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Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting offers a sustainable route for hydrogen production, leveraging noncritical semiconductor materials. This study introduces a seed layer-free hydrothermal synthesis approach for semiconductor photoanodes based on tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ) nanoplatelets. Aiming to boost the efficiency of photoelectrochemical water splitting through optimization of the synthesis parameters of bare WO 3 , focusing on temperature, time, and layer thickness, we systematically explored their effects on the morphological, structural, and optical characteristics of WO 3 photoanodes. Combining a low-temperature regime (90 °C for 12 h) with a multilayer strategy (up to six-layers) resulted in significant improvements in photocurrent. Particularly, the five-layer sample exhibited a remarkable increase of over 70% compared to the single-layer photoanode. Morphological aspects, particularly the fractal dimension of nanoplatelets and the emergence of the (220) crystalline orientation, usually neglected, were found to play pivotal roles in modulating the PEC response. Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction patterns further underscored the importance of crystallographic facets, volume unit cell expansion, and microstrain in influencing photocurrent outcomes. Furthermore, we adapted the Mott-Schottky equation to incorporate the fractal dimension reflecting the nanostructures' nature, usually set to a planar interface. Our findings highlight the interchange between nanoplatelet morphology and structural parameters in determining the PEC efficiency of WO 3 photoanodes.

Canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT) is transmitted through the implantation of tumor cells. CTVT was the first tumor described with contagious characteristics and remains one of the few tumors with this capability. This study aimed to map the transcriptomic profile of CTVT to elucidate the potential mechanisms through which this tumor implants and evades host immune surveillance. For this study, 11 dogs aged ≥ 2 years diagnosed with CTVT were selected. Tumor biopsies were performed, RNA was extracted and converted into complementary DNA, followed by RT-qPCR analysis. The transcriptomic profile of CTVT revealed a wide array of differentially expressed genes. However, only the most relevant genes from an oncological perspective were discussed. IL-8, CXCL13, NCAM1, RNASEL, COROA1, and CBLB demonstrated potential associations with immune system evasion and transmission via implantation. Therefore, studying these genes may contribute to the development of targeted therapies that prevent contagion and immune evasion., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have nothing to declare, (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Context: Accurate functions to analytically represent the potential energy interactions of CO + diatomic system in X 2 Σ + , A 2 Π , and B 2 Σ + electronic states are proposed. The new functions depend upon only four parameters directly obtained from experimental data, without any fitting procedure. These functions have been developed from the modified generalized potential proposed by Araújo and Ballester. The function for the X 2 Σ + electronic state represents a significant improvement to the previously proposed model. To quantify the accuracy of the potential energy functions, the Lippincont test is used. The novel potential was also compared with the classical Morse potential and with the recently proposed Improved Generalized Pöschl-Teller potential. Furthermore, the main spectroscopic constants and vibrational energy levels are calculated and compared for all potentials. The present results agree excellently with the experiment Rydberg-Klein-Rees (RKR) potentials., Methods: The rovibrational energy levels of the proposed diatomic potentials were asserted by solving radial the Schrödinger equation of the nuclear motion with the aid of the LEVEL program., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Cystatin C (CysC) is a known prognostic marker in cardiovascular diseases and its role in acute heart failure (HF) has been documented., Methods: We prospectively recruited HF patients followed in a HF clinic. Inclusion criteria: HF diagnosed ≥6 months, optimized evidence-based therapy, and ejection fraction <40% (Heart Failure with reduced ejection fraction). Exclusion criteria: renal replacement therapy and hospitalizations or therapeutic adjustments in the previous 2 months. A venous blood sample and 24-hour urine were collected. Follow-up: 5 years; endpoint: all-cause mortality. CysC was measured and creatinine clearance (CrCl) was calculated using 24-hour urine creatinine excretion. A Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess association of CysC with 5-year mortality. The prognostic role of CysC was determined using Cox-regression analysis. The multivariate model included CrCl (24-hour urine)., Results: We evaluated 215 chronic stable Heart Failure with reduced ejection fraction patients. Mean age was 68 years, 72.1% were male. Median CysC = 1.15 mg/L, creatinine = 1.20 mg/dL, and CrCl = 63.6 mL/min. During follow-up, 103 (47.9%) patients died. The area under the curve for CysC in predicting mortality was 0.77 (0.70-0.83). Best cut-off value for death prediction = 1.00 mg/L with a sensitivity = 83.5%, specificity = 56.2%, positive predictive value = 63.7%, and negative predictive value = 78.7%. Multivariate-adjusted (age-, B-type natriuretic peptide-, evidence-based therapy, New York Heart Association class, and CrCl) 5-year mortality Hazard ratio = 2.40 (95% Confidence interval, 1.25-4.61), P value = 0.008 when CysC ≥1.00 mg/L., Conclusions: Patients with CysC <1.00 mg/L have almost 80% probability of being alive at 5 years; If CysC ≥1.00 mg/L, there is almost 2.5-fold higher death risk independently of B-type natriuretic peptide and CrCl., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the influence of congested and noncongested fixture periods during 2 seasons in a professional male football team on soft-tissue injury incidence and external load., Methods: Thirty-three professional football players from a Portuguese Liga I team participated in this study. Weekly external load and soft-tissue injury rate and burden of 2 consecutive seasons (2021-22 and 2022-23) were analyzed., Results: Total soft-tissue injury rate and burden for the 2 seasons were 3.9 and 3.2 injuries per 1000 hours and 71.8 and 60.5 days per 1000 hours for congested and noncongested periods, respectively. No significant differences were observed between congested and noncongested periods. Total high-speed running, sprint distance, distance above 80% and 90% of maximal velocity, and meters accelerating and decelerating above 2 m/s2 were significantly higher for noncongested weeks. Match accelerations and decelerations above 3 m/s2 were higher during congested periods and training during noncongested periods. No differences between the 2 periods were observed for the total number of accelerations and decelerations above 3 m/s2. Overall, physical outputs per week were higher for training during noncongested weeks, whereas matches during congested periods registered higher external load., Conclusions: No effect of a congested schedule was observed on soft-tissue injury rates and injury burden. Higher match exposure during congested periods increased external load performed per week, and during noncongested periods, training load was superior to congested weeks.

Since 2021, the emergence of variants of concern (VOC) has led Brazil to experience record numbers of in COVID-19 cases and deaths. The expanded spread of the SARS-CoV-2 combined with a low vaccination rate has contributed to the emergence of new mutations that may enhance viral fitness, leading to the persistence of the disease. Due to limitations in the real-time genomic monitoring of new variants in some Brazilian states, we aimed to investigate whether genomic surveillance, coupled with epidemiological data and SARS-CoV-2 variants spatiotemporal spread in a smaller region, can reflect the pandemic progression at a national level. Our findings revealed three SARS-CoV-2 variant replacements from 2021 to early 2022, corresponding to the introduction and increase in the frequency of Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants, as indicated by peaks of the Effective Reproductive Number (Reff). These distinct clade replacements triggered two waves of COVID-19 cases, influenced by the increasing vaccine uptake over time. Our results indicated that the effectiveness of vaccination in preventing new cases during the Delta and Omicron circulations was six and eleven times higher, respectively, than during the period when Gamma was predominant, and it was highly efficient in reducing the number of deaths. Furthermore, we demonstrated that genomic monitoring at a local level can reflect the national trends in the spread and evolution of SARS-CoV-2., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Digital inclusion of older people is an important agenda for the future and well-being of the older population, as it represents a form of social inclusion with significant gains for healthy aging. The present study aimed to understand the experiences of Brazilian older adults who use smartphones and the implications in their daily lives., Method: A qualitative study was developed using a constructivist grounded approach. Older people (≥60 years) with prior access to a smartphone were invited to participate in the study. Participation took place through semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously using a constant comparative approach. Data management and analysis used the Atlas.ti® software., Results: Overall, 37 older people participated, with an average age of 70.60 ± 6.95 years, predominantly female (n = 33), white (n = 25), married (n = 26) and retired (n = 27). The first sample group included 27 older people with family support and the second group included 10 older people without family support (who lived alone in their homes). A core category emerged from the data analysis-"Expanding the personal and social development of older adults through smartphone communication"-around which three main categories emerged: 1) The smartphone as "a window to the world"; 2) The problem of misinformation and fake news on virtual networks; 3) Technological paradoxes in the use of smartphones., Conclusions: The digital transition associated with smartphone use brings unimaginable benefits to older adults who adopt positive habits to improve their well-being and expand their social connections, following efforts proposed by the Decade of Healthy Aging. However, older adults still face disparities and experience a significant digital divide, which represents a major challenge. Barriers to access are further aggravated in developing countries. We hope this study contributes to public health policies on digital inclusion and healthy aging., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Carlos Laranjeira reports financial support was provided by Foundation for Science and Technology. The corresponding author “Carlos Laranjeira” serves on the editorial board of Helyion as associate editor. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Water pollution is a major environmental challenge. Due to the inefficiency of conventional wastewater treatment plants in degrading many organic complex compounds, these recalcitrant pollutants end up in rivers, lakes, oceans and other bodies of water, affecting the environment and human health. Semiconductor photocatalysis is considered an efficient complement to conventional methods, and the use of various nanomaterials for this purpose has been widely explored, with a particular focus on improving their activity under visible light. This work focuses on developing magnetic and photoactive zinc/magnesium mixed ferrites (Zn 0.5 Mg 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 ) by sol-gel and solvothermal synthesis methods, which are two of the most important and efficient methods used for the synthesis of ferrite nanoparticles. The nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by the sol-gel method exhibited an average size of 14.7 nm, while those synthesized by the solvothermal method had an average size of 17.4 nm. Both types possessed a predominantly cubic structure and demonstrated superparamagnetic behavior, reaching a magnetization saturation value of 60.2 emu g -1 . Due to the high recombination rate of electrons/holes, which is an intrinsic feature of ferrites, surface functionalization with silver was carried out to enhance charge separation. The results demonstrated a strong influence of adsorption and of the deposition of silver. Several optimization steps were performed during synthesis, allowing us to create efficient catalysts, as proved by the almost full removal of the dye malachite green attaining 95.0% (at a rate constant of 0.091 min -1 ) and 87.6% (at a rate constant of 0.017 min -1 ) using NPs obtained by the sol-gel and solvothermal methods, respectively. Adsorption in the dark accounted for 89.2% of the dye removal for nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel and 82.8% for the ones obtained by the solvothermal method. These results make mixed zinc/magnesium ferrites highly promising for potential industrial application in effluent photoremediation using visible light.

Currently, one of the main causes of death in the world is cancer; therefore, it is urgent to obtain a precocious diagnosis, as well as boost research and development of new potential treatments, which should be more efficient and much less invasive for the patient. Magnetic hyperthermia (MH) is an emerging cancer therapy using nanoparticles, which has proved to be effective when combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery, or even by itself, depending on the type and location of the tumor's cells. This article presents the results obtained by using a previously developed economic homemade hyperthermia device with different types of magnetite nanoparticles, with sizes ranging between 12 ± 5 and 36 ± 11 nm and presenting different shapes (spherical and cubic particles). These magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized by three different methods (co-precipitation, solvothermal and hydrothermal processes), with their final form being naked, or possessing different kinds of covering layers (polyethylene glycol (PEG) or citric acid (CA)). The parameters used to characterize the heating by magnetic hyperthermia, namely the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and the intrinsic loss power (ILP), have been obtained by two different methods. Among other results, these experiments allowed for the determination of which synthesized MNPs showed the best performance concerning hyperthermia. From the results, it may be concluded that, as expected, the shape of MNPs is an important factor, as well as the time that the MNPs can remain suspended in solution (which is directly related to the concentration and covering layer of the MNPs). The MNPs that gave the best results in terms of the SAR were the cubic particles covered with PEG, while in terms of total heating the spherical particles covered with citric acid proved to be better.

Currently, magnetocaloric refrigeration technologies are emerging as ecofriendly and more energy-efficient alternatives to conventional expansion-compression systems. However, major challenges remain. A particular concern is the mechanical properties of magnetocaloric materials, namely, their fatigue under cycling and difficulty in processing and shaping. Nevertheless, in the past few years, using multistimuli thermodynamic cycles with multicaloric refrigerants has led to higher heat-pumping efficiencies. To address simultaneously the challenges and develop a multicaloric material, in this work, we have prepared magnetocaloric-based flexible composite mats composed of micrometric electroactive (EA) polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) fibers with embedded magnetocaloric/strictive La(Fe,Si) 13 particles by the simple and cost-effective electrospinning technique. The composite's structural characterization, using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and measurements of the local-scale piezoresponse, revealed a cubic NaZn 13 -type structure of the La(Fe,Si) 13 phase and the formation of the dominant polar β-phase of the PVDF polymer. The PVDF-La(Fe,Si) 13 composite showed an enhancement of the longitudinal piezoelectric coefficient (effective d 33 ) (-11.01 pm/V) compared with the single PVDF fiber matrix (-9.36 pm/V). The main magnetic properties of La(Fe,Si) 13 powder were retained in the PVDF-La(Fe,Si) 13 composite, including its giant magnetocaloric effect. By retaining the unique magnetic properties of La(Fe,Si) 13 embedded in the electroactive piezoelectric polymer fiber mats, we have designed a flexible, easily shapeable, and multifunctional composite enabling its potential application in multicaloric heat-pumping devices and other sensing and actuating devices.

Importance: Giant viruses are noteworthy not only due to their enormous particles but also because of their gigantic genomes. In this context, a fundamental question has persisted: how did these genomes evolve? Here we present the discovery of cedratvirus pambiensis, featuring the largest genome ever described for a cedratvirus. Our data suggest that the larger size of the genome can be attributed to an unprecedented number of duplicated genes. Further investigation of this phenomenon in other viruses has illuminated gene duplication as a key evolutionary mechanism driving genome expansion in diverse giant viruses. Although gene duplication has been described as a recurrent event in cellular organisms, our data highlights its potential as a pivotal event in the evolution of gigantic viral genomes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Aims: Red blood cell (RBC) distribution width (RDW) measures RBC variations in size. Higher RDW values have been associated with poor outcome in acute heart failure (HF). We aimed to assess the prognostic impact of the RDW in chronic HF., Methods: We retrospectively analysed a cohort of chronic HF patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction followed in our HF clinic between January 2012 and May 2018. Patients with missing data concerning RDW were excluded. Patients were categorized according to RDW tertiles: ≤13.5%; between 13.5 and 14.7%; and >14.7%. Patients were followed until January 2021; all-cause mortality was the end point analysed. The association of RDW with all-cause mortality was assessed with a Cox-regression analysis. Two multivariate models were built., Results: We studied 860 chronic HF patients, 66.4% males, mean age 70 (standard deviation, SD 13) years. Patients were followed for a median of 49 (29-82) months. During this period, 423 (49.2%) patients died. Mortality increased with increasing RDW tertiles. Patients with RDW >14.7% had a HR of mortality of 1.95 (1.47-2.58), p < 0.001 (model 1) and of 1.81 (1.35-2.41), p < 0.001 (model 2) when compared with those with RDW ≤13.5. Patients in the second RDW tertile had an all-cause death HR of 1.47 (1.12-1.93) and of 1.44 (1.09-1.90) in models 1 and 2, respectively., Conclusions: Chronic HF patients with RDW values >14.7% presented an almost 2-fold higher risk of dying in the long term than those with RDW <13.5%. RDW is a widely available and easily measured parameter that can help clinicians in the risk stratification of chronic HF patients., (Copyright © 2023 Italian Federation of Cardiology - I.F.C. All rights reserved.)

Speed is an essential skill in sports performance and an important performance metric in talent identification. This study aims to evaluate and compare the sprint acceleration characteristics across different age groups in an elite soccer academy. A total of 141 elite academy soccer players were recruited to participate in the study, and they were assigned to their respective competitive age groups, ranging from under-14 to the B-team. An individual in-situ acceleration-speed (A-S) profile was assessed and derived from Global Position System (GPS) speed-acceleration raw data, from 10 consecutive football sessions, in the beginning of the season. The results showed that under-14 players exhibited significantly lower theoretical maximum speed (S0) ( η p 2  = 0.215, p  < 0.01) when compared with all other age groups. However, no differences were found between maximum theoretical acceleration (A0) and A-S slope between age groups. The results suggest that sprint mechanical profiles of young soccer athletes remain stable throughout their athletic development. Nevertheless, younger athletes have less capacity to apply horizontal force at higher speeds (S0).

We present an abinitio study of the quasi-2D layered perovskite Sr 3 Hf 2 O 7 compound, performed within the framework of the density functional theory and lattice dynamics analysis. At high temperatures, this compound takes a I4/mmm centrosymmetric structure (S.G. n. 139); as the temperature is lowered, the symmetry is broken into other intermediate polymorphs before reaching the ground-state structure, which is the Cmc 2 1 ferroelectric phase (S.G. n. 36). One of these intermediate polymorphs is the Ccce structural phase (S.G. n. 68). Additionally, we have probed the C2/c system (S.G n. 15), which was obtained by following the atomic displacements corresponding to the eigenvectors of the imaginary frequency mode localized at the Γ-point of the Ccce phase. By observing the enthalpies at low pressures, we found that the Cmc 2 1 phase is thermodynamically the most stable. Our results show that the I4/mmm and C2/c phases never stabilize in the 0-20 GPa range of pressure values. On the other hand, the Ccce phase becomes energetically more stable at around 17 GPa, surpassing the Cmc 2 1 structure. By considering the effect of entropy and the constant-volume free energies, we observe that the Cmc 2 1 polymorph is energetically the most stable phase at low temperature; however, at 350 K, the Ccce system becomes the most stable. By probing the volume-dependent free energies at 19 GPa, we see that Ccce is always the most stable phase between the two structures and also throughout the studied temperature range. When analyzing the phonon dispersion frequencies, we conclude that the Ccce system becomes dynamically stable only around 19-20 GPa and that the Cmc 2 1 phase is metastable up to 30 GPa., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: In heart failure, weight loss predicts dismal prognosis. Weight variations have not been addressed in obese patients with heart failure., Aim: To study the impact of weight variation on heart failure mortality according to body mass index strata., Methods: Retrospective study of patients with chronic heart failure with left ventricular ejection fraction<50%. Only patients with ≥1 year of follow-up were included. Patients with missing data for body mass index at the index and 1-year appointments were excluded. Patients were classified into three groups according to weight variation: weight gain>5%; weight loss>5%; and weight stability. Follow-up was set from the 1-year appointment. Cox-regression analysis was used to assess the prognostic impact of weight variation., Results: We studied 589 patients: 69.8% male; mean age, 69 years. Over 1 year, 148 patients (25.1%) gained>5% weight, 97 (16.5%) lost>5% weight and the remaining 344 were weight-stable. During 49 months of median follow-up, 248 patients died. Patients who lost>5% of their weight presented a higher death risk than the others (hazard ratio 1.61, 95% confidence interval 1.18-2.19). After multivariable adjustment, the hazard ratio for death for low/normal-weight patients who lost>5% of their weight was 1.81 (95% confidence interval 1.02-3.21; P=0.04) compared with the others. Among the overweight, those who lost>5% of their weight had a hazard ratio of 2.34 (95% confidence interval 1.32-4.12). In the initially obese subgroup, weight loss>5% was not associated with prognosis (hazard ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval 0.53-2.19)., Conclusions: Weight loss predicted mortality in low/normal-weight and overweight patients with heart failure. However, in obese patients, significant weight loss did not predict poorer survival. Weight loss should not be discouraged in obese patients with heart failure., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

New representatives of the phylum Nucleocytoviricota have been rapidly described in the last decade. Despite this, not all viruses of this phylum are allocated to recognized taxonomic families, as is the case for orpheovirus, pithovirus, and cedratvirus, which form the proposed family Pithoviridae. In this study, we performed comprehensive comparative genomic analyses of 8 pithovirus-like isolates, aiming to understand their common traits and evolutionary history. Structural and functional genome annotation was performed de novo for all the viruses, which served as a reference for pangenome construction. The synteny analysis showed substantial differences in genome organization between these viruses, with very few and short syntenic blocks shared between orpheovirus and its relatives. It was possible to observe an open pangenome with a significant increase in the slope when orpheovirus was added, alongside a decrease in the core genome. Network analysis placed orpheovirus as a distant and major hub with a large fraction of unique clusters of orthologs, indicating a distant relationship between this virus and its relatives, with only a few shared genes. Additionally, phylogenetic analyses of strict core genes shared with other viruses of the phylum reinforced the divergence of orpheovirus from pithoviruses and cedratviruses. Altogether, our results indicate that although pithovirus-like isolates share common features, this group of ovoid-shaped giant viruses presents substantial differences in gene contents, genomic architectures, and the phylogenetic history of several core genes. Our data indicate that orpheovirus is an evolutionarily divergent viral entity, suggesting its allocation to a different viral family, Orpheoviridae. IMPORTANCE Giant viruses that infect amoebae form a monophyletic group named the phylum Nucleocytoviricota . Despite being genomically and morphologically very diverse, the taxonomic categories of some clades that form this phylum are not yet well established. With advances in isolation techniques, the speed at which new giant viruses are described has increased, escalating the need to establish criteria to define the emerging viral taxa. In this work, we performed a comparative genomic analysis of representatives of the putative family Pithoviridae. Based on the dissimilarity of orpheovirus from the other viruses of this putative family, we propose that orpheovirus be considered a member of an independent family, Orpheoviridae, and suggest criteria to demarcate families consisting of ovoid-shaped giant viruses., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: In patients with established heart failure (HF) low total cholesterol levels associate with worse prognosis. Evidence concerning the impact of Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in HF is scarce. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of LDL-c in patients with HF, both with and without diabetes mellitus (DM)., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed outpatients with chronic HF with systolic dysfunction followed in our HF clinic from January/2012 to May/2018. LDL-c was calculated using the Friedewald's formula. Patients without a complete lipid profile were excluded. The endpoint under analysis was all-cause mortality. Patients were followed until January/2021. A Cox-regression analysis was used to study the prognostic impact of LDL-c. The LDL-c cut-off used was 100 mg/dL (mean value). Analysis was stratified according to the coexistence of DM. Multivariate models were built adjusting for age, sex, coronary artery disease, atherosclerotic non-coronary artery disease, arterial hypertension, smoking status, statin use, severity of systolic dysfunction, creatinine clearance and evidence-based therapy., Results: We studied 522 chronic HF patients, mean age was 70 years, 66.5% males. Severe systolic dysfunction was present in 42.7%, 30.5% had coronary heart disease, 60.5% had arterial hypertension, 41.6% had DM. A total of 92.0% were treated with beta blocker, 87.5% with an ACEi/ARB and 29.1% with a MRA. During a median follow-up of 53 (interquartile range 33-73) months, 235 (45%) patients died. Patients with LDL-c ≤100 mg/dL presented increased multivariate-adjusted risk of all-cause mortality: HR = 1.58 (95% CI: 1.08-2.30), p = 0.02. When patients were stratified according to DM, LDL-c ≤100 mg/dL was independently associated with increased death risk - HR = 1.55 (95% CI:1.05-2.30), p = 0.03 in patients without DM; in patients with DM no association was detected - multivariate-adjusted HR = 1.18 (95% CI: 0.77-1.80), p = 0.44., Conclusion: Non-DM HF patients with LDL-c>100 mg/dL have a 35% reduction in the mortality risk when compared with those with lower values. The "cholesterol paradox" in HF also applies to LDL-c in non-DM patients., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Late diagnosis and systemic toxicity associated with conventional treatments make oncological therapy significantly difficult. In this context, nanomedicine emerges as a new approach in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In this work, pH-sensitive solid magnetoliposomes (SMLs) were developed for controlled release of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX). Shape anisotropic magnetic nanoparticles of magnesium ferrite with partial substitution by calcium (Mg 0.75 Ca 0.25 Fe 2 O 4 ) were synthesized, with and without calcination, and their structural, morphological and magnetic properties were investigated. Their superparamagnetic properties were evaluated and heating capabilities proven, either by exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF) (magnetic hyperthermia) or by irradiation with near-infrared (NIR) light (photothermia). The Mg 0.75 Ca 0.25 Fe 2 O 4 calcined nanoparticles were selected to integrate the SMLs, surrounded by a lipid bilayer of DOPE:Ch:CHEMS (45:45:10). DOX was encapsulated in the nanosystems with an efficiency above 98%. DOX release assays showed a much more efficient release of the drug at pH = 5 compared to the release kinetics at physiological pH. By subjecting tumor cells to DOX-loaded SMLs, cell viability was significantly reduced, confirming that they can release the encapsulated drug. These results point to the development of efficient pH-sensitive nanocarriers, suitable for a synergistic action in cancer therapy with magnetic targeting, stimulus-controlled drug delivery and dual hyperthermia (magnetic and plasmonic) therapy.

Among the most intriguing structural features in the known virosphere are mimivirus surface fibrils, proteinaceous filaments approximately 150 nm long, covering the mimivirus capsid surface. Fibrils are important to promote particle adhesion to host cells, triggering phagocytosis and cell infection. However, although mimiviruses are one of the most abundant viral entities in a plethora of biomes worldwide, there has been no comparative analysis on fibril organization and abundance among distinct mimivirus isolates. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of Megavirus caiporensis, a novel lineage C mimivirus with surface fibrils organized as "clumps." This intriguing feature led us to expand our analyses to other mimivirus isolates. By employing a combined approach including electron microscopy, image processing, genomic sequencing, and viral prospection, we obtained evidence of at least three main patterns of surface fibrils that can be found in mimiviruses: (i) isolates containing particles with abundant fibrils, distributed homogeneously on the capsid surface; (ii) isolates with particles almost fibrilless; and (iii) isolates with particles containing fibrils in abundance, but organized as clumps, as observed in Megavirus caiporensis. A total of 15 mimivirus isolates were analyzed by microscopy, and their DNA polymerase subunit B genes were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. We observed a unique match between evolutionarily-related viruses and their fibril profiles. Biological assays suggested that patterns of fibrils can influence viral entry in host cells. Our data contribute to the knowledge of mimivirus fibril organization and abundance, as well as raising questions on the evolution of those intriguing structures. IMPORTANCE Mimivirus fibrils are intriguing structures that have drawn attention since their discovery. Although still under investigation, the function of fibrils may be related to host cell adhesion. In this work, we isolated and characterized a new mimivirus, called Megavirus caiporensis, and we showed that mimivirus isolates can exhibit at least three different patterns related to fibril organization and abundance. In our study, evolutionarily-related viruses presented similar fibril profiles, and such fibrils may affect how those viruses trigger phagocytosis in amoebas. These data shed light on aspects of mimivirus particle morphology, virus-host interactions, and their evolution.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are common in the environment and in everyday products such as cosmetics, plastic food packaging, and medicines. These substances are toxic in small doses (even in the order of micrograms) and enter the body through the skin, digestive or respiratory system. Numerous studies confirm the negative impact of EDCs on living organisms. They disrupt endocrine functions, contributing to the development of neoplastic and neurological diseases, as well as problems with the circulatory system and reproduction. EDCs affect humans and animals by modulating epigenetic processes that can lead to disturbances in gene expression or failure and even death. They also affect steroid hormones by binding to their receptors as well as interfering with synthesis and secretion of hormones. Prenatal exposure may be related to the impact of EDCs on offspring, resulting in effects of these substances on the ovaries and leading to the reduction of fertility through disturbances in the function of steroid receptors or problems with steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. Current literature indicates the need to continue research on the effects of EDCs on the female reproductive system. The aim of this review was to identify the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the female reproductive system and their genetic effects based on recent literature., Competing Interests: Coflict of interest statement No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a tool involving the analysis of wastewater for chemicals and pathogens at the community level. WBE has been shown to be an effective surveillance system for SARS-CoV-2, providing an early-warning-detection system for disease prevalence in the community via the detection of genetic materials in the wastewater. In numerous nation-states, studies have indicated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. Herein, we report the primary time-course monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater samples in São José do Rio Preto-SP/Brazil in order to explain the dynamics of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA during one year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and analyze possible relationships with other environmental parameters. We performed RNA quantification of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR using N1 and N2 targets. The proportion of positive samples for every target resulted in 100% and 96.6% for N1 and N2, respectively. A mean lag of -5 days is observed between the wastewater signal and the new SARS-CoV-2-positive cases reported. A correlation was found between the air and wastewater temperatures and therefore between the SARS-CoV-2 viral titers for N1 and N2 targets. We also observed a correlation between SARS-CoV-2 viral titers and media wastewater flow for the N1 target. In addition, we observed higher viral genome copies within the wastewater samples collected on non-rainy days for the N1 target. Thus, we propose that, based on our results, monitoring raw wastewater may be a broadly applicable strategy that might contribute to resolving the pressing problem of insufficient diagnostic testing; it may represent an inexpensive and early-warning method for future COVID-19 outbreaks, mainly in lower- and middle-income countries.

Aims: The role of relaxin-2 as a circulating marker in heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is poorly understood. We aimed to characterize relaxin-2 circulating levels in a population of chronic HFpEF patients and their association with long-term prognosis., Methods: Relaxin-2 serum levels were measured in 85 chronic HFpEF patients from a prospective cohort study (NETDiamond). Clinical, imaging, and analytical data were compared across relaxin-2 tertiles. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, HF hospitalisation, acute HF episode or diuretic intensification and the secondary outcome a composite of cardiovascular death and total HF hospitalisations. Cox regression and negative binomial models were used to assess the relation between relaxin-2 and the outcomes., Results: Relaxin-2 levels were positively associated with left atrial volume, left ventricular mass and peripheral oedema, and negatively associated with ischemic heart disease and statin use. Higher relaxin-2 levels were associated with an increased risk of primary outcome, even after adjustment for age, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (adjusted HR = 2.80, 95%CI 1.4-7.3, p = 0.034 for tertile 3). They were also associated with the occurrence of the secondary outcome (Incidence Rate Ratio = 5.28, 95%CI 1.2-23.2, p = 0.027), but this significance was lost when simultaneously adjusted for BNP and eGFR., Conclusion: In chronic HFpEF patients, higher relaxin-2 circulating levels were associated with left chambers remodelling, congestion, and adverse prognosis. These findings support a potential role for relaxin-2 as a pathophysiological agent and as a circulating biomarker in HFpEF., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Zero thermal expansion (ZTE) composites are typically designed by combining positive thermal expansion (PTE) with negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials acting as compensators and have many diverse applications, including in high-precision instrumentation and biomedical devices. La(Fe 1- x ,Si x )13-based compounds display several remarkable properties, such as giant magnetocaloric effect and very large NTE at room temperature. Both are linked via strong magnetovolume coupling, which leads to sharp magnetic and volume changes occurring simultaneously across first-order phase transitions; the abrupt nature of these changes makes them unsuitable as thermal expansion compensators. To make these materials more useful practically, the mechanisms controlling the temperature over which this transition occurs and the magnitude of contraction need to be controlled. In this work, ball-milling was used to decrease particles and crystallite sizes and increase the strain in LaFe 11.9 Mn 0.27 Si 1.29 H x alloys. Such size and strain tuning effectively broadened the temperature over which this transition occurs. The material's NTE operational temperature window was expanded, and its peak was suppressed by up to 85%. This work demonstrates that induced strain is the key mechanism controlling these materials' phase transitions. This allows the optimization of their thermal expansion toward room-temperature ZTE applications.

Finding suitable p-type dopants, as well as reliable doping and characterization methods for the emerging wide bandgap semiconductor [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] could strongly influence and contribute to the development of the next generation of power electronics. In this work, we combine easily accessible ion implantation, diffusion and nuclear transmutation methods to properly incorporate the Cd dopant into the [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] lattice, being subsequently characterized at the atomic scale with the Perturbed Angular Correlation (PAC) technique and Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations. The acceptor character of Cd in [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] is demonstrated, with Cd sitting in the octahedral Ga site having a negative charge state, showing no evidence of polaron deformations nor extra point defects nearby. The possibility to determine the charge state of Cd will allow assessing the doping type, in particular proving p-type character, without the need for ohmic contacts. Furthermore, a possible approach for contactless charge mobility studies is demonstrated, revealing thermally activated free electrons for temperatures above [Formula: see text] 648 K with an activation energy of 0.54(1) and local electron transport dominated by a tunneling process between defect levels and the Cd probes at lower temperatures., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

We compared the effects of aerobic exercise with and without blood flow restriction (BFR) to high-intensity aerobic exercise on energy expenditure (EE), excess Postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during and after exercise. Twenty-two recreationally active males randomly completed the following experimental conditions: AE-aerobic exercise without BFR, AE + BFR-aerobic exercise with BFR, HIAE-high-intensity aerobic exercise, CON-non-exercise control condition. EE was significantly (p < 0.05) greater during exercise for HIAE compared to all conditions, and for AE + BFR compared to AE and CON during and postexercise exercise. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences in EPOC between HIAE and AE + BFR at any time point, however, both conditions were significantly (p < 0.05) greater than the AE (d = 1.50 and d = 1.03, respectively) and CON at the first 10 min postexercise. RER during exercise for HIAE was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than AE + BFR at the first 6 min of exercise (p = 0.003, d = 0.88), however, no significant differences were observed from 9 min up to the end of the exercise. HIAE was also significantly (p < 0.05) greater than AE and CON at all time points during exercise, whereas, AE + BFR was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than CON at all time points but not significantly (p < 0.05) different than AE (p < 0.05); although the overall session RER was significantly (p < 0.05) greater during AE + BFR than AE. Altogether, continuous AE + BFR results in greater EE compared to volume matched AE, as well as a similar EPOC compared to HIAE., (© 2022 Scandinavian Society of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Multicore magnetic nanoparticles of manganese ferrite were prepared using carboxymethyl dextran as an agglutinating compound or by an innovative method using melamine as a cross-coupling agent. The nanoparticles prepared using melamine exhibited a flower-shape structure, a saturation magnetization of 6.16 emu/g and good capabilities for magnetic hyperthermia, with a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.14 W/g. Magnetoliposome-like structures containing the multicore nanoparticles were prepared, and their bilayer structure was confirmed by FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer) assays. The nanosystems exhibited sizes in the range of 250-400 nm and a low polydispersity index. A new antitumor thienopyridine derivative, 7-[4-(pyridin-2-yl)-1 H -1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]thieno[3,2- b ]pyridine, active against HeLa (cervical carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small-cell lung carcinoma) and HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) cell lines, was loaded in these nanocarriers, obtaining a high encapsulation efficiency of 98 ± 2.6%. The results indicate that the new magnetoliposomes can be suitable for dual cancer therapy (combined magnetic hyperthermia and chemotherapy).

Football (soccer) is a high-intensity intermittent sport with large energy demands. In a repeated-measures design, we analysed the nutritional intake and training load of fourteen female football players (22.50 ± 4.38 y; 57.23 ± 8.61 kg; 164 ± 6.00 cm; 18.33 ± 2.48% of fat mass and 23.71 ± 2.51 kg of muscle mass) competing in the highest female Football Portuguese League across a typical mid-season microcycle. The microcycle had one match day (MD), one recovery session (two days after the MD, MD+2), three training sessions (MD-3, MD-2, MD-1) and two rest days (MD+1). Energy intake and CHO (g.kg.BW−1) intake were lower on the days before the competition (MD+2, MD-3, MD-2 and MD-1 vs. MD; p < 0.05; ES: 0.60−1.30). Total distance, distance covered at high-speed running (HSRD) and the high metabolic distance load (HMLD) were lower on MD+2, MD-3 and MD-1 compared with MD (p < 0.05; ES: <0.2−5.70). The internal training load was lower in all training sessions before the competition (MD+2, MD-3, MD-2 and MD-1 vs. MD; p ≤ 0.01; ES: 1.28−5.47). Despite the small sample size and a single assessment in time, the results suggest that caloric and CHO intake were below the recommendations and were not structured based on the physical requirements for training sessions or match days.

Preserving diversity of indigenous pig (Sus scrofa) breeds is a key factor to (i) sustain the pork chain (both at local and global scales) including the production of high-quality branded products, (ii) enrich the animal biobanking and (iii) progress conservation policies. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips offer the opportunity for whole-genome comparisons among individuals and breeds. Animals from twenty European local pigs breeds, reared in nine countries (Croatia: Black Slavonian, Turopolje; France: Basque, Gascon; Germany: Schwabisch-Hällisches Schwein; Italy: Apulo Calabrese, Casertana, Cinta Senese, Mora Romagnola, Nero Siciliano, Sarda; Lithuania: Indigenous Wattle, White Old Type; Portugal: Alentejana, Bísara; Serbia: Moravka, Swallow-Bellied Mangalitsa; Slovenia: Krškopolje pig; Spain: Iberian, Majorcan Black), and three commercial breeds (Duroc, Landrace and Large White) were sampled and genotyped with the GeneSeek Genomic Profiler (GGP) 70 K HD porcine genotyping chip. A dataset of 51 Wild Boars from nine countries was also added, summing up to 1186 pigs (~ 49 pigs/breed). The aim was to: (i) investigate individual admixture ancestries and (ii) assess breed traceability via discriminant analysis on principal components (DAPC). Albeit the mosaic of shared ancestries found for Nero Siciliano, Sarda and Moravka, admixture analysis indicated independent evolvement for the rest of the breeds. High prediction accuracy of DAPC mark SNP data as a reliable solution for the traceability of breed-specific pig products., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: The emergence of the Brazilian variant of concern, Gamma lineage (P.1), impacted the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 cases due to its higher transmissibility rate and immune evasion ability., Methods: We sequenced 305 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genomes and performed phylogenetic analyses to identify introduction events and the circulating lineages. Additionally, we use epidemiological data of COVID-19 cases, severe cases, and deaths to measure the impact of vaccination coverage and mortality risk., Results: Here we show that Gamma introduction in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, was followed by the displacement of seven circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and a rapid increase in prevalence two months after its first detection in January 2021. Moreover, Gamma variant is associated with increased mortality risk and severity of COVID-19 cases in younger age groups, which corresponds to the unvaccinated population at the time., Conclusions: Our findings highlight the beneficial effects of vaccination indicated by a pronounced reduction of severe cases and deaths in immunized individuals, reinforcing the need for rapid and massive vaccination., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Background: A gap in evidence exists concerning the survival-benefit of neurohormonal blockade in older patients with chronic heart failure (HF). The purpose of our study was to investigate the neurohormonal modulation therapy in older HF patients., Methods: We retrospectively analysed data on chronic HF patients with systolic dysfunction from January 2012 to May 2018 at a central tertiary academic hospital in Porto, Portugal. Very old (VO) patients were those ≥80 years. Endpoint under analysis: all-cause mortality; patients were followed until January 2021. The prognostic impact of beta-blockers (BBs) and renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi) use was assessed with a Cox-regression analysis adjusting for confounders., Results: We studied 934 patients, 65.5% male; 45.3% had ischemic HF. BBs were used in 92.2% and RASi in 83.5%; 255 (27.3%) were VO patients. VO more often presented co-morbidities, were more symptomatic, presented worse renal function and higher BNP levels. BB prescription was similar in VO and non-VO patients, however RASi were less used in VO: 74.9% versus 86.7%, respectively. During a median follow-up of 47 months, 479 (51.3%) patients died: 71.4% among VO versus 43.7% in non-VO. BBs increased survival both in non-VO and VO-multivariate adjusted HRs of 0.57 (95% CI: 0.38-0.85) and 0.59 (0.36-0.97), respectively. A survival-benefit was also observed with RASi-adjusted HR of 0.71 (0.50-1.01) and 0.59 (0.42-0.83) in non-VO and VO., Conclusions: VO patients with chronic HF with systolic dysfunction have a very ominous outcome. Neurohormonal modulation therapy appears to portend survival-benefit also in this particularly vulnerable subgroup of patients., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The development of stimuli-sensitive drug delivery systems is a very attractive area of current research in cancer therapy. The deep knowledge on the microenvironment of tumors has supported the progress of nanosystems' ability for controlled and local fusion as well as drug release. Temperature and pH are two of the most promising triggers in the development of sensitive formulations to improve the efficacy of anticancer agents. Herein, magnetic liposomes with fusogenic sensitivity to pH and temperature were developed aiming at dual cancer therapy (by chemotherapy and magnetic hyperthermia). Magnetic nanoparticles of mixed calcium/manganese ferrite were synthesized by co-precipitation with citrate and by sol-gel method, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy in transmission mode (STEM), and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The citrate-stabilized nanoparticles showed a small-sized population (around 8 nm, determined by XRD) and suitable magnetic properties, with a low coercivity and high saturation magnetization (~54 emu/g). The nanoparticles were incorporated into liposomes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesteryl hemisuccinate (DPPC:CHEMS) and of the same components with a PEGylated lipid (DPPC:CHEMS:DSPE-PEG), resulting in magnetoliposomes with sizes around 100 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) measurements were performed to investigate the pH-sensitivity of the magnetoliposomes' fusogenic ability. Two new antitumor thienopyridine derivatives were efficiently encapsulated in the magnetic liposomes and the drug delivery capability of the loaded nanosystems was evaluated, under different pH and temperature conditions.

Liposome-like nanoarchitectures containing manganese ferrite nanoparticles covered or decorated with gold were developed for application in dual cancer therapy, combining chemotherapy and photothermia. The magnetic/plasmonic nanoparticles were characterized using XRD, UV/Visible absorption, HR-TEM, and SQUID, exhibiting superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature. The average size of the gold-decorated nanoparticles was 26.7 nm for MnFe 2 O 4 with 5-7 nm gold nanospheres. The average size of the core/shell nanoparticles was 28.8 nm for the magnetic core and around 4 nm for the gold shell. Two new potential antitumor fluorescent drugs, tricyclic lactones derivatives of thienopyridine, were loaded in these nanosystems with very high encapsulation efficiencies (higher than 98%). Assays in human tumor cell lines demonstrate that the nanocarriers do not release the antitumor compounds in the absence of irradiation. Moreover, the nanosystems do not cause any effect on the growth of primary (non-tumor) cells (with or without irradiation). The drug-loaded systems containing the core/shell magnetic/plasmonic nanoparticles efficiently inhibit the growth of tumor cells when irradiated with red light, making them suitable for a triggered release promoted by irradiation.

Feline morbillivirus was discovered in 2012 in cats from Hong Kong, and it was initially found to be associated with chronic kidney disease. Although subsequent molecular surveys showed a common occurrence in cat populations from distinct countries, there were controversial results regarding the relationship between viral shedding through urine and reduced kidney function. In this study, 276 domestic cats of diverse origins from Western Brazil had their urine evaluated for the presence of paramyxoviral RNA by reverse transcription seminested PCR and direct sequencing. Additionally, a selected Brazilian feline morbillivirus strain was isolated in Crandell Rees feline kidney cells, and a nearly complete genome sequence was obtained. To assess the kidney function of all cats, serum biochemistry screening and standard urinalysis were performed. Our results revealed a relatively high paramyxovirus-positive rate (34.7%) in the evaluated cats although there was not a statistical association between the shedding of viral RNA through urine and kidney disease. Direct sequencing of partial fragments of the L gene demonstrated high genetic diversity among strains detected in cats in this study, since both feline morbillivirus RNA and feline paramyxovirus RNA were frequently shed in urine. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on partial amino acid sequences of the L gene showed that Brazilian feline paramyxovirus strains were genetically diverse since they grouped into two distinct subclusters; one subcluster contained three strains identified in Germany, while the second contained Japanese strain 163, which was recently classified in the Jeilongvirus genus of the Paramyxoviridae family. In contrast, the Brazilian feline morbillivirus strain FeMV/BR&#95;Boni, herein characterized by nearly complete genome sequencing, was classified in the Morbillivirus genus with other strains previously identified as genotype 1. In conclusion, urinary excretion of diverse paramyxoviral RNA is frequent in cats of different origins from Western Brazil, but viral infection is not related to altered kidney function., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Introduction: The urinary sodium (UNa) concentration is associated with outcomes in patients with acute heart failure (HF). Its impact in individuals with chronic HF is unknown., Objectives: This study examined the combined effect of diuretic dosage and UNa concentration in chronic HF., Patients and Methods: The research sample for this retrospective cohort study consisted of ambulatory patients receiving optimized therapy and followed in an HF clinic. The patients were recruited between 2009 and 2012. The exclusion criteria were therapeutic adjustments or hospital admissions in the previous 2 months and renalreplacement therapy. The patients were followed for 5 years; the endpoint was all‑cause mortality. The association between the ratio of furosemide dosage to UNa concentration and 5‑year mortality was studied using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The  patients were cross‑classified according to daily furosemide dosage (with the cutoff set at 80 mg) and UNa concentration (80 mEq/l). Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to assess the prognostic impact of the ratio., Results: We analyzed 283 patients with chronic HF (70.3% male; mean age, 69 years). During follow‑up, 134 patients died. The median furosemide dosage was 80 mg/day and the mean UNa concentration was 85 mEq/l. Based on the ROC curve, the best cutoff for the ratio of daily furosemide dosage to UNa concentration was 0.8. Patients with a ratio of 0.8 or higher had an adjusted hazard ratio for 5‑year mortality of 2.85 (95% CI, 1.78-4.58). Patients with a UNa excretion rate of less than 80 mEq/l who wereadministered 80 mg or more of furosemide per day were found to have a worse prognosis (HR, 4.15; 95% CI, 2.31-7.45) when compared with those with a UNa excretion rate of 80 mEq/l or more and less than 80 mg furosemide per day., Conclusions: Combining the diuretic dosage and measurement of UNa excretion can be used to refine risk stratification in chronic HF. The furosemide‑to‑UNa ratio can be a surrogate marker for diuretic resistance and has a prognostic impact in chronic HF.

Multi-segmented bilayered Fe/Cu nanowires have been fabricated through the electrodeposition in porous anodic alumina membranes. We have assessed, with the support of micromagnetic simulations, the dependence of fabricated nanostructures' magnetic properties either on the number of Fe/Cu bilayers or on the length of the magnetic layers, by fixing both the nonmagnetic segment length and the wire diameter. The magnetic reversal, in the segmented Fe nanowires (NWs) with a 300 nm length, occurs through the nucleation and propagation of a vortex domain wall (V-DW) from the extremities of each segment. By increasing the number of bilayers, the coercive field progressively increases due to the small magnetostatic coupling between Fe segments, but the coercivity found in an Fe continuous nanowire is not reached, since the interactions between layers is limited by the Cu separation. On the other hand, Fe segments 30 nm in length have exhibited a vortex configuration, with around 60% of the magnetization pointing parallel to the wires' long axis, which is equivalent to an isolated Fe nanodisc. By increasing the Fe segment length, a magnetic reversal occurred through the nucleation and propagation of a V-DW from the extremities of each segment, similar to what happens in a long cylindrical Fe nanowire. The particular case of the Fe/Cu bilayered nanowires with Fe segments 20 nm in length revealed a magnetization oriented in opposite directions, forming a synthetic antiferromagnetic system with coercivity and remanence values close to zero.

Objective: To evaluate formulations of 1 % silver (Ag) nanoparticles for treating traumatic lesions induced in the oral mucosa of rats, because these lesions are commonly observed in the dental clinic, and their therapeutic forms are scarce., Methods: Wistar rats were punch-injured (two circular fragments, 4.0 mm in diameter) in the oral mucosa (one on each side), and were treated topically (twice per week) with the treatments/groups including: no injury, control, vehicle, diluted Ag, soluble Ag, and solid Ag. On the 2nd, 7th, and 14th days postinjury, biopsies were collected for immunohistochemistry and biochemical analysis., Results: The group diluted Ag revealed a higher level of inflammatory infiltrate on the 2nd day, whereas solid Ag presented lower levels. The Ag solid group presented higher IL-1β on the 2nd day and increased IL-10 and TGF-β1 throughout the follow-up. Moreover, all three Ag groups presented lower levels of oxidative stress markers and, on the 7th day, the diluted Ag and solid Ag groups revealed higher antioxidants. Diluted Ag and soluble Ag groups presented greater blood vessels proliferation, whereas soluble Ag and solid Ag groups revealed greater VEGF on the 2nd and 14th days. Furthermore, all three Ag groups were highlighted during fibroplasia, although collagenesis was similar to that observed in the control group., Conclusions: Although diluted Ag was noticeable for its important angiogenesis and fibroplasia, solid Ag was the most suitable formulation in healing oral lesions as it efficiently controlled inflammation and oxidative stress, thus favoring angiogenesis and tissue formation., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and antifungal potential of the essential oil of Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. against Candida strains. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) was assessed by the microdilution method using the essential oil at a concentration range of 8192 to 8 μg/mL. The minimum fungicide concentration (MFC) was determined by subculture in solid medium. The ability of the essential oil to modulate the activity of antifungals was determined in wells treated simultaneously with the oil at a subinhibitory concentration (MFC/16) and fluconazole (FCZ). The fungal morphology was analyzed by microscopy. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify the chemical composition. The essential oil presented an CI 50 of 11.24 and 1.45 μg/mL, which was found to potentiate the effect of FCZ against Candida albicans. On the other hand, this combined treatment resulted in antagonism against Candida tropicalis and no evident modulation against Candida krusei was observed. The essential oil significantly inhibited hyphae growth. However, with a MFC ≥ 16,384 μg/mL, it is assumed that it has a fungistatic action. The antifungal properties demonstrated in this study might be related to the presence of sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes, and the interaction between them. In conclusion, Baccharis trimera showed promising anti-Candida effects, in addition to potentiating the activity of FCZ against Candida albicans, affecting its morphological transition. Therefore, this species constitutes a source of chemical compounds with the potential to be used in the combat of fungal infections., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

ROHs are long stretches of DNA homozygous at each polymorphic position. The proportion of genome covered by ROHs and their length are indicators of the level and origin of inbreeding. Frequent common ROHs within the same population define ROH islands and indicate hotspots of selection. In this work, we investigated ROHs in a total of 1131 pigs from 20 European local pig breeds and in three cosmopolitan breeds, genotyped with the GGP Porcine HD Genomic Profiler. plink software was used to identify ROHs. Size classes and genomic inbreeding parameters were evaluated. ROH islands were defined by evaluating different thresholds of homozygous SNP frequency. A functional overview of breed-specific ROH islands was obtained via over-representation analyses of GO biological processes. Mora Romagnola and Turopolje breeds had the largest proportions of genome covered with ROH (~1003 and ~955 Mb respectively), whereas Nero Siciliano and Sarda breeds had the lowest proportions (~207 and 247 Mb respectively). The highest proportion of long ROH (>16 Mb) was in Apulo-Calabrese, Mora Romagnola and Casertana. The largest number of ROH islands was identified in the Italian Landrace (n = 32), Cinta Senese (n = 26) and Lithuanian White Old Type (n = 22) breeds. Several ROH islands were in regions encompassing genes known to affect morphological traits. Comparative ROH structure analysis among breeds indicated the similar genetic structure of local breeds across Europe. This study contributed to understanding of the genetic history of the investigated pig breeds and provided information to manage these pig genetic resources., (© 2021 Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics.)