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For children living in the urban slums of Nairobi (Kenya), primary health conditions are not guaranteed, and oral diseases add further concern at social and institutional levels beyond the general poverty conditions. This study aims at determining the factors that influence the oral health status of children living in Nairobi slums. A cross-sectional study on school-aged subjects was conducted in June 2022 in three urban slum areas of Nairobi through a pediatric dental screening. The PI (Plaque Index), CPITN (Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs), and dmft (decayed, missing, and filled teeth index—deciduous) were considered as primary outcomes of dental health. Multivariate statistical analysis, based on ordinal and zero-inflated negative binomial regression models, was conducted to identify determinants of the oral outcomes in a wide set of potential predictors. A sample of 359 children aged 2–17 was examined. The PI was significantly associated with age, the type of bite, and the use of a toothbrush. The CPITN is influenced by different types of malocclusions, abnormal frenulum, dental trauma, and fluorosis. Dietary habits were found to significantly impact the susceptibility to dental caries. Fluorosis and a dental visit in the last year were highlighted as risk and protective factors, respectively, against higher rates of caries. The oral health features of children living in Nairobi slums are differently affected by socio-demographic conditions, dietary habits, dental characteristics, and oral care practices.

Alloying has been a powerful and practical strategy to widen the palette of physical properties available to semiconductor materials. Thanks to recent advances in the synthesis of van der Waals semiconductors, this strategy can be extended to monolayers (MLs) of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Due to their extraordinary flexibility and robustness, strain is another powerful means to engineer the electronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) TMDs. In this article, we combine these two approaches in an exemplary metal dichalcogenide chalcogen-alloy, WSSe. Highly strained WSSe MLs are obtained through the formation of micro-domes filled with high-pressure hydrogen. Such structures are achieved by hydrogen-ion irradiation of the bulk material, a technique successfully employed in TMDs and h-BN. Atomic force microscopy studies of the WSSe ML domes show that the dome morphology can be reproduced in terms of the average of the elastic parameters and adhesion energy of the end compounds WSe 2 and WS 2. Micro-photoluminescence measurements of the WSSe domes demonstrate that the exceedingly high strains (ε ∼ 4 %) achieved in the domes trigger a direct-to-indirect exciton transition, similarly to WSe 2 and WS 2. Our findings heighten the prospects of 2D alloys as strain- and composition-engineerable materials for flexible optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing efficient and robust computational models is essential to improve our understanding of protein solution behavior. This becomes particularly important to tackle the high-concentration regime. In this context, the main challenge is to put forward coarse-grained descriptions able to reduce the level of detail, while retaining key features and relevant information. In this work, we develop an efficient strategy that can be used to investigate and gain insight into monoclonal antibody solutions under different conditions. We use a multi-scale numerical approach, which connects information obtained at all-atom and amino-acid levels to bead models. The latter has the advantage of reproducing the properties of interest while being computationally much faster. Indeed, these models allow us to perform many-protein simulations with a large number of molecules. We can, thus, explore conditions not easily accessible with more detailed descriptions, perform effective comparisons with experimental data up to very high protein concentrations, and efficiently investigate protein–protein interactions and their role in phase behavior and protein self-assembly. Here, a particular emphasis is given to the effects of charges at different ionic strengths.

O presente estudo visa avaliar, a partir da leitura integral de alguns dos escritos tardios da obra freudiana, as relações entre os termos Verdrängung e Unterdrückung. Nesse sentido, ele dá sequência a um percurso investigativo que focalizou o período inicial da obra freudiana, no qual concluiu-se serem frágeis os argumentos favoráveis a uma diferenciação categórica entre os dois termos na obra de Freud – o que poderia impactar no debate em torno das recentes traduções da mesma. (cf. Maireno, 2023) Ao final do presente trabalho, conclui-se que a posição defendida no trabalho anterior permanece válida, apesar de algumas linhas argumentativas – curiosamente pouco exploradas pelos comentadores – serem potencialmente fortes para perturbá-la.

A preguiça-comum (Bradypus variegatus) tem sido vítima das investidas antrópicas desordenadas, o que tem elevado o número de acidentes e doenças para a espécie. Propôs-se com esse estudo, realizar uma descrição das artérias coronárias, assim como apontar os achados histopatológicos do coração do bicho-preguiça, a fim de favorecer o diagnóstico por imagem, semiologia e clínica médica das espécies. Foram dissecados 18 exemplares de B. variegatus obtidos após morte natural. Quinze deles, sendo 5 machos e 9 fêmeas adultas e 1 jovem, foram fixados com formaldeído e conservados em solução salina. Em 2 machos e 1 fêmea, foi injetado, a partir da artéria carótida comum esquerda, látex corado em vermelho, para tornar as coronárias mais evidentes. Na fêmea também foi injetado através da veia jugular externa direita, látex corado em azul, para evitar equívoco na identificação arterial. Os animais tiveram o tórax aberto a fim de avaliar e retirar o coração para descrição detalhada das artérias coronárias. Para análise histopatológica, foram confeccionadas lâminas histológicas oriundas de corações coletados de 4 animais (3 adultos e 1 jovem). Com base nas análises arteriais, as preguiças possuem duas coronárias: uma a direita e uma a esquerda, que irrigam suas respectivas faces. O coração é composto por endocárdio, miocárdio e epicárdio, semelhante aos mamíferos em geral. Todavia, observou-se necroses endocárdicas, de fibras musculares cardíacas, além de degenerações mixomatosas de válvulas e trombos no lúmen vascular. Esses eventos necróticos, mais extensos, estão relacionados a infartos, enquanto os mais discretos podem ser associados a situações de estresse vivenciadas pelos espécimes.

This paper proposes the assessment of the impacts of using electric vehicles for urban service trips. In particular, the focus is on trips performed for delivering and installing products, as well as for reverse logistics. Such components of commercial traffic in urban areas have not received the level of attention it deserves. In fact, recent research on commercial traffic mainly deals with shop restocking, service visits to establishments and e-commerce deliveries, and limited attention has been paid to the service sector (e.g., installation, maintenance, repairs) which can have a high impact on city sustainability in terms of pollution emissions, congestion as well as land use for parking. Furthermore, pushed by the current trend towards the promotion of electric vehicles, an assessment is developed comparing potential service patterns using real data from the inner area of Rome (Italy) when the electric fleet replaces the traditional one. Results show the opportunity to decouple the delivery operation from the installation one, and to integrate service with reverse logistics. These significant results could address the adoption of suitable integrated urban policies to make the most of the opportunities arising from the use of electric vehicles.

The shikimate pathway is crucial for the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids in plants and represents a promising target for developing new herbicides. This work aimed to identify inhibitors of shikimate dehydrogenase (SDH), a key enzyme of the shikimate pathway that catalyzes the conversion of 3-dehydroshikimate to shikimate. Virtual screening and molecular dynamic simulations were performed on the SDH active site of Arabidopsis thaliana (AtSDH), and 6-nitroquinazoline-2,4-diol (NQD) was identified as a potential inhibitor. In vitro assays showed that NQD decreased the activity of AtSDH by reducing Vmax while keeping KM unchanged, indicating non-competitive inhibition. In vivo, hydroponic experiments revealed that NQD reduced the root length of soybean and maize. Additionally, NQD increased the total protein content and certain amino acids. Soybean roots uptake NQD more efficiently than maize roots. Furthermore, NQD reduced shikimate accumulation in glyphosate-treated soybean roots, suggesting its potential to restrict the flow of metabolites along the shikimate pathway in soybean. The simultaneous treatment of maize seedlings with glyphosate and NQD accumulated gallic acid in the roots, indicating that NQD inhibits SDH in vivo. Overall, the data indicate that NQD inhibits SDH both in vitro and in vivo, providing valuable insights into the potential development of herbicides targeting SDH.

Sloths are wild animals with arboreal habits, with slow metabolism, found in tropical forests from South America to Central America. However, the lack of knowledge of their anatomy does not favor the conservation of the species in veterinary care centers, due to its peculiar anatomy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the topography and morphology of the spleen of the species Bradypusvariegatus, in order to collect more information to support and assist in the clinical-surgical processes of the species. Eight corpses of B. variegatus, previously fixed with 20% formaldehyde and preserved in 30% saline solution, were dissected for the macroscopic study of the spleen. A healthy animal, living in semi-captivity, was assigned to perform a tomography of the abdominal region, for observation of the spleen, while two specimens were destined for the microscopic study of the organ immediately after death. Based on the data obtained, the spleen presented a topography and tissue composition similar to other mammals, but its morphology, absence of visceral lienal hilum and anatomical arrangement in the abdominal cavity differed from most domestic and wild animals.

Plateau’s law describes the configuration (joint angles ~120°) of soap bubbles, foams and cellular structures, but its applicability to solid films has not been explored. Here, the authors report the observation of a variant Plateau’s law in networks of nanobubbles made of 2D semiconductors, measuring largely varying joint angles due to the thickness-dependent effective surface tension.

L-cysteine, a precursor of essential components for plant growth, is synthesized by the cysteine synthase complex, which includes O-acetylserine(thiol) lyase (OAS-TL) and serine acetyltransferase. In this work, we investigated how S-benzyl-L-cysteine (SBC), an OAS-TL inhibitor, affects the growth, photosynthesis, and oxidative stress of Ipomoea grandifolia plants. SBC impaired gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence, indicating damage that compromised photosynthesis and reduced plant growth. Critical parameters such as the electron transport rate (J), triose phosphate utilization (TPU), light-saturation point (LSP), maximum carboxylation rate of Rubisco (Vcmax), and light-saturated net photosynthetic rate (PNmax) decreased by 19%, 20%, 22%, 23%, and 24%, respectively. The photochemical quenching coefficient (qP), quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry (ϕPSII), electron transport rate through PSII (ETR), and stomatal conductance (gs) decreased by 12%, 19%, 19%, and 34%, respectively. Additionally, SBC decreased the maximum fluorescence yield (Fm), variable fluorescence (Fv), and chlorophyll (SPAD index) by 14%, 15%, and 15%, respectively, indicating possible damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. SBC triggered root oxidative stress by increasing malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, and conjugated dienes by 30%, 55%, and 61%, respectively. We hypothesize that dysfunctions in sulfur-containing components of the photosynthetic electron transport chain, such as the cytochrome b6f complex, ferredoxin, and the iron–sulfur (Fe-S) centers are the cause of these effects, which ultimately reduce the efficiency of electron transport and hinder photosynthesis in I. grandifolia plants. In short, our findings suggest that targeting OAS-TL with inhibitors like SBC could be a promising strategy for the development of novel herbicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThe novel Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) continues to have profound effect on global health. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence and characterize specific symptoms associated with COVID-19.MethodsThis retrospective study included 326 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection evaluated at the Emergency Department of the Umberto I Polyclinic Hospital, Rome, Italy between March 6th and April 30th, 2020. In order to assess xerostomia, olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions secondary to COVID-19, a telephone-based a modified survey obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014 for taste and smell disorders and the Fox Questionnaire for dry mouth were administered to 111 patients (34%) after discharge between June 4th and June 12th.ResultsTaste dysfunction was the most common reported symptom (59.5%; n = 66), followed by xerostomia (45.9%; n = 51) and olfactory dysfunctions (41.4%; n = 46). The most severe symptom was olfactory dysfunction with a median severity score of 8.5 (range: 5-10). Overall 74.5% (n = 38) of patients with xerostomia, 78.8% (n = 52) of patients with gustatory dysfunctions and 71.1% (n = 33) of patients with olfactory dysfunctions reported that all symptoms appeared before COVID-19 diagnosis. Overall, the majority of patients reported one symptom only (45.9%, n = 51), 37 (33.3%) reported the association of two symptoms, and 23 (20.7%) patients reported the association of three symptoms at the same time.ConclusionXerostomia, gustatory and olfactory dysfunctions may present as a prodromal or as the sole manifestation of COVID-19. Awareness is fundamental to identify COVID-19 patients at an early stage of the disease and limit the spread of the virus.

Resumo Este estudo discute o uso freudiano dos termos Verdrängung e Unterdrückung e as polêmicas relacionadas às suas traduções. Aborda os livros A interpretação dos sonhos e O chiste e sua relação com o inconsciente, comparando-os com suas respectivas edições alemãs. Conclui que, se em alguns momentos tal discriminação entre Verdrängung e Unterdrückung pode ser sustentada, em diversos outros - não menos significativos e não menos frequentes - ela é consideravelmente prejudicada ou mesmo inviável.

The conversion of semimetallic suspended graphene (Gr) to a large-gap semiconducting phase is here realized by controlled adsorption of atomic hydrogen (deuterium) on free-standing nanoporous Gr veils. This approach allows to achieve a very clean and neat adsorption, overcoming any spurious influence associated to the presence of substrates. The effects of local rehybridization from sp2 to sp3 chemical bonding are investigated by combining X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy (HREELS) with ab-initio based modelling. We find that the hydrogen adatoms on the C sites induce a stretching frequency, clearly identified in the vibrational spectra thanks to the use of the D isotope. Overall, the results are compatible with the predicted fingerprints of adsorption on both sides of Gr corresponding to the graphane configuration. Moreover, HREELS of the deuterated samples shows a sizeable opening of the optical band gap, i.e. 3.25 eV, consistent with the modified spectral density observed in the valence band photoemission. The results are in agreement with ab-initio calculations by GW and Bethe–Salpeter equation approaches, predicting a large quasiparticle gap opening and huge exciton binding energy.