Beyond Spin Models in Orbitally Degenerate Open-Shell Nanographenes.

The study of open-shell nanographenes has relied on a paradigm where spins are the only low-energy degrees of freedom. Here we show that some nanographenes can host low-energy excitations that include strongly coupled spin and orbital degrees of freedom. The key ingredient is the existence of orbital degeneracy, as a consequence of leaving the benzenoid/half-filling scenario. We analyze the case of nitrogen-doped triangulenes, using both density-functional theory and Hubbard model multiconfigurational and random-phase approximation calculations. We find a rich interplay between orbital and spin degrees of freedom that confirms the need to go beyond the spin-only paradigm, opening a new avenue in this field of research.

The pace of life for forest trees.

Tree growth and longevity trade-offs fundamentally shape the terrestrial carbon balance. Yet, we lack a unified understanding of how such trade-offs vary across the world's forests. By mapping life history traits for a wide range of species across the Americas, we reveal considerable variation in life expectancies from 10 centimeters in diameter (ranging from 1.3 to 3195 years) and show that the pace of life for trees can be accurately classified into four demographic functional types. We found emergent patterns in the strength of trade-offs between growth and longevity across a temperature gradient. Furthermore, we show that the diversity of life history traits varies predictably across forest biomes, giving rise to a positive relationship between trait diversity and productivity. Our pan-latitudinal assessment provides new insights into the demographic mechanisms that govern the carbon turnover rate across forest biomes.

Transplantation of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells in complete cervical spinal cord injury: a pilot study.

Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious condition that can lead to partial or complete paraplegia or tetraplegia. Currently, there are few therapeutic options for these conditions, which are mainly directed toward the acute phase, such as surgical intervention and high-dose steroid administration. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been shown to improve neurological function following spinal cord injury. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and potential efficacy of MSC transplantation in patients with cervical traumatic SCI. Methods: We included seven subjects with chronic traumatic SCI (> 1 year) at the cervical level, classified as American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale (AIS) grade A. Subjects received two doses of autologous bone marrow derived MSC, the first by direct injection into the lesion site after hemilaminectomy and the second three months later by intrathecal injection. Neurologic evaluation, spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), urodynamics, and life quality questionnaires were assessed before and after treatment. Results: Cell transplantation was safe without severe or moderate adverse effects, and the procedures were well tolerated. Neurological evaluation revealed discrete improvements in sensitivity below the lesion level, following treatment. Five subjects showed some degree of bilateral sensory improvement for both superficial and deep mechanical stimuli compared to the pretreatment profile. No significant alterations in bladder function were observed during this study. Conclusion: Transplantation of autologous MSC in patients with chronic cervical SCI is a safe and feasible procedure. Further studies are required to confirm the efficacy of this therapeutic approach. Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02574572, identifier NCT02574572.

Molecular and Evolutionary Characteristics of Chicken Parvovirus (ChPV) Genomes Detected in Chickens with Runting-Stunting Syndrome.

Chicken Parvovirus (ChPV) belongs to the genus Aveparvovirus and is implicated in enteric diseases like runting-stunting syndrome (RSS) in poultry. In RSS, chicken health is affected by diarrhea, depression, and increased mortality, causing significant economic losses in the poultry industry. This study aimed to characterize the ChPV genomes detected in chickens with RSS through a metagenomic approach and compare the molecular and evolutionary characteristics within the Aveparvovirus galliform1 species. The intestinal content of broiler flocks affected with RSS was submitted to viral metagenomics. The assembled prevalent genomes were identified as ChPV after sequence and phylogenetic analysis, which consistently clustered separately from Turkey Parvovirus (TuPV). The strain USP-574-A presented signs of genomic recombination. The selective pressure analysis indicated that most of the coding genes in A. galliform1 are evolving under diversifying (negative) selection. Protein modeling of ChPV and TuPV viral capsids identified high conservancy over the VP2 region. The prediction of epitopes identified several co-localized antigenic peptides from ChPV and TuPV, especially for T-cell epitopes, highlighting the immunological significance of these sites. However, most of these peptides presented host-specific variability, obeying an adaptive scenario. The results of this study show the evolutionary path of ChPV and TuPV, which are influenced by diversifying events such as genomic recombination and selective pressure, as well as by adaptation processes, and their subsequent immunological impact.

Characterization of multiple human papillomavirus types in the human vagina following ovarian hormonal stimulation.

The objective of study was to characterize HPV in vaginal samples from women being seen at the Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility at Weill Cornell Medicine before and following ovarian stimulation. A total of 29 women made samples available for analysis by viral metagenomics. Eighteen women were HPV-positive, six (33.3%) at their initial visit and 15 (83.3%) following hormone stimulation (p = 0.0059). Pairwise comparison of nucleotide sequences and phylogenetic analysis showed the classification sequences into two genera: Alphapapillomavirus and Gammapapillomavirus. Sequences were from 8 HPV types: HPV 51 (n = 2), HPV 68 (n = 1), HPV 83 (n = 9), HPV 84 (n = 2), HPV 121 (n = 6), HPV 175 (n = 1) and HPV 190 (n = 1). Additionally, C16b and C30 likely represent new types. In summary, multiple HPV types are present in the vagina of reproductive age women and are induced by hormone used to stimulate ovulation.

New Iflavirus Species Characterized from Mosquitoes Captured in the Sao Paulo Zoological Facilities.

Metagenomic studies of mosquito viromes demonstrated a more diverse composition than just an exclusive composition of pathogenic arboviruses transmitted to humans. In our study, the virome of 866 female mosquitoes collected throughout 2020 at the São Paulo Zoo, located in the city of São Paulo/SP-Brazil, was obtained. Specifically, in this paper, we describe a new virus found by viral RNA extraction and next-generation MiSeq sequencing of a group of 23 specimens of Anopheles (Nys.) strodei. The complete genome with a length of 9709 nucleotides was characterized by a positive orientation and a single strand, with a single large ORF, which encodes a polyprotein of 2987 amino acids. The phylogenetic analysis showed an association with the viral family Iflaviridae and the Riboviria realm. We carried out comparisons with translated sequences of the capsid regions of other iflavirus, and the identities in relation to our sequence were below the minimum limit of 90%, indicating that possibly it is a new species of iflavirus. Our findings contribute to expanding knowledge of virome composition among mosquito species in Brazil and globally. Moreover, we provide a viral genome reference specific to this geographic region and Culicidae family of mosquitoes. This resource facilitates future in silico recognition and assembly of viral genomes within metagenomic datasets.

Novel members of the order Picornavirales identified in freshwater from Guarapiranga reservoir in São Paulo.

The global challenge of water resource availability is exacerbated by anthropogenic influences that promote the emergence of pollutants. Among these pollutants are microbiological agents, including viruses, which are ubiquitous in the biosphere and play a pivotal role in both ecological balance and the occurrence of diseases in animals and plants. Consequently, monitoring viruses in water sources becomes indispensable for the establishment of effective prevention, promotion, and control strategies. Within this context, the study focuses on the identification of novel viruses belonging to the Picornavirales order in freshwater from the Guarapiranga Reservoir in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The samples were subjected to viral metagenomics. Our analysis led to the characterization of four distinct sequences (GinkV-05, AquaV_10, MarV_14, and MarV_64), which exhibited significant divergence compared to other members of the Picornavirales order. This remarkable diversity prompted the identification of a potential new genus within the Marnaviridae family, tentatively named Ginkgonavirus. Additionally, we characterized four sequences in a very distinct clade and propose the recognition of a novel family (named Aquaviridae) within the Picornavirales order. Our findings contribute valuable insights into the previously uncharted diversity of Picornavirales present in water sources, shedding light on an important facet of viral ecology and evolution in aquatic environments.

Polyautoimmunity and multiple autoimmune syndrome in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: The coexistence of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) with other autoimmune diseases (AID) has been increasingly reported. The prevalence and significance of this association are not fully understood. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the clinical and laboratory characteristics in NMOSD patients with and without AID. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving adults meeting NMOSD criteria followed in a neuroimmunology clinic at a tertiary center. Descriptive analysis of clinical/paraclinical/treatment/outcome data collected from the medical records was compared between NMOSD patients with AID (polyautoimmunity) and those without AID. RESULTS: From a cohort of 46 NMOSD patients, 16 (34.8 %) patients, mostly women around 40 years of age, presented with polyautoimmunity: 10 anti-AQP4 positive, 4 anti-MOG positive, and 2 seronegative. Five different organ -specific AID, and six systemic AID were identified in the polyautoimmunity patients group, in addition to 6 cases of multiple autoimmune syndrome. The AID manifestation preceded NMOSD in 10 (62.5 %) patients, with a median interval of 7 years. The NMOSD with polyautoimmunity and NMOSD without AID groups had similar initial clinical manifestations with optic neuritis and/or myelitis being most frequent. Inflammatory CSF, namely elevated proteins, was more common in the polyautoimmunity group (13.0 % in NMOSD vs. 31.3 % in NMOSD+AID, p = 0.003). After a 10±6 years follow-up period, more patients with polyautoimmunity had a relapsing disease (75.0 % in NMOSD vs. 46.7 % in NMOSD+AID, p = 0.012) but no difference in the functional outcome evaluated by the EDSS score was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Polyautoimmunity was common in AQP4 positive NMOSD patients leading to a significantly higher risk of disease recorrence. The presence of polyautoimmunity and multiple autoimmune syndrome in NMOSD patients suggests the existence of common susceptibility factors or pathophysiological mechanisms, emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to those patients.

Development of an automated 3D high content cell screening platform for organoid phenotyping.

The use of organoid models in biomedical research has grown substantially since their inception. As they gain popularity among scientists seeking more complex and biologically relevant systems, there is a direct need to expand and clarify potential uses of such systems in diverse experimental contexts. Herein we outline a high-content screening (HCS) platform that allows researchers to screen drugs or other compounds against three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems in a multi-well format (384-well). Furthermore, we compare the quality of robotic liquid handling with manual pipetting and characterize and contrast the phenotypic effects detected by confocal imaging and biochemical assays in response to drug treatment. We show that robotic liquid handling is more consistent and amendable to high throughput experimental designs when compared to manual pipetting due to improved precision and automated randomization capabilities. We also show that image-based techniques are more sensitive to detecting phenotypic changes within organoid cultures than traditional biochemical assays that evaluate cell viability, supporting their integration into organoid screening workflows. Finally, we highlight the enhanced capabilities of confocal imaging in this organoid screening platform as they relate to discerning organoid drug responses in single-well co-cultures of organoids derived from primary human biopsies and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Altogether, this platform enables automated, imaging-based HCS of 3D cellular models in a non-destructive manner, opening the path to complementary analysis through integrated downstream methods.

Deep learning and automatic differentiation of pancreatic lesions in endoscopic ultrasound - a transatlantic study.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allows characterization and biopsy of pancreatic lesions. Pancreatic cystic neoplasms (PCN) include in mucinous (M-PCN) and non-mucinous lesions (NM-PCN). Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (P-DAC) is the commonest pancreatic solid lesion (PSL), followed by pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (P-NET). While EUS is preferred for pancreatic lesion evaluation, its diagnostic accuracy is suboptimal. This multicentric study aims to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) for detecting and distinguishing PCN (namely M-PCN and NM-PCN) and PSL (particularly P-DAC and P-NET). A CNN was developed with 378 EUS exams from 4 international reference centers (Centro Hospitalar Universitário São João, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, New York University Hospitals, Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP). 126.000 images were obtained - 19.528 M-PCN, 8.175 NM-PCN, 64.286 P-DAC, 29.153 P-NET and 4.858 normal pancreas images. A trinary CNN differentiated normal pancreas tissue from M-PCN and NM-PCN. A binary CNN distinguished P-DAC from P-NET. The total dataset was divided in a training and testing dataset (used for model's evaluation) in a 90/10% ratio. The model was evaluated through its sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy. The CNN had 99.1% accuracy for identifying normal pancreatic tissue, 99.0% and 99.8% for M-PCN and NM-PCN, respectively. P-DAC and P-NET were distinguished with 94.0% accuracy. Our group developed the first worldwide CNN capable of detecting and differentiating the commonest PCN and PSL in EUS images, using exams from 4 centers in two continents, minimizing the impact of the demographic bias. Larger multicentric studies are needed for technology implementation.

New tree height allometries derived from terrestrial laser scanning reveal substantial discrepancies with forest inventory methods in tropical rainforests.

Tree allometric models, essential for monitoring and predicting terrestrial carbon stocks, are traditionally built on global databases with forest inventory measurements of stem diameter (D) and tree height (H). However, these databases often combine H measurements obtained through various measurement methods, each with distinct error patterns, affecting the resulting H:D allometries. In recent decades, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) has emerged as a widely accepted method for accurate, non-destructive tree structural measurements. This study used TLS data to evaluate the prediction accuracy of forest inventory-based H:D allometries and to develop more accurate pantropical allometries. We considered 19 tropical rainforest plots across four continents. Eleven plots had forest inventory and RIEGL VZ-400(i) TLS-based D and H data, allowing accuracy assessment of local forest inventory-based H:D allometries. Additionally, TLS-based data from 1951 trees from all 19 plots were used to create new pantropical H:D allometries for tropical rainforests. Our findings reveal that in most plots, forest inventory-based H:D allometries underestimated H compared with TLS-based allometries. For 30-metre-tall trees, these underestimations varied from -1.6 m (-5.3%) to -7.5 m (-25.4%). In the Malaysian plot with trees reaching up to 77 m in height, the underestimation was as much as -31.7 m (-41.3%). We propose a TLS-based pantropical H:D allometry, incorporating maximum climatological water deficit for site effects, with a mean uncertainty of 19.1% and a mean bias of -4.8%. While the mean uncertainty is roughly 2.3% greater than that of the Chave2014 model, this model demonstrates more consistent uncertainties across tree size and delivers less biased estimates of H (with a reduction of 8.23%). In summary, recognizing the errors in H measurements from forest inventory methods is vital, as they can propagate into the allometries they inform. This study underscores the potential of TLS for accurate H and D measurements in tropical rainforests, essential for refining tree allometries.

Human norovirus in Brazil: an update of reports in different settings.

Norovirus is an important etiologic agent of acute gastroenteritis and has become even more relevant in Brazil after the implementation of the monovalent rotavirus vaccine in 2006 through the public health system, now representing a significant portion of the etiology of acute diarrheal diseases. Although diagnosing acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus is a relatively simple process, and the infection tends to be self-limited, the virus can be considerably harmful to vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. The spread of norovirus is also particularly favorable among such groups due to its mode of transmission, favored by cluttered environments such as in hospitals and densely populated regions. Additionally, norovirus' ability to spread through water and food creates the need for measures to ensure adequate sanitation and the development of effective measures to prevent outbreaks and severe manifestations of the disease. This review aims to address the main reports of human norovirus detected in Brazil over the years, focusing on clinical-hospital, food-related, and urban conglomerate contexts, including the circulating strains.

A Markovian dynamics for Caenorhabditis elegans behavior across scales.

How do we capture the breadth of behavior in animal movement, from rapid body twitches to aging? Using high-resolution videos of the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, we show that a single dynamics connects posture-scale fluctuations with trajectory diffusion and longer-lived behavioral states. We take short posture sequences as an instantaneous behavioral measure, fixing the sequence length for maximal prediction. Within the space of posture sequences, we construct a fine-scale, maximum entropy partition so that transitions among microstates define a high-fidelity Markov model, which we also use as a means of principled coarse-graining. We translate these dynamics into movement using resistive force theory, capturing the statistical properties of foraging trajectories. Predictive across scales, we leverage the longest-lived eigenvectors of the inferred Markov chain to perform a top-down subdivision of the worm's foraging behavior, revealing both "runs-and-pirouettes" as well as previously uncharacterized finer-scale behaviors. We use our model to investigate the relevance of these fine-scale behaviors for foraging success, recovering a trade-off between local and global search strategies.

Towards accurate monitoring of water content in woody tissue across tropical forests and other biomes.

Forest ecosystems face increasing drought exposure due to climate change, necessitating accurate measurements of vegetation water content to assess drought stress and tree mortality risks. Although Frequency Domain Reflectometry offers a viable method for monitoring stem water content by measuring dielectric permittivity, challenges arise from uncertainties in sensor calibration linked to wood properties and species variability, impeding its wider usage. We sampled tropical forest trees and palms in eastern Amazônia to evaluate how sensor output differences are controlled by wood density, temperature and taxonomic identity. Three individuals per species were felled and cut into segments within a diverse dataset comprising five dicotyledonous tree and three monocotyledonous palm species on a wide range of wood densities. Water content was estimated gravimetrically for each segment using a temporally explicit wet-up/dry-down approach and the relationship with the dielectric permittivity was examined. Woody tissue density had no significant impact on the calibration, but species identity and temperature significantly affected sensor readings. The temperature artefact was quantitatively important at large temperature differences, which may have led to significant bias of daily and seasonal water content dynamics in previous studies. We established the first tropical tree and palm calibration equation which performed well for estimating water content. Notably, we demonstrated that the sensitivity remained consistent across species, enabling the creation of a simplified one-slope calibration for accurate, species-independent measurements of relative water content. Our one-slope calibration serves as a general, species-independent standard calibration for assessing relative water content in woody tissue, offering a valuable tool for quantifying drought responses and stress in trees and forest ecosystems.

Characterization of CRESS-DNA viruses in human vaginal secretions: An exploratory metagenomic investigation.

The Phylum Cressdnaviricota consists of a large number of circular Rep-encoding single-stranded (CRESS)-DNA viruses. Recently, metagenomic analyzes revealed their ubiquitous distribution in a diverse range of eukaryotes. Data relating to CRESS-DNA viruses in humans remains scarce. Our study investigated the presence and genetic diversity of CRESS-DNA viruses in human vaginal secretions. Vaginal swabs were collected from 28 women between 29 and 43 years old attending a fertility clinic in New York City. An exploratory metagenomic analysis was performed and detection of CRESS-DNA viruses was confirmed through analysis of near full-length sequences of the viral isolates. A phylogenetic tree was based on the REP open reading frame sequences of the CRESS-DNA virus genome. Eleven nearly complete CRESS-DNA viral genomes were identified in 16 (57.1%) women. There were no associations between the presence of these viruses and any demographic or clinical parameters. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that one of the sequences belonged to the genus Gemycircularvirus within the Genomoviridae family, while ten sequences represented previously unclassified species of CRESS-DNA viruses. Novel species of CRESS-DNA viruses are present in the vaginal tract of adult women. Although they be transient commensal agents, the potential clinical implications for their presence at this site cannot be dismissed.

Análise da performance de graduandos ingressantes e concluintes do curso de odontologia na identificação humana pela análise de fotografias do sorriso / Analysis of the performance of incoming and outgoing dental students in human identification through the analysis of smile photographs

Introdução: Os dentes são órgãos de valor inestimável para a identificação humana, uma vez que são as estruturas mais estáveis, duras e resistentes do corpo. Com a existência progressiva para o uso de câmeras digitais para captar fotografias sociais, como as "selfie", em que o foco principal está direcionado no rosto do indivíduo, estas fotografias são capazes de prover material com capacidade para resolver casos de identificação humana. Objetivo: Demonstrar a importância das fotografias do sorriso no processo de identificação humana e comparar e verificar o desempenho de graduandos em Odontologia (ingressantes e concluintes) na identificação humana por meio da análise do sorriso. Material e Métodos: Este estudo utilizou a metodologia e banco de imagens do trabalho de Silva et al. (2012), e o público alvo que avaliou as imagens, modificada. Cada aluno participante da pesquisa analisou um grupo de 4 imagens projetadas, sendo 2 de sorriso (A e B) e 2 intrabucais (C e D). Dentre as 10 fornecidas para cada grupo de imagem, somente uma é compatível com cada fotografia projetada. Resultado: Após análise dos dados, foi possível verificar que 84,6% dos alunos ingressantes (número de 26 alunos) acertaram os testes A e B, e 95,6% dos concluintes (número de 23) acertaram os testes A e B. No teste C podemos observar que 61,5% dos alunos ingressantes acertaram o teste, e 69,6% dos concluintes obtiveram acertos. E, por fim, o teste D mostrou que os ingressantes obtiveram um total de 80,8% de acertos, enquanto todos concluintes (100%) acertaram o teste D. Os parâmetros mais citados foram a coloração dos dentes, a inclinação dental, a morfologia das incisais e o alinhamento incisal. Conclusão: Nesta pesquisa, tanto os alunos ingressantes como os concluintes demostraram capacidade para analisar as fotografias do sorriso na identificação humana. Os alunos ingressantes obtiveram um número maior de erros pelo fato de ainda não terem conhecimento teórico e técnico mais aprofundado em anatomia, tornando isso uma diferença entre ingressantes e concluintes

Introduction: Teeth are invaluable organs for human identification, as they are the most stable, hard and resistant structures in the body. With the progressive use of digital cameras to capture social photographs, such as the "selfie", in which the main focus is on the individual's face, these photographs are able to provide material capable of solving human identification cases. Objective: To demonstrate the importance of smile photographs in the process of human identification and to compare and verify the performance of undergraduate dental students (beginners and graduates) in human identification using smile analysis. Material and Methods: This study used the methodology and image bank of the work by SILVA R.F. et al. (2012), and the target audience that evaluated the images, modified. Each student participating in the study analyzed a group of 4 projected images, 2 of which were smiles (A and B) and 2 intraoral (C and D). Of the 10 provided for each image group, only one was compatible with each projected photograph. Results: After analyzing the data, it was possible to see that 84.6% of the incoming students (26 students) got tests A and B right, and 95.6% of the outgoing students (23) got tests A and B right. In test C we can see that 61.5% of incoming students got the test right, and 69.6% of outgoing students got it right. And finally, test D showed that the entrants got a total of 80.8% right, while all the graduates (100%) got test D right. The most cited parameters were tooth color, tooth inclination, incisal morphology and incisal alignment. Conclusion: In this study, both new students and graduates demonstrated their ability to analyze smile photographs in human identification. The new students had a higher number of errors, due to the fact that they did not yet have in-depth theoretical and technical knowledge of anatomy, making this a difference between new students and graduates

Orthopedic Injuries in Beach Tennis Players in Brazil / Lesões ortopédicas nos praticantes de beach tennis no Brasil

Abstract Objective To analyze the epidemiological data of orthopedic injuries in beach tennis players. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study, through a questionnaire, with 185 beach tennis players during tournaments and training sessions in two cities. The questionnaire comprised anthropometric data, as well as data on length of time practicing the sport and reported orthopedic injuries. Results We excluded 25 of the 185 interviewees. Of the 160 players studied, 51.9% were male and 48.1%, female. The average age was of 40.4 years, the average height was of 1.73 m, the average weight was of 75.6 kg, and the average body mass index (BMI) was of 25.2 kg/m2. Orthopedic injuries were reported by 48.8% of the participants, 30.0% in the lower limbs, 11.3% in the spine, and 25.0% in the upper limbs, with an incidence of 0.82 per one thousand hours of practice. Correlating the incidence of injuries with age, weight, height, and BMI, we only found relevance between the higher average age in patients with lower- and upper-limb injuries. Players who had no previous experience with other racket sports had fewer injuries. Other parameters, such as gender, use of the two-handed backhand, dominant side, participation in competitions, and practice of other sports did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusion Orthopedic injuries were found in almost half of the beach tennis players, primarily in the lower limbs. Age, experience with other racket sports, category, hours of training per week, and length of time playing the sport influenced the incidence of orthopedic injuries.

Resumo Objetivo Analisar os dados epidemiolügicos das lesões ortopédicas nos praticantes de beach tennis. Métodos Foi realizado um estudo transversal, por meio de questionário, em 185 praticantes de beach tennis, durante torneios e treinos, em duas cidades. O questionário consistiu na coleta de dados antropométricos, além de dados relativos ao tempo de prática do esporte e às lesões ortopédicas referidas. Resultados Excluímos 25 dos 185 entrevistados. Dos 160 praticantes estudados, 51,9% eram do sexo masculino, e 48,1%, do feminino. A média de idade foi de 40,4 anos, a média da estatura foi de 1,73 m, a média do peso, de 75,6 kg, e a média do índice de massa corporal (IMC), de 25,2 kg/m2. A presença de lesões ortopédicas foi relatada por 48,8% dos praticantes, sendo 30,0% nos membros inferiores (MMII), 11,3% na coluna, e 25,0% nos membros superiores (MMSS), com incidência de 0,82 a cada mil horas de prática. Correlacionando a incidência de lesões com idade, peso, altura e IMC, encontramos relevância apenas entre a média de idade maior nos pacientes com lesão nos MMII e MMSS. Os jogadores que não tinham experiência prévia com outros esportes com raquete tiveram menos lesões. Demais parâmetros, como sexo, uso do backhand com duas mãos, lado dominante, participação em competições e prática de outros esportes não obtiveram diferenças estatisticamente significantes. Conclusão Lesões ortopédicas foram encontradas em quase a metade dos praticantes de beach tennis, preferencialmente nos MMII. Idade, experiência com outros esportes de raquete, categoria, horas de treino por semana e tempo de prática do esporte influenciaram na incidência de lesões ortopédicas.

Uncovering multiscale structure in the variability of larval zebrafish navigation.

Animals chain movements into long-lived motor strategies, exhibiting variability across scales that reflects the interplay between internal states and environmental cues. To reveal structure in such variability, we build Markov models of movement sequences that bridges across time scales and enables a quantitative comparison of behavioral phenotypes among individuals. Applied to larval zebrafish responding to diverse sensory cues, we uncover a hierarchy of long-lived motor strategies, dominated by changes in orientation distinguishing cruising versus wandering strategies. Environmental cues induce preferences along these modes at the population level: while fish cruise in the light, they wander in response to aversive stimuli, or in search for appetitive prey. As our method encodes the behavioral dynamics of each individual fish in the transitions among coarse-grained motor strategies, we use it to uncover a hierarchical structure in the phenotypic variability that reflects exploration-exploitation trade-offs. Across a wide range of sensory cues, a major source of variation among fish is driven by prior and/or immediate exposure to prey that induces exploitation phenotypes. A large degree of variability that is not explained by environmental cues unravels motivational states that override the sensory context to induce contrasting exploration-exploitation phenotypes. Altogether, by extracting the timescales of motor strategies deployed during navigation, our approach exposes structure among individuals and reveals internal states tuned by prior experience.

Voltage-Driven Fluorine Motion for Novel Organic Spintronic Memristor.

Integrating tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) effect in memristors is a long-term aspiration because it allows to realize multifunctional devices, such as multi-state memory and tunable plasticity for synaptic function. However, the reported TMR in different multiferroic tunnel junctions is limited to 100%. This work demonstrates a giant TMR of -266% in La0.6Sr0.4MnO3(LSMO)/poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF)/Co memristor with thin organic barrier. Different from the ferroelectricity-based memristors, this work discovers that the voltage-driven florine (F) motion in the junction generates a huge reversible resistivity change up to 106% with nanosecond (ns) timescale. Removing F from PVDF layer suppresses the dipole field in the tunneling barrier, thereby significantly enhances the TMR. Furthermore, the TMR can be tuned by different polarizing voltage due to the strong modification of spin-polarization at the LSMO/PVDF interface upon F doping. Combining of high TMR in the organic memristor paves the way to develop high-performance multifunctional devices for storage and neuromorphic applications.