Fluminense Federal University

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that infection by enteroparasites can affect ~3.5 billion people around the world. Hemodialysis (HD) patients may be more susceptible to infections by opportunistic pathogens due to impaired immune function. We evaluated enteroparasite infection in a sample of HD-patients from two dialysis centers and in a control group. Methods: Fecal samples were processed using the Hoffmann-Pons-Janner, Ritchie, Willis, and Rugai techniques. Patients with kidney failure from two dialysis centers undergoing HD for more than 3 months were included. The control group consisted of relatives of the patients without overt CKD. The TaqMan PCR and multiplex real-time PCR were carried out for detection of Cryptosporidium spp. and C. parvum and to differentiate the Entamoeba (E.) histolytica/E. dispar complex, respectively Results: A total of 97 HD patients and 42 controls were enrolled in the study. Fifty (51.5%) fecal samples from the HD group were positive for enteroparasites, as were 26 (61.9%) from the control group (P = 0.260). S. stercoralis was the single helminth detected and was only present in HD-patients. Coproscopy detected seven positive samples for the E. histolytica/E. dispar complex, three from HD patients and four from controls: by PCR, all samples were positive for the non-pathogenic E. dispar. Safranin-stained fecal smear slides were all negative for Cryptosporidium spp. However, by PCR, amplification for Crypstosporidium spp. was seen in six samples, all from the HD patients. Two of the species were classified as C. hominis by PCR-RFLP Conclusions: Enteroparasite infection as detected by traditional techniques were not more prevalent in HD patients, but S. stercoralis was only found in these patients. It is noteworthy that Cryptosporidium spp. infection, also affecting only HD patients, could only be detected by molecular biology techniques.

To analyze whether the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Matrix metalloproteinases 2, 3, and 9 (MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9), Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases 1 and 2 (TIMP1 and TIMP2), methionine synthase (MTR) and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) influence delayed deciduous tooth eruption (DDTE). This cross-sectional study included 1060 biologic unrelated children (aged between 6 and 36 months) of both sexes, selected from 25 public schools in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Oral examination was conducted and DDTE was defined by the absence of gingival eruption according to a chronology based on the Brazilian population. Genotyping of selected SNPs (rs243847, rs52261, rs17576, rs4898, rs7501477, rs1805087, and rs1801394) was performed using TaqMan real-time PCR with genomic DNA extracted from buccal cells. The association between genotypes and DDTE was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses (p < 0.05). A total of 224 children and caregivers were included after the eligibility criteria. The heterozygous genotype for the SNPs MTR (rs11805087) was associated with DDTE in both the univariate (p = 0.004) and multivariate (p < 0.001) codominant models, as well as in the univariate (p = 0.010) and multivariate (p = 0.001) recessive models. TIMP1 (rs4898) and MMP3 (rs522616) were associated with DDTE only in the univariate model (p < 0.05). The SNPs in MTR (rs11805087), MMP3 (rs522616) and TIMP (rs4898) genes are associated with DDTE. The factors affecting the chronology of deciduous tooth eruption has been insufficiently studied. This article brings novel knowledge regarding the role of genetics polymorphisms on timing variation of deciduous tooth eruption. Understanding the factors that impact tooth eruption is crucial for the fields of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.

We provide several families of compact complex curves embedded in smooth complex surfaces such that no neighborhood of the curve can be embedded in an algebraic surface. Different constructions are proposed, by patching neighborhoods of curves in projective surfaces, and blowing down exceptional curves. These constructions generalize examples recently given by S. Lvovski. One of our non algebraic argument is based on an extension theorem of S. Ivashkovich.

Purpose This systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression aims to determine whether surgical treatment for proximal humeral fractures is superior to non-surgical treatment regarding pain, functionality, complications, and new surgery rates. Methods We systematically reviewed clinical trials from PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane up to April 2024. Data comparing surgical or conservative of proximal humeral fractures were retrieved for outcomes of pain, functionality, adverse events, and new surgeries. We conducted meta-analyses and meta-regressions using average age as the independent variable (x-axis) and the main outcomes as the dependent variable (y-axis). For all analyses, a p value lower than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Thirteen articles were included in the final analysis, with most follow-up times occurring at 3, 4, 6, 12, and 24 months. The surgical interventions included ORIF, conventional arthroplasty or reversed. Significant differences favoring of surgery were found for functionality at 6 months (SMD = − 0.238; 95% CI − 0.381 to − 0.096, p = 0.001), and for Constant score at 12 months (RMD = − 4.077; 95% CI − 7.034 to − 1.120, p = 0.007). Subgroup analysis showed significant results favoring arthroplasty at 12 months for the Constant score (RMD = − 4.563; 95% CI − 8.104 to − 1.023, p = 0.012). Meta-analysis for complications indicated that the surgery group had significantly higher odds of complications (OR 4.20; 95% CI 2.054–8.591, p < 0.001). The occurrence of osteonecrosis showed no difference between the surgical and conservative groups (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.167–2.012, p = 0.390). The odds ratio of reoperation were five times higher in the surgical group (OR 5.31; 95% CI 2.467–11.430, p < 0.001). Meta-regressions demonstrated a significant relationship between age and pain, functionality and quality of life at 12-months, with worse results in the conservative group as age increased. Conclusion The findings indicate a beneficial effect of surgery for proximal humeral fractures, but only for functionality scores at specific time points. However, the reoperation and complication rates were higher in the surgical group. With increasing age, the outcomes tend to be worse for the conservative group. Level of evidence 1A Systematic review of RCTs

Chitosan is a natural biopolymer derived from chitin present in the exoskeletons of crustaceans. Its diverse applications span biomedical products, agriculture, and cosmetics. Notably, chitosan has been effectively utilized for chemical modifications and stabilizing homogeneous catalysts. Among these modifications, doping with acids or inorganic salts stands out. In some cases, acid chitosan exhibits superior catalytic activity compared to the unmodified form. This review aimed to elucidate recent advancements in acidic chitosan as a renewable and recoverable catalyst for various reactions. The discussion encompasses different doping methods using organic acids and inorganic salts to highlight the development in this field.

The Amazon rainforest is renowned for its biodiversity and as a reservoir of edible and medicinal plants. The phytochemicals in murici and taperebá fruits serve as natural antioxidants, contributing to cultural preservation, ecosystem protection, and economic opportunities. However, limited scientific research on their composition and health benefits hinders their recognition as functional foods. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity, carotenoid content, phenolic compounds, and antitumor effects of murici and taperebá fruit pulps. Four antioxidant tests (2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazylradical scavenging activity, 2,2′‐azino‐bis‐(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) method, 2,2′‐azino‐bis‐(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) method, oxygen radical absorbance capacity) were conducted, and total phenolics were quantified (Folin‐Ciocalteu). Phenolics were identified using UHPLC‐HRMS, and carotenoids by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The impact on breast cancer cell viability (MCF‐7, MDA‐MB‐231) was assessed via water‐soluble tetrazolium (WST) assay. Both fruits showed high antioxidant activity and phenolic content, with murici leading. HPLC revealed five carotenoids per fruit, with taperebá showing higher concentrations. UHPLC‐HRMS identified 23 phenolic compounds: 16 in murici aqueous extract, 18 in murici ethanolic extract, and 15 in each taperebá extract. WST assay demonstrated that both fruits exerted a significant impact on breast cancer cells, reducing their viability in a dose‐dependent manner. These findings underscore the potential of murici and taperebá as sources of phytochemical antioxidants and antiproliferative agents with promising health applications.

Background Physical exercise has been proposed as an approach to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Engaging in physical exercise triggers the shedding of the extracellular domain of fibronectin type III domain‐containing protein 5 (FNDC5), producing a circulating peptide (irisin) that promotes neuroprotection in AD mouse models. Despite recent evidence indicating that reduced FNDC5/irisin levels in brain and cerebrospinal fluid correlate with amyloid beta pathology, the impact of FNDC5/irisin on tau pathology remains uncertain. Here, we investigated the correlation between brain FNDC5 expression and key indicators of tau pathology in a cohort of elderly subjects. Method FNDC5 expression and tau pathology were examined in the postmortem hippocampus of elderly subjects enrolled in The Aging, Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Study (https://aging.brain‐map.org). FNDC5 expression data were obtained from RNA sequencing, whereas tau pathology was evaluated using the Braak neuropathological scale. Levels of pThr181‐tau and total tau were measured through Luminex assays, and AT8 (pSer202/Thr205 tau) was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Inclusion criteria included subjects (both males and females) aged over 77 years old, whereas exclusion criteria were presence of non‐AD dementia or a history of TBI diagnosis. Result We observed that individuals aged over 90 years old exhibit a trend for lower hippocampal expression of FNDC5 compared to those ranging from 77‐89 years old (t = 1.87; p = 0.06). There was also a trend among individuals with high tau pathology (Braak III‐VI) showing reduced FNDC5 expression compared to those with low tau pathology (Braak I‐II) (t = 1.93, p = 0.06). Accordingly, reduced FNDC5 expression was associated with higher AT8‐positive labeling (Spearman r = −0.40; p = 0.01) and pThr181‐tau levels (Pearson r = −0.30; p = 0.07), with no correlations observed with total tau levels (Pearson r = 0.27; p = 0.11). Conclusion These results suggest that FNDC5 expression in hippocampus is reduced with tau pathology in humans, encouraging further studies to explore how physical exercise and FNDC5/irisin may influence tau pathology during aging.

Snakebite envenomation is a public health issue that can lead to mortality and physical consequences. It is estimated that 5.4 million venomous snake bites occur annually, with 130,000 deaths and 400,000 amputations. The available treatment is serotherapy, which is inefficient in preventing physical sequelae. Thus, it is critical to seek efficient treatments. Here, we assessed the efficacy of fruits from Clusia fluminensis harvested at different time periods over one year against the toxicity of Bothrops jararacussu venom. The extracts were incubated with B. jararacussu venom, and the in vitro (coagulant and proteolytic) and in vivo (hemorrhagic, edematogenic, and lethal) activities of the venom were assessed. Moreover, B. jararacussu venom was injected 30 min before the extract injection to evaluate hemorrhagic activity. Little variation in the chemical composition of the fruit extracts from C. fluminensis or their ability to inhibit the toxic effects of B. jararacussu venom was observed. When administered after venom injection, the C. fluminensis extracts inhibited hemorrhage caused by B. jararacussu venom. Thus, the plant collection period should be considered to achieve the highest antivenom potential.

In general, allelopathy can be defined as a biological process by which an organism produces one or more metabolites that can change the germination, growth, survival, and reproduction of other organisms, and thus influencing the stability of agroecosystems. Cholesterol is a very abundant sterol isolated from the marine red alga Plocamium brasiliense that has been studied regarding its potential inhibitory effects on seed germination, radicle elongation, and hypocotyl development of the weeds Mimosa pudica (malicia) and Senna obtusifolia (mata-pasto). Cholesterol was isolated from a hexane extract by chromatographic methods. Over a 15-day period, germination bioassays were performed at 25 ºC with a 12-h photoperiod. Radicle elongation and hypocotyl development were assayed at 25 ºC with a 24-h photoperiod. Later, Petri dishes 9.0 cm in diameter were coated with filter paper, and 25 seeds were placed in a germination chamber. Six pre-germinated seeds were placed in the Petri dish for 2-3 days. After 10 days, radicle and hypocotyl extensions were measured, and the inhibitory potential of cholesterol was assessed at 5, 10, 15, and 20 ppm. In both herbs, M. pudica and S. obtusifolia, they were significantly affected by the action of cholesterol, achieving higher percentages of inhibition in seed germination (50% and 33%, respectively), radical germination (68% and 60%, respectively), and hypocotyl development (66% and 55%, respectively). The inhibition effects were dose-dependent in all experiments, having more pronounced allelopathic effects at 20ppm.

Rhodolith beds are diverse and globally distributed habitats. Nonetheless, the role of rhodoliths in structuring the associated species community through a hierarchy of positive interactions is yet to be recognised. In this review, we provide evidence that rhodoliths can function as foundation species of multi-level facilitation cascades and, hence, are fundamental for the persistence of hierarchically structured communities within coastal oceans. Rhodoliths generate facilitation cascades by buffering physical stress, reducing consumer pressure and enhancing resource availability. Due to large variations in their shape, size and density, a single rhodolith bed can support multiple taxonomically distant and architecturally distinct habitat-forming species, such as primary producers, sponges or bivalves, thus encompassing a broad range of functional traits and providing a wealth of secondary microhabitat and food resources. In addition, rhodoliths are often mobile, and thus can redistribute associated species, potentially expanding the distribution of species with short-distance dispersal abilities. Key knowledge gaps we have identified include: the experimental assessment of the role of rhodoliths as basal facilitators; the length and temporal stability of facilitation cascades; variations in species interactions within cascades across environmental gradients; and the role of rhodolith beds as climate refugia. Addressing these research priorities will allow the development of evidence-based policy decisions and elevate rhodolith beds within marine conservation strategies.

Resumo As diferenças de habilidades entre graduados compõem a explicação chave das abordagens meritocráticas para os resultados desiguais observados no mercado de trabalho. Neste estudo, utilizamos dados do Enade (2009-2011) e da Rais (2013-2015) para analisar em que medida dimensões qualitativas da educação superior, incluindo a qualidade da formação, têm capacidades distintas de estruturar o emprego formal e os salários quatro anos após a graduação. O principal resultado indica a relevância das habilidades mensuradas para o destino ocupacional dos graduados, mas também que a dicotomia entre o emprego formal-informal não se aplica aos estratos superiores da força de trabalho: os graduados com origem social privilegiada e elevada qualificação profissional em áreas tecnicamente intensivas tendem a permanecer fora do emprego formal após a graduação, o que parece agravado por condições de deterioração do emprego em ocupações de nível superior. Embora as habilidades importem para a transição entre educação superior e mercado de trabalho, encontramos evidências de persistência de processos de reprodução social e fechamento social por diploma.

This review explores biochar's potential for removing microplastics and nanoplastics from water, discussing various mechanisms and the benefits of combining biochar with other water treatment technologies.

Superconducting devices offer innovative solutions for the energy transition, with superconducting machines showing promise in applications such as aircraft propulsion and power generation. In this context, the present work compares three configurations of flux-trapped machines that utilize second-generation (2G) high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes in the rotor. The prototypes include only one machine with three rotor configurations; one wound with 2 turns of a single 50 mm-wide tape, one with 6 turns of three 12 mm-wide tapes and one with 18 turns of three 12 mm-wide tapes as well. The objective is to assess the performance of each configuration when operating the machine as motor and generator. For the generator tests, the machine was magnetized using high-intensity (up to 100 A) and short-duration (100 ms) direct current pulses supplied to the stator. Following the magnetization, a propulsion motor was coupled to the shaft of the machine, and the induced voltage at the generator's output was measured. Results indicated that the prototype with the 50 mm-wide tape has higher efficiency than the other topologies. However, this configuration did not fully realize its potential due to the limited number of turns, restricted to only two, here. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of 2G HTS rotor configurations on the performance of flux-trapped superconducting hybrid machines (superconducting rotor and conventional stator), both as motors and generators, with a focus on their future applications.

Empirical evidence gathered among different cultures suggests that visual perception, attention and overallcognition are influenced by cultural contexts. Studies comparing western and eastern cultures present strong datashowing differences on face recognition, spatial attention and other cognitive aspects. Based on those assertions,the present study proposes a reaction-time task to assess implicit cognition in children to understand thedevelopment of self-concept based on other cognitive functions such as face perception. Participated from thisstudy 36 Brazilian children with age range of 9-to-11 years old. Participants were divided by ascendance:Japanese and Western; and paired by age and sex. An Implicit Association Test was programmed to measure thelevel of implicit attitude of participants towards their own and the other studied ethnicity. Results suggest that,despite of same nationality—all children were Brazilian; cultural background plays an important role on diversecognitive domains.

Increasing reports of chloroquine resistance (CQR) in Plasmodium vivax endemic regions have led to several countries, including Indonesia, to adopt dihydroarteminsin-piperaquine instead. However, the molecular drivers of CQR remain unclear. Using a genome-wide approach, we perform a genomic analysis of 1534 P. vivax isolates across 29 endemic countries, detailing population structure, patterns of relatedness, selection, and resistance profiling, providing insights into potential drivers of CQR. Selective sweeps in a locus proximal to pvmdr1, a putative marker for CQR, along with transcriptional regulation genes, distinguish isolates from Indonesia from those in regions where chloroquine remains highly effective. In 106 isolates from Indonesian Papua, the epicentre of CQR, we observe an increasing prevalence of novel SNPs in the candidate resistance gene pvmrp1 since the introduction of dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine. Overall, we provide novel markers for resistance surveillance, supported by evidence of regions under recent directional selection and temporal analysis in this continually evolving parasite.

The Northern Antarctic Peninsula (NAP) and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) are likely to respond rapidly to climate changes by increasing the collapse of peripheral ice shelves and the number of days above 0 °C. These facts make this region a representative hotspot of the global sea level rise and the location of one of the global climate tipping points (thresholds in the Earth system whose changes may become irreversible, if exceeded). Understanding the climate evolution of the NAP, based on past evidences, may help infer its future scenario. Herein, from a comprehensive survey of lacustrine sedimentation in proglacial and periglacial lakes/ponds, we investigated the impact of climate changes on the terrestrial environment in two complementary time scales (Late Holocene and contemporary age). For the longer time scale, regional climate database and biogeochemical properties of Lake Long/NAP sediment core, suggest warming between 4.0 and 2.0 kyr BP following a cooling phase towards the present, that endorse previously suggested Late Holocene Neoglacial (LHN). We attribute the LHN phase to a combined action of long-term decline in total solar irradiance, the Andean volcanism and the El Niño Southern Oscillation. For the contemporary age, we found a rapid coupled response of atmosphere/cryosphere/lithosphere to present warming levels.

We prove that unique SRB measures for singular hyperbolic attractors depend continuously on the dynamics in the weak$^*$ topology.

Objectives This study aimed to investigate cracked teeth and vertical root fracture observable on micro-CT images of extracted roots of mandibular incisors, after fiber post removal. Materials and methods Thirty mandibular incisors were selected with any degree of slight incisal wear inspected with the aid of a stereomicroscope under 12x magnification, in order to have a group of young adult specimens according to the criteria of Hugoson et al. A sample of twelve mandibular incisors were selected, aged between 20 and 30 years old, with similar dentine volume and thickness. The specimens were scanned in a micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) device and submitted to root canal shaping, root canal filling, post space preparation, post placement and post removal. Results From a total of six experimental endodontic timepoints until post removal of 12 mandibular incisors, 64,800 cross-sectional images were analyzed and no vertical root fracture (VRF) or cracked tooth were detected. Conclusions Micro-CT assessment after ex vivo fiber post removal did not detect vertical root fracture or cracked tooth formation in the root canal walls of mandibular incisors. Clinical relevance This study highlighted that fiber post removal per se was not able to propagate VRF or cracked tooth formation or promoted any interruption of the integrity of human root dentin.

The status of the equivalence principle in modified symmetric teleparallel gravity is examined. In this theory, minimum length geodesics are distinct from autoparallel geodesics, that is, the “shortest” paths are not the “straightest” paths. We show that a standard argument that singles out metric geodesics in general relativity does not apply in modified symmetric teleparallel gravity. This is because the latter theory does not obey the equivalence principle in the sense of Weinberg. We argue, however, that the structure of the theory makes it inevitable that a freely falling test particle follows a shortest path, a geodesic of the metric. The geodesic equation that governs the motion of a freely falling test particle involves the Levi-Civita connection, not some other connection obtained by solving the connection field equations of the theory. This also has bearing on whether, under appropriate conditions, modified symmetric teleparallel gravity is fully equivalent to general relativity.