Antimicrobial susceptibility testing reveals reduced susceptibility to azithromycin and other antibiotics in Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 isolates from Portugal.

BACKGROUD: Although not fully investigated, studies show that Legionella pneumophila can develop antibiotic resistance. As there is limited data available for Portugal, we determined the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Portuguese L. pneumophila serogroup 1 (LpnSg1) isolates against antibiotics used in the clinical practice in Portugal. METHODS: Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for LpnSg1 clinical (n = 100) and related environmental (n = 7) isolates, collected between 2006-2022 in the context of the National Legionnaire´s Disease Surveillance Programme, against azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, rifampicin, doxycycline, tigecycline, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, using three different assays. Isolates were also PCR-screened for the presence of the lpeAB gene. RESULTS: Twelve isolates had azithromycin MICs above the EUCAST tentative highest WT MIC, 9 of which were lpeAB negative; for erythromycin and clarithromycin, all isolates tested within the susceptible range. The number of isolates with MICs above the tentative highest WT MIC for the remaining antibiotics was: ciprofloxacin: 7; levofloxacin: 17; moxifloxacin: 8; rifampicin: 11; doxycycline: 82; tigecycline: 4. EUCAST breakpoints are not available for amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. We estimated the ECOFFs and one isolate had a MIC eightfold higher than the E-test ECOFF. Additionally, a clinical isolate generated three colonies growing on the E-test inhibition zone that resulted in MICs fourfold higher than for the parental isolate. CONCLUSIONS: We report, for the first time, elevated MICs against first-line and other antibiotics (including azithromycin, fluoroquinolones and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid commonly used to treat pneumonia patients in Portugal) in Portuguese L. pneumophila strains. Results point towards decreased susceptibility in circulating strains, justifying further investigation.

From skin sensitizers to wastewater: the unknown photo-deactivation process of low-lying excited states of isothiazolinones. A non-adiabatic dynamics investigation.

Isothiazolinones represent a class of heterocyclic compounds widely used in various applications, including as biocides in cosmetics, detergents, and paints, as well as in industrial wastewater treatment. Indeed, the presence of isothiazolinones in the environment and their associated potential health hazards have raised significant concerns. In this study, a non-adiabatic dynamics investigation was conducted using state-of-the-art methodologies to explore the photochemistry of isothiazolinones. A simplified model, isothiazol-3(2H)-one (ISO), was employed to represent this compound class. The study validated the model and demonstrated that ISO can return to its ground state through the cleavage of the S-N or S-C bonds, with no significant energy barrier observed. Non-adiabatic dynamics simulations provided insights into the time scales and detailed processes of isothiazolinone photodissociation. The preferred route for deactivation was found to be the cleavage of the S-N bond. This research enhances our understanding of the photodeactivation processes of isothiazolinones and their potential environmental impact.

Recurrence, Microevolution, and Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Legionella pneumophila Sequence Type 1905, Portugal, 2014-2022.

We investigated molecular evolution and spatiotemporal dynamics of atypical Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 sequence type 1905 and determined its long-term persistence and linkage to human disease in dispersed locations, far beyond the large 2014 outbreak epicenter in Portugal. Our finding highlights the need for public health interventions to prevent further disease spread.

Thermoregulatory response of black or red lactating Holstein cows in the hot and cold season in southern Brazil.

Dairy cows in pasture-based systems are more susceptible to heat stress. Holstein cows have the black or red phenotypes, the latter having lower absorbance of solar radiation. Therefore, the study's objective was to evaluate whether cows with red (R) coats are more resistant than black (B) cows to hot weather in a subtropical climate. R and B lactating Holstein cows were evaluated during the cold and hot seasons for internal and surface temperature and sweating rate. In the cold season, body temperature (n = 9/group) did not differ between groups, but the average superficial temperature (n = 13/group) was lower in R cows (B: 30.9 ± 0.3 °C; RW: 29.6 ± 0.3 °C; p = 0.02). In the hot season, under mild to moderate heat stress, mean body temperature (n = 9/group) of R cows was lower (B: 38.75 ± 0.01 °C; R: 38.62 ± 0.1 °C; p=<0.0001), whereas no difference was observed in superficial temperature (n = 17/group). The maximum internal temperature and sweating rate (n = 11/group), measured in the hot season, and the number of evaluations in hyperthermia in both seasons did not differ. Therefore, there were differences in thermoregulation between phenotypes under mild to moderate heat stress conditions. However, considering that only discrete differences were observed, the red and white coat is unlikely to benefit the Holstein cow's welfare under mild to moderate thermal stress.

Does GnRH treatment at TAI regardless of estrus occurrence increase pregnancy rate in crossbred Bos taurus suckled cows?

The impact of GnRH treatment on the day of TAI in beef cows has received limited investigation, especially concerning its association with estrus expression. Consequently, two experiments were conducted to assess the potential of GnRH treatment on the day of TAI to enhance fertility according to the expression or not of estrus in beef cows. Experiment 1 aimed to determine ovulation rate and luteal function, while Experiment 2 aimed to determine the effect of the two GnRH treatment approaches on pregnancy rate. In Experiment 1, multiparous Brangus suckling cows (n = 17) were submitted to an 8-day TAI protocol. Estrus occurrence was evaluated based on chalk removal on D10 (TAI) and cows were assigned to receive GnRH (25µg lecirelin; im) according to the group: GnRH (n = 7), regardless of estrus expression; or selectGnRH (n = 10), only cows not detected in estrus. Ovulation rate occurring until 77h after IVD removal did not differ (p = 0.17) between GnRH (85.7%; 6/7) and selectGnRH (100%; 10/10). Also, corpus luteum size and serum progesterone concentration were not affected (p>0.05) by treatments. In Experiment 2, crossbred taurine suckled cows (n = 384) were submitted to the same protocol as described in Experiment 1 and were randomly allocated to GnRH or selectGnRH groups. There was no difference in P/AI between groups (selectGnRH = 55.6%; GnRH = 54.3%; p = 0.7) 30 days after TAI. As expected, there was a pronounced effect (p<0.0001) of estrus expression on P/AI (Estrus = 61.5%; No estrus = 33.0%), regardless of group. In summary, ovulation timing and rate and luteal function did not differ between groups. Also, GnRH administration only in cows that do not show estrus is recommended, considering hormone savings and similar conception rate.

Anatomical variations of recurrent laryngeal nerve: a systematic review and meta-analyses.

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to systematically review and perform a meta-analysis on the anatomical variations of the RLN. METHODS: We performed online research for studies that addressed anatomical variations of the RLN and laterality, published between 2015 and 2021. We found 230 articles, and nine were included. RESULTS: Eight variations were found, with Type I prevailing (41.17%; 95% CI 19.44-64.88), extra laryngeal divergence of the RLN. The other types were: II-fan shape; III-distance greater than 5 mm to the cricothyroid joint; IV-thickening and adipopexy in the elderly; V-non-recurrent laryngeal nerve; VI-intracranial branch; VII-tortuous ascending RLN; and VIII-combination between the inferior branch of the NV and the ascending trunk of the RLN. Types I (p = 0) and III (p < 0.01) prevailed on the left and types II (p < 0.01) and V (p < 0.01) on the right. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that variations occurred due to the path of the RLN to the entrance to the larynx, its shape, and the age of the evaluated individual. The most frequent variation and side were, respectively, Type I, extra laryngeal divergence and left.

GnRH analogs induce a LH peak and increase pregnancy per timed-AI in ewes.

To date, there have been no studies testing the capacity of GnRH analogs and respective doses to induce a LH peak in sheep. In this sense, the present study aimed to evaluate the capacity of different synthetic forms and doses of GnRH in inducing LH release in sheep, and the effect of GnRH administration at timed artificial insemination (TAI) on pregnancy per timed-AI. In experiment 1, ewes (n = 40) received an intravaginal device (IVD) of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA; 60 mg) for 7 d and prostaglandin F2α analog on Day 5. On Day 7, the ewes were allocated randomly into one of eight groups (n = 5/group), which received a GnRH analog at a specific dose, as follows: lecirelin (12.5 or 25 µg), gonadorelin (50 or 100 µg), buserelin acetate (4.2 or 8.4 µg), or deslorelin (375 or 750 µg). Blood samples for LH determination were obtained at 0, 2, 4, and 6 h after GnRH and the IVDs were removed after the last blood collection. The maximal LH concentration induced by gonadorelin at doses of 50 µg and 100 µg (12.0 ± 2.4 ng/mL and 28.6 ± 7.1 ng/mL, respectively) was lower (P < 0.05) than serum LH induced by 8.4 µg of buserelin (78.9 ± 12.9 ng/mL), 375 µg and 750 µg of deslorelin (75.6 ± 7.4 ng/mL and 72.1 ± 10.6 ng/mL, respectively) and 12.5 µg and 25 µg of lecirelin (73.3 ± 17.8 ng/mL and 61.6 ± 5.9 ng/mL, respectively). However, the maximal LH concentration induced by 4.2 µg of buserelin (49.4 ± 5.9 ng/mL) was similar (P > 0.05) to the 100 µg of gonadorelin. The total release of LH (area under the curve - AUC) after treatment with 50 µg of gonadorelin (31.7 ± 5.9 ng h/mL) was lower (P < 0.05) than after other agonists. In a second experiment, 330 ewes were treated with IVD containing MPA for 7 d. Simultaneously with IVD removal, 250 µg of cloprostenol and 200 IU of eCG were administered. Then, ewes were assigned randomly to either no further treatment (control); or to receive 4.2 µg of buserelin acetate (GnRH group) at cervical TAI, which was performed with fresh semen 54 h after IVD withdrawal in all the animals. Higher pregnancy per timed-AI was observed for GnRH (50.3 %) compared to control (40.7 %). We conclude that buserelin acetate (8.4 µg), lecirelin (12.5 and 25 µg) and deslorelin (375 and 750 µg) induced a greater stimulatory effect on LH secretion than gonadorelin treatment. Furthermore, buserelin acetate treatment at TAI increased pregnancy per timed-AI in ewes previously treated with MPA and eCG.

Motility, oxidative status and morphology of frozen-thawed bovine semen are not impacted by fatty acid exposure in vitro.

While sperm migrate within the reproductive tract of cows experiencing negative energy balance (NEB), they come into contact with elevated concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). For this reason, this study aimed to investigate the effects of three different NEFA - palmitic acid (PA), stearic acid (SA), and oleic acid (OA) - on bovine sperm motility, kinetic parameters, oxidative status, and morphology. Frozen thawed semen samples from Bos taurus bulls were incubated with varying concentrations of each fatty acid, and the sperm's characteristics were analysed at different time points. Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) was employed to assess sperm motility and kinetic parameters. Concurrently, the production of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and total antioxidant capacity were measured to determine the oxidative status. Additionally, sperm morphology was evaluated. In Experiment 1, different concentrations of PA did not show significant effects on total motility, progressive motility, or any kinetic parameters analysed. Similarly, PA did not have a significant impact on the oxidative status or sperm morphology. In Experiment 2, SA at various concentrations did not lead to significant changes in total motility, progressive motility, or any kinetic parameters evaluated. Furthermore, SA did not affect oxidative status or sperm morphology. In Experiment 3, the concentrations of OA used did not result in significant changes in total motility, progressive motility, or any kinetic parameters studied. Likewise, OA did not induce any alterations in oxidative status or sperm morphology. Overall, the results from all three experiments indicate that PA, SA and OA, at the in vitro conditions and tested concentrations, do not exert detrimental effects on bovine sperm function and morphology. These results provide insights that contribute to our understanding of how fatty acids can impact the reduction of fertility rates in cows facing NEB. This, in turn, lays the foundation for additional critical investigations in this area. Further studies are necessary to validate these findings in vivo.

Tranexamic acid in bleeding reduction and operative time of nasal surgeries: systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Our study goal is to review the efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss and operative time in nasal surgeries. METHODS: We included randomized clinical trials using oral or intravenous tranexamic acid, excluded non-randomized studies, topic administration, coagulopathy, and using other drugs interfering in the coagulation cascade. Online databases, National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE-PubMED), Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (Lilacs), Cochrane Library, Embase and Google Scholar were used to perform the search. The review was registered in PROSPERO by no CRD42022310977. Two authors, independently, selected the articles meeting the inclusion criteria. They extracted the data and used RevMan 5 software to perform the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Our search resulted in 16 RCTs that were included in the meta-analysis totalizing 1108 patients. Studies were evaluated resulting in a low risk of bias for the five domains. The use of tranexamic acid resulted in significant reduction in duration of surgery (DOS) and intraoperative blood loss (IBL) had significant reduction. The level of evidence according to GRADE System was high in all studies and variables. CONCLUSION: Tranexamic acid has an important role in reducing intraoperative blood loss and duration of surgery. Our study has some limitations due to the low number of RCTs available in the literature.

DCAF13 and RNF114 participate in the regulation of early porcine embryo development.

In brief: Ubiquitination plays a pivotal role in a multitude of cellular functions; however, the precise contributions of various ubiquitin ligases in governing early developmental processes remain largely unexplored. This study revealed that the E3 ubiquitin ligases DCAF13 and RNF114 are both necessary for the normal regulation of early porcine embryo development. Abstract: Ubiquitylation is required for normal regulation of many biological functions by modulating several protein facets such as structure, stability, interaction, localization, and degradation. In this study, we explored the roles of two E3 ubiquitin ligases (E3s), the DDB1- and CUL4-associated factor 13 (DCAF13) and the Ring finger protein 114 (RNF114), in the regulation of porcine embryo development. Attenuation of DCAF13 mRNA decreased embryo development at the blastocyst stage, while the development of RNF114-attenuated embryos was not significantly different than that of control embryos. The average number of cells per blastocyst was decreased in DCAF13-attenuated embryos and increased in RNF114-attenuated embryos compared to controls. The relative mRNA abundance of the histone methyltransferase SUV39H1, which regulates histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3), was increased in both DCAF13- and RNF114-attenuated embryos, but nuclear immunofluorescence signal for H3K9me3 on day 3 embryos was not significantly altered between attenuated and control embryos. Nuclear immunofluorescence signal for H3K4m3 was decreased in DCAF13-attenuated embryos, but it was increased in RNF114-attenuated embryos compared to controls. Attenuation of DCAF13 and RNF114 mRNAs increased transcript levels for the DNA recombinase RAD51 and decreased expression of phosphorylated histone H2A.X (γH2AX), which suggests an impact on DNA damage repair. In addition, lower mRNA expression of the lysine demethylases 5B (KDM5B) and 5C (KDM5C), both involved in embryo genome activation and DNA repair, was detected in DCAF13-attenuated embryos. These findings indicated that both DCAF13 and RNF114 have important roles in the regulation of the early development of porcine embryos.

Vitamin E reduces the reactive oxygen species production in dominant follicle during the negative energy balance in cattle.

In the postpartum period, there is an increase in non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in both serum and follicular fluid (FF) of cattle. The increase in fatty acid concentration results in increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can compromise bovine fertility. The objectives of this study were to characterize the lipid profile found in the FF of cows experiencing induced negative energy balance (NEB) and to evaluate the effect of α-tocopherol in the prevention of oxidative stress in the serum and FF of cows. Twenty-nine beef cows were divided into groups: (1) control; (2) Fasting for 24 days; and (3) Fasting + VitE. Between D0 and D4 blood samples were taken to assess concentrations of NEFA, ROS production, total antioxidant capacity (FRAP), lipid peroxidation, and α-tocopherol (vitamin E). On D4, follicular aspiration was performed for analysis of FF from the dominant follicle. Our results demonstrate that fasting was effective in causing increased fat mobilization in animals. The increase in serum concentration of C18:1c9 was reflected in the FF of fasting cows. Serum α-tocopherol concentration was higher in the control and Fasting + VitE groups compared to the Fasting group. In FF, there was an increase of α-tocopherol in the Fasting + VitE group in comparison to Fasting cows. There was an increase in ROS production in the serum of fasting cows. ROS production in FF was higher in the Fasting compared to the Fasting + VitE group. Vitamin E has beneficial effects in reducing ROS production in the dominant follicle of cows in NEB.

Interpretable artificial intelligence for classification of alveolar bone defect in patients with cleft lip and palate.

Cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) is the most common congenital craniofacial anomaly and requires bone grafting of the alveolar cleft. This study aimed to develop a novel classification algorithm to assess the severity of alveolar bone defects in patients with CLP using three-dimensional (3D) surface models and to demonstrate through an interpretable artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm the decisions provided by the classifier. Cone-beam computed tomography scans of 194 patients with CLP were used to train and test the performance of an automatic classification of the severity of alveolar bone defect. The shape, height, and width of the alveolar bone defect were assessed in automatically segmented maxillary 3D surface models to determine the ground truth classification index of its severity. The novel classifier algorithm renders the 3D surface models from different viewpoints and captures 2D image snapshots fed into a 2D Convolutional Neural Network. An interpretable AI algorithm was developed that uses features from each view and aggregated via Attention Layers to explain the classification. The precision, recall and F-1 score were 0.823, 0.816, and 0.817, respectively, with agreement ranging from 97.4 to 100% on the severity index within 1 group difference. The new classifier and interpretable AI algorithm presented satisfactory accuracy to classify the severity of alveolar bone defect morphology using 3D surface models of patients with CLP and graphically displaying the features that were considered during the deep learning model's classification decision.

Zwitterionic "Solutions" for Reversible CO2 Capture.

The zwitterions resulting from the covalent attachment of 3- or 4-hydroxy benzene to the 1,3-dimethylimidazolium cation represent basic compounds (pKa of 8.68 and 8.99 in aqueous solutions, respectively) that chemisorb in aqueous solutions 0.58 mol/mol of carbon dioxide at 1.3 bar (absolute) and 40 °C. Equimolar amounts of chemisorbed CO2 in these solutions are obtained at 10 bar and 40 °C. Chemisorption takes place through the formation of bicarbonate in the aqueous solution using imidazolium-containing phenolate. CO2 is liberated by simple pressure relief and heating, regenerating the base. The enthalpy of absorption was estimated to be -38 kJ/mol, which is about 30 % lower than the enthalpy of industrially employed aqueous solutions of MDEA (estimated at -53 kJ/mol using the same experimental apparatus). The physisorption of CO2 becomes relevant at higher pressures (>10 bar) in these aqueous solutions. Combined physio- and chemisorption of up to 1.3 mol/mol at 40 bar and 40 °C can be attained with these aqueous zwitterionic solutions that are thermally stable and can be recycled at least 20 times.

Spontaneous Rupture of a Urinary Bladder Diverticulum in Women: A Rare Cause of an Acute Abdomen.

A bladder diverticulum (BD) is an abnormal pouch protruding from the bladder wall, which can be congenital or acquired. Acquired diverticula are more common, usually secondary to outflow obstruction or neurogenic bladder. Spontaneous rupture of a BD is rare, particularly in women. This report is about a female patient who develops abdominal pain and dysuria, progressing to an acute abdomen. The diagnosis of spontaneous rupture of a BD was suspected in pelvic ultrasound and confirmed in computed tomography (CT) cystography. The patient was submitted to diverticulectomy and bladder wall reconstruction. Although rare, this entity should be considered in patients with acute abdomen with unclear etiology, even in women with no evident risk factors for a BD or its rupture.

Defending the Defender: Adversarial Learning Based Defending Strategy for Learning Based Security Methods in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS).

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are prone to many security exploitations due to a greater attack surface being introduced by their cyber component by the nature of their remote accessibility or non-isolated capability. Security exploitations, on the other hand, rise in complexities, aiming for more powerful attacks and evasion from detections. The real-world applicability of CPS thus poses a question mark due to security infringements. Researchers have been developing new and robust techniques to enhance the security of these systems. Many techniques and security aspects are being considered to build robust security systems; these include attack prevention, attack detection, and attack mitigation as security development techniques with consideration of confidentiality, integrity, and availability as some of the important security aspects. In this paper, we have proposed machine learning-based intelligent attack detection strategies which have evolved as a result of failures in traditional signature-based techniques to detect zero-day attacks and attacks of a complex nature. Many researchers have evaluated the feasibility of learning models in the security domain and pointed out their capability to detect known as well as unknown attacks (zero-day attacks). However, these learning models are also vulnerable to adversarial attacks like poisoning attacks, evasion attacks, and exploration attacks. To make use of a robust-cum-intelligent security mechanism, we have proposed an adversarial learning-based defense strategy for the security of CPS to ensure CPS security and invoke resilience against adversarial attacks. We have evaluated the proposed strategy through the implementation of Random Forest (RF), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) on the ToN_IoT Network dataset and an adversarial dataset generated through the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) model.

Analysis of nuclear maturation, DNA damage and repair gene expression of bovine oocyte and cumulus cells submitted to ionizing radiation.

Radiotherapy causes destruction of tumor cells, but also threatens the integrity and survival of surrounding normal cells. Then, woman submitted to irradiation for cancer treatment may present permanent ovary damage, resulting in impaired fertility. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of therapeutic doses of ionizing radiation (IR), used for ovarian cancer treatment in humans, on bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) as experimental model. Bovine ovaries were exposed to 0.9 Gy, 1.8 Gy, 3.6 Gy or 18.6 Gy IR, and then COCs were collected and used to evaluate: (a) oocyte nuclear maturation; (b) presence of phosphorylated H2A.X (γH2AX), as an indicator of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs); and (c) expression of genes involved in DNA repair (TP53BP1, RAD52, ATM, XRCC6 and XRCC5) and apoptosis (BAX). The radiation doses tested in this study had no detrimental effects on nuclear maturation and did not increase γH2AX in the oocytes. However, IR treatment altered the mRNA abundance of RAD52 (RAD52 homolog, DNA repair protein) and BAX (BCL2-associated X protein). We conclude that although IR doses had no apparent effect on oocyte nuclear maturation and DNA damage, molecular pathways involved in DNA repair and apoptosis were affected by IR exposure in cumulus cells.

Effective enantioselective recognition by steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy: Towards a paradigm shift to optical sensors with unusual chemical architecture.

A series of amino acid-derived 1,2,3-triazoles presenting the amino acid residue and the benzazole fluorophore connected by a triazole-4-carboxylate spacer was studied for enantioselective recognition using only steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy in solution. In this investigation, the optical sensing was performed with D-(-) and L-(+)-Arabinose and (R)-(-) and (S)-(+)-Mandelic acid as chiral analytes. The optical sensors showed specific interactions with each pair of enantiomers, allowing photophysical responses, which were used for their enantioselective recognition. DFT calculations confirm the specific interaction between the fluorophores and the analytes corroborating the observed high enantioselectivity of these compounds with the studied enantiomers. Finally, this study investigated nontrivial sensors for chiral molecules by a mechanism different than turn-on fluorescence and has the potential to broad chiral compounds with fluorophoric units as optical sensors for enantioselective sensing.

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Following a Large-Scale Vaccination Campaign in Portugal: Results of the National Serological Survey, September - November 2021.

INTRODUCTION: Following a COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign, it is important to evaluate the population level of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence rate of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies acquired due to infection or vaccination in the Portuguese population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The National Serological Survey (third wave - ISN3COVID-19) is a cross-sectional nationwide epidemiological study developed on a sample of 4545 Portuguese residents aged one year or older, between the 28th September 2021 and the 19th November 2021. The SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleoprotein and anti-spike IgG antibody levels were determined in serum samples using Abbott Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassays. Seroprevalence estimates were stratified by age group, sex, administrative region and self-reported chronic conditions. Medians and respective 95% confidence intervals were used to describe the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in specific population subgroups. RESULTS: The total seroprevalence rate of SARS-CoV-2 was 86.4% (95% CI: 85.2% to 87.6%). A higher seroprevalence rate was estimated for women (88.3%), 50 to 59 years-old (96.5%) and in those with two or more self-reported chronic conditions (90.8%). A higher IgG (anti-Spike) concentration was observed in individuals vaccinated with the booster dose (median = 1 2601.3 AU/mL; 95% CI: 4127.5 to 19 089.1). CONCLUSION: There was a significant increase in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence following the mass vaccination campaign in Portugal. It is important to continue to monitor the distribution of specific SARS-COV-2 antibody at the population level to further inform public health policies.

Effects on the Properties of Self-Compacting Cement Paste (PAA) with the Addition of Superabsorbent Polymer.

The addition of Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) decreases the effect of autogenous shrinkage present in pastes, mortars, and concretes. In this study we investigated the influence of the addition of SAP in self-compacting cement paste mixtures. Eighteen 5 × 10 cylindrical specimens were molded in all, three for each mixture (CPII base, CPII 0.15%SAP/600µm, CPII 0.15%SAP/800 µm, CPV base, CPV 0.15%SAP/600 µm, CPV 0.15%SAP/800 µm). Two types of cement were tested, CP II-Z and CP V-ARI with 0.15% of weight replaced per two diameters of SAP (600 µm and 800 µm). The samples followed the standards required. Mini slump tests were carried out in the fresh state, and uniaxial compressive strength, elastic modulus, specific mass, absorption, and air content in the hardened state after 28 days. The results obtained show the SAP is high indicated to replaced cement in small % of weight i/to fresh and hardened paste. Likewise, the group mix n° 3 composed of CPII 0.15% of SAP with 800 µm diameter presented the best result.

FSH Regulates YAP-TEAD Transcriptional Activity in Bovine Granulosa Cells to Allow the Future Dominant Follicle to Exert Its Augmented Estrogenic Capacity.

The molecular mechanisms that drive the granulosa cells' (GC) differentiation into a more estrogenic phenotype during follicular divergence and establishment of follicle dominance have not been completely elucidated. The main Hippo signaling effector, YAP, has, however, emerged as a potential key player to explain such complex processes. Studies using rat and bovine GC demonstrate that, in conditions where the expression of the classic YAP-TEAD target gene tissue growth factor (CTGF) is augmented, CYP19A1 expression and activity and, consequently, estradiol (E2) secretion are reduced. These findings led us to hypothesize that, during ovarian follicular divergence in cattle, FSH downregulates YAP-TEAD-dependent transcriptional activity in GC to allow the future dominant follicle to exert its augmented estrogenic capacity. To address this, we performed a series of experiments employing distinct bovine models. Our in vitro and ex vivo experiments indicated that indeed FSH downregulates, in a concentration-dependent manner, mRNA levels not only for CTGF but also for the other classic YAP-TEAD transcriptional target genes ANKRD1 and CYR61 by a mechanism that involves increased YAP phosphorylation. To better elucidate the functional importance of such FSH-induced YAP activity regulation, we then cultured GC in the presence of verteporfin (VP) or peptide 17 (P17), two pharmacological inhibitors known to interfere with YAP binding to TEADs. The results showed that both VP and P17 increased CYP19A1 basal mRNA levels in a concentration-dependent manner. Most interestingly, by using GC samples obtained in vivo from dominant vs. subordinate follicles, we found that mRNA levels for CTGF, CYR61, and ANKRD1 are higher in subordinate follicles following the follicular divergence. Taken together, our novel results demonstrate that YAP transcriptional activity is regulated in bovine granulosa cells to allow the increased estrogenic capacity of the selected dominant follicle.