Computational insights into popsilicene as a new planar silicon allotrope composed of 5-8-5 rings.

Silicon-based two-dimensional (2D) materials have garnered significant attention due to their unique properties and potential applications in electronics, optoelectronics, and other advanced technologies. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation of a novel silicon allotrope, Popsilicene (Pop-Si), derived from the structure of Popgraphene. Using density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we explore the thermal stability, mechanical and electronic properties, and optical characteristics of Pop-Si. Our results demonstrate that Pop-Si exhibits good thermal stability at 1000 K. Electronic structure calculations reveal that Pop-Si is metallic, with a high density of states at the Fermi level. Furthermore, our analysis of the optical properties indicates that Pop-Si has pronounced UV-Vis optical activity, making it a promising candidate for optoelectronic devices. Mechanical property assessments show that Pop-Si has Young's modulus ranging from 10 to 92 GPa and a Poisson's ratio of 0.95. These results combined suggest its potential for practical applications.

Nursing interventions in palliative care in the intensive care unit: A systematic review.

CONTEXT: Patients in palliative care are found in different places where care is provided, including the intensive care environment with important role of the nursing staff. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to answer the following question: which nursing interventions are aimed to the palliative care patients who are in the intensive care unit (ICU). DATA SOURCES: US National Library of Medicine (PUBMED), Virtual Health Library (BVS), SciELO, The Cochrane Library (Cochrane) and Lilacs databases were used. DATA EXTRACTION: After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria in accordance with the PRISMA method, a total of 36 entries published between 2010 and 2020 were used. DATA ANALYSIS: The records extracted were analyzed from a qualitative approach, so no statistical analysis was carried out. RESULTS: The findings demonstrated that the interventions that focus on promoting the patient's autonomy and respect their needs on ICU involves effective communication, promoting shared decision with patient and family, individualize care for each patient including the family on the daily care and decisions, maintaining basic nursing care as hygiene and comfort and encouraging self-care, as well as the involvement of nursing palliative care specialists the care is important. Other interventions included promoting a continuing education program for the nursing staff and other professionals involved in caring for patients in palliative care at ICU. CONCLUSION: This review highlighted the need for specific nursing interventions aimed at palliative care patients at ICU to promote patient autonomy and the focus on patient needs, always sharing decisions with the patient and family. However, it showed that there is a need for the continuous training of the nursing staff because factors such as the nurses' lack of technical-scientific knowledge and, concomitantly, the absence of a standardized and specific intervention model linked to a bureaucratic system, make it difficult to carry out a specialized care for this type of patient.

Meta-analysis of the effects of essential oil as an alternative to monensin in diets for beef cattle.

Additives used to improve feed efficiency of beef cattle on high-grain diets requires products that not only increase animal performance but also provide food safety for consumers. Since phytogenic additives such as essential oils (EO) are the main substitutes for monensin in the diet of cattle fed high-grain diets, this study aimed to evaluate, through meta-analysis, the effects of EO as an alternative to monensin in diets for beef cattle on feed intake, performance, carcass characteristics and ruminal fermentative parameters. Ten peer-reviewed publications with 27 treatment means were included in the data set. These effects were evaluated using random-effect models to examine the weighted mean differences (WMD) between EO treatment and control treatment (diets with monensin). Heterogeneity was explored by meta-regression and subgroup analysis. The substitution of EO for monensin did not affect methane production, ruminal pH values, average daily gain, feed efficiency or carcass weight. However, carcass dressing percentage (WMD = 0.38%; P = 0.03), ribeye area (WMD = 0.82 cm2; P < 0.0001) and subcutaneous fat thickness (WMD = 0.56 mm; P < 0.0001) values increased. Although the use of EO instead of monensin had no influence on the performance of beef cattle fed high-grain diets, the prevalence of hepatic abscesses increased 84.9% and the replacement of monensin by EO increased the risk ratio of hepatic abscess prevalence by 107%. Therefore, the use of EO in high-grain beef cattle diets was ineffective in protecting the liver against abscesses.

Control of the growth of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in industrialized orange juice using rosemary essential oil and nisin.

The use of rosemary essential oil (RO) and its combination with nisin (RO+N) in preventing the multiplication of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in orange juice was evaluated. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) for RO were both 125 µg ml-1 while RO+N displayed a synergistic effect. The use of RO and RO+N at concentrations of 1, 4 and 8× MIC in orange juice for 96 h was evaluated in terms of their sporicidal effectiveness. With regard to the action against A. acidoterrestris spores, RO at 8× MIC was sporostatic, whereas RO+N at 1× MIC was sporicidal. Morphological changes in the structure of the micro-organism after treatment were also observed by microscopy. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis showed that most cells were damaged or killed after treatment. In general, the antioxidant activity after addition of RO+N decreased with time. The results demonstrate that using the combination of RO and nisin can prevent the A. acidoterrestris growth in orange juice.

Genetic diversity of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2a strains collected in Brazil by Multi-Virulence-Locus Sequence Typing.

Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic pathogen with the ability to adapt to different environmental conditions, resulting in safety issues for food producers. Foods contaminated by L. monocytogenes can represent a risk if consumed by susceptible individuals such as elderly, pregnant women and the immunocompromised. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of a collection of L. monocytogenes isolated from different matrices in Brazil during the period of 1979-2015. A total of 51 L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2a strains isolated from clinical samples (n = 3) and food samples (n = 48) were characterized by Multi-Virulence-Locus Sequence Typing (MVLST). The strains were assigned to nine virulence types (VT): VT-11 (n = 3, 5·9%), VT-45 (n = 27, 52·9%), VT-59 (n = 11, 21·6%), VT-68 (n = 3, 5·9%), VT-94 (n = 2, 3·9%), VT-107 (n = 2, 3·9%), VT-184 (n = 1, 1·9%), VT-185 (n = 1, 1·9%) and VT-186 (n = 1, 1·9%); and four of them (VT-11, VT-45, VT-59 and VT-68) have already been associated with cases of listeriosis worldwide. The VT-11, VT-59 (Epidemic Clone V) and VT-186 were identified in blood culture samples, as well as in different classes of foods. It is recommended that the epidemiological surveillance agencies evaluate the risk that foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes VTs pose to susceptible populations.

Detecting animal by-product intake using stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS).

Sheep are used in many countries as food and for manufacturing bioproducts. However, when these animals consume animal by-products (ABP), which is widely prohibited, there is a risk of transmitting scrapie - a fatal prion disease in human beings. Therefore, it is essential to develop sensitive methods to detect previous ABP intake to select safe animals for producing biopharmaceuticals. We used stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) for 13C and 15N to trace animal proteins in the serum of three groups of sheep: 1 - received only vegetable protein (VP) for 89 days; 2 - received animal and vegetable protein (AVP); and 3 - received animal and vegetable protein with animal protein subsequently removed (AVPR). Groups 2 and 3 received diets with 30% bovine meat and bone meal (MBM) added to a vegetable diet (from days 16-89 in the AVP group and until day 49 in the AVPR group, when MBM was removed). The AVPR group showed 15N equilibrium 5 days after MBM removal (54th day). Conversely, 15N equilibrium in the AVP group occurred 22 days later (76th day). The half-life differed between these groups by 3.55 days. In the AVPR group, 15N elimination required 53 days, which was similar to this isotope's incorporation time. Turnover was determined based on natural 15N signatures. IRMS followed by turnover calculations was used to evaluate the time period for the incorporation and elimination of animal protein in sheep serum. The δ13C and δ15N values were used to track animal protein in the diet. This method is biologically and economically relevant for the veterinary field because it can track protein over time or make a point assessment of animal feed with high sensitivity and resolution, providing a low-cost analysis coupled with fast detection. Isotopic profiles could be measured throughout the experimental period, demonstrating the potential to use the method for traceability and certification assessments.

Sewage contamination in a tropical coastal area (São Sebastião Channel, SP, Brazil).

Urban effluent discharges in Brazilian coastal areas are a chronic problem and often lead to changes in the quality of the marine environment. São-Sebastião-Channel (SSC) is an important aquatic ecosystem to be monitored for urban sewage contamination due to the intense urban activities in that region, as well as the relative high biodiversity of marine organisms. In the area are present three submarine sewage outfalls, a commercial harbour and also the biggest oil terminal in Brazil. Total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), total sulphur (TS), steroids and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) were measured in sediment samples collected in three strategic locations of the SSC in order to monitor urban sewage contamination. Total LAB and total sterols levels ranged from below DL-51.3 ng g(-1) and below DL-10.40 µg g(-1), respectively. Samples collected near sewage outfall in the central part of the SSC had higher concentrations of urban sewage-associated contaminants.

A new species of Fusarium producer of galactose oxidase.

Fifty-two isolates of Fusarium species and one of Gibberella fujikuroi were tested for galactose oxidase (GO) production. Five Fusarium isolates contained GO activity in the culture filtrate: three F. graminearum and one each F. moniliforme f. sp. subglutinans and F. acuminatum. This is the first time F. acuminatum is reported to be a producer of GO enzyme. GO enzyme activity produced by isolates was assayed through a time course. Moreover, GO protein was partially purified from the most productive four isolates to show that the activity measured in the culture filtrates was due to the presence of GO protein.