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To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different wavelengths of high-power diode lasers for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity by analyzing morphological changes and temperature variation. Human third molars were irradiated with five different commercially available lasers at wavelengths of 808 nm, 940 nm, 976 nm, and 980 nm, both with and without the use of a photoinitiator (activated charcoal). Temperature variations were monitored using thermocouples, and morphological changes were assessed through scanning electron microscopy. Lasers with wavelengths of 940 nm, 976 nm, and 980 nm, used without a photoinitiator, promoted dentinal tubule obliteration without causing thermal damage. Lasers with wavelengths of 808 nm, 940 nm, 976 nm, and 980 nm, when combined with a photoinitiator, resulted in even lower temperature variation compared to the non-photoinitiator groups, although no regular fused surface was observed. Diode laser parameters, except Group 1(808 nm without photoinitiator), are potentially safe for dentinal tubule obliteration. The use of a photoinitiator continues to be an effective strategy for minimizing temperature variations during irradiation.

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This study evaluated the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) and fracture pattern of direct composite resin reinforced with polyethylene fiber (Ribbond®) on dentin substrate after thermomechanical cycling (TMC). Dentin blocks (dentin thickness=2 mm) were obtained from forty human third molars and randomly divided into four groups (n=10) according to type of restoration (composite resin with or without Ribbond®) and to whether they were or were not subjected to TMC (100,000 cycles of 50 N / 2 Hz / 1-minute baths of 5 and 55ºC). The 1-mm-thick square-shaped specimens were submitted to µTBS testing in a universal testing machine at 0.5 mm/min. The fracture patterns were assessed by stereoscopic magnifying glass (30X magnification). The µTBS (in MPa) and failure pattern data were subjected to the generalized linear model and G tests (a=0.05). Neither the polyethylene fiber nor TMC had any statistically significant effect (p=0.196 and p=0.136, respectively) on the µTBS of the composite resin to dentin. Adhesive failures were more prevalent in the composite resin group compared with the Ribbond-containing group when subjected to TMC. Additionally, the composite resin containing Ribbond® showed a higher proportion of cohesive failures in composite resin than the resin groups not containing this fiber, irrespective of TMC. It was concluded that reinforcing the direct layer of composite resin with Ribbond® polyethylene fiber did not influence the adhesive resistance to dentin, even when subjected to TMC. However, its incorporation did result in a higher frequency of cohesive failures in resin after TMC.

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This review summarizes how salinity and temperature, two key global factors driven by climate change in freshwater systems, interact with other stressors on organisms in controlled small-scale factorial experiments at the population, individual, or subindividual level (excluding mesocosm and field studies). Despite the growing interest, research following all these criteria remains limited with 156 publications of which 50% analyzed stressors + salinity, 46% stressors + temperature, and only 4% involved the triple combination. Research on the combined effect of temperature and salinity predominantly focused on metals, pesticides, and, to a lesser extent, emergent contaminants, such as microplastics and nanomaterials, encompassing various biological models and responses. In general, increased temperature amplifies the single effect of stressors, whereas salinity leads to a higher diversity of responses, with similar proportions of synergisms and antagonisms. Fish (Salmoniformes, Perciformes, and Cypriniformes) were the most studied organisms. Among Crustacea, only cladocerans of the genera Daphnia and Ceriodpahnia were considered. The present review highlights the need to include other species that play key roles in freshwater food webs and to increase triple combination studies to understand complex interactions and develop adaptation and mitigation strategies to preserve the environment and its services in this changing world.

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Traditionally, designing novel materials involves exploring new compositions guided by insights from previous work, relying on a trial-and-error approach, where continuous synthesis and characterization proceed until the properties meet the improvements. This method is inefficient due to the challenges of exploring vast chemical spaces. In this study, a machine-learning-based methodology is developed to assist the design from available data in the literature, allowing us to test in silico more than 1.2 million compositions. Two databases with 1227 inputs were created from published studies. Four machine learning (ML) models were trained over the feature sets using 517 compositional features (generated from 58 atomic properties) to predict magnetocaloric properties of perovskites: Curie temperature (TC), magnetic entropy change (ME), and relative cooling power (RCP). The best model-feature combinations were used to explore the chemical space of lanthanum, praseodymium, and neodymium manganites, identifying composition trends for different temperature applications, including room temperature refrigeration, where the most suitable combinations of doping elements were highlighted. The study offers valuable guidelines for future research insights on magnetocaloric materials, and the methodology can be transferred to other perovskite related material areas, such as catalysts and solar cell materials.

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Macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) is a Brazilian palm whose pulp is rich in carotenoids and holds potential for the development of healthy foods. This study presents an innovative approach utilizing ethyl acetate, a solvent recognized as generally safe (GRAS), in conjunction with ultrasound technology, to optimize the extraction of carotenoids from both macauba pulp (MP) and its pulp press-cake (PPC). The effects of varying time and temperature parameters (5-30 min at 25-60°C) alongside ultrasound conditions (25 and 60°C at frequencies of 25 and 45 kHz) on the extraction process were evaluated, with total carotenoid content quantified via spectrophotometry. For MP, the optimal extraction conditions were 60°C for 30 min, yielding 219.33 µg/g of carotenoids, while ultrasound at 45 kHz, under the same time/temperature, enhanced the extraction efficiency to 277.55 µg/g. In the case of PPC, ultrasound extraction achieved a carotenoid content of 124.23 µg/g. Overall, the findings indicate that elevating the temperature to 60°C favored the extraction process, while ultrasound demonstrated effective even under milder conditions. This study emphasizes the potential of ethyl acetate as a sustainable alternative to traditional toxic solvents, aligning with the growing demand for safer and more environmentally friendly practices in the extraction of bioactive compounds. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The sustainable extraction of carotenoids from macauba, a non-conventional source, shows great potential for producing natural colorants and antioxidants in the food industry. The efficient use of ultrasound in the extraction process highlights the potential of this technology for the industry, providing an eco-friendly and effective alternative to conventional methods.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different incubation temperatures (ITs) on the posthatch reproductive characteristics of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica). A total of 1332 fertile eggs were incubated at different temperatures: 36.0, 37.5 and 39.0 °C. After hatching, the birds were transferred to rearing cages until 35 days of age and, later, to production cages in groups of nine females and three males. The experimental design was a randomized block with three treatments and six replications. IT did not influence (P > 0.05) birth weight or hatch window; however, higher hatchability was observed (P < 0.05) in eggs incubated at 37.5 °C. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of IT on the relative weight of organs at 35 and 60 days of age or on the male growth curve. In females, body weight at growth maturity was higher (P < 0.01) when the IT was 39.0 °C. The characteristics of the semen were not influenced (P > 0.05) by IT, except for sperm viability, which was higher (P < 0.05) when temperatures of 37.5 and 39.0 °C were used. There was no effect (P < 0.05) of IT on egg fertility or on the morphological characteristics of female reproductive organs. However, a lower age at first egg were observed (P < 0.05) when the IT was 39.0 °C. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of IT on egg quality, except for yolk height, which was higher (P < 0.01) at 36.0 and 39.0 °C. It is concluded that a temperature of 37.5 °C should be used during the incubation of Japanese quail eggs.

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STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Translucent zirconias are promising materials for monolithic prostheses. However, information on their optical behavior after sintering and aging protocols is scarce. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the color and translucency of zirconia subjected to different sintering temperatures and aging. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 180 1.5-mm-thick disks were produced from translucent zirconia blocks: DD cubeX2 white, DD cubeX2 A2 shade, DD Bio ZX2 white (Dental Direkt GmbH), and Lava Plus white (3M ESPE). White and A2 shade disks were made for each zirconia. DD Bio ZX2 and Lava Plus were colored by immersion in dyeing liquids. All disks were divided according to the sintering temperature: 1400 ºC, 1450 ºC, and 1500 ºC (T0). Subsequently, the disks were subjected to an aging protocol in an autoclave for 5 (T1) and 20 hours (T2). The L*a*b* coordinates were measured with a spectrophotometer. ∆E00, ∆L', ∆C', ∆H', and TP were calculated using CIEDE2000, and CR was obtained using CIEXYZ. Repeated measures ANOVA and the Tukey HSD test were used for statistical analysis (α=.05). RESULTS: The 1400 ºC temperature produced the greatest ΔE00 (5.25). A progressive increase in ΔE00 was found after aging (especially in T2), with a reduction in lightness and an increase in saturation in most groups (P<.001). The DD cubeX2 white (DCW) and A2 (DCC) groups presented the highest TP00 values, mainly at 1500 °C. The highest CR values were observed in the Lava Plus colored (LPC) group (1400 °C) (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sintering at a lower temperature than that recommended by the manufacturer can reduce lightness and increase saturation and opacity, especially after aging.

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BACKGROUND: Plastic pollution is a significant environmental problem caused by its high resistance to degradation. One potential solution is polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a microbial biodegradable polymer. Mexico has great uncovered microbial diversity with high potential for biotechnological applications. The best polymer producers tend to be isolated from environments that require survival adaptations from microorganisms, the high-producing Bacillus cereus strain saba.zh comes from refinery wastewater, the costs of production have been a limiting factor for biopolymer production, and one of the focuses of interest has been finding novel strains with better production or singular traits that help in industrial processes. RESULTS: The isolates were taxonomically classified as Bacillus cereus MSF4 and Bacillus inaquosorum MSD1 from Mina, Nuevo Leon; B. cereus S07C; and Paenibacillis dendritiformis from the active volcano "El Chichonal" on Chiapas. The strains had growth temperatures ranging from 35 to 50 °C and pH tolerance values ranging from 3 to 9. The best PHB-producing strain, B. cereus MSF4, produced 0.43 g/kg PHB on orange peels, followed by B. inaquosorum MSD1 at 0.40 g/kg, B. cereus S07C at 0.23 g/kg and P. dendritiformis at 0.26 g/kg. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study affirm the potential of the Mexican isolated strains as PHB-producing organisms, enabling further studies to test their viability as industrial producers. The ability of P. dendritiformis and B. inaquosorum to synthetize PHB was also confirmed by the observations made providing novel evidence to consider these species as potential producers.

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Low temperatures are one of the critical conditions affecting the performance and distribution of plants. Exposure to cooling results in the reprogramming of gene expression, which in turn would be mediated by epigenetic regulation. Antarctica is known as one of the most severe ecosystems, but several climate models predict an increase in average temperature, which may positively impact the development of Antarctic plants; however, under warmer temperatures, plants' vulnerability to damages from low-temperature events increases. Here, we evaluated the impact of these events on the acclimation process, with a focus on how methylation influences the induction of cold response genes. According to the results, an increase in the number of methylations in the promoter regions is associated with lower expression of these genes. Similarly, in populations where this relationship is observed, individuals acclimated to the projected climate change condition are more vulnerable, as their average temperature is lower in the face of a cold event compared to individuals acclimated to the current antarctic condition. This research is the first report highlighting the role of methylation in response to cold and its influence on the transcriptional responses of the antarctic plant Colobanthus quitensis facing climate change projections.

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The metabolites gluconic acid, 5-ketogluconic acid, proline, and glutamic acid, produced by Pseudomonas reptilivora B-6bs, are industrially important, particularly in food and pharmaceutical sectors. However, producing these metabolites involves biotin supplementation to enhance yields, which is an expensive additive, and reducing its use can significantly lower production costs. Thus, This study aimed to enhance the production of gluconic acid, 5-ketogluconic acid, proline, and glutamic acid without biotin supplementation. To achieve this, a full factorial design was employed, varying agitation speed, glucose concentration, and temperature to determine the optimal conditions for metabolite production. Metabolite concentration was measured using spectrophotometric analysis and thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and the results were statistically analyzed using Minitab® 18. The findings demonstrate that Pseudomonas reptilivora B-6bs effectively produce gluconic acid (50.51 ± 0.035 g/L, YP/S: 0.917 g/g) and 5-ketogluconic acid (44.46 ± 0.23 g/L, YP/S: 0.947 g/g), along with proline (0.1727 ± 0.00085 g/L, YP/S: 0.00004 g/g) and glutamic acid (0.853 ± 0.142 g/L, YP/S: 0.013 g/g) without biotin supplementation. Optimal production was observed with a glucose concentration of 55 g/L. These findings provide a viable biotin-independent strategy for high-value metabolite production. This study contributes novel insights into cost-effective production processes, making it relevant to industrial applications.

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The focus of this work was to evaluate the differences between the thermal and mechanical effects generated by ultrasound waves on the properties of corn starch, which facilitate the subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis for the generation of porous starches. The results showed that both the thermal and mechanical effects have the capacity to disorganize/alter the structure of starch, impacting on its properties. Characteristics such as particle size, pasting and thermal properties (peak viscosity 1400-1800 cp. and gelatinization enthalpy 4.5-11 J/g) of starch and water absorption were the most affected, while crystallinity was practically unmodified (crystallinity % 23-25). The thermal effect induced by the ultrasound treatment caused most of the alterations in the properties of corn starch. It was associated with the partial gelatinization of the material due to an increase in the system's temperature (up to 65° C). The effect of the mechanical phenomenon of the treatment by ultrasound waves contributed to a lesser extent compared to the thermal effect. The mechanical effect can extend over time, without the aggravating factor of causing starch gelatinization. The combination of both effects could synergistically modify the granular structure of starch. In conclusion, ultrasound waves as a pre-treatment to enzymatic hydrolysis can cause structural disorganization of starch granules and facilitate the subsequent enzymatic attack for the production of porous starches.

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This study evaluated the role of temperature and fine particulate matter in hospitalizations of children living in Cuiabá-MT, obtained from DATASUS, between 01/01/2016 and 12/31/2018. Daily concentrations of the pollutant fine particulate matter were estimated using the CAMS mathematical model, made available by CPTEC. Diagnoses of tracheitis and laryngitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and asthma were included. INMET provided data on maximum and minimum temperatures and relative humidity. Statistical analysis was performed with three generalized additive Poisson regression models, one of which only included the minimum temperature, another including the pollutant and the last with an interaction variable. There were 1,612 hospitalizations in the period; in the multivariate model, associations were identified between minimum temperature and hospitalizations in lags 1 to 5; the effect of increasing the minimum temperature by 4°C resulted in an increase in the risk of hospitalizations by 18%; 15.2% of hospitalizations are attributed to this increase and an excess of approximately US$ 68,000.00 in expenses for the health system during the period evaluated. In addition to the known effects of exposure to pollutants on health, it was possible to identify that an increase in the minimum daily temperature can cause damage to children's health.

Este estudo avaliou o papel da temperatura e material particulado fino em internações de crianças residentes em Cuiabá-MT, obtidas do DATASUS, entre 01/01/2016 e 31/12/2018. Concentrações diárias do poluente material particulado fino foram estimadas pelo modelo matemático CAMS, disponibilizado pelo CPTEC. Foram incluídos diagnósticos de traqueíte e laringite, pneumonias, bronquite, bronquiolite e asma. INMET forneceu dados de temperaturas máxima e mínima e umidade relativa do ar. Foi realizada análise estatística com três modelos aditivo generalizado da regressão de Poisson, sendo um deles somente com a temperatura mínima, outro incluindo o poluente e o último com uma variável de interação. Foram 1.612 internações no período; no modelo multivariado foram identificadas associações entre temperatura mínima e internações nos lags 1 a 5; o efeito do aumento da temperatura mínima em 4°C refletiu na elevação do risco de internações em 18%; atribuem-se 15,2% das internações a este aumento e um excesso de ≈ US$ 68,000.00 nos gastos para o sistema de saúde, durante o período avaliado. Foi possível identificar que elevação na temperatura mínima diária pode causar danos à saúde da criança.

Este estudio evaluó el papel de la temperatura y las partículas finas en las hospitalizaciones de niños residentes en Cuiabá-MT, Brasil, obtenido de DATASUS, entre el 01/01/2016 y el 31/12/2018. Se estimaron las concentraciones diarias de partículas finas contaminantes utilizando el modelo matemático CAMS, proporcionado por CPTEC. Se incluyeron diagnósticos de traqueítis y laringitis, neumonía, bronquitis, bronquiolitis y asma. El INMET proporcionó datos sobre temperaturas máximas, mínimas y humedad relativa. Se realizó el análisis estadístico con tres modelos de regresión de Poisson aditivos generalizados, uno de los cuales incluía únicamente la temperatura mínima, otro incluía el contaminante y el último con una variable de interacción. Hubo 1.612 hospitalizaciones en el período; se identificaron asociaciones entre temperatura mínima y hospitalizaciones en los rezagos 1 a 5 en el modelo multivariado; el efecto del aumento de la temperatura mínima en 4°C resultó en un aumento del riesgo de hospitalizaciones en un 18%; a este incremento se le atribuye el 15,2% de las hospitalizaciones y un exceso de ≈ US$ 68 mil en gastos para el sistema de salud durante el período evaluado. Se pudo identificar que un aumento de la temperatura mínima diaria puede causar daños a la salud de los niños.

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This study investigates the experimental assessment and mathematical modeling of the water sorption isotherms in dried specialty coffee beans processed by wet and semidry postharvest methods. The wet and semidry sorption isotherms were experimentally obtained over a range of water activities between 0.1 and 0.85 at temperatures of 25, 35, and 45 °C using the dynamic dew point method (DDI). Mathematical modeling was conducted to describe the influence of water activity, temperature, and postharvest method on the equilibrium moisture content. Twelve conventional sorption equations and four machine learning techniques were employed for modeling, using 75% of the experimental data for training and 25% for validation. The selection of the best model was carried out via multifactor Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Experimental results showed that wet and semidry coffee beans exhibited a type II S-shaped isotherm (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller classification) and a significant (p < 0.05) influence of temperature on sorption curves. Additionally, the mucilaginous coating found in semidry coffee beans provided a protective role against water sorption. The Support Vector Machine (SVM) model provided the best fit for describing the sorption isotherms (mean relative error, MRE < 1% and adjusted coefficient of determination, R2adj > 99%), demonstrating its robustness in predicting the equilibrium moisture content as a function of water activity, temperature, and postharvest processing method. This mathematical model could serve as a virtual representation of the storage process, facilitating real-time decision-making to enhance coffee quality management during storage.

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This study aims to validate sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs) of the precooling system in two immersion stages with different temperatures followed by dripping for 3 min. The variables evaluated were temperature, weight, microbiological quality, and safety of chicken carcasses. Groups of indicator microorganisms were quantified and the occurrence of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (non-157), and Staphylococcus aureus with enterotoxigenic potential was investigated, before and after cooling by immersion and dripping. Salmonella serovars were determined by real-time PCR. Immersion of the carcasses in water at 9.5 (±2.89) and 2.33 (±1.30) °C in the first and second stages was sufficient to considerably reduce the carcass temperature to 5.70 and 7.41 °C at the system outlet and after dripping, respectively. The weight gain was 5.5%, in accordance with Brazilian legislation (<8%). Immersion cooling significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the total counts of enterobacteria, total coliforms, and E. coli. Contamination was reduced in the carcasses, which increased the water counts in the system to 3.76 log CFU/mL for psychrotrophs. Salmonella spp. was identified in 100% of the carcasses evaluated and in the water from the first and second stages of cooling. The main serovars were S. Newport and S. Minnesota. Pathotypes of diarrheagenic E. coli, mainly atypical EPEC and STEC, and S. aureus with enterotoxigenic potential were highly prevalent in the carcasses even before entering the precooling systems by immersion, which was not sufficient to rule out the occurrence of any pathogen studied. Despite the notable SSOP effect on the quantification of microbiological indicators during immersion cooling, the high occurrence of different pathogens underlies the need to review procedures and techniques not only in slaughterhouses but also throughout the production chain, acting in an integrated manner to provide biosecurity and reduce risks to the consumption of chicken meat.

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Inga jinicuil is used extensively in shade coffee farms in Mexico, a diversified agroforestry system providing important environmental goods and services. However, its recalcitrant seeds represent an important barrier to its propagation. Given the climate change scenarios, it will be necessary to generate information on the effect of temperature on germination, a key stage for the establishment and conservation of the species. The objective of the study was to determine the optimal germination temperatures for I. jinicuil using linear and non-linear models, as well as the species' potential distribution under contrasting climate change scenarios using the GISS-E2-1-G model. Seeds were placed in germination chambers at constant temperatures of 5 ± 0.5 to 40 ± 0.5 °C, and their thermal responses were then modelled using a thermal timing approach. Results indicated a good fit of models of I. jinicuil germination in response to temperature. Seeds germinated across a wide temperature range; the base temperature for germination was in the range of 4.8 to 9.45 °C (average Tb: 6.21 ± 2.23 °C). and the ceiling temperature in the range of 44.51 to 49.20 °C (average Tc: 47.6 ± 2.73 °C). While the optimal temperature was found in the range of 29.58 to 33.02 °C (average To: 31.52 ± 1.43 °C). The suboptimal thermal time ([Formula: see text]1(50)) for germination of 50% of the seed lot was 117.164 ± 0.636°Cd, which under current climatic conditions is reached in 6.6 days. According to climate modeling, the distribution of I. jinicuil populations will decrease by up to 23% in the future relative to the current distribution. Results indicate that high temperatures have a negative effect on germination, which may be related to seed physiology. More research on seed germination and growth is needed to improve the management and conservation of this species and its continued use as a shade tree in coffee agroforestry systems.

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Heterogeneous environments provide different daily and seasonal thermal conditions for snakes, resulting in temporal and spatial variations in body temperature (Tb). This study analyzes the Tb of Thamnophis eques in the forest and grassland of a Mexican locality through daily and seasonal profiling. The patterns were obtained from seminatural enclosures in the field with a point sampling strategy to analyze temporal and spatial variations in Tb. The variation of Tb throughout the day was correlated with air and substrate temperatures, both in the grassland and in the forest. The average Tb in the grassland was 0.88 °C greater than in the forest. Our results indicate that T. eques showed differences in Tb between grassland and forest, principally in late spring and early summer during the early rise and late plateau phases, coinciding with the presence of foliage on the willow trees present in the study area, while in late summer and early autumn, the Tb was similar when willow trees canopy cover was absent (May-September). Our results support the hypothesis that the Tb of snakes differ between forests when the willows have leaves and is similar when canopy cover is equivalent, in this case, when tree canopy cover was absent. Our results also shown that T. eques presented daily and seasonal warming patterns similar to other Arizona populations and like those of other northern Gartersnakes. However, this result may not be valid for the entire wide distribution and consequent diversity of habitats of T. eques. The information of Tb in T. eques through daily and seasonal profiles in different habitats could aid in understanding the effects of environmental conditions on the ecological strategies deployed by snakes on habitat selection.

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Sea anemones play a crucial role in marine ecosystems. Recent studies have highlighted their physiological and ecological responses to thermal stress. Therefore, our objective was to perform a proteomic analysis of Bunodosoma cavernatum sea anemones in the Gulf of Mexico, subjected to thermal stress, to understand whether these organisms activate specific processes to resist increased temperature. We submitted one group of sea anemones to variable temperatures (26 to 32 °C) and another group to a constant temperature (28 °C) for 1.5 months. Then we subjected them to thermal stress (32 °C) for 2 weeks. We evaluated the enzymatic activity and proteome in the columns and tentacles. The main effect of the temperature regime change is a reduction in mass. Also, sea anemones synthesized proteins related to the activation of the immune system and protection against temperature. We observed decreased peroxidase activity, while superoxide dismutase activity was higher only in the constant temperature group. On the basis of these data, we deduce that B. cavernatum sea anemones are vulnerable to climate change because they stop producing toxins in their tentacles when faced with thermal stress and activate cellular responses that make them susceptible to pathogens. These responses are not sufficient to guarantee an optimal health state.

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Hemodialysis is a crucial procedure for removing toxins and waste from the body when kidneys fail to perform this function effectively. This study addresses the need to improve the efficiency and biocompatibility of membranes used in dialyzers. We simulate fluid flow through two types of membranes, Cuprophan (cellulosic) and AN69ST (synthetic), to understand the complex mechanisms involved and quantify key variables such as pressure, concentration, and flow. This study presents a detailed model that applies mass conservation equations and Navier-Stokes principles adapted for porous media, along with heat and mass transfer considerations. The results revealed significant differences in the flow behavior and filtration efficiency between the two membranes, highlighting the superiority of the AN69ST membrane in terms of flow rate and toxin removal. This model serves as a valuable tool for characterizing new porous membranes in dialysis applications, enabling the prediction of the temperature, pressure, and concentration profiles. By providing this information without requiring extensive experimentation, the model complements the design and evaluation of new membranes and, optimizes their development. The ability to predict these profiles is crucial because they directly influence the parameters that determine treatment effectiveness. Moreover, this study underscores the importance of continued innovation in membrane materials and designs, contributing to improved clinical outcomes and treatment efficiency, representing a significant advancement in healthcare.

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PREMISE: The warmer and drier atmospheric conditions of urban environments challenge plant performance to different extents based on a species' ability to acclimate to the conditions. We evaluated the influence of species origin and thermal niche on the acclimation of leaf traits and shifts in the occupation of the functional trait space of 10 tree species growing in two environmentally contrasting sites in Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS: We measured six leaf traits per species in both sites and used generalized linear models to evaluate the influence of origin and thermal niche on acclimation of leaf traits and t-tests to analyze shifts in the occupation of the functional trait space. RESULTS: Species origin predicted thermal tolerance and morphological trait acclimation to warmer conditions. Although exotic species decreased thermal tolerance at the warmer site, species from both origins acclimated traits consistently. Shifts in the occupation of the functional trait space varied between origins; warmer conditions reduced the size of the functional trait space of exotics and increased the phenotypic similarity of natives. Thermal tolerance acclimation and changes in functional trait space varied across species. Finally, thermal niche metrics were uncoupled from species origin and failed to explain the acclimation capacity of the studied species. CONCLUSIONS: Although species origin influenced acclimation to warmer conditions, the effect of origin was not related to species' thermal niches. Our results provide crucial information for decision-makers involved in designing urban and peri-urban green spaces that can withstand climate change.

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The objective of the present study was to optimize an enzymatic starch extraction process from cassava roots using a polyglacturonase (PGase) from a wild yeast strain (Wickerhanomyces anomalus). The supernatant of W. anomalus culture, with PGase activity, was used as source of enzyme (enzymatic extract, EE). The cassava starch extractions with the EE were done at lab scale and the effects of several factors were studied by using statistical designs. Chemical and functional properties of the starch obtained (enzymatic starch, ES) and those of a commercial starch (CS), were determined. The highest extraction yield was obtained using processed cassava tissues, a solid-liquid ratio of 3:6, EE with an enzyme dosage of 15 EU mL-1, at 40 °C for 5 h. Proximal analysis of the ES did not show significant differences with the CS. Swelling power and water solubility of ES increased with the temperature up to 70 °C (1.97 gg-1) and 90 °C (4.27 % w/w), respectively, similar to those of CS. Viscoamylographic profiles of ES showed a pasting temperature of 63.5 °C, a viscosity peak of 422 BU, an stability of the pasta during cooking of 202 BU and a retrograde trend of 98 BU. These values were slightly different compared to those of CS. Clarity assays determined that ES paste is considered a clear or transparent paste. Microscopic evaluation of the ES grains revealed that they were intact without any mechanical damage. The production of cassava starch by enzyme technology seems to be an interesting alternative to the traditional method of extraction by mechanical means, resulting in a novel biotechnological process.