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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has proven successful in wound healing. However, its potential effects on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries remain uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the impact of HBOT on graft healing following ACL reconstruction in rabbits. Male New Zealand rabbits underwent ACL reconstruction and were randomly divided into two groups: the HBOT group and the ambient air group. The HBOT group received 100% oxygen at 2.5 atmospheres absolute for 2 h daily for 5 consecutive days, starting from the first day after surgery. The ambient air group was maintained in normal room air throughout the entire period. After 12 weeks following the surgery, animals were euthanized, and their knees were harvested for analysis. The HBOT group demonstrated superior graft maturation and integration in comparison to the ambient air group, as evidenced by lower graft signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging, decreased femoral and tibial tunnel size, and higher bone mineral density values on high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography scans. Additionally, biomechanical testing indicated that the HBOT group had greater load to failure and stiffness values than the ambient air group. In conclusion, the adjuvant use of HBOT improved ACL graft maturation and integration, reduced tunnel widening, and enhanced the biomechanical properties of the graft. These results may provide important insights into the potential clinical application of HBOT as a therapeutic intervention to enhance graft healing after ACL reconstruction, paving the way for further research in this area., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society.)

Objective: To analyze the obesity, overweight, and thinness trends among Brazilian schoolchildren by sex, age group, and type of school according to World Health Organization (WHO) and International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria., Methods: We conducted four surveys between 2002 and 2018/19 involving schoolchildren aged 7-14 years from a state capital in southern Brazil. Weight status was classified using both WHO and IOTF criteria., Results: In the total sample, obesity prevalence based on the IOTF and the WHO criteria were 72% and 44% higher in 2018/19 compared with 2002, respectively. Over the whole period, the obesity prevalence increased among children (WHO: 10.1% vs. 14.1%; IOTF: 5.0% vs. 8.3%), and those from public schools (WHO: 10.5% vs. 16.4%; IOTF: 5.6% vs. 10.1%). There was no significant reduction in thinness prevalence over the analyzed period., Conclusion: Obesity prevalence remains on an upward trend in a state capital in southern Brazil, especially among children from public schools. A higher prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed using the WHO criteria compared with IOTF criteria., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

In Brazil, current information about breastfeeding indicators among indigenous living in the urban areas is lacking. This article describes the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and its associations with mother and child characteristics in a cohort of Terena infants. The study enrolled infants born between June 2017 to July 2018 (n = 42) and living in villages of the urban area of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Information was collected in four time-points. Variables on maternal sociodemographics and on maternal and child health characteristics were collected, respectively, during the antenatal and the first-month interviews. Variables on breastfeeding practices and bottle use were collected during the first-, six- and 12-month interviews. Associations were examined using Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson's chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding duration to the ages of three and six months were, respectively, 50% and 11.9%. Compared to infants never introduced to bottles during the first three months of life, those bottle-fed had lower median duration of exclusive breastfeeding (15 versus 150 days) and lower prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding duration to the age of three months (22.7% versus 80%). Most Terena infants fell short of meeting the international recommended duration of exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age and suggested the negative impact of bottle use in the duration of exclusive breastfeeding.

New alternatives for effluent decontamination, such as electrochemical oxidation, are being developed to provide adequate removal of endocrine disruptors such as 17β-estradiol in wastewater. In this study, data-driven models of response surface methodology, artificial neural networks, wavelet neural networks, and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system will be used to predict the degradation and mineralization of the microcontaminant hormone 17β-estradiol through an electrochemical process to contribute to the treatment of effluent containing urine. With the use of different statistical criteria and graphical analysis of the correlation between observed and predicted data, it was possible to conduct a comparative analysis of the performances of the data-driven approaches. The results point to the superiority of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (correlation coefficient, R 2 , ranged from 0.99330 to 0.99682 for TOC removal and from 0.95330 to 0.99223 for the degradation of the hormone 17β-estradiol) techniques over the others. The remaining results obtained with the other metrics are consistent with this analysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Many technological applications in photonics require devices to function reliably under extreme conditions, including high temperatures. To this end, materials and structures with thermally stable optical properties are indispensable. State-of-the-art thermal photonic devices based on nanostructures suffer from severe surface diffusion-induced degradation, and the operational temperatures are often restricted. Here, we report on a thermo-optically stable superabsorber composed of bilayer refractory dielectric materials. The device features an average absorptivity ∼95% over >500 nm bandwidth in the near-infrared regime, with minimal temperature dependence up to 1500 °C. Our results demonstrate an alternative pathway to achieve high-temperature thermo-optically stable photonic devices., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: Predicting difficult direct laryngoscopies remains challenging and improvements are needed in preoperative airway assessment. We conceived two new tests (the upper airway angle and the glottic height) and assessed their association with difficult direct laryngoscopies as well as their predictive performance., Methods: A prospective cohort was conducted with 211 patients undergoing general anesthesia for surgical procedures. We assessed the association between difficult laryngoscopies and modified Mallampati Test (MMT), Upper Lip Bite Test (ULBT), Mandibular Length (ML), Neck Circumference (NC), Mouth Opening (MO), Sternomental Distance (SMD), Thyromental Distance (TMD), Upper Airway Angle (UAA), and Glottic Height (GH). We also estimated their predictive values., Results: Difficult laryngoscopy was presented by 12 patients (5.7%). Six tests were significantly associated with difficult laryngoscopies and their area under the ROC curve, and 95% CIs were as follows: UAA = 88.82 (81.86-95.78); GH = 86.43 (72.67-100); ML = 83.75 (72.77-94.74); NC = 79.17 (64.98-93.36); MO = 65.58 (45.13-86.02); and MMT = 77.89 (68.37-87.41)., Conclusion: We have found two new features (the UAA and the GH) to be significantly associated with the occurrence of difficult direct laryngoscopies. They also presented the best predictive performance amongst the nine evaluated tests in our cohort of patients. We cannot ensure, however, these tests to be superior to other regularly used bedside tests based on our estimated 95% CIs., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia. Published by Elsevier España S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The composition-dependent degradation of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) due to environmental stressors still precludes their commercialization. It is very difficult to quantify their behavior upon exposure to each stressor by exclusively using trial-and-error methods due to the high-dimensional parameter space involved. We implement machine learning (ML) models using high-throughput, in situ photoluminescence (PL) to predict the response of Cs y FA 1- y Pb(Br x I 1- x ) 3 while exposed to relative humidity cycles. We quantitatively compare three ML models while generating forecasts of environment-dependent PL responses: linear regression, echo state network, and seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous regressor algorithms. We achieve accuracy of >90% for the latter, while tracking PL changes over a 50 h window. Samples with 17% of Cs content consistently showed a PL increase as a function of cycle. Our precise time-series forecasts can be extended to other HOIP families, illustrating the potential of data-centric approaches to accelerate material development for clean-energy devices., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Knee injury negatively impacts routine activities and quality of life of millions of people every year. Disruption of tendons, ligaments, and articular cartilage are major causes of knee lesions, leading to social and economic losses. Besides the attempts for an optimal recovery of knee function after surgery, the joint healing process is not always adequate given the nature of intra-articular environment. Based on that, different therapeutic methods attempt to improve healing capacity. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is an innovative biophysical approach that can be used as an adjuvant treatment post-knee surgery, to potentially prevent chronic disorders that commonly follows knee injuries. Given the well-recognized role of HBOT in improving wound healing, further research is necessary to clarify the benefits of HBOT in damaged musculoskeletal tissues, especially knee disorders. Here, we review important mechanisms of action for HBOT-induced healing including the induction of angiogenesis, modulation of inflammation and extracellular matrix components, and activation of parenchyma cells-key events to restore knee function after injury. This review discusses the basic science of the healing process in knee injuries, the role of oxygen during cicatrization, and shed light on the promising actions of HBOT in treating knee disorders, such as tendon, ligament, and cartilage injuries., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Optical materials based on unconventional plasmonic metals (e.g., magnesium) have lately driven rising research interest for the quest of possibilities in nanophotonic applications. Several favorable attributes of Mg, such as earth abundancy, lightweight, biocompatibility/biodegradability, and its active reactions with water or hydrogen, have underpinned its emergence as an alternative nanophotonic material. Here, we experimentally demonstrate a thin film-based optical device composed exclusively of earth-abundant and complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible materials (i.e., Mg, a-Si, and SiO 2 ). The devices can exhibit a spectrally selective and tunable near-unity resonant absorption with an ultrathin a-Si absorbing layer due to the strong interference effect in this high-index and lossy film. Alternatively, they can generate diverse reflective colors by appropriate tuning of the a-Si and SiO 2 layer thicknesses, including all the primary colors for RGB (red, green, blue) and CMY (cyan, magenta, yellow) color spaces. In addition, the reflective hues of the devices can be notably altered in a zero power-consumption fashion by immersing them in water due to the resulted dissolution of the Mg back-reflection layer. These compelling features in combination with the lithography-free and scalable fabrication steps may promise their adoption in various photonic applications including solar energy harvesting, optical information security, optical modulation, and filtering as well as structure reuse and recycling., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Mg shows great potential as a metal hydride for switchable optical response and hydrogen detection due to its ability to stably incorporate significant amounts of hydrogen into its lattice. However, this thermodynamic stability makes hydrogen removal difficult. By alloying Mg with secondary elements, the hydrogenation kinetics can be increased. Here, we report the dynamic optical, loading, and stress properties of three Mg alloy systems (Mg-Al, Mg-Ti, and Mg-Ni) and present several novel phenomena and three distinct device designs that can be achieved with them. We find that these materials all have large deviations in refractive index when exposed to H 2 gas, with a wide range of potential properties in the hydride state. The magnitude and sign of the optical property change for each of the alloys are similar, but the differences have dramatic effects on device design. We show that Mg-Ti alloys perform well as both switchable windows and broadband switchable light absorbers, where Mg 0.87 Ti 0.13 and Mg 0.85 Ti 0.15 can achieve a 40% transmission change as a switchable window and a 55% absorption change as a switchable solar absorber. We also show how different alloys can be used for dynamically tunable color filters, where both the reflected and transmitted colors depend on the hydrogenation state. We demonstrate how small changes in the alloy composition (e.g., with Mg-Ni) can lead to dramatically different color responses upon hydrogenation (red-shifting vs blue-shifting of the resonance). Our results establish the potential for these Mg alloys in a variety of applications relating to hydrogen storage, detection, and optical devices, which are necessary for a future hydrogen economy.

Purpose: To describe the methodological aspects and characteristics of the participants of the EPOCA survey., Methods: The study was conducted with schoolchildren aged between seven to 14 years old from 30 schools in Florianópolis, Southern Brazil. Body mass, height, girths, and skinfold thicknesses were measured. Food consumption and physical activity from the previous day were self-reported using the validated Web-CAAFE questionnaire. Adolescents completed a specific questionnaire about physical activity, meal consumption, and weight control behaviors. Parents/guardians responded to a sociodemographic and habits questionnaire., Results: A total of 1671 schoolchildren participated in the study (response rate: 27.2%). About 63% of schoolchildren were enrolled in public schools. Most studied in the morning shift (54.2%), were female (53.1%) and aged between seven and 10 years (58.1%). The prevalence of overweight was 33.7% and obesity was 11.3%., Conclusions: The data obtained will allow us to assess the trend in the prevalence of overweight and obesity and associated factors when compared to other surveys performed. Descriptions of the logistics and protocols can help in the development and improvement of similar studies. It is hoped that the results of EPOCA 2018/2019 may help in the design of obesity prevention policies and programs for this population., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Refractory metals have recently garnered significant interest as options for photonic applications due to their superior high-temperature stability and versatile optical properties. However, most previous studies only consider their room-temperature optical properties when analyzing these materials' behavior as optical components. Here, we demonstrate structural color pixels based on three refractory metals (Ru, Ta, and W) for high-temperature applications. We quantify their optical behavior in an oxygenated environment and determine their dielectric functions after heating up to 600 °C. We use in situ oxidation, a fundamental chemical reaction, to form nanometer-scale metal oxide thin-film bilayers on each refractory metal. We fully characterize the behavior of the newly formed thin-film interference structures, which exhibit vibrant color changes upon high-temperature treatment. Finally, we present optical simulations showing the full range of hues achievable with a simple two-layer metal oxide/metal reflector structure. All of these materials have melting points >1100 °C, with the Ta-based structure offering high-temperature stability, and the Ru- and W-based options providing an alternative for reversible color filters, at high temperatures in inert or vacuum environments. Our approach is uniquely suitable for high-temperature photonics, where the oxides can be used as conformal coatings to produce a wide variety of colors across a large portion of the color gamut.

Background: There is currently some discussion over the actual usefulness of performing preoperative upper airway assessment to predict difficult airways. In this field, modified Mallampati test (MMT) is a widespread tool used for prediction of difficult airways showing only a feeble predictive performance as a diagnostic test. We therefore aimed at evaluating if MMT test would perform better when used as a screening test rather than diagnostic., Methods: An accuracy prospective study was conducted with 570 patients undergoing general anesthesia for surgical procedures. We collected preoperatively data on sex, age, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), ASA physical status, and MMT. The main outcome was difficult laryngoscopy defined as Cormack and Lahane classes 3 or 4. Bivariate analyses were performed to build three different predictive models with their ROC curves., Results: Difficult laryngoscopy was reported in 36 patients (6.32%). Sex, ASA physical status, and MMT were associated with difficult laryngoscopy, while body mass index (BMI) was not. The MMT cut-off with the highest odds ratio was the class II, which also presented significantly higher sensitivity (94.44%). The balanced accuracy was 67.11% (95% CI: 62.78...71.44%) for the cut-off of class II and 71.68% (95% CI: 63.83...79.54) for the class III., Conclusion: MMT seems to be more clinically useful when the class II is employed as the threshold for possible difficult laryngoscopies. At this cut-off, MMT shows the considerable highest sensitivity plus the highest odds ratio, prioritizing thus the anticipation of difficult laryngoscopies., (Copyright © 2021 Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Objectives  This study evaluated the radiographic progressions of scoliotic curves higher than 40° in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). These subjects waited for the surgical procedure while elective surgeries were on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to radiographic progressions, this study described the quality of life of these patients. Methods  This study is a retrospective cohort assessing 29 AIS patients with surgical indications registered in the Brazilian public healthcare service. We compared the scoliotic radiographic measurements in two moments: at the beginning of the interruption of elective surgeries due to the COVID-19 pandemic and when these procedures resumed. Results  When comparing the radiographic measurements before and after the suspension of assessments for elective surgeries, we observed a significant increase in main curve angles ( p  < 0.001), with variations ranging from 0 to 68° and a median value of 10°. In secondary curves, we observed an increase in angles from the proximal thoracic ( p  < 0.001) and lumbar ( p  = 0.001) regions. However, the increase in the main thoracic region was not significant ( p  = 0.317). Conclusion  The suspension of elective surgeries for AIS resulted in a significant increase in the radiographic values of patients' spine deformities. This increase harmed the quality of life of these subjects and their families., Competing Interests: Conflito de Interesses Os autores declaram não haver conflito de interesses., (Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ).)

Trichosporon spp. are a constituent of the normal flora of humans that can cause both superficial and invasive infections, mainly in immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts, respectively. Herein, we a report of Trichosporon asahii causing subcutaneous fungal infection (SFI) in an immunocompetent patient after carpal tunnel surgery. Although susceptible to fluconazole, the treatment of SFI failed even using high doses of this azole. The skin lesion improved following the administration of voriconazole. We conducted a literature minireview searching reports on SFI in immunocompetent patients to check for epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and outcome characteristics. A total of 32 cases were reported. Despite being uncommon, the clinical suspicion and early diagnosis of SFI in immunocompetent patients undergoing previous surgery are important. Our study indicated that the azoles are the most active antifungal agents against Trichosporon spp., except for fluconazole, and voriconazole can be considered the first therapeutic option., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

Metal halide perovskite (MHP) photovoltaics may become a viable alternative to standard Si-based technologies, but the current lack of long-term stability precludes their commercial adoption. Exposure to standard operational stressors (light, temperature, bias, oxygen, and water) often instigate optical and electronic dynamics, calling for a systematic investigation into MHP photophysical processes and the development of quantitative models for their prediction. We resolve the moisture-driven light emission dynamics for both methylammonium lead tribromide and triiodide thin films as a function of relative humidity (rH). With the humidity and photoluminescence time series, we train recurrent neural networks and establish their ability to quantitatively predict the path of future light emission with 18% error over 4 h. Together, our in situ rH-PL measurements and machine learning forecasting models provide a framework for the rational design of future stable perovskite devices and, thus, a faster transition toward commercial applications.

Melon production in the Brazilian semi-arid region is subject to the use of marginal waters with high salinity. However, the use of regulators and bioactivators in seed treatment can mitigate the harmful effects of salts in irrigation water. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the effect of pre-germination treatments with plant regulators and bioactivator in melon seeds for the production of seedlings irrigated with biosaline water from fish farming effluent. For this, two trials with the Goldex and Grand Prix hybrids were carried out separately. A completely randomized design was used in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme (pre-germination treatments × water dilutions). In addition to the control, the seeds were treated with salicylic and gibberellic acids and thiamethoxam. The waters used for irrigation were local-supply water, fish farming effluent (biosaline water) and these diluted to 50%. Physiological and biochemical analyses were performed for fourteen days. Biosaline water (5.0 dS m-1) did not affect the emergence of Goldex melon seedlings, but compromised the establishment of the Grand Prix cultivar. Seed pre-treatments with salicylic and gibberellic acids attenuate the effects of water salinity and promote growth modulations, resulting in more vigorous melon seedlings.

Perovskite solar cells (PSC) are a favorable candidate for next-generation solar systems with efficiencies comparable to Si photovoltaics, but their long-term stability must be proven prior to commercialization. However, traditional trial-and-error approaches to PSC screening, development, and stability testing are slow and labor-intensive. In this Perspective, we present a survey of how machine learning (ML) and autonomous experimentation provide additional toolkits to gain physical understanding while accelerating practical device advancement. We propose a roadmap for applying ML to PSC research at all stages of design (compositional selection, perovskite material synthesis and testing, and full device evaluation). We also provide an overview of relevant concepts and baseline models that apply ML to diverse materials problems, demonstrating its broad relevance while highlighting promising research directions and associated challenges. Finally, we discuss our outlook for an integrated pipeline that encompasses all design stages and presents a path to commercialization.

Salvia hispanica cultivation is recent in Brazil and occurs in the off-season, when there is lower water availability in the soil. Water deficit is one of the abiotic factors that most limit germination for compromising the sequence of metabolic events that culminate with seedling emergence. Several attenuating substances have been used to mitigate the effects resulting from this stress and give higher tolerance to the species. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the action of different agents as water stress attenuators in the germination and accumulation of organic compounds in S. hispanica seedlings. The treatments consisted of pre-soaking the seeds for 4 hours in salicylic acid (1 mM.L-1), gibberellic acid (0.4 mM.L-1), distilled water and control treatment (without soaking). The seeds were germinated at osmotic potentials of 0.0, -0.1, -0.2, -0.3 and -0.4 MPa, using PEG 6000 as an osmotic agent. The variables germination percentage, germination speed index, shoot and primary root lengths, total dry mass, proline, total soluble sugars and total free amino acids were analyzed. Salicylic acid and gibberellic acid led to the best results among the attenuators tested, increasing germination, length, dry mass and biochemical components of S. hispanica seedlings under water deficit. Therefore, salicylic and gibberellic acids are efficient in mitigating water stress in S. hispanica seeds up to the potential of -0.4 MPa.

Ticks have developed physiological adaptations to transport, store, metabolize and secrete toxic components from the diet and environment. Different classes of enzymes are involved in these processes, however, the role of several of them is not yet characterized in Rhipicephalus microplus. In this context, this work investigated the action of antioxidant and detoxification enzymes, as well as the levels of essential cellular reductants in R. microplus partially engorged females (PEF) and fully engorged females (FEF). Results demonstrated that enzymes transcriptional levels and enzymatic activity from ovary and fat body were higher in PEF than in FEF, except for ovary Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), which was the only enzyme showing highest activity in the FEF stage. These results indicated a higher demand for antioxidant potential in these organs at the initial feeding phase than during egg-laying. In midgut, however, there was more variability in the transcriptional levels and activity of the different enzymes between the PEF and FEF phases. Similar NADPH levels were found in PEF and FEF phases, suggesting a remarkable capacity to maintain a regular supply of reducing power, despite the developmental changes and large intake of heme and iron. However, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were variable between PEF and FEF when distinct organs were compared. Taken together, our data suggest a higher demand for reducing potential in FEF ticks. The silencing of catalase (CAT) or thioredoxin reductase (TRx) genes in females did not impair feeding, egg-laying capacity, or larvae hatching. CAT-silenced ticks had increased ovary peroxidase activity, a possible compensatory antioxidant mechanism. Altogether, the results shed light on the complexity of the antioxidant and detoxification enzyme system in ticks and its involvement in different physiological mechanisms., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Forests are the largest terrestrial biomass pool, with over half of this biomass stored in the highly productive tropical lowland forests. The future evolution of forest biomass depends critically on the response of tree longevity and growth rates to future climate. We present an analysis of the variation in tree longevity and growth rate using tree-ring data of 3,343 populations and 438 tree species and assess how climate controls growth and tree longevity across world biomes. Tropical trees grow, on average, two times faster compared to trees from temperate and boreal biomes and live significantly shorter, on average (186 ± 138 y compared to 322 ± 201 y outside the tropics). At the global scale, growth rates and longevity covary strongly with temperature. Within the warm tropical lowlands, where broadleaf species dominate the vegetation, we find consistent decreases in tree longevity with increasing aridity, as well as a pronounced reduction in longevity above mean annual temperatures of 25.4 °C. These independent effects of temperature and water availability on tree longevity in the tropics are consistent with theoretical predictions of increases in evaporative demands at the leaf level under a warmer and drier climate and could explain observed increases in tree mortality in tropical forests, including the Amazon, and shifts in forest composition in western Africa. Our results suggest that conditions supporting only lower tree longevity in the tropical lowlands are likely to expand under future drier and especially warmer climates., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest.

This study demonstrates the evaluation between the artificial neural network technique coupled to the genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) and the response surface methodology (RSM) for prediction of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) decolorization by crude enzyme from Pleurotus. sajor-caju. Fungal lignin-modifying enzymes (FLME) were synthesized using pulp wash (PW) as an inducing substrate, and L. cylindrica (L.C) for cell immobilization. When grown in PW, the fungus showed higher Lac activity (126.5 IU. mL -1 ), whereas when immobilized a higher MnP activity was achieved (22.79 IU. mL -1 ), but both methods were capable of decolorizing the dye in about 89.4 % and 75 %, respectively. This indicates applicability of PW as an alternative substrate for FLME induction and viability of immobilization for MnP synthesis. For RB5 decolorization, the action of the crude enzyme extract was considered as a function of pH, dye concentration, temperature, and reaction time. The models are well adjusted to predict the efficiency of biodecolorization, with no statistical difference between ANN-GA and RSM, which indicates potential for green enzymes prospecting application in bioprocess industry., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The plasmon resonance of a structure is primarily dictated by its optical properties and geometry, which can be modified to enable hot-carrier photodetectors with superior performance. Recently, metal alloys have played a prominent role in tuning the resonance of plasmonic structures through chemical composition engineering. However, it has been unclear how alloying modifies the time dynamics of the generated hot-carriers. In this work, we elucidate the role of chemical composition on the relaxation time of hot-carriers for the archetypal Au x Ag 1-x thin film system. Through time-resolved optical spectroscopy measurements in the visible wavelength range, we measure composition-dependent relaxation times that vary up to 8× for constant pump fluency. Surprisingly, we find that the addition of 2% of Ag into Au films can increase the hot-carrier lifetime by approximately 35% under fixed fluence, as a result of a decrease in optical loss. Further, the relaxation time is found to be inversely proportional to the imaginary part of the permittivity. Our results indicate that alloying is a promising approach to effectively control hot-carrier relaxation time in metals.

The Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA) was validated for the Brazilian context in 2004. Since then, the scale has evaluated and measured the experience of food insecurity in rural and urban households, initially in the Brazilian National Household Sample Survey and later in the Brazilian National Survey of Demographic and Health. However, indigenous peoples have not been examined specifically in these surveys, despite recognition of their food and nutritional vulnerability. In this scenario, we analyze and discuss the application of the EBIA among indigenous peoples in Brazil, based on a set of fundamental questions for understanding and measuring their experience with food insecurity and "hunger". We conduct a sociopolitical and ethnographic analysis of a set of official documents and significant articles on the use of psychometric scales of food insecurity among Brazilian indigenous peoples, compared to international studies on the validation and application of scales in other sociocultural contexts. The initiatives with adaptation and application of the EBIA to indigenous peoples in Brazil indicate that understanding and measuring food insecurity in these peoples poses a major challenge. Particularly complex is the proposal to guarantee comparability of different contexts while taking into account the multiple local singularities. We propose that ethnographic studies should serve as specific components of future initiatives on this topic and that they should cover aspects such as the seasonality of indigenous peoples' food production, different processes of food monetization, and the dynamics of their food systems.

Objective: To describe breastfeeding trends from 2002 to 2012/2013, and to investigate whether breastfeeding practices differ between mothers of children in public and private schools., Methods: Data were obtained from three school-based cross-sectional studies conducted with 7 to 10 years old children. The total sample was 7264 individuals. Data related to breastfeeding were analyzed descriptively and compared using the chi-square test for heterogeneity or trend., Results: In the 10-year period was observed a decrease in the total percentage of schoolchildren who were not breastfed (12.9%-10.5%) and an increase in the percentage of schoolchildren breastfed for >12 months (23.9%-36.7%). In public schools, the increase of breastfeeding for >12 months was independent of maternal age and years of schooling. In private schools, the increase was observed for schoolchildren born to older mothers and to more educated mothers, although the highest percentage was observed for schoolchildren born to less educated mothers., Conclusions: The results confirm the complexity of determining breastfeeding behaviors, and understanding these dynamics is fundamental to develop and improve programs and actions aimed at encouraging, supporting, and protecting breastfeeding. However, strategies developed in Brazil during the first decade of the 21st century should explain the increase of proportion of breastfed children for more than 12 months, and the concomitant decrease of never breastfeed children in the city of Florianopolis (Southern Brazil)., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Smoking causes a threefold increase in the risk of surgical complications in flaps. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) increases the viability of chronic wounds. However, there are few studies concerning the effects of HBOT on surgical flaps in patients who smoke. This study aimed to analyze the effect of HBOT on the viability of cutaneous flaps in tobacco-exposed rats., Methods: Twenty Wistar rats were exposed to tobacco smoke for two months. Following this period, all animals underwent a dorsal cutaneous flap (3 × 10 cm) surgery and were divided into two groups: control (n = 10) and HBOT (n = 10). HBOT was performed in seven daily sessions (2 ATA, 90 min). After seven days, the animals were euthanized. The outcomes were total area, viable area, viable area/total area rate, analysis of dermal appendages and angiogenesis (hematoxylin-eosin), and gene expression analysis of iNOS and VEGF-a biomarkers., Results: The HBOT group showed an increase in viable area compared with the control group (84% versus 47%, p = 0.009, respectively). The HBOT group also showed an increase in appendage units (1.69 ± 0.54 versus 1.87 ± 0.58, p = 0.04) and angiogenesis density (1.29 ± 0.45 versus 1.82 ± 0.64, p < 0.001) compared to the control group. There was a difference between the control and HBOT groups in iNOS levels (0.926 ± 1.4 versus 0.04 ± 0.1 p = 0.002, respectively). However, this study did not show a difference between the groups concerning the gene expression of VEGF-a., Conclusion: The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy increased the viability of cutaneous flaps in tobacco-exposed rats and decreased iNOS mRNA levels; however, it did not change VEGF-a levels. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

This cross-sectional study in 2016 aimed to describe the estimated prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension and associated factors in Krenak adults and elderly in an indigenous community located along the Rio Doce in eastern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. We measured weight, height, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and capillary blood glucose. Sociodemographic and lifestyle information was obtained from a face-to-face questionnaire. Poisson regression models were constructed to estimate independent associations between the target variables and hypertension. Prevalence of hypertension was 31.2% (95%CI: 24.4-37.9) in Krenak indigenous. The final model showed an independent association with increasing age, abdominal obesity, and hyperglycemia. The results highlight the need for effective measures in prevention, diagnosis, and follow-up of modifiable risk factors for hypertension, since high prevalence of this condition was observed in the Krenak indigenous community.

Pd x Au 1- x alloys have recently shown great promise for next-generation optical hydrogen sensors due to their increased chemical durability while their optical sensitivity to small amounts of hydrogen gas is maintained. However, the correlation between chemical composition and the dynamic optical behavior upon hydrogenation/dehydrogenation is currently not well understood. A complete understanding of this relation is necessary to optimize future sensors and nanophotonic devices. Here, we quantify the dynamic optical, chemical, and mechanical properties of thin film Pd x Au 1- x alloys as they are exposed to H 2 by combining in situ ellipsometry with gravimetric and stress measurements. We demonstrate the dynamic optical property dependence of the film upon hydrogenation and directly correlate it with the hydrogen content up to a maximum of 7 bar of H 2 . With this measurement, we find that the thin films exhibit their strongest optical sensitivity to H 2 in the near-infrared. We also discover higher hydrogen-loading amounts as compared to previous measurements for alloys with low atomic percent Pd. Specifically, a measurable optical and gravimetric hydrogen response in alloys as low as 34% Pd is found, when previous works have suggested a disappearance of this response near 55% Pd. This result suggests that differences in film stress and microstructuring play a crucial role in the sorption behavior. We directly measure the thin film stress and morphology upon hydrogenation and show that the alloys have a substantially higher relative stress change than pure Pd, with the pure Pd data point falling 0.9 GPa below the expected trend line. Finally, we use the measured optical properties to illustrate the applicability of these alloys as grating structures and as a planar physical encryption scheme, where we show significant and variable changes in reflectivity upon hydrogenation. These results lay the foundation for the composition and design of next-generation hydrogen sensors and tunable photonic devices.

Metallic materials with engineered optical properties have the potential to enhance the performance of energy harvesting and storage devices operating at the macro- and nanoscale, such as solar cells, photocatalysts, water splitting, and hydrogen storage systems. For both thin films and subwavelength nanostructures, upon illumination, the coherent oscillation of charge carriers at the interface with a dielectric material gives rise to resonances named surface plasmon polariton (SPP) and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), respectively. These resonances result in unique light absorption, scattering, and transmission responses over the electromagnetic spectrum, which, in turn, can be exploited to tailor the behavior of active metallic components in optoelectronic devices containing Ag, Au, Cu, Al, Mg, among other metals. The wavelength in which the resonances occur primarily depends on the metal itself (i.e., the dielectric function or permittivity), the dielectric medium surrounding the metals, and the size, geometry, and periodicity of the metallic nanostructures. Nevertheless, the aforementioned parameters allow a limited modulation of both SPP and LSPR over a narrow window of frequencies. To overcome this constraint, we have proposed and realized the alloying of metals via physical deposition methods as a paradigm to almost arbitrarily tuning their optical behavior in the UV-NIR, which leads to permittivity values currently not available. Our approach offers an additional knob, chemical composition, to engineer light-matter interactions in metallic materials. This Account highlights recent progress in using alloying as a pathway to control the optical behavior of metallic thin films and nanostructures for energy harvesting and storage applications, including (photo)catalysis, photovoltaics, superabsorbers, hydrogen storage, among other systems. We choose to primarily focus on the optical properties of the metallic mixtures and in their near- to far-field responses in the UV-NIR range of the spectrum as they represent key parameters for materials' selection for the devices above. By alloying, it is possible to obtain metallic materials with LSPR not available for pure metals, which can enable the further control of the electromagnetic spectrum. First, we discuss how the permittivity of binary mixtures of coinage metals (Au, Ag, and Cu) can be tailored based on the chemical composition of their pure counterparts. Second, we present how novel metallic materials can be designed through band structure engineering through density functional theory (DFT), a paradigm that could benefit from artificial intelligence methods. Concerning alloyed thin films, we discuss the promise of earth-abundant metals and provide an example of the superior performance of AlCu in superabsorbers. In the realm of nanostructures, we focus the discussion on physical deposition methods, where we provide a detailed analysis of how chemical composition can affect the far- and near-field responses of metallic building blocks. Finally, we provide a brief outlook of promising next steps in the field.

The study aimed to verify the association between birthweight of Terena children living in the urban area of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, and demographic, socioeconomic, and health variables and to describe the prevalence of low birthweight. Data were collective through home visits with a form completed with the mothers and based on records from the prenatal and neonatal cards. The sample included all the Terena women who gave birth to liveborn children from June 1, 2017, to July 31, 2018, and living in the Água Bonita, Darcy Ribeiro, Marçal de Souza, and Tarsila do Amaral villages. Birthweight was the outcome, and demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics were the exposure variables. A total of 43 mothers participated with their children. Low birthweight prevalence was 2.3%. In the final model, children living in households with makeshift cesspools showed lower birthweight when compared to those living in households connected to the public sewage disposal system, and daughters of mothers who were obese prior to the pregnancy presented higher birthweight than those born to normal weight mothers, according to pregestational body mass index. The data seek to contribute to discussions on the health and nutrition of this important share of the indigenous population that lives in urban areas.

Pd-containing alloys are promising materials for catalysis. Yet, the relationship of the structure-property performance strongly depends on their chemical composition, which is currently not fully resolved. Herein, we present a physical vapor deposition methodology for developing Pd x Au 1- x alloys with fine control over the chemical composition. We establish direct correlations between the composition and these materials' structural and electronic properties with its catalytic activity in an ethanol (EtOH) oxidation reaction. By combining X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, we validate that the Pd content within both bulk and surface compositions can be finely controlled in an ultrathin-film regime. Catalytic oxidation of EtOH on the Pd x Au 1- x electrodes presents the largest forward-sweeping current density for x = 0.73 at ∼135 mA cm -2 , with the lowest onset potential and largest peak activity of 639 A g Pd -1 observed for x = 0.58. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and XPS measurements demonstrate that the valence band of the alloys is completely dominated by Pd particularly near the Fermi level, regardless of its chemical composition. Moreover, DFT provides key insights into the Pd x Au 1- x ligand effect, with relevant chemisorption activity descriptors probed for a large number of surface arrangements. These results demonstrate that alloys can outperform pure metals in catalytic processes, with fine control of the chemical composition being a powerful tuning knob for the electronic properties and, therefore, the catalytic activity of ultrathin Pd x Au 1- x catalysts. Our high-throughput experimental methodology, in connection with DFT calculations, provides a unique foundation for further materials' discovery, including machine-learning predictions for novel alloys, the development of Pd-alloyed membranes for the purification of reformate gases, binder-free ultrathin electrocatalysts for fuel cells, and room temperature lithography-based development of nanostructures for optically driven processes.

Perovskite solar cells that incorporate small concentrations of Cs in their A-site have shown increased lifetime and improved device performance. Yet, the development of fully stable devices operating near the theoretical limit requires understanding how Cs influences perovskites' electrical properties at the nanoscale. Here, we determine how the chemical composition of three perovskites (MAPbBr 3 , MAPbI 3 , and Cs-mixed) affects their short- and long-term voltage stabilities, with <50 nm spatial resolution. We map an anomalous irreversible electrical signature on MAPbBr 3 at the mesoscale, resulting in local V oc variations of ∼400 mV, and in entire grains with negative contribution to the V oc . These measurements prove the necessity of high spatial resolution mapping to elucidate the fundamental limitations of this emerging material. Conversely, we capture the fully reversible voltage response of Cs-mixed perovskites, composed by Cs 0.06 (MA 0.17 FA 0.83 ) 0.94 Pb(I 0.83 Br 0.17 ) 3 , demonstrating that the desired electrical output persists even at the nanoscale. The Cs-mixed material presents no spatial variation in V oc , as ion motion is restricted. Our results show that the nanoscale electrical behavior of the perovskites is intimately connected to their chemical composition and macroscopic response.

In Brazil, the right to health claimed by indigenous peoples interacts with various regulatory milestones, including the Alma-Ata Declaration, which proposes and highlights primary health care (PHC) as a means to increase access and minimize health inequalities. As part of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), an indigenous health subsystem (SASI) was established, along with a National Policy for the Care of Indigenous Peoples (PNASPI), as a strategy to ensure health care access for these populations. PNASPI aims to provide differentiated health care to indigenous populations, considering the sociocultural diversity and the epidemiological and logistic peculiarities associated with the care of these peoples and focusing on the provision of comprehensive care. The present article discusses the implementation of PNASPI, highlighting achievements and challenges faced during this process. Despite the growing financial resources made available for the implementation of the indigenous health subsystem, the initiatives developed thus far have had little impact on health indicators, which reflect historical inequalities in relation to other population segments. Indigenous social control is still fragile, and the discussions in this arena show the dissatisfaction of users toward the system. The discontinuity of care, added to the shortage of and high turnover of health care workers and the need to establish intercultural dialogues that promote articulation with traditional knowledges, challenge the effectiveness of PNASPI. Care is still centered on palliative and emergency measures, usually based on relocation of patients for treatment, which is associated with high cost. To overcome these challenges, PHC must be strengthened and recognized as a regulatory milestone by the PNASPI organizational model., Competing Interests: Conflitos de interesse. Nada declarado pelos autores.

The spatial resolution of atomic force microscopy (AFM) needed to resolve material interfaces is limited by the tip-sample separation ( d) dependence of the force used to record an image. Here, we present a new multiscale functional imaging technique that allows for in situ tunable spatial resolution, which can be applied to a wide range of inhomogeneous materials, devices, and interfaces. Our approach uses a multifrequency method to generate a signal whose d-dependence is controlled by mixing harmonics of the cantilever's oscillation with a modulated force. The spatial resolution of the resulting image is determined by the signal's d-dependence. Our measurements using harmonic mixing (HM) show that we can change the d-dependence of a force signal to improve spatial resolution by up to a factor of two compared to conventional methods. We demonstrate the technique with both Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and bimodal AFM to show its generality. Bimodal AFM with harmonic mixing actuation separates conservative from dissipative forces and is used to identify the regions of adhesive residue on exfoliated graphene. Our electrostatic measurements with open-loop KPFM demonstrate that multiple force modulations may be applied at once. Further, this method can be applied to any tip-sample force that can be modulated, for example, electrostatic, magnetic, and photoinduced forces, showing its universality. Because HM enables in situ switching between high sensitivity and high spatial resolution with any periodic driving force, we foresee this technique as a critical advancement for multiscale functional imaging.

To describe the nutritional status and the environmental and health conditions of the Pataxó children from five villages of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Among the under 10 years old, weight and height/length were classified according to the growth references of World Health Organization. Questionnaires evaluating environmental conditions of the households and health conditions of under 5 years old were based in the First National Survey of Indigenous People's Health and Nutrition. Among the 70 children evaluated (93.3%), 34 were under 5 years old. Nutritional deficits were not observed and overweight was registered for 11.4% of the children. Most of the children (74.3%) lived in households with electric energy, 95% in households with toilets and 52.9% in households that threw waste in septic tanks. Six or more antenatal appointments were reported by 82.4% of the mothers of the under five years old and 91.2% started the antenatal appointments within the first trimester of pregnancy. Among the causes of hospitalizations in the previous 12 months (23.5%), only one was due to diarrhea and none to respiratory infection. Universal coverage was observed for the majority of the vaccines. The absence of nutritional deficits among the Pataxó children may be associated to better housing and sanitation conditions and coverage of basic childhood health actions when compared to the conditions reported by the First National Survey of Indigenous People's Health and Nutrition and related studies with other specific indigenous peoples. The current study aims to back discussions and measures to improve the nutritional status of indigenous children in Brazil.

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites containing Cs are a promising new material for light-absorbing and light-emitting optoelectronics. However, the impact of environmental conditions on their optical properties is not fully understood. Here, we elucidate and quantify the influence of distinct humidity levels on the charge carrier recombination in Cs x FA 1- x Pb(I y Br 1- y ) 3 perovskites. Using in situ environmental photoluminescence (PL), we temporally and spectrally resolve light emission within a loop of critical relative humidity (rH) levels. Our measurements show that exposure up to 35% rH increases the PL emission for all Cs (10-17%) and Br (17-38%) concentrations investigated here. Spectrally, samples with larger Br concentrations exhibit PL redshift at higher humidity levels, revealing water-driven halide segregation. The compositions considered present hysteresis in their PL intensity upon returning to a low-moisture environment due to partially reversible hydration of the perovskites. Our findings demonstrate that the Cs/Br ratio strongly influences both the spectral stability and extent of light emission hysteresis. We expect our method to become standard when testing the stability of emerging perovskites, including lead-free options, and to be combined with other parameters known for affecting material degradation, e.g., oxygen and temperature.

Li metal is the preferred anode material for all-solid-state Li batteries. However, a stable plating and stripping of Li metal at the anode-solid electrolyte interface remains a significant challenge particularly at practically feasible current densities. This problem usually relates to high and/or inhomogeneous Li-electrode-electrolyte interfacial impedance and formation and growth of high-aspect-ratio dendritic Li deposits at the electrode-electrolyte interface, which eventually shunt the battery. To better understand details of Li metal plating, we use operando electron microscopy and Auger spectroscopy to probe nucleation, growth, and stripping of Li metal during cycling of a model solid-state Li battery as a function of current density and oxygen pressure. We find a linear correlation between the nucleation density of Li clusters and the charging rate in an ultrahigh vacuum, which agrees with a classical nucleation and growth model. Moreover, the trace amount of oxidizing gas (≈10 -6 Pa of O 2 ) promotes the Li growth in a form of nanowires due to a fine balance between the ion current density and a growth rate of a thin lithium-oxide shell on the surface of the metallic Li. Interestingly, increasing the partial pressure of O 2 to 10 -5 Pa resumes Li plating in a form of 3D particles. Our results demonstrate the importance of trace amounts of preexisting or ambient oxidizing species on lithiation processes in solid-state batteries.

The cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus is a hematophagous ectoparasite that causes important economic losses in livestock. Different species of ticks harbor a symbiont bacterium of the genus Coxiella. It was showed that a Coxiella endosymbiont from R. microplus (CERM) is a vertically transmitted mutualist symbiont, comprising 98% of the 16S rRNA sequences in both eggs and larvae. Sequencing of the bacterial genome revealed genes for biosynthetic pathways for several vitamins and key metabolic cofactors that may provide a nutritional complement to the tick host. The CERM was abundant in ovary and Malpighian tubule of fully engorged female. Tetracycline treatment of either the tick or the vertebrate host reduced levels of bacteria in progeny in 74% for eggs and 90% for larvae without major impact neither on the reproductive fitness of the adult female or on embryo development. However, CERM proved to be essential for the tick to reach the adult life stage, as under antibiotic treatment no tick was able to progress beyond the metanymph stage. Data presented here suggest that interference in the symbiotic CERM-R. microplus relationship may be useful to the development of alternative control methods, highlighting the interdependence between ticks and their endosymbionts.

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites based on methylammonium lead (MAPbI 3 ) are an emerging material with great potential for high-performance and low-cost photovoltaics. However, for perovskites to become a competitive and reliable solar cell technology their instability and spatial variation must be understood and controlled. While the macroscopic characterization of the devices as a function of time is very informative, a nanoscale identification of their real-time local optoelectronic response is still missing. Here, we implement a four-dimensional imaging method through illuminated heterodyne Kelvin probe force microscopy to spatially (<50 nm) and temporally (16 s/scan) resolve the voltage of perovskite solar cells in a low relative humidity environment. Local open-circuit voltage (V oc ) images show nanoscale sites with voltage variation >300 mV under 1-sun illumination. Surprisingly, regions of voltage that relax in seconds and after several minutes consistently coexist. Time-dependent changes of the local V oc are likely due to intragrain ion migration and are reversible at low injection level. These results show for the first time the real-time transient behavior of the V oc in perovskite solar cells at the nanoscale. Understanding and controlling the light-induced electrical changes that affect device performance are critical to the further development of stable perovskite-based solar technologies.

Background: Peripheral nerve injury is a common and important cause of morbidity and disability in patients who have suffered a traumatic injury, particularly younger people. Various different injuries can result in damage to specific nerves. In patients with multiple trauma, the prevalence of peripheral nerve injury is estimated at 2.8%, but can reach 5% with the inclusion of brachial plexus involvement. Physical examination, as well as the origin and location of the trauma, can indicate the nerve involved and the type of nerve damage. However, the depth and severity of damage, and the structures involved often cannot be determined initially, but depend on longer periods of observation to reach a definitive and accurate diagnosis for which treatment can be proposed. Current approaches to locate and assess the severity of traumatic nerve injury involve clinical and electrodiagnostic studies. From a clinical and neurophysiological point of view, nerve injuries are classified in an attempt to correlate the degree of injury with symptoms, type of pathology, and prognosis, as well as to determine the therapy to be adopted., Objectives: MRI in the diagnosis of traumatic peripheral nerve injury has increasingly been used by surgeons in clinical practice. In this article, we analyze the use of magnetic resonance (MR) for the evaluation of traumatic peripheral nerve diseases that are surgically treatable. We also consider basic concepts in the evaluation of technical and MR signs of peripheral nerve injuries., Materials and Methods: Studies were identified following a computerized search of MEDLINE (1950 to present), EMBASE (1980 to present), and the Cochrane database. The MEDLINE search was conducted on PUBMED, the EMBASE search was conducted on OVID, and the Cochrane database was conducted using their online library. A set was created using the terms: 'traumatic', 'nerve', and 'resonance'., Results: The included articles were identified using a computerized search and the resulting databases were then sorted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. This yielded 10,340 articles (MEDLINE, n = 758; EMBASE, n = 9564; and Cochrane, n = 18). A search strategy was then built by excluding articles that only concern plexus injury and adding the terms 'neuropathies', 'DTI' and 'neurotmesis'. In total, seven studies were included in the review effectively addressing the role of MRI in the evaluation of traumatic peripheral nerve injury. We extracted all relevant information on the imaging findings and the use of magnetic resonance in trauma. We did not include technical or specific radiological aspects of the imaging techniques., Conclusions: These seven articles were subsequently evaluated by analyzing their results, methodological approach, and conclusions presented.

We demonstrate a technique for facile encapsulation and adhesion of micro- and nano objects on arbitrary substrates, stencils, and micro structured surfaces by ultrathin graphene oxide membranes via a simple drop casting of graphene oxide solution. A self-assembled encapsulating membrane forms during the drying process at the liquid-air and liquid-solid interfaces and consists of a water-permeable quasi-2D network of overlapping graphene oxide flakes. Upon drying and interlocking between the flakes, the encapsulating coating around the object becomes mechanically robust, chemically protective, and yet highly transparent to electrons and photons in a wide energy range, enabling microscopic and spectroscopic access to encapsulated objects. The characteristic encapsulation scenarios were demonstrated on a set of representative inorganic and organic micro and nano-objects and microstructured surfaces. Different coating regimes can be achieved by controlling the pH of the supporting solution, and the hydrophobicity and morphology of interfaces. Several specific phenomena such as compression of encased objects by contracting membranes as well as hierarchical encapsulations were observed. Finally, electron as well as optical microscopy and analysis of encapsulated objects along with the membrane effect on the image contrast formation, and signal attenuation are discussed.

L-asparaginase (L-ASNase) (EC 3.5.1.1) is an important enzyme for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Currently, the enzyme is obtained from bacteria, Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi. The bacterial enzymes family is subdivided in type I and type II; nevertheless, only type II have been employed in therapeutic proceedings. However, bacterial enzymes are susceptible to induce immune responses, leading to a high incidence of adverse effects compromising the effectiveness of the treatment. Therefore, alternative sources of L-ASNase may be useful to reduce toxicity and enhance efficacy. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has the ASP1 gene responsible for encoding L-asparaginase 1 (ScASNase1), an enzyme predicted as type II, like bacterial therapeutic isoforms, but it has been poorly studied. Here we characterised ScASNase1 using a recombinant enzyme purified by affinity chromatography. ScASNase1 has specific activity of 196.2 U/mg and allosteric behaviour, like type I enzymes, but with a low K 0.5  = 75 μM like therapeutic type II. We showed through site-directed mutagenesis that the T64-Y78-T141-K215 residues are involved in catalysis. Furthermore, ScASNase1 showed cytotoxicity for the MOLT-4 leukemic cell lineage. Our data show that ScASNase1 has characteristics described for the two subfamilies of l-asparaginase, types I and II, and may have promising antineoplastic properties.

To increase the power conversion efficiency of solar cells, improved antireflection coatings are needed to couple light into the cell with minimal parasitic loss. Here, we present measurements and simulations of an antireflection coating based on silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanospheres that improve solar cell absorption by coupling light from free space into the absorbing layer through excitation of modes within the nanospheres. The deposited monolayer of nanospheres leads to a significant increase in light absorption within an underlying semiconductor on the order of 15-20%. When the periodicity and spacing between the nanospheres are varied, whispering gallery-like modes can be excited and tuned throughout the visible spectrum. The coating was applied to a Si solar cell containing a Si3N4 antireflection layer, and an additional increase in the spectral current density of ∼5% was found. The fabrication process, involving Meyer rod rolling, is scalable and inexpensive and could enable large-scale manufacturability of microresonator-based photovoltaics.

Objective:: This article analyzes the epidemiological situation of tuberculosis in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, emphasizing the indigenous population. The data are based on the Information System of Grievance Notification (Sinan) between 2003 and 2012., Methods:: The notified cases of tuberculosis were analyzed according to age, sex, zone of residence, input type, means of diagnosis, clinical form, anti-HIV exam, medical care, supervised treatment (in Portuguese, TDO), closure, and race., Results:: The highest incidence rates in the period were among Afro-Brazilians, yellow, and indigenous peoples. The cases affected mainly adult men living in urban areas. Indigenous peoples showed the highest rates of notifications among people aged less than 10 years (12%). In the sputum test, missing information and not-performed exams reached more than 50.0% in all periods and groups. The cure was more prevalent among white people (66.2%); indigenous, brown, and Afro-Brazilian people presented the lowest cure rates: 59.4, 58.4, and 60%, respectively., Conclusion:: Tuberculosis is one of the biggest problems in Rio Grande do Sul. The actions of diagnosis, clinical form, and treatment of the cases have not been implemented as proposed. The indigenous peoples' situation is similar and diverse at the same time in comparison with other peoples from different areas of Brazil. Nevertheless, it is unfavorable on a balanced evaluation of the whole scenario. Furthermore, the discrepancies among races are evident: the indigenous and Afro-Brazilian peoples fill the spread sheet, in general terms, on the worst situation, whereas the white people fill the data with the best health situation.

Objective: To describe an unusual clinical presentation of intra-abdominal extralobar pulmonary sequestration in a 2-year, 9 month-old patient and assess diagnostic and treatment aspects of this pathology., Case Description: An undefined intra-abdominal mass was identified in the right adrenal region in a male fetus. Postnatal evaluation with ultrasound images, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory testing was insufficient to determine the nature of the lesion. After two years, laparoscopic resection of the mass and histopathological examination of the surgical specimen allowed to establish the diagnosis of intra-abdominal extralobar pulmonary sequestration., Comments: This malformation can be monitored clinically; however, surgical excision is often performed, probably due to the impossibility of attaining diagnosis with non-invasive methods, such as in the present case, in which the lesion appeared in an unusual position for intra-abdominal extralobar pulmonary sequestration. Therefore, the surgical approach seems to be the key to attain the diagnosis and establish the conduct for this type of congenital malformation., (Copyright © 2015 Sociedade de Pediatria de São Paulo. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)

Styrene is an important monomer in the manufacture of thermoplastic. Most of it is produced by the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. In this process that depends on reversible reactions, the yield is usually limited by the establishment of thermodynamic equilibrium in the reactor. The styrene yield can be increased by using a hybrid process, with reaction and separation simultaneously. It is proposed using permselective composite membrane to remove hydrogen and thus suppress the reverse and secondary reactions. This paper describes the simulation of a dehydrogenation process carried out in a tubular fixed-bed reactor wrapped in a permselective composite membrane. A mathematical model was developed, incorporating the various mass transport mechanisms found in each of the membrane layers and in the catalytic fixed bed. The effects of the reactor feed conditions (temperature, steam-to-oil ratio, and the weight hourly space velocity), the fixed-bed geometry (length, diameter, and volume), and the membrane geometry (thickness of the layers) on the styrene yield were analyzed. These variables were used to determine experimental conditions that favour the production of styrene. The simulation showed that an increase of 40.98% in the styrene yield, compared to a conventional fixed-bed process, could be obtained by wrapping the reactor in a permselective composite membrane.