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Hormone blockers are defined as substances that suppress the release of sex hormones, thus inhibiting the development of secondary sexual characteristics in teenagers. There is currently an increase in young people seeking healthcare services due to a mismatch between their birth-assigned gender and their perceived or self-identified gender. In early childhood, individuals are not usually affected by their physical appearance. Dysphoria may arise during the initial stages of adolescence and if the self-perceived gender does not align with the external appearance. This may have a negative impact on adolescents’ mental health. Could the use of hormone blockers have a positive effect on mental health? The primary objective of this review is to assess whether the use of hormone blockers can have positive effects on the mental health of transgender youth. The review also seeks to evaluate the usage of hormone blockers and the diagnosis of gender dysphoria. A literature search of scientific evidence was conducted across various databases—PUBMED, CUIDEN, ELSEVIER, COCHRANE, DIMENSIONS, SCIELO, PSYCINFO, and CINAHL—alongside a review of the latest publications in high-impact scientific journals and the gray literature. The following terms were used: , , , , , , and . A time period was specified, covering the last ten years (2014–2024). The initial search identified a total of 290 references, which were subsequently narrowed down to 5 studies, with 1 additional study retrieved through other methods. The literature findings are clear. They show that the use of hormone blockers in transgender adolescents can be beneficial, as a reduction in mental health issues was observed during and after their use. Mental healthcare in transgender teenagers is of crucial importance to their physical, psychological, social, and academic spheres. It is also very important for their families. Nurses must be aware of this knowledge to improve the care provided to these individuals and their families during the difficult time surrounding decisions about the use of hormone blockers.

Optical communication systems face challenges like nonlinear noises, particularly Kerr-induced phase noise, which worsens with higher-order m-QAM formats due to their dense data-symbol sets. Advanced signal processing, including machine learning, is increasingly used to enhance signal integrity during demodulation. This paper explores the application of a spectral clustering algorithm adapted to deal with data streaming to mitigate nonlinear noise in long-haul optical channels dominated by nonlinear phase noise, offering a promising solution to a pressing issue. The spectral clustering algorithm was adapted to handle data streams, enabling potential real-time applications. Additionally, it was combined with a demapping process for m-QAM to resolve labeling inconsistencies when processing windowed data. We demonstrate that the spectral clustering algorithm outperforms the k-means algorithm in the face of nonlinear phase noise in −90, −100, and −110 dBc/Hz scenarios at 1 MHz in a simulated 10 GHz symbol rate channel.

In recent years, various solutions have been developed to control power electronic converters using devices available on the market that are powerful and easy to use. These solutions, in most cases, offer high performance. However, these have high implementation costs because the required devices are expensive. For this reason, this document presents the implementation of two discrete-time controllers widely used in the literature for a boost converter implemented on a low-cost platform. The objective is to obtain a constant voltage at the converter’s output for photovoltaic system applications. The proportional-integral control is implemented as the first case, and the second case is a sliding mode control. In addition, a prior analysis is presented through simulation. Both control algorithms are implemented on the TMS320F28379D microcontroller from Texas Instruments through the same manufacturer’s integrated development software based on an optimized C/C++ language compiler. The results of the non-linear algorithm reveal better performance in reducing the time response, the overshoot of the transient state, and the steady-state error. Finally, the significant economic savings associated with the implementation costs of the controllers tested on a low-cost platform differentiate this work from other similar ones.

Plantar vein thrombosis (PVT) is an underdiagnosed condition affecting the deep plantar veins, with challenging clinical diagnosis, often presenting with non-specific symptoms that mimic other foot pathologies. This study assessed the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of patients diagnosed with PVT to contribute to the understanding of this condition. We performed the comprehensive analysis of a substantial dataset, including 112 patients, with a total of 130 positive MRI scans (86 of the forefoot and 44 of the ankle) presenting with PVT. Upon evaluating all the veins of the feet, we observed a higher frequency of involvement of the lateral plantar veins (53.1%) when compared to the medial veins (3.8%). The most affected vascular segments in the forefeet were the plantar metatarsal veins (45.4%), the plantar venous arch (38.5%), and the plantar communicating veins (25.4%). The characteristic findings on MRI were perivascular edema (100%), muscular edema (86.2%), venous ectasia (100%), perivascular enhancement (100%), and intravenous filling defects (97.7%). Our study provides valuable insights into the imaging evaluation of PVT and shows that MRI is a reliable resource for such diagnosis.

An acidic extracellular pH value (pHe) is characteristic of many cancers, in contrast to the physiologic pHe found in most benign cells. This difference in pH offers a unique opportunity to design and engineer chemicals that can be employed for pH-selective reactions in the extracellular fluid of cancer cells. The viability of human skin melanoma and corresponding fibroblasts exposed to CaS dispersions is reported. The viability of melanoma cells decreases with CaS dispersion concentration and reaches 57% at 3%, a value easily distinguishable from melanoma control experiments. In contrast, the viability of benign fibroblasts remains nearly constant within experimental error over the range of dispersion concentrations studied. The CaS dispersions facilitate vinculin delocalization in the cytoplasmic fluid, a result consistent with improved focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulation in melanoma cells. Thermodynamic considerations are consistent with the formation of H2S from CaS in the presence of protons. The thermodynamic prediction is verified in independent experiments with solid CaS and acidic aqueous solutions. The amount of H2S formed decreases with pH. An activation energy for the process of (30 ± 10) kJ/mol in the temperature range of 280 to 330 K is estimated from initial rate measurements as a function of temperature. The total Gibbs energy minimization approach was employed to establish the distribution of sulfides—including H2S in the gas and aqueous phases—from the dissociation of CaS as a function of pH to mimic physiologically relevant pH values. Theoretical calculations suggest that partially protonated CaS in solution can be stable until the sulfur atom bonds to two hydrogen atoms, resulting in the formation of Ca2+ and H2S, which can be solvated and/or released to the gas phase. Our results are consistent with a model in which CaS is dissociated in the extracellular fluid of melanoma cells selectively. The results are discussed in the context of the potential biomedical applications of CaS dispersions in cancer therapies.

Background: Routine vaccination coverage in Latin America and the Caribbean declined prior to and during the coronavirus pandemic. We assessed the pandemic’s impact on national coverage levels and analyzed whether financial and inequality indicators, immunization policies, and pandemic policies were associated with changes in national and regional coverage levels. Methodology: We compared first- and third-dose coverage of diphtheria–pertussis–tetanus-containing vaccine (DTPcv) with predicted coverages using time series forecast modeling for 39 LAC countries and territories. Data were from the PAHO/WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form. A secondary analysis of factors hypothesized to affect coverages during the pandemic was also performed. Results: In total, 31 of 39 countries and territories (79%) had greater-than-predicted declines in DTPcv1 and DTPcv3 coverage during the pandemic, with 9 and 12 of these, respectively, falling outside the 95% confidence interval. Within-country income inequality (i.e., Gini coefficient) was associated with significant declines in DTPcv1 coverage, and cross-country income inequality was associated with declines in DTPcv1 and DTPcv3 coverages. Observed absolute and relative inequality gaps in DTPcv1 and DTPcv3 coverage between extreme country quintiles of income inequality (i.e., Q1 vs. Q5) were accentuated in 2021, as compared with the 2019 observed and 2021 predicted values. We also observed a trend between school closures and greater-than-predicted declines in DTPcv3 coverage that approached statistical significance (p = 0.06). Conclusion: The pandemic exposed vaccination inequities in LAC and significantly impacted coverage levels in many countries. New strategies are needed to reattain high coverage levels.

Plantar vein thrombosis is a venous disorder affecting deep plantar veins that can manifest with non-specific localized pain, plantar foot pain, swelling, and sensation of fullness. Plantar veins are not routinely assessed during sonographic scans for deep venous thrombosis, which makes plantar venous thrombosis a commonly missed diagnosis. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the venous anatomy of the foot and imaging findings of plantar venous thrombosis as well as discusses the current literature on the topic and its differential diagnoses.

Critical COVID-19 has been associated with altered patterns of cytokines. Distinct inflammatory processes in systemic and pulmonary sites have been reported, but studies comparing these two sites are still scarce. We aimed to evaluate the profile of pulmonary and systemic cytokines and chemokines in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Levels of cytokines and chemokines were measured in plasma samples and minibronchoalveolar lavage of critical COVID-19 patients within 48 h and 5–8 days after intubation. Distinct inflammatory processes were observed in the lungs and blood, which were regulated separately. Survivor patients showed higher lung cytokine levels including IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, G-CSF, and CCL4, while nonsurvivors displayed higher levels in the blood, which included IL-6, CXCL8, CXCL10, CCL2, and CCL4. Furthermore, our findings indicate that high TNF and CXCL8 levels in the mini-BAL were associated with better lung oxygen exchange capacity, whereas high levels of IFN-γ in plasma were associated with worse lung function, as measured using the PaO2/FiO2 ratio. These results suggest that a robust and localized inflammatory response in the lungs is protective and associated with survival, whereas a systemic inflammatory response is detrimental and associated with mortality in critical COVID-19.

Coamorphous formation in binary systems of valsartan (Val) with 4,4′-bipyridine (Bipy) and trimethoprim (Tri) was investigated for mixtures with a mole fraction of 0.16~0.86 of valsartan and evaluated in terms of the glass transition temperature. The glass transition of the systems had a behavior outside the values predicted by the Gordon–Taylor equation, showing that Val-Bipy (hydrogen bonding between the components) had a lower deviation and Val-Tri (ionic bonding between the components) had a higher deviation. Mixtures of compositions 2:1 Val-Bipy and 1:1 Val-Tri were selected for further investigation and verified to be stable, as no crystallization was observed during subsequent heating and cooling programs. For these systems, the effective activation energy during glass transition was evaluated. Compared to pure valsartan, the system with the lower glass transition temperature (Val-Bipy) presented the highest effective activation energy, and the system with the higher glass transition temperature (Val-Tri) presented a lower effective activation energy. The results presented a good correlation between the data obtained from two different techniques to determine the fragility and effective activation energy: non-isothermal kinetic analysis by DSC and TSDC.

The Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) (YLH) is an invasive insect that arrived in Europe in 2004 and is now spread across nine countries. It is a threat to the native entomofauna and harmful to beekeeping and agriculture, as it is a ravenous predator of the European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) and other pollinating species. Its expansion has been unstoppable and all resources are needed to fight against it, including native vertebrate predators. Among these, the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) (EBE) is a potential one, but little is known about its predation on YLH. In a study carried out in Portugal, remains of YHL were detected in EBE nesting sites, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first such report. This means that this bird could be one more agent in the biological control of this pest (although research on predation intensity is still needed), in conjunction with other natural predators and other strategies. In the Iberian Peninsula, both species are allopatric in vast regions, so the role of EBE may be more limited. However, in the rest of Europe, at a country or continent scale, the scenario may be different and sympatry may occur to a greater extent.

Studying the quality of freshwater systems and drinking water in highly urbanized megalopolises around the world remains a challenge. This article reports data on the quality of select freshwater systems in Mega Manila, Philippines. Water samples collected between 2020 and 2021 were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters and microbial community metabolic fingerprints, i.e., carbon substrate utilization patterns (CSUPs). The detection of arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was carried out using standard chromatography- and spectroscopy-based protocols. Physiological profiles were determined using the Biolog EcoPlate™ system. Eight samples were free of heavy metals, and none contained PAHs or OCPs. Fourteen samples had high microbial activity, as indicated by average well color development (AWCD) and community metabolic diversity (CMD) values. Community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) revealed that (1) samples clustered as groups according to shared CSUPs, and (2) microbial communities in non-drinking samples actively utilized all six substrate classes compared to drinking samples. The data reported here can provide a baseline or a comparator for prospective quality assessments of drinking water and freshwater sources in the region. Metabolic fingerprinting using CSUPs is a simple and cheap phenotypic analysis of microbial communities and their physiological activity in aquatic environments.

This study aims to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of the C. rhamnifolioides leaf essential oil (OEFC) and the β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (COEFC) and investigate the pain signaling pathways involved in the antinociceptive response. The effects of the OEFC and COEFC on the central nervous system (CNS) were determined by open field and rota-rod assays, and the antinociceptive effect was evaluated via the acetic acid-induced abdominal contortions, formalin, and hot plate models. Swiss (Mus musculus) male mice (20–30 g) were used in both trials. The OEFC (200 mg/kg/v.o-orally) and COEFC (83.5 mg/kg/v.o.) did not present alterations in the CNS. The OEFC (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/vo.) and COEFC (8.35, 41.75, and 83.5 mg/kg/v.o.) demonstrated antinociceptive effects in the abdominal contortions, formalin, and hot plate tests. The OEFC (25 mg/kg/v.o.) and COEFC (8.35 mg/kg/v.o.) doses showed that the antinociceptive effect involves the activation of the opioid, cholinergic, and vanilloid systems, as well as the L-arginine/NO and α-2 adrenergic receptor pathways. The antinociceptive potential the OEFC and COEFC demonstrate possible alternatives for the therapy of pain. However, the COEFC presented more significant effects at lower doses than the isolated OEFC, where this action may be justified by the properties and advantages of the complexation.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are proteins with various functions related to proper cell function and early development in mammals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of AQPs and determine their mRNA levels in the cumulus oocyte complex (COC) of four bovine breeds and in blastocysts of five bovine crosses. Grade I, II and III COCs were collected by ovum pick up from non-lactating heifers of the Brahaman, Holstein, Gir and Romosinuano breeds. Embryos were produced in vitro up to the blastocyst stage of the bovine ♀Gir × ♂Holstein, ♀Holstein × ♂Gir, ♀Brahman × ♂Holstein, ♀Holstein × ♂Brahman, and ♀Romosinuano × ♂Holstein crosses. mRNA expression of AQP1-AQP12b was estimated in COC and embryos by real-time-PCR. The presence of the twelve AQPs in the COCs and bovine embryos was established. Additionally, significant differences were determined in the expression of AQP6 and AQP12b in COCs, as well as in transcripts levels of AQP4, AQP8 and AQP9 from bovine embryos. Gene expression of AQPs in COCs and bovine embryos is consistent with the previously described biological functions. This is the first report of AQPs in COC of Gir, Brahman, Holstein and Romosinuano and embryos of five crossbreeds between Bos indicus and B. taurus.

This paper presents a discrete-time output feedback controller to regulate the output voltage of a DC-DC buck converter. The proposal’s main feature is the application of a discrete-time equivalent of the robust exact filtering differentiator. First, the document exposes a theoretical analysis of the closed-loop system, where it is considered the problem of implementing a real-time differentiator with a good relationship between exactness and noise filtration performance. Hence, secondly, the controller in a laboratory setup is presented. The first experimental results suggest that the proposed controller exhibits good robustness against noise and maintains the asymptotic accuracy, even with saturated control inputs, as in the case of the DC-DC buck converter. Consequently, aiming to verify the features of the proposed method, the controller is validated through multiple experiments, showing satisfactory voltage tracking accuracy, good suppression of instantaneous load and supply voltage disturbances, and robustness against bounded measurement noise.

In this work, co-crystal screening was carried out for two important dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors, trimethoprim (TMP) and pyrimethamine (PMA), and for 2,4-diaminopyrimidine (DAP), which is the pharmacophore of these active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The isomeric pyridinecarboxamides and two xanthines, theophylline (THEO) and caffeine (CAF), were used as co-formers in the same experimental conditions, in order to evaluate the potential for the pharmacophore to be used as a guide in the screening process. In silico co-crystal screening was carried out using BIOVIA COSMOquick and experimental screening was performed by mechanochemistry and supported by (solid + liquid) binary phase diagrams, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The in silico prediction of low propensities for DAP, TMP and PMA to co-crystallize with pyridinecarboxamides was confirmed: a successful outcome was only observed for DAP + nicotinamide. Successful synthesis of multicomponent solid forms was achieved for all three target molecules with theophylline, with DAP co-crystals revealing a greater variety of stoichiometries. The crystalline structures of a (1:2) TMP:THEO co-crystal and of a (1:2:1) DAP:THEO:ethyl acetate solvate were solved. This work demonstrated the possible use of the pharmacophore of DHFR inhibitors as a guide for co-crystal screening, recognizing some similar trends in the outcome of association in the solid state and in the molecular aggregation in the co-crystals, characterized by the same supramolecular synthons.

(1) Background: the Miombo woodlands comprise the most important vegetation from southern Africa and are dominated by tree legumes with an ecology highly driven by fires. Here, we report on the characterization of bacterial communities from the rhizosphere of Brachystegia boehmii in different soil types from areas subjected to different regimes. (2) Methods: bacterial communities were identified through Illumina MiSeq sequencing (16S rRNA). Vigna unguiculata was used as a trap to capture nitrogen-fixing bacteria and culture-dependent methods in selective media were used to isolate plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB). PGP traits were analysed and molecular taxonomy of the purified isolates was performed. (3) Results: Bacterial communities in the Miombo rhizosphere are highly diverse and driven by soil type and fire regime. Independent of the soil or fire regime, the functional diversity was high, and the different consortia maintained the general functions. A diverse pool of diazotrophs was isolated, and included symbiotic (e.g., Mesorhizobium sp., Neorhizobium galegae, Rhizobium sp., and Ensifer adhaerens), and non-symbiotic (e.g., Agrobacterium sp., Burkholderia sp., Cohnella sp., Microvirga sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Stenotrophomonas sp.) bacteria. Several isolates presented cumulative PGP traits. (4) Conclusions: Although the dynamics of bacterial communities from the Miombo rhizosphere is driven by fire, the maintenance of high levels of diversity and functions remain unchanged, constituting a source of promising bacteria in terms of plant-beneficial activities such as mobilization and acquisition of nutrients, mitigation of abiotic stress, and modulation of plant hormone levels.

Response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) is quite variable and it is urgent to find predictive biomarkers of response. We investigated miR-21 as tissue and plasma biomarker of response to CRT in a prospective cohort of RC patients; The expression of miR-21 was analyzed in pre- and post-CRT rectal tissue and plasma in 37 patients with RC. Two groups were defined: Pathological responders (TRG 0, 1 and 2) and non-responders (TRG 3). The association between miR-21, clinical and oncological outcomes was assessed; miR-21 was upregulated in tumor tissue and we found increased odds of overexpression in pre-CRT tumor tissue (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 0.40–6.63, p = 0.498) and pre-CRT plasma (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 0.45–7.19, p = 0.414) of non-responders. The overall recurrence risk increased with miR-21 overexpression in pre-CRT tumor tissue (HR: 2.175, p = 0.37); Significantly higher miR-21 expression is observed in tumor tissue comparing with non-neoplastic. Increased odds of non-response is reported in patients expressing higher miR-21, although without statistical significance. This is one of the first studies on circulating miR-21 as a potential biomarker of response to CRT in RC patients.

Exogenous glycine betaine (GB) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) application has not been explored to mitigate waterlogging stress in Andean fruit trees. The objective of this study was to evaluate foliar GB or H2O2 application on the physiological behavior of Cape gooseberry plants under waterlogging. Two separate experiments were carried out. In the first trial, the treatment groups were: (1) plants without waterlogging and with no foliar applications, (2) plants with waterlogging and without foliar applications, and (3) waterlogged plants with 25, 50, or 100 mM of H2O2 or GB, respectively. The treatments in the second trial were: (1) plants without waterlogging and with no foliar applications, (2) plants with waterlogging and without foliar applications, and (3) waterlogged plants with 100 mM of H2O2 or GB, respectively. In the first experiment, plants with waterlogging and with exogenous GB or H2O2 applications at a dose of 100 mM showed higher leaf water potential (−0.5 Mpa), dry weight (1.0 g), and stomatal conductance (95 mmol·m−2·s−1) values. In the second experiment, exogenously supplied GB or H2O2 also increased the relative growth rate, and leaf photosynthesis mitigating waterlogging stress. These results show that short-term GB or H2O2 supply can be a tool in managing waterlogging in Cape gooseberry.

Croton rhamnifolioides is used in popular medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The objective of this study was to characterize and evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of C. rhamnifolioides essential oil complexed in β-cyclodextrin (COEFC). The physicochemical characterization of the complexes was performed using different physical methods. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in vivo by ear edema, paw edema, cotton pellet-induced granuloma, and vascular permeability by Evans blue extravasation. The mechanism of action was validated by molecular docking of the major constituent into the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2 enzyme). All doses of the COEFC reduced acute paw edema induced by carrageenan and dextran, as well as vascular permeability. Our results suggest the lowest effective dose of all samples inhibited the response induced by histamine or arachidonic acid as well as the granuloma formation. The complexation process showed that the pharmacological effects were maintained, however, showing similar results using much lower doses. The results demonstrated an involvement of the inhibition of pathways dependent on eicosanoids and histamine. Complexation of β-cyclodextrin/Essential oil (β-CD/EO) may present an important tool in the study of new compounds for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.

In the North of Brazil (Pará and Amazonas states) the leaves of the plant Talinum triangulare (popular: cariru) replace spinach as food. From a phytochemical point of view, they are rich in compounds of the group of pheophytins. These substances, related to chlorophyll, have photophysical properties that give them potential application in photodynamic therapy. Human serum albumin (HSA) is one of the main endogenous vehicles for biodistribution of molecules by blood plasma. Association constants and thermodynamic parameters for the interaction of HSA with pheophytin from Talinum triangulare were studied by UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence techniques, and molecular modeling (docking). Fluorescence quenching of the HSA’s internal fluorophore (tryptophan) at temperatures 296 K, 303 K, and 310 K, resulted in values for the association constants of the order of 104 L∙mol−1, indicating a moderate interaction between the compound and the albumin. The negative values of ΔG° indicate a spontaneous process; ΔH° = 15.5 kJ∙mol−1 indicates an endothermic process of association and ΔS° = 0.145 kJ∙mol−1∙K−1 shows that the interaction between HSA and pheophytin occurs mainly by hydrophobic factors. The observed Trp fluorescence quenching is static: there is initial non-fluorescent association, in the ground state, HSA:Pheophytin. Possible solution obtained by a molecular docking study suggests that pheophytin is able to interact with HSA by means of hydrogen bonds with three lysine and one arginine residues, whereas the phytyl group is inserted in a hydrophobic pocket, close to Trp-214.

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) plays an important role in regulating numerous cellular processes, and a dysfunctional UPS is thought to contribute to motor neuron disease. Consequently, we sought to map the changing ubiquitome in human iPSCs during their pluripotent stage and following differentiation to motor neurons. Ubiquitinomics analysis identified that spliceosomal and ribosomal proteins were more ubiquitylated in pluripotent stem cells, whilst proteins involved in fatty acid metabolism and the cytoskeleton were specifically ubiquitylated in the motor neurons. The UPS regulator, ubiquitin-like modifier activating enzyme 1 (UBA1), was increased 36-fold in the ubiquitome of motor neurons compared to pluripotent stem cells. Thus, we further investigated the functional consequences of inhibiting the UPS and UBA1 on motor neurons. The proteasome inhibitor MG132, or the UBA1-specific inhibitor PYR41, significantly decreased the viability of motor neurons. Consistent with a role of the UPS in maintaining the cytoskeleton and regulating motor neuron differentiation, UBA1 inhibition also reduced neurite length. Pluripotent stem cells were extremely sensitive to MG132, showing toxicity at nanomolar concentrations. The motor neurons were more resilient to MG132 than pluripotent stem cells but demonstrated higher sensitivity than fibroblasts. Together, this data highlights the important regulatory role of the UPS in pluripotent stem cell survival and motor neuron differentiation.

The aims of this study were to quantify the phenolic content and evaluate the antioxidant potential of extracts from the bark and leaves of C. pyramidalis and S. glandulosum. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total tannin content (TTC) were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the total flavonoids content (TFC) was measured via complexation with aluminum chloride. The antioxidant activity was evaluated with DPPH (2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and FIC (ferrous ion chelating) assays. The TPC ranged between 135.55 ± 9.85 and 459.79 ± 11.65 tannic acid equivalents (TAE) in mg/g material (mg TAE/g). The leaves of both species contained high levels of tannins and flavonoids. The crude ethanol extracts (CEE) from the bark of C. pyramidalis showed high antioxidant activity when compared to ascorbic acid and rutin, whereas the CEE from the leaves was more efficient in chelating ferrous ions. C. pyramidalis had very high phenolic content and anti-radical activity, which indicates a need for further studies aimed at the purification and identification of compounds responsible for the antioxidant activity.

An in vitro plant microshoot culture system composed of two phases; a liquid phase overlaid by a floating solid phase, which is described in detail herein. This system is designed to enable the extraction of natural compounds released/disseminated into the liquid phase during root growth, thus facilitating their processing and biochemical characterization. The solid phase holds the plant afloat and enables the simultaneous culture of a microorganism, yet avoiding its penetration into the liquid phase, where the roots are submerged. Both phases can be independently formulated as required for growth optimization of both organisms. Considering the closed system and known variables described in this patent, applications of the described method include testing with pesticides, herbicides, and other similar products.

Introduction: Sports dentistry assumes a clinical relevance, not only in the prevention of orofacial trauma by the use of mouthguards, but also with the development of intraoral devices that aim to provide greater occlusal stability, as well as a greater balance in the level of certain structures of the cranio-cervical-mandibular complex. In this way, the dentistry can have an intervention action on sports performance. Objectives: The objective of this research was to verify the existence of a correlation between occlusal stability and an eventual balance of some facial structures during sports performance using a specially developed Occlusal Stability Sports Performance Device. Methodology: An individualized mandibular intraoral device was manufactured and evaluated on an athlete canoeing. Infrared thermography was the complementary diagnostic method used for this purpose. Results: Greater symmetry of certain regions of interest of the cranio-cervico-mandibular complex was observed with the implementation of the Occlusal Stability Sports Performance Device. These areas were the anterior temporal muscle, the masseter muscle and the temporomandibular joint. No asymmetry decrease was found in the anterior triangle region of the neck. Conclusion: The use of this type of intraoral devices may allow greater occlusal stability and consequent balance of anatomical structures constituting the cranio-cervical-mandibular complex. Infrared thermography is an effective diagnostic tool for studying the results of the intraoral device on the cranio-cervico-mandibular complex use during canoeing.

The objective of this study was to evaluate antiproliferative activity, antioxidant capacity and tannin content in plants from semi-arid northeastern Brazil (Caatinga). For this study, we selected 14 species and we assayed the methanol extracts for antiproliferative activity against the HEp-2 (laryngeal cancer) and NCI-H292 (lung cancer) cell lines using the (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazole) (MTT) method. In addition, the antioxidant activity was evaluated with the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay, and the tannin content was determined by the radial diffusion method. Plants with better antioxidant activity (expressed in a dose able to decrease the initial DPPH concentration by 50%, or IC50) and with higher levels of tannins were: Poincianella pyramidalis (42.95 ± 1.77 µg/mL IC50 and 8.17 ± 0.64 tannin content), Jatropha mollissima (54.09 ± 4.36µg/mL IC50 and 2.35 ± 0.08 tannin content) and Anadenanthera colubrina (73.24 ± 1.47 µg/mL IC50 and 4.41 ± 0.47 tannin content). Plants with enhanced antiproliferative activity (% living cells) were Annona muricata (24.94 ± 0.74 in NCI-H292), Lantana camara (25.8 ± 0.19 in NCI-H292), Handroanthus impetiginosus (41.8 ± 0.47 in NCI-H292) and Mentzelia aspera (45.61 ± 1.94 in HEp-2). For species with better antioxidant and antiproliferative activities, we suggest future in vitro and in vivo comparative studies with other pharmacological models, and to start a process of purification and identification of the possible molecule(s) responsible for the observed pharmacological activity. We believe that the flora of Brazilian semi-arid areas can be a valuable source of plants rich in tannins, cytotoxic compounds and antioxidant agents.

In the olive oil industry, a pit fraction is collected from olive pomace and split into a clean pit fraction and a residual olive skin-rich fraction, which does not an industrial application. Therefore, in this work, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was applied to obtain high-value triterpene acids (maslinic acid and oleanolic acid) from this biomass using the renewable solvent ethanol. The response surface methodology was used to gain a deeper understanding of how the solvent (ethanol-water, 50-100% v / v ), time (4-30 min), and temperature (50-120 °C) affect the extraction performance, as well as the energy required for the process. The effect of milling was also studied and the solid-to-liquid ratio was also evaluated, and overall, a good compromise was found at 10% ( w / v ) using the raw sample (unmilled biomass). The optimised conditions were applied to residual olive skin sourced from various industries, yielding up to 5.1 g/100 g and 2.2 g/100 g dry biomass for maslinic acid and oleanolic acid, respectively. In conclusion, the residual olive skin is a promising natural source of these triterpene acids, which can be extracted using MAE, releasing extracted solids rich in polymeric carbohydrates and lignin that can be valorised under a holistic biorefinery process.

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of global foodborne illnesses. To develop alternative antimicrobial strategies against C. jejuni , this study designed and optimized the green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) with intracellular components of the medicinal fungus Ganoderma sessile to provide the needed reducing and stabilizing agents. NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, and the quasi-spherical NPs had sizes of 2.9 ± 0.9 nm for the copper oxide NPs and 14.7 ± 0.6 nm for the silver NPs. Surface charge assessment revealed zeta potentials of -21.0 ± 6.5 mV and -24.4 ± 7.9 mV for the copper oxide and silver NPs, respectively. The growth inhibition of C. jejuni by the NPs occurred through attachment to the outer cell membrane and subsequent intracellular internalization and resulted in minimum inhibitory concentrations of the silver NPs at 6 µg/mL and copper oxide NPs at 10 µg/mL. On the other hand, a differential ROS production caused by silver and copper NPs was observed. In summary, this research presents the first demonstration of using green synthesis with the medicinal fungus G. sessile to produce metallic NPs that effectively inhibit C. jejuni growth, providing a sustainable and effective approach to the traditional use of antimicrobials.

Influenza is a respiratory disease that causes annual epidemics during cold seasons. These epidemics increase pressure on healthcare systems, sometimes provoking their collapse. For this reason, a tool is needed to predict when an influenza epidemic will occur so that the healthcare system has time to prepare for it. This study therefore aims to develop a statistical model capable of predicting the onset of influenza epidemics in Catalonia, Spain. Influenza seasons from 2011 to 2017 were used for model training, and those from 2017 to 2018 were used for validation. Logistic regression, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest models were used to predict the onset of the influenza epidemic. The logistic regression model was able to predict the start of influenza epidemics at least one week in advance, based on clinical diagnosis rates of various respiratory diseases and meteorological variables. This model achieved the best punctual estimates for two of three performance metrics. The most important variables in the model were the principal components of bronchiolitis rates and mean temperature. The onset of influenza epidemics can be predicted from clinical diagnosis rates of various respiratory diseases and meteorological variables. Future research should determine whether predictive models play a key role in preventing influenza.