Search

Biomass energy is gaining attention as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels due to its potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. However, the storage of fuel-flexible biomass, particularly in environments characterized by fluctuations in temperature and humidity, can lead to the automatic release of pollutants, posing environmental and health concerns. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of peanut shells, spent coffee grains, and sugarcane leaves as additives for wood pellets to control off-gassing. Results showcased a sigmoidal nature in the generation of CO2and degradation of extractives, indicating autogenous deterioration of the pellets. The Gompertz model effectively captured this behavior, enabling accurate estimation of alpha, beta, and k parameters. The control group exhibited an alpha value of 2995.4 mg kg−1, representing the maximum CO2emissions or extractive degradation without additives. Incorporating peanut shells, spent coffee grains, and sugarcane leaves resulted in reduced alpha values of 2732.1, 2405.2, and 2472.4 mg kg−1, respectively, indicating their capacity to decrease specific CO2emissions and decelerate extractive degradation. These findings suggest the antioxidant potential of the additives in mitigating CO2emissions and extractive degradation processes. Enhancing pellet quality, manufacturing processes, and off-gassing control contribute to the viability of biomass energy as an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. Our research contributes to sustainable biomass energy by endorsing biogenic additives as a solution to off-gassing. This holistic approach addresses critical environmental concerns while acknowledging the need for ongoing investigation.

Graphical Abstract:

Previous work has shown that the performance of metaheuristics can benefit from using data mining techniques, which can improve the obtained solutions. In a strategy that has been successfully used for over a decade, data mining techniques are applied to extract patterns from good solutions found in the early stages of the heuristic process, and these patterns are introduced into the solutions generated afterwards. Recently, a novel approach that uses data mining for problem size reduction, called MineReduce, has been proposed and achieved even more impressive results in improving metaheuristics. In this work, we apply the MineReduce approach to improve the performance of a multi-start iterated tabu search algorithm. The results show that with the incorporation of the MineReduce approach, the method can obtain better solutions while spending less time. Additionally, we assessed the effectiveness of the size reduction performed by MineReduce, comparing it to a kernelization algorithm. Despite the lack of guarantees on optimality or size-bounding, the reduction carried out by MineReduce was effective in practice.

Incineration and landfilling offer possibilities for addressing high-rate management of COVID-waste streams. However, they can be costly and environmentally unsustainable. In addition, they do not allow to convert them to fuels and chemicals as waste-to-energy and waste-to-product technologies. Therefore, we analyzed whether integrating hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and pelletization can allow converting the surgical face mask (SFM) and biomass to composite plastic-fiber fuel (CPFF). We blended the plastic material and corncob, peanut shell, or sugarcane bagasse at the proportion of 50:50 (%, dry mass basis) for HTC. We performed the thermal pretreatment of blends in an autoclaving reactor at 180 °C and 1.5 MPa. Then we pelletized the hydrochars in a presser machine at 200 MPa and 125 °C. By analyzing the evidence from our study, we recognized the viability of combining the SFM and agricultural residues for CPFF from comparable technical features of our products to standards for premium-grade wood pellets. For instance, the elemental composition of their low-meltable ash was not stoichiometrically sufficient to severely produce slagging and fouling in the equipment for thermal conversion. Although they contained synthetic polymers in their structures, such as polyethylene from filter layers and nylon from the earloop, they emitted CO and NOxbelow the critical limits of 200 and 500 mg m−3, respectively, for occupational safety. Therefore, we extended the knowledge on waste-to-energy pathways to transform SFM into high-quality hybrid fuel by carbonization and pelletization. Our framework can provide stakeholders opportunities to address plastic and biogenic waste in the context of a circular economy.

Naringin, considered as the main bitter component of grapefruit, requires the use of enzymes to reduce the level of this substance during juice processing. For this reason, it has been the focus of many studies. In this study, to increase the production of naringinase by Aspergillus nigercultivated in solid-state fermentation (SSF), a three-component simplex-centric mixing design along with a response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to generate statistical models and analyze the dataset. First, grapefruit peel, rice bran, and wheat bran were used for substrate selection for naringinase production and, finally, selected the best of the three inducers or their mixtures to remove the bitterness of grapefruit juice. Cultivation with 2.3 g of grapefruit peel, 2.5 g of rice bran, and 5.2 g of wheat bran and medium supplementation with a mixture of naringin, rutin, and hesperidin in the concentration of 2, 5, 4.5, and 3.0 g/L, respectively, resulted in a maximum activity of 28 U/mL. The results indicate that the sequencing procedure, which allowed the definition of an optimal mixture of components, is a new way for microorganisms to have a high naringinase yield, in particular by SSF, since our data showed a 96% increase in the production of naringinase. This dataset can help other researchers apply a mixing design to increase enzyme production.

The phytohormone auxin plays crucial roles in nearly every aspect of plant growth and development. Auxin signaling is activated through the phytohormone-induced proteasomal degradation of the Auxin/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID (Aux/IAA) family of transcriptional repressors. Notably, many auxin-modulated physiological processes are also regulated by nitric oxide (NO) that executes its biological effects predominantly through protein S-nitrosylation at specific cysteine residues. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms in regulating the interactive NO and auxin networks. Here, we show that NO represses auxin signaling by inhibiting IAA17 protein degradation. NO induces the S-nitrosylation of Cys-70 located in the intrinsically disordered region of IAA17, which inhibits the TIR1–IAA17 interaction and consequently the proteasomal degradation of IAA17. The accumulation of a higher level of IAA17 attenuates auxin response. Moreover, an IAA17C70Wnitrosomimetic mutation renders the accumulation of a higher level of the mutated protein, thereby causing partial resistance to auxin and defective lateral root development. Taken together, these results suggest that S-nitrosylation of IAA17 at Cys-70 inhibits its interaction with TIR1, thereby negatively regulating auxin signaling. This study provides unique molecular insights into the redox-based auxin signaling in regulating plant growth and development.

Data uncertainty remains a challenging issue in many applications, but few classification algorithms can effectively cope with it. An ensemble approach for uncertain categorical features has recently been proposed, achieving promising results. It consists in biasing the sampling of features for each model in an ensemble so that less uncertain features are more likely to be sampled. Here we extend this idea of biased sampling and propose two new approaches: one for selecting training instances for each model in an ensemble and another for sampling features to be considered when splitting a node in a Random Forest training. We applied these approaches to classify ageing-related genes and predict drugs’ side effects based on uncertain features representing protein-protein and protein-chemical interactions. We show that ensembles based on our proposed approaches achieve better predictive performance. In particular, our proposed approaches improved the performance of a Random Forest based on the most sophisticated approach for handling uncertain data in ensembles of this kind. Furthermore, we propose two new approaches for interpreting an ensemble of Naive Bayes classifiers and analyse their results on our datasets of ageing-related genes and drug's side effects.

The phase angle of bioimpedance is an important prognostic tool in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between phase angle and cardiovascular diseases. Electronic searches were carried out on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, SCIELO, LILACS, CINAHL, Scopus, and the Web of Science. The PECO was “P” adults over 18 years of age, “E” the presence of cardiovascular disease, “C” absence of cardiovascular disease, and “O” phase angle values. The phase-angle means difference (MD) was analyzed separately by sex. Subgroup metanalysis with age, body mass index, and heart failure disease and meta-regressions were analyzed with random-effects models. Sensitivity analysis was performed considering only studies with high quality. The heterogeneity among studies was assessed using the Q-Cochran test and I² statistics. Four-hundred-thirty-nine articles were identified, and 22 studies were included in this systematic review, totaling 10.010 participants. Eight studies met the criteria for the meta-analysis, involving 2164 participants. The phase angle (PA) was measured at 50 kHz frequency in all studies. Individuals with cardiovascular disease had a smaller PA compared to the control group, for both males (MD −0.70; 95% CI −1.01 to −0.39) and females (MD −0.76; 95% CI −1.39 to −0.13). In the sensitivity analysis, in men, the quality of studies (P< 0.01), and in women, heart failure (P< 0.01) was significantly different between groups.The values of the phase angle were lower in individuals with cardiovascular disease than in control subjects. This result reinforces the importance of this tool in clinical practice, highlighting its potential to assess health status. Registration: The systematic review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database as CRD42020164178.

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of six machine‐learning models in forecasting corn (Zea maysL.) grain yield before harvest using, as input, variables in the models, some of the most‐used vegetation indices (VIs) and spectral bands in the literature, as well as using data at 770 and 980 sum of degree days (SDD). The field study was carried out in a commercial area in the 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 harvests. Spectral data were obtained from Sentinel‐2 satellite images and were used as input variables in the proposed models: artificial neural networks (ANN), k‐nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest (RF), and support vector machine (SVM). The maximum R2and minimum values of mean absolute error (MAE) and RMSE were 0.89, 0.33, and 0.42 t ha−1, respectively, for the RF algorithm using all input variables. The results obtained in the present study show that it is possible to predict corn grain yield 80 d before harvest using only VIs for the crop. Testing the various combinations of spectral bands and VIs resulted in obtaining the GREEN band and the VI global environment monitoring index (GEMI) as the best predictor variables in the present study. The use of more than one SDD did not improve the performance of the models tested. The models developed using data at 980 SDD obtained the best precision and accuracy performance both in the scenario with all model input variables and with the two best predictors. The KNN algorithm obtained the best performance in the precision and accuracy metrics for most of the scenarios studied in the present work. A combination of different VIs (20) can improve model accuracy for corn yield forecasting.GREEN band and GEMI were the best predictive features in the present study.Models using data at 980 SDD had the best precision and accuracy performance.The KNN algorithm performed best in precision and accuracy metrics.

Sarcopenia is characterized by loss of muscle strength and physical ability because of aging and/or chronic disease. Supplemental testosterone and other androgenic-anabolic steroids have been investigated as countermeasures to ameliorate the negative consequences of sarcopenia; these trials show dose-related improvements in lean body mass, maximal voluntary strength, stair climbing power, aerobic capacity, hemoglobin, and self-reported function, but less consistent improvements in walking speed. Randomized clinical trials with large cohorts and patient-important outcome measures are needed to determine long-term efficacy and safety of testosterone treatment in improving physical function and reducing physical disability, falls, and fractures in older adults with sarcopenia.

The individual identification of animals is essential for long-term population ecology studies. Injuries and tag loss can negatively impact animal welfare and parameter estimates. We used time-to-failure curves and multistate mark-recapture models to estimate injury rates, body condition decline, tag loss and survival probabilities associated with two tags commonly used in bats: metallic arm bands and steel ball chain collars. We monitored two colonies of Carollia perspicillataat União Biological Reserve, southeastern Brazil, from 2013 to 2019. Every other month, we marked individuals with arm bands, collars or both. Collars did not cause noticeable injuries, but were lost at a higher rate than arm bands (1.5–2.5 times). The arm band-related injury probability between captures was ~ 0.2, and after 17 months half the marked animals developed injuries. Animals marked as juveniles were less likely to get injured than adults. Injuries were associated with a lower body condition in females. Body condition was positively associated with apparent survival; however, a direct effect of arm band injuries on survival estimates was not observed. The tag loss rates caused a negative bias in survival estimates. Mark-recapture studies should evaluate the efficacy of the marking technique, accounting for potential animal injury, tag loss, and bias in parameter estimation. Marking individuals should be limited to studies that monitor species with high recapture probability, using the least harmful tags possible, and balancing the burden to the animals with the potential to generate knowledge.

Sugar-energy sector is key to the provision of food and energy worldwide. However, it can largely generate mill-run bagasse as an agro-residual biomass. The tradition of the sector is to put it back into the industrial process as an alternative fuel to co-generate steam and power for milling and biorefining factories. However, excessive ash in the mineral phase of this material typically makes it challenging for burning it in boilers cost-effectively, driving the need of developing a more suitable pathway for its disposal. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze whether co-pelleting sugarcane bagasse with either pinewood sawdust or peanut shell could make it possible for transforming this low-technical-quality agro-residual biomass into a solid biofuel of superior quality. The production of pellets consisted of co-pressing sugarcane bagasse with either pinewood sawdust or peanut shell at the standard proportion of 50/50 on an automatic pelletizer at 200 MPa and 125°C. The blending improved the quality of biopellets. These products fulfilled the requirements of European standards for premium-grade solid biofuels. Blends proved to be highly energetic (15.1–15.35 GJ m−3) and durable (98.05–98.7%). They also emitted less of NOx(92.7–101.55 mg m−3), CO (59.05–63.2 mg m−3), and volatile organics (26.3–29.65 mg m−3), making it possible for the boiler to operate a clearer and safer way. Therefore, insights into the conceptual and technical ramifications of this study can provide further knowledge to progress the field’s prominence in transforming sugarcane bagasse into a solid biofuel of greater quality.

ObjectiveFor transgender women (TW) on oestrogen therapy, the effects of prior exposure to testosterone during puberty on their performance, mainly cardiopulmonary capacity (CPC), while exerting physical effort are unknown. Our objective was to evaluate CPC and muscle strength in TW undergoing long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out with 15 TW (34.2±5.2 years old), 13 cisgender men (CM) and 14 cisgender women (CW). The TW received hormone therapy for 14.4±3.5 years. Bioimpedance, the hand grip test and cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a treadmill with an incremental effort were performed.ResultsThe mean VO2peak (L/min) was 2606±416.9 in TW, 2167±408.8 in CW and 3358±436.3 in CM (TW vs CW, p<0.05; TW vs CM, p<0.0001; CW vs CM, p<0.0001). The O2 pulse in TW was between that in CW and CM (TW vs CW, p<0.05, TW vs CM, p<0.0001). There was a high correlation between VO2peak and fat-free mass/height2among TW (r=0.7388; p<0.01), which was not observed in the other groups. The mean strength (kg) was 35.3±5.4 in TW, 29.7±3.6 in CW and 48.4±6.7 in CM (TW vs CW, p<0.05; TW vs CM, p<0.0001).ConclusionCPC in non-athlete TW showed an intermediate pattern between that in CW and CM. The mean strength and VO2 peak in non-athlete TW while performing physical exertion were higher than those in non-athlete CW and lower than those in CM.

Background: Several metal-based molecules that display cytotoxicity against multiple cell lines have been pursued in an attempt to fight against cancer and to overcome the typical side effects of drugs like cisplatin. In this scenario, ruthenium complexes have been extensively studied due to their activity in both in vitro and in vivo biological systems, including various cancer cell strains. Objective: We aimed to develop a method to synthesize novel [Ru(NO)(bpy)2L2]2+ complexes containing amino acid ligands by using an alternative Click Chemistry approach, namely the copper azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC reaction), to construct nitrosyl/nitrite complexes bearing a modified lysine residue. Methods: We synthesized a new ligand by Click Chemistry approach and new compounds bearing the unprecedented ligand. Cytotoxicity was assessed by the classical MTT colorimetric assay. MCF-7 and MDAMB- 231 cells were used as breast cancer cell models. MCF-10 was used as a model of healthy cells. Results: Amino acid ligands related to N3-Lys(Fmoc) and the new pyLys were successfully synthesized by the diazotransfer reaction and the CuAAC reaction, respectively. The latter reaction involves coupling between N3-Lys(Fmoc) and 3ethynylpyridine. Both N3-Lys(Fmoc) and the new pyLys were introduced into the ruthenium bipyridine complex I, or cis-[RuII(NO)(NO2)(bpy)2]2+, to generate the common nitro-based complex III, which was further converted to the final complex IV. Results of the MTT assay proved the cytotoxic effect of cis- [RuII(NO)(pyLysO-)(bpy)2](PF6)2 against the mammalian breast cancer cells MCF-7 and MDA-MB231. Conclusion: The viability assays revealed that complex IV, bearing a NO group and a modified lysine residue, was able to release NO and cross tumor cell membranes. In this work, Complex IV was observed to be the most active ruthenium bipyridine complex against the mammalian breast cancer cells MCF-7 and MDA-MB231: it was approximately twice as active as cisplatin, whilst complexes I-III proved to be less cytotoxic than complex IV. Additional tests using healthy MCF 10A cells showed that complexes II-IV were three- to sixfold less toxic than cisplatin, which suggested that complex IV was selective against cancer cells.

Objectives: This study evaluates the quality of ophthalmic images acquired by a nurse technician trained in teleophthalmology as compared with images acquired by an ophthalmologist, in order to provide a better understanding of the workforce necessary to operate remote care programs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 2044 images obtained from 118 participants of the TeleOftalmo project, in Brazil. Fundus and slit-lamp photography were performed on site by an ophthalmologist and by a nurse technician under the supervision of a remote ophthalmologist. Image quality was then evaluated by masked ophthalmologists. Proportion of suitable images in each group was compared. Results: The proportion of concordant classification regarding quality was 94.8%, with a corrected kappa agreement of 0.94. When analyzing each type of photo separately, there was no significant difference in the proportion of suitable images between on-site ophthalmologist and nurse technician with remote ophthalmologist assistance for the following: slit-lamp views of the anterior segment and anterior chamber periphery, and fundus photographs centered on the macula and on the optic disc (P= 0.825, P= 0.997, P= 0.194, and P= 0.449, respectively). For slit-lamp views of the lens, the proportion of suitable images was higher among those obtained by an ophthalmologist (99.6%) than by a technician (93.8%, P&lt; 0.01). Conclusions: Ophthalmic photographs acquired by a trained technician consistently achieved >90% adequacy for remote reading. Compared with ophthalmologist-acquired photos, the proportion of images deemed suitable achieved a high overall agreement. These findings provide favorable evidence of the adequacy of teleophthalmological imaging by nurse technicians.

Introduction:Abdominal surgery in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) is challenging, especially in the biologic era. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with increased risk for postoperative complications in CD. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted with consecutive patients who underwent abdominal surgery for CD from January 2012 to January 2018. Results:Of 103 patients, 32% had postoperative complications. Gender, age, disease location and phenotype, hemoglobin and albumin levels, previous abdominal surgery, and preoperative optimization did not differ between the groups with or without complications. Thirty-five percent of the patients were under anti-TNF therapy, and this medication was not associated with increased risk for postoperative complications. Time since the onset of the disease was significantly higher in patients with complications (12.9 vs. 9.4, p= 0.04). In multivariate analysis, creation of ostomy and urgent surgery were the only variables independently associated with increased risk for complications (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.12–9.46 and OR 2.94, 95% CI 0.98–9.09, respectively). Conclusion:Urgent surgery for CD should preferably be performed in specialized centers, and creation of stoma is not necessarily associated with lower rate of postoperative complications but rather less severe complications.

A study was conducted to determine the association of the increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and reduced forearm blood flow (FBF) with the MSNA and 24-h blood pressure (BP) for anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) users and AAS nonusers. The increase in MSNA and reduction in muscle blood flow in young individuals due to AAS and the increase in BP levels in AAS users associated with augmented sympathetic outflow suggested that AAS increases the susceptibility for cardiovascular disease in humans.

Background:Since renal failure is one of the main causes of death in patients with Fabry disease (FD), renal follow-up is an important part of clinical monitoring in these patients. Despite its known limitations, serum creatinine is still the most widely used biomarker. While new renal biomarkers are described, their effectiveness has not yet been fully evaluated in relation to FD. Objectives:This study aimed to compare renal biomarkers commonly and rarely used in the evaluation of FD patients. Method:The usual biomarkers for renal monitoring (microalbuminuria, proteinuria, and creatinine) and some more rarely used (cystatin C, beta 2-microglobulin [β2M], neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin/lipocalin-2) were quantified in the blood and/or urine samples of 40 FD patients, 39 controls without chronic kidney disease (CKD) paired by age and sex and 38 controls with CKD undergoing hemodialysis. Results:Significant statistical differences (p< 0.05) were observed for cystatin C and lipocalin-2 in plasma levels, for β2M and serum creatinine levels and by estimated glomerular filtration rate when compared FD patients and control group with CKD and for proteinuria and microalbuminuria in urine samples and for lipocalin-2 in plasma levels when compared FD patients and control group without CKD. Urine creatinine (UCreat), pH, and urine specific gravity did not present a significant statistical difference between groups. Conclusion:Considering serum creatinine as gold standard, all renal parameters evaluated, including receiver operating characteristic curve, indicated β2M as the best biomarker, followed by cystatin C, proteinuria and microalbuminuria, while the results for lipocalin-2 and UCreat do not indicate good predictors of renal impairment. It suggests that at least 2 altered biomarkers should be considered to characterize a renal alteration, thereby establishing a better therapeutic course for FD patients. If possible, along with serum creatinine, measurement of β2M or cystatin C for renal evaluation of Fabry’s patients should be considered.

Background: The most active agents for the treatment of breast cancer are the anthracyclines whose clinical usefulness is limited by cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, which results in congestive heart failure among other limiting factors. With all the attempts to minimize chemotherapeutic cardiotoxicity, remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) has been considered as a potent endogenous mechanism capable of inhibiting inflammatory responses. Objective: This study aimed to verify if RIPC may be effective as prophylaxis to prevent anthracycline- induced cardiotoxicity in oncological patients. Methods: The preconditioning method was based on four to five-minute cycles of a blood pressure cuff insufflation around the upper arm (either left or right) from 200 mmHg to 250 mmHg, inducing ischemic intervals interspersed with 5 minutes of reperfusion. Results: In this work, echocardiogram results showed a ventricular mass variation that can get worse during chemotherapeutic treatment; however, in patients who had been undergoing RIPC sessions over a period of 6 months, it was observed that this change did not occur. The parameters for troponin T levels were considered; they were higher in patients who were not undergoing RIPC in relation to those who were. When both cases were compared, it was possible to infer that there was a clinically significant improvement for those who went through the procedure. Conclusion: Thus, through the analysis of this study, it is possible to conclude that RIPC is a lowcost, non-invasive procedure which brings cardiac protection for patients undergoing chemotherapy with anthracyclines, providing support in the treatment of cancer.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a pathological condition that affects diabetic patients around the world, and it is the main cause of chronic kidney diseases. It is known that the inflammatory pathway is activated in diabetic patients. Thus, the aims of this study were to evaluate the gene expression of Nuclear factor-κappa B (NF-κB) in liquid samples (urine and blood), then to evaluate the correlation between NF-κBgene expression with classical biochemical markers of kidney disease to investigate if the gene expression of this molecule can be used as a biomarker of loss of kidney function in diabetic patients. We recruited 35 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitusfor at least 5 years and 29 healthy donors and collected samples of urine and blood to quantify the NF-κBexpression. It was found higher expression of NF-κBin both samples in diabetes patients. We verified elevated levels of microalbuminuria, serum creatinine, urea and BMI in diabetic patients, as well as a fall in GFR, without alteration in serum creatinine and proteinuria levels. Our data suggest that overexpression of NF-κBparticipates in the onset of diabetic nephropathy and that it is possible to quantify these changes in liquid biopsy (blood and urine) through gene expression of this molecule. The NF-κBexpression is correlated with increased BMI data.

Public health policies in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are still lacking. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and severity of MASLD in primary health care (PHC) through non-invasive markers.

Background: Fungal secondary metabolites are important sources for the discovery of new pharmaceuticals, as exemplified by penicillin, lovastatin and cyclosporine. Searching for secondary metabolites of the fungi Metarhizium spp., we previously identified tyrosine betaine as a major constituent. Methods: Because of the structural similarity with other inhibitors of neprilysin (NEP), an enzyme explored for the treatment of heart failure, we devised the synthesis of tyrosine betaine and three analogues to be subjected to in vitro NEP inhibition assays and to molecular modeling studies. Results: In spite of the similar binding modes with other NEP inhibitors, these compounds only displayed moderate inhibitory activities (IC50 ranging from 170.0 to 52.9 μM). However, they enclose structural features required to hinder passive blood brain barrier permeation (BBB). Conclusions: Tyrosine betaine remains as a starting point for the development of NEP inhibitors because of the low probability of BBB permeation and, consequently, of NEP inhibition at the Central Nervous System, which is associated to an increment in the Aβ levels and, accordingly, with a higher risk for the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

AbstractAmphibians are exposed to a number of negative factors in urban areas and the influence of a specific variable can vary among different ecological systems. This study provides information on the anurofauna along an urban-rural gradient in Araçatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil. Anurans were sampled in 11 breeding habitats distributed throughout seven surveyed sites in urban, peri-urban and rural areas, during six field visits between May 2011 and January 2013. We recorded 23 species of anurans belonging to 12 genera and four families. For both urban and peri-urban regions, we recorded 11 species per area, the number of species in the rural area reaching 20. The greatest similarity in species composition found at urban and peri-urban sites showed the urbanization-induced impoverishment and homogenization of their anuran communities. In contrast, the anurofauna of the rural area was rich and diversified. Vegetation heterogeneity in breeding habitats and forest formations surrounding these water bodies was found to have a positive effect on species richness and composition and, therefore, to be an important factor affecting amphibian populations in water bodies in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

Context: The belt-stabilized handheld dynamometer (HHD) has been used to assess the strength of knee- and hip-muscle groups. However, few researchers have examined its reliability and validity for assessing the strength of these muscles.Objective: To evaluate the intra-examiner reliability of the belt-stabilized HHD and its validity and agreement with the isokinetic dynamometer for assessing the strength of knee- and hip-muscle groups.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: University laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: We evaluated 26 healthy participants (13 men, 13 women; age 23.5 ± 2.8 years, height 1.7 ± 0.1 m, mass 68.6 ± 12.4 kg) in 2 sessions using the belt-stabilized HHD and an isokinetic dynamometer for maximum strength of the hip adductors, abductors, flexors, extensors, internal rotators, and external rotators and the knee flexors and extensors.Main Outcome Measure(s): We used reliability values provided by the intraclass correlation coefficient (2,3), standard error of measurement (SEM and percentage SEM), and minimal detectable change; correlation values comparing the belt-stabilized HHD and the isokinetic instrument using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r); and the mean difference in values comparing the 2 instruments using the Bland-Altman method.Results: The intrarater HHD reliability was excellent for most measurements (range 0.80–0.96; SEM 1.3–5.3 kilograms of force or 4.8−18.9 Nm, percentage SEM 7.0–22.0, minimal detectable change 3.6–18.8 kilograms of force or 13.2−52.4 Nm) and was moderate only for bilateral knee flexion and left hip internal rotation (intraclass correlation coefficient 2,3 0.62–0.66 and 0.70, respectively). Correlation with the isokinetic dynamometer was moderate to high (r 0.60–0.90), but the absolute values did not demonstrate concordance between results using the Bland-Altman method.Conclusions: The belt-stabilized HHD measurements were reliable, and although they did not agree with those from the isokinetic dynamometer, the values were correlated for the hip- and knee-muscle groups.

A 10-year-old boy presented to our hospital with a 3-year history of fall attacks triggered by laughing, leading to a generalized loss of muscle tone without loss of consciousness (video). One year later, motor delayed skills started. Examination showed ataxia, moderate cognitive impairment, and vertical gaze palsy. EEG revealed diffuse slowing and disorganization of background rhythms. Molecular analysis disclosed heterozygosis p.P1007A and p.A1035V mutations, diagnostic of Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC).

The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiology of primary tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) in pediatric patients from a Brazilian oncology institute. We retrospectively analyzed 741 charts (415 males and 326 females) of patients under 21 years of age who were diagnosed with a CNS tumor. The analysis included patients from 1989 to 2009 and was performed using the World Health Organization criteria. We evaluated the distribution of age, sex, topography, clinical symptoms, symptom intervals, and classification of the tumors. Patients with clinicalradiologic diagnoses were included. Seven hundred forty-one patients with tumors in the CNS were reviewed, and 83 of the patients presented a histologic diagnosis. Males (56) were more prevalent than females. In children under the age of 1 year, the supratentorial compartment was the predominant region involved (62.0). Astrocytoma was the most frequent tumor type (37.0), followed by medulloblastoma (13.6), craniopharyngioma (10.5), and ependymoma (6.8). Headaches were the most common symptom, and the symptom intervals varied from 1 to 5010 days. Approximately 4 of the patients had associated genetic syndromes. Although it was not a population study and selection bias may have occurred, this study supplies important epidemiologic data from an emerging country in which population studies are rare.