Relevant insights and concepts overlooked throughout the development of flow analysis. A tutorial.

The conceptual expansion, fast development, and general acceptance of flow analysis are consequence of its adherence to the principles of green and white analytical chemistry, and chemical derivatization plays an essential role in this context. Through the flow analysis development, however, some of its potentialities and limitations have been overlooked. This is more evident when the involved modifications in flow rates, timing and/or manifold architecture deteriorate the analytical signals. These aspects have not always been systematically investigated, and are addressed here in relation to flow analyzers with UV-Vis spectrophotometric detection. Novel strategies for solution handling, guidance for dealing with the aforementioned analytical signal deterioration, and an alternative possibility for exploiting differential aspiration are presented. The concept of blank reagent carrier stream is proposed.

Assessment of injuries patterns produced by a 9mm P.A.K "rubber ball" blank firing weapon: porcine model.

The use of less lethal weapons aims to mitigate civilian casualties caused by firearm use. However, due to numerous cases in which these weapons caused serious injuries, even lethal injuries, both legislation and the forensic field are interested in characterizing and regulating them better. In the forensic field, there is a lack of strong research about injury patterns of these weapons which makes it difficult to identify the type of weapon employed. In this study, the main objective was to characterize the injury pattern produced by the impact of the 9 mm P.A.K. projectile. A porcine model was used. Four different distances were studied: firm contact, 10 cm, 60 cm and 110 cm, using 3 of the more representative anatomical sites: the head, the hind leg and the ribs. The average measurement of the entrance orifice varied according to the anatomical site, being 6.67 mm wide and 6.25 mm long in the thorax, 7.3 mm wide and 8.8 mm long in the hind legs, and 7.62 mm wide and 7.54 mm long in the head. The variation in width and length measurements was not found to be directly related to the shot distance. The gunshot residues had similar characteristics to those of conventional lead projectiles, however there was more unburned powder deposit near the wounds, with a less dense soot and more dense powder tattoo. Depth varied widely regardless of tissue and firing distance, although loss of penetrating power and injury is observed as one moves away from the target.

The effect of high-intensity interval training on post-exercise oxygen consumption: a meta-analysis / Efecto del entrenamiento de intervalos de alta intensidad sobre el consumo de oxígeno después delejercicio: metaanálisis / Efeito do treinamento intervalado de alta intensidade sobre o consumo de oxigênio depois do exercício: metanálise

ABSTRACT Introduction: The objective of this study was to present a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare total excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) for two training intervention models in healthy individuals, and the secondary objective was to understand whether oxygen consumption after exercise could really promote a meaningful help. Design: To design a meta-analysis review to compare two training intervention models (experimental: high-intensity interval training; and control: continuous moderate-intensity) and their effects on total EPOC in healthy individuals. Participants: Seventeen studies were considered to be of good methodological quality and with a low risk of bias. Methods: Literature searches were performed using the electronic databases with no restriction on year of publication. The keywords used were obtained by consulting Mesh Terms (PubMed) and DeCS (BIREME Health Science Descriptors). Results: The present study findings showed a tendency (random-effects model: 0.87, 95%-CI [0.35,1.38], I2=73%, p<0.01) to increase EPOC when measured following high-intensity interval training. Conclusions: Our study focused on the analysis of high- and moderate-intensity oxygen uptake results following exercise. Despite the growing popularity of high-intensity interval training, we found that the acute and chronic benefits remain limited. We understand that the lack of a standard protocol and standard training variables provides limited consensus to determine the magnitude of the EPOC. We suggest that longitudinal experimental studies may provide more robust conclusions. Another confounding factor in the studies investigated was the magnitude (time in minutes) of VO2 measurements when assessing EPOC. Measurement times ranged from 60 min to 720 min. Longitudinal studies and controlled experimental designs would facilitate more precise measurements and correct subject numbers would provide accurate effect sizes. Systematic reviewb of Level II studies.

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RESUMO Introdução: O objetivo deste estudo foi apresentar uma revisão sistemática e metanálise para comparar os efeitos de dois modelos de intervenção de treinamento sobre o consumo excessivo de oxigênio pós-exercício (EPOC) em indivíduos saudáveis em treinamento, e o objetivo secundário foi entender se o consumo de oxigênio depois de exercício realmente pode proporcionar ajuda substancial. Objetivo: Elaborar uma revisão de metanálise para comparar um modelo de treinamento de duas intervenções (experimental: treinamento intervalado de alta intensidade, e controle: contínuo de intensidade moderada) e o efeito sobre o EPOC total em indivíduos saudáveis. Participantes: Os 17 estudos foram considerados de boa qualidade metodológica e baixo risco de viés. Métodos: As buscas bibliográficas foram realizadas nos bancos de dados eletrônicos sem restrição de ano de publicação. Os descritores usados foram obtidos em MeSH (PubMed) e DeCS (Descritores em Ciências da Saúde da BIREME). Resultados: Os achados do presente estudo mostraram uma tendência (modelo de efeitos aleatórios: 0,87, IC 95% [0,35;1,38], I ² = 73%, p < 0,01) de aumento do EPOC quando as medidas foram realizadas depois de treinamento intervalado de alta intensidade. Conclusões: Nosso estudo concentrou-se na análise dos resultados de alta e moderada intensidade no consumo de oxigênio depois do exercício. Apesar da crescente popularidade do treinamento intervalado de alta intensidade, descobrimos que os benefícios agudos e crônicos permanecem limitados. Entendemos que a falta de um protocolo e variáveis padronizadas de treinamento fornecem consenso limitado para determinar a magnitude do EPOC. Sugerimos que estudos experimentais longitudinais podem fornecer conclusões mais robustas. Outro fator de confusão nos estudos investigados foi a magnitude (tempo em minutos) das medidas do VO2na avaliação do EPOC. Os tempos de medição variaram de 60 a 720 min. Estudos longitudinais e projetos experimentais controlados facilitariam medições mais precisas e números corretos de indivíduos forneceriam tamanhos de efeito precisos. Nível de evidência II; Revisão sistemáticabde Estudos.

In vivo and in vitro per se effect evaluation of Polycaprolactone and Eudragit® RS100-based nanoparticles.

Biodegradable polymeric nanocapsules (NC) present incredible characteristics as drug nanocarriers that optimize drug targeting. However, However, a more detailed isolated effect of polymer-based nanoparticles as drug carriers is required. This work aimed to evaluate the per se effect of blank-NC (NC-B) with different surface characteristics both in vitro and in vivo toxicity. NC1-B (Polysorbate 80 coated poly(ɛ-caprolactone) NC), NC2-B (polyethylene glycol 6000 coated poly(ɛ-caprolactone) NC), NC3-B (chitosan-coated poly(ɛ-caprolactone) NC) and NC4-B (Eudragit® RS100 NC) were prepared by nanoprecipitation method. Formulations were characterized by particle size, zeta potential, and pH. The in vitro cytotoxicity tests against tumor cell lines were performed (HepG2 and MCF-7). Antiviral activity was evaluated by MTT in Vero cells infected with HSV-1 (KOS strain). In vivo evaluation was performed in apomorphine-induced stereotypy in Wistar rats and locomotor activity distance, head movements, and rearing behavior were measured. NC1-B, NC2-B, NC3-B, and NC4-B had a diameter under 350 nm. The pH and zeta potential of formulations varied according to their coating. For in vitro evaluation of antitumor activity and antiviral activity, one-way ANOVA showed no significant differences in cell viability. In vivo tests showed low neurological effects. In conclusion, different surface characteristics of NC-B did not demonstrate toxicity against the evaluated cell lines HepG2 and MCF-7, antiviral effect against HSV-1, and the neurological effects in a stereotyping model were low and may be attributed to the per se effect of NC-B.

Binding the gap between experiments, statistics, and method comparison: A tutorial for computing limits of detection and quantification in univariate calibration for complex samples.

The present tutorial aims to review the most frequently reported criteria for the calculation of the limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) in univariate calibration, summarizing their fundamentals, advantages, and limitations. The current criteria for estimating LOD and LOQ are based on diverse theoretical and/or empirical assumptions and require different amounts of experimental data, making the calculation rather complex in some cases. Moreover, alternative forms for calculating LOD/LOQ frequently lead to dissimilar results. This scenario might worsen in the case of complex analytical systems. Throughout this tutorial, different forms of calculating LOD/LOQ are illustrated using previously reported experimental datasets in the environmental chemistry field as examples. The influence of the sample matrix during the estimation of LOD/LOQ parameters is investigated through one calibration approache. The discrepancies in the obtained results with different criteria for the calculation of LOD/LOQ are highlighted. Finally, general guidelines and recommendations regarding experimental and data processing issues are proposed, aiming to promote fair criteria for the comparison of different analytical methodologies in terms of prediction ability and detection capability.

Effective use of the blank comparison procedure in simple discrimination by infant capuchin monkeys: A methodological note.

In studies of simple and conditional discrimination, procedures are needed to measure those aspects of stimuli that control behavior. The blank comparison procedure is one such procedure. It was designed explicitly for assessing S+ and S- functions when discriminative stimuli are presented simultaneously. In this procedure, a neutral stimulus serves sometimes as S+ and sometimes as S-. Its discriminative function is defined in relation to other stimuli in the display. The present study aimed to prepare 2 infant female capuchin monkeys for the effective use of the blank comparison procedure in a simple discrimination task. First, simple discrimination training was applied up to a stable accuracy criterion of ≥90%. This training was followed by the replacement of S+ and then of S- stimuli with new stimuli. Ultimately, trials with the blank comparison were introduced. Following this sequence, both monkeys immediately displayed highly accurate blank-comparison performances without the need for stimulus control shaping or other preparatory discrimination training. Thus, this procedure sequence may be an efficient, effective method for establishing blank-comparison baselines for experimental analyses of S+/S- discriminative functions and perhaps for other applications in teaching simple and conditional discrimination performances to this species and others.

Strategic Spatial Anchoring as Cognitive Compensation During Word Categorization in Parkinson's Disease: Evidence from Eye Movements.

The association between a word and typical location (e.g., cloud-up) appears to modulate healthy individuals' response times and visual attention. This study examined whether similar effects can be observed in a clinical population characterized by difficulties in both spatial representation and lexical processing. In an eye-tracking experiment, participants categorized spoken words as either up-associated or down-associated. Parkinson's disease patients exhibited a tendency to maintain their visual attention in the upper half of the screen, however, this tendency was significantly lower when participants categorized concepts as down-associated. Instead, the control group showed no preference for either the upper or lower half of the screen. We argue that Parkinson's disease patients present an over-reliance on space during word categorization as a form of cognitive compensation. Such compensation reveals that this clinical population may use spatial anchoring when categorizing words with a spatial association, even in the absence of explicit spatial cues.