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This paper introduces a design and analysis framework for a multivariable gradient-based stochastic extremum-seeking control system that considers delays. The study addresses multi-input systems with time delays in both input and output channels. The introduced new predictor feedback mechanism utilizes stochastic sinusoidal perturbation-based estimates of the Hessian's matrix in order to compensate the delay effects in the real-time optimizer. The incorporation of this feedback into the closed-loop system ensures exponential stability for the average dynamics and convergence to a small neighborhood around the unknown extremum point. The derived results are rigorously established through the application of backstepping transformation and stochastic averaging techniques in infinite dimensions. The effectiveness of the proposed predictor-based stochastic extremum-seeking approach for delay compensation is illustrated through a numerical example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The weeds of the species Rottboellia cochinchinensis (Lour.) Clayton (camalote grass) are highly aggressive in bush competition for sugarcane crops, and these species are increasing their infestations in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, generating impacts on the development of sugarcane plantations and reducing productivity and longevity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the herbicide imazapic in pre-emergence control of the species R. cochinchinensis when applied under conditions with and without sugarcane straw and in different simulations of rainfall. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design. A 2 × 2 × 2 triple factorial design was used, consisting of 2 doses of the herbicide imazapic (105 and 147 g ai ha−1), 2 amounts of straw (0 and 10 t ha−1) and 2 rainfall simulations (10 and 30 mm). With 4 replicates and 4 controls, this factorial being isolated for two soil types (clayey and sandy) and in two germination flows (F1 and F2). The rainfall factor always resulted in higher control performances with the smallest simulated volume of 10 mm, and the amount of straw factor influenced the effectiveness of the control, both in sandy and clayey soils. The highest dose (147 g ai ha−1) showed better control efficacy in clayey soils. The herbicide imazapic showed excellent control until the end of the second flush, with an average dry mass reduction of 92% for R. cochinchinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study highlights the adaptability and potential of Eucalyptus pellita for forestry applications in Brazil. It utilized a randomized block design with linear plots of five plants across five replications, establishing an experimental trial with 175 progenies from several provenances in May 2019. The trial was conducted in Lençóis Paulista, São Paulo State, Brazil, which has an Aw (tropical wet-dry climate) climate according to Köppen´s classification and followed the commercial forestry practices of the region. Three years after planting, survival, height (H) and diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured, with the main annual increment calculated using a shape factor of 0.5. The survival rate reached 95%, with an average tree height of 12.6 m, DBH of 10 cm, and a volume mean annual increment of 34 m3ha− 1y− 1. We observed a provenance effect, with higher breeding values in improved material compared to wild (unimproved) material. Thinning strategies were initiated by plotting additive genetic effects for the DBH trait of families and provenance, resulting in the identification of four groups empirically divided according to the curve's inflection point. Thinning intensity of 70 to 80% of the trees was found effective in maintaining both genetic gain and a good effective population size, regardless of whether selection within families was considered. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of considering several factors, including provenance effects and selection strategies, for sustainable forestry practices. Provenance effects play a significant role in tree breeding programs. However, even within poor-performing provenance, it is possible to select trees with high breeding values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the influence of MMR complex protein immunoexpression on disease-free survival in oropharyngeal SCC treated non-surgically. Materials and methods: 85 cases of oropharyngeal SCC diagnosed and treated at the Ceará Cancer Institute were surveyed, from which clinical-pathological data and paraffin blocks of incisional biopsies were retrieved for immunohistochemical reaction for MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, MLH1 and p16. Disease-free survival was calculated and Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman/Dunn tests, chi-square and Fisher's exact, Log-Rank Mantel Cox and Cox regression were performed. Results: In p16- tumors, loss of MSH2 expression was associated with shorter disease-free survival (p = 0.035) and mean MSH6 expression was significantly higher than MSH2 (p = 0.001). Loss of MSH2 expression in p16 + tumors was associated with longer disease-free survival compared to p16- tumors. Imbalance in the MSH6/MSH2 ratio in p16 + tumors was associated with longer survival compared to p16- tumors. MLH1/PMS2 imbalance was significantly higher in p16 + with recurrence (p = 0.003). Low MSH2 immunoexpression increased the risk of relapse by 9.10 times (CI95% 1.99 to 83.06). Conclusion: Microsatellite instability in oropharyngeal SCC is demonstrated by the association between loss of protein expression and its heterodimer imbalance with disease-free survival. It was demonstrated that the imbalance of the MMR complex can consequently lead to resistance to treatment and a decrease in disease-free survival in p16 + oropharyngeal SCC tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the possible agricultural application of calcium carbonate derived from niobium extraction. This carbonate is stored in dams, and it is enriched with radionuclides from 232Th series, which imposes restrictions on its use. Activity concentration evaluation in soil was performed before the tillage of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and the soil–plant transfer factor was determined. Results showed the dilution factor applied to the carbonate in the soil causes insignificant increments in soil activity concentration. In cultivated lettuce, high activity concentrations of 228Ra and 226Ra were found independently when using either the control or carbonate amended soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Chloramine T in reducing gingivitis in hospitalized patients, in addition to providing an alternative to the use of Chlorhexidine. Materials and methods: A randomized, triple-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial was performed with 45 volunteers presenting with gingivitis, using the Löe Gingival Index (LGI). Patients were randomly allocated into one of three groups: (G1): Chloramine T 0.2%; (G2): Chlorhexidine 0.12% and (G3): distilled water. Results: After five days, the control group (G3) remained without relevant differences in relation to the first pre-treatment assessment, while the groups tested with chlorhexidine and chloramine T showed improvement in the LGI (p < 0.05). After ten days, G3 maintained the results of the previous assessments, G1 repeated the five-day assessment and G2 obtained a statistically significant difference, with a better result in relation to the previous assessment (p < 0.05). After fifteen days, G3 showed no differences in relation to the other assessments, G1 had a statistically significant difference, showing better performance in relation to the previous assessment and G2 continued the gradual improvement it had been showing in the LGI (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Chloramine T and Chlorhexidine present similar results in the treatment of gingivitis, when evaluated by probing by the LGI, and Chloramine T can be used effectively, without causing the adverse effects inherent to prolonged use of chlorhexidine. Clinical relevance: Importance of oral hygiene for patients admitted to hospitals with the use of adjuvant substances that do not present adverse effects such as chlorhexidine, which is considered the gold standard, seeking to provide better clinical protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffea indirect somatic embryogenesis (ISE) has been established from callogenesis heading towards somatic embryo regeneration, evidencing intra- and interspecific similarities and differences between diploid (Coffea canephora and Coffea eugenioides) and allotetraploid (Coffea arabica). ISE is influenced by endogenous and exogenous aspects, but few data have been reported about the genetic and physiological causes. Seeking to understand the Coffea ISE responses, we aimed to: induce ISE in diploid and allotetraploid, quantify the endogenous levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and determine the gene copy number of aux/iaa33 and yuc4 involved in auxin biosynthesis, and of wox4 related with ISE pathway. Unlike previous studies, C. eugenioides and C. arabica showed the same friable callus mean number, and higher mean number than C. canephora. Nevertheless, C. canephora friable calli had higher IAA level at 60th than other Coffea. IAA level of the C. canephora friable calli reduced at 90th, becoming equal to C. eugenioides and C. arabica even the diploid Coffea exhibiting one copy and allotetraploid two copies of the aux/iaa33, yuc4 and wox4. As in other studies, C. arabica exhibited a higher somatic embryo mean number than diploid Coffea. Since the ISE was established in the same conditions, our data reinforce the endogenous IAA role in Coffea ISE, and that the aux/iaa33, yuc4 and wox4 copy number did not affect IAA levels. Therefore, other genes, genotype and hormones should be further investigated. Our data are a basis for understanding the in vitro response and contribute to ISE improvement.Key message: Gene copy number and role of the IAA in C. eugenioides, C. canephora and C. arabica in ISE responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been increasingly adopted in domains such as smart infrastructure, healthcare, supply chain, transportation, and many others. However, the constrained computational resources of these devices make conventional security approaches against security threats not applicable. This limitation emphasizes the need to explore new approaches, specifically tailored to these kinds of devices. To increase protection against cyberattacks in IoT devices, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs) are considered an effective approach. Machine Learning (ML) techniques can be combined with Federated Learning to enhance the privacy and scalability of these systems. Many IDSs have been introduced, but there is a research gap concerning Host Intrusion Detection System (HIDS), which is the primary focus of our current work. Additionally, existing research predominantly focuses on the application of ML techniques and their evaluation, with limited attention to real-world implementation. We propose a lightweight HIDS that relies on the analysis of system call traces to detect malicious activities. The proposed HIDS achieved an accuracy rate of approximately 98%. Finally, by using eXplainable Artificial Intelligence methods, we sought to provide explanations for these these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ketamine has been considered as an adjunct for children who do not reach their predefined target sedation depth. However, there is limited evidence regarding the use of ketamine as a prolonged infusion (i.e., >24 hours) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Objective: We sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of continuous ketamine infusion for >24 hours in mechanically ventilated children. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study in a tertiary PICU from January 2020 to December 2022. The primary outcome was the incidence of adverse events (AEs) after ketamine initiation. The secondary outcome included assessing the median proportion of time the patient spent on the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) goal after ketamine infusion. Patients were also divided into two groups based on the sedative regimen, ketamine-based or non-ketamine-based, to assess the incidence of delirium. Results: A total of 269 patients were enrolled: 73 in the ketamine group and 196 in the non-ketamine group. The median infusion rate of ketamine was 1.4 mg/kg/h. Delirium occurred in 16 (22%) patients with ketamine and 15 (7.6%) patients without ketamine (p = 0.006). After adjusting for covariates, logistic regression showed that delirium was associated with comorbidities (odds ratio [OR] 4.2), neurodevelopmental delay (OR 0.23), fentanyl use (OR 7.35), and ketamine use (OR 4.17). Thirty-one (42%) of the patients experienced at least one AE following ketamine infusion. Other AEs likely related to ketamine were hypertension (n = 4), hypersecretion (n = 14), tachycardia (n = 6), and nystagmus (n = 2). There were no significant changes in hemodynamic variables 24 h after the initiation of ketamine. Regarding the secondary outcomes, patients were at their goal RASS level for a median of 76% (range 68–80.5%) of the time in the 24 hours before ketamine initiation, compared with 84% (range 74.5–90%) of the time during the 24 h after ketamine initiation (p < 0.001). The infusion rate of ketamine did not significantly affect concomitant analgesic and sedative infusions. The ketamine group experienced a longer duration of mechanical ventilation and a longer length of stay in the PICU and hospital than the non-ketamine group. Conclusion: The use of ketamine infusion in PICU patients may be associated with an increased rate of adverse events, especially delirium. High-quality studies are needed before ketamine can be broadly recommended or adopted earlier in the sedation protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to conduct a thorough analysis, both quantitative and qualitative, of bibliometric parameters related to preemptive analgesia (PA) in oral surgical procedures (OSP). Methods: Research trends on PA in OSP using ibuprofen were reviewed through bibliometric analysis of 68 journal articles published from 1991 to 2022 in the Web of Science database. Bibliometric indicators were applied to analyze the journal article data, including the annual distribution of publications and literature growth, document types, citation indicators to measure qualitative research performance, and keyword mapping to identify research trends. The results were imported into RStudio, and the Bibliometrix package was used to prepare and analyze the metadata. Results: The 68 included articles received a total of 900 citations, ranging from 1 source to 72 citations with some fluctuations. The papers on PA in OSP using ibuprofen had an average of 16.85 citations per paper. These publications were originated from 25 countries, with the highest contributions from Brazil (n = 17), the USA (n = 13), and Turkey (n = 8). The top five major contributing journals were the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Journal of Periodontology, and Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, representing more than half of all selected papers. Conclusion: Papers focused on PA in OSP received numerous citations. The citation per article correlated with the number of publications at the affiliation, author, country, and journal levels. However, there is still a scarcity of studies in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicide leaching studies are extremely important to evaluate the environmental behavior of these products in the environment. However, there are no equivalence analyses in the literature of the most commonly used methods: bioassays and HPLC. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the leaching of the herbicides imazapic (147 g ai ha−1) and sulfentrazone (800 g ai ha−1) using bioassays with Cucumis sativus L. and HPLC/MS/MS methodologies when applied to sugarcane straw and directly on the soil and subjected to different periods of drought. Two experiments were performed with soil columns that followed a completely randomized design, with four replicates, in a 3 × 4 × 2 factorial scheme, with three treatments (0, 30 and 60 days after the application), four soil depths (0–0.05; 0.05–0.1; 0.1–0.15 and 0.15–0.2 cm) and in the absence of straw or with 10 t ha −1 straw for each of the herbicides: imazapic and sulfentrazone. The bioassay and HPLC methodologies were equivalent in the leaching of imazapic to a depth of 0.1 m. Sulfentrazone showed low to moderate leaching, since from 0.10 cm, leaching was inexpressive in both methods, and in the 0.15–0.2 m layers in the HPLC methodology, the amount of herbicide detected was zero. Therefore, both methodologies can be considered equivalent in the study of herbicide leaching because even though they are different quantitative (HPLC) and qualitative (bioassay) methods, they resulted in interpretations similar in relation to the behavior of herbicides in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the representation of the Tropical Atlantic zonal and meridional modes of sea surface temperature variability, as well as precipitation in western Sahel, northeast Brazil, Amazon and equatorial Atlantic in a set 40 CMIP6 models under the historical period in both full-forcing historical simulations (hist-full) and the Detection and Attribution Model Intercomparison Project (DAMIP) single-forcing simulations: historical natural (hist-nat), historical aerosol (hist-aer) and historical greenhouse gases (hist-GHG). The mean state and variability represented in the CMIP6 historical full forcing simulations is compared to observations. The mean state and long term trends in the single forcing simulations is analysed and compared against the full-forcing and control simulations. Results show that there is a warm bias in the Atlantic Cold Tongue region observed in previous CMIP versions which persists in CMIP6. The models simulate higher mean precipitation rates than observations in northeastern Brazil and eastern equatorial Atlantic, while they present a negative bias overall in Amazon and Sahel regions. For the Detection and Attribution Model Intercomparison Project (DAMIP) experiments, aerosols lead to a decrease in climatological mean precipitation in the Amazon region while greenhouse gases lead to a warming trend in SSTs accompanied by a slight weakening of trade winds. Statistically significant long-term precipitation trends are observed only in Sahel region for the full-forcing simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalyptus pilularis Smith is renowned for its high-quality wood, rapid growth, and adaptability to diverse soil conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the use of the molecular kinship matrix to estimate genetic parameters for E. pilularis selection and the potential establishment of a base population. The experiment involved 13 provenances and 115 progenies, using a randomized complete block design with five replicates and linear plots consisting of five plants each. Genetic parameters for the traits diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, and volume were evaluated at five years of age using the linear mixed model. Results indicated a survival rate for the population of 73.11%, an average total height of 18.65 m, DBH of 14.28 cm, and volume of 14.57 cm3. By adjusting the kinship matrix, the estimated values of heritability and genetic coefficients of variation decreased, indicating that there would be errors in these estimates and in the genetic gains if the progenies were assumed to be half-siblings. The discrepancy in rankings derived from the conventional half-sibling matrix versus molecular kinship matrix poses a significant challenge for experts in forest species genetic improvement. Our findings indicate not only inflated estimations of genetic parameters and gains, but also disparities in rankings when accounting for true levels of relatedness among individuals based on the molecular matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaculture is a prominent economic activity on the national scenario. However, it also has several environmental impacts. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of non-self-compensating drippers operating with dilutions of aquaculture wastewater (AW) in well water (WA). For this, five dilutions were tested (D1: 100% AW; D2: 75% AW + 25% WA; D3: 50% AW + 50% WA; D4: 25% AW + 75% WA; and D5: 100% of WA), in three types of non-self-compensating emitters: TS (1.6 L h−1), SL (1.6 L h−1), and NJ (1.7 L h−1) after 160 h of operation. Every 80 h, the hydraulic performance of the three drippers was determined using the relative flow (QR) and distribution uniformity coefficient (DUC). The pH, EC, Ca2+, Mg2+, CO32−, HCO3−, TC, TTC, TSS, TDS, Mn+, Fe+, S+, Na2+, LSI, tur, and temperature were also quantified. The statistical analyses performed were Pearson's correlation matrix, principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA) and factor analysis (FA). After 160 h of operation, the drippers that were totally or partially clogged at the end of the lateral lines were removed to analyze biofilm formation using SEM. FA with the help of PCA explained 83.38% of data variance, and CA highlighted three similar groups between the dilutions of AW in WA. The images processed by SEM showed the extent of the occurrence of obstruction, especially in the regions close to the wall of the emitter labyrinth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionospheric scintillation causes major impairments to Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in low-latitude regions. In severe scenarios, this event can lead to complete loss of lock, thus making GNSS measurements unusable for navigation. In this paper, we derive a cooperative localization algorithm where a set of partially connected aircraft exchange messages with neighboring nodes on the network to improve their own position estimates. We consider the scintillation events as abrupt changes in the measurement variance, which are modeled by a discrete-valued Markov process at the nodes which have access to GNSS measurements. Simulation results show that Markovian modeling and cooperation via factor graph message passing reduce the average 3D root mean square localization error and yield an average vertical position error that meets civil aviation standards for approach and landing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature dependence of the Landau gauge ghost propagator is investigated in pure SU(3) Yang-Mills theory with lattice QCD simulations. Its behavior around the confined-deconfined phase transition temperature, Tc ∼ 270 MeV, is investigated. The simulations show that in the deconfined phase, the ghost propagator is enhanced for small momenta, ≲ 1 GeV. Furthermore, the analysis of the spontaneous breaking of center symmetry on the ghost propagator is studied. Similarly as observed for the gluon propagator, the simulations result in a decoupling of the sectors where the phase of the Polyakov loop is either 0 or ±2π/3 sectors, with the latter remaining indistinguishable. The results point to the possible use of the ghost propagator as an “order parameter” for the confined-deconfined phase transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several leaf-level models have been developed to model stomatal conductance (gs) in response to environmental factors such as CO2, light, temperature, vapor pressure deficit. We studied the applicability of three common stomatal conductance models including Ball–Woodrow–Berry (BB), Ball–Berry–Leuning (BBL) and unified stomatal optimization (USO) models to identify the best model using data obtained from planted forests in Brazil, in addition to analyzing how stomatal conductance and water use efficiency vary between the genera, species and sites. We analyzed the effects of the genus (Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Pinus), age, air temperature (minimum temperature and maximum temperatura) and total annual precipitation on parameter g1 using mixed generalized linear models (GLMM). The BBL and USO models performed better comparing to BB model. Both the USO model and the BBL model showed good fits (R2 ranging from 0.41 to 0.95) with the evaluated metrics. From 22 genotypes tested, three did not fit the BBL model. The USO model had good fits with measured stomatal conductance for all datasets. The USO model had the highest slope parameter for species Pinus Taeda (g1 = 4.96 ± 0.09) and the lowest slope parameter for genotype E. grandis × E. urophylla (1.42 ± 0.04). The parameter g1 of the eucalypt group ranged from 1.42 to 4.87. The genus of pine ranged from 4.30 to 4.96. The pine species had a relatively high slope parameter of gs model (g1) and, consequently, the lowest efficiency in water use when compared to eucalyptus species. When evaluating the influence of the climatic variables age and genus on parameter g1, the results showed a significant effect only for the variable "Genus", indicating a difference between the groups evaluated for the g1 parameter. The g1 was higher for the genus Pinus, and lower for Eucalyptus and Corymbia, which do not differ significantly. Our results made available a database of g1 obtained by the three most used models in ESMS and PBMs models, in addition to suggesting the next steps for the study of stomatal conductance modeling in planted forests in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is common to be associated with pregnancy and birth. To date, no research has been done to understand whether the perineal massage and warm compresses technique has an impact on pelvic floor dysfunction. To assess the impact of perineal massage and warm compresses technique during the second stage of labor in pelvic floor dysfunction at 3 and 6 months postpartum. Of the 800 women recruited to randomised controlled trial to prevent perineal trauma, 496 were included in the study, with 242 (48.8%) assigned to the Perineal Massage and Warm Compresses (PeMWaC) group and 254 (51.2%) to the control group (hands-on). Used the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20). The questionnaire is divided into three subscales: Urinary (UDI), Colorectal-Anal (CRADI), and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory (POPDI). The PeMWaC group had a significantly higher frequency of intact perineum (p < 0.001) and low-severity vaginal tears (tears without any other degree of perineal trauma) (p = 0.031) compared to the control group, while the control group had significantly more patients who suffered high-severity vaginal/perineal trauma (second degree perineal tears) (p = 0.031) and patients without spontaneous perineal trauma or vaginal tears who underwent episiotomy (p < 0.001). In addition, at 3 months postpartum, women in the control group had a higher Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI) score and global score, compared to the PeMWaC group, and after controlling for confounding variables, the perineal massage and warm compresses technique was associated with lower UDI scores at 3 months postpartum compared to control group. At 6 months postpartum, there were no differences in the UDI or global scores, indicating general recovery from perineal trauma. In addition to reducing perineal trauma during birth, the perineal massage and warm compresses technique was associated with a lower prevalence of early PFD symptoms, mainly urinary distress, at 3 months. Trial registration http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05854888, retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To summarize the scientific evidence on the prevalence of maxillary sinus hypoplasia (MSH) and associated anatomical variations as assessed by computed tomography scans. Study design: This PROSPERO-registered systematic review followed the recommendations of the PRISMA guidelines. Search algorithms were constructed for each of the six databases and gray literature. After screening the references (Rayyan®), the extracted data were meta-analyzed according to a random-effects model. The joanna briggs critical appraisal tool assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. The GRADE approach was used to estimate the certainty of the evidence. Results: From a total of 2781 studies screened, 22 were considered for four meta-analysis. The prevalence of MSH in 7358 patients was 5.65% (CI95% = 4.07–7.47%) with significant heterogeneity between studies (p < 0.001, I2 = 89.30%). MSH was identified in 295 patients, of whom 82.38% (CI95% = 75.82–88.09%) had unilateral hypoplasia and 17.62% (CI95% = 11.91–24.18%) bilateral hypoplasia with moderate heterogeneity between studies (p < 0.0503, I2 = 42.87%). The prevalence of MSH in 9998 maxillary sinuses was 3.77% (95% CI = 2.44–5.38%), with significant heterogeneity between studies (p < 0.001, I2 = 92.84%). Hypoplastic/aplastic uncinate process, concha bullosa and paradoxical concha were the most reported anatomical variations. The studies presented a low-moderate methodological quality. The certainty of the evidence was very low to moderate. Conclusion: The prevalence of maxillary sinus hypoplasia observed was 5.65%, with most cases being unilateral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anthropometric measurements can be used to identify children at risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study aimed to assess which anthropometric measurements (AMs) are most associated with an increased predisposition to develop OSA in healthy children and adolescents. Methods: We performed a systematic review (PROSPERO #CRD42022310572) that searched eight databases and gray literature. Results: In eight studies with low-to-high risk of bias, investigators reported the following AMs: body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, neck-to-waist ratio, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and facial AMs. The meta-analysis showed that the OSA group had an average of 1.00 cm greater for the neck circumference (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 2.26 [0.72, 5.23]), 3.07 cm greater for the waist circumference (p = 0.030; Cohen's d = 0.28 [0.02, 0.53]), 3.96 cm greater for the hip circumference (p = 0.040; Cohen's d = 0.28 [0.02, 0.55]), 5.21° greater for the cervicomental angle (p = 0.020; Cohen's d = 0.31 [0.03, 0.59]), and 1.23° greater for maxillary-mandibular relationship angle (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.47 [0.22, 0.72]) than the control group. The mandibular depth angle had a reduction of 1.86° (p = 0.001; Cohen's d = −0.36° [−0.65, −0.08]) in control than in patients with OSA. The BMI (p = 0.180), waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.280), neck-to-waist ratio (p = 0.070), maxillary depth angle (p = 0.250), and upper/lower face height ratio (p = 0.070) showed no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: Compared to the control group, the OSA group exhibited a greater mean difference in neck circumference, the only anthropometric measurement with high certainty of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dipteryx alata is an important plant species in the Brazilian Cerrado. In this work, we evaluated biochemical and physiological changes in plants exposed to the following treatments for 15 days: control (plants grown in ideal conditions, without stress), drought, flooding, and salinity. Each treatment had six replicates of one plant per pot, evaluated concerning their water relations (water potential, osmotic potential, and daily transpiration), physiological processes (chlorophyll a fluorescence, gas exchange, respiration, and photorespiration), and biochemical parameters (sugars, proline, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and antioxidant enzymes). Drought and salinity decreased the leaf water potential and the osmotic potential, indicating osmotic adjustment, but sugars and proline did not contribute to this process. All three stresses decreased the photosynthetic rate by inducing stomatal closure. Salt stress and hypoxia, however, also altered pigment concentration and electron transport, and promoted limitations to photosynthesis. Only plants subjected to drought stress showed increased photorespiration, which although is a source of H2O2, may have helped to protect photosystems. The balance in antioxidant enzyme activities varied significantly among treatments, but membrane damage was observed only in plants grown at high salt concentrations. Although drought is commonly considered the main abiotic stress responsible for tree mortality, the vulnerability index and the hierarchical grouping of plants indicated that D. alata seedlings showed greater sensitivity to flooding and salinity stress. These results are consistent with the evolutionary history of this species and highlight the detrimental effects of land misuse on species conservation in the Cerrado Domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), condylar and mandibular movements in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients treated with mandibular advancement device (MAD) and to identify the influence of these anatomic factors on upper airway (UA) volume and polysomnographic outcomes after treatment. Materials and methods: Twenty OSA patients were prospectively treated with MAD. Clinical examinations, cone-beam computed tomography, and polysomnography were performed before MAD treatment and after achieving therapeutic protrusion. Polysomnographic variables and three-dimensional measurements of the TMJ, mandible, and upper airway were statistically analyzed. Results: Condylar rotation, anterior translation, and anterior mandibular displacement were directly correlated with total UA volume, while vertical mandibular translation was inversely correlated with the volume of the inferior oropharynx. MAD treatment resulted in an increase in the volume and area of the superior oropharynx. There was no statistically significant correlation between condylar rotation and translation and polysomnographic variables. With MAD, there was a significant increase in vertical dimension, changes in condylar position (rotation and translation), and mandibular displacement. The central and medial lengths of the articular eminence were inversely correlated with condylar rotation and translation, respectively. The lateral length of the eminence was directly correlated with condylar translation, and the lateral height was directly correlated with condylar rotation and translation. Conclusion: Condylar and mandibular movements influenced UA volume. The articular eminence played a role in the amount of condylar rotation and translation. Clinical relevance: Individualized anatomical evaluation of the TMJ proves to be important in the therapy of OSA with MAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreatic glandular parenchyma that causes injury with or without the destruction of pancreatic acini. Clinical and experimental evidence suggest that certain systemic proinflammatory mediators may be responsible for initiating the fundamental mechanisms involved in microglial reactivity. Here, we investigated the possible repercussions of acute pancreatitis (AP) on the production of inflammatory mediators in the brain parenchyma focusing on microglial activation in the hippocampus. Methods: The acute pancreatic injury in rats was induced by a pancreas ligation surgical procedure (PLSP) on the splenic lobe, which corresponds to approximately 10% of total mass of the pancreas. Blood samples were collected via intracardiac puncture for the measurement of serum amylase. After euthanasia, frozen or paraffin-embedded brains and pancreas were analyzed using qRT-PCR or immunohistochemistry, respectively. Results: Immunohistochemistry assays showed a large number of Iba1 and PU.1-positive cells in the CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) regions of the hippocampus of the PLSP group. TNF-α mRNA expression was significantly higher in the brain from PLSP group. NLRP3 inflammasome expression was found to be significantly increased in the pancreas and brain of rats of the PLSP group. High levels of BNDF mRNA were found in the rat brain of PLSP group. In contrast, NGF mRNA levels were significantly higher in the control group versus PLSP group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that AP has the potential to induce morphological changes in microglia consistent with an activated phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Scots pines developed for several years on volcano slopes showed a dwarf phenotype and a larger hydraulic safety margin than downslope trees, such that hydraulic safety was prioritized over growth. The ability of trees to survive and naturally regenerate under increasing drought conditions will depend on their capacity to vary key hydraulic and morphological traits that increase drought tolerance. Yet, there has been limited investigation into this variability under recurrent severe drought conditions since the establishment phase. We investigated the hydraulic and leaf trait adjustments of Scots pine trees settled in an abandoned slag quarry by comparing them across three topographic positions inducing contrasted effects on growth. We measured xylem and foliar traits to compare the water status of trees according to tree location and to evaluate the respective risk for xylem hydraulic failure using the soil–plant hydraulic model SurEau. Compared to upslope and downslope trees, slope trees exhibited lower growth, photosynthetic pigment contents, vulnerability to embolism and specific hydraulic conductivity, as well as higher water potential at turgor loss point and midday water potentials. As a consequence, slope trees showed an increase in the hydraulic safety margin and a low level of embolism, compared to downslope and to upslope trees. Additionally, these adjustments induced an increase in the time to hydraulic failure in slope trees compared to downslope and upslope trees under similar drought conditions simulated using the SurEau model. These results suggest a prioritization of hydraulic safety over growth in Scots pine developed in a harsh environment, resulting in a dwarf phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien plants grown in urban areas can spread through natural and anthropogenic ecosystems, adversely impacting native biota. Propagule pressure (i.e., seed, individual, and introduction number) increases the spreading probability, but native herbivorous predators can limit it via biotic resistance. Parrots are primary consumers, and although they interact antagonistically with alien plants, their role in biotic resistance seems overlooked. Here, we highlight the potential role of urban parrots in biotic resistance based on florivory activity in Gliricidia sepium (Fabaceae), an alien tree with invasive traits. We performed focal observations on four G. sepium trees planted in an urbanized area in Brazil to assess parrot florivory magnitude. As a complement, we performed road transects to record food plants and determine whether parrots prefer G. sepium over native plants, a significant fact from the perspective of biotic resistance. Parrots prey on 33% of G. sepium flower crops in 16 h, presumably resulting in seed loss for recruitment – ​​florivory occurs before fruit and seed formation and may characterize a type of predispersal seed predation. Three parrot species preferred G. sepium flowers to some native food plant species. Our investigation suggests that parrots potentially provide biotic resistance in urbanized areas by exerting high predation pressure on the reproductive structures of alien plants. Maintaining native urban parrots can be a conservation tool to resist invasion by alien plant species. Parrot food plants, mainly native ones, should be urban greening options to enhance this ecological function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for treatment of trismus in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC). Sixteen patients, 10 men and 6 women, who had a mouth opening < 35 mm and underwent RT were included. The patients were evaluated daily before and after the PBMT application, measuring mouth opening and performing pain scores for the masticatory muscles using the visual analog scale (VAS). We used the infrared laser (~ 808 nm) extraorally, 0.1 W power, 3 J energy, 30 s (107 J/cm2) per point, applied to temporalis anterior, masseter muscles, and temporomandibular joints (TMJ). An intraoral point was made in the trigonoretromolar region towards the medial pterygoid muscle. The mean mouth opening of the patients increased by more than 7 mm throughout the treatment. The pain scores on the initial days showed an immediate reduction after PBMT on the ipsilateral side in the muscles and TMJ. Throughout PBMT applications, there was a significant reduction in pain scores in all muscles and the TMJ. The radiation dose of all patients was above 40 Gy, which is the threshold dose for the risk of developing trismus. SPSS software was used and adopted a confidence of 95%. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov normality test, Wilcoxon test, and Spearman correlation were performed. PBMT controls muscular pain and reduced mouth opening limitation in HNC during radiotherapy. Further studies are needed to evaluate the preventive capacity of PBMT protocols for RT trismus-related HNC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bisphosphonate (BF) therapy is strongly related to the occurrence of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). However, no previous study has evaluated if there are sex-related differences on the ONJ establishment together with bone biomechanical alterations, and if they could have a synergy with the ZA treatment. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to analyze the physicochemical properties of mineralized tissues in a zoledronate (ZA)-related osteonecrosis mouse model, by a 2 × 2-factorial design, considering sex (female/male) and treatment (ZA/Saline) factors (n = 8/group). After three ZA (1.0 mg/kg) or saline administrations (days 0, 7, 14), the lower left second molar was extracted (day 42). Further ZA administration (day 49) and euthanasia (day 70) were conducted. After confirmation of ZA-induced jaw necrosis (histologic and microtomographic analysis), spectroscopic and mechanical parameters were assessed. Results: ZA-treated groups presented lower bone density due to impaired healing of tooth extraction socket. Sex-related alterations were also observed, with lower bone density in females. Regarding biomechanical parameters, sex and treatment exerted independent influences. ZA, although decreasing flexural modulus and yield stress, increases stiffness mainly due to a higher bone volume. Females show less resistance to higher loads compared to males (considering dimension-independent parameters). Additionally, ZA increases crystallinity in bone and dental structure (p < 0.05). In summary, although strongly related to osteonecrosis occurrence, ZA modifies bone and dental mineral matrix, improving bone mechanical properties. Conclusion: Despite sex-dependent differences in bone biomechanics and density, osteonecrosis was established with no sex influence. No synergistic association between sex and treatment factors was observed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study planar piecewise smooth differential systems of the form z ˙ = Z (z) = 1 + sgn (F) 2 X (z) + 1 - sgn (F) 2 Y (z) , where F : R 2 → R is a smooth map having 0 as a regular value. We consider linear regularizations Z ε φ of Z by replacing sgn (F) by φ (F / ε) in the last equation, with ε > 0 small and φ being a transition function (not necessarily monotonic). Nonlinear regularizations of the vector field Z whose transition function is monotonic are considered too. It is a well-known fact that the regularized system is a slow-fast system. In this paper, we study typical singularities of slow-fast systems that arise from (linear or nonlinear) regularizations, namely, fold, transcritical and pitchfork singularities. Furthermore, the dependence of the slow-fast system on the graphical properties of the transition function is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This systematic review aimed to answer whether, in (P) individuals undergoing orthognathic surgery, (I) low-level laser therapy (LLLT) during or shortly after the surgical procedure compared to (C) pharmacologic therapy alone or no therapy for improvement of post-intervention complications relieves (O) postoperative inflammatory events in (S) randomized clinical trials. Material and methods: A preliminary electronic search was conducted for references with language following a Latin (Roman) alphabet in seven databases index, and gray literature without restriction on language or publication period. Risk of bias was performed by RoB 2.0 tool, and meta-analysis used mean differences (MD) for edema and mouth opening and standardized mean differences (SMD) for pain scores (p < 0.05, Revman®). Results: A total of 91 control patients and 114 LLLT patients were included. The wavelengths ranged from 660 to 940 nm, and the applied energy density was between 5 and 100 J/cm2 at mostly extraoral distributed points. LLLT significantly reduced edema (MD = − 4.27, CI95% − 5.13 to − 3.41 mm) in the period from 5 days to 2 weeks postoperatively (p < 0.001) and showed strongly reduced pain scores (SMD = − 1.37, I95% = − 1.99 to − 0.75) between 1 day and 5 weeks (p < 0.001), without significantly interfering with mouth opening (p = 0.110). Despite the low risk of bias, high heterogeneity among studies (I2 > 70%) and small sample sizes made the certainty of GRADE evidence low. Conclusion: This SR demonstrated that LLLT effectively controls pain and edema after orthognathic surgery. Clinical relevance: Systematic review that summarizes the use of photobiomodulation on orthognathic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on investigating solvents for the catalyst-free synthesis of 2-amino-4H-chromenes from salicylaldehydes and malononitrile through the Knoevenagel-Michael sequential reaction. The use of ethanol under reflux conditions resulted in the production of several 2-amino-4H-chromenes 5(a-g) with high isolated yields (75-93%) within a short reaction time (60-300 min). Notably, four new compounds, 2-amino-4H-chromenes 5(b,d,e,g), were synthesized for the first time. Virtual screening was performed on the most promising molecules (5b, 5e, and 5 f) against cell lines H-116 and K-562, with 5e demonstrating the most potential in antitumor activity. The in vitro assays validated the high potential exhibited by the 5e molecule, corroborating the in silico findings. Molecular docking analysis suggested a possible mechanism of action for the 5e molecule involving inhibition of the mutant T315l Abl protein. Mutations in the kinase domain of Bcr-Abl commonly lead to resistance to imatinib therapy in chronic myelogenous leukemia patients. This study represents the first investigation into the biological activity of this compound class, offering a promising starting point developing of new antitumor agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate variability in the Tropical Atlantic is complex with strong ocean–atmosphere coupling, where the sea surface temperature variability impacts the hydroclimate of the surrounding continents. Most of the Tropical Atlantic interannual variability is explained by its equatorial (Atlantic Zonal Mode, AZM) and meridional (Atlantic Meridional Mode, AMM) modes of variability. Our results using an ensemble of 37 models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 historical simulations show multidecadal changes in the Tropical Atlantic variability from 1900 to 2014. Within it, most models (at least 60%) show a decrease in variability after the 1970 s, in accordance with observational data sets. The agreement among simulations points out the role of the external forcing. After 1970, an anthropogenically induced warming trend is observed in the equatorial Atlantic accompanied by a weakening of the winds. This drives a weakening in the Bjerknes Feedback by deepening the thermocline in the eastern equatorial Atlantic, reduced SST sensitivity to thermocline anomalies, thus decreasing AZM variability. The interplay of the meridional asymmetric warming in the Tropical Atlantic related to the anthropogenic forcing, the relaxed northeast trade winds, and the background state of the negative Atlantic Multidecadal Variability, decreases AMM variability despite the individual increase in variability of the North and South Tropical Atlantic. Associated with these factors the African Sahel shows a positive precipitation trend and the Intertropical Convergence Zone tends to shift northward, which reinforces the increased precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While morphology constitutes a crucial component of the human language system, the neural bases of morphological processing in the human brain remains to be elucidated. The current study aims at exploring the extent to which the second language (L2) morphological processing would resemble or differ from that of their first language (L1) in adult Chinese-English bilinguals. Bilingual participants were asked to complete a morphological priming lexical decision task drawing on derivational morphology, which is present for both Chinese and English, when their electrophysiological and optical responses were recorded concurrently. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) revealed a neural dissociation between morphological and semantic priming effects in the left fronto-temporal network, while L1 Chinese engaged enhanced activation in the left prefrontal cortex for morphological parsing relative to L2 English. In the early stage of lexical processing, cross-language morphological processing manifested a difference in degree, not in kind, as revealed by the early left anterior negativity (ELAN) effect. In addition, L1 and L2 shared both early and late structural parsing processes (P250 and 300 ~ 500 ms negativity, respectively). Therefore, the current results support a unified competition model for bilingual development, where bilinguals would primarily employ L1 neural resources for L2 morphological representation and processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood energy plantations are important sources of feedstock for bioeconomy, given their potential to replace fossil fuels, which would ultimately result in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Eucalyptus and Corymbia woods have been widely used for the production of firewood, wood chips, and charcoal for the steel industry in Brazil. The present study aims to assess the properties of non-commercial Eucalyptus and Corymbia woods for energy purpose in Brazil. Six years after planting, the chemical, physical, energy, and thermal properties of Corymbia citriodora, Corymbia variegata, Corymbia henryi, Corymbia torelliana, Eucalyptus amplifolia, Eucalyptus longirostrata, Eucalyptus major, and Eucalyptus urophylla were analysed. The results showed significant variations in basic density (480–662 kg·m−3), total extractives (1.03–4.56% db), lignin (28.33–34.25% db), holocellulose (61.54–69.07% db), higher heating value (19.22–20.33 MJ·kg−1), syringyl/guaiacyl ratio (2.20–3.36), energy density (9.45–12.51 GJ·m−3), ash content (< 1% db), and pyrolysis activation energy (247–468 kJ·mol−1). Compared to E. urophylla's wood, the most used species in the steel industry in Brazil, the wood from E. major, E. amplifolia, and C. torelliana had properties that favoured the production of high-quality charcoal for use in steel industry. C. citriodora, C. variegata, C. henryi, and E. longirostrata presented a high potential for use in energy cogeneration systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This empirical study addresses the impact of securities transaction taxes (STTs) on price informativeness. Two specific events are assessed: the entry into force of STTs in France and Italy in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Specifically, it is gauged whether those events produced effects on the future earnings response coefficient (FERC)—a proxy for the capacity of investors to anticipate future earnings—of the stocks eligible for the STT. Our findings indicate that the new taxes on securities transactions that entered into force in France and Italy were neutral with respect to the effects on price informativeness. That is, no material changes in the FERC of affected stocks are detected in the aftermath of the STTs' entry into force. This result applies when considering the events in France and Italy separately, and when analyzing different subsets of the sample based on the size, trading activity, and liquidity of the stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to estimate the temporal variability of CO2 emission (FCO2) from O2 influx into the soil (FO2) in a reforested area with native vegetation in the Brazilian Cerrado, as well as to understand the dynamics of soil respiration in this ecosystem. The database is composed of soil respiration data, agroclimatic variables, improved vegetation index (EVI), and soil attributes used to train machine learning algorithms: artificial neural network (ANN) and an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The predictive performance was evaluated based on the mean absolute error (MEA), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), agreement index (d), confidence coefficient (c), and coefficient of determination (R2). The best estimation results for validation were FCO2 with multilayer perceptron neural network (MLP) (R2 = 0.53, RMSE = 0.967 µmol m−2 s−1) and radial basis function neural network (RBF) (R2 = 0.54, RMSE = 0.884 µmol m−2 s−1) and FO2 with MLP (R2 = 0.45, RMSE = 0.093 mg m−2 s−1) and RBF (R2 = 0.74, 0.079 mg m−2 s−1). Soil temperature and macroporosity are important predictors of FCO2 and FO2. The best combination of variables for training the ANFIS was selected based on trial and error. The results were as follows: FCO2 (R2 = 16) and FO2 (R2 = 29). In all models, FCO2 outperformed FO2. A primary factor analysis was performed, and FCO2 and FO2 correlated best with the weather and soil attributes, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the scientific evidence on the effect of preemptive drug coadministration (PDC) for relieving inflammatory events (pain, swelling, and trismus) in mandibular third molar surgery. A PROSPERO-registered systematic review (CRD42022314546) was conducted according to the PRISMA guide. The searches were carried out in six primary databases and the gray literature. Studies not written in languages with the Latin alphabet (Roman) were excluded. Potential randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were screened for eligibility. Cochrane's Risk of Bias-2.0 (RoB) tool was assessed. A synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) based on a vote counting and an effect direction plot. Nine studies (low RoB) fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included for data analysis, with a total of 484 patients. PDC mostly involved corticosteroids (Cort) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). PDC of Cort and other drugs mainly reduced pain scores (6 and 12 h postoperatively) and swelling (48 h postoperatively). PDC of NSAIDs and other drugs mainly reduced pain scores at 6, 8, and 24 h follow-up; swelling and trismus intensity ameliorated at 48 h postoperatively. The most frequently prescribed rescue medication was paracetamol, dipyrone, and paracetamol plus codeine. Results from individual studies have shown reduced consumption of ingested rescue analgesics. In summary, the available evidence from clinical trials included in this SWiM suggests that PDC may provide benefits in reducing the severity of inflammatory outcomes related to mandibular third molar surgery, especially the pain scores in the first hours after surgery, and the rescue analgesic consumption during the postoperative period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien plants may provide considerable benefits to biodiversity in urban areas while showing low to moderate risk of negative impacts. Here, we evaluated the ecological role of the alien tree Bombax ceiba when interacting with nectar-feeding birds, including its potential for negative impacts as an invasive plant in an urban area in Brazil. At the community level, network analysis of 70 bird species interacting with flowers from 73 plant species showed B. ceiba to be one of the few "hub" plant species, indicating its importance as a nectar resource for urban birds. Specifically, B. ceiba flowers attracted 38 bird species with different habits (feeding guilds and habitat requirements), most of which fed on nectar, while some also consumed floral parts. On the other hand, the semiquantitative risk assessment for B. ceiba regarding potential negative impacts on native species and ecosystems indicated only a moderate risk, suggesting an overall benefit of keeping this tree species in the urban landscape. In this context, we highlight that the function, not only the origin of a species, may be used to plan "biophilic" cities through urban greening. Moreover, possible suppression of alien plants should consider the ecological role these species play in urban areas. Given that proper assessment of risk factors is carried out, urban afforestation with some alien plant species can promote biodiversity and ecosystem services by providing key resources during food scarcity for the fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to determine whether oral and dental hygiene protocols (DHPs) reduce the incidence and severity of oral mucositis (OM) during antineoplastic treatment. Materials and methods: This PROSPERO-registered systematic review (CRD42021295322) was based on searches of publicly accessible databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, EBSCOhost, LIVIVO, Embase, and gray literature (Google Scholar, ProQuest, and Energy) until December 2021. Twenty-five articles from these searches and 14 articles retrieved from the references therein were evaluated in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using RoB-2 and ROBINS-I for randomized (RCT) and non-randomized (n-RCT) clinical trials, respectively. A meta-analysis was performed on RCTs and n-RCTs in two subgroups to evaluate oral mouth rinses or DHP. GRADE-pro was used to assess the degree of certainty of the evidence. Results: Of the 3367 articles retrieved, 25 RCTs and 14 n-RCTs involving 2109 and 754 patients, respectively, were included in the analyses. RoB was low for RCTs and moderate-to-very severe for n-RCTs. High heterogeneity and publication RoB were identified. In RCTs, mouth rinses (p = 0.830) and DHP (p = 0.100) did not reduce the incidence of OM. However, mouth rinses strongly reduced the severity of OM (p < 0.001; Cohen’s d = − 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] = − 2.49 to − 1.24). In non-RCTs, mouth rinses (p < 0.001) and DHP (p < 0.001) reduced the relative risk of OM 0.38 (95% CI = 0.24 to 0.59) and 0.64 (95% CI = 0.53 to 0.70) times, respectively. In addition, DHP strongly reduced OM severity (Cohen’s d = − 0.81, 95% CI = − 1.03 to − 0.59). GRADE-pro showed high certainty of OM severity and incidence in RCTs and non-RCTs, respectively, and low (OM incidence in RCTs) to very low (OM severity in non-RCTs) certainty in other outcomes. Conclusion: DHPs strongly reduce the severity and moderately reduce the incidence of OM. However, further studies with low heterogeneity are needed to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are caused by a variety of microorganisms. Of all ARIs, 80% are caused by viruses such as human respiratory syncytial virus, metapneumovirus, influenza, parainfluenza, rhinovirus, and, more recently, Sars-CoV-2, which has been responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of our study was to evaluate clinical data from a viral panel performed in children hospitalized with SARS or COVID-19 in the infirmary or ICU of 5 pediatric hospitals in the city of Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected for analysis, and data on the outcomes underwent statistical treatment. A total of 128 patients were selected for the study, 54% of whom were male and 46% female. The viral panel included rhinovirus, COVID-19, metapneumovirus, adenovirus, and parainfluenza. Descriptive analyses of age profile showed differences in the involvement of particular viruses. The percentage of patients who required hospitalization in the ICU, infirmary, as well as individuals who were discharged after therapy or who died, were described. Our work shows that epidemiological surveillance measures are indispensable, especially if used in the continued analysis of viral panels in all pediatric patients with SARS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart cities must deal with climate change and find solutions to mitigate phenomena such as urban heat islands (UHI). The land surface temperature (LST) extracted from thermal images is a primary source of information to study UHI, characterizing the surface urban heat islands (SUHI). In addition to LST, environmental and socioeconomic variables have been adopted to explain the SUHI phenomenon. Although machine learning algorithms have potential in several areas, their application in the study of the contribution of these variables in the prediction of LST to characterize SUHI is still unknown. Therefore, the work proposes a machine learning approach to fill this gap. The LST was extracted from 15 Landsat 8 images from 2019 to 2021. Data on socioeconomic variables were obtained from the official demographic census, and environmental variables were extracted from Sentinel-2 and Planet images. Six algorithms were tested to assess the ability to estimate the LST based on the above-mentioned variables. The results showed that the Decision Tree algorithm had the best performance (r = 0.96, MAE = 1.49 °C and RMSE = 1.88 °C), followed by Random Forest. In addition, the inclusion of all seasons of the year and socioeconomic variables was shown to be relevant to the results. The main contribution of this work is to verify if the algorithms can optimize the SUHI characterization process, analyzing the influence exerted by the studied variables. In the social sphere, the information produced can help urban planning in the construction of smart cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze alterations in mandibular positioning after surgically assisted maxillary expansion (SARME) with and without pterygoid disjunction (PD). Methods: Cone-beam computed tomography scans of 24 healthy individuals (18–45 years old) with transverse deficiency, superior to 5 mm, underwent SARME with or without PD. The aspects prospectively assessed were (1) alignment and position of the head (ITK-Snap and 3D Slicer software); (2) McNamara's and Steiner-Tweed-Wits' cephalometric analysis (Dolphin Imaging®); and (3) colorimetric evaluation based on 3D correspondence analysis (3D Slicer software). Results: A decrease in 1-NA and 1-SN angles as well as an increased occlusal plane in both groups was observed. Superior-inferior and anteroposterior spatial displacements of the chin were statistically significant in the PD group. Altered colorimetric patterns were also observed in the PD group. Conclusions: This study found more evident tooth inclination in the group without PD; mandibular alterations were more evident in the PD group. Further studies with 3D analysis are strongly recommended for more comprehensive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study a quasi-natural experiment that altered the structure of commission fee schedules applied to retail investors in the Portuguese stock market in 2003. Using a difference-in-differences analysis, we show that investors with a university degree, financial knowledge and numerical skills demonstrate greater ability and eagerness in adjusting their trading patterns to the new commission schedules. The impact of education was stronger for those lacking trading experience. Investors with a university degree that were more prone to issue small orders before the event were also more eager to scale up their order size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzodioxole derivatives are known to possess a broad spectrum of activities such. In addition to the synthetic derivatives, natural products that have the benzodioxole subunit, such as piperine, have shown potential anti-tumor activity through induction of apoptosis and antiparasitic activity. Thus, compounds containing the benzodioxole subunit have a broad spectrum of activity and raise expectations in therapeutic innovation. Through the analysis of the compounds by conventional spectroscopic methods (1H NMR and 13C NMR), it was possible to observe that all of them fulfilled the prerequisites for the structural characterizations. The information being corroborated through the characterization by pyrolysis coupled to the mass spectrometer, since all the compounds presented characteristic fragments with the respective masses. In addition to having performed the thermal analysis of the NW-11 derivative by means of TG, DSC and obtaining the degradation kinetics of the derivative. As for the antiproliferative activity, it was possible to conclude that among all benzoindoxole derivatives tested, NW-03 can be pointed out as promising in the study for antitumor activity. While for the results of the antiparasitic activity, it was possible to choose the derivatives NW-02 and NW-09 as potential trypanocidal. For activity against Leishmania, the compound NW-14 presented itself as the promising compound, in addition to the compounds NW-2 and NW-15, indicating the importance of the aromatic nucleus unsubstituted in thiosemicarbazones in the increase of the antiparasitic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Physical exercise (PE) is a recommended lifestyle intervention for different mental disorders and has shown specific positive therapeutic effects in unipolar depressive disorder. Considering the similar symptomatology of the depressive phase in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and unipolar depressive disorder, it is reasonable to suggest that PE may also be beneficial for bipolar depression. However, there is an absence of studies evaluating the antidepressant effect of a structured PE intervention in BD. Methods: This is an open-label, single-arm study trial. Fifteen patients with a diagnosis of BD Type I or Type II, presenting a depressive episode were included in the study. After physical and functional evaluation, patients participated in supervised training sessions with aerobics followed by strength exercises, three times per week, for 12 weeks (36 training sessions). Depressive and manic symptoms were assessed at baseline and 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Additionally, quality of Life and functioning were assessed at baseline and 4, 8, and 12 weeks). Finally, we tested cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and body composition at baseline and week-12. Results: The mean (± SD) Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score at baseline was 23.6 ± 8.3 points and after 12 weeks of PE the mean score was 10.2 ± 4.8 points. Nine patients (82%) presented an antidepressant response defined as a reduction of more than 50% of depressive symptoms at week 12 with five of those patients (45%) presenting criteria for full remission. A large and significant Cohen's D Effect Size (pre-post) was verified for MADRS reduction [1.98 (95% Confidence interval = 0.88 to 3.08)]. We did not detect a significant change in manic symptoms, functioning, and quality of life during the 12-week follow-up. At week-12, all patients increased their muscular strength (one repetition maximal test − 1RM) and reduced the percentage of body fat (spectral bioelectrical impedance analysis). Conclusions: This study, using rigorous criteria and a structured intervention, provides valid pilot data, showing the feasibility of a structured PE intervention for the treatment of depressive symptoms in BD, and suggesting a potential adjunctive antidepressant effect. Moreover, PE showed a positive impact on muscle strength and body composition. This should be further verified by randomized controlled studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies showed that Brazilian Amazon indigenous territories (ITs) are efficient models for preserving forests by reducing deforestation, fires, and related carbon emissions. Considering the importance of ITs for conserving socio-environmental and cultural diversity and the recent climb in the Brazilian Amazon deforestation, we used official remote sensing datasets to analyze deforestation inside and outside indigenous territories within Brazil's Amazon biome during the 2013–2021 period. Deforestation has increased by 129% inside ITs since 2013, followed by an increase in illegal mining areas. In 2019–2021, deforestation was 195% higher and 30% farther from the borders towards the interior of indigenous territories than in previous years (2013–2018). Furthermore, about 59% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions within ITs in 2013–2021 (96 million tons) occurred in the last three years of analyzed years, revealing the magnitude of increasing deforestation to climate impacts. Therefore, curbing deforestation in indigenous territories must be a priority for the Brazilian government to secure these peoples' land rights, ensure the forests' protection and regulate the global climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a monoaminergic neurotransmitter that is known to influence behaviour in various animal species. Its actions, however, are complex and not well-understood yet. Here, we tested whether and how two 5-HT receptor agonists and a 5-HT receptor antagonist influence behaviour in common waxbills (Estrilda astrild), focusing on aggression, movement and feeding. We applied acute administration of either 8-OH-DPAT (a 5-HT1A receptor agonist), fluoxetine (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; SSRI) or WAY 100,635 (a 5-HT1A receptor antagonist), and then quantified behaviour in the context of competition for food. Waxbills treated with the SSRI fluoxetine showed an overall decrease of aggressive behaviour, activity and feeding, while we found no significant effects of treatment with the other serotonergic enhancer (8-OH-DPAT) or with the antagonist WAY 100,635. Since both 8-OH-DPAT and WAY 100,635 act mainly on 5-HT1A receptor pathways, while fluoxetine more generally affects 5-HT pathways, our results suggest that receptors other than 5-HT1A are important for serotonergic modulation of waxbill behaviour. Significance statement: The serotonergic system is of interest for current behavioural research due to its influence on a range of behaviours, including aggression, affiliative behaviour, feeding and locomotion in various species. There are, however, numerous discrepancies regarding the behavioural effects of serotonin across studies. We used acute pharmacological manipulations of the serotonergic system in common waxbills, using two serotonin enhancers (8-OH-DPAT and fluoxetine) and a serotonin blocker (WAY 100,635). Behavioural effects of these pharmacological manipulations on aggressiveness, movement and feeding, during tests of competition over food, indicated an anxiogenic-like effect of fluoxetine, but not of 8-OH-DPAT and WAY 100,635. This suggests a distinct role for different serotonergic pathways on waxbill behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joints and other organs, including the development of the former in a growing child. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of texture analysis (TA) based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide biomarkers that serve to identify patients likely to progress to temporomandibular joint damage by associating JIA with age, gender and disease onset age. Methods: The radiological database was retrospectively reviewed. A total of 45 patients were first divided into control group (23) and JIA group (22). TA was performed using grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) parameters, in which 11 textural parameters were calculated using MaZda software. These 11 parameters were ranked based on the p value obtained with ANOVA and then correlated with age, gender and disease onset age. Results: Significant differences in texture parameters of condyle were demonstrated between JIA group and control group (p < 0.05). There was a progressive loss of uniformity in the grayscale pixels of MRI with an increasing age in JIA group. Conclusions: MRI TA of the condyle can make it possible to detect the alterations in bone marrow of patients with JIA and promising tool which may help the image analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze whether changes in RMR 6 months after RYGB could be a predictor of weight loss on late follow-up. Methods: Prospective study of 45 individuals submitted to RYGB in a university tertiary care hospital. Body composition was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis and RMR by indirect calorimetry before (T0), 6 (T1), and 36 months (T2) after surgery. Results: RMR/day was lower in T1 (1.552 ± 275 kcal/day) than in T0 (1734 ± 372 kcal/day; p < 0.001) with a return to similar values at T2 (1.795 ± 396 kcal/day; p < 0.001). In T0, there was no correlation between RMR/kg and body composition. In T1, there was a negative correlation between RMR and BW, BMI, and % FM, and a positive correlation with % FFM. The results in T2 were similar to T1. There was a significant increase in RMR/kg between T0, T1, and T2 (13.6 ± 2.2 kcal/kg, 16.9 ± 2.7 kcal/kg, and 19.9 ± 3.4 kcal/kg) in the total group and according to gender. Eighty percent of the patients who had increased RMR/kg ≥ 2 kcal at T1 achieved > 50% EWL in T2, particularly in women (odds ratio: 27.09, p < 0.037). Conclusions: The increase in RMR/kg after RYGB is a major factor related to a satisfactory % excess weight loss on late follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]