Search

The mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of burn patients are decreasing over time. However, finding novel effective treatment approaches using natural agents is highly considered to reduce the burden of burn injuries. One of the recent agents used in wound healing is β-glucan, mainly extracted from fungi cell walls. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 5% (m/m) of yeast β-glucan ointment on burn wound healing and to assess the impact of β-glucan on cytokines during the treatment. Thirty-three patients with second or third-degree burns were enrolled in this study. Two groups of twenty-three and ten patients used yeast 5% (m/m) β-glucan ointment (study group) and Stratamed ointment (control), respectively, on a daily basis, for a maximum of four weeks. The size of the burn wounds was measured before and at the end of the treatment. Blood samples of 14 and 10 patients in the β-glucan and control groups, respectively, were obtained before and after the treatment, and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to measure the serum concentration of the IL-4, IL-17, and IFN-γ cytokines. The log-binomial model was used to assess the efficacy of the β-glucan ointment on burn wound healing. ANOVA/ANCOVA was employed to assess the effects of β-glucan on the serum concentration of cytokines. After adjusting for potential confounders/covariates, patients receiving β-glucan had better wound healing (RR = 4.34; 95% CI: 0.73 to 25.67; p = 0.11). There was a significant difference in IL-4 secretion between the β-glucan and control groups after adjusting for potential confounders/covariates (MD = 77.27; 95% CI: 44.73 to 109.82; Cohen’s d = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.16 to 3.24; p = 0.0001). The results indicate that 5% (m/m) of β-glucan has efficacy in burn wound healing, and a significant difference was found in the level of IL-4 after receiving β-glucan. Further studies with a two-arm design and long-term use of ointment are needed to confirm the effect of β-glucan on wound healing and cytokine secretion.

The estimation of vegetation parameters, such as above-ground biomass, with high accuracy using remote sensing data, represents a promising approach. The present study develops models to estimate and map above-ground biomass of Mediterranean Quercus rotundifolia stands using one QuickBird satellite image in pan-sharpened mode, with four multispectral bands (blue, green, red and near infrared) and a spatial resolution of 0.70 m. The satellite image was orthorectified, geometrically and radiometrically corrected. Object-oriented classification methods and multi-resolution segmentation were used to derive a vegetation mask per forest species. Data from forest inventory (24 plots) and vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI, SR and SAVI) derived from high spatial resolution satellite images were used for an area of 133 km2, in southern Portugal. The statistical analysis included correlation, variance analysis and linear regression. The linear regression models fitted included the arithmetic mean and the median values of the vegetation indices per inventory plot as explanatory variables. The overall results of the fitted models show a trend of better performance for those with the median value of the vegetation index as the explanatory variable. The best fitted model (R2 = 75.3) was associated with the Simple Ratio (SR) median value as an explanatory variable. A Quercus rotundifolia above-ground biomass map was produced.

Learning to recognize a new object after having learned to recognize other objects may be a simple task for a human, but not for machines. The present go-to approaches for teaching a machine to recognize a set of objects are based on the use of deep neural networks (DNN). So, intuitively, the solution for teaching new objects on the fly to a machine should be DNN. The problem is that the trained DNN weights used to classify the initial set of objects are extremely fragile, meaning that any change to those weights can severely damage the capacity to perform the initial recognitions; this phenomenon is known as catastrophic forgetting (CF). This paper presents a new (DNN) continual learning (CL) architecture that can deal with CF, the modular dynamic neural network (MDNN). The presented architecture consists of two main components: (a) the ResNet50-based feature extraction component as the backbone; and (b) the modular dynamic classification component, which consists of multiple sub-networks and progressively builds itself up in a tree-like structure that rearranges itself as it learns over time in such a way that each sub-network can function independently. The main contribution of the paper is a new architecture that is strongly based on its modular dynamic training feature. This modular structure allows for new classes to be added while only altering specific sub-networks in such a way that previously known classes are not forgotten. Tests on the CORe50 dataset showed results above the state of the art for CL architectures.

The Estremadura Spur pockmarks are a unique and unexplored ecosystem located in the North Atlantic, off the coast of Portugal. A total of 85 marine-derived actinomycetes were isolated and cultured from sediments collected from this ecosystem at a depth of 200 to 350 m. Nine genera, Streptomyces, Micromonospora, Saccharopolyspora, Actinomadura, Actinopolymorpha, Nocardiopsis, Saccharomonospora, Stackebrandtia, and Verrucosispora were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses, from which the first two were the most predominant. Non-targeted LC-MS/MS, in combination with molecular networking, revealed high metabolite diversity, including several known metabolites, such as surugamide, antimycin, etamycin, physostigmine, desferrioxamine, ikarugamycin, piericidine, and rakicidin derivatives, as well as numerous unidentified metabolites. Taxonomy was the strongest parameter influencing the metabolite production, highlighting the different biosynthetic potentials of phylogenetically related actinomycetes; the majority of the chemical classes can be used as chemotaxonomic markers, as the metabolite distribution was mostly genera-specific. The EtOAc extracts of the actinomycete isolates demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Altogether, this study demonstrates that the Estremadura Spur is a source of actinomycetes with potential applications for biotechnology. It highlights the importance of investigating actinomycetes from unique ecosystems, such as pockmarks, as the metabolite production reflects their adaptation to this habitat.

Many chemical processes rely extensively on organic solvents posing safety and environmental concerns. For a successful transfer of some of those chemical processes and reactions to aqueous media, agents acting as solubilizers, or phase-modifiers, are of central importance. In the present work, the structure of aqueous solutions of several ionic liquid systems capable of forming multiple solubilizing environments were modeled by molecular dynamics simulations. The effect of small aliphatic chains on solutions of hydrophobic 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl)sulfonylimide ionic liquids (with alkyl = propyl [C3C1im][NTf2], butyl [C4C1im][NTf2] and isobutyl [iC4C1im][NTf2]) are covered first. Next, we focus on the interactions of sulphonate- and carboxylate-based anions with different hydrogenated and perfluorinated alkyl side chains in solutions of [C2C1im][CnF2n+1SO3], [C2C1im][CnH2n+1SO3], [C2C1im][CF3CO2] and [C2C1im][CH3CO2] (n = 1, 4, 8). The last system considered is an ionic liquid completely miscible with water that combines the cation N-methyl-N,N,N-tris(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium [N1 2OH 2OH 2OH]+, with high hydrogen-bonding capability, and the hydrophobic anion [NTf2]–. The interplay between short- and long-range interactions, clustering of alkyl and perfluoroalkyl tails, and hydrogen bonding enables a wealth of possibilities in tailoring an ionic liquid solution according to the needs.

Abstract Introduction The objective of this study was to conduct a review of the literature covering the use of different mindfulness-based therapy approaches in treatment of mood and anxiety disorders, including mindfulness skills and mindfulness linked to emotional regulation and fear of negative appraisal. Methods A review was conducted of literature identified by searching the scientific databases PubMed and PsycINFO with the following keywords: mindfulness, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders. The search covered the past 10 years. The search returned 532 articles, 24 were selected, their full texts were read, and 16 were included in this review. Results Six articles about mindfulness-based stress reduction, four about mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and three about fear of negative appraisal and emotional regulation were reviewed. All of the articles covered mindfulness in relation to mood and anxiety disorders. Conclusions The literature in this field suggests that mindfulness is an effective strategy for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders and is effective in therapy protocols with different structures including virtual modalities. Use of mindfulness in scientific models continues to expand.

Considerando que a formação profissional e tecnológica ainda está muito ligada a enfoques eminentemente técnicos, as influências recíprocas entre as trocas sociais e os desenvolvimentos científicos e tecnológicos encontrar-se num ponto de indefinição. Este artigo tem o propósito de discutir possibilidades de inclusão, nos planos de ensino, as abordagens CTS, que permita uma possível aproximação dialógica entre a natureza social da ciência e da tecnologia com a Educação Profissional. Ciente da impossibilidade de responder de forma conclusiva a essa questão de estudo, este trabalho pretende ser ponto de partida para reflexões e diálogos futuros. Por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os objetivos do movimento CTS no campo educacional e do Trabalho e Educação, busca-se apresentar abordagens pertinentes do desenvolvimento desta temática de modo a não privilegiar somente o sistema de produção, mas, sim, oportunizar a construção de uma concepção social do contexto científico-tecnológico.

Monocyte counts are increased during human tuberculosis (TB) but it has not been determined whether Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) directly regulates myeloid commitment. We demonstrated that exposure to Mtb directs primary human CD34+ cells to differentiate into monocytes/macrophages. In vitro myeloid conversion did not require type I or type II IFN signaling. In contrast, Mtb enhanced IL-6 responses by CD34+ cell cultures and IL-6R neutralization inhibited myeloid differentiation and decreased mycobacterial growth in vitro. Integrated systems biology analysis of transcriptomic, proteomic and genomic data of large data sets of healthy controls and TB patients established the existence of a myeloid IL-6/IL6R/CEBP gene module associated with disease severity. Furthermore, genetic and functional analysis revealed the IL6/IL6R/CEBP gene module has undergone recent evolutionary selection, including Neanderthal introgression and human pathogen adaptation, connected to systemic monocyte counts. These results suggest Mtb co-opts an evolutionary recent IFN-IL6-CEBP feed-forward loop, increasing myeloid differentiation linked to severe TB in humans.

Five chrysopetalid species are reported from samples collected at bathyal depths in three NE Atlantic regions: the Bay of Biscay, the Horseshoe Abyssal Plain and the Gulf of Cadiz. Arichlidon reyssi (Katzmann et al., 1974), Dysponetus caecus (Langerhans, 1880) and D. profundus Böggemann, 2009 are free-living forms found mainly on biogenic substrates (e.g., coral and sunken wood). A brief description and taxonomical remarks are given for each of these species and their geographical distributions and habitat records were updated accordingly. Natsushima bifurcata Miura & Laubier, 1990 and Craseoschema thyasiricola gen. et sp. nov. are symbionts inhabiting the mantle cavity of chemosynthesis-based bivalves known from four mud volcanoes from the Gulf of Cadiz. Craseoschema thyasiricola gen. et sp. nov. was found inside a thyasirid bivalve and presents mixed morphological characteristics of free-living and symbiotic forms within Calamyzinae Hartmann-Schröder, 1971. A full description of the new species is given together with DNA sequences of the genes COI, 16S and H3 that were used in a phylogenetic analysis to indicate the position of the new genus within the family.

Speciation genomic studies aim to interpret patterns of genome-wide variation in light of the processes that give rise to new species. However, interpreting the genomic "landscape" of speciation is difficult, because many evolutionary processes can impact levels of variation. Facilitated by the first chromosome-level assembly for the group, we use whole-genome sequencing and simulations to shed light on the processes that have shaped the genomic landscape during a radiation of monkeyflowers. After inferring the phylogenetic relationships among the 9 taxa in this radiation, we show that highly similar diversity (π) and differentiation (FST) landscapes have emerged across the group. Variation in these landscapes was strongly predicted by the local density of functional elements and the recombination rate, suggesting that the landscapes have been shaped by widespread natural selection. Using the varying divergence times between pairs of taxa, we show that the correlations between FST and genome features arose almost immediately after a population split and have become stronger over time. Simulations of genomic landscape evolution suggest that background selection (BGS; i.e., selection against deleterious mutations) alone is too subtle to generate the observed patterns, but scenarios that involve positive selection and genetic incompatibilities are plausible alternative explanations. Finally, tests for introgression among these taxa reveal widespread evidence of heterogeneous selection against gene flow during this radiation. Combined with previous evidence for adaptation in this system, we conclude that the correlation in FST among these taxa informs us about the processes contributing to adaptation and speciation during a rapid radiation.

Microbial colonization of urinary catheters remains a serious problem for medicine as it often leads to biofilm formation and infection. Among the approaches reported to deal with this problem, surfaces functionalization to render them with antimicrobial characteristics, comprises the most promising one. Most of these strategies, however, are designed to target bacterial biofilms, while fungal biofilms are much less taken into account. In real-life settings, fungi will be inevitably found in consortium with bacteria, especially in the field of biomaterials. The development of antifungal coating strategies to be combined with antibacterial approaches will be pivotal for the fight of biomaterial-associated infections. The main goal of the present study was, therefore, to engineer an effective strategy for the immobilization of liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces to prevent Candida albicans colonization. Immobilization was performed using a two-step mussel-inspired coating strategy, in which PDMS is first immersed in dopamine solution. Its polymerization results in the deposition of a thin adherent film, called polydopamine (pDA), which allowed the incorporation of LAmB, afterwards. Different concentrations of LAmB were screened in order to obtain a contact-killing surface with no release of LAmB. Surface characterization confirmed the polymerization of dopamine and further functionalization with LAmB yielded surfaces with less roughness and more hydrophilic features. The proposed coating strategy rendered the surfaces of PDMS with the ability to prevent the attachment of C. albicans and kill the adherent cells, without toxicity toward mammalian cells. Overall results showed that LAmB immobilization on a surface retained its antifungal activity and reduced toxicity, holding therefore a great potential to be applied for the design of urinary catheters. Since the sessile communities commonly found associated to these devices exhibit a polymicrobial nature, the next challenge will be to co-immobilize LAmB with antibacterial agents to prevent the establishment of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI).

Patients with severe COVID-19, such as individuals in intensive care units (ICU), are exceptionally susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. The most prevalent fungal infections are aspergillosis and candidemia. Nonetheless, other fungal species (for instance, Histoplasma spp., Rhizopus spp., Mucor spp., Cryptococcus spp.) have recently been increasingly linked to opportunistic fungal diseases in COVID-19 patients. These fungal co-infections are described with rising incidence, severe illness, and death that is associated with host immune response. Awareness of the high risks of the occurrence of fungal co-infections is crucial to downgrade any arrear in diagnosis and treatment to support the prevention of severe illness and death directly related to these infections. This review analyses the fungal infections, treatments, outcome, and immune response, considering the possible role of the microbiome in these patients. The search was performed in Medline (PubMed), using the words “fungal infections COVID-19”, between 2020–2021.

The cellular immune response plays an important role in COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2. This feature makes use of in vitro models’ useful tools to evaluate vaccines and biopharmaceutical effects. Here, we developed a two-step model to evaluate the cellular immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced or spike protein stimulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from both unexposed and COVID-19 (primo-infected) individuals (Step1). Moreover, the supernatants of these cultures were used to evaluate its effects on lung cell lines (A549) (Step2). When PBMC from the unexposed were infected by SARS-CoV-2, cytotoxic natural killer and nonclassical monocytes expressing inflammatory cytokines genes were raised. The supernatant of these cells can induce apoptosis of A549 cells (mock vs. Step2 [mean]: 6.4% × 17.7%). Meanwhile, PBMCs from primo-infected presented their memory CD4+ T cells activated with a high production of IFNG and antiviral genes. Supernatant from past COVID-19 subjects contributed to reduce apoptosis (mock vs. Step2 [ratio]: 7.2 × 1.4) and to elevate the antiviral activity (iNOS) of A549 cells (mock vs. Step2 [mean]: 31.5% × 55.7%). Our findings showed features of immune primary cells and lung cell lines response after SARS-CoV-2 or spike protein stimulation that can be used as an in vitro model to study the immunity effects after SARS-CoV-2 antigen exposure.

Fungal infections are an important and increasing global threat, carrying not only high morbidity and mortality rates, but also extraordinary healthcare costs [...]

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest has undergone adverse land-use change due to deforestation for urbanization and agriculture. Numerous restoration initiatives have been taken to restore its ecosystem services. Deforested areas have been restored through active intervention or natural regeneration. Understanding the impact of those different reforestation approaches on soil quality should provide important scientific and practical conclusions on increasing forest cover in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. However, studies evaluating active planting versus natural regeneration in terms of soil recovery are scarce. We evaluate soil dynamics under those two contrasting strategies at an early stage (

Cancer light-triggered hyperthermia mediated by nanomaterials aims to eliminate cancer cells by inducing localized temperature increases to values superior to 42 °C, upon irradiation with a laser. Among the different nanomaterials with photothermal capacity, the gold-based nanoparticles have been widely studied due to their structural plasticity and advantageous physicochemical properties. Herein, a novel and straightforward methodology was developed to produce gold nanoclusters coated with mesoporous silica (AuMSS), using glutathione (GSH) to mediate the formation of the gold clusters. The obtained results revealed that GSH is capable of triggering and control the aggregation of gold nanospheres, which enhanced the absorption of radiation in the NIR region of the spectra. Moreover, the produced AuMSS nanoclusters mediated a maximum temperature increase of 20 °C and were able to encapsulate a drug model (acridine orange). In addition, these AuMSS nanoclusters were also biocompatible with both healthy (fibroblasts) and carcinogenic (cervical cancer) cells, at a maximum tested concentration of 200 μg/mL. Nevertheless, the AuMSS nanoclusters’ NIR light-triggered heat generation successfully reduced the viability of cervical cancer cells by about 80%. This confirms the potential of the AuMSS nanoclusters to be applied in cancer therapy, namely as theragnostic agents.