Known unknowns: Filling the gaps in scientific knowledge production in the Caatinga.

The Caatinga is an ecologically unique semi-arid region of northeast Brazil characterized by high levels of endemism and severe anthropogenic threats from agricultural development and climate change. It is also one of the least known biomes in Brazil due to a combination of inadequate investment, low regional research capacity and difficult working conditions. However, while the lack of scientific knowledge of the Caatinga is well known, the spatial and temporal distribution of knowledge production has not been investigated.

Neuroendocrine tumor of the appendix-a case report and review of the literature.

Incidental appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors (ANETs) occur in 0.2-0.7% of surgical resections for suspected appendicitis (Moris, Tsilimigras, Vagios, Ntanasis-stathopoulos, Karachaliou, Papalampros, Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the appendix: a review of the literature.

Complete Sequences of Two Plasmids Found in a Brazilian Bacillus thuringiensis Serovar israelensis Strain.

Plasmids play a crucial role in the evolution of bacterial genomes by mediating horizontal gene transfer. In this work, we sequenced two plasmids found in a Brazilian Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis strain which showed 100% nucleotide identities with Bacillus thuringiensis serovar kurstaki plasmids.

Bacteriophage biodistribution and infectivity from honeybee to bee larvae using a T7 phage model.

Bacteriophages (phages) or viruses that specifically infect bacteria have widely been studied as biocontrol agents against animal and plant bacterial diseases. They offer many advantages compared to antibiotics. The American Foulbrood (AFB) is a bacterial disease affecting honeybee larvae caused by Paenibacillus larvae.

Transmission line method for the simulation of fiber Bragg gratings.

A new method for the analysis and design of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) based on the theory of transmission lines has been developed and verified both theoretically and experimentally. The method is an extension of the coupled-mode theory and utilizes the equivalent transmission lines in order to simulate any type of grating, with an easy and direct implementation. The method provides the ability to analyze the optical devices without using full wave approaches, while also facilitating the incorporation of core materials with a complex or non-linear refractive index, non-uniform distributions of the grating's refractive index, and tilted and phase-shifted gratings.

Optical Fibre-Based Pulse Oximetry Sensor with Contact Force Detection.

A novel optical sensor probe combining monitoring of blood oxygen saturation (SO₂) with contact pressure is presented. This is beneficial as contact pressure is known to affect SO₂ measurement. The sensor consists of three plastic optical fibres (POF) used to deliver and collect light for pulse oximetry, and a fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor to measure contact pressure.

ZAP-70 expression is associated with increased CD4 central memory T cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: cross-sectional study.

Background: Although chronic lymphocytic leukemia is basically a B cell disease, its pathophysiology and evolution are thought to be significantly influenced by T cells, as these are probably the most important interaction partner of neoplastic B cells, participating in their expansion, differentiation and survival. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells may also drive functional and phenotypic changes of non-malignant T cells. There are few data about the association between memory T cells and prognosis, especially related to ZAP-70, a common reliable surrogate of the gold standard chronic lymphocytic leukemia prognostic markers.

Mucosal injury following short-term tracheal intubation: A novel animal model and composite tracheal injury score.

Objectives: Postintubation laryngotracheal injury is common. Assessment of histopathological changes currently requires animal models. We set about developing a viable, resource effective animal model to study these effects and to develop a detailed tissue injury score.

CANA: A Python Package for Quantifying Control and Canalization in Boolean Networks.

Logical models offer a simple but powerful means to understand the complex dynamics of biochemical regulation, without the need to estimate kinetic parameters. However, even simple automata components can lead to collective dynamics that are computationally intractable when aggregated into networks. In previous work we demonstrated that automata network models of biochemical regulation are highly canalizing, whereby many variable states and their groupings are redundant (Marques-Pita and Rocha, 2013).

On the overlap between scientific and societal taxonomic attentions - Insights for conservation.

Attention directed at different species by society and science is particularly relevant within the field of conservation, as societal preferences will strongly impact support for conservation initiatives and their success. Here, we assess the association between societal and research interests in four charismatic and threatened species groups, derived from a range of different online sources and social media platforms as well as scientific publications. We found a high level of concordance between scientific and societal taxonomic attention, which was consistent among assessed species groups and media sources.

Curcumin and fisetin internalization into Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells via osmoporation: impact of multiple osmotic treatments on the process efficiency.

Unlabelled: Cell osmoporation is a simple and straightforward procedure of creating food-grade biocapsules. This study proposes a new protocol of sequential cell osmoporation stages and evaluates its impact on the efficiency of curcumin and fisetin internalization into Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature regarding the subject.

Genome Sequence of a New Siphoviridae Phage Found in a Brazilian Bacillus thuringiensis Serovar israelensis Strain.

During the fermentation process, (Bt) phages can result in bacterial death and decreased yield. In this work, we describe the genome of a new phage related to the viral family from a Brazilian strain of Bt which showed high nucleotide sequence identity to the genomes of phages phi4l1 and BtCS33.

Essential oil of Siparuna guianensis as an alternative tool for improved lepidopteran control and resistance management practices.

Although the cultivation of transgenic plants expressing toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) represents a successful pest management strategy, the rapid evolution of resistance to Bt plants in several lepidopteran pests has threatened the sustainability of this practice. By exhibiting a favorable safety profile and allowing integration with pest management initiatives, plant essential oils have become relevant pest control alternatives. Here, we assessed the potential of essential oils extracted from a Neotropical plant, Siparuna guianensis Aublet, for improving the control and resistance management of key lepidopteran pests (i.

Infrarenal Abdominal Penetrating Aortic Ulcer, an Atypical Location of a Rare Disease.

Introduction: Penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) is classically included in acute aortic syndromes, together with aortic dissection and intramural hematoma. These three disorders are considered different stages of the same disease. PAU is the result of medial degeneration with disruption of the intima, mainly due to atherosclerotic risk factors.

In the Current Era of Endovascular Surgery, What is the Role of Axillofemoral Bypass?

Introduction: Nowadays, axillofemoral bypass is viewed as an end-of-line solution for lower limb revascularization, owing to its classically described poor long-term patency, and recent advances in endovascular options for patients with complex aortoiliac anatomy not suitable for open reconstruction. There is a marked difference in patient profiles in published series of axillofemoral bypass, reflecting changing procedures indications due to technical innovations. The objective of this study is to determine the contemporary profile of patients treated with axillofemoral bypass and their outcome.

Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome - Literature Review and Case Report.

Introduction: Median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) or Dunbar syndrome is a rare clinical entity characterized by celiac trunk compression by median arcuate ligament and variable gastrointestinal symptoms (postprandial epigastric pain, nausea, weight loss, anorexia and diarrhea). However, some degree of radiographic compression is observed in 10%-24% of asymptomatic patients. Besides the extrinsic vascular compression, MALS has a multifactorial etiology and it has been suggested as a neurogenic disease resulting in altered sensation and pain from the somatic nerves in the splanchnic plexus.

Influence of Interhospital Transfer on Outcomes of Symptomatic and Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Introduction: Symptomatic or ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA) maintains a high mortality index despite technical advances in its treatment. The influence of patients' geographic location on rAAA outcomes, when the rupture occurs or when the AAA becomes symptomatic, has not been a commonly studied issue. Due to the lack of research on this matter, the impact of interhospital transfer on mortality is ambiguous.

Surgical Treatment Options of Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysms: A Case Report and Litterature Review.

Introduction: Subclavian artery pseudoaneurysms are rare and occur mostly as a consequence of an inadvertent arterial puncture during central venous catheterization, endovascular therapeutic procedures or after penetrating or blunt trauma. They usually have a late clinical presentation, with pain, swelling or other compressive symptoms. The optimal treatment in this situation is still a matter of debate.

Robust Phenotypic Activation of Eosinophils during Experimental Infection.

Eosinophils are multifunctional cells that have cytotoxic proinflammatory activities and stimulate CD4 T-cells in experimental models of allergy and parasitic infections. Eosinophils, when exposed to antigens, are activated, expressing the CD38/CD69 molecules and exhibited increased expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC-II), CD80 and CD86, suggesting they play a role upon antigen stimulation. In the present study, we evaluated the profile of eosinophils using conventional and image flow cytometry upon experimental infection.

Associated with Acetylsalicylic Acid and Their Relation to the Hepatic Fibrosis in Infected Mice.

Schistosomiasis is an important parasitic disease caused by , an intravascular trematode. Schistosomiasis treatment is limited to just one drug, Praziquantel (PZQ). Thus, studies on new antischistosomal compounds are of fundamental importance to disease control.

Splitting an optical vortex beam to study photonic orbit-orbit interactions.

We numerically and experimentally evidence photonic orbit-orbit interactions in freely propagating asymmetrical beams carrying orbital angular momentum. A Fresnel biprism is used to carry out the wavefront division of an optical vortex beam, generating two complementary asymmetrical beams. The optical orbital Hall effect is presented in the form of angular deviations from the beam's geometrical expectation.