zeitschrift für Bibliothekswesen und Bibliographie is the property of Vittorio Klostermann and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to analyze meteorological variables versus hospital admissions for respiratory diseases for the age groups of children under five and the elderly (over 65 years of age) in different climate regions of Brazil, for the years 2018 and 2020, i.e., before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study was, on one hand, to evaluate the influence of weather variables on respiratory disease in humans, and on the other hand, take into account two years with differing dynamics due to a worldwide pandemic that significantly changed people's lifestyles. The human biometeorological index (Universal Thermal Climate Index, UTCI) was used as representative of the integral association of meteorological variables. UTCI data were obtained from the ERA5-HEAT reanalysis database, which provides hourly grid data with a spatial resolution of 0.25° × 0.25°. The Brazilian cities Manaus, Brasilia and Porto Alegre, which represent different climatic contexts in the country, were used in the analysis. The method compared temperature and climate reanalysis data to hospital admission data for respiratory diseases, obtained from the Brazilian Unified Health System database (DATASUS), according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Edition (ICD-10). Correlation analysis was performed between variables (hospital admissions versus climate-related data) in order to identify associations between them, also accounting for different time-lag effects. We analyzed seasonal influences on the obtained correlations, correlation strength and direct or inverse relationships. Results showed that the pandemic interfered in the association between morbidity due to respiratory illnesses and climate-related variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of methionine (Met) and its metabolites, such as methionine sulfoxide (MetO), found in hypermethioninemia, can be detrimental to the body; however, the underlying mechanisms are still uncertain. Using a recently standardized protocol, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic administration of Met and/or MetO on parameters of oxidative damage in the total brain, liver, and kidney of young mice. Swiss male mice were subcutaneously injected with Met and MetO at concentrations of 0.35–1.2 g/kg body weight and 0.09–0.3 g/kg body weight, respectively, from the 10th–38th day post-birth, while the control group was treated with saline solution. Results showed that Met and/or MetO caused an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipoperoxidation, along with a reduction of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in the brain. In the liver, Met and/or MetO enhanced ROS and nitrite levels, and reduced SOD, CAT, and delta aminolevulinic dehydratase activities. The effects on the kidney were an increase in ROS production and SOD activity, and a reduction in thiol content and CAT activity. These data demonstrated the contribution of redox imbalance to the systemic changes found in patients with hypermethioninemia. In conclusion, our findings may help future studies to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of hypermethioninemia as well as contribute to the search for new therapeutic agents for this pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dense submerged macrophyte stands in lakes may promote alternating daytime stratification and nighttime convective mixing, driving extensive spatiotemporal variations in water temperature, oxygen, pH, and inorganic carbon (DIC). We set out to investigate environmental conditions and ecosystem metabolism in the macrophyte‐dominated littoral zone (0.6 m depth) of a shallow, mesotrophic lake and compared this with the pelagic zone (3.0 m deep). We found that, during summer, vertical water column gradients only occasionally occurred and were weak in the pelagic zone, while dense littoral macrophyte stands of charophytes exhibited strong diel changes and steep daytime temperature and oxygen depth gradients. Oxygen showed daytime surface supersaturation and bottom anoxia, alternating with nighttime mixing. In spring, before charophytes appeared, the vertical gradients were largely absent. Ecosystem metabolism was primarily positive in spring, but areal rates of daily gross primary production (GPP) and closely related respiration increased 6‐fold in summer. Ecosystem metabolism calculated based on oxygen or DIC was very similar, with a 1:1 M basis. Daytime DIC loss by CaCO3 precipitation on charophyte surfaces averaged 6.3% of total DIC loss, and this loss was restored during nighttime. The contribution of shallow littoral macrophyte communities to whole‐lake summer GPP exceeded that estimated for phytoplankton. Environmental conditions in the macrophyte‐covered littoral zone differed markedly from pelagic waters with steep vertical gradients in temperature and chemistry during daytime including anoxic micro‐habitats in stark contrast to deep pelagic waters. The study highlights the significant influence of the littoral zone and macrophytes on whole‐lake ecosystem processes. Plain Language Summary: In shallow water in clear‐water lakes where light reaches the bottom, dense stands of submerged plants may develop. Dense plant stands promote stratification of the water column resulting in large differences in water temperature, oxygen, pH, and dissolved inorganic carbon between surface and bottom waters. We set out to investigate how dense plant stands in the shallow water of a nutrient‐poor lake influence environmental conditions and compare this to open waters. During summer, we found small differences between the surface and bottom water at the open water site, while pronounced differences developed in dense plant stands in the shallow water site. During daytime, oxygen was high in surface water with high photosynthesis, while respiration consumed virtually all oxygen in dim light below the plant canopy close to the bottom. During nighttime, differences vanished due to surface cooling, which promotes mixing of the entire water column. Two independent methods showed a close 1:1 balance between oxygen production and consumption and complementary carbon consumption and production in photosynthesis and respiration, respectively. Our study highlights the differences between shallow and open waters and the prominent role that plants may play in productivity and environmental conditions in the whole lake. Key Points: Extensive diel and depth variation in temperature, oxygen and pH occurred in dense littoral macrophyte stands in a small mesotrophic lakeMetabolism of oxygen and dissolved inorganic carbon were closely coupled and photosynthesis and calcification peaked before noonSensor measurements reveal the extensive variability of physical mixing, chemical gradients, and metabolism in dense macrophyte stands [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a well-established risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality. Comprehensive lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery are three effective treatment approaches for obesity. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) offers all three domains but in different configurations across medical facilities. Study aim was to explore the relationship between configurations of three types of obesity treatments, context, and population impact across VHA using coincidence analysis. This was a cross-sectional analysis of survey data describing weight management treatment components linked with administrative data to compute population impact for each facility. Coincidence analysis was used to identify combinations of treatment components that led to higher population impact. Facilities with higher impact were in the top two quintiles for (1) reach to eligible patients and (2) weight outcomes. Sixty-nine facilities were included in the analyses. The final model explained 88% (29/33) of the higher-impact facilities with 91% consistency (29/32) and was comprised of five distinct pathways. Each of the five pathways depended on facility complexity-level plus factors from one or more of the three domains of weight management: comprehensive lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy, and/or bariatric surgery. Three pathways include components from multiple treatment domains. Combinations of conditions formed "recipes" that lead to higher population impact. Our coincidence analyses highlighted both the importance of local context and how combinations of specific conditions consistently and uniquely distinguished higher impact facilities from lower impact facilities for weight management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to analyze the relationship between meteorological conditions and the occurrence of hospital admissions for pneumonia in children under 5 years of age in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, Brazil, from 1998 to 2017. To this end, data from hospital admissions obtained from the Unified Health System database (DATASUS) were used and classified into two groups: acute respiratory infections (ARI) and asthma, according to the international classification of diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10). Data regarding meteorological variables were also used: temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure and wind speed, at 12Z and 18Z, as well as the Thermal Comfort Index (TCI), Effective Temperature as a function of the wind (ETw) and Windchill (W). From the data obtained, a descriptive analysis of the diseases and a statistical analysis with the analysis of correlation and main components were performed. Results showed that pneumonia (catalogued in the ICD-10 as J12 to J18) was the main cause of hospitalizations in children. The annual, monthly and daily hospitalization frequency distributions showed higher rates of admissions occurring in the months of May to September. The peaks of admissions and high admissions (HA) occurred mainly in the winter months (June, July and August), and in 1998. Meanwhile, the correlation and principal component analysis showed an increase in hospital admissions due to pneumonia related to a decrease in temperature and ETw and W indices (negative anomalies) and an increase in atmospheric pressure and relative humidity (positive anomalies). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution scrutinises how introducing a statutory minimum wage of EUR 8.50 per hour, in January 2015, impacted German employees' decision with regard to union membership. Based on representative data from the Labour Market and Social Security panel, the study applies a logistic difference-in-differences propensity score matching approach on entries into and withdrawals from unions in the German Trade Union Confederation (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund, DGB). The results show no separate effect on withdrawals from or entries into unions after the minimum wage introduction for those employees who benefited financially from it, but a significant increase of entries overall. Thus, unions' campaign for a minimum wage strengthened their position in total but did not reverse the segmentation of union membership patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Replicative immortality is a key feature of cancer cells and it is maintained by the expression of telomerase, a promising target of novel therapies. Long‐term telomerase inhibition can induce resistance, but the mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. The Sonic hedgehog pathway (SHH) is an embryogenic pathway involved in tumorigenesis and modulates the transcription of telomerase. We evaluated the effects of long‐term treatment of the telomerase inhibitor MST‐312 in morphology, proliferation, resistance, and in the SHH pathway molecules expression levels in lung cancer cells. Cells treated for 12 weeks with MST‐312 showed changes in morphology, such as spindle‐shaped cells, and a shift in the distribution of F‐ACTIN from cortical to diffuse. Treatment also significantly reduced cells' efficiency to form spheroids and their clonogenic potential, independently of the cell cycle and telomeric DNA content. Moreover, GLI‐1 expression levels were significantly reduced after 12 weeks of MST‐312 treatment, indicating a possible inhibition of this signaling axis in the SHH pathway, without hindering NANOG and OCT4 expression. Here, we described a novel implication of long‐term treatment with MST‐312 functionally and molecularly, shedding new light on the molecular mechanisms of this drug in vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the relation between board gender diversity and goodwill (GW). GW on the balance sheet is connected to both the firm's risk-taking and its accounting conservatism which are two popular topics in how gender diversity affects the governance of firms. GW captures the firm's decision to acquire another business for a price exceeding the received identifiable net assets and the subsequent valuation of the purchase. We propose that board decisions affecting GW could depict information about board gender diversity and its potential effects. Specifically, we examine Nordic listed firms in the period 2009–2018, to determine whether and how female representation on the board of directors is linked to the GW change. Big GW increases are associated with risk-taking and GW write-downs are signs of conservative accounting. Thus, we hypothesize and evidence that firms with substantial GW increases (decreases) are associated with fewer (more) women on the board. These results provide insight on board composition and potentially also on good governance and their consequences for strategic decision-making. Our findings contribute to the board diversity literature in accounting and corporate governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acetylcholine is an excitatory neurotransmitter that modulates synaptic plasticity and communication, and it is essential for learning and memory processes. This neurotransmitter is hydrolyzed by acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which plays other cellular roles in processes such as inflammation and oxidative stress. Ion pumps, such as Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase, are highly expressed channels that derive energy for their functions from ATP hydrolysis. Impairment of the cholinergic system and ion pumps is associated with neuropsychiatric diseases. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is an example of a complex disease with high morbidity and a heterogenous etiology. Polyphenols have been investigated for their therapeutic effects, and tannic acid (TA) has been reported to show neuroprotective and antidepressant-like activities. Animal models of depression-like behavior, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced models of depression, are useful for investigating the pathophysiology of MDD. In this context, effects of TA were evaluated in an LPS-induced mouse model of depression-like behavior. Animals received TA for 7 days, and on the last day of treatment, LPS (830 μg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally. In vitro exposure of healthy brain to TA decreased the AChE activity. Additionally, this enzyme activity was decreased in cerebral cortex of LPS-treated mice. LPS injection increased the activity of Ca2+-ATPase in the cerebral cortex but decreased the enzyme activity in the hippocampus. LPS administration decreased Na+/K+-ATPase activity in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum; however, TA administration prevented these changes. In conclusion, tannins may affect Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activities, which is interesting in the context of MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-glioma activity of 3-(4-fluorobenzyl)-5-(4-methoxybenzylidene)thiazolidine-2,4-dione (AV23) in a preclinical model of glioblastoma, as well as behavioral parameters and toxicological profile. The implantation of C6 cells in the left striatum of male Wistar rats was performed by stereotaxic surgery. After recovery, animals were treated with vehicle (canola oil) or AV23 (10 mg/kg/day) intragastrically for 15 days. It was found that AV23 reduced tumor volume by 90%. Serum biochemical parameters such as triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, creatinine and total proteins were not changed; however, there was a slight increase in alanine aminotransferase. The compound AV23 reverted the hypoglycemia and the reduction in body weight caused by glioblastoma. Additionally, AV23 was able to revert the reduction of locomotion caused by the tumor implantation. Therefore, the compound AV23 can be considered a promising candidate in the treatment of glioblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]