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In the dynamic environment of plants, the interplay between light-dependent growth and iron nutrition is a recurring challenge. Plants respond to low iron levels by adjusting growth and physiology through enhanced iron acquisition from the rhizosphere and internal iron pool reallocation. Iron deficiency response assays and gene co-expression networks aid in documenting physiological reactions and unraveling gene regulatory cascades, offering insight into the interplay between hormonal and external signaling pathways. However, research directly exploring the significance of light in iron nutrition remains limited. This review provides an overview on iron deficiency regulation and its cross-connection with distinct light signals, focusing on transcription factor cascades and long-distance signaling. The circadian clock and retrograde signaling influence iron uptake and allocation. The light-activated shoot-to-root mobile transcription factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) affects iron homeostasis responses in roots. Blue light triggers the formation of biomolecular condensates containing iron deficiency-induced protein complexes. The potential of exploiting the connection between light and iron signaling remains underutilized. With climate change and soil alkalinity on the rise, there is a need to develop crops with improved nutrient use efficiency and modified light dependencies. More research is needed to understand and leverage the interplay between light signaling and iron nutrition.
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IRON MAN (IMA) peptides, a family of small peptides, control iron (Fe) transport in plants, but their roles in Fe signaling remain unclear. BRUTUS (BTS) is a potential Fe sensor that negatively regulates Fe homeostasis by promoting the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of bHLH105 and bHLH115, two positive regulators of the Fe deficiency response. Here, we show that IMA peptides interact with BTS. The C-terminal parts of IMA peptides contain a conserved BTS interaction domain (BID) that is responsible for their interaction with the C terminus of BTS. Arabidopsis thaliana plants constitutively expressing IMA genes phenocopy the bts-2 mutant. Moreover, IMA peptides are ubiquitinated and degraded by BTS. bHLH105 and bHLH115 also share a BID, which accounts for their interaction with BTS. IMA peptides compete with bHLH105/bHLH115 for interaction with BTS, thereby inhibiting the degradation of these transcription factors by BTS. Genetic analyses suggest that bHLH105/bHLH115 and IMA3 have additive roles and function downstream of BTS. Moreover, the transcription of both BTS and IMA3 is activated directly by bHLH105 and bHLH115 under Fe-deficient conditions. Our findings provide a conceptual framework for understanding the regulation of Fe homeostasis: IMA peptides protect bHLH105/bHLH115 from degradation by sequestering BTS, thereby activating the Fe deficiency response.
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Proteínas de Arabidopsis/metabolismo , Arabidopsis/metabolismo , Homeostase , Ferro/metabolismo , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/metabolismo , Arabidopsis/genética , Arabidopsis/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Proteínas de Arabidopsis/genética , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/genéticaRESUMO
PURPOSE: To introduce a method of inducing Bloch-Siegert shift and magnetization Transfer Simultaneously (BTS) and demonstrate its utilization for measuring binary spin-bath model parameters free pool spin-lattice relaxation ( T 1 F $$ {T}_1^{\mathrm{F}} $$ ), macromolecular fraction ( f $$ f $$ ), magnetization exchange rate ( k F $$ {k}_{\mathrm{F}} $$ ) and local transmit field ( B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ ). THEORY AND METHODS: Bloch-Siegert shift and magnetization transfer is simultaneously induced through the application of off-resonance irradiation in between excitation and acquisition of an RF-spoiled gradient-echo scheme. Applying the binary spin-bath model, an analytical signal equation is derived and verified through Bloch simulations. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to analyze the method's performance. The estimation of the binary spin-bath parameters with B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ compensation was further investigated through experiments, both ex vivo and in vivo. RESULTS: Comparing BTS with existing methods, simulations showed that existing methods can significantly bias T 1 $$ {T}_1 $$ estimation when not accounting for transmit B 1 $$ {B}_1 $$ heterogeneity and MT effects that are present. Phantom experiments further showed that the degree of this bias increases with increasing macromolecular proton fraction. Multi-parameter fit results from an in vivo brain study generated values in agreement with previous literature. Based on these studies, we confirmed that BTS is a robust method for estimating the binary spin-bath parameters in macromolecule-rich environments, even in the presence of B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ inhomogeneity. CONCLUSION: A method of estimating Bloch-Siegert shift and magnetization transfer effect has been developed and validated. Both simulations and experiments confirmed that BTS can estimate spin-bath parameters ( T 1 F $$ {T}_1^{\mathrm{F}} $$ , f $$ f $$ , k F $$ {k}_{\mathrm{F}} $$ ) that are free from B 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ bias.
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Encéfalo , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagem , Imagens de Fantasmas , Método de Monte Carlo , AlgoritmosRESUMO
AIM: Bridge to surgery (BtS) aims to decrease perioperative morbidity and mortality in emergency resection (ER) of the colon. Previous results are inconsistent, and long-term comparisons are scarce. The aim of this study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of BtS and ER. METHOD: This retrospective study examined data from the Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry for patients treated for acute malignant large bowel obstruction from 2007 to 2009. Patients were grouped by treatment strategy: BtS (using a self-expanding metallic stent or diverting stoma) or ER. Medical records were scrutinized for all patients in the BtS group. The primary endpoints were 5-year overall survival (OS) and 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS). The secondary endpoints were postoperative mortality and morbidity rates and stoma permanence. RESULTS: Overall, 143 patients were treated using BtS versus 1302 patients treated with ER. The 5-year OS was higher in the BtS group than in the ER group (53.8% vs. 37.4%; p < 0.05). No difference was noted in the 3-year RFS (75.7% vs. 75.0%; p = 0.38). The postoperative mortality rate was lower in the BtS group than in the ER group (0.7% vs. 7.3%; p < 0.05). Complications occurred in 46.9% of patients in the BtS group (both procedures) versus 35.9% of patients in the ER group (p < 0.05); the rate of severe complications was 23.1% and 16.9%, respectively (p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: This retrospective population-based registry study showed higher long-term survival and lower postoperative mortality rates among patients treated with BtS versus ER for acute malignant large bowel obstruction.
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Neoplasias Colorretais , Obstrução Intestinal , Stents Metálicos Autoexpansíveis , Humanos , Neoplasias Colorretais/complicações , Neoplasias Colorretais/cirurgia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Obstrução Intestinal/etiologia , Obstrução Intestinal/cirurgia , Stents/efeitos adversos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Adult fans of K-Pop band BTS are part of a diverse and global fandom that has an evident psychological sense of community associated with psychosocial benefits such as increases in wellbeing. This study aimed to investigate if cyberbullying victimization plays an influential role in the relationship of BTS fans' psychological sense of community and wellbeing using an online co-designed survey administered to 183 participants. There was a significant positive relationship found between psychological sense of community and wellbeing. The results of a moderation analysis were interpreted as cyberbullying victimization not having an influential role in this positive relationship, despite cyberbullying typically having detrimental effects on interpersonal relationships and communities generally. It was concluded that BTS fans' psychological sense of community may be buffering against the adverse consequences of cyberbullying victimization and/or competent anti-cyberbullying and online safety practices are being carried out in online BTS fan communities. Implications for anti-cyberbullying researchers and cyberbullying prevention efforts are also discussed.
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Bullying , Vítimas de Crime , Cyberbullying , Humanos , Adulto , Coesão Social , Cyberbullying/psicologia , Bullying/psicologia , Vítimas de Crime/psicologia , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Preoperative colonic stenting for malignant large bowel obstruction (MLBO), also called bridge to surgery (BTS), is considered a great substitute treatment for emergency resection (ER) in the left-sided colon. However, its efficacy in the right-sided colon remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the postoperative short-term outcomes between BTS and ER for right-sided MLBO. METHODS: A comprehensive electronic literature search throughout December 2020 was performed to identify studies comparing short-term outcomes between BTS and ER for right-side MLBO. The main outcome measures were postoperative complications and mortality rates. A meta-analysis was performed using a fixed-effect or a random-effect method to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: Seven studies were included in this meta-analysis, comprising 5136 patients, of whom 1662 (32.4%) underwent BTS and 3474 (67.6%) underwent ER. This meta-analysis demonstrated that BTS resulted in reductions in postoperative complications (OR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.66-0.92) and mortality (OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.28-0.92) than ER. CONCLUSION: The results of this meta-analysis indicate that BTS for right-sided MLBO confers preferable short-term outcomes as well as for left-sided. This suggests that BTS results in a reduction of postoperative complications and mortality for right-sided MLBO than ER.
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Neoplasias do Colo , Neoplasias Colorretais , Obstrução Intestinal , Neoplasias do Colo/complicações , Neoplasias Colorretais/cirurgia , Humanos , Obstrução Intestinal/etiologia , Obstrução Intestinal/cirurgia , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/etiologia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Stents/efeitos adversos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
This paper describes a practical approach to the transformation of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) into scalable and controllable DC Microgrids in which an energy management system (EMS) is developed to maximize the economic benefit. The EMS strategy focuses on efficiently managing a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) along with photovoltaic (PV) energy generation, and non-critical load-shedding. The EMS collects data such as real-time energy consumption and generation, and environmental parameters such as temperature, wind speed and irradiance, using a smart sensing strategy whereby measurements can be recorded and computing can be performed both locally and in the cloud. Within the Spanish electricity market and applying a two-tariff pricing, annual savings per installed battery power of 16.8 euros/kW are achieved. The system has the advantage that it can be applied to both new and existing installations, providing a two-way connection to the electricity grid, PV generation, smart measurement systems and the necessary management software. All these functions are integrated in a flexible and low cost HW/SW architecture. Finally, the whole system is validated through real tests carried out on a pilot plant and under different weather conditions.
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In this work we present a computational analysis together with experimental studies, focusing on the interaction between a benzothiazole (BTS) and lysozyme. Results obtained from isothermal titration calorimetry, UV-vis, and fluorescence were contrasted and complemented with molecular docking and machine learning techniques. The free energy values obtained both experimentally and theoretically showed excellent similarity. Calorimetry, UV-vis, and 3D/2D-lig-plot analysis revealed that the most relevant interactions between BTS and lysozyme are based on a predominance of aromatic, hydrophobic Van der Waals interactions, mainly aromatic edge-to-face (T-shaped) π-π stacking interactions between the benzene ring belonging to the 2-(methylthio)-benzothiazole moiety of BTS and the aromatic amino acid residue TRP108 of the lysozyme receptor. Next, conventional hydrogen bonding interactions contribute to the stability of the BTS-lysozyme coupling complex. In addition, mechanistic approaches performed using elastic network models revealed that the BTS ligand theoretically induces propagation of allosteric signals, suggesting non-physiological conformational flexing in large blocks of lysozyme affecting α-helices. Likewise, the BTS ligand interacts directly with allosteric residues, inducing perturbations in the conformational dynamics expressed as a moderate conformational softening in the α-helices H1, H2, and their corresponding ß-loop in the lysozyme receptor, in contrast to the unbound state of lysozyme.
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Benzotiazóis/química , Benzotiazóis/metabolismo , Interações Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Muramidase/química , Muramidase/metabolismo , Animais , Sítios de Ligação , Galinhas , Ligação de Hidrogênio , Ligantes , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Ligação Proteica , Conformação Proteica , TermodinâmicaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Left atrial septal pouches (LASPs) are a relatively newly described but common anatomical cardiac variant thought to be associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and cardio-embolic stroke. Blue toe syndrome (BTS) describes ischemic changes in the toes due to microembolisation of the digital arteries. Establishing the etiology of BTS is vital so that the underlying cause can be treated. Here we describe the first case of BTS arising due to emboli from LASP thrombus arising on a background of new-onset AF. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old man presented with a two-day history of progressive painful swelling and bluish-purple discoloration of the second and fourth toes of his left foot and new-onset AF. Tests for hypercoagulability disorders were negative. Duplex ultrasound and CT angiography excluded deep venous thrombosis and an absence of embolus, thrombus, or occlusion in the arterial tree in the lower extremities bilaterally, so BTS was diagnosed. While transthoracic echocardiography and chest CT initially showed no cardiac abnormalities or mural thrombus, subsequent transesophageal echocardiography revealed a LASP with an associated pedunculated thrombus. The affected toes were amputated due to wet gangrene, but the patient recovered well with thrombus resolution after anticoagulation. CONCLUSION: The presence of a LASP in the absence of any other identifiable cause of BTS should trigger careful investigation of the interatrial septum, preferably using a multimodality imaging approach. The possibility that LASPs may not merely be an innocent bystander but a causative mechanism for peripheral ischemia must be considered.
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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Virtual reality (VR) is increasingly often finding applications in physiotherapy and health promotion. Recent years have seen the use of advanced technologies in the promotion of physical activity (PA) in society. New simulators, e.g., treadmills, enable the performance of PA (e.g., locomotive movements) in VR (artificially created virtual world). The question of how such movements are similar to natural forms of human locomotion (march, run) inspired the comparative analysis of physiological gait and gait in VR on a multidirectional Omni treadmill. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The tests involved the use of the BTS Smart system for the triplanar analysis of motion. The test involved 10 healthy females aged 20-24 (weight: 52 ± 3.1 kg, height 162 ± 5.4 cm). Measurements were performed at two stages. The first stage involved the standard assessment of physiological gait, whereas the second was focused on gait forced by the Omni treadmill. The following gait parameters were analyzed: Flexion-extension in the ankle, knee joint and hip joint, rotation in the hip joint and knee joint, foot progression, adduction-abduction in the knee joint and hip joint, pelvic obliquity, pelvic tilt, pelvic rotation as well as energy expenditure and the movement of the body center of mass. RESULTS: The analysis of the test results revealed the existence of differences in the kinematics of physical gait and gait on the treadmill. The greatest differences were recorded in relation to the dorsal-plantar flexion in the ankle, the foot progression, the rotation of the knee joint, pelvic tilt and rotation. In addition, the gait on the treadmill is characterized by the longer duration of the stance phase and reduced ranges of the following movements: Flexion-extension in the ankle, knee joint and hip joint, adduction-abduction in the hip joint as well as rotation in the ankle and hip joint. The values of potential, kinetic and total energy recorded in relation to forced gait are significantly lower than those of physiological gait. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the fact that the parameters of gait on the Omni platform vary significantly from the parameters of physical gait, the application of the Omni treadmill in the re-education of gait during rehabilitation should be treated with considerable care. Nonetheless, the treadmill has adequate potential to become a safe simulator enabling active motion in VR using locomotive movements.
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Equipamentos para Diagnóstico , Marcha/fisiologia , Realidade Virtual , Articulação do Tornozelo/fisiologia , Feminino , Monitores de Aptidão Física , Voluntários Saudáveis , Articulação do Quadril/fisiologia , Humanos , Articulação do Joelho/fisiologia , Locomoção/fisiologia , Postura/fisiologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Iron (Fe) deficiency is a limiting factor for the normal growth and development of plants, and many species have evolved sophisticated systems for adaptation to Fe-deficient environments. It is still unclear how plants sense Fe status and coordinate the expression of genes responsive to Fe deficiency. In this study, we show that the bHLH transcription factor bHLH115 is a positive regulator of the Fe-deficiency response. Loss-of-function of bHLH115 causes strong Fe-deficiency symptoms and alleviates expression of genes responsive to Fe deficiency, whereas its overexpression causes the opposite effect. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that bHLH115 binds to the promoters of the Fe-deficiency-responsive genes bHLH38/39/100/101 and POPEYE (PYE), which suggests redundant molecular functions with bHLH34, bHLH104, and bHLH105. This is further supported by the fact that the bhlh115-1 mutant was complemented by overexpression of any of bHLH34, bHLH104, bHLH105, and bHLH115. Further investigations determined that bHLH115 could interact with itself and with bHLH34, bHLH104, and bHLH105. Their differential tissue-specific expression patterns and the severe Fe deficiency symptoms of multiple mutants supported their non-redundant biological functions. Genetic analysis revealed that bHLH115 is negatively regulated by BRUTUS (BTS), an E3 ligase that can interact with bHLH115. Thus, bHLH115 plays key roles in the maintenance of Fe homeostasis in Arabidopsis thaliana.
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Proteínas de Arabidopsis/genética , Arabidopsis/fisiologia , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/genética , Ferro/fisiologia , Arabidopsis/genética , Proteínas de Arabidopsis/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/metabolismo , Imunoprecipitação da Cromatina , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , HomeostaseRESUMO
The distribution of butyltins (BTs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were studied in surface sediments to assess how relevant is Mar del Plata port (Argentina) as a source of contamination to the surrounding environments. Within the port, TBT concentrations ranged from 24.2 to 150 ng Sn g(-1) and PAHs (Σ16) from 180 to 17,094 ng g(-1). At the surrounding beaches, PAHs were detected at low concentrations and TBT concentrations reached 10.9 ng Sn g(-1). Although those low levels indicate that the Port might not be an important source of contamination to the surrounding beaches, the very low TOC content and the coarse grain size of the beaches sediments could explain the sedimentary levels. The results show a reduction in TBT levels in Mar del Plata port after national and international use restrictions of TBT-based antifouling paints.
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Sedimentos Geológicos/química , Compostos Orgânicos de Estanho/análise , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análise , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Argentina , Carbono/análise , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Compostos Orgânicos de Estanho/química , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/química , Poluentes Químicos da Água/química , Poluição da Água/análiseRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In recent years, by tremendous use of mobile phone telecommunication, a growing concern about the possible health hazards has increased greatly among public and scientists. The mobile phone exposure has been shown to have many effects upon the immune functions, stimulating hormones, mammalian brain, sperm motility and morphology, and neurological pathologies syndrome. The aim of this study was to find out the psychological and psychobiological reactions of the people who are living near mobile phone base transceiver stations (BTS) antenna, in Isfahan, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study on 250 randomly selected inhabitants (133 women and 117 men) was performed in October 2012 till November 2012. The inhabitants were requested to complete a standardized questionnaire that focused on the relevant psychological and psychobiological reactions parameters. A computer program (SPSS version16.0, Chicago, IL) was used for statistical analysis using the Chi-square test with Yates correction. All the data were tested using a criterion level of p = 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that most of the symptoms such as nausea, headache, dizziness, irritability, discomfort, nervousness, depression, sleep disturbance, memory loss and lowering of libido were statistically significant in the inhabitants living near the BTS antenna (<300 m distances) compared to those living far from the BTS antenna (>300 m). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that cellular phone BTS antenna should not be sited closer than 300 m to populations to minimize exposure of neighbors.
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Telefone Celular/instrumentação , Campos Eletromagnéticos/efeitos adversos , Saúde , Adolescente , Adulto , Estudos Transversais , Exposição Ambiental/efeitos adversos , Feminino , Humanos , Irã (Geográfico) , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estresse Psicológico/etiologia , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Radio frequency wave (RFW) generated by base transceiver station has been reported to produce deleterious effects on the central nervous system function, possibly through oxidative stress. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of RFW-induced oxidative stress in the cerebellum and encephalon and the prophylactic effect of vitamin C on theses tissues by measuring the antioxidant enzymes activity, including: glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde (MDA). Thirty-two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. The control group; the control-vitamin C group received L-ascorbic acid (200 mg/kg of body weight/day by gavage) for 45 days. The RFW group was exposed to RFW and the RFW+ vitamin C group was exposed to RFW and received vitamin C. At the end of the experiment, all groups were killed and encephalon and cerebellum of all rats were removed and stored at -70 °C for measurement of antioxidant enzymes activity and MDA. The results indicate that exposure to RFW in the test group decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and increased MDA compared with the control groups (p < 0.05). The protective role of vitamin C in the treated group improved antioxidant enzymes activity and reduced MDA compared with the test group (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that RFW causes oxidative stress in the brain and vitamin C improves the antioxidant enzymes activity and decreases MDA.
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Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Ácido Ascórbico/farmacologia , Encéfalo/efeitos da radiação , Cerebelo/efeitos da radiação , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Catalase/metabolismo , Telefone Celular , Cerebelo/metabolismo , Peroxidação de Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos da radiação , Ondas de Rádio/efeitos adversos , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismoRESUMO
To assist in the conservation of collared peccary, it is important to strengthen semen processing protocols. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of different commercial extenders (BTS; NUTRIXcell+ and PRIMXcell Ultra) and TRIS + egg yolk on the functional and morphological aspects of collared peccary semen stored at 17 °C for 48â¯hours. Ten ejaculates obtained by electroejaculation were divided into 4 aliquots and diluted in the respective extenders, then stored in a biological incubator at 17 °C for 12, 24, 36, and 48â¯hours. The samples were evaluated for kinetic parameters, membrane functionality, membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity, morphology, and sperm-binding capacity. At the end of storage (48â¯h), promising results were found for motility parameters, with TRIS + egg yolk (71.0 ± 4.6%) being more efficient than NUTRIXcell+ (38.9 ± 10.9%) (P < 0.05) and similar to BTS (42.9 ± 11.9%) and PRIMXcell Ultra (46.8 ± 10.8%). The results for membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity were around â¼30-50%, with TRIS being the only extender to preserve both parameters (58.9 ± 5.3 and 59.2 ± 5.6%) for up to 48â¯hours, respectively (P < 0.05). Finally, the extenders could guarantee 60% membrane functionality and â¼ 60-70% normal sperm morphology, as well as similar binding capacity among the groups. In conclusion, TRIS + egg yolk is effective in preserving the sperm parameters of collared peccary semen at 17 °C for 48â¯hours, while PRIMXcell Ultra and BTS are viable alternatives for this purpose.
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Gema de Ovo , Preservação do Sêmen , Animais , Preservação do Sêmen/veterinária , Preservação do Sêmen/métodos , Masculino , Gema de Ovo/química , Crioprotetores/farmacologia , Análise do Sêmen/veterinária , Artiodáctilos/fisiologia , Trometamina/farmacologia , Trometamina/química , Refrigeração/veterinária , Espermatozoides/fisiologia , SêmenRESUMO
This study investigated the influence of various plasticizers commonly used in the manufacture of polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs), such as 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE), phthalates, adipates, and sebacates on the mechanical, thermal, and transport properties of membranes. Additionally, butyl stearate (BTS), chosen for its non-toxic nature compared to phthalates and its cost-effectiveness relative to adipates and sebacates, was evaluated as a plasticizer in PIMs for the first time. All plasticizers were incorporated in PIMs made of either cellulose triacetate (CTA) or poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) as the base polymers and the task-specific ionic liquid trioctylmethylammonium thiosalicylate (TOMATS) as the carrier. The plasticizers were found to significantly affect the characteristics of membrane hydrophilicity, mechanical flexibility, and thermal stability. Transport experiments using Hg(II) as a model target ion revealed that, for CTA-based PIMs, the plasticizer did not significantly affect transport efficiency. However, for PVC-based PIMs, BTS exhibited better efficiency when compared to NPOE. These findings highlight the potential of BTS as an attractive alternative to currently used plasticizers in PVC-based PIM formulations.
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Prenatal exposure to benzotriazoles and benzothiazoles (collectively as BTs) was associated with pregnancy complications. Identifying the metabolites associated with prenatal BTs exposure may help elucidate the mechanism and characterize the exposure risk. In this prospective study of 158 pregnant women from Wuhan, China, urinary BTs were repeatedly measured across three trimesters to provide an accurate estimation of exposure during pregnancy. We conducted high-throughput targeted metabolomics with great coverage and high accuracy to characterize the urinary metabolic profile in late pregnancy. We first identified the perturbed metabolites of cocktail BTs exposure and then pinned down to the pairwise associations between individual BTs and the identified metabolites. A total of 44 metabolites were identified as perturbed biomarkers of cocktail BTs exposure based on the variable influence on projection (VIP > 1.2) score. Further pairwise associations analysis showed positive association of BTs with oxidative stress related biomarkers and negative association of BTs with neuronal function metabolites. The shared metabolic signatures among BTs in the co-occurrence network of pairwise association analysis may partially be attributed to the correlation among cocktail BTs exposure. The findings provide the potential mechanisms of BTs-associated pregnancy complications and offer insight into the health implications for prenatal BTs exposure. Furthermore, the framework we employed, which integrates both cocktail exposure and individual exposure, may illuminate future epidemiological research that seeks to incorporate exposure to mixtures and omics scale data.
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Benzotiazóis , Biomarcadores , Exposição Materna , Triazóis , Feminino , Gravidez , Triazóis/toxicidade , Humanos , Adulto , Biomarcadores/urina , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Estudos Prospectivos , China , Metabolômica , Metaboloma/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
COVID-19-motivated social distancing made online concerts common practice in 2020 and 2021, with millions logging into streaming sites to see their favorite artists perform in realtime. For some fans, watching alone at home may have been enough, but concert-concurrent surges of social media activity suggest many virtual performance attendees are doing more. To understand why fans would turn their attention from these precious performance streams to social media, we explored Twitter engagement during four live streamed concerts performed by the Kpop group BTS in 2021. In public Tweets sampled by either concert hashtag or a predefined stream of users and keywords, we evaluated patterns in posting rates in relation to concert program events and investigated the content patterns in 1,200 Tweets sampled from four ranges of popularity (number of Retweets during the concert). Across concerts, short "Shout" Tweets surged at the start of songs, while the rate of retweets often fell during musical performances and shot up when BTS was off stage. Content analysis on the subsample found the materials most widely shared were informational or featured concert visuals, mimicking how fans use their phones at in-person concerts. Most original posts received few Retweets and were more personal and expressive of admiration for the performers. Comparison between the samples (concert hashtag vs. stream) also suggests users were strategic in using or omitting official concert hashtags with the strongest differences in the most widely disseminated content. Postings on Twitter during these performances seemed principally directed to fellow fans and audience members, by individuals choosing to share their own excitement and check in with others. By leveraging their existing social media networks, these concert attendees constructed a collective and interactive concert space, connecting with friends and strangers in the crowd and helping each other capture a richer experience than any broadcasting platform currently supports.
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INTRODUCTION: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) presents self-management challenges, requiring an additional 180 daily decisions to regulate blood glucose (BG) levels. Despite the potential, T1D-focused applications have a 43% attrition rate. This work delves into the willingness of people living with T1D (PwT1D) to use technology. METHOD: An online questionnaire investigated the current practices for carbohydrate estimation, nutritional tracking, and attitudes towards technology engagement, along with hypothetical scenarios and preferences regarding technology use. RESULTS: Thirty-nine responses were collected from PwT1D (n = 33) and caregivers (n = 6). Nutrition reporting preferences varied, with 50% favoring 'type and scroll' while 30% preferred meal photographing. Concerning the timing of reporting, 33% reported before meals, 55% after, and 12% at a later time. Improved Time in Range (TIR) was a strong motivator for app use, with 78% expressing readiness to adjust insulin doses based on app suggestions for optimizing TIR. Meal descriptions varied; a single word was used in 42% of cases, 23% used a simple description (i.e., "Sunday dinner"), 30% included portion sizes, and 8% provided full recipes. CONCLUSION: PwT1D shows interest in using technology to reduce the diabetes burden when it leads to an improved TIR. For such technology to be ecologically valid, it needs to strike a balance between requiring minimal user input and providing significant data, such as meal tags, to ensure accurate blood glucose management without overwhelming users with reporting tasks.
Assuntos
Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1 , Humanos , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/sangue , Feminino , Masculino , Adulto , Inquéritos e Questionários , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Refeições , Aplicativos Móveis , Glicemia/metabolismo , Adulto Jovem , Estado Nutricional , Automonitorização da Glicemia , Insulina , Carboidratos da Dieta/administração & dosagemRESUMO
Background: Anesthesia remains challenging for bronchoscopic tracheobronchial surgeries (BTS) involving surgical manipulations for central airway obstruction within shared airways. To provide complete airway use through intervention with spontaneous breathing without endotracheal tubes, monitored non-intubated anesthesia has been successfully applied with electroencephalogram-derived monitored total intravenous anesthesia. This study evaluated the feasibility and the outcomes of BTS with monitored non-intubated anesthesia. The factors associated with desaturation and complications were also analyzed. Methods: Data from patients receiving non-intubated BTS performed between October 2019 and August 2022 were retrospectively collected. Intraoperative results and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Results: Data of 92 patients were collected. Supraglottic airways devices and high-flow nasal oxygen were used in 68 and 24 patients respectively. Surgery was successfully completed in 87 patients (94.6%), whereas three patients required conversion to intubation because of substantial bleeding. In total, 11% of patients experienced desaturation [oxygen saturation (SpO2) <90%] for an average of 9 minutes. Unexpected admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) occurred in 12.2% (5/41) of patients from outpatient department and 7.8% (4/51) of hospitalization settings because of high-grade surgical bleeding. With comparable desaturation incidence, tracheal surgery had significantly longer desaturation times (14.5±6.9 min) than bronchial surgeries (5.8±2.6 min) did. Conclusions: Monitored non-intubated anesthesia with spontaneous breathing is feasible for BTS, with high success rate, few complications, and rapid recovery. High-grade bleeding remains the most unpredictable risk for intraoperative desaturation and postoperative ICU admission, especially in tracheal obstruction cases.