Publications by authors named "Bruno Castro"

Ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) sensing is one of the most promising techniques for assessing the quality of power transformer insulation systems due to its capability to identify failures like partial discharges (PDs) by detecting the emitted UHF signals. However, there are still uncertainties regarding the frequency range that should be evaluated in measurements. For example, most publications have stated that UHF emissions range up to 3 GHz.

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Cymoxanil (CYM) is a widely used synthetic acetamide fungicide, but its biochemical mode of action remains elusive. Since CYM inhibits cell growth, biomass production, and respiration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we used this model to characterize the effect of CYM on mitochondria. We found it inhibits oxygen consumption in both whole cells and isolated mitochondria, specifically inhibiting cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) activity during oxidative phosphorylation.

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Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially those on dialysis or who have received a kidney transplant (KT), are considered more vulnerable to severe COVID-19. This susceptibility is attributed to advanced age, a higher frequency of comorbidities, and the chronic immunosuppressed state, which may exacerbate their susceptibility to severe outcomes. Therefore, our study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in KT patients with those on chronic dialysis and non-CKD patients in a propensity score-matched cohort study.

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Butylone (BTL) is a chiral synthetic cathinone available as a racemate and reported as contaminant in wastewater effluents. However, there are no studies on its impact on ecosystems and possible enantioselectivity in ecotoxicity. This work aimed to evaluate: (i) the possible ecotoxicity of BTL as racemate or its isolated (R)- and (S)- enantiomers using Daphnia magna; and (ii) the efficiency of advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) in the removal of BTL and reduction of toxic effects caused by wastewaters.

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Although the area with the seam is approximately 4% of the total area of an industrial filter bag, a more extensive investigation of the influence of this region on surface filtration is necessary since the small seam holes can be a conduit for the passage of fine particles even after a certain time of use of the filter bag. Therefore, this work aimed to assess the influence of aging time on the filtration performance of P84 filter bags (samples without and with seam) used in an industrial bag filter, regarding tensile mechanical properties, air permeability, fractional separation efficiency, and filtration cycles. The particulate matter applied (sinter dust) to evaluate the efficiency and to perform the cycles was collected in the hoppers of an industrial bag filter installed in the primary dedusting system of a sinter plant in the steel industry.

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Despite increasing evidence of off-site ecological impacts of pesticides and policy efforts worldwide, pesticide use is still far from being ecologically sustainable. Fungicides are among the most sold classes of pesticides and are crucial to ensure global food supply and security. This study aimed to identify potential gaps of knowledge and mismatches between research and usage data of fungicides by: (i) systematizing the current trends in global sales of fungicides, focusing on the European context in particular (where they are proportionally important); (ii) reviewing the scientific literature on the impacts of synthetic fungicides on non-target freshwater organisms.

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The "zero point" method allows for lower intensities for an exercise session without impairing the total training volume. This study aimed to compare the effects of the "zero point" versus the traditional method on muscle responses and muscle damage in trained men. Fifteen experienced men (age: 27.

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Due to increasing demand for high and stable crop production, human populations are highly dependent on pesticide use for growing and storing food. Environmental monitoring of these agrochemicals is therefore of utmost importance, because of their collateral effects on ecosystem and human health. Even though most current-use analytical methods achieve low detection limits, they require procedures that are too complex and costly for routine monitoring.

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Objective: To assess the effectiveness of various sealing techniques in cholecystotomies under maximum intraluminal pressure stress using an ex vivo swine model.

Sample: 30 gallbladders from different animals were used.

Methods: The experiment was conducted ex vivo, with the formation of 3 groups, each comprising 10 samples.

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Objective: To evaluate clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients infected with HIV, and to compare with a paired sample without HIV infection.

Methods: This is a substudy of a Brazilian multicentric cohort that comprised two periods (2020 and 2021). Data was obtained through the retrospective review of medical records.

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Article Synopsis
  • Amphetamine (AMP) exhibits different effects based on its enantiomers, impacting aquatic organisms like Daphnia magna in terms of growth, behavior, and reproduction.
  • The study tested both the racemic mixture (rac-AMP) and its pure enantiomers ((R)-AMP and (S)-AMP) over eight days, revealing varied responses depending on the enantiomer and life stage of the organisms.
  • Results indicated that low concentrations of AMP can negatively affect aquatic life, highlighting the need for further environmental risk assessments related to this psychoactive compound.
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Rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) has been used in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT) for graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis. Since the best dose has not been defined yet, this study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of different doses of ATG in Allo-HSCT. Data sources were MEDLINE/PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, LILACS, and SciELO.

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Objectives: To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of admitted patients with the hospital- versus community-manifested COVID-19 and to evaluate the risk factors related to mortality in the first population.

Methods: This retrospective cohort included consecutive adult patients with COVID-19, hospitalized between March and September 2020. The demographic data, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were extracted from medical records.

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MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a chiral psychoactive recreational drug sold in illicit markets as racemate. Studies on the impact of MDMA on aquatic organisms are scarce. While enantioselectivity in toxicity in animals and humans has been reported, none is reported on aquatic organisms.

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The objective of this study was to verify the influence of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism on muscle damage and the inflammatory response after an acute strength training (ST) session. Twenty-seven healthy male individuals (age: 25 ± 4.3 years) participated in the study, including 18 RR/RX and 9 XX individuals.

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Previous studies that assessed risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in COVID-19 patients have shown inconsistent results. Our aim was to investigate VTE predictors by both logistic regression (LR) and machine learning (ML) approaches, due to their potential complementarity. This cohort study of a large Brazilian COVID-19 Registry included 4120 COVID-19 adult patients from 16 hospitals.

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Pre-exhaustion (PE) is a popular resistance training strategy that involves performing a single-joint exercise followed by a multi-joint exercise with minimal recovery between the transition. This approach is widely used by bodybuilding athletes and resistance training (RT) enthusiasts with the aim of enhancing muscle strength and hypertrophy. The present paper aimed to provide a narrative review as to the effects of the PE method on different acute and chronic outcomes, and discuss relevant practical applications.

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Venlafaxine is a chiral antidepressant detected in aquatic compartments. It was recently included in the 3rd Watch List from the European Union. The present study aimed to investigate venlafaxine toxicity effects, targeting possible enantioselective effects, using two aquatic organisms, daphnia (Daphnia magna) and zebrafish (Danio rerio).

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Pesticides are a major anthropogenic threat to the biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems, having the potential to affect non-target aquatic organisms and disrupt the processes in which they intervene. Important knowledge gaps have been recognised concerning the ecological effects of synthetic fungicides on non-target symbiotic aquatic fungi and the ecological processes where they intervene. The goal of this work was to assess the influence of three commonly used fungicides (myclobutanil, metalaxyl and cymoxanil), which differ in their mode of action, on a host (the crustacean Daphnia magna) × parasite (the yeast Metschnikowia bicuspidata) experimental model.

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Dry-type insulated transformers stand out for their higher applicability in substations, high-voltage instrumentation systems, and electrical installations. In this machine, the insulation system is constituted of dielectric materials such as epoxy resin and Nomex paper. Some critical issues in the operation of this equipment, such as overload, moisture, or heat, can induce a slow degradation of the physical-chemical properties of the dielectric materials, which can culminate in the total failure of the transformer.

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Eprinomectin and praziquantel, nematodicide and cestodicide compounds, are both combined with the insecticide and acaricide compounds fipronil and (S)-methoprene in Frontline Protect/Broadline, or esafoxolaner in NexGard Combo. These topical feline endectoparasiticide products were tested for efficacy against fleas and intestinal helminths in a field trial in Brazil. Flea- and/or helminth-infested domestic cats were treated twice at a monthly interval following label instructions: 160 cats with Frontline Protect/Broadline and 165 cats with NexGard Combo.

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The traditional linear periodization model is designed for modifications to be performed over several weeks, whereas alterations in the undulating model are applied on a more frequent basis. The study investigated a novel periodization scheme, the muscle daily undulating periodization model (mDUP). Thirty-seven men were randomly assigned into 2 groups: (a) a group that performed 12 weeks of daily undulating periodization with fix overload (DUP-F) resistance training ( = 19) and (b) a group that performed 12-weeks of muscle daily undulating periodization with variation overload (mDUP) ( = 18).

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Article Synopsis
  • Many existing mortality risk scores for COVID-19 patients have high bias, prompting the need for a more reliable evaluation tool.
  • A new prediction model was developed using data from nearly 4,000 COVID-19 patients, identifying seven key variables that indicate in-hospital mortality risk.
  • This model showed strong accuracy in predicting outcomes and is accessible through an online calculator for healthcare professionals.*
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Total mercury (T-Hg) was determined in fish and wild animal meat consumed in indigenous villages in the Brazilian Amazon region, where there is no history of gold mining. The analyses were performed in an atomic absorption spectrophotometer by generation of cold vapour. Regardless of the dietary habit, 42.

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