Deeper-band electron contributions to stopping power of silicon for low-energy ions.

This study provides accurate results for the electronic stopping cross sections of H, He, N, and Ne in silicon in low to intermediate energy ranges using various non-perturbative theoretical methods, including real-time time-dependent density functional theory, transport cross section, and induced-density approach. Recent experimental findings [Ntemou et al., Phys. Rev. B 107, 155145 (2023)] revealed discrepancies between the estimates of density functional theory and the observed values. We show that these discrepancies vanish by considering the nonuniform electron density of the deeper silicon bands for ion velocities approaching zero (v → 0). This indicates that mechanisms such as "elevator" and "promotion," which can dynamically excite deeper-band electrons, are active, enabling a localized free-electron gas to emulate ion energy loss, as pointed out by Lim et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 116, 043201 (2016)]. The observation and the description of a velocity-proportionality breakdown in electronic stopping cross sections at very low velocities are considered to be a signature of the contributions of deeper-band electrons.

Ultrasound-guided localization of the radial nerve along the humerus: providing reference points for safer upper arm surgery.

PURPOSE: The close proximity of the radial nerve to the humerus poses a risk during upper arm surgery. Although the general course of the radial nerve is well-known, its exact position in relation to anatomical reference points remains poorly investigated. This study aimed to develop a standardized protocol for the sonographic and clinical identification of the radial nerve in the upper arm. The ultimate goal is to assist surgeons in avoiding iatrogenic radial nerve palsy. METHODS: A total of 76 measurements were performed in 38 volunteers (both sides). Ultrasound measurements were performed using a linear transducer (10 MHz) to identify the radial nerve at two key points: RD (where the radial nerve crosses the dorsal surface of the humerus) and RL (where the radial nerve crosses the lateral aspect of the humerus). Distances from specific reference points (acromion, lateral epicondyle, medial epicondyle, olecranon fossa) to RD and RL were measured, and the angle between the course of the nerve and the humeral axis was recorded. Humeral length was defined as the distance between the posterodorsal corner of the acromion and the lateral epicondyle. RESULTS: The distance from the lateral epicondyle to RD was on average 15.5 cm ± 1.3, corresponding to 50% of the humeral length. The distance from the lateral epicondyle to RL was on average 6.7 cm ± 0.8, corresponding to 21% of the humeral length. The course of the nerve between RD and RL showed an average angulation of 37° to the anatomical axis of the humerus. Gender, BMI, dominant hand, and arm thickness did not correlate with the distances to RD or RL. Measurements were consistent between the left and right side. CONCLUSION: The radial nerve can typically be identified by employing a 1/2 and 1/5 ratio on the dorsal and lateral aspects of the humerus. Due to slight variations in individual anatomy, the utilization of ultrasound-assisted visualization presents a valuable and straightforward approach to mitigate the risk of iatrogenic radial nerve palsy during upper arm surgery. This study introduces an easy and fast protocol for this purpose.

How Ontologies Have Supported Digital Forensics: Review and Recommendations.

The evolution of digital media has increased the number of crimes committed using digital equipment. This has led to the evolution of the computer forensics area to digital forensics (DF). Such an area aims to analyze information through its main phases of identification, collection, organization, and presentation (reporting). As this area has evolved, many techniques have been developed, mainly focusing on the formalization of terminologies and concepts for providing a common vocabulary comprehension. This has demanded efforts on several initiatives, such as the definition of ontologies, which are a means to identify the main concepts of a given area. Hence, the existing literature provides several ontologies developed for supporting the DF area. Therefore, to identify and analyze the existing ontologies for DF, this paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) in which primary studies in the literature are studied. This SLR resulted in the identification of ontology building methodologies, ontology types, feasibility points, evaluation/assessment methods, and DF phases and subareas ontologies have supported. These results were based on the analysis of 29 ontologies that aided in answering six research questions. Another contribution of this paper is a set of recommendations on further ontology-based support of DF investigation, which can guide researchers and practitioners in covering existing research gaps.

The Photothrombotic Model of Ischemic Stroke.

Stroke is a major cause of morbidity worldwide; yet, there is a lack of treatment options to address post-stroke cognitive and motor impairment, thus there is an urgency for developing neuroprotective and restorative therapies. Much of our fundamental understanding of stroke pathology has been derived from animal models. The photothrombotic model of ischemic stroke is commonly used to study cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration, test functional/cognitive outcomes, identify important biomarkers, and assess the effectiveness of novel therapies. It allows for the precise targeting of an infarct to a specific region of the brain, has a low mortality rate, low seizure rate, and is relatively easy to perform. This chapter outlines materials and methods for the photothrombotic model of ischemic stroke in mice, its limitations, and some considerations needed when using this model.

Efficacy of disinfection procedures to reduce Acinetobacter baumanii blaOXA-23 contamination rate of needleless connectors: an in-vitro study.

Aim: This study aimed to verify the efficacy of disinfection procedures to reduce Acinetobacter baumannii blaOXA-23 bacterial load in needleless connectors that had been experimentally contaminated. Methods: Two-way intermediate extender's hub and needle-free valve were contaminated with Acinetobacter baumannii blaOXA-23. To disinfect them, the following procedures were carried out: sterile gauze with 70% ethanol, sterile gauze with Incidin®, and 70% isopropyl alcohol single-use cap, with eight times friction for 10 s, followed by 5 s drying time. The statistical tests Kruskal-Wallis and post-hoc Conover were performed using MedCalc®. Results: A total of 82 experiments were conducted. All tested disinfection procedures were efficacious in reducing the A. baumannii blaOXA-23 load. The 70% IPA single-use cap was found to be the best method for disinfecting the two-way intermediate extender's hub (87.28%), while all the methods were efficacious for the disinfection of the needle-free valve (more than 90%). During the inoculation period, A. baumannii blaOXA-23 showed less adherence to the needle-free valve during the inoculation period, probably due to the device's design. Conclusion: The three tested disinfection procedures using sterile gauze with 70% ethanol, sterile gauze with Incidin®, and 70% IPA single-use cap were found to be efficacious in reducing the bacterial load of A. baumanni blaOXA-23 in needleless connectors. Proper disinfection of needleless connectors is a crucial nursing practice to prevent bloodstream infections, as it significantly reduces the bacterial load present in the device.

Efficient computational modeling of electronic stopping power of organic polymers for proton therapy optimization.

This comprehensive study delves into the intricate interplay between protons and organic polymers, offering insights into proton therapy in cancer treatment. Focusing on the influence of the spatial electron density distribution on stopping power estimates, we employed real-time time-dependent density functional theory coupled with the Penn method. Surprisingly, the assumption of electron density homogeneity in polymers is fundamentally flawed, resulting in an overestimation of stopping power values at energies below 2 MeV. Moreover, the Bragg rule application in specific compounds exhibited significant deviations from experimental data around the stopping maximum, challenging established norms.

NPK fertilization modulates enzyme activity and mitigates the impacts of salinity on West Indian cherry.

Salt stress causes several physiological and biochemical disorders and impairs plant growth. However, adequate fertilization can improve the nutritional status and may reduce significantly the harmful effects caused by salt stress. From this perspective, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of different combinations of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization on the antioxidant activity and accumulation of organic and inorganic solutes in West Indian cherry leaves, in the second year of production. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with treatments distributed in a 10 × 2 factorial arrangement corresponding to ten fertilization combinations (FC) of NPK (FC1: 80-100-100%, FC2:100-100-100%, FC3:120-100-100%, FC4:140-100-100%, FC5:100-80-100%, FC6:100-120-100%, FC7:100-140-100%, FC8:100-100-80%, FC9:100-100-120%, and FC10:100-100-140% of the recommendation) and two levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (ECw) (0.6 and 4.0 dS m-1), with three replications. The multivariate analysis showed that irrigation with water of different electrical conductivities (0.6 and 4.0 dS m-1) resulted in different responses concerning the enzyme activity, production of organic compounds, and accumulation of inorganic solutes in the leaves. Under irrigation with low salinity water, there was greater accumulation of K+, soluble carbohydrates, and proline, and lower activity of antioxidative enzymes, especially SOD and APX. Under high salinity water, greater enzyme activity and higher concentrations of Na+ and Cl- were observed. The results indicate that the response of West Indian cherry to salinity was more towards redox homeostasis than osmotic homeostasis through the accumulation of compatible solutes. Fertilization combination FC5 (100-80-100% corresponding to 200, 24 and 80 g plant-1 of NPK) modulates the enzyme activity of SOD and APX attenuating the impacts of salinity, being an efficient combination to preserve redox homeostasis in West Indian cherry plants grown under salt stress.

ACE gene polymorphisms (rs4340) II and DI are more responsive to the ergogenic effect of caffeine than DD on aerobic power, heart rate, and perceived exertion in a homogeneous Brazilian group of adolescent athletes.

The purpose of this study was to verify the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genotypes DD, DI, and II and caffeine (CAF) ingestion on endurance performance, heart rate, ratio of perceived exertion (RPE), and habitual caffeine intake (HCI) of adolescent athletes. Seventy-four male adolescent athletes (age: DD=16±1.7; DI=16±2.0; II=15±1.7 years) ingested CAF (6 mg/kg) or placebo (PLA) one hour before performing the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) test. No difference was found among groups for HCI. However, CAF increased the maximal distance covered and VO2max in DI and II genotype carriers compared to PLA (DD: Δ=31 m and 0.3 mL·kg-1·min-1; DI: Δ=286 m and 1.1 mL·kg-1·min-1; II: Δ=160 m and 1.4 mL·kg-1·min-1). Heart rate of DI and II genotype carriers increased with CAF compared to PLA, while RPE was higher in the II and lower in the DD genotypes. The correlations between HCI and maximal distance covered or VO2max were significant in the II genotype carriers with CAF. CAF increased endurance capacity, heart rate, and RPE in adolescent athletes with allele I, while endurance performance and aerobic power had a positive correlation to HCI in the II genotype group. These findings suggested that DD genotype were less responsive to CAF and that genetic variations should be taken into account when using CAF supplementation to enhance exercise performance.

A lipid atlas of human and mouse immune cells provides insights into ferroptosis susceptibility.

The cellular lipidome comprises thousands of unique lipid species. Here, using mass spectrometry-based targeted lipidomics, we characterize the lipid landscape of human and mouse immune cells ( www.cellularlipidatlas.com ). Using this resource, we show that immune cells have unique lipidomic signatures and that processes such as activation, maturation and development impact immune cell lipid composition. To demonstrate the potential of this resource to provide insights into immune cell biology, we determine how a cell-specific lipid trait-differences in the abundance of polyunsaturated fatty acid-containing glycerophospholipids (PUFA-PLs)-influences immune cell biology. First, we show that differences in PUFA-PL content underpin the differential susceptibility of immune cells to ferroptosis. Second, we show that low PUFA-PL content promotes resistance to ferroptosis in activated neutrophils. In summary, we show that the lipid landscape is a defining feature of immune cell identity and that cell-specific lipid phenotypes underpin aspects of immune cell physiology.

Post-stroke cognitive impairment and brain hemorrhage are augmented in hypertensive mice.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for both stroke and cognitive impairment, but it is unclear whether it may specifically affect post-stroke cognitive impairment. We assessed the effect of hypertension and/or stroke on brain injury, cognitive outcome, and the brain transcriptomic profile. C57BL/6J mice (n = 117; 3-5 mo.) received s.c. infusion of either saline or angiotensin II followed by sham surgery or photothrombotic stroke targeting the prefrontal cortex seven days later. Cognitive function was assessed with the Barnes maze and RNA sequencing was used to quantify transcriptomic changes in the brain. Angiotensin II treatment produced spontaneous hemorrhaging after stroke. In the Barnes maze, hypertensive mice that received stroke surgery had an increased escape latency compared to other groups (day 3: hypertensive + stroke = 166.6 ± 6.0 s vs. hypertensive + sham = 122.8 ± 13.8 s vs. normotensive + stroke = 139.9 ± 10.1 s vs. normotensive + sham = 101.9 ± 16.7 s), consistent with impaired cognition. RNA sequencing revealed >1500 differentially expressed genes related to neuroinflammation in hypertensive + stroke vs. normotensive + stroke, which included genes associated with apoptosis, microRNAs, autophagy, anti-cognitive biomarkers and Wnt signaling. Overall, we show that the combination of hypertension and stroke resulted in greater learning impairment and brain injury.

Human amnion epithelial cell therapy reduces hypertension-induced vascular stiffening and cognitive impairment.

Vascular inflammation and fibrosis are hallmarks of hypertension and contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and cognitive impairment. However, current anti-hypertensive drugs do not treat the underlying tissue damage, such as inflammation-associated fibrosis. Human amnion epithelial cells have several properties amenable for treating vascular pathology. This study tested the effect of amnion epithelial cells on vascular pathology and cognitive impairment during hypertension. Male C57Bl6 mice (8-12 weeks) were administered vehicle (saline; n = 58) or angiotensin II (0.7 mg/kg/d, n = 56) subcutaneously for 14 d. After surgery, a subset of mice were injected with 106 amnion epithelial cells intravenously. Angiotensin II infusion increased systolic blood pressure, aortic pulse wave velocity, accumulation of aortic leukocytes, and aortic mRNA expression of collagen subtypes compared to vehicle-infused mice (n = 9-11, P < 0.05). Administration of amnion epithelial cells attenuated these effects of angiotensin II (P < 0.05). Angiotensin II-induced cognitive impairment was prevented by amnion epithelial cell therapy (n = 7-9, P < 0.05). In the brain, amnion epithelial cells modulated some of the inflammatory genes that angiotensin II promoted differential expression of (n = 6, p-adjusted < 0.05). These findings suggest that amnion epithelial cells could be explored as a potential therapy to inhibit vascular pathology and cognitive impairment during hypertension.

Osmotic regulators in cowpea beans plants under water deficiency.

Cowpea is a leguminous plant belonging to the fabaceae family cultivated in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, with productive potential. Among the abiotic factors, water deficiency is one of the main environmental limitations that influence agricultural production in the world. The objective of this work was to study the relative water content and osmoregulators of cowpea plants subjected to water stress. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at the Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia (UFRA, Belém, PA), cowpea plants BR-17 Gurguéia Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp were used. The experimental design was completely randomized (DIC) in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, two water conditions (control and water deficit) and two times of stress (four and six days of water suspension), with 7 replications, totaling 28 experimental units. The water deficit affected plants, causing a reduction in relative water content (69.98%), starch (12.84% in leaves and 23.48% in roots) and carbohydrates (84.34%), and an increase in glycine-betaine, sucrose (114.11% in leaves and 18.71% in roots) and proline (358.86%) at time 2. The relative water content was negatively affected by water conditions, with a decrease in relation to the interaction of the aerial part and the root system. Therefore, greater metabolic responses were noted in plants that were subjected to stress treatment at time 2 (6 days).

Calculating Route: Functional Trajectories and Long-Term Outcomes in Survivors of Severe COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated functional trajectories after severe COVID-19 and estimated their associations with adverse outcomes (falls, rehospitalizations, institutionalization, or death), cognition and post COVID-19 condition within 1-year of hospital discharge. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A large academic medical center in Sao Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Survivors of COVID-19 admissions to an intensive care unit. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS: We evaluated participants' disability status before hospital admission and three, six, nine, and twelve months after discharge using 15 activities of daily living. During follow-up, cognition and post COVID-19 condition (defined as persistent symptoms with duration ≥2 months) were assessed. A latent class growth analysis was performed to investigate functional trajectories after discharge. RESULTS: We included 422 participants (median age 63 years, 13.5% were frail before COVID-19). Four distinct functional trajectories could be identified: "minimal disability trajectory" (37.4% of participants), "mild disability trajectory" (37.9%), "moderate disability trajectory" (16.8%), and "severe disability trajectory" (7.8%). Compared with minimal disability trajectory, the odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for 1-year adverse outcomes were 2.28 (1.38-3.76) for minor disability trajectory; 4.21 (2.10-8.42) for moderate disability trajectory; and 4.16 (1.51-11.46) for severe disability trajectory, even after adjustments. The occurrence of post COVID-19 condition was 67.5% and associated with functional trajectories (p=0.004). Cognition was also associated with functional trajectories. CONCLUSION: Severe COVID-19 survivors can experience diverse functional trajectories, with those presenting higher levels of disability at increased risk for long-term adverse outcomes. Further investigations are essential to confirm our findings and assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions, aiming to improve health outcomes in those who survived severe COVID-19 and other causes of sepsis.

Induced reproduction of yellow-tailed lambari (Astyanax lacustris) with Ovopel® and buserelin acetate as alternatives to the protocol with carp pituitary extract.

The objective of this study was to evaluate reproductive traits in adults of Astyanax lacustris subjected to different spawning inducers. The study involved 240 females (12.54 g ± 2.33 and 7.66 cm ± 0.63 cm) and 240 males (5.83 g ± 0.39 g and 6.14 cm ± 0.64 cm), all at reproductive age. Three different inducers were evaluated: (i) 0.4 pellets of Ovopel®/kg of body weight; (ii) 0.5 ml of buserelin acetate/kg of body weight; and (iii) carp pituitary extract (CPE) (5.5 mg CPE/kg body weight for females and 2.5 mg CPE/kg body weight for males), as well as saline solution (without hormone). The degree-hours for spawning were greater (P<0.05) for the Ovopel® treatment (with 204.93) than in the treatment with CPE (183.2). Ovary weight and gonadosomatic index were higher (P<0.05) in CPE and Ovopel® treatments when compared to buserelin acetate. The number of oocytes per female, absolute and relative fecundity were greater (P<0.05) for Ovopel® and CPE treatments. Fertilization rate was higher (P<0.05) in treatment with buserelin acetate (82.3%) in relation to Ovopel® (72.33%) and CPE (62.40%) treatments, and the highest (P<0.05) hatching rates were achieved with buserelin acetate and Ovopel®. The number of larvae per female body weight was greater (P<0.05) when Ovopel® was used. In conclusion, Ovopel® proves to be a more effective reproductive inducer for induced reproduction of A. lacustris when compared to CPE and buserelin acetate.

ACE gene polymorphisms (rs4340) II and DI are more responsive to the ergogenic effect of caffeine than DD on aerobic power, heart rate, and perceived exertion in a homogeneous Brazilian group of adolescent athletes

The purpose of this study was to verify the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genotypes DD, DI, and II and caffeine (CAF) ingestion on endurance performance, heart rate, ratio of perceived exertion (RPE), and habitual caffeine intake (HCI) of adolescent athletes. Seventy-four male adolescent athletes (age: DD=16±1.7; DI=16±2.0; II=15±1.7 years) ingested CAF (6 mg/kg) or placebo (PLA) one hour before performing the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) test. No difference was found among groups for HCI. However, CAF increased the maximal distance covered and VO2max in DI and II genotype carriers compared to PLA (DD: Δ=31 m and 0.3 mL·kg-1·min-1; DI: Δ=286 m and 1.1 mL·kg-1·min-1; II: Δ=160 m and 1.4 mL·kg-1·min-1). Heart rate of DI and II genotype carriers increased with CAF compared to PLA, while RPE was higher in the II and lower in the DD genotypes. The correlations between HCI and maximal distance covered or VO2max were significant in the II genotype carriers with CAF. CAF increased endurance capacity, heart rate, and RPE in adolescent athletes with allele I, while endurance performance and aerobic power had a positive correlation to HCI in the II genotype group. These findings suggested that DD genotype were less responsive to CAF and that genetic variations should be taken into account when using CAF supplementation to enhance exercise performance.

Unlocking the molecular realm: advanced approaches for identifying clinically and environmentally relevant bacteria

Rapid, effective, and specific identification of clinical and environmental bacterial pathogens is of major importance for their control. Traditionally, bacteria have been identified by phenotypic methods based on morphological, biochemical, and metabolic properties. While these methods are very useful in clinical practice, they have limitations including a poor ability to differentiate within and between species and time-consuming workflows. Newly developed molecular methods can greatly improve the accuracy of taxonomic characterization, identifying specific strains of medical or environmental importance. However, due to high costs and the need for trained professionals, these methods are not yet routine in diagnostic laboratories. Thus, disseminating knowledge on advances in molecular identification techniques is pivotal to make these methodologies accessible. The objective of this work was to review and discuss current molecular techniques for bacteria identification aiming to track and monitor microbial agents in clinical and environmental samples.

Evaluation of antioxidant, photoprotective and antinociceptive activities of Marcetia macrophylla extract: potential for formulation of sunscreens / Avaliação da atividade antioxidante, photoprotetora e antinociceptiva de Marcetia macrophylla: potencial formulação fotoprotetora

Abstract The antioxidant, photoprotective and antinociceptive Marcetia macrophylla active extract was investigated as an active ingredient in a sunscreen cream formulation. Thus, the M. macrophylla extract showed IC50 of 3.43 mg/ml of the antioxidant (DPPH∙ scavenging test) and Sun Protection Factor of 20.25 (SPF/UV-B, at 250 µg/ml) and UV-A of 78.09% (photobleaching trans-resveratrol test). The antinociceptive activity was superior to all standards tested using the in vivo acetic acid-induced writhing test (99.14% at the dose of 200 mg/kg) and the high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and mass spectroscopy multi-stage (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) enabled the structural characterization of the quercetin-3-O-hexoside, quercetin-3-O-pentoside and quercetin-3-O-desoxihexoside. The pharmaceutical formulation containing the Marcetia macrophylla crude active extract was prepared and the physicochemical tests (organoleptic characteristics, pH analysis and centrifugation), the in vitro UVB (sun protection factor, SPF) and UVA (β-carotene) using the spectroscopic method were investigated. The formulation showed satisfactory results concerning the physicochemical parameters evaluated and active against the UV test. Thus, M. macrophylla showed biological activities with potential use in pharmaceutical preparations.

Resumo O extrato bruto de Marcetia macrophylla mostrou atividade antioxidante, fotoprotetora e antinociceptiva, sendo em seguida investigado como ingrediente ativo em uma formulação fotoprotetora. Assim, o extrato de M. macrophylla apresentou atividade antioxidante com IC50 de 3,43 mg/mL (teste de sequestro do DPPH∙) e Fator de Proteção Solar de 20,25 (FPS/UV-B, 250 µg/mL) e UV-A de 78,09% (teste de fotobranqueamento do trans-resveratrol). A atividade antinociceptiva usando o teste in vivo de contorções abdominais induzidas por ácido acético foi superior a todos os padrões testados (99,14% na dose de 200 mg/Kg). A análise por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência acoplada a detector de fotodiodos e espectroscopia de massas multi-estágio (CLAE-DAD-EM/EM) possibilitou a caracterização dos flavonoides quercetina-3-O-hexosídeo, quercetina-3-O-pentosídeo e quercetina-3-O-desoxihexosídeo. A formulação farmacêutica contendo o extrato ativo bruto de Marcetia macrophylla foi preparada e os testes físico-químicos (características organolépticas, análise de pH e centrifugação), o UVB in vitro (fator de proteção solar, FPS) e UVA (β-caroteno) foram investigados. A formulação apresentou resultados satisfatórios frente aos parâmetros físico-químicos avaliados e ativos contra UV. Assim, M. macrophylla apresentou atividades biológicas com potencial uso em preparações fitofarmacêuticas.