Trans youth in Portugal: gendered embodiments.

The lived gendered experience of trans youth constitutes a relatively overlooked aspect of current research. Addressing this gap, this study reveals how young trans people in Portugal define their identities and legitimate their bodies in daily life. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 12 Portuguese trans young people, this study focuses on how trans youth situate themselves within dominant paradigms for understanding (trans)gender identities and embodiment. In doing so, this study engages with wider discussion regarding transgender embodiment that aims to move beyond binary/non-binary gender divisions, as well as privilege the voices and lived experiences of trans people. As the study demonstrates, trans youth are able to (re)construct authentic and coherent gendered selves through the incorporation of a diverse range of frameworks available in contemporary society. Although these frameworks may sometimes seem incompatible and contradictory, trans youth demonstrate conditional forms of agency in the way they (re)create their gender identity and embodiment. By revealing the diversity of trans participant discourses, practices and embodiments of gender, this study makes a key contribution to research on trans youth in Portugal and beyond, as well as broader debates.

The effect of viscous soluble fiber on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

AIMS: Dietary fiber intake, especially viscous soluble fiber, has been established as a means to reduce cardiometabolic risk factors. Whether this is true for blood pressure remains controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to investigate the effects of viscous soluble fiber supplementation on blood pressure and quantify the effect of individual fibers. DATA SYNTHESIS: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched. We included RCTs of ≥4-weeks in duration assessing viscous fiber supplementation from five types: ß-glucan from oats and barley, guar gum, konjac, pectin and psyllium, on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Study data were pooled using the generic inverse variance method with random effects models and expressed as mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Twenty-two (N = 1430) and twenty-one RCTs (N = 1343) were included in the final analysis for SBP and DBP, respectively. Viscous fiber reduced SBP (MD = -1.59 mmHg [95% CI: -2.72,-0.46]) and DBP (MD = -0.39 mmHg [95% CI: -0.76,-0.01]) at a median dose of 8.7 g/day (1.45-30 g/day) over a median follow-up of 7-weeks. Substantial heterogeneity in SBP (I2 = 72%, P < 0.01) and DBP (I2 = 67%, P < 0.01) analysis occurred. Within the five fiber types, SBP reductions were observed only for supplementation using psyllium fiber (MD = -2.39 mmHg [95% CI: -4.62,-0.17]). CONCLUSION: Viscous soluble fiber has an overall lowering effect on SBP and DBP. Inclusion of viscous fiber to habitual diets may have additional value in reducing CVD risk via improvement in blood pressure. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier-NCT02670967.

Genetic divergence among invasive and native populations of the yellow peacock cichlid Cichla kelberi.

This study used the hypervariable domain of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (CR) to assess the genetic divergence among native and invasive populations of Cichla kelberi, which is considered the first peacock cichlid introduced and established throughout Brazil and is among the most invasive populations of this genus worldwide. The maximum likelihood tree based on 53 CR sequences with strong bootstrap support revealed that C. kelberi forms a monophyletic clade, confirming that all 30 C. kelberi studied belong to this morphotype. Additionally, the haplotype analysis of the C. kelberi sequences from 11 sampling sites revealed that invasive populations are much less diverse than native ones and largely dominated by a single haplotype that prevailed in reservoirs at the Paraíba do Sul River basin. Two haplotypes were recorded exclusively in an invasive population at Porto Rico, southern Brazil, and one private haplotype was detected in two reservoirs from Paraíba do Sul (Pereira Passos and Paracambi), suggesting more than one introduction event and that native populations should be better evaluated to encompass the entire genetic diversity of native C. kelberi. The possible route and pathways of C. kelberi introduction are also briefly discussed.

New studies of second and fourth digit ratio as a morphogenetic trait in subjects with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVES: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a disease that occurs during fetal development and can lead to virilization in females or death in newborn males if not discovered early in life. Because of this there is a need to seek morphological markers in order to help diagnose the disease. In order to test the hypothesis that prenatal hormones can affect the sexual dimorphic pattern 2D:4D digit ratio in individual with CAH, the aim of this study was to compare the digit ratio in female and male patients with CAH and control subjects. METHODS: The 2D:4D ratios in both hands of 40 patients (31 females-46, XX, and 9 males-46, XY) were compared with the measures of control individuals without CAH (100 males and 100 females). RESULTS: Females with CAH showed 2D:4D ratios typical of male controls (0.950 and 0.947) in both hands (P < 0.001). In CAH males the left hand 2D:4D ratio (0.983) was statistically different from that of male controls (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These finding support the idea that sexual dimorphism in skeletal development in early fetal life is associated with differences between the exposure to androgens in males and females, and significant differences associated with adrenal hyperplasia. Although the effects of prenatal androgens on skeletal developmental are supported by numerous studies, further investigation is yet required to clarify the disease and establish the digit ratio as a biomarker for CAH.

Evaluation of 3D nano-macro porous bioactive glass scaffold for hard tissue engineering.

Recently, nano-macro dual-porous, three-dimensional (3D) glass structures were developed for use as bioscaffolds for hard tissue regeneration, but there have been concerns regarding the interconnectivity and homogeneity of nanopores in the scaffolds, as well as the cytotoxicity of the environment deep inside due to limited fluid access. Therefore, mercury porosimetry, nitrogen absorption, and TEM have been used to characterize nanopore network of the scaffolds. In parallel, viability of MG 63 human osteosarcoma cells seeded on scaffold surface was investigated by fluorescence, confocal and electron microscopy methods. The results show that cells attach, migrate and penetrate inside the glass scaffold with high proliferation and viability rate. Additionally, scaffolds were implanted under the skin of a male New Zealand rabbit for in vivo animal test. Initial observations show the formation of new tissue with blood vessels and collagen fibers deep inside the implanted scaffolds with no obvious inflammatory reaction. Thus, the new nano-macro dual-porous glass structure could be a promising bioscaffold for use in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering for bone regeneration.

Near infrared photothermoelectric effect in transparent AZO/ITO/Ag/ITO thin films.

A new concept of oxide-metal-oxide structures that combine photothermoelectric effect with high reflectance (~ 80%) at wavelengths in the infrared (> 1100 nm) and high transmittance in the visible range is reported here. This was observed in optimized ITO/Ag/ITO structure, 20 nm of Silver (Ag) and 40 nm of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO), deposited on Aluminum doped Zinc Oxide (AZO) thin film. These layers show high energy saving efficiency by keeping the temperature constant inside a glazed compartment under solar radiation, but additionally they also show a photothermoelectric effect. Under uniform heating of the sample a thermoelectric effect is observed (S = 40 mV/K), but when irradiated, a potential proportional to the intensity of the radiation is also observed. Therefore, in addition to thermal control in windows, these low emission coatings can be applied as transparent photothermoelectric devices.

Functionalizing nanoparticles with cancer-targeting antibodies: A comparison of strategies.

Standard cancer therapies sometimes fail to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs to tumor cells in a safe and effective manner. Nanotechnology takes the lead in providing new therapeutic options for cancer due to major potential for selective targeting and controlled drug release. Antibodies and antibody fragments are attracting much attention as a source of targeting ligands to bind specific receptors that are overexpressed on cancer cells. Therefore, researchers are devoting time and effort to develop targeting strategies based on nanoparticles functionalized with antibodies, which hold great promise to enhance therapeutic efficacy and circumvent severe side effects. Several methods have been described to immobilize antibodies on the surface of nanoparticles. However, selecting the most appropriate for each application is challenging but also imperative to preserve antigen binding ability and yield stable antibody-conjugated nanoparticles. From this perspective, we aim to provide considerable knowledge on the most widely used methods of functionalization that can be helpful for decision-making and design of conjugation protocols as well. This review summarizes adsorption, covalent conjugation (carbodiimide, maleimide and "click" chemistries) and biotin-avidin interaction, while discussing the advantages, limitations and relevant therapeutic approaches currently under investigation.

Extensive Hepatectomy as an Alternative to Liver Transplant in Advanced Hepatoblastoma: A New Protocol Used in a Pediatric Liver Transplantation Center.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is a key factor in the treatment of hepatoblastoma, but choosing between an aggressive resection and liver transplant may be an extremely difficult task. The aim of this study was to describe the outcomes of patients with advanced hepatoblastoma: pretreatment extent of disease (PRETEXT)/post-treatment extent of disease (POST-TEXT) III and IV undergoing aggressive resections or living donor liver transplant in cases involving the entire liver. Based on this experience, a new protocol for the treatment of these patients was proposed. METHODS: A retrospective study included patients with advanced hepatoblastoma (POST-TEXT III and IV) who were referred for a liver transplant from 2010 to 2017. RESULTS: A total of 24 children were included: 13 (54.2%) were male, with a median age at diagnosis of 42 months (range, 15-120 months), and a history of prematurity was identified in 20.8% of the patients. Ten cases (41.7%) were staged as PRETEXT/POST-TEXT III, and 12 cases (50.0%) were staged as PRETEXT/POST-TEXT IV. Two patients were referred after posthepatectomy recurrence. Five patients underwent a liver transplant, with recurrence and death in 2 patients (40.0%) within a mean period of 6 months. In the extensive hepatectomy group, there was recurrence in 6 patients (31.6%), with disease-free outcomes and overall survival in 63.2% and 94.7% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: In cases of advanced hepatoblastoma, an extensive surgical approach is a valuable option. The fact that the team was fully prepared to proceed with living donor liver transplant allowed the surgeon to be more aggressive and to switch to transplantation when resection was not possible.

Stability under humidity, UV-light and bending of AZO films deposited by ALD on Kapton.

Aluminium doped zinc oxide (AZO) films were grown by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) on yellow Kapton and transparent Kapton (type CS) substrates for large area flexible transparent thermoelectric applications, which performance relies on the thermoelectric properties of the transparent AZO films. Therefore, their adhesion to Kapton, environmental and bending stability were accessed. Plasma treatment on Kapton substrates improved films adhesion, reduced cracks formation, and enhanced electrical resistance stability over time, of importance for long term thermoelectric applications in external environment. While exposure to UV light intensity caused the films electrical resistance to vary, and therefore their maximum power density outputs (0.3-0.4 mW/cm3) for a constant temperature difference (∼10 °C), humidity exposure and consecutive bending up to a curvature radius above the critical one (∼18 mm) not. Testing whether the films can benefit from encapsulation revealed that this can provide extra bending stability and prevent contacts deterioration in the long term.

Synthesis of thermoelectric magnesium-silicide pastes for 3D printing, electrospinning and low-pressure spray.

In this work, eco-friendly magnesium-silicide (Mg2Si) semiconducting (n-type) thermoelectric pastes for building components concerning energy-harvesting devices through 3D printing, spray and electrospinning were synthetized and tested for the first time. The Mg2Si fine powders were obtained through the combination of ball milling and thermal annealing under Ar atmosphere. While the latter process was crucial for obtaining the desired Mg2Si phase, the ball milling was indispensable for homogenizing and reducing the grain size of the powders. The synthetized Mg2Si powders exhibited a large Seebeck coefficient of ~ 487 µV/K and were blended with a polymeric solution in different mass ratios to adjust the paste viscosity to the different requirements of 3D printing, electrospinning and low-pressure spray. The materials produced in every single stage of the paste synthesis were characterized by a variety of techniques that unequivocally prove their viability for producing thermoelectric parts and components. These can certainly trigger further research and development in green thermoelectric generators (TEGs) capable of adopting any form or shape with enhanced thermoelectric properties. These green TEGs are meant to compete with common toxic materials such as Bi2Te3, PbTe and CoSb that have Seebeck coefficients in the range of ~ 290-700 µV/K, similar to that of the produced Mg2Si powders and lower than that of 3D printed bulk Mg2Si pieces, measured to be ~ 4866 µV/K. Also, their measured thermal conductivities proved to be significantly lower (~ 0.2 W/mK) than that reported for Mg2Si (≥ 4 W/mK). However, it is herein demonstrated that such thermoelectric properties are not stable over time. Pressureless sintering proved to be indispensable, but difficultly achievable by long thermal annealing (even above 32 h) in inert atmosphere at 400 °C, at least for bulk Mg2Si pieces constituted by a mean grain size of 2-3 µm. Hence, for overcoming this sintering challenge and become the silicide's extrusion viable in the production of bulk thermoelectric parts, alternative pressureless sintering methods will have to be further explored.

The Ankle-Brachial Index is Associated With Cardiovascular Complications After Noncardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the association of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and cardiovascular complications after noncardiac surgery. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated patients referred for noncardiac surgery. The ABI was performed before surgery. Patients with abnormal ABI (≤ 0.9) were included in the peripheral artery disease (PAD) group and the remaining constituted the control group. Cardiac troponin and electrocardiogram were obtained 72 hours after surgery. Patients were followed up to 30 days, and primary end point was the occurrence of any cardiovascular event: cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, isolated troponin elevation (ITE), decompensated heart failure, cardiogenic shock, unstable arrhythmias, nonfatal cardiac arrest, pulmonary edema, stroke, or PAD symptoms increase. RESULTS: We evaluated 124 patients (61.3% male; mean age 65.4 years). During the study, 57.9% of patients in the PAD group had an event versus 25.7% in the control group (P = .011). The ITE was the most observed event (24.2%). After logistic regression, the odds ratio for ITE was 7.4 (95% confidence interval 2.2-25.0, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients submitted to noncardiac surgery, abnormal ABI is associated with a higher occurrence of a cardiovascular event.

Biodegradable polymer blends based on corn starch and thermoplastic chitosan processed by extrusion.

Blends of thermoplastic cornstarch (TPS) and chitosan (TPC) were obtained by melt extrusion. The effect of TPC incorporation in TPS matrix and polymer interaction on morphology and thermal and mechanical properties were investigated. Possible interactions between the starch molecules and thermoplastic chitosan were assessed by XRD and FTIR techniques. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses showed a homogeneous fracture surface without the presence of starch granules or chitosan aggregates. Although the incorporation of thermoplastic chitosan caused a decrease in both tensile strength and stiffness, films with better extensibility and thermal stability were produced.

Office paper platform for bioelectrochromic detection of electrochemically active bacteria using tungsten trioxide nanoprobes.

Electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) have the capability to transfer electrons to cell exterior, a feature that is currently explored for important applications in bioremediation and biotechnology fields. However, the number of isolated and characterized EAB species is still very limited regarding their abundance in nature. Colorimetric detection has emerged recently as an attractive mean for fast identification and characterization of analytes based on the use of electrochromic materials. In this work, WO3 nanoparticles were synthesized by microwave assisted hydrothermal synthesis and used to impregnate non-treated regular office paper substrates. This allowed the production of a paper-based colorimetric sensor able to detect EAB in a simple, rapid, reliable, inexpensive and eco-friendly method. The developed platform was then tested with Geobacter sulfurreducens, as a proof of concept. G. sulfurreducens cells were detected at latent phase with an RGB ratio of 1.10 ± 0.04, and a response time of two hours.

Phylogenetic analysis of Brazilian Flavivirus using nucleotide sequences of parts of NS5 gene and 3' non-coding regions.

Viruses of the genus Flavivirus, which are arboviruses, of the Flaviviridae family, are amongst the most important agents of infectious disease in Brazil, causing human infections with a high morbility and mortality. In this work, the phylogeny of 14 virus amplicon sequences that were obtained by RT-PCR with universal primers for mosquito-borne Flavivirus were studied. The amplicons included a region of the Flavivirus genome of 129 nucleotides at the 3' terminus of the NS5 gene and the 145 initial nucleotides of the 3' non-coding region (NS5-3'NCR). Based on phylogenetic trees, most Brazilian Flaviviruses were grouped into two main branches, including a yellow-fever branch and a second main branch divided into a dengue branch that in its turn is subdivided into serotype 1, 2 and 4 branches, and another (Japanese Encephalitis Virus Complex) branch including SLE and Ilhéus. Rocio and Cacipacoré viruses were included in the Japanese Encephalitis Virus Complex branch in one of the two phylogenetic trees. Iguape virus appears in phylogenetic trees as a separate distant branch.

Comparison of individual and group cognitive-behavioral therapy for alcohol and/or drug-dependent patients.

AIMS AND DESIGN: A randomized clinical trial was performed to evaluate the influence of two formats of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy (individual vs. group) in the treatment of alcohol and/or drug dependent patients. SETTING: Public outpatient drug dependence service. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and fifty-five alcohol and/or drug-dependent patients. INTERVENTION: The patients were randomly assigned to individual (n = 77) or group (n = 78) treatment formats. The treatment was developed into two phases: acquisition (eight sessions) and maintenance (nine sessions), distributed over an 8-month period. MEASUREMENTS: Alcohol and drug use, severity of dependence, and alcohol- and drug-related problems were evaluated at pre-treatment and 15 months after admission to treatment. FINDINGS: At follow-up evaluation both groups of patients presented similar levels of drug consumption, dependence and associated problems. Although group-treated patients reported slightly higher levels of alcohol consumption (both at baseline and follow-up) differences between the formats disappear if baseline levels are included as covariates. Compliance with treatment and a measure of drug severity were predictors of success for the drug dependents. The number of sessions attended and high GGT levels at admission were positively correlated with success for the alcohol dependents. CONCLUSIONS: The two modalities presented similar outcomes and, as the group format could present a better cost-benefit ratio, it may be used without decreasing compliance with treatment or treatment effectiveness.

Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Phoma cava. Report of a case and review of the literature.

We report a case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis observed in a male patient presenting pulmonary sarcoidosis and submitted to corticosteroid treatment. He presented nodular erythematous-violaceous skin lesions in the dorsum of the right hand. Histopathological examination of the biopsied lesion revealed dematiaceous hyphae and yeast-like cells, with a granulomatous tissual reaction. The isolated fungus was identified as Phoma cava. A review of the literature on fungal infection caused by different Phoma species, is presented. The patient healed after therapy with amphotericin B. followed by itraconazole.

Regional odontodysplasia: an unusual case with a conservative approach.

A case of a 14-year-old male with regional odontodysplasia is reported. In this presentation many atypical clinical and radiographical features of this condition are present. The chief complaint of the patient was the enlargement of the gingiva and, according to the literature, inflammatory processes are the main reason why patients look for care. Moreover, there was no radiographic evidence of unerupted teeth in this report. The functional and psychological benefits of the conservative approach are emphasised.