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The foliar application of plant growth regulators to sugarcane can increase crop growth and yield per cultivated area, improve crop productivity and quality, and mitigate possible abiotic stresses by optimizing photosynthesis. The productive potential of sugarcane has not been fully tapped, and plant growth regulator technology via foliar application could greatly benefit the production of food and renewable energy from the sugarcane production chain. In this study, we conducted 15 sugarcane field trials to evaluate the effects of plant growth regulators (17 ppm GA3 activity, 817 ppm IAA activity and 43 ppm zeatin) via foliar application at the vegetative stage (V) or vegetative and maturation stages (VM) on the photosynthetic and antioxidant enzyme activities, carbohydrate production and yield production of three harvest periods (early, mid-late and late harvest sugarcane). In general, foliar application increased the enzymatic, agronomic, quality and energy parameters of sugarcane. The application of plant growth regulators in V and VM increased the activities of the photosynthetic enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase, decreased the contents of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, and increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and proline content. The average stalk yield over the three harvest times increased by 5.4 and 8.0% in V and VM, respectively, compared to the control (101 Mg ha−1). In addition, V and VM increased the sucrose concentration, theoretical recoverable sugars (TRS), and sugar productivity by averages of 2.9%, 2.6% and 9.3%, respectively compared to the control (13.9% of sucrose, 139 kg sugar stalk−1 of TRS, and 13.9 Mg ha−1 of stalk yield), across all harvest seasons. The best results for straw, bagasse and energy production were observed in VM, with average increases of 8.0%, 7.7% and 8.0% compared with the control (14.1 Mg ha−1, 6.1 Mg ha−1 and 69.8 kWh, respectively). Thus, plant growth regulator application can increase sugarcane metabolism, growth and development. Although single plant growth regulator application in the vegetative stage improved all sugarcane parameters, the double application of plant growth regulators in the vegetative and maturation stages ensured improvements in yield and product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated crotamine (CTA), a peptide derived from the venom of the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus, known for its exceptional cell penetration potential. The objective was to explore the antibacterial and antifungal activity of CTA, its ability to inhibit efflux pumps and evaluate the effectiveness of its pharmacological combination with antibiotics and antifungals. In microbiological assays, CTA in combination with antibiotics was tested against strains of S. aureus and the inhibition of NorA, Tet(K) and MepA efflux pumps was also evaluated. CTA alone did not present clinically relevant direct antibacterial action, presenting MIC > 209.7 µM against strains S. aureus 1199B, IS-58, K2068. The standard efflux pump inhibitor CCCP showed significant effects in all negative relationships to assay reproducibility. Against the S. aureus 1199B strain, CTA (20.5 µM) associated with norfloxacin diluted 10 × (320.67 µM) showed a potentiating effect, in relation to the control. Against the S. aureus IS-58 strain, the CTA associated with tetracycline did not show a significant combinatorial effect, either with 2304 or 230.4 µM tetracycline. CTA at a concentration of 2.05 µM associated with ciprofloxacin at a concentration of 309.4 µM showed a significant potentiating effect. In association with EtBr, CTA at concentrations of 2.05 and 20.5 µM potentiated the effect in all strains tested, reducing the prevention of NorA, Tet(K) and MepA efflux pumps. In the C. albicans strain, a potentiating effect of fluconazole (334.3 µM) was observed when combined with CTA (2.05 µM). Against the C. tropicalis strain, a significant effect was also observed in the association of fluconazole 334.3 µM, where CTA 2.05 µM considerably reduced fungal growth and decreased the potentiation of fluconazole. Against the C. krusei strain, no significant potentiating effect of fluconazole was obtained by CTA. Our results indicate that CTA in pharmacological combination potentiates the effects of antibiotics and antifungal. This represents a new and promising antimicrobial strategy for treating a wide variety of infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose and methods: This prospective study aims to diagnose the etiology of non-focalized fever lasting between 5 and 28 days in the islands of La Palma and El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain) during 2021, using serology and PCR. Results: The etiological profile described in this study aligns with that of fever of intermediate duration (FID), with zoonoses being the primary cause. Murine typhus (MT) is identified as the leading cause, followed by Q fever (QF). The incidence of MT is the highest reported nationally and comparable to the highest in Europe, with 39.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in La Palma and 79.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in El Hierro. Q fever, known to be endemic to the Canary Islands, presents incidences of 26.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in La Palma and 15.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in El Hierro. MT shows no gender differences and has a homogeneous geographical distribution. In contrast, QF is more prevalent in men and has a heterogeneous geographical distribution. Conclusions: The high incidence of MT found in both urban and peri-urban areas is particularly noteworthy. Its potential connection with climate change and/or the growth of the reservoir population in the Canary Islands remains unknown. MT's similarity to QF in terms of clinical signs and treatment, coupled with the absence of a specific protocol for early diagnosis, may have contributed to its underdiagnosis. MT can lead to significant health concerns, including risk of hospitalization, complications, and even death. Therefore, the registration of cases for epidemiological control is deemed essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel evolving approach based on the Similarity-Based Modeling (SBM), a technique widely used in industrial applications of anomaly detection and multiclass classification. The proposed approach, which inherits from SBM, uses a simple model-matrix composed of historical points to represent each cluster. Its inference procedure for a given input instance consists only of generating an estimate, considering each cluster, and then assigning the input to the most similar cluster according to a novel membership function that considers approximation error and data density. The main features of our approach include a simple and intuitive learning scheme, the ability to model clusters of any shape without using micro-cluster-like procedures, robustness to noisy data, and low computational effort. We evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach on fifteen datasets widely used in the literature, assessing its ability to deal with overlapping clusters, clusters with arbitrary shape, noisy data, and high dimensionality. Using Adjusted Rand Index (ARI) and Purity metrics, the proposed algorithm was compared with eight recent state-of-the-art algorithms, and the proposed method achieved the highest performance on most of the datasets. On the remaining datasets, it showed similar performance to other methods. Averaging over the fifteen datasets, our approach achieved an ARI value of 0.8872 and a Purity value of 0.9107. The most competitive method, considering ARI, achieved an average value of 0.6988, and considering Purity, achieved an average value of 0.9257. This shows the effectiveness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Oral mucositis (OM) reflects a complex interplay of several risk factors. Machine learning (ML) is a promising frontier in science, capable of processing dense information. This study aims to assess the performance of ML in predicting OM risk in patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy. Methods: Clinical data were collected from 157 patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma submitted to radiotherapy. Grade 2 OM or higher was considered (NCI). Two dataset versions were used; in the first version, all data were considered, and in the second version, a feature selection was added. Age, smoking status, surgery, radiotherapy prescription dose, treatment modality, histopathological differentiation, tumor stage, presence of oral cancer lesion, and tumor location were selected as key features. The training process used a fivefold cross-validation strategy with 10 repetitions. A total of 4 algorithms and 3 scaling methods were trained (12 models), without using data augmentation. Results: A comparative assessment was performed. Accuracy greater than 55% was considered. No relevant results were achieved with the first version, closest performance was Decision Trees with 52% of accuracy, 42% of sensitivity, and 60% of specificity. For the second version, relevant results were achieved, K-Nearest Neighbors outperformed with 64% accuracy, 58% sensitivity, and 68% specificity. Conclusion: ML demonstrated promising results in OM risk prediction. Model improvement was observed after feature selection. Best result was achieved with the KNN model. This is the first study to test ML for OM risk prediction using clinical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pantanal wetland ecosystem of Brazil is experiencing unprecedented local challenges from anthropogenic pressures, as well as from global climate change. These pressures escalate the zoonotic risks from wildlife populations, whose own susceptibility to disease is enhanced by stressors including habitat loss and fragmentation with the resulting decrement in food availability, immunity and resilience in the face of compounding disease risks. This continuous degradation and fragmentation of the ecosystem increases interactions between animals and humans (including indigenous peoples and local communities) further increasing disease risks for the human populations. Weak health systems across the Pantanal are reflected in limited pathogen surveillance, and poor sanitation and disease control measures, serving to further amplify the region’s epidemic and pandemic potential. Using a transdisciplinary One Health (OH) approach to understand the ecological, social and biological drivers of infectious diseases, our research network developed a framework to conceptualise the current tools, evidence and processes for effective research and knowledge production in the Pantanal Wetland ecosystem. Drawing on the expertise of researchers and non-academic key-stakeholders can inform the work of global OH research networks and strengthen the evidence base for OH policy and practice in the Pantanal and other tropical wetland systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective and design: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a heterogeneous group of inflammatory muscle disorders of unknown etiology. It is postulated that mitochondrial dysfunction and protein aggregation in skeletal muscle contribute to myofiber degeneration. However, molecular pathways that lead to protein aggregation in skeletal muscle are not well defined. Subjects: Here we have isolated membrane-bound organelles (e.g., nuclei, mitochondria, sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and plasma membrane) from muscle biopsies of normal (n = 3) and muscle disease patients (n = 11). Of the myopathy group, 10 patients displayed mitochondrial abnormalities (IIM (n = 9); mitochondrial myopathy (n = 1)), and one IIM patient did not show mitochondrial abnormalities (polymyositis). Methods: Global proteomic analysis was performed using an Orbitrap Fusion mass spectrometer. Upon unsupervised clustering, normal and mitochondrial myopathy muscle samples clustered separately from IIM samples. Results: We have confirmed previously known protein alterations in IIM and identified several new ones. For example, we found differential expression of (i) nuclear proteins that control cell division, transcription, RNA regulation, and stability, (ii) ER and Golgi proteins involved in protein folding, degradation, and protein trafficking in the cytosol, and (iii) mitochondrial proteins involved in energy production/metabolism and alterations in cytoskeletal and contractile machinery of the muscle. Conclusions: Our data demonstrates that molecular alterations are not limited to protein aggregations in the cytosol (inclusions) and occur in nuclear, mitochondrial, and membrane compartments of IIM skeletal muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is the most common type of congenital spinal malformation, typically requiring surgical intervention. While prenatal repair is increasingly favored, postnatal repair remains the standard in many settings. This study aims to evaluate the antibiotics prescribed to neonates with MMC and their correlation with central nervous system (CNS) infection rates following postnatal surgical repair. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including newborns who underwent postnatal MMC repair between August 2017 and June 2021 at the Children's Hospital of Goiânia. The study examined variables related to the pregnancy and birth periods, as well as anatomical and neurosurgical factors. Neonates were categorized into four groups based on the time interval between birth and surgical repair (within 24, 48, 72 h, and beyond 72 h) and were evaluated for CNS infection rates. Results: A total of 38 neonates were included, with 24.32% diagnosed with CNS infections post-surgery. Notably, 22.86% of mothers did not receive prenatal care. Cesarean section was the predominant mode of delivery, accounting for 77.78% of cases. The average time from birth to surgery was 67 h. At admission, 73.68% of MMC cases presented with a rupture of the MMC membrane, and 78.94% of newborns received intravenous antibiotics. The mean surgical time was 60 min, with 78.94% of surgeries performed by experienced surgeons. Conclusion: Timely surgical intervention and the use of prophylactic antibiotics are critical in reducing CNS infection rates in neonates undergoing postnatal MMC repair. Delays in surgery and the lack of antibiotic prophylaxis were associated with higher infection rates, whereas factors such as delivery mode and surgeon experience had less impact on infection outcomes. These findings highlight the need for standardized care protocols and improved prenatal care to optimize neonatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokinesis physically separates daughter cells at the end of cell division. This step is particularly challenging for epithelial cells, which are connected to their neighbors and to the extracellular matrix by transmembrane protein complexes. To systematically evaluate the impact of the cell adhesion machinery on epithelial cytokinesis efficiency, we performed an RNAi-based modifier screen in the Drosophila follicular epithelium. Strikingly, this unveiled adhesion molecules and transmembrane receptors that facilitate cytokinesis completion. Among these is Dystroglycan, which connects the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton via Dystrophin. Live imaging revealed that Dystrophin and Dystroglycan become enriched in the ingressing membrane, below the cytokinetic ring, during and after ring constriction. Using multiple alleles, including Dystrophin isoform-specific mutants, we show that Dystrophin/Dystroglycan localization is linked with unanticipated roles in regulating cytokinetic ring contraction and in preventing membrane regression during the abscission period. Altogether, we provide evidence that, rather than opposing cytokinesis completion, the machinery involved in cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions has also evolved functions to ensure cytokinesis efficiency in epithelial tissues. Synopsis: Building on a Drosophila RNAi modifier screen, this study identifies regulators of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions that enhance cytokinesis efficiency in epithelial tissues, revealing new roles for the Dystrophin-associated protein complex. A Drosophila RNAi modifier screen identifies regulators of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions that impact epithelial cytokinesis efficiency. The Dystrophin-associated protein complex promotes cytokinesis efficiency. Dystrophin and Dystroglycan show dynamic cortical redistribution during and post cytokinetic ring constriction. Dys and Dg are required for normal ring contraction and contribute to prevent membrane regression during the abscission period. Building on a Drosophila RNAi modifier screen, this study identifies regulators of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions that enhance cytokinesis efficiency in epithelial tissues, revealing new roles for the Dystrophin-associated protein complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil has native fruits in its flora with high nutritional, mineral, bioactive, and antioxidant potential. Therefore, this work aimed to study the biochemical composition, bioactive potential, and the presence of antinutritional compounds in tucumã, peach palm, and bacupari fruits. Analyses of total carotenoids, vitamin C, total phenolics, antioxidant activity, antinutritional compounds, mineral profiles, carbohydrates and organic acids profiles, and individual phenolics were performed. The results showed that tucumã, peach palm, and bacupari are sources of vitamin C (108.31, 206.22, and 163.49 mg ascorbic acid 100 g−1 sample), carotenoids (2.55, 3.47, and 0.14 mg carotenoids 100 g−1 sample), and high antioxidant potential by the FRAP (105.96, 41.61, and 55.54 μM ferrous sulfate g−1 pulp), and ABTS (591.14, 105.03, and 46.59 μM Trolox g−1 pulp) methods, respectively. The results obtained on antinutritional compounds demonstrated that tucumã had a tannin content of 0.26 mg tannic acid 100 g−1; on the other hand, bacupari showed positive results for trypsin inhibitors (1.02 TIU mg−1 sample), peach palm did not show positive results for any of the applied antinutritional tests. All the fruits stood out for their high potassium and magnesium content (70.0 and 22.50 mg L−1, 58.0 and 4.90 mg L−1, 99.75 and 16.90 mg L−1 for tucumã, peach palm, and bacupari, respectively). The main acids identified in the tucumã and peach palm samples were oleic acid (58.51, and 54.23 %) and palmitic acid (30.63, and 35.81 %), respectively. Among the individual phenolics, the samples proved to be rich in catechin, gallic acid, rutin, and chlorogenic acid. It has been reported that these phenolics are sources for the maintenance of several crucial biological functions in our organisms, acting as antimicrobials and antitumor and reducing the incidence of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. The work demonstrated the potential of these fruits as a source of compounds with high added value for application in food and pharmaceutical products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we report a method of obtaining and characterizing (Fe, Pb) co-doped titanium oxide nanoparticles to study the influence of Fe3+ and Pb2+ doping on the photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of TiO2. The presence of dopant elements can provide electronic changes by promoting a decrease in the band gap or creating intra-band gap states, thereby allowing greater absorption under visible light irradiation and potentially increasing the efficiency for developing photocatalytic and antimicrobial applications. Therefore, co-doped Ti1−x−yFexPbyO2 (x and y = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.07 mol) powders were successfully obtained in a single step by the sonochemical method (SM). The structural, morphological and optical properties were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Field Emission Gun—Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-FEG) and UV–Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) techniques. The results showed the successful formation of the anatase phase of (Fe, Pb) co-doped TiO2 by the SM with nanometric particles of irregular morphology. The photoluminescence exhibited low intensity for the co-doped samples, indicating a decrease in the recombination rate of the e−/h + electronic pair, which contributes to the photocatalytic efficiency. Optical measurements revealed a decrease in the band gap, providing possible energetic activation of these semiconductors by sunlight. The photocatalytic activity was estimated through the methylene blue dye (MB) degradation when exposed to UV light and Sunlight, and revealed that the type of radiation used to activate the photocatalysts influences the catalytic activity: T1F (Ti0.99Fe0.01O2) and T1P (Ti0.99Pb0.01O2) samples degraded the dye by 50% and 65% under UV light for 120 min, respectively, while the degradation under Solar irradiation was 98% and 99%, respectively. Antimicrobial properties were also investigated by agar diffusion method against E. coli (gram-negative) and S. aureus (gram-positive) bacteria and showed positive results of (Fe, Pb) co-doped TiO2 samples compared to pure TiO2. Accordingly, the results indicate that the co-doping of TiO2 with Fe3+ and Pb2+ influences its potential application as photocatalysts and antimicrobial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study had the aim of examining the relationships between variations in estrogen levels resulting from ovariectomy, and estrogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in rats subjected to an orofacial inflammatory pain model. Eighty adult female Wistar rats were initially divided into 2 groups: Sham or ovariectomy (OVX—D1). Seven days later (D7), the rats were subjected to an unilateral infiltration of Freund's Complete Adjuvant (CFA) or saline solution into the right temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Then, rats received 17β-estradiol (28 µg/kg/day) or placebo for 21 days (D10–D31). Nociception was evaluated by the von Frey (VF) and the Hot Plate (HP) tests, and depressive-like behavior by the Forced Swimming (FS) test. On D32 all rats were euthanized and serum, hippocampus and brainstem were collected. The CFA groups presented a mechanical hyperalgesia until day 21 (p ≤ 0.05). No differences were observed among groups in the HP (p = 0.735), and in the immobility and swimming time of the FS (p = 0.800; p = 0.998, respectively). In the brainstem, there was a significant difference in the TNF-ɑ levels (p = 0.043), and a marginal significant difference in BDNF levels (p = 0.054), without differences among groups in the hippocampal BDNF and TNF-ɑ levels (p = 0.232; p = 0.081, respectively). In conclusion, the hormone replacement therapy did not alleviate orofacial pain in ovariectomized rats. However, there is a decrease in brainstem TNF-ɑ levels in the animals submitted to both models, which was partially reverted by HRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the Revised Atlanta Classification outlines the primary complications of acute pancreatitis, it is crucial to recognize additional factors that contribute to morbidity and mortality associated with acute pancreatitis. In this review, we discuss the imaging-based classification and staging of acute pancreatitis as described by the Revised Atlanta Classification, but also provide a comprehensive understanding of the pancreatic anatomy and its relation to surrounding structures, which is essential for imaging-based assessment of both acute pancreatitis and its complications. We further extend the discussion beyond common complications such as pseudocysts and walled-off necrosis to include lesser-known but significant complications such as peripancreatic infection, disconnected ductal disconnection syndrome, thrombosis, hemorrhage, and gastrointestinal complications. Additionally, illustrative examples are presented to highlight relevant points pertaining to real-life imaging assessment of acute pancreatitis and its complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) are nanomaterials with several potential applications in nanotechnology-based products, and their renewable origin and biodegradability property have attracted attention in sustainable product development; however, their environmental impacts still need to be fully understood as other nanoparticles. In this study, CNFs obtained from bleached cellulose pulp of Eucalyptus sp were evaluated regarding their potential to affect terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Thus, an ecotoxicity testing battery composed of phytotoxicity test, plant genotoxicity assay, earthworm acute toxicity test, algal chronic toxicity test, and Daphnia magna acute immobilization test was considered herein. Also, mean diameter and zeta potential were investigated in CNF exposure media to evaluate its aggregation behavior. CNFs did not present acute toxicity to aquatic organisms (algae and microcrustaceans) and did not cause lethal effects on earthworms. The results from plant test systems showed that CNFs did not inhibit seed germination or root development or cause cellular and genetic changes in plant cells. This later result does not agree with the scientific literature, which reported genotoxicity for other types of nanocellulose, which suggests that chemical identity and physicochemical properties can influence the toxicity of nanocelluloses. Thus, CNF kraft-bleached pulp is not toxic to key organisms of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Probably, larger aggregates precipitated in the aquatic toxicity tests, preventing the interaction of nanoparticles with the living organisms. Therefore, the findings presented here open a good perspective of applications of CNF kraft-bleached pulp on nanotechnology-based products as potential environmentally safe nanomaterial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-indigenous species often rely on trophic plasticity to adjust to available food sources and even to avoid interspecific competition while overcoming environmental constraints during the establishment phase and, eventually, as they become invasive. The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 is expanding quickly in southwestern Europe and northwestern Africa, raising concerns about its impacts. Its feeding ecology in non-native areas is poorly understood, so this study aimed to 1) unveil the diet and feeding strategy used by the Atlantic blue crab in a highly invaded European estuary, 2) evaluate if their invasiveness was facilitated by an invasion meltdown process concerning trophic facilitation, and 3) determine its trophic position. Metagenomic analyses of gut content and stable isotopes showed that the species relied on opportunistic and carnivorous feeding traits and preyed mainly on native animal species, such as fish, shrimps, and oysters. We did not observe evidence of a widespread invasion meltdown process through trophic facilitation mediated by other invaders. The Atlantic blue crab’s trophic niche overlapped with two native crab species, particularly the European green crab Carcinus maenas (Linnaeus, 1758), while it’s high trophic position (4.3 ± 0.5) reflected the reliance on animal prey. These evidence suggests that trophic plasticity likely contributed to the invasiveness of the Atlantic blue crab because of its ability to exploit readily available prey. The Atlantic blue crab metapopulation is expanding and increasing over a vast region, and unfortunately a series of cascading effects throughout the food web can still be expected, as observed elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant global health concern, affecting millions of newborns and linked to increased risks of neonatal mortality, delayed development, and chronic diseases in adulthood. This work focuses on a subset of LBW called very low birth weight (VBLW), which exacerbates these risks. Utilizing data from the Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos (SINASC), from the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, this work applies data analytics techniques to address issues found in the data set and then train machine learning models to predict VBLW. Methods: By integrating feature selection (FS) with expert healthcare insights, data balancing methods, and hyperparameter optimization, the research aims to enhance model performance. Additionally, data slicing is employed to identify and discuss (possible) model biases. Results: In the data slicing analyse, particularly with respect to racial disparities in training data, revealed brown race a predominant group with an f1-score over 68% to all models used; however, for other racial groups the f1-score reached 68% at maximum. The work also highlights the challenges of model training due to the lack of significant attributes, such as detailed historical health data of the pregnant women, which limits the learning capabilities of the models. Conclusion: Overall, the findings underscore the importance of comprehensive data and balanced model training to better generalize and accurately predict health outcomes in newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigates the anti-trypanosomal activities of ten thiohydantoin derivatives against the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Compounds with aliphatic chains (THD1, THD3, and THD5) exhibited the most promising IC50 against the epimastigote form of T. cruzi. Also, it showed lower cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. THD3 and THD5 (IC50 = 72.4 µg/mL and 115 µg/mL) presented great activity against trypomastigote and amastigote forms (IC50 = 47.7 µg/mL and 34.1 µg/mL). THD5 had high selectivity index (SI = 15.1) against the amastigote form. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to understand the interaction between the THD and the important target CYP51 enzyme essential to T. cruzi. THD3 and THD5 were found to have strong interactions within the hydrophobic channel of CYP51 due to their aliphatic side chains, leading to favorable binding free energies. Despite the possibility of cross-reactivity between THD5 and human CYP2C9, the results indicate low identity and similarity between the homolog enzymes and possible selectivity of THD5 for the protozoan one, suggesting that these compounds could inhibit sterol biosynthesis, crucial for the parasite's survival​. These findings indicate that THD3 and THD5 are promising hits for the development of Chagas disease treatments. To fully validate this potential, carrying out enzymatic and other in vitro and in vivo assays is essential in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health care disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have caused persistent decreases in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake in Germany. The objective of this study was to estimate the cumulative deficit in first doses of the HPV vaccine administered to girls in Germany since the beginning of the pandemic and the projected time to recover from this deficit at different catch-up vaccination uptake levels, focusing on girls 9–14 years of age. This study used a published HPV vaccination modeling tool. Retrospective vaccination data from 2019 were used to calculate the baseline vaccination rate, while data from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2023 were used to estimate the size and duration of the HPV vaccination deficit accrued since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We modeled scenarios in which the rate of monthly vaccinations increased from the 2023 average to 5%, 10%, or 15% above the baseline 2019 level. The average monthly number of first doses of HPV vaccine administered to girls 9–14 years of age was 7.4% below the 2019 baseline level in 2020, 21.2% below baseline in 2021, 21.0% below baseline in 2022, and 19.5% below baseline in 2023. At a catch-up vaccination uptake of 5–15% above the 2019 baseline, there would be an estimated accumulated deficit of 267,052–285,798 first doses by 31 December 2024 that would clear between October 2029–April 2040. A catch-up vaccination uptake of 12.3% (11.9–12.7%) every month above baseline would be needed to clear the accumulated deficit by the end of 2030. Conclusions: Significant HPV vaccination deficits have accrued in Germany since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sustained efforts to vaccinate the affected cohorts are now needed to mitigate the long-term impacts of the vaccination deficit. What is known: • Health care disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have caused persistent decreases in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake in Germany. What is new: • Our model projected that the HPV vaccination deficit would be cleared between October 2029 (15% above the 2019 baseline level) and April 2040 (5% above the 2019 baseline level). • A catch-up rate of 12.3% (11.9–12.7%) above the 2019 baseline level would be needed to clear the HPV vaccination deficit by 31 December 2030. • Sustained efforts to vaccinate the affected cohorts are now needed to mitigate the long-term impacts of the accrued vaccination deficit on mortality, morbidity, and health care costs from HPV-associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop, characterize, and validate an encapsulant based on beeswax (BW) for rumen-protected fat (RPF) using the melting emulsification technique. Buriti oil (BO) was used as the core material, and BW was used as the encapsulating material at three different proportions of BW:BO (9:1, 4:1, and 2:1 g/g ratio respectively). RPF microspheres (BWBO9:1, BWBO4:1, and BWBO2:1) were characterized and tested in six 3-year-old castrated male Santa Ines sheep (average body weight of 56.5 ± 5.23 kg), fistulated and cannulated in the rumen, and randomly distributed in double Latin square design with 3 treatments × 3 periods. The microencapsulation efficiency increased with the addition of BO in the RPF ranging from 73 to 83%. There was a significant linear increase in the dry matter degradability (DMD) of BWBO2:1 (p < 0.05), stabilizing 12 h after the incubation of RPF in the rumen. BWBO4:1 showed a positive quadratic effect (p < 0.05) on DMD, peaking 6 h after incubation. BWBO9:1 showed the lowest DMD rate among RPF, maintaining DMD stable over the incubation time with no statistical difference over the 72 h (p > 0.05). BWBO9:1 promoted the lowest rumen pH compared to BWBO2:1 and BWBO4:1 (p < 0.05). The inclusion of BWBO2:1 in the diet provided the highest number of protozoa (p < 0.001) when compared to the sheep fed BWBO4:1 and BWBO9:1. There was no effect of incubation time on rumen pH and temperature. However, the protozoa count showed a quadratic effect with lower numbers of protozoa at 3 h, and higher amounts at 6 and 48 h. (p < 0.05). The use of RPF significantly altered the serum glucose (p < 0.001) with higher concentrations for BWBO2:1 and BWBO4:1 when compared to BWBO9:1. Lower blood triglyceride concentrations were observed in sheep fed BWBO2:1 (p < 0.001) when compared to BWBO4:1 and BWBO9:1. Beeswax matrix showed to be an efficient microencapsulant for BO using the melt-emulsification technique. The BWBO2:1 rumen-protected fat is best recommended for sheep diets because it increases energy density, rumen microorganisms and degradability without affecting rumen health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the intake, performance, quality, and fatty acids (FA) composition of the meat of three Nigerian sheep breeds (Balami, Uda, and Yankasa) fed two different hays, Brachiaria decumbens or Digitaria smutsii. A total of sixty sheep, twenty from each breed, Balami, Uda, and Yankasa, were used, with average body weights of 24.7 ± 3.5 kg, 25.5 ± 3.6 kg, and 25.5 ± 3.5 kg, respectively. The sheep were arranged in a factorial 2 (hay types) × 3 (breeds) design within a completely randomized setup, totalling ten experimental units per treatment. There was no significant (p > 0.05) interaction effect between breed and hay type on any variables. Sheep-fed D. smutsii hay presented higher (p ≤ 0.05) DM intake from the concentrate, hay, total feed, final BW, ADG, intramuscular fat, and FA contents than sheep-fed B. decumbens, except for 18:1n-9, where sheep fed B. decumbens presented higher (p ≤ 0.05) concentration. Balami sheep presented higher (p ≤ 0.05) total weight gain than the Uda breed and once performed better than the Yankasa breed, without difference (p > 0.05) to feed efficiency. Longissimus lumborum of the Yankasa breed presented lower concentrations (p ≤ 0.05) of total polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) than Balami and Uda sheep. The content of n-3 and n-6 PUFA (linolenic, EPA, DPA, and DHA), n-6/n-3 ratio, and EPA + DHA were higher in the Balami sheep than in the Uda sheep. Balami breed had the highest carcass weight and meat protein content but had a lower (p ≤ 0.05) moisture content than other breeds. Uda and Yankasa sheep presented similar moisture content (p ≤ 0.05). However, the carcass weight, protein, and fat content of the longissimus lumborum were higher (p ≤ 0.05) in Uda compared to Yankasa sheep. Nigerian sheep fed D. smutsii hay compared to B. decumbens hay to provide greater DM intake, improving fattening and meat fat and increasing all fatty acids in the longissimus lumborum. Balami breed presented greater DM intake, performance, and carcass weight, and consequently higher intramuscular fat deposition and concentration of most fatty acids in the longissimus lumborum than the breeds Uda and Yankasa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassava root cortex (CRC), which represents 10–12% of the weight of the cassava root, is a residue rich in pectin, a heteropolysaccharide with potential for food and pharmaceutical applications. This study aimed to develop optimal conditions for pectin extraction from CRC using hydrochloric acid and water, aiming to observe the behavior and characteristics acquired in each extraction. For this purpose, a central composite rotational design (CCRD) was used to observe the action of dependent variables (solvent: CRC flour proportion, temperature, and time) on the dependent variables (yield, degree of esterification, and galacturonic acid content). CRC flour presented significant levels of phenolic compounds (2088.78 mg GAE/100 g), anthocyanins (71.86 mg/100 g), and flavonoids (49.99 mg/100 g), besides low water content (4.91%). Aqueous and acidic extraction assays showed that acidic extraction resulted in higher yields (71.83%), with pectins of low (< 50%) and high (> 50%) methoxylation. Furthermore, it was observed that the interaction of time and temperature variables had greater weight in the regression coefficients, presenting significant effects in all treatments. Therefore, our results highlighted the best conditions for aqueous extraction (70 °C, 60 min, and proportion of 1:40) and acidic extraction (70 °C, 60 min, and proportion of 1:20), showing that the optimized pectin from CRC has good potential for use in various industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modified theranostic liposomes were created by combining phospholipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-3-glycerol-phosphatidylcholine with two previously modified Pluronic® copolymers covalently linked with spermine and folic acid to carry and stabilize the photosensitizer compound hypericin. After physicochemical characterization, the photocytotoxicity was evaluated against different cancer and healthy cells presenting a strong photodynamic effect. The formulation exhibited no photoactivity without illumination and without hypericin. In vivo, pharmacokinetics biodistribution examined the uptake and theranostic potential of this nanoformulation after its intravenous administration in animal models. Fluorescence images revealed the maximum fluorescence between 0.5–4 h post-tail vein injection, making it an appropriate period for photodynamic treatment. The fluorescence of the entire body was monitored for at least 3 days, indicating that the theranostic procedures can be performed within the 0.5–4 h range after administration, after which the intensity decreases, indicating a potent metabolic ability with no significant side effects. The fluorescence images of the main organs consistently showed a signal during the 1st day of its application. After 48 h, only residues of the modified theranostic formulation were detected in the lungs and thyroid. The promising pharmacokinetics observed in our preliminary studies highlight the potential of this system, making it a worthy candidate for further investigation with tumor models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to evaluate whether adding macrolides (MAC) to beta-lactam (BL) monotherapy in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) offers clinical benefits that justify the potential disadvantages or side effects. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BL monotherapy to combination therapy with BL and MAC for the in-hospital treatment of CAP. We pooled mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes and risk ratio (RR) for binary outcomes, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Six RCTs with 2661 participants (52% receiving combination therapy), revealed no significant difference in in-hospital mortality (RR 0.99; 95% CI 0.78 to 1.25; p = 0.94; I2 = 0%), 90-day mortality (RR 1.03; 95% CI 0.82 to 1.29; p = 0.83; I2 = 13%), or 30-day mortality (RR 0.90; 75% CI 0.63 to 1.29; p = 0.58; I2 = 54%). Additionally, no significant differences were observed in the length of hospital stay (MD 0.51; 95% CI − 0.50 to 1.51; p = 0.33; I2 = 63%) or respiratory insufficiency (RR 0.63; 95% CI 0.29 to 1.35; p = 0.24; I2 = 74%). However, combination therapy significantly improved the treatment success rate (RR 1.17; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.32; p = 0.009; I2 = 0%). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that BL + MAC therapy should not be used in all cases of hospitalized patients with CAP. PROSPERO ID: CRD42024516383 — Data of registration: 03/03/2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminium-based coagulants are extensively used in water treatment, producing significant quantities of waste sludge (WTS), that poses challenges for landfill disposal. Eutrophication, mainly driven by phosphorus (P) enrichment from wastewater, remains a critical environmental concern in aquatic ecosystems. WTS contains substantial amounts of aluminium (Al), which exhibits a high affinity for phosphate. This study aimed to assess the phosphorus adsorption capacity (qmax) of WTS and its potential for agricultural use. The WTS samples were characterized using various analytical techniques. Kinetic and isothermal experiments were conducted using dried (105 °C) and calcined (650 °C) WTS samples. Characterization revealed crystallinity differences between dried WTS and calcined WTS Kinetic tests, indicating equilibrium times of 16 h for dried WTS and 1 h for calcined WTS. Isothermal tests showed maximum adsorption capacity values at pH 7 of 13.81 mgP g−1 for dried WTS and 52.03 mgP g−1 for calcined WTS, highlighting the enhanced phosphorus removal efficiency of calcined WTS. Phytotoxicity assessments demonstrated that dried and calcined WTS promoted enhancements in germination and root elongation of Lactuca sativa of 20 and 10%, respectively, suggesting its potential agricultural benefit. Therefore, WTS demonstrates promise for tertiary wastewater treatment, contributing to a circular economy by potentially reclaiming phosphorus-rich compounds for agricultural reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the relationship between perceived parental involvement, perfectionist dispositional-like traits (striving for perfection; negative reactions to imperfection), and sports performance. Specifically, it examined whether perfectionism mediates the relationship between parental involvement and sports performance. Data were collected on perceived parental involvement, perfectionism in sports, and sports performance using both subjective and objective measures. The sample included 299 young male football athletes (from 15 teams across 8 clubs), all competing in U15 to U19 national championships. Path analysis revealed several findings, namely that (a) athletes who perceived higher parental involvement exhibited greater striving for perfection and reported higher levels of perceived individual and collective sports performance; (b) striving for perfection positively predicted both perceived collective sports performance and objective performance; (c) negative reactions to imperfection negatively predict objective performance; (d) striving for perfection positively mediated the relationship between perceived parental involvement and performance (both perceived individual and collective performance as well as objective sports performance). These findings underline the complex role parental behaviors, especially as perceived by young athletes, have in shaping athletic development and performance, and also highlight both the positive and potential negative effects of parental involvement, stressing the importance of providing parents with guidance on fostering a supportive sports environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gurguéia nut represents a rich source of lipids and bioactive compounds with the potential for sustainable exploitation. In this work, the nutritional composition, and functional properties of gurguéia cakes obtained by hydraulic press (C1), supercritical CO2 (C2), and Soxhlet (SOX) with hexane (C3) were evaluated. In addition, hydroethanolic extracts obtained using SOX, pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were evaluated for their yield, total phenolic compounds (TPC), flavonols, flavonoids, ortho-diphenols (ODP), condensed tannins (CT), and antioxidant potential (ABTS, TRC, CUPRAC, DPPH, FRAP, and IPL). The highest content of protein (34.8 g 100 g−1), carbohydrate (45.0 g 100 g−1), cellobiose (1710.7 mg 100 g−1), and malic acid (1399.4 mg 100 g−1) was observed for the sample C2. The highest water and oil absorption and foam capacities were also determined in sample C2. The main phenolic compounds in cakes were catechin (1.2-1.7 mg kg−1) and gallic acid (0.7-0.8 mg kg−1). The extraction using PLE with 70% ethanol showed the highest yield (35.6-39.9%) and higher antioxidant potential for ABTS (1319.1 mmol TE 100 g−1), TRC (1064.0 mg QE 100 g−1), CUPRAC (70.4 mmol TE 100 g−1), and IPL (75.6%). On the other hand, higher TPC (4624.7 mg GAE 100 g−1), flavonoids (418.4 mg EC 100 g−1), flavonols (150.4 mg QE 100 g−1), and ODP (381.9 mg CGA 100 g−1) contents were observed for the extract obtained by PLE with 30% ethanol. The results indicated that gurguéia cake is rich in bioactive compounds and can be fully explored using clean alternative technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thymol chemotype of the essential oil of Thymus vulgaris (EOTV-T) and its nanoemulsion (NEOTV-T) were investigated as anesthetics in the management of Colossoma macropomum. The stability of nanoemulsions was analyzed by zeta potential and dynamic light scattering for an interval of 37 days prior to carrying out two anesthesia experiments. The first experiment determined anesthesia induction and recovery intervals for juveniles anesthetized with different concentrations of EOTV-T and NEOTV-T. Based on the obtained induction and recovery curve, the second experiment adopted concentrations of 75 mg/L of EOTV-T and 50 mg/L of NEOTV-T for use during biometric management every 10 days for 60 days of cultivation of juvenile C. macropomum. The results showed that NEOTV-T had an average diameter of less than 100 nm for up to 22 days and was more effective at inducing anesthesia than EOTV-T. The continuous use of anesthetics during biometrics did not affect juvenile performance in terms of growth, feed consumption, and survival. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in hematological and biochemical parameters between juveniles of the control treatment and those subjected to biometric management using 75 mg/L of EOTV-T and 50 mg/L of NEOTV-T. It can be concluded that the essential oil of T. vulgaris and its nanoemulsion can be used to facilitate the management of juvenile C. macropomum without compromising their performance or well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of macroalgae as feed additives has attracted great interest in past years because of their nutritional, immunostimulant, antiviral, antibacterial, and growth-promoting properties. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the use of dry biomass of macroalgae Ulva ohnoi in the diets of Penaeus vannamei post-larvae cultured in a biofloc system on growth performance, post-larvae microbiology, and resistance to thermal shock. U. ohnoi was included in the diets at three levels (0, 0.5, and 2% inclusion) and added to diets to replace kaolin. Post-larvae (0.068 ± 0.01 g) were cultured for 46 days in 60-L tanks at a density of 2000 post-larvae m−3 and fed six times daily. Shrimp fed with 0.5% of Ulva ohnoi in the diet showed a significantly higher final mean weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate than those in the control group. The post-larvae fed with the diet containing 2.0% of U. ohnoi exhibited a significantly higher total heterotrophic bacteria count than the post-larvae of the control group. Considering that the performance of shrimp fed with diets containing U. ohnoi was similar, the inclusion of 0.5% is recommended because shrimp growth was higher in this inclusion compared with the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The recognition of facial expressions of emotions is an essential skill for social functioning, as it enables recognizing the possible intentions of others. Main body. Cultural context is an important aspect to consider in this skill, as it tends to modulate the recognition of facial expressions. Objective: To develop and validate a set of facial expressions of basic emotions of Brazilian individuals considering the population distribution of the country according to age group, sex, and race. Methods: A procedure with three phases was created to generate basic emotions and photograph facial expressions. A total of 459 Brazilians were then asked to identify the emotions of these facial expressions. Content validity was investigated based on the analysis of specialists and the recognition of emotions by Brazilian individuals. Results: The final database consists of 56 high-quality color images. A good level of agreement was found for the expressions perceived by the assessors (81.6%). Conclusion: The percentage of correct recognition of each emotion and the characteristics of the models are presented so that future studies can choose the most adequate images to meet their specific needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study summarized the available evidence on the differences in volume, density, electrolyte concentration, and total proteins in paranasal sinus fluid between freshwater and saltwater drowning victims. A systematic search was conducted in electronic databases and gray literature, resulting in the inclusion of five studies with 234 drowning victims (92 saltwater incidents and 142 freshwater incidents). Meta-analyses using the inverse-of-variance method and a random-effects model were performed, reporting effect sizes as standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The findings showed a significantly higher sinus density in saltwater drowning cases compared to freshwater drowning cases (SMD 0.91, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.32). However, no significant differences were observed in sinus fluid volume. Saltwater drowning victims exhibited higher electrolyte concentrations (sodium: SMD 3.77, 95% CI 3.07 to 4.48; potassium: SMD 0.78, 95% CI 0.07 to 1.49; chloride: SMD 3.48, 95% CI 2.65 to 4.31; magnesium: SMD 4.01, 95% CI 3.00 to 5.03) and lower total protein concentrations (SMD − 1.20, 95% CI − 1.82 to − 0.58) in sinus fluid compared to freshwater drowning victims. This meta-analysis highlights the importance of analyzing the characteristics and composition of sinus fluid in forensic investigations of drowning cases. While no differences were found in sinus fluid volume, saltwater drowning victims exhibited higher sinus density, elevated electrolyte concentrations, and lower total protein concentrations compared to freshwater drowning victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water can be a significant risk factor for the occurrence of cattle eimeriosis on farms located in tropical climate regions. This study aimed to assess the viability period of sporulated oocysts of bovine Eimeria spp. in water containing organic matter and to evaluate the efficacy of disinfectants against sporulated oocysts of this protozoa. Two experiments were conducted, each comprising in vitro and in vivo evaluations. In Experiment 1, the viability period of oocysts sporulated in buckets containing a solution composed of a mixture of feces with oocysts, water, and potassium dichromate was assessed. Quantifications and identification of Eimeria spp. oocysts were performed on days + 30, + 60, + 90, and every 30 days thereafter until no more oocysts were detected. Naïve calves were inoculated with this solution kept in the bucket for 6 and 12 months. In Experiment 2, the efficacy of various disinfectants (acetic acid, sodium hypochlorite, ethanol + acetic acid, and ammonia quaternary) against a new solution of sporulated oocysts and pH changes over time (10', 30', and 24 h) were evaluated in the laboratory. The most effective disinfectant was used to treat the water solution and inoculate the calves, and its efficacy was calculated. In Experiment 1, Eimeria spp. oocysts remained viable in the solution for up to 12 months. E. zuernii persisted until the end of the study period. Calves inoculated with the solution kept in the buckets for 6 and 12 months excreted at least four Eimeria species (E. zuernii, E. bovis, E. ellipsoidalis, and E. cylindrica). In Experiment 2, among the tested disinfectants, 3% acetic acid demonstrated the highest efficacy (10' = 80.9%; 30' = 87.9%; 24 h = 91.7%). The pH values of the solutions containing acetic acid ranged from 2.4 to 3.5. Calves that received the inoculum treated with 3% acetic acid did not excrete Eimeria spp. oocysts in feces during the study period (efficacy = 100%). In contrast, all animals in the control group excreted Eimeria spp. oocysts in feces. Future studies should be carried out to better understand the possible effects of cattle drinking water with 3% acetic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Myxozoa class is characterized by parasites that have valves joined by a suture line and polar capsules containing eversible spiral filamento and this class is considered an obligate parasite. The genus Ceratomyxa has approximately 300 species described in fish, both marine and freshwater fish, mainly infecting the gallbladder, but also occurring in the urinary bladder. This study describes a new species of Ceratomyxa in the Amazon region for Pimelodella cristata. Methods: For these analyses, the fish were desensitized by means of a medullary section with the aid of a sharp metallic instrument. With the fish desensitized, the entire body surface was examined under a binocular stereoscopic microscope. The gallbladder fragments were collected and fixed in Davidson for histological analyses and in ethanol for molecular analyses. Results: This parasite was found in the host's gallbladder, with elongated spores in a decreasing shape in sutural view, measuring 1.64 ± 0.6 μm in length and 17.13 ± 2.6 μm in width. The polar capsules had a spherical shape of equal size and measured 1.36 ± 0.17 μm in length and 0.9 ± 0.05 μm in width, and each polar capsule contained 4 to 5 turns. Conclusion: Morphological and phylogenetic analyzes denote that this is a new species of the genus Ceratomyxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we investigate the spin-3/2 Ashkin-Teller model with on a cubic lattice with ferromagnetic coupling, utilizing mean field theory developed through a variational principle based on the Bogoliubov inequality to derive thermodynamic expressions, such as free energy and magnetization. We develop analytical equations and obtain numerical results, phase diagrams, and magnetizations, exploring different phases with continuous and first-order phase transitions, tricritical and bifurcation points. The different phases are obtained by considering a relationship between the couplings present in the model and the spin-3/2 anisotropy. Thermodynamic properties are characterized through the analysis of Hessian matrices, with an emphasis on the stable states of magnetizations. The results were compared with other works showing convergence and assimilating new characteristics in the study of the properties of this model, such as the presence of five distinct phases characterized by continuous and first-order phase transitions, tricritical and bifurcations points, in addition to the presence of new phases indicating the sensitivity of the system to variations in the exchange interaction values between the spin variables and the evolution of some phase transitions influenced by the spin-3/2 anisotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumption and waste disposal decisions can have a profound impact on the environment. The present research is focused on understanding the adoption profiles of pro-environmental behaviors (PEB) within the Japanese population. The scope of the evaluated PEB covered the purchase, usage, and disposal of food products. Ethical consumption behaviors (the purchase of little packaging, organic, eco-friendly and/or refillable goods), food waste prevention actions (leftovers avoidance, meal planning, and food waste reduction/avoidance), and alternative disposal measures (feeding animals, composting, giving food to neighbors) were analyzed. The profiles were found via a two-step clustering technique using self-reported data from a survey done in nine Japanese prefectures. The first step of the clustering algorithm comprised a hierarchical technique, and the second was a K-means with an Euclidean distance. Four significantly distinct clusters were found, namely: sporadic adopters, average practitioners, responsible consumers, and environmentally involved. Approximately 51% of the sample was allocated to the responsible consumers cluster, which was characterized by having more women in part-time jobs or in-house duties and older respondents than the other groups. Environmentally involved tended to be young respondents with children and gardening/farming interest. They were also the ones who ate plant-based meals more frequently and had healthier eating habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movement of animals, habitat connectivity, and nutrient transport are key elements in the ecological functioning of coral reef ecosystems. However, most studies have focused on the diurnal component of these aspects; nocturnal patterns are less known. Our study aims to address this knowledge gap by assessing diel movement patterns in ecologically and commercially important nocturnal coral reef fishes. We evaluate 122-days of acoustic telemetry data from 4 nocturnal species in 2 coral reef fish families (Haemulidae and Lutjanidae) on the Great Barrier Reef. For all species, we found a clear division between daytime resting areas on the reef and a move towards off-reef areas at night. This was highlighted in the low number of detections at night and the high average transitions between receivers at twilight. Over our study period, average nocturnal space use area (minimum convex polygon) of Plectorhincus gibbosus was 328,089 m2, Plectorhincus lineatus 28,828 m2, and Lutjanus carponotatus 20,369 m2. However, results from a Principal Component Analysis revealed that space use, and movement, varied substantially within species; for 3 of the 4 species the main axis of variation correlated with individual-level behaviour. These large differences in individual space use patterns highlight the need for caution when using species averages when considering ecosystem functions. Overall, our preliminary observations provide a glimpse into the large spatial extent, potential habitat connectivity, and intra and interspecific variation in activity patterns among large nocturnal Indo-Pacific reef fishes. This highlights their potential importance in maintaining ecosystem links between coral reefs and adjacent habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a novel multimodal approach for mixed-frequency time series forecasting in the oil industry, enabling the use of high-frequency (HF) data in their original frequency. We specifically address the challenge of integrating HF data streams, such as pressure and temperature measurements, with daily time series without introducing noise. Our approach was compared with existing econometric regression model mixed-data sampling (MIDAS) and with the data-driven models N-HiTS and a GRU-based network, across short-, medium-, and long-term prediction horizons. Additionally, we validated the proposed method on datasets from other domains beyond the oil industry. The experimental results indicate that our multimodal approach significantly improves long-term prediction accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that deficiencies in magnesium, selenium, and zinc in individuals with obesity compromise the endogenous antioxidant defense system. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of mineral deficiency on enzymatic antioxidant defense in women with obesity. The study involved 63 women with obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) and 77 eutrophic women (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2). Variables such as fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, and serum lipids were analyzed. Insulin resistance was measured using the homeostasis assessment model (HOMA-IR) and beta cell function using the homeostasis assessment model (HOMA-β). Dietary intake of energy, macronutrients (including magnesium, zinc, and selenium), and plasma, erythrocyte, and urinary concentrations of these minerals were measured and analyzed. Serum cortisol, plasma leptin, plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and the activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and erythrocyte catalase were also analyzed. Women with obesity had reduced plasma and erythrocyte concentrations and greater urinary excretion of all minerals compared to normal weight women (p < 0.05). There was a positive association between erythrocyte concentrations of zinc and selenium and the activity of the GPX and SOD enzymes in erythrocytes in women with obesity (p < 0.05), in addition to a positive association between serum insulin and the enzyme GPX, which is dependent on dietary selenium (p < 0.05). Individuals with obesity are deficient in magnesium, selenium, and zinc, which appears to impair the antioxidant defense system and contribute to important metabolic disorders such as oxidative stress in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, no studies comparing the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection between the general and human immunodeficiency virus 2 (HIV-2) populations are available. With the purpose of filling this gap, this prevalence was assessed in the HIV-2 population from central Portugal. HEV seropositivity was 19.4%, which did not differ significantly from that found in the matched control population, and was not associated with CD4 cell count, HIV-2 viral load, and geographic origin or travel history to regions considered highly endemic for HEV. The results suggest that HIV-2 is not a risk factor for HEV infection, neither for an increased occurrence of chronic HEV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new polerovirus, named “arachis mottle-associated virus” (ArMoV), was identified by high-throughput sequencing in a Pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi) plant. The genome sequence was confirmed by Sanger sequencing and contains 5775 nucleotides and seven predicted open reading frames (ORFs), showing a typical polerovirus genome structure. All of the proteins encoded by ArMoV showed less than 90% amino acid sequence identity to those of other poleroviruses, the threshold to establish a new species in the genus. Phylogenetic analysis based on P1-P2 fusion protein and coat protein amino acid sequences showed that tobacco polerovirus 1 and chickpea chlorotic stunt virus, respectively, were the most closely related to ArMoV. These data suggest that ArMoV is a member of a new species of the genus Polerovirus, for which the binomial name "Polerovirus ARMOV " is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the reactions ψ (3770) → Ω ¯ + K ¯ Ξ and ψ (3770) → Ω ¯ + K ¯ Ξ ∗ (1530) (Ξ ∗ (1530) → π Ξ ), and calculate the mass distributions d Γ d M inv (K ¯ Ξ) and d Γ d M inv (K ¯ Ξ ∗) , respectively. We obtain clear peaks corresponding to the Ω (2012) . From the decay of ψ (3770) → Ω ¯ + K ¯ Ξ ∗ , we also get a second, broader, peak around 2035 M e V , which comes from the Ω (2012) decay to K ¯ Ξ ∗ . This second peak is closely tied to the molecular picture of the Ω (2012) with the K ¯ Ξ ∗ (1530) and η Ω components. Its observation would provide a boost to the molecular picture of the Ω (2012) . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate whether Trypanosoma vivax is transmitted via rectal palpation in cattle, using the same glove with different blood scores, from an animal with an acute infection of this protozoan. In addition, the efficacy of iodine as disinfectant, together with water with or without the presence of feces, to prevent the transmission of T. vivax in cattle during the rectal palpation process was evaluated in the laboratory and animals. A total of four stages were carried out, using a total of 103 animals. Stage 1 aimed to verify the presence of trypomastigote forms of T. vivax in palpation gloves after rectal palpation. Stage 2 consisted of checking the blood scores on a palpation glove and how many animals become infected with T. vivax through rectal palpation by reusing the same glove with different blood scores. Stage 3 verified the disinfectant action of 0.5% iodine in the laboratory and in the field. Stage 4 verified the disinfectant action of 1% iodine in the field. Based on the results found, for the first time, the transmission of T. vivax via rectal palpation in cattle was proven using the same glove. From one animal with acute infection by this protozoan, two to five other cattle became infected, depending on the glove blood scores. Disinfecting the glove in a 0.5% iodine solution inhibited the transmission rate of T. vivax among cattle by 70 to 80%. Disinfecting the glove in 1% iodine solution was 100% effective. This work fills gaps in the existing literature, as the transmission of T. vivax via rectal palpation in cattle was demonstrated using the same glove. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brejos de Altitude, ecosystems of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest (hotspot), preserve ancient clades currently threatened by logging and agricultural expansion. Given the risk of phylogenetic ruptures and loss of option values for future generations, this study employs Faith’s Phylogenetic Diversity (PD) to identify priority conservation areas within these ecosystems while also providing a comprehensive view of the management of phylogenetic resources in this region. For this purpose, 28 Brejos de Altitude Forest areas were selected and a calibrated phylogeny was constructed with 826 species to calculate the PD of each location. The PD values were subsequently overlain with shapefiles containing information on the region’s Conservation Units (UCs) to identify conservation gaps. We found that 67.85% of the areas are within UCs, most of which allow for sustainable resource use. However, most UCs exhibit management deficiencies, such as the lack of a management plan. Moreover, eight among the ten areas that present the highest PD values belong to UCs, and seven of these have sustainable use. In contrast, three areas with the lowest PD values belong to UCs, with two of them lacking a management plan and participatory management mechanisms. These findings demonstrate that high PD areas remain unprotected in the region, but the implementation of UCs alone may not ensure the conservation of phylogenetic heritage. Establishing well-managed UCs in high PD areas is necessary, as is strengthening the management of existing UCs by allocating financial resources and involving various sectors of civil society in decision-making processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]