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Algae can leverage aquaculture sustainability and improve the nutritional and functional value of fish for human consumption, but may pose challenges to carnivorous fish. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of a commercial blend of macroalgae (Ulva sp. and Gracilaria gracilis) and microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris and Nannochloropsis oceanica) in a plant-based diet up to 6% (dry matter basis) on digestibility, gut integrity, nutrient utilization, growth performance, and muscle nutritional value of European seabass juveniles. Fish (11.3 ± 2.70 g) were fed with isoproteic, isolipidic, and isoenergetic diets: (i) a commercial-type plant-based diet with moderate fishmeal (125 g kg−1 DM basis) and without algae blend (control diet; Algae0), (ii) the control diet with 2% algae blend (Algae2), (iii) the control diet with 4% algae blend (Algae4), and (iv) the control diet with 6% algae blend (Algae6) for 12 weeks. The digestibility of experimental diets was assessed in a parallel study after 20 days. Results showed that most nutrients and energy apparent digestibility coefficients were promoted by algae blend supplementation, with a concomitant increase in lipid and energy retention efficiencies. Growth performance was significantly promoted by the algae blend, the final body weight of fish fed Algae6 being 70% higher than that of fish fed Algae0 after 12 weeks, reflecting up to 20% higher feed intake of algae-fed fish and the enhanced anterior intestinal absorption area (up to 45%). Whole-body and muscle lipid contents were increased with dietary algae supplementation levels by up to 1.79 and 1.74 folds in Algae 6 compared to Algae0, respectively. Even though the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids was reduced, the content of EPA and DHA in the muscle of algae-fed fish increased by nearly 43% compared to Algae0. The skin and filet color of juvenile European seabass were significantly affected by the dietary inclusion of the algae blend, but changes were small in the case of muscle, meeting the preference of consumers. Overall results highlight the beneficial effects of the commercial algae blend (Algaessence®) supplementation in plant-based diets for European seabass juveniles, but feeding trials up to commercial-size fish are needed to fully assess its potential.

Este artigo discute performatividade e performance através da analogia com o orixá Exu e as entidades Exus. A pesquisa de campo e a observação participante no candomblé e nas giras de Exus permitiram aprofundar as reflexões. Através de experiências como um omorixá Exu, projeta-se o terreiro e a encruzilhada como espaço de produção de conhecimento. Alargando o entendimento de performance tendo a diáspora africana como contribuição e influência. Conclui-se que performatividade/Exu e performance/Exus não podem ser subjugados a olhares universalistas e padronizadores. A encruzilhada é um espaço capaz de apontar caminhos que contribuem para a compreensão das performances e corporeidades negras.

Este artigo discute performatividade e performance através da analogia com o orixá Exu e as entidades Exus. A pesquisa de campo e a observação participante no candomblé e nas giras de Exus permitiram aprofundar as reflexões. Através de experiências como um omorixá Exu, projeta-se o terreiro e a encruzilhada como espaço de produção de conhecimento. Alargando o entendimento de performance tendo a diáspora africana como contribuição e influência. Conclui-se que performatividade/Exu e performance/Exus não podem ser subjugados a olhares universalistas e padronizadores. A encruzilhada é um espaço capaz de apontar caminhos que contribuem para a compreensão das performances e corporeidades negras.

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Objetivo: A vitamina D tem muitos efeitos pleiotrópicos cardiovasculares e o seu défice parece estar associado a múltiplas doenças cardiovasculares. É controversa a relação entre a suplementação de vitamina D e os valores tensionais de doentes hipertensos. O objetivo desta revisão é conhecer a evidência da associação entre a suplementação de vitamina D em adultos hipertensos e controlo dos seus valores tensionais. Fontes de dados: National Guideline Clearinghouse, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Canadian Medical Association Practice Guidelines Infobase, The Cochrane Library, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness, Bandolier, Evidence-Based Medicine Online e PubMed. Métodos de revisão: Foi realizada uma pesquisa de meta-análises (MA), revisões sistemáticas, ensaios clínicos aleatorizados e controlados (ECA) e normas de orientação clínica publicados entre junho de 2010 e junho de 2020, em português e inglês, utilizando os termos MESH Cholecalciferol, Blood pressure e Vitamin D. Para estratificar o nível de evidência dos estudos e força de recomendação foi utilizada a Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy, da American Academy of Family Physicians. Resultados: Foram encontrados 123 artigos e selecionados, por cumprirem os critérios de inclusão, duas MA e quatro ECA. As MA apresentam resultados concordantes: não houve evidência de diminuição da PA com significância estatística aquando de suplementação com colecalciferol; no entanto, esta foi demonstrada quando se ajustaram as intervenções para grupos específicos, como doentes com mais de 50 anos, obesidade ou doses de suplementação elevadas (> 800UI/dia). Relativamente aos ECA, apenas dois deles encontraram relações com significância estatística, enquanto os restantes dois não conseguiram demonstrar uma relação causal. Conclusões: A evidência da associação entre suplementação com colecalciferol a doentes hipertensos e o melhor controle tensional não é clara. Alguns estudos conseguiram demonstrar que em populações específicas parece atuar como adjuvante no tratamento da HTA (SORT C).

ObjectiveThis study aims to determine the maximal inclusion level of defatted (d-) Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TM) able to replace dietary fishmeal (FM) without compromising growth performance, general metabolism, and flesh quality traits in European sea bass, and to evaluate the major underlying physiological mechanisms.Materials and MethodsFish (55 ± 2 g) were fed with diets containing increasing levels of dTM: 0, 40, 80 and 100% (CTRL, TM40, TM80, and TM100, respectively) to replace FM. After 10 weeks of feeding, the growth performance, nutrient and energy balance, intestinal integrity, plasma metabolites and the expression of genes related to growth and nutrient metabolism, in liver and muscle were determined. The fatty acids (FA) profile, textural properties and color were also evaluated in muscle.ResultsProtein and lipids digestibility remained unaltered up to 80% dTM inclusion. Growth performance parameters were similar among dietary treatments. The dTM inclusion increased the hepatosomatic index in fish fed TM100. Muscle eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated FA levels were maintained up to 80% dTM inclusion, but total cholesterol and non-esterified FA increased with dietary dTM inclusion. In liver, the expression of elongation of very long-chain FA protein 6 (elovl6) and FA desaturase 2 (fads2) did not change in fish fed TM40 and TM80, but elovl6 decreased whilst fads2 increased in fish fed TM100 when compared to those fed CTRL. The expression of cholesterol 7 alpha-monooxygenase (cyp7a1) decreased with dietary dTM inclusion. In muscle, the expression of myoblast determination protein-2 (myod2) decreased in fish fed TM80 and TM100.ConclusionIt is feasible to substitute dietary FM by dTM up to 80% in European sea bass without detrimental effects on nutrient digestibility, growth performance and associated genetic pathways, whilst assuring fillet nutritional value for human consumption.

Synthetic vitamin E is commonly used in aquafeeds to prevent oxidative stress in fish and delay feed and flesh oxidation during storage, but consumers’ preferences tend towards natural antioxidant sources. The potential of vegetable antioxidants-rich coproducts, dried tomato (TO), carrot (CA) and coriander (CO) was compared to that of synthetic vitamin E included in diets at either a regular (CTRL; 100 mg kg−1) or reinforced dose (VITE; 500 mg kg−1). Natural antioxidants were added at 2% to the CTRL. Mixes were then extruded and dried, generating five experimental diets that were fed to European sea bass juveniles (114 g) over 12 weeks. Vitamin E and carotenoid content of extruded diets showed signs of degradation. The experimental diets had very limited effects on fish growth or body composition, immunomodulatory response, muscle and liver antioxidant potential, organoleptic properties or consumer acceptance. Altogether, experimental findings suggest that neither a heightened inclusion dose of 500 mg kg−1 of vitamin E, nor a 2% inclusion of natural antioxidants provided additional antioxidant protection, compared to fish fed diets including the regular dose of 100 mg kg−1 of vitamin E.

Resumo: Introdução e objetivos: A cardioembolia representa uma das causas mais frequentes de lesões cerebrovasculares isquémicas, com prevalência estimada de 20-30% e implicações terapêuticas diretas que obrigam à sua correta avaliação. Apesar de a validação das escalas de risco cardioembólico (CHADS2 e, mais recentemente, CHA2DS2-VASc) em populações heterogéneas de doentes com fibrilhação furicular, desconhece-se ainda a sua validade em contexto de prevenção secundária cerebrovascular.É objetivo deste trabalho estudar a sensibilidade e especificidade diferencial das escalas de risco cardioembólico como preditoras de fonte cardioembólica documentada por ecocardiograma transesofágico (ETE) numa população de doentes com AVC isquémico. Métodos: Aplicámos as escalas CHADS2 e CHA2DS2-VASc a todos os doentes internados por evento cerebrovascular isquémico na Unidade de AVC/Enfermaria de Neurologia de um hospital central português com diagnóstico de fibrilhação auricular (prévio ou obtido durante/após o internamento), que realizaram ETE entre janeiro e agosto de 2011.Definimos como presença de fonte cardioembólica a observação em ETE de autocontraste espontâneo na aurícula e apêndice auricular esquerdo ou trombos nas cavidades cardíacas esquerdas. Resultados: Analisámos 94 doentes, 66,0% do sexo masculino, idade média: 64,4 anos (desvio padrão: 14,2). Foi detetada fonte cardioembólica em 20 doentes. A análise de curva Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) identifica como preditores de fonte cardioembólica pontuação CHADS2 ≥ 4; sensibilidade: 75,0%, especificidade: 66,0%, p = 0,014 e pontuação CHA2DS2-VASc ≥ 5; sensibilidade: 83,3%, especificidade: 58,0%, p = 0,009. Conclusões: Ambas as escalas apresentam sensibilidade significativa como preditoras de risco cardioembólico em contexto de prevenção secundária cerebrovascular. A escala CHA2DS2-VASc possui uma sensibilidade superior à CHADS2, sendo, no entanto, menos específica. Abstract: Introduction and objectives: Cardioembolism is one of the most common causes of ischemic stroke, with an estimated prevalence of 20-30%, and correct diagnosis is essential given the therapeutic implications. Although stroke risk scores (CHADS2 and more recently CHA2DS2-VASc) have been validated in heterogeneous populations of patients with atrial fibrillation, their accuracy has not been ascertained for secondary stroke prevention. We set out to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc stroke risk scores as predictors of cardioembolic sources, documented by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in a population with ischemic stroke. Methods: The CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were applied to all patients admitted to the stroke unit/neurology ward of a Portuguese tertiary hospital with atrial fibrillation (diagnosed previously or during or after admission) who underwent TEE between January and August 2011.The presence of a cardioembolic source was defined as the observation by TEE of spontaneous echo contrast in the left atrium and atrial appendage or thrombi in the left cardiac chambers. Results: We studied 94 patients, 66.0% male, mean age 64.4 years (standard deviation 14.2). A cardioembolic source was detected in 20 patients. ROC curve analysis identified as predictors of cardioembolic source CHADS2 score ≥4 (sensitivity of 75.0%, specificity of 66.0%, p=0.014) and CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥5 (sensitivity of 83.3%, specificity of 58.0%, p=0.009). Conclusions: Both scores showed acceptable sensitivity as predictors of embolic risk in the context of secondary prevention of cardioembolic stroke. The CHA2DS2-VASc score has higher sensitivity than CHADS2 but lower specificity. Palavras-chave: Acidente vascular cerebral, Fibrilhação auricular, Tromboembolismo, Ecocardiografia, Anticoagulação, Keywords: Stroke, Atrial fibrillation, Thromboembolism, Echocardiography, Anticoagulation

Debate-se veemente acerca do papel do setor público, mas nem sempre os intervenientes na discussão conhecem o tipo de Estado que os governa. Pelo que este estudo visa contextualizar o Estado-Providência, através da comparação dos diferentes modelos e exposição das pressões globais para a mudança. Adotando uma revisão de literatura distinguiram-se quatro modelos: Liberal, Corporativista, Escandinavo e do Sul. Conclui-se que a globalização e o envelhecimento da população são os principais fenómenos que colocam a sustentabilidade do Estado-Providência em risco.

Background Colorectal surgeries are complex procedures associated with high rates of complications and hospital readmission. Objective This study aimed to develop an electronic post-discharge follow-up plan to remotely monitor patients’ symptoms in the postoperative period of colorectal surgeries and evaluate the outcomes of emergency department visits and the rate of severe complications within 15 days after hospital discharge. Design We developed a digital tool capable of remotely assessing symptoms that could indicate complications related to colorectal surgical procedures and directing early management. This project was divided into two stages. The first was platform development with an algorithm for identifying symptoms and directing conduct, and the second was clinical validation of the program and evaluation of patient's experience. Patients who underwent elective oncological colorectal surgery were invited to participate in this study. We used commercial software (CleverCare) that was adjusted according to the clinical algorithm developed in this study, predicting complications and directing conduct with minimal human intervention using a Chatbot with Natural Language Processing (NPL) and artificial intelligence. Results We planned three Interim Analyses to evaluate the outcomes of complications, referrals to the Emergency Department (ED), ED visits, adherence, and patient satisfaction. After each analysis, specialists validated the changes before implementation. A total of 92 eligible participants agreed to participate in the study. The ability to detect complications increased with each adjustment phase, and after the third and last phase, the digital solution identified 3(4.8%) real complications, with a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 83%, accuracy of 82%, positive predictive value of 27%, and negative predictive value of 97%. Complete adherence to the monitoring program was 83.7% with an NPS score of 94 in the last evaluation phase. Conclusion The digital platform is safe with high adherence rates and good patient acceptance.

This paper presents a novel methodology for enhancing Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) performance by utilizing contrastive learning to filter synthetic audio data. We address the challenge of incorporating synthetic data into ASR training, especially in scenarios with limited real-world data or unique linguistic characteristics. The method utilizes a contrastive learning model to align representations of synthetic audio and its corresponding text transcripts, enabling the identification and removal of low-quality samples that do not align well semantically. We evaluate the methodology on a medium-resource language across two distinct datasets: a general-domain dataset and a regionally specific dataset characterized by unique pronunciation patterns. Experimental results reveal that the optimal filtering strategy depends on both model capacity and dataset characteristics. Larger models, like Whisper Large V3, particularly benefit from aggressive filtering, while smaller models may not require such stringent filtering, especially on non-normalized text. This work highlights the importance of adjusting synthetic data augmentation and filtering to specific model architectures and target domains. The proposed method, robust and adaptable, enhances ASR performance across diverse language settings. We have open-sourced the entire work, which includes 140 hours of synthetically generated Portuguese speech, as well as the pipeline and parameter settings used to create these samples. Additionally, we provide the fine-tuned Whisper models and the code required to reproduce this research. Our code will be available at https://github.com/my-north-ai/semantic_audio_filtering.

Artemisinin, a drug used to treat malaria, can be chemically synthesized or extracted from Artemisia annua L. However, the extraction method for artemisinin from biomass needs to be more sustainable while maintaining or enhancing its bioactivity. This work investigates the use of aqueous solutions of salts and ionic liquids with hydrotropic properties as alternative solvents for artemisinin extraction from Artemisia annua L. Among the investigated solvents, aqueous solutions of cholinium salicylate and sodium salicylate were found to be the most promising. To optimize the extraction process, a response surface method was further applied, in which the extraction time, hydrotrope concentration, and temperature were optimized. The optimized conditions resulted in extraction yields of up to 6.50 and 6.44 mg·g–1, obtained with aqueous solutions of sodium salicylate and cholinium salicylate, respectively. The extracts obtained were tested for their antimalarial activity, showing a higher efficacy against the Plasmodium falciparum strain compared with pure (synthetic) artemisinin or extracts obtained with conventional organic solvents. Characterization of the extracts revealed the presence of artemisinin together with other compounds, such as artemitin, chrysosplenol D, arteannuin B, and arteannuin J. These compounds act synergistically with artemisinin and enhance the antimalarial activity of the obtained extracts. Given the growing concern about artemisinin resistance, the results here obtained pave the way for the development of sustainable and biobased antimalarial drugs.

Objective This study was realized to evaluate the effects of supplementation with blends of water and fat-soluble vitamins on animal performance and carcass traits of young Nellore bulls. Methods Forty-three Nellore bulls, with an initial weight of 261±27.3 kg and a mean age of 8±1.0 months, were used. Five animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment (reference group), to determine the initial empty body weight of the bulls that remained in the experiment. The remaining 38 bulls were fed ad libitum and distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2×2 factorial scheme, with or without supplementation of water-soluble (B-blend+ or B-blend−) and fat-soluble (ADE+ or ADE−) vitamin blends. Diets were isonitrogenous (120 g of crude protein/kg dry matter [DM] of total mixed ration) and consisted of a roughage:concentrate rate of 30:70 based on total DM of diet. The experiment lasted 170 days, with 30 days of adaptation and 140 days for data collection. At the beginning and end of the experimental period, the bulls were weighed to determine the average daily gain. To estimate the apparent digestibility of nutrients and microbial efficiency, spot collections of feces and urine were performed for five consecutive days. Results DM, ashes, organic matter, crude protein, ethereal extract, neutral detergent fiber corrected for residual ash and residual nitrogenous, and N intake and apparent digestibility were not influenced by vitamin supplementation, but total digestible nutrients intake and non-fibrous carbohydrates digestibility were influenced by B complex vitamin supplementation. Nitrogen balance, microbial efficiency, and performance data were not influenced (p>0.05) by vitamin supplementation. Conclusion Vitamin supplementation (a blend of water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins or their combinations) does not influence the animal performance and carcass traits of young Nellore bulls.

Office workers frequently display behavioral patterns marked by extended periods of sedentary and seated work. In this context, the implementation of a workplace exercise program has been shown to be effective in mitigating health-related risk factors. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 12-week workplace exercise program on the quality of life of employees whose primary occupational duties involve prolonged sitting. The final sample comprised 19 participants (6 females and 13 males), aged between 21 and 48 years (M = 32.26; SD = 9.03). Among these participants, 78.9% reported engaging in a hybrid work arrangement, 15.8% followed an on-site work regimen, and 5.3% worked remotely. Furthermore, 84.2% of participants reported sitting for 6 to 8 h per day, while 15.8% reported sitting for between 9 and 12 h daily. The quality of life of participants was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. A paired samples t-test was employed to examine differences between dependent variables. The results revealed a statistically significant improvement in general health (p < 0.01), vitality (p < 0.01), social functioning (p < 0.05), and the mental health summary measure (p < 0.04). Promoting physical activity through workplace exercise programs offers substantial benefits for workers’ health and quality of life, contributing to the prevention of occupational diseases.

The increasing global demand for animal products has impacted Brazilian cattle farming. This study aims to offer references for developing more sustainable livestock farming in Brazil. It analyzes the numbers of pasture areas, cattle herds, and stocking rates from 1970 to 2017, based on agricultural census data. Additionally, it compares pasture conditions using agricultural census data and satellite imagery for the years 2006 and 2017. The key findings include the following: (1) a 119.7% increase in cattle herds, with migration from the South and Southeast to the North and Central–West regions, which have lower land prices; (2) a 2.6% decrease in the pasture area for cattle (except in the North region); (3) a 3.8% decrease in areas in poor condition; and (4) a 125.5% increase in the stocking rate. Despite technological advancements improving productivity, most pastures (59.6%) are still underperforming, indicating potential for reducing the pressure on native vegetation. This study concludes that production areas are shifting between regions in Brazil, with livestock farming intensifying, marked by a decrease in pasture areas and degraded pastures, alongside an increase in cattle numbers and stocking rates. However, these changes are heterogeneous across the country. This analysis provides an overview of beef cattle nationwide, which is relevant for addressing production sustainability challenges.

30 Nellore animals with an average weight of 407.25 ± 2.04 kg, were distributed in a completely randomized design across the following treatments: 1—Control (without inclusion of 3-NOP); 2—BV75 (inclusion of 3-NOP at 75 mg/kg DM); 3—BV100 (inclusion of 3-NOP at 100 mg/kg DM). No significant effects were observed between treatments on ingestive behavior. However, the notable effect on the BWfinal and ADG of animals supplemented with 3-NOP compared to the control group was measurable. Cattle beef receiving 3-NOP exhibited reduced methane emissions (p < 0.0001) for all variables analyzed, resulting in an average decrease of 38.2% in methane emissions compared to the control, along with increased hydrogen emissions (g/day) (p < 0.0001). While supplementation with BV100 demonstrated lower methane emission, the performance was lower than BV75 in DMI, BWfinal, ADG, and ADG carcasses. Partial separation of metabolomics observed between groups indicated changes in meat metabolism when comparing the control group with the 3-NOP group, identifying metabolites with a variable importance projection (VIP) score > 1. In conclusion, supplementation with 3-NOP effectively reduced methane emissions and did not negatively influence animal performance.

Abstract in Brazil, the development of a strong technical foundation for soil and water conservation has made no-tillage (NT) the leading method for preparing land for temporary crops. Despite this, there's insufficient information regarding the extent to which farmers have adopted NT and conservation agriculture (CA) and the distribution and evolution of these practices within Paraná-a state at the forefront of NT and CA implementation. This study investigates the adoption rates of NT and CA among Paraná's farmers, focusing on temporary crops. It utilizes specialized data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics' agricultural censuses of 2006 and 2017. Adoption rates for NT and CA were determined by comparing their proportions in both the number of farming properties and the overall land area devoted to temporary crops across various microregions. Findings indicate a rise in the adoption of NT from 68.5% to 78.9% and CA from 14.6% to 27.7% over the 2006 to 2017 period. Moreover, adoption rates varied across the 39 microregions, with the highest rates in regions dominated by temporary crops, particularly soybeans, maize, and wheat. Conversely, the lowest adoption rates were found in microregions where permanent crops and pastures prevailed, and sugarcane, cassava, and rice were the primary temporary crops.

Inspecting and maintaining power lines is essential for ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of electrical infrastructure. This process involves regular assessment to identify hazards such as damaged wires, corrosion, or vegetation encroachment, followed by timely maintenance to prevent accidents and power outages. By conducting routine inspections and maintenance, utilities can comply with regulations, enhance operational efficiency, and extend the lifespan of power lines and equipment. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can play a relevant role in this process by increasing efficiency through rapid coverage of large areas and access to difficult-to-reach locations, enhanced safety by minimizing risks to personnel in hazardous environments, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional methods. UAVs equipped with sensors such as visual and thermographic cameras enable the accurate collection of high-resolution data, facilitating early detection of defects and other potential issues. To ensure the safety of the autonomous inspection process, UAVs must be capable of performing onboard processing, particularly for detection of power lines and obstacles. In this paper, we address the development of a deep learning approach with YOLOv8 for power line detection based on visual and thermographic images. The developed solution was validated with a UAV during a power line inspection mission, obtaining mAP@0.5 results of over 90.5% on visible images and over 96.9% on thermographic images.

This paper presents the implementation of an innovative solution based on heterogeneous autonomous vehicles to tackle maritime pollution (in particular, oil spills). This solution is based on native microbial consortia with bioremediation capacity, and the adaptation of air and surface autonomous vehicles for in situ release of autochthonous microorganisms (bioaugmentation) and nutrients (biostimulation). By doing so, these systems can be applied as the first line of the response to pollution incidents from several origins that may occur inside ports, around industrial and extraction facilities, or in the open sea during transport activities in a fast, efficient, and low-cost way. The paper describes the work done in the development of a team of autonomous vehicles able to carry as payload, native organisms to naturally degrade oil spills (avoiding the introduction of additional chemical or biological additives), and the development of a multi-robot framework for efficient oil spill mitigation. Field tests have been performed in Portugal and Spain’s harbors, with a simulated oil spill, and the coordinate oil spill task between the autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) ROAZ and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) STORK has been validated.

The present study aimed to explore the relationships between coping strategies, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, and satisfaction with life among Portuguese workers. A sample of 402 participants (207 male, 195 female), ranging in age from 18 to 70 years (M = 32.90, SD = 11.75), was included in the study. Participants reported varying levels of work experience, ranging from 1 to 45 years (M = 10.62, SD = 4.07). The sample encompassed diverse occupations, including arts and design (n = 28), engineering (n = 23), marketing (n = 27), administration (n = 50), transportation and logistics (n = 57), clerks (n = 63), lawyers (n = 21), factory workers (n = 20), accountant and finance (n = 41), journalism (n = 27), health care (n = 29), and others (n = 16). To examine the associations between each determinant and satisfaction with life, hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted. Two models were tested, with predictors entered in blocks based on theoretical and empirical considerations. The second model accounted for 52.4% of the variance in satisfaction with life (F (14, 384) = 3.884, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.27, adjusted R2 = 0.24). Depressive symptoms and stress consistently exhibited a significant association (p < 0.05) with satisfaction with life across all tested models. In terms of coping mechanisms, instrumental support reinterpretation, disengagement, and humor demonstrated a significant association with satisfaction with life (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that employing adaptive coping strategies may help mitigate symptoms of mental distress and enhance satisfaction with life. By understanding the relationships between coping strategies, mental health symptoms, and satisfaction with life, interventions can be developed to promote well-being and improve overall quality of life among Portuguese workers.

Nanoparticle (NP) research is an area of scientific interest with high potential for application in biomedical, optical, and electronic fields. Due to their relatively large surface area compared to their mass, NPs can be more chemically reactive and change their reactive strength or other properties. NP-based drug delivery systems provide transport and an effective and controlled way to release the drugs. This work aimed to study the solubility and biological activity of nano-encapsulated copper metal complexes for the induction of toxicity and mortality in larvae of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. After the nano-encapsulated metal complexes were prepared, the efficiency of this incorporation was determined by electron paramagnetic resonance, and toxicity bioassays were performed. The polymeric-based PLGA NPs encapsulating metal complexes exhibited high toxicity and specificity for target organisms (insect vectors, i.e., A. aegypti), with relatively less environmental impact and long-term control of their breeding.

Nos últimos anos, observou-se fortemente a ampliação da oferta do Ensino Superior em todo país, mais especificamente em cidades interioranas. Essa expansão está atrelada principalmente pela inserção de políticas públicas que visam à descentralização da oferta de cursos de graduação das grandes regiões metropolitanas para o interior dos Estados da Federação. Para compreendermos a dinâmica empreendida no território alagoano, foram definidas duas Regiões Geográficas imediatas para o desenvolvimento desse estudo. Metodologicamente, o artigo se estruturou em uma tríade: Na Literatura, na utilização das técnicas de geoprocessamento com o auxílio do banco de dados do IBGE e o uso do street View do Google Earth para identificar a localização das Instituições. O estudo apresentou a importância da expansão recente que, apesar das suas contradições, se estabelece no território promovendo o acesso e formação profissional em Regiões antes excluídas.

Abstract This prospective study aimed to compare vascular parameters (endothelin-1 [ET-1] blood levels, laser Doppler imaging [LDI] of distal phalanxes, and nailfold capillaroscopy) between open-angle glaucoma patients with low- and high-tension optic disc hemorrhages (LTDH and HTDH, respectively). The 33 enrolled patients (mean age, 62.3 ± 13 years) were classified as LTDH or HTDH if they presented at the time of DH detection an intraocular pressure (IOP)

Malaria remains an important and challenging infectious disease, and novel antimalarials are required. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), the main breakdown product of benzyl glucosinolate, is present in all parts of Tropaeolum majus L. (T. majus) and has antibacterial and antiparasitic activities. To our knowledge, there is no information on the effects of BITC against malaria. The present study evaluates the antimalarial activity of aqueous extracts of BITC and T. majus seeds, leaves, and stems. We used flow cytometry to calculate the growth inhibition (GI) percentage of the extracts and BITC against unsynchronized cultures of the chloroquine-susceptible Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 − GFP strain. Extracts and/or compounds with at least 70% GI were validated by IC50 estimation against P. falciparum 3D7 − GFP and Dd2 (chloroquine-resistant strain) unsynchronized cultures by flow cytometry, and the resistance index (RI) was determined. T. majus aqueous extracts showed some antimalarial activity that was higher in seeds than in leaves or stems. BITC’s GI was comparable to chloroquine’s. BITC’s IC50 was similar in both strains; thus, a cross-resistance absence with aminoquinolines was found (RI < 1). BITC presented features that could open new avenues for malaria drug discovery.

More sustainable biosensor production is growing in importance, allowing for the development of technological solutions for several industries, such as those in the health, chemical, and food sectors. Tracking the latest advancements in biosensors’ scientific production is fundamental to determining the opportunities for the future of the biosensing field. This article aims to map scientific production in the biosensors field by running a bibliometric analysis of journal articles registered in the Web of Science database under biosensor-related vital concepts. The key concepts were selected by researchers and biosensor technology developers working on the BioAssembler Horizon project. The findings lead to identifying the scientific and technological knowledge base on biosensing devices and tracking the main scientific organisations developing this technology throughout the COVID-19 period (2019–2023). The institutional origin of the publications characterised the global distribution of related knowledge competencies and research partnerships. These results are discussed, shedding light on the scientific, economic, political, and structural factors that contribute to the formation of a scientific knowledge-based focus on the performance and design of these sensors. Moreover, the lack of scientific ties between the three axes of organisations producing expertise in this area (China, USA, and Russia) points towards the need to find synergies through new mechanisms of co-authorship and collaboration.

Our previous studies have shown that ‘Palmer’ mangoes immersed in solutions containing 2.5% sorbitol and stored under a controlled atmosphere (CA) at 8 °C for 30 days had fewer symptoms of a chilling injury. However, there is no information regarding the effectiveness of sorbitol treatment in other atmospheres and/or in combination with lower temperatures. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the impact of dipping ‘Palmer’ mangoes in 0.1% and 2.5% (w/v) sorbitol solutions and storing the fruit under a CA without atmosphere modification (21 kPa O2 + 0.03 kPa CO2) at 8 °C/95% relative humidity (RH) or with 5 kPa O2 + 5 kPa CO2 at 4 °C/95% RH for 28 days. The fruits were evaluated periodically for chilling injuries, quality, and oxidative metabolism. A chilling injury (CI) was correlated with increased fresh weight loss (FWL) and changes in the color of the epicarp (Lpeel, h°peel, and Cpeel) and mesocarp (L*pulp). Lipid peroxidation (LPpulp and LPpeel) and the hydrogen peroxide content (H2O2peel and H2O2pulp) were associated with the development of a CI, particularly after being transferred to ambient. The treatment with 2.5% sorbitol was more effective in minimizing the chilling injury symptoms and did not compromise the fruit quality, especially when it was stored at 4 °C in association with a CA containing 5 kPa O2 + 5 kPa CO2. This treatment reduced lipid peroxidation and increased the activities of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) enzymes in the epicarp and mesocarp, providing greater cold tolerance. The use of 2.5% sorbitol has been identified as the most efficacious approach for mitigating the adverse impacts of chilling injuries, preserving the fruit quality, and enhancing oxidative metabolism, even at lower temperatures. Thus, this treatment represents a viable alternative for managing chilling injuries in mangoes.