Search

Objetivos: Determinar os limites referenciais do Tempo de Protrombina (TP) e do Tempo de Tromboplastina Parcialmente Ativada (TTPa), no grupo etário com idade até 18 anos. Além disso, comparar os valores de TP e TTPa de indivíduos saudáveis entre idades e dois grupos etários, os com idade até 18 anos e aqueles com idade superior a 18 anos. Materiais e métodos: Foram avaliados um total de 471 resultados de crianças saudáveis e não internadas provenientes do atendimento ambulatorial de um hospital universitário, sendo 238 resultados de TP e 233 de TTPa. Para a análise comparativa entre crianças/adolescentes e adultos, foram avaliados 2121 resultados de indivíduos adultos, sendo 1084 resultados de TP e 1037 de TTPa. A mediana de idade do grupo dos < 18 anos foi de 8 anos (variando de 1 a 17 anos) e 52 anos (variando de 18 a 89 anos) no grupo dos adultos. Sangue periférico foi coletado em tubo à vácuo BD Vacutainer® de citrato de sódio tamponado 0,105 mol/L (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, USA) na proporção de nove partes de sangue para uma parte de solução de Citrato, conforme recomendado pela CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute). As amostras foram imediatamente centrifugadas a 1500 g por 15 minutos. As determinações de TP e TTPa foram realizadas utilizando Neoplastine® CI Plus (Diagnóstica Stago S.A.S, Asnières sur Seine, França) e ATTP® (Diagnóstica Stago S.A.S, Asnières sur Seine, França) utilizando o equipamento STA Compact Max® (Diagnóstica Stago S.A.S, Asnières sur Seine, França). Resultados: Os valores medianos de TP e TTPa no grupo com idade até 18 anos foi 13,4 segundos (10,2 a 15,8 segundos) e 37,4 segundos (25,7 a 50,7 segundos), respectivamente. Houve diferença significativa entre os valores medianos de TP (p < 0,001) e TTPa (p < 0,001) de acordo com a idade (de 1 a 18 anos). Para o conjunto de dados analisados os limites inferior e superior com intervalo de confiança de 95% foram 11,90 segundos (11,40 a 12,10 segundos) e 15,30 segundos (14,80 a 15,70 segundos) para o TP e 30,12 segundos (26,40 a 31,10 segundos) e 47,33 segundos (45,50 a 49,60 segundos) para o TTPa naqueles com idade até 18 anos. Os valores foram significativamente maiores neste grupo com idade até 18 anos para o TP [13,4 segundos (10,2 a 15,8 segundos) versus 13,0 segundos (11,1 a 15,9 segundos), p < 0,001] e TTPa [37,4 segundos (25,7 a 50,7 segundos) versus 34,7 segundos (25,1 a 45,5 segundos), p < 0,001], em comparação com o grupo de indivíduos com idade superior a 18 anos. Conclusões: O conhecimento sobre as mudanças graduais, desde o nascimento até a fase adulta, que refletem a fisiologia do desenvolvimento da hemostasia, é importante para a correta realização e interpretação dos exames laboratoriais. As diferenças parecem ser mais pronunciadas entre as crianças com idade até 1 ano, adolescentes e adultos, sendo mais evidentes no período neonatal, destacando a importância de valores referenciais específicos para a idade. Deve-se considerar as dificuldades para a obtenção de múltiplas amostras para determinação dos valores de corte pediátricos, no entanto, há recomendação da International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) para que cada laboratório defina os intervalos de referência idade dependentes, baseando-se na sua própria condição técnica.

Estudaram-se em 6 doentes com valvulopatias reumatismais, as variações da actividade enzimática no plasma, durante e apos a cirurgia cardíaca com circulação extra-corporal, para verificar a especificidade da isoenzima MB da creatinaquinase, comparando-a com a da CK. Estudaram-se também as variações da desidrogenase láctica no mesmo período. O protocolo de colheitas escolhido, procurava dissociar as variações enzimáticas correspondentes aos tempos anteriores a miocardiotomia, das relacionadas com a lesão cirúrgica das fibras miocárdicas. Os autores verificaram existir um paralelismo evidente entre as curvas referentes a CK total e a sua isoenzima MB. Esta última elevava-se mais tardiamente, apenas durante os tempos cardíacos da intervenção, atingia o máximo no final desta e voltava mais rapidamente aos valores iniciais. A CK-MB regressava aos valores basais no 3º dia do pós-operatório e a CK-total entre o 5.° e o 7º dia. Os autores concluem que a isoenzima CK-MB é um indicador fiel e pouco sujeito a erros para detecção precoce de sofrimento das fibras musculares cardíacas. Os valores da LDH sofreram variações mais irregulares, atribuíveis a interferência de diversos factores, mas pareceram de interesse na detecção de complicações durante o pós-operatório.

A tuberculose é uma doença bem conhecida e para a qual há fármacos de reconhecida eficácia. Em Portugal, a incidência da tuberculose tem vindo a diminuir de forma consistente nos últimos anos, mantendo contudo valores acima da média europeia. Uma nova dificuldade surge, associada à resistência aos antibacilares reconhecidamente relacionada com a não adesão ao tratamento e/ou a uma incorrecta escolha do regime terapêutico. Assim, é importante focar a atenção na abordagem inicial do caso de tuberculose, sendo esse o objectivo desta revisão.Tuberculosis is a well-known illness for which there is treatment of recognized effectiveness. In Portugal, tuberculosis incidence has been diminishing although keeping values higher than the rest of the Western Europe. A new challenge is associated with resistance to drugs, admittedly related to treatment noncompliance or incorrect treatment choice. The purpose of this review to focus our attention on the importante of the first approach to the tuberculosis case.

Abstract Assessing the biological relevance of variance components estimated using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC)‐based mixed‐effects models is not straightforward. Variance estimates are constrained to be greater than zero and their posterior distributions are often asymmetric. Different measures of central tendency for these distributions can therefore vary widely, and credible intervals cannot overlap zero, making it difficult to assess the size and statistical support for among‐group variance. Statistical support is often assessed through visual inspection of the whole posterior distribution and so relies on subjective decisions for interpretation. We use simulations to demonstrate the difficulties of summarizing the posterior distributions of variance estimates from MCMC‐based models. We then describe different methods for generating the expected null distribution (i.e. a distribution of effect sizes that would be obtained if there was no among‐group variance) that can be used to aid in the interpretation of variance estimates. Through comparing commonly used summary statistics of posterior distributions of variance components, we show that the posterior median is predominantly the least biased. We further show how null distributions can be used to derive a p‐value that provides complementary information to the commonly presented measures of central tendency and uncertainty. Finally, we show how these p‐values facilitate the implementation of power analyses within an MCMC framework. The use of null distributions for variance components can aid study design and the interpretation of results from MCMC‐based models. We hope that this manuscript will make empiricists using mixed models think more carefully about their results, what descriptive statistics they present and what inference they can make.

ABSTRACT This study demonstrates the potential for enhancing monthly streamflow forecasting in Brazil through the incorporation of climatic indices. It extends the conventional periodic autoregressive model (PAR) for streamflow forecasts by integrating climate information, represented by three key climate indices reflecting sea surface temperatures in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, as well as zonal wind patterns in southeastern Brazil. Using the Kling-Gupta Efficiency (KGE) skill metric, our findings reveal that the inclusion of climate data consistently outperforms existing PAR models in numerous scenarios. Notably, during May, the proposed model enhances forecasts for 79% of the reservoirs (124 out of 157), while in January, it reduces forecast variance for up to 90% of the reservoirs (141 out of 157).

This work aims to present the development stages of a serpentine heat exchanger, composed uniquely of a thin layer of a silicon-based organic elastomeric polymer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The novelty of this heat exchanger is that it allows the flowing liquid to wet the surface to be cooled directly, an innovation in relation to traditional exchangers, generally made up of tubes coupled to the heating surfaces. In order to evaluate its thermal performance, experimental flow tests compared two PDMS serpentines with a hydraulic diameter of around 5.0 mm with a traditional tubular copper serpentine. The heat exchanger made of PDMS was coupled to a steel plate that simulated the rear side of a photovoltaic thermal solar panel (PVT). In addition, different geometries were tested. Although PDMS is considered a material of low thermal conductivity, the experimental results showed a greater cooling capacity when compared to the traditional heat exchanger reducing the surface's temperature by an average of 17%. Though the experimental results presented here were obtained for a specific case, the innovation can be used for thermal control of central process units (CPUs), smartphones, tablets, video games, and other mechanical and electronic devices with high cooling requirements.

Abstract The main effectors in the innate immune system of Bombyx mori L. are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Here, we infected B. mori with varied inoculum sizes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 25668 cells to investigate changes in morpho-anatomical responses, physiological processes and AMP production. Ultraviolet–visible spectra revealed a sharp change in λmax from 278 to 285 nm (bathochromic shift) in the hemolymph of infected B. mori incubated for 24 h. Further, Fourier Transform InfraRed studies on the hemolymph extracted from the infected B. mori showed a peak at 1550 cm−1, indicating the presence of α-helical peptides. The peptide fraction was obtained through methanol, acetic acid and water mixture (90:1:9) extraction, followed by peptide purification using Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The fraction exhibiting antibacterial properties was collected and characterized by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight. A linear α-helical peptide with flexible termini (LLKELWTKMKGAGKAVLGKIKGLL) was found, corresponding to a previously described peptide from ant venom and here denominated as Bm-ponericin-L1. The antibacterial activity of Bm-ponericin-L1 was determined against ESKAPE pathogens. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the membrane disruption potential of Bm-ponericin-L1. Moreover, this peptide also showed promising antibiofilm activity. Finally, cell viability and hemolytic assays revealed that Bm-ponericin-L1 is non-toxic toward primary fibroblasts cell lines and red blood cells, respectively. This study opens up new perspectives toward an alternative approach to overcoming multiple-antibiotic-resistance by means of AMPs through invertebrates’ infection with human pathogenic bacteria.

Abstract Indicator species are frequently used to monitor restoration areas. However, species of conservation concern are usually absent in highly fragmented landscapes, making the selection of indicator species a challenging task. Here, we select indicator species of birds and mammals to be used for the evaluation of restoration sites in a highly fragmented landscape, the Capivara-Taquaruçu Dams region located in north Paraná, Brazil. By using the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI), we show that the Capivara-Taquaruçu Dams landscape has low IBI values and bird richness when compared with two other landscapes in the north of Paraná. Therefore, we used the Individual Indicate Value to identify birds and mammals associated with forest fragments in the Capivara-Taquaruçu Dams landscape. Six bird and four mammal species were selected as indicators of forest fragments, none of which were of conservation concern. However, monitoring of these species could help evaluate the recovery of restoration sites in the Capivara-Taquaruçu Dams region. Lastly, several species of birds and mammals were frequently recorded in the restoration sites, including vulnerable species such as the lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris). This is indicative that restoration sites can be important habitats in highly fragmented landscapes despite the loss of biodiversity.

Amazon conservation is essential for the global future. Mercury is currently among the worst global pollutants and most (78.5%) of the South-American emissions are from the Amazon. Current Brazilian legislation on mining activities and trade of gold, and economic interests in soy, beef and large-scale projects such as dams, are key influences in mercury mobilization and emissions in the Amazon with the potential to affect the global environment. However, banning mercury in mining, while desirable, is not an efficient strategy if no other action is taken. The interconnected issues, such as exports (soy, beef and gold) and energy generation, must be addressed together to provide effective protection for human health and the environment. Realistically, to improve mercury emissions in the Amazon, we must stop looking solely at “the single story” (a limited view of reality) of supposedly “artisanal and small-scale gold mining” in the region and understand the complex economic, social, political, and international aspects of this problem. We propose some recommendations for international agencies, governments, communities and the private sector.

Introduction Prior mechanistic studies in rodents showed decreased levels of the pivotal mitochondrial metabolite acetyl-L-carnitine (LAC) in relation to cognitive deficits and depressive-like behavior (Neuron 2017, 10.1016/j.neuron.2017.09.020, PNAS 2013, 10.1073/pnas.1216100110), providing the basis for the current translational study. Objectives The main objective of this work was to ascertain the role of this specific mitochondrial signaling pathway in subjects with cognitive impairments (CI), and potential sex differences in these mechanisms. Methods We used computational approaches, ultraperformance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and available plasma samples from a well-characterized cohort of 71 subjects, including subjects with CI and age- and sex-matched cognitively healthy controls (HC). Results Our newest findings showed decreased levels of LAC in subjects with CI as compared to age- and sex-matched HC. We also found important sex differences in carnitine levels in relation to cognitive function as assessed by using the Mini Mental Status Exam (MMSE). Specifically, the degree of carnitine deficiency reflected the severity of cognitive dysfunction in a sex-specific manner. Using computational approaches, we found that the integration of these mitochondrial measures with canonical biomarkers improves diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions The current findings of sex differences in carnitine deficiency in subjects with CI suggest a possible sex-specific mitochondrial phenotype of vulnerability to cognitive dysfunction, and point to LAC-related mitochondrial metabolism as a new signaling pathway of cognitive regulation. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Abstract Background Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) treats patients with severe and progressive systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, basic mechanisms associated with the therapeutic efficacy of the procedure are not entirely understood. We aimed to evaluate how AHSCT affects skin fibrosis in SSc patients. Methods Clinical data, serum, and skin samples from 39 SSc patients who underwent AHSCT were retrospectively evaluated. Skin biopsies were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with anti-MMP-1, -MMP-2, -MMP-3, -MMP-9, -TIMP-1, -α-SMA, -TGF-β, and -NF-κB p65 antibodies, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and picrosirius red to assess skin thickness and collagen density, respectively. Serum samples were evaluated by Multiplex Assay for COL1A1, COL4A1, FGF-1, MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-12, MMP-13, PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB, S100A9, and TIMP-1 levels and compared to healthy controls. Results After AHSCT, SSc patients showed clinical improvement in skin involvement, assessed by modified Rodnan’s skin score (mRSS). Histologically, collagen density and skin thickness decreased after AHSCT. Immunohistochemical analyses showed increased expression of MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 after AHSCT, whereas expression of NF-κB p65 decreased. At baseline, serum levels of COL4A1 and S100A9 were higher than in healthy controls. Serum levels of S100A9 normalized after AHCST in SSc patients compared to controls. Serum levels of PDGF-AA, PDGF-BB, TIMP-1, and MMP-1 decreased, while COL1A1 increased after AHSCT in SSc patients. No changes were detected in MMP-3, MMP-12, MMP-13, and FGF-1 serum levels after AHSCT. Conclusions Our results suggest that the therapeutic effects of AHSCT on skin fibrosis are related to changes in molecules associated with connective tissue maintenance and inflammation in SSc.

In this study, the thermo-oxidative stability and tribological behavior of bio-based lubricant samples synthesized from castor oil using isoamyl alcohol were evaluated. Initially, the compositional and physicochemical properties of the obtained samples were assessed using the 1H NMR, FTIR and ASTM methods. Oxidative stability of the samples was evaluated using the Rancimat method at 110 °C under air flow. The final biolubricant sample (BL2), obtained after esterification, epoxidation and oxirane rings opening reactions, presented an oxidation stability time (OST) of 14.3 h. The thermal stability was also evaluated by thermogravimetry (TG) from the mass variations under inert and oxidative atmosphere. BL2 showed higher thermal stability compared to the other samples, demonstrating higher decomposition temperatures in both inert (339.04 °C) and oxidative (338.47 °C) atmospheres, for a mass loss of 50%. The tribological properties of the samples were evaluated using a four-ball tribometer configuration. The BL1 and BL2 samples exhibited lower friction coefficients than the mineral oil sample (MOS) by 21.5% and 43.1%, respectively. Regarding wear, the observed wear scar diameter (WSD) was also lower in BL1 and BL2 compared to MOS by 5.2% and 40.4%, respectively. The results of the tribological evaluation suggest that both samples (BL1 and BL2) have promising potential for applications in lubricating machines.

Staphylococcus aureus is a microorganism with high morbidity and mortality due to antibiotic-resistant strains, making the search for new therapeutic options urgent. In this context, computational drug design can facilitate the drug discovery process, optimizing time and resources. In this work, computational methods involving ligand- and structure-based virtual screening were employed to identify potential antibacterial agents against the S. aureus MRSA and VRSA strains. To achieve this goal, tetrahydroxybenzofuran, a promising antibacterial agent according to in vitro tests described in the literature, was adopted as the pivotal molecule and derivative molecules were considered to generate a pharmacophore model, which was used to perform virtual screening on the Pharmit platform. Through this result, twenty-four molecules were selected from the MolPort® database. Using the Tanimoto Index on the BindingDB web server, it was possible to select eighteen molecules with greater structural similarity in relation to commercial antibiotics (methicillin and oxacillin). Predictions of toxicological and pharmacokinetic properties (ADME/Tox) using the eighteen most similar molecules, showed that only three exhibited desired properties (LB255, LB320 and LB415). In the molecular docking study, the promising molecules LB255, LB320 and LB415 showed significant values in both molecular targets. LB320 presented better binding affinity to MRSA (−8.18 kcal/mol) and VRSA (−8.01 kcal/mol) targets. Through PASS web server, the three molecules, specially LB320, showed potential for antibacterial activity. Synthetic accessibility (SA) analysis performed on AMBIT and SwissADME web servers showed that LB255 and LB415 can be considered difficult to synthesize and LB320 is considered easy. In conclusion, the results suggest that these ligands, particularly LB320, may bind strongly to the studied targets and may have appropriate ADME/Tox properties in experimental studies.

The worldwide appeal has increased for the development of new technologies that allow the use of green energy. In this category, photovoltaic energy (PV) stands out, especially with regard to the presentation of forecasting methods of solar irradiance or solar power from photovoltaic generators. The development of battery energy storage systems (BESSs) has been investigated to overcome difficulties in electric grid operation, such as using energy in the peaks of load or economic dispatch. These technologies are often applied in the sense that solar irradiance is used to charge the battery. We present a review of solar forecasting methods used together with a PV-BESS. Despite the hundreds of papers investigating solar irradiation forecasting, only a few present discussions on its use on the PV-BESS set. Therefore, we evaluated 49 papers from scientific databases published over the last six years. We performed a quantitative analysis and reported important aspects found in the papers, such as the error metrics addressed, granularity, and where the data are obtained from. We also describe applications of the BESS, present a critical analysis of the current perspectives, and point out promising future research directions on forecasting approaches in conjunction with PV-BESS.

In this work, scaffolds based on poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and micronized bacterial cellulose (BC) were produced through 3D printing. Filaments for the printing were obtained by varying the percentage of micronized BC (0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 2.00%) inserted in relation to the PHB matrix. Despite the varying concentrations of BC, the biocomposite filaments predominantly contained PHB functional groups, as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) demonstrated. Thermogravimetric analyses (i.e., TG and DTG) of the filaments showed that the peak temperature (Tpeak) of PHB degradation decreased as the concentration of BC increased, with the lowest being 248 °C, referring to the biocomposite filament PHB/2.0% BC, which has the highest concentration of BC. Although there was a variation in the thermal behavior of the filaments, it was not significant enough to make printing impossible, considering that the PHB melting temperature was 170 °C. Biological assays indicated the non-cytotoxicity of scaffolds and the provision of cell anchorage sites. The results obtained in this research open up new paths for the application of this innovation in tissue engineering.

Aim of the study: We investigated the most suitable thinning ages and intensities to maximize productivity and minimize the rotation age of Tectona grandis clonal plantations in the Brazilian Eastern Amazon. Area of study: Capitão Poço, State of Pará, Eastern Amazonia, Brazil. Materials and methods: We used diameter, height, and volume data from 72 permanent plots measured on nine occasions. We determined the classification of forest sites using the generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA). Clutter’s segmented model was used to simulate different intensities of basal area reduction, determining the technical ages according to the projected increments. Main results: The polymorphic site curves generated by the GADA method revealed that there were sites with different productive characteristics. The Clutter model produced compatible projections of basal area and volume that followed the behavior of the productivity classes. The final production was maximized when three thinning intensities (basal area reductions) were applied: 1st thinning (50%), between the ages of 3.5 to 4.2 years; 2nd thinning (50%), between the ages of 6.1 to 7.3 years; and 3rd thinning (25%), between the ages of 10.6 to 12.8 years. Projected rotation ages ranged from 13.9 to 16.6 years earlier than seminal plantings. The simulations increased the net volume by 8.3%, on average, compared to no thinning. Research highlights: Simulations with three thinnings maximized production compared to the no thinning scenario. The time interval between thinnings was less than five years. The research results can help forest management decision-making and reveal production increases of T. grandis clonal stands in a shorter time.

Abstract Vitamin D plays an important role in immune function and inflammation and the physical activity demonstrate relationship near to syntheses of vitamin D, considering to necessary to factors immunologics, environmental and physical. We searched five databases through February 20, 2021. Two reviewers screened the studies, collected data, assessed the risk of bias, and ranked the evidence for each outcome across the studies, independently and in duplicate. The prespecified endpoints of interest were Cardiorespiratory Fitness; Sunlight Exposure; Body Mass Index (BMI). We only included data from peer-reviewed articles in our primary analyses. In our primary analysis, there was a positive trend between serum 25(OH)D

A variety of bioactive substances present in fruit- and vegetable-processed products have health-promoting properties. The consumption of nutrient-rich plant-based products is essential to address undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Preservation is paramount in manufacturing plant-based nonsolid foods such as juices, purees, and sauces. Thermal processing has been widely used to preserve fruit- and vegetable-based products by reducing enzymatic and microbial activities, thereby ensuring safety and prolonged shelf life. However, the nutritional value of products is compromised due to the deleterious effects of thermal treatments on essential nutrients and bioactive compounds. To prevent the loss of nutrients associated with thermal treatment, alternative technologies are being researched extensively. In studies conducted on nonsolid food, UV-C treatment has been proven to preserve quality and minimize nutrient degradation. This review compiles information on the use of UV-C technology in preserving the nutritional attributes of nonsolid foods derived from fruit and vegetables. The legislation, market potential, consumer acceptance, and limitations of UV-C are reviewed.

Norepinephrine plays an important role in modulating memory through its beta-adrenergic receptors (Adrβ: β1, β2 and β3). Here, we hypothesized that multisensory stimulation would reverse memory impairment caused by the inactivation of Adrβ3 (Adrβ3KO) with consequent inhibition of sustained glial-mediated inflammation. To test this, 21- and 86-day-old Adrβ3KO mice were exposed to an 8-week multisensory stimulation (MS) protocol that comprised gustatory and olfactory stimuli of positive and negative valence; intellectual challenges to reach food; the use of hidden objects; and the presentation of food in ways that prompted foraging, which was followed by analysis of GFAP, Iba-1 and EAAT2 protein expression in the hippocampus (HC) and amygdala (AMY). The MS protocol reduced GFAP and Iba-1 expression in the HC of young mice but not in older mice. While this protocol restored memory impairment when applied to Adrβ3KO animals immediately after weaning, it had no effect when applied to adult animals. In fact, we observed that aging worsened the memory of Adrβ3KO mice. In the AMY of Adrβ3KO older mice, we observed an increase in GFAP and EAAT2 expression when compared to wild-type (WT) mice that MS was unable to reduce. These results suggest that a richer and more diverse environment helps to correct memory impairment when applied immediately after weaning in Adrβ3KO animals and indicates that the control of neuroinflammation mediates this response.

The present study investigated the effect of gelatin-based nanoparticles (EPG) loaded with a carotenoid-rich crude extract (CE) on systemic and adipose tissue inflammatory response in a model with inflammation induced by a high glycemic index and high glycemic load diet (HGLI). Nanoparticles synthesized were characterized by different physical and chemical methods. The in vivo investigation evaluated Wistar rats (n = 20, 11 days, adult male with 21 weeks) subdivided into untreated (HGLI diet), conventional treatment (nutritionally adequate diet), treatment 1 (HGLI + crude extract (12.5 mg/kg)), and treatment 2 (HGLI + EPG (50 mg/kg)) groups. Dietary intake, caloric intake and efficiency, weight, inflammatory cytokines tissue concentration, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) weight, histopathological analysis, and antioxidant activity in plasma and VAT were investigated. EPG showed the same physical and chemical characteristics as previous batches (95.2 nm, smooth surface, and chemical interactions between materials). The EPG-treated group was the only group promoting negative ∆dietary intake, ∆caloric efficiency, and ∆weight. In addition, it presented a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in IL-6 and leptin levels and a greater presence of multilocular adipocytes. The results suggest that EPG can act as a nutraceutical in adjuvant therapy for treating inflammatory diseases associated with adipose tissue accumulation.

Abstract In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of NiFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) which are widely used in the biomedical area. There is still limited knowledge how the properties of these materials are influenced by different chemical routes. In this work, we investigated the effect of heat treatment over cytotoxicity of cobalt and niquel ferrites NPs synthesized by sol-gel method. Then the samples were studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis (FTIR), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The average crystallite sizes of the particles were found to be in the range of 20–35 nm. The hemocompatibility (erythrocytes and leukocytes) was checked. Cytotoxicity results were similar to those of the control test sample, therefore suggesting hemocompatibility of the tested materials.

An acute bout of eccentric exercise affects insulin sensitivity and lipid profile, but how the magnitude of muscle damage affects them is not clear. We compared changes in blood insulin sensitivity and lipid markers after the first (EC1) and second (EC2) eccentric exercise bouts. Fifteen sedentary young men performed arm, leg and trunk muscle eccentric exercises, and repeated them 2 weeks later. Fasting blood samples were taken before, 2 h and 1–5 days after each exercise bout to analyze plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity, serum glucose (GLU), insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), triacylglycerols (TG), total (TC) and low- (LDLC) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) concentrations as well as TC/HDLC ratio. Changes in these measures were compared between bouts and relationships to peak plasma CK activity were analyzed. Plasma CK activity increased (p < 0.05) after EC1 (peak: 101,668 ± 58,955 IU/L) but not after EC2. The magnitude of changes in GLU (peak after EC1: 26 ± 10% vs. EC2: 7 ± 6%), insulin (46 ± 27% vs. 15 ± 8%), HOMA (86 ± 48% vs. 24 ± 15%), TC (−20 ± 5% vs. −6 ± 4%), TG (−32 ± 11% vs. −6 ± 3%), LDHC (−47 ± 15% vs. −12 ± 9%), HDLC (35 ± 26% vs. 7 ± 4%), and TC/HDLC ratio (−139 ± 13% vs. −11 ± 7%) were significantly greater after EC1 than EC2. Peak plasma CK activity was significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the peak changes in blood insulin sensitivity and lipid markers for the combined data of EC1 and EC2. These results suggest that the greater the magnitude of muscle damage, the greater the magnitude of changes in the insulin sensitivity to a negative direction and lipid markers to a positive direction.

Despite the rising percentage of women accessing the medical profession over the last few decades, surgical specialties are still largely male-dominated; in particular, a remarkable gender disparity is evident in neurosurgery, where only 19% of practitioners are females. Although women may be reluctant to choose a challenging specialty like neurosurgery due to concerns around how to balance family and career, it must be admitted that prejudices against female neurosurgeons have been deeply rooted for long, prompting many to give up and switch track to less demanding subspecialties. Among those who have persisted, many, if not most, have experienced difficulties in career progression and received unequal treatment in comparison with their male counterparts. In 1989, a group of 8 female neurosurgeons founded Women in Neurosurgery (WINS), an organization that aimed to guarantee inclusivity in neurosurgery, encouraging a better and more egalitarian working environment. Thereafter, WINS sessions were regularly promoted at international conferences, offering female neurosurgeons a platform to report issues related to gender discrimination. Over recent years, the mission of WINS sessions in national and international conferences has taken an unexpected deviation; they have progressively become supplementary scientific sessions with only women neurosurgeons as speakers, thus paving the road to a form of self-segregation. This tendency has also resulted in the establishment of sections of only female neurosurgeons within some national societies. Although there remains a faction that fiercely supports the WINS mindset of reserved spaces for women, such segregation is an upsetting prospect for those who believe that science and professionalism have no gender; a growing part of the global neurosurgical community believes that the conception of a “female neurosurgery” and a “male neurosurgery” is misguided and counterproductive and consider the existence of the WINS as anachronistic and no longer necessary.

The advent of massive broad-band photometric surveys enabled photometric redshift estimates for unprecedented numbers of galaxies and quasars. These estimates can be improved using better algorithms or by obtaining complementary data such as narrow-band photometry, and broad-band photometry over an extended wavelength range. We investigate the impact of both approaches on photometric redshifts for quasars using data from Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey (S-PLUS) DR4, Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) DR6/7, and the unWISE catalog for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) in three machine learning methods: Random Forest, Flexible Conditional Density Estimation (FlexCoDE), and Bayesian Mixture Density Network (BMDN). Including narrow-band photometry improves the root-mean-square error by 11 per cent in comparison to a model trained with only broad-band photometry. Narrow-band information only provided an improvement of 3.8 per cent when GALEX and WISE colours were included. Thus, narrow bands play a more important role for objects that do not have GALEX or WISE counterparts, which respectively makes 92 per cent and 25 per cent of S-PLUS data considered here. Nevertheless, the inclusion of narrow-band information provided better estimates of the probability density functions obtained with FlexCoDE and BMDN. We publicly release a value-added catalogue of photometrically selected quasars with the photo- z predictions from all methods studied here. The catalogue provided with this work covers the S-PLUS DR4 area (∼3000 square degrees), containing 645 980, 244 912, 144 991 sources with the probability of being a quasar higher than, 80 per cent, 90 per cent, 95 per cent up to r < 21.3 and good photometry quality in the detection image. More quasar candidates can be retrieved from the S-PLUS data base by considering less restrictive selection criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Despite the high prevalence of depressive symptoms in Fabry disease (FD), it is unclear which patient characteristics are important in relation to these symptoms. Additionally, the impact of coping styles in relation to depressive symptoms in FD has been unexplored. Determining the impact of different factors relating to depressive symptoms in FD can guide both prevention and treatment of these symptoms. Methods Depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CESD)) and coping styles (Utrecht Coping List) were assessed in a Dutch FD cohort. Other potentially important variables were identified from FD literature and assessed in this cohort. Relations were evaluated using multiple linear models. Results Potentially important variables in FD literature were: pain, unemployment, health perception, being single, comorbidities and stroke. Employed coping styles were “avoidance and brooding”, “positivity and problem solving” and “seeking social support”. Thirty-one of the 81 FD patients (38%) had depressive symptoms. CESD-scores were lower in patients with better health perception and more “positivity and problem solving” and higher in patients with more pain and “avoidance and brooding”. The best model explained 70% (95%CI: 54–76%) of observed variance of the CESD. Conclusions Depressive symptoms in FD are related to pain, negative health perception and use of specific coping styles. Psychological interventions could be employed to alter coping behavior and alleviate depressive symptoms.

This paper presents a state-of-the-art tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (TUAV) for structural integrity assessment of underground stone mine pillars. The TUAV, powered by its tether, works in tandem with an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) that hosts the TUAV batteries, a self-leveled landing platform, and the tether management system. The UGV and the TUAV were named Rhino and Oxpecker, respectively, given that the TUAV stays landed on the UGV while the ensemble moves inside a mine. The mission of Oxpecker is to create, using a LiDAR sensor, 3D maps of the mine pillars to support time-lapse hazard mapping and time-dependent pillar degradation analysis. Given the height of the pillars (7–12 m), this task cannot be executed by Rhino alone. This paper describes the drone’s hardware and software. The hardware includes the tether management system, designed to control the tension of the tether, and the tether perception system, which provides information that can be used for localization and landing in global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)-denied environments. The vehicle’s software is based on a state machine that controls the several phases of a mission (i.e., takeoff, inspection, and landing) by coordinating drone motion with the tethering system. The paper also describes and evaluates our approach for tether-based landing and autonomous 3D mapping of pillars. We show experiments that illustrate and validate our system in laboratories and underground mines.

Current knowledge regarding biomechanical in vivo deep tissue measures related to spinal manipulation remain somewhat limited. More in vivo animal studies are needed to better understand the effects viscoelastic tissue properties (i.e., dampening) have on applied spinal manipulation forces. This new knowledge may eventually help to determine whether positive clinical outcomes are associated with particular force thresholds reaching superficial and/or deep spinal tissues. A computer-controlled feedback motor and a modified Activator V device with a dynamic load cell attached were used to deliver thrust spinal manipulations at various magnitudes to the L7 spinous process in deeply anesthetized animals. Miniature pressure catheters (Millar SPR-1000) were inserted unilaterally into superficial and deep multifidi muscles. Measurements of applied mechanical forces and superficial/deep multifidi intramuscular pressure changes were recorded during spinal manipulations delivered in vivo. Manipulative forces and net changes in intramuscular pressures reaching deep spinal tissues are greatly diminished by viscoelastic properties of in vivo tissues, which could have possible clinical safety and/or mechanistic implications.

With the growth of access to faster computers and more powerful cameras, the 3D reconstruction of objects has become one of the public's main topics of research and demand. This task is vigorously applied in creating virtual environments, creating object models, and other activities. One of the techniques for obtaining 3D features is photogrammetry, mapping objects and scenarios using only images. However, this process is very costly and can be pretty time-consuming for large datasets. This paper proposes a robust, efficient reconstruction pipeline with a low runtime in batch processing and permissive code. It is even possible to commercialize it without the need to keep the code open. We mix an improved structure from motion algorithm and a recurrent multi-view stereo reconstruction. We also use the Point Cloud Library for normal estimation, surface reconstruction, and texture mapping. We compare our results with state-of-the-art techniques using benchmarks and our datasets. The results showed a decrease of 69.4% in the average execution time, with high quality but a greater need for more images to achieve complete reconstruction.

Generalized additive models for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS) are a very flexible statistical modeling framework, being an important generalization of the well-known generalized linear models and generalized additive models. Their main advantage is that any probability distribution (that does not necessarily belong to the exponential family) can be considered to model the response variable and different regression structures can be fitted in each of its parameters. Currently, there are more than 100 distributions that are already implemented in the gamlss package in R software. Nevertheless, researchers can implement different distributions if they are not yet available, e.g., the Birnbaum-Saunders (BS) distribution, which is widely used in fatigue studies. In this paper we make available all codes regarding the inclusion of the BS distribution in the gamlss package, and then present a simple application related to air quality data for illustration purposes

The study aimed to evaluate the nanoparticles (ECW) containing tamarind trypsin inhibitor (TTI) concerning the storage effect under different conditions on antitrypsin activity and the bioactive potential in a preclinical model. ECW was exposed to different pH and temperatures to evaluate the interaction between TTI and its encapsulating agents, monitored by antitrypsin activity. Wistar rats (n = 25) with obesity induced by diet were divided into groups: untreated; treatment with nutritionally adequate diet; treatment with nutritionally adequate diet and ECW/12.5 mg/kg; treatment with ECW/12.5 mg/kg; and treatment with TTI/25 mg/kg. The groups were evaluated over ten days with regards to satiety, zoometric, biochemical, and inflammatory parameters, using ten times less TTI (2.5 mg/kg) contained in ECW. TTI was protected and encapsulated in ECW without showing residual inhibitory activity. Only at gastric pH did ECW show antitrypsin activity. At different temperatures, it showed high antitrypsin activity, similar to TTI. The animals treated with ECW had significantly reduced body weight variation (p < 0.05), and only TTI treatment reduced the inflammatory parameters significantly (p < 0.05). The study showed that by using lower concentrations of TTI in ECW it was possible to perceive promising effects with perspectives of use in functional products for managing obesity and its complications.

This was an open cohort prospective study (2016–2018) that analyzed the prevalence and incidence rates of human Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi-infection and the evolution of their clinical-immunological profiles in distinct urban and rural scenarios of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) in Pará State, in the Brazilian Amazon. These infection profiles were based on species-specific DTH/IFAT-IgG assays and clinical evaluation of infected individuals, comprising five profiles: three asymptomatic, Asymptomatic Infection [AI], Subclinical Resistant Infection [SRI], and Indeterminate Initial Infection [III]; and two symptomatic, Subclinical Oligosymptomatic Infection [SOI] and Symptomatic Infection [SI = AVL]. The two distinct scenarios (900 km away) were the urban area of Conceição do Araguaia municipality and the rural area of Bujaru municipality in the southeast and northeast of Pará State. Human populations were chosen based on a simple convenience sampling design (5–10% in each setting), with 1723 individuals (5.3%) of the population (32,464) in the urban area and 1568 individuals (8.9%) of the population (17,596) in the rural one. A serological survey (IFAT-IgG) of canine infection was also performed in both scenarios: 195 dogs in the urban area and 381 in the rural one. Prevalence and incidence rates of human infection were higher in the urban area (20.3% and 13.6/100 person-years [py]) than in the rural setting (14.1% and 6.8/100-py). The AI profile was the most prevalent and incident in both urban (13.4% and 8.1/100-py) and rural (8.3% and 4.2/100-py) scenarios, but with higher rates in the former. An III profile case evolved to SOI profile after four weeks of incubation and another to SI (=AVL) after six. The prevalence of canine infection in an urban setting (39.2%) was also higher (p < 0.05) than that (32%) in the rural zone. AVL urbanization in Pará State, in the Brazilian Amazon, has led to infection rates significantly higher than those in rural sites, requiring more intense control measures.

Obesity is associated with metabolic and physiological effects in the gut. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of trypsin inhibitor isolated from tamarind seeds (TTI) in vitro (interaction with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inhibitory activity against human neutrophil elastase (HNE)), and using intestinal co-cultures of Caco-2:HT29-MTX cell lines inflamed with TNF-α (50 ng/mL) and a Wistar rat model of diet-induced obesity (n = 15). TTI was administered to animals by gavage (10 days), and the treated group (25 mg/kg/day) was compared to animals without treatment or treated with a nutritionally adequate diet. In the in vitro study, it showed inhibitory activity against HNE (93%). In co-cultures, there was no protection or recovery of the integrity of inflamed cell monolayers treated with TTI (1.0 mg/mL). In animals, TTI led to lower plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6, total leukocytes, fasting glucose, and LDL-c (p < 0.05). The intestines demonstrated a lower degree of chronic enteritis, greater preservation of the submucosa, and greater intestinal wall thickness than the other groups (p = 0.042). Therefore, the better appearance of the intestine not reflected in the intestinal permeability added to the in vitro activity against HNE point to possibilities for new studies and applications related to this activity.