The Attraction of Amazonian Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) to the Feces of Omnivorous Mammals Is Dependent on Their Diet: Implications for Ecological Monitoring.

The immense sampling effort used in ecological research on dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) has required large amounts of human feces to conduct experiments in the field. Thus, the amount of human feces available can be an important limiting factor for research. Therefore, dung from large omnivorous mammals, such as pig, has been used to reduce this limitation.

Use of digital images to count colonies of biodiesel deteriogenic microorganisms.

This work presents a novel, robust procedure for the semi-automated counting of colony-forming units of Bacillus pumilus (a bacterium) and Meyerozyma guilliermondii (a yeast) both isolated from diesel oil. The counting is performed from digital images of Petri dishes containing the samples by a developed Python code, and the images are acquired from a low-cost scanning apparatus. The counting algorithm is based on the similar morphological characteristics of the bacterium and the yeast colonies.

Progressive muscle-strength protocol for the functionality of upper limbs and quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease: Pilot study.

The effects of physical-therapy intervention on the motor function of upper limbs and the quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are not fully understood. We evaluated the effects of a progressive muscle-strengthening protocol for upper limbs on the functionality and quality of life. Patients were divided into two groups: Intervention (n = 6) and Control (n = 7).

The short evaluation of orofacial myofunctional protocol (ShOM) and the sleep clinical record in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.

Introduction: Multiple anatomic and functional risk factors contribute to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in children, most of the screening tools only evaluate clinical symptoms. The aim was to describe the evaluation of the short orofacial myofunctional protocol (ShOM) in OSA children, and to analyze if the inclusion of orofacial myofunctional aspects would influence the screening sensitivity/specificity of the Sleep Clinical Record (SCR).

Methods: Children from Brazil and Italy with sleep disordered breathing were evaluated by full night polygraphy, the SCR and the ShOM.

Evaluation of nalbuphine, butorphanol and morphine in dogs during ovariohysterectomy and on early postoperative pain.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of nalbuphine, butorphanol and morphine combined with acepromazine on intraoperative and early postoperative pain management in dogs anesthetized for ovariohysterectomy.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized blinded clinical study.

Animals: A total of 48 healthy female dogs of different breeds, aged 1-6 years, weighing (mean ± standard deviation) 14.

Domestic cooking practices influence the carotenoid and tocopherol content in colored cauliflower.

Cauliflowers are generally associated with healthy diets due to their positive impact on health. This research aims to evaluate the effects of cooking processes (boiling, steaming and microwaving) and different preparation times, on the content of carotenoids and provitamin A and tocopherols, in cauliflowers and to verify the effect of the cooking process on maintaining the coloring. The results revealed that the thermal processinfluencedthe antioxidant compounds releaseindependent of genotype.

Sampling Flower Chafer Beetles (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae) in the Amazon Rainforest: The Role of Bait Types and Trap Installation Heights.

The role of different bait types and trap installation heights for an accurate trapping of flower chafer beetles (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae) is still poorly understand worldwide, especially in the Neotropical region. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated how the type of bait and trap installation height can influence flower chafer beetle sampling in the Amazon rainforest. For this, we sampled flower chafer beetles monthly from June to December 2019 in five Amazon forest fragments, in Juína, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Effect of age at menarche on the mother's weight status two and four years after delivery: a cohort study.

We aimed to estimate the effect of age at menarche on the risk of excess body weight in Brazilian women two and four years after delivery. This was a cohort study that used data from adult women of the Predictors of Maternal and Child Excess Body Weight (PREDI) Study obtained at baseline (2012) and at 1(2014) and 2(2016) follow-up. A total of 435 women attending a public maternity hospital in Joinville-Brazil were initially included in the study (baseline) and 215 of them continued to participate in the 2 follow-up carried out in the homes of the participants.

Effect of laying on of hands as a complementary therapy for pain and functioning in older women with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

Aim: To assess the effects of laying on of hands (LooH) as a complementary therapy to kinesiotherapy, on pain, joint stiffness, and functional capacity of older women with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) compared to a control group.

Methods: In this randomized controlled clinical trial, participants were assigned into 3 groups: LooH with a spiritual component ("Spiritist passe" Group - SPG), LooH without a spiritual component (LooH Group - LHG), and a control group receiving no complementary intervention (Control Group - CG). Patients were assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks.

In situ photocrosslinkable formulation of nanocomposites based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes and formononetin for potential application in spinal cord injury treatment.

Carbon nanotubes (CN) have been studied to treat spinal cord injuries because of its electrical properties and nanometric dimensions. This work aims to develop a photopolymerizable hydrogel containing CN functionalized with an anti-inflammatory molecule to be used in situ on spinal cord injuries. The CN functionalization step was done using the drug (formononetin).

Localization of Coated Iron Oxide (FeO) Nanoparticles on Tomato Seeds and Their Effects on Growth.

Food demand due to the growing global population has been stretching the agriculture sector to the limit. This demands the cultivation of plants in shrinking land areas which makes the search for highly effective systems for plant nutrition and pest control important. In this context, the application of nanoparticles (NPs) in agriculture can have a transformative effect on food production techniques as it can enable the delivery of bioactive agents (including growth factors, pesticides, and fungicides) directly to plants.

Reduced cutaneous inflammation associated with antioxidant action after topical application of the aqueous extract of Annona muricata leaves.

Annona muricata L. is used in folk medicine for treatment of diseases related to inflammatory and oxidative processes. This study investigated the effect of the aqueous extract of A.

Combined effects of caloric restriction and fish oil attenuated anti-depressant and anxiolytic-like effects of fish oil: association with hippocampal BDNF concentrations.

Omega-3-enriched fish oil (FO) and caloric restriction (CR) are nutritional therapeutic approaches that exert an important impact on brain function, behavior, memory, and neuroprotection. Here, we investigate the synergic effects of both therapeutic approaches combined (CR + FO) on behavior (memory, anxiety-like behavior, antidepressant-like behavior), as well as its association with hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four dietary groups: Control group (C) - chow ad libitum; CR group - 30 % CR, considering C group food intake; FO group - FO-enriched chow ad libitum; and CR + FO group - FO-enriched 30 % CR chow.

Delaying the harvest induces bioactive compounds and maintains the quality of sweet potatoes.

We have identified the best harvesting periods, related to higher bioactive compound content and post-harvest quality, for minimally processed sweet potatoes with orange pulp and cream pulp. Quality loss in minimally processed sweet potatoes occurred due to browning in cv. Mãe de Familia and ESAM1 and to whitening in cv.

Spondias mombin L. attenuates ventricular remodelling after myocardial infarction associated with oxidative stress and inflammatory modulation.

The objective of this study was to evaluate Spondias mombin L. (SM) pulp and its influence on cardiac remodelling after myocardial infarction (MI). Male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: a sham group (animals underwent simulated surgery) that received standard chow (S; n = 20), an infarcted group that received standard chow (MI; n = 24), an infarcted group supplemented with 100 mg of SM/kg bodyweight/d, (MIS100; n = 23) and an infarcted group supplemented with 250 mg of SM/kg bodyweight/d (MIS250; n = 22).

Hydroethanolic Extract of L. Fruits Modulates ROS and Cytokine in Human Cell Lines.

L. or popularly known as "jurubeba" is an herbal medicinal plant. A few studies have investigated its biological effects; however, research aimed at elucidating the redox balance effects from its fruits has not been reported so far.

Seroprevalence Brazil.

This chapter presents an overview of the seroprevalence of toxocariasis in Brazil and discusses how this zoonosis is studied, diagnosed, and treated in the Brazilian population. Toxocariasis in humans has a high prevalence in several regions of Brazil; however, this disease is neglected because of lack of knowledge, non-specific clinical signs, and difficult diagnosis. Most studies conducted in Brazil have estimated the prevalence of toxocariasis, i.

Increased angiotensin II from adipose tissue modulates myocardial collagen I and III in obese rats.

Unlabelled: It has been described that the cardiac dysfunction in the obesity model is because of collagen imbalance and that angiotensin II (Ang II) contributes to myocardial fibrosis. However, it remains undefined if changes in collagen I and III metabolism in obesity is due to the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) dysregulation from myocardium or excessive adipose tissue.

Aim: This study aimed to verify whether the changes in myocardial collagen metabolism result from RAS deregulation of cardiac or adipose tissue in an obesity model.

Genetic analysis of Giardia duodenalis isolates from children of low-income families living in an economically successful region in Southeastern Brazil.

Giardia duodenalis is one of the most important and widespread gastrointestinal parasites in the world. Despite its relevance as a causative agent of diarrhea, asymptomatic giardiasis occurs frequently, especially in low resources settings in which children are exposed to many risk factors. Based on microscopic examination and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of beta-giardin (bg), triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) and glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) genes, we assessed G.

The acute schistosomiasis mansoni ameliorates metabolic syndrome in the C57BL/6 mouse model.

Human and experimental studies have shown that chronic schistosomiasis mansoni protects against metabolic disorders through direct and indirect pathways. This study aims to investigate the co-morbidity between the acute schistosomiasis and nonalcoholic fatty liver. To address this, male C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat chow (60% fat) or standard chow (10% fat) for 13 weeks and later infected with 80 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae.

Antibacterial activity of chitosan/collagen membranes containing red propolis extract.

In this study we developed a mucoadhesive polymeric membrane wound dressing incorporating red propolis extract (HERP). Membranes were made using a casting method employing collagen, chitosan, polyethylene glycol (15, 20, and 30v%), and hydroethanolic extract of EtOH-H₂O 70v% - 30v% (v/v) of HERP (0.5, 1.

Measurement properties from the Brazilian Portuguese version of the QUIP-RS.

Parkinson's disease (PD) has numerous motor and non-motor symptoms. Among non-motor manifestations impulse control disorders (ICDs) stand out. ICDs include compulsions for gambling, shopping, eating, and sexual behavior, and "related disorders" such as hobbyism, simple motor activities, and dopamine dysregulation syndrome.

Deterministic control of surface mounted metal-organic framework growth orientation on metallic and insulating surfaces.

Surface-Mounted Metal-Organic Frameworks (SURMOFs) are promising materials with a wide range of applications and increasing interest in different technological fields. The use of SURMOFs as both the active and passive tail in electronic devices is one of the most exciting possibilities for such a hybrid material. In such a context, the adhesion, roughness, and crystallinity control of SURMOF thin films are challenging and have limited their application in new functional electronic devices.

Silver Nanoparticles-Composing Alginate/Gelatine Hydrogel Improves Wound Healing In Vivo.

Polymer hydrogels have been suggested as dressing materials for the treatment of cutaneous wounds and tissue revitalization. In this work, we report the development of a hydrogel composed of natural polymers (sodium alginate and gelatin) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with recognized antimicrobial activity for healing cutaneous lesions. For the development of the hydrogel, different ratios of sodium alginate and gelatin have been tested, while different concentrations of AgNO precursor (1.