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Astrocytes are ubiquitous in the brain and spinal cord and display a complex morphology important for the local interactions with neighboring cells, resulting in the modulation of circuit function. Thus, studies focusing on astrocyte physiology in the healthy and diseased brain generally present analyses of astrocytic structure. The labeling method used to visualize the astrocytic structure defines the morphological level to observe and may vary depending on the anatomical sub-regions. The method choice may significantly affect our understanding of their structural diversity. The main goal of this work was to identify a straightforward and efficient protocol for labeling and reconstructing a detailed astrocytic structure to apply and validate in different brain tissue preparations across laboratories. For that, we explored different tissue processing protocols before GFAP labeling to determine the most effective method for reconstructing astrocytic backbones in the mouse hippocampus. Our results show that the reconstruction of astrocytic structure in vibratome sections labeled by free-floating immunofluorescence protocol provides a more practical method to achieve a higher level of detail and arbor complexity in astrocyte backbone reconstruction. Free-floating immunofluorescence labeling is the most reliable method for obtaining better antibody penetration and more detailed astrocyte structure. Finally, we also show that introducing an antigen retrieval step appears useful for visualizing more complete structural details. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an increasingly aging and overweight population, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are major public health concerns. T2DM patients experience prejudicial effects on their bone health, affecting their physical capacity. Exercise in hypoxia (EH) and a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) have been suggested for therapeutic benefits in T2DM, improving bone mineral content (BMC) and glycemic control. This study investigated the effects of EH combined with an LCD on body composition and functional and physiologic capacity in T2DM patients. Older T2DM patients (n = 42) were randomly assigned to the following groups: (1) control group: control diet + exercise in normoxia; (2) EH group: control diet + EH; (3) intervention group: LCD + EH. Cardiopulmonary tests (BRUCE protocol), body composition (DEXA), and functional capacity (6MWT, handgrip strength) were evaluated. Body mass index (kg/m2) and body fat (%) decreased in all groups (p < 0.001). BMC (kg) increased in all groups (p < 0.001) and was significantly higher in the EH and EH + LCD groups (p < 0.001). VO2peak improved in all groups (p < 0.001), but more so in the hypoxia groups (p = 0.019). Functional capacity was increased in all groups (p < 0.001), but more so in the EH group in 6MWT (p = 0.030). EH with and without an LCD is a therapeutic strategy for improving bone mass in T2DM, which is associated with cardiorespiratory and functional improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes Mia Couto's short story "O dia em que explodiu Mabata-bata" [The day Mabata-bata exploded] and its adaptation by Sol de Carvalho's film Mabata Bata. Through an analysis of both versions, this study aims to understand how Couto's narrative was recreated and transfigured in the film adaptation. The film adaptation of the story employs a blend of images and additional text to extend the verbal dimensions of the original story, thus creating a new experience. It establishes affinities with the original story and introduces new elements that add to the narrative's depth and complexity. The adaptation of the story in the film provides an opportunity to examine the decolonial perspective of the nation's history, portraying the symbolic metamorphosis during the civil war (1977–1992). By analyzing both the short story and the film, this study highlights the pivotal role of literature and cinema in fostering a Mozambique "de-linking" identity through language, religion and traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction is presented to the article "Eight Weeks of Intermittent Exercise in Hypoxia, With or Without a Low-Carbohydrate Diet, Improves Bone Mass and Functional and Physiological Capacity in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes," which appeared in the 2024 issue of the magazine.

A good oral health status is mostly dependent on good oral hygiene habits, which knowingly impacts systemic health. Although controversial, chemical oral antiseptics can be useful in adjunct use to mechanical dental plaque control techniques in the prevention and management of local and overall health and well-being. This review aims to revisit, gather and update evidence-based clinical indications for the use of the most popular oral antiseptics, considering different types, microorganism targets and effectiveness in order to establish updated clinical recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, significant changes have driven the advancement of agricultural production systems in Brazil. The objective of this study is to analyze the efficiency and transformation of the agricultural production system in the Ibirapuitã Environmental Preservation Area (EPA) through nitrogen input and output flows. Methodologically, the approach is considered mixed, consisting of a case study and based on quantitative and qualitative techniques. Flowcharts and indicators were elaborated to evaluate nitrogen flows over time. The results were confirmed through semi-structured interviews. The results indicated that production based on economic efficiency is one of the main factors transforming the livestock system. The transformation of the production system into livestock did not reduce nitrogen flows. Productive and economic indicators reaffirm the transformation and volatility of livestock systems under economic and political contexts, even in an environmental protection unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by an abnormal polyglutamine expansion within the ataxin-3 protein (ATXN3). This leads to neurodegeneration of specific brain and spinal cord regions, resulting in a progressive loss of motor function. Despite neuronal death, non-neuronal cells, including astrocytes, are also involved in SCA3 pathogenesis. Astrogliosis is a common pathological feature in SCA3 patients and animal models of the disease. However, the contribution of astrocytes to SCA3 is not clearly defined. Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2 (IP3R2) is the predominant IP3R in mediating astrocyte somatic calcium signals, and genetically ablation of IP3R2 has been widely used to study astrocyte function. Here, we aimed to investigate the relevance of IP3R2 in the onset and progression of SCA3. For this, we tested whether IP3R2 depletion and the consecutive suppression of global astrocytic calcium signalling would lead to marked changes in the behavioral phenotype of a SCA3 mouse model, the CMVMJD135 transgenic line. This was achieved by crossing IP3R2 null mice with the CMVMJD135 mouse model and performing a longitudinal behavioral characterization of these mice using well-established motor-related function tests. Our results demonstrate that IP3R2 deletion in astrocytes does not modify SCA3 progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a systemic inflammatory state. We assessed the effects of exercise on inflammatory markers in individuals with CKD. An electronic search was conducted, including MEDLINE. Experimental clinical trials that investigated the effects of exercise on inflammatory markers in individuals with CKD at all stages were included. Meta-analyses were conducted using the random-effects model and standard mean difference (SMD). Subgroup analyses were performed for resistance, aerobic, and combined exercise interventions. Twenty-nine studies were included in the meta-analyses. Exercise interventions showed significant reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD: −0.23; 95% CI: −0.39 to −0.06), interleukin (IL)-6 (SMD: −0.35; 95% CI: −0.57, −0.14), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (SMD: −0.63, 95% CI: −1.01, −0.25) when compared with the controls. IL-10 levels significantly increased (SMD: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.09, 1.23) with exercise interventions. Resistance interventions significantly decreased CRP (SMD: −0.39, 95% CI: −0.69, −0.09) and TNF-α (SMD: −0.72, 95% CI: −1.20, −0.23) levels, while increasing IL-10 levels (SMD: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.04, 1.09). Aerobic interventions only significantly reduced IL-6 levels (SMD: −0.26, 95% CI: −0.51, −0.01). No significant changes in any inflammatory markers were observed with combined exercise interventions. Exercise interventions are effective as an anti-inflammatory therapy in individuals with CKD compared to usual care control groups. Resistance interventions seem to promote greater anti-inflammatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a global health burden with high mortality and health costs. CKD patients exhibit lower cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, strongly associated with morbidity/mortality, which is exacerbated when they reach the need for renal replacement therapies (RRT). Muscle wasting in CKD has been associated with an inflammatory/oxidative status affecting the resident cells' microenvironment, decreasing repair capacity and leading to atrophy. Exercise may help counteracting such effects; however, the molecular mechanisms remain uncertain. Thus, trying to pinpoint and understand these mechanisms is of particular interest. This review will start with a general background about myogenesis, followed by an overview of the impact of redox imbalance as a mechanism of muscle wasting in CKD, with focus on the modulatory effect of exercise on the skeletal muscle microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Brazil has the largest cattle commercial herd in the world, mostly of the Nelore breed (Bos taurus indicus), and it is one of the largest in vitro bovine embryo producers. However, Nelore cows experience puberty later than taurine breeds (Bos taurus taurus), which can lead to a delay in genetic improvement. Therefore, including calves as oocyte donors for in vitro embryo production programs could be an attractive step for reducing the interval between generations, accelerating the herd's genetic gains, and contributing to the sustainability of milk and meat production systems. Nevertheless, calves' oocytes are reported as less competent in generating embryos and establishing pregnancies than those collected from adult females. In addition, most studies have been carried out on taurines. Thus, this study's goal was to search for a better understanding of prepubertal Nelore females' reproductive development, related to the performance of their oocytes in terms of in vitro production of embryos. This can provide support for making decisions on the use of this animal category as an oocyte donor and prospects for hormonal protocols or changes in the culture media for in vitro embryo production. The purpose of this study was to characterize the reproductive physiology, oocyte competence, and chromatin compaction in Nelore calves in the early-prepubertal period (EPP) and the intermediate-prepubertal period (IPP). Calves aged 2–5 (EPP) and 8–11 months old (IPP) were assigned to Trial 1 (morpho-physiological–endocrine evaluations, n = 8) or Trial 2 (oocyte donors, n = 8) vs. the respective control groups of cows (n = 8, each). All morphological endpoints, except the antral follicle count, increased from the EPP to the IPP. The EPP LH-FSH plasma concentrations were similar to cows, whereas LH was lower and FSH was higher in the IPP than in cows.. Cows produced more Grade I (12.9% vs. 4.1% and 1.7%) and fewer Grade III COC (30.1% vs. 44.5% and 49.0%) than the EPP and IPP calves, respectively. The IPP calves' oocyte diameter was similar to those from cows but greater than those from EPP females (124.8 ± 8.5 and 126.0 ± 7.5 μm vs. 121.3 ± 7.5 μm, respectively). The expression of the chromatin compaction-related gene HDAC3 was downregulated in calves. The proportion of the blastocyst rate to the controls was lower in EPP than in IPP calves (43.7% vs. 78.7%, respectively). Progressive oocyte competence was found during the prepubertal period, which can help to decide whether to recover oocytes from calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella L., is an important pest of apples worldwide. CM resistance to insecticides is a serious problem in apple production. For effective management and control, monitoring of resistant CM populations is absolutely necessary. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether it is possible to find a reliable pattern of differences in CM populations related to the type of apple control method. The genetic results showed low estimated value of the pairwise fixation index, FST = 0.021, which indicates a lack of genetic differentiation and structuring between the genotyped populations. Different approaches were used to analyze the genetic structure of codling moth populations: Bayesian-based model of population structure (STRUCTURE), principal component analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC). STRUCTURE grouped the CM genotypes into two distinct clusters, and the results of PCA were consistent with this. The DAPC revealed three distinct groups. However, the results showed that population genetic differentiation between organic and integrated orchards was not significant. To confirm the genetic results, the forewing morphology of the same CM individuals was examined using geometric morphometric techniques based on the venation patterns of 18 landmarks. The geometric results showed higher sensitivity and separated three distinct groups. Geometric morphometrics was shown to be a more sensitive method to detect variability in genotypes due to pest control management. This study shows the possibility of using a novel method for a strategic integrated pest management (IPM) program for CM that is lacking in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to analyze meso-institutions, and their effect on the performance of the dairy farms in the regions along the western border of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Exploratory and descriptive research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach. The data collection techniques included documentary research, interviews, self-reports, and questionnaires administered to a sample of 96 milk producers. Interpretive analysis was used to process the qualitative data, and the Mann–Whitney U test and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the quantitative data. The results of the analyses led to the identification of the meso-institutions and their role in interpreting, implementing, and monitoring rules in the milk supply chain. The findings indicated that the meso-institutions do not operate uniformly in the various milk-producing regions. The regression results indicated that effective monitoring by the meso-institutions positively influences the milk producer's perception of performance. Therefore, to maintain the sector's competitiveness, meso-institutions are necessary for interpreting, implementing, and monitoring the implementation of rules in the organizational arrangement in the dairy supply chain. The research brings advances in the field of knowledge of meso-institutions, a research frontier of the new institutional economics. Provide subsidies for public and private policies to consolidate the milk supply chain in emerging countries, especially highlighting the importance of meso-institutions as interlocutors between the macro level and the economic and social problems of producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mixed methods bibliometric analysis was performed to ascertain the characteristic of scientific literature published in a 10-year period (2007-2016) regarding the application of remote sensing data in human health. A search was performed on the Scopus database, followed by manual revision using synthesis studies' techniques, requiring the authors to sort through more than 8000 medical concepts to create the query, and to manually select relevant papers from over 2000 documents. From the initial 2752 papers identified, 520 articles were selected for analysis, showing that the United States ranked first, with a total of 250 (48.1% of the total) documents, followed by France and the United Kingdom, with 67 (12.9% of the total) and 54 (10.4% of the total) documents, respectively. When considering authorship, the top three authors were Vounatsou P (22 articles), Utzinger J (19 articles), and Vignolles C (13 articles). Regarding disease-specific keywords, malaria, dengue, and schistosomiasis were the most frequent keywords, occurring 142, 34, and 24 times, respectively. For some infectious diseases and other highly pathogenic or emerging infectious diseases, remote sensing has become a very powerful instrument. Also, several studies relate different environmental factors retrieved by remote sensing data with other diseases, such as asthma exacerbations. Health-related remote sensing publications are increasing and this paper highlights the importance of these related technologies toward better information and, ideally, better provision of healthcare. On the other hand, this paper provides an overall picture of the state of the research regarding the application of remote sensing data in human health and identifies the most active stakeholders e.g., authors and institutions in the field, informing possible new collaboration research groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to analyse the sustainability of different livestock systems in the Brazilian Pampa biome, from the perspective of the rangeland dilemma. We used the indicator-based framework for evaluating the sustainability of natural resource management systems (MESMIS). These were constructed for social, economic and environmental dimensions, and they were measured across a study suite of 115 establishments, representing the rangeland livestock system (RLS), intensive livestock system, and livestock–agricultural system (ALS). Indicator averages were compared between three systems via ANOVA and Tukey test. The results allocated a higher level of sustainability to RLS. When the three land-use systems were analysed across the dimensions, significant differences were found in their environmental sustainability, with the ALS presenting poorer results. Within each dimension, there were significant differences in the indicators for production systems, social participation and capital flow. We discussed two main points: the results found through the concept of the rangeland dilemma, by exploring its conditions, in addition to exposing the concept of functional integrity. In conclusion, an approach to develop policies for the Pampa is to recognize the rangeland as a "common good", to generate income and stimulate the local economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the electrical power sector due to the advances in digitalization, decarbonization and decentralization has led to the increase in challenges within the current distribution network. Therefore, there is an increased need to analyze the impact of the smart grid and its implemented solutions in order to address these challenges at the earliest stage, i.e., during the pilot phase and before large-scale deployment and mass adoption. Therefore, this paper presents the scalability and replicability analysis conducted within the European project InteGrid. Within the project, innovative solutions are proposed and tested in real demonstration sites (Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden) to enable the DSO as a market facilitator and to assess the impact of the scalability and replicability of these solutions when integrated into the network. The analysis presents a total of three clusters where the impact of several integrated smart tools is analyzed alongside future large scale scenarios. These large scale scenarios envision significant penetration of distributed energy resources, increased network dimensions, large pools of flexibility, and prosumers. The replicability is analyzed through different types of networks, locations (country-wise), or time (daily). In addition, a simple replication path based on a step by step approach is proposed as a guideline to replicate the smart functions associated with each of the clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy efficiency requirements of most energy-consuming sectors have increased recently in response to climate change. For buildings, this means targeting both facility managers and building users with the aim of identifying potential energy savings and encouraging more energy-responsible behaviors. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform developed in Horizon 2020 FEEdBACk project intends to fulfill these goals by enabling the optimization of energy consumption, generation, and storage and control of flexible devices without compromising comfort levels and indoor air quality parameters. This work aims to demonstrate the real-world implementation and functionality of the ICT platform composed of Load Disaggregation, Net Load Forecast, Occupancy Forecast, Automation Manager, and Behavior Predictor applications. Particularly, the results obtained by individual applications during the test phase are presented alongside the specific metrics used to evaluate their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation-modulating elements are recognized periodontitis (PD) risk factors, nevertheless, the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and PD has never been appraised. We aimed to assess the association between DII and PD and the mediation effect of DII in the association of PD with systemic inflammation. Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2010, 2011–2012 and 2013–2014, participants who received periodontal exam and provided dietary recall data were included. The inflammatory potential of diet was calculated via DII. PD was defined according to the 2012 case definition. White blood cells (WBC), segmented neutrophils and C-reactive protein (CRP) were used as proxies for systemic inflammation. The periodontal measures were regressed across DII values using adjusted multivariate linear regression and adjusted mediation analysis. Overall, 10,178 participants were included. DII was significantly correlated with mean periodontal probing depth (PPD), mean clinical attachment loss (CAL), thresholds of PPD and CAL, WBC, segmented neutrophils and DII (p < 0.01). A linear regression logistic adjusted for multiple confounding variables confirmed the association between DII and mean PPD (B = 0.02, Standard Error [SE]: 0.02, p < 0.001) and CAL (B = −0.02, SE: 0.01, p < 0.001). The association of mean PPD and mean CAL with both WBC and segmented neutrophils were mediated by DII (from 2.1 to 3.5%, p < 0.001). In the 2009–2010 subset, the association of mean CAL with serum CRP was mediated by DII (52.0%, p < 0.01). Inflammatory diet and PD may be associated. Also, the inflammatory diet significantly mediated the association of leukocyte counts and systemic inflammation with PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevention quality indicators (PQIs) constitute a set of measures that can be combined with hospital inpatient data to identify the quality of care for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSC). Geographical information system (GIS) web mapping and applications contribute to a better representation of PQI spatial distribution. Unlike many countries in the world, in Portugal, this type of application remains underdeveloped. The main objective of this work was to facilitate the assessment of geographical patterns and trends of health data in Portugal. Therefore, two innovative open source applications were developed. Leaflet Javascript Library, PostGIS, and GeoServer were used to create a web map application prototype. Python language was used to develop the GIS application. The geospatial assessment of geographical patterns of health data in Portugal can be obtained through a GIS application and a web map application. Both tools proposed allowed for an easy and intuitive assessment of geographical patterns and time trends of PQI values in Portugal, alongside other relevant health data, i.e., the location of health care facilities, which, in turn, showed some association between the location of facilities and quality of health care. However, in the future, more research is still required to map other relevant data, for more in-depth analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy efficiency in buildings can be enhanced by several actions: encouraging users to comprehend and then adopt more energy-efficient behaviors; aiding building managers in maximizing energy savings; and using automation to optimize energy consumption, generation, and storage of controllable and flexible devices without compromising comfort levels and indoor air-quality parameters. This paper proposes an integrated Information and communications technology (ICT) based platform addressing all these factors. The gamification platform is embedded in the ICT platform along with an interactive energy management system, which aids interested stakeholders in optimizing "when and at which rate" energy should be buffered and consumed, with several advantages, such as reducing peak load, maximizing local renewable energy consumption, and delivering more efficient use of the resources available in individual buildings or blocks of buildings. This system also interacts with an automation manager and a users' behavior predictor application. The work was developed in the Horizon 2020 FEEdBACk (Fostering Energy Efficiency and BehAvioral Change through ICT) project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients suffering from periodontitis are at a higher risk of developing cognitive dysfunction. However, the mediation effect of an inflammatory diet and serum vitamin D levels in this link is unclear. In total, 2062 participants aged 60 years or older with complete periodontal diagnosis and cognitive tests from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2012 and 2013–2014 were enrolled. The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) word learning subtest (WLT) and CERAD delayed recall test (DRT), the animal fluency test (AFT) and the digit symbol substitution test (DSST) was used. Dietary inflammatory index (DII) was computed via nutrition datasets. Mediation analysis tested the effects of DII and vitamin D levels in the association of mean probing depth (PD) and attachment loss (AL) in all four cognitive tests. Periodontitis patients obtained worse cognitive test scores than periodontally healthy individuals. DII was negatively associated with CERAD-WLT, CERAD-DRT, AFT and DSST, and was estimated to mediate between 9.2% and 36.4% of the total association between periodontitis with cognitive dysfunction (p < 0.05). Vitamin D showed a weak association between CERAD-DRT, AFT and DSST and was estimated to between 8.1% and 73.2% of the association between periodontitis and cognitive dysfunction (p < 0.05). The association between periodontitis and impaired cognitive function seems to be mediated both by a proinflammatory dietary load and vitamin D deficiency. Future studies should further explore these mediators in the periodontitis-cognitive decline link. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources have been increasingly impacted due to the growth of water demand associated with environmental degradation. In this context, the mapping of groundwater recharge potential has become attractive to water managers as it can be used to direct public policies and conserve this natural asset. The present study modifies (improves) a spatially explicit model to determine groundwater recharge potential at the catchment scale, testing it in the Pandeiros River basin located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The model is generally based on the water balance approach and the input variables were compiled from institutional sources and processed in a Geographic Information System. The novelty brought by the aforementioned modification relates to the coupling of physical variables (conventional way) and land management practices (introduced here) in the estimation of a percolation factor. The role of land management practices for percolation was assessed by the so-called Conservative Use Potential (PUC) method, which classifies the areas of a river basin in terms of their potential for sustainable use. The results were validated by an independent method, namely the recession curve method based on the interpretation of hydrographs. In general, the groundwater recharge potential is favored in flat to gently undulating areas and forested regions, as well as where the landscape is characterized by well-structured soils, good drainage conditions and large hydraulic conductivity. The map of groundwater recharge potential produced in this study can be used by planners and decision makers in the Pandeiros River basin as a tool to achieve sustainable use of groundwater resources and the protection of recharge areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zoning of groundwater recharge potential would be attractive for water managers, but is lacking in many regions around the planet, including in the Jequitiba River basin, Minas Gerais, Brazil. In this study, a physically based spatially distributed method to evaluate groundwater recharge potential at catchment scale was developed and tested in the aforementioned Jequitiba River basin. The data for the test was compiled from institutional sources and implemented in a Geographic Information System. It comprised meteorological, hydrometric, relief, land use, and soil data. The average results resembled the annual recharge calculated by a hydrograph method, which worked as validation method. The spatial variation of recharge highlighted the predominant contribution of flat areas, porous aquifers, and forested regions to groundwater recharge. They also exposed the negative effect of urbanization. In combination, these factors elected the following sectors of the Jequitiba River basin as regions of high recharge potential: the south-southeast part of the headwaters in Prudente de Morais; Sete Lagoas towards the central part of the basin; and the region between Funilândia and Jequitiba, near the Jequitiba river mouth. Some management practices were suggested to improve groundwater recharge. The map of groundwater recharge potential produced in this study is valuable and is therefore proposed as tool for planners in the sustainable use of groundwater and protection of recharge areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]