Advances in Diagnostics and Drug Discovery against Resistant and Latent Tuberculosis Infection.

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) represents a subclinical, asymptomatic mycobacterial state affecting approximately 25% of the global population. The substantial prevalence of LTBI, combined with the risk of progressing to active tuberculosis, underscores its central role in the increasing incidence of tuberculosis (TB). Accurate identification and timely treatment are vital to contain and reduce the spread of the disease, forming a critical component of the global strategy known as "End TB.

Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels for Protein Delivery.

Proteins and peptides are potential therapeutic agents, but their physiochemical properties make their use as drug substances challenging. Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymeric networks that can swell and retain high amounts of water or biological fluids without being dissolved. Due to their biocompatibility, their porous structure, which enables the transport of various peptides and proteins, and their protective effect against degradation, hydrogels have gained prominence as ideal carriers for these molecules' delivery.

A Systematic Review on Deep Learning with CNNs Applied to Surface Defect Detection.

Surface defect detection with machine learning has become an important tool in industries and a large field of study for researchers or workers in recent years. It is necessary to have a simplified source of information that helps us to better focus on one type of surface. In this systematic review, we present a classification for surface defect detection based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) focused on surface types.

Minority stress and mental health in gay and lesbian youth: A comparative study of Italy and Spain.

The present study was carried out based on the minority stress model. The purpose was to compare Italian and Spanish gay and lesbian youth on minority stressors and mental health outcomes and test the minority stress model in Italy and Spain. The sample consisted of 490 participants (307 Italians, = 25.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant women in Rio De Janeiro City, Brazil.

COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy is safe and effective in reducing the risk of complications. However, the uptake is still below targets worldwide. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination uptake among pregnant women since data on this topic is scarce in low-to-middle-income countries.

Delivery of Plasmid DNA by Ionizable Lipid Nanoparticles to Induce CAR Expression in T Cells.

Introduction: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cell therapy represents a hallmark in cancer immunotherapy, with significant clinical results in the treatment of hematological tumors. However, current approved methods to engineer T cells to express CAR use viral vectors, which are integrative and have been associated with severe adverse effects due to constitutive expression of CAR. In this context, non-viral vectors such as ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) arise as an alternative to engineer CAR T cells with transient expression of CAR.

Validation of the Chinese version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: evidence from a three-wave longitudinal study.

Background: The 10-item Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is a widely used tool for individuals to self-report their self-esteem; however, the factorial structures of translated versions of the RSES vary across different languages. This study aimed to validate the Chinese version of the RSES in the Chinese mainland using a longitudinal design.

Methods: A group of healthcare university students completed the RSES across three waves: baseline, 1-week follow-up, and 15-week follow-up.

Autotrophic production of polyhydroxyalkanoates using acidogenic-derived H and CO from fruit waste.

The environmental concerns regarding fossil plastics call for alternative biopolymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) whose manufacturing costs are however still too elevated. Autotrophic microbes like Cupriavidus necator, able to convert CO and H into PHAs, offer an additional strategy. Typically, the preferred source for CO and H are expensive pure gases or syngas, which has toxic compounds for most PHAs-accumulating strains.

Food preferences and periodontal status of adults assisted by a public health care system.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between food choices and periodontal health status (PHS) in adults who receive care through a public health system. We evaluated food preferences and periodontal status in a sample of 442 individuals with at least eight natural teeth. We employed the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to assess food choices and the Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) instrument to evaluate periodontal health status during clinical appointments.

Academic trajectory of Prof. Ana Marlúcia Oliveira: contributions to the field of food and nutrition in Brazil.

It will be presented the main academic contributions of Professor Ana Marlúcia Oliveira (AMO) (in memoriam), nutritionist, professor at the School of Nutrition at the Federal University of Bahia, Ph.D. in epidemiology and CNPQ Researcher level A, from 1980 to 2021.

The effect of the simulated aging by thermocycling on the elastic modulus of ethylene-vinyl acetate brands and stress/strain development during an impact: An in vitro and 3D-FEA analysis.

Background/aim: Mouthguards are used to prevent dental trauma and orofacial injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) aging by thermocycling on elastic modulus, stress, strain and shock absorption ability of different ethylene-vinyl acetate brands used for mouthguards.

Methods: Thirty EVA samples with a dimension of 70 × 10 × 3 mm were obtained from four commercial brands (Bioart®, Erkodent®, Polyshok® and Proform®).

Performance of two plasma separation devices for HIV-1 viral load measurement in primary healthcare settings.

Burnett and HemaSpot are two novel technologies that allow whole blood collection and plasma separation and stabilization at room temperature without the need of additional equipment. Hence, these devices are potential alternatives to fresh plasma as a suitable specimen for viral load scale-up to monitor antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings.

Demographic, Clinical, and Psychosocial Predictors of Exercise Adherence: The STRRIDE Trials.

Purpose: To identify baseline demographic, clinical, and psychosocial predictors of exercise intervention adherence in the Studies of a Targeted Risk Reduction Intervention through Defined Exercise (STRRIDE) trials.

Methods: A total of 947 adults with dyslipidemia or prediabetes were enrolled into an inactive control group or one of ten exercise interventions with doses of 10-23 kcal/kg/week, intensities of 40-80% of peak oxygen consumption, and training for 6-8-months. Two groups included resistance training.

Transmission dynamics of variants in the Brazilian state of Pará.

Introduction: After three years since the beginning of the pandemic, the new coronavirus continues to raise several questions regarding its infectious process and host response. Several mutations occurred in different regions of the genome, such as in the spike gene, causing the emergence of variants of concern and interest (VOCs and VOIs), of which some present higher transmissibility and virulence, especially among patients with previous comorbidities. It is essential to understand its spread dynamics to prevent and control new biological threats that may occur in the future.

Specialized active leprosy search strategies in an endemic area of the Brazilian Amazon identifies a hypermutated strain causing primary drug resistance.

Introduction: Leprosy, an infectious disease caused by , remains a public health concern in endemic countries, particularly in Brazil. In this study, we conducted an active surveillance campaign in the hyperendemic city of Castanhal in the northeastern part of the state of Pará using clinical signs and symptoms combined with serological and molecular tools to diagnose new cases and to identify drug resistance of circulating strains and their distribution in the community.

Methods: During an active surveillance of one week, we enrolled 318 individuals using three different strategies to enroll subjects for this study: (i) an active survey of previously treated cases from 2006 to 2016 found in the Brazil National Notifiable Disease Information System database ( = 23) and their healthy household contacts (HHC) ( = 57); (ii) an active survey of school children (SC) from two primary public schools in low-income neighborhoods ( = 178), followed by visits to the houses of these newly diagnosed SC ( = 7) to examine their HHC ( = 34) where we diagnosed additional new cases ( = 6); (iii) and those people who spontaneously presented themselves to our team or the local health center with clinical signs and/or symptoms of leprosy ( = 6) with subsequent follow-up of their HHC when the case was confirmed ( = 20) where we diagnosed two additional cases ( = 2).

Influence of Occupational Stress on the Body Mass Index of Hospital Workers: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aimed to identify the influence of occupational stress on the body mass index of hospital workers. After registering the protocol at PROSPERO (CRD42022331846), we started this systematic review following a search in seven databases, gray literature, as well as manual search and contact with specialists. The selection of studies was performed independently by two evaluators following the inclusion criteria: observational studies evaluating adult hospital workers, in which occupational stress was considered exposure and body composition as a result.

Real-time monitoring of infant theta power during naturalistic social experiences.

Infant-directed speech and direct gaze are important social cues that shape infant's attention to their parents. Traditional methods for probing their effect on infant attention involve a small number of pre-selected screen-based stimuli, which do not capture the complexity of real-world interactions. Here, we used neuroadaptive Bayesian Optimization (NBO) to search a large 'space' of different naturalistic social experiences that systematically varied in their visual (gaze direct to averted) and auditory properties (infant directed speech to nonvocal sounds).

Diversity and epidemiological profile of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from drinking water in Brazil genotyped using multi-locus sequence typing.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacillus associated with waterborne diseases. The objective of this study was to determine whether particular P. aeruginosa sequence types (STs) were associated with drinking water contamination in Brazil.

Psychometric properties and reliability of the Brazilian version of Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccine (PACV-BR).

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties and reliability of the Brazilian version of the tool Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccine (PACV-BR).

Methods: The sample included 110 parents of children up to two years old served by Family Health Basic Units. The tool's internal consistency and factor validity were respectively assessed by Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis (EFA).

Smart and Multifunctional Materials Based on Electroactive Poly(vinylidene fluoride): Recent Advances and Opportunities in Sensors, Actuators, Energy, Environmental, and Biomedical Applications.

From scientific and technological points of view, poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, is one of the most exciting polymers due to its overall physicochemical characteristics. This polymer can crystalize into five crystalline phases and can be processed in the form of films, fibers, membranes, and specific microstructures, being the physical properties controllable over a wide range through appropriate chemical modifications. Moreover, PVDF-based materials are characterized by excellent chemical, mechanical, thermal, and radiation resistance, and for their outstanding electroactive properties, including high dielectric, piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric response, being the best among polymer systems and thus noteworthy for an increasing number of technologies.

TREATMENT OF OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA USING THE FASSIER-DUVAL TELESCOPIC ROD.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the treatment of patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) operated on with a telescopic Fassier-Duval (FD) rod in a querterenario hospital from 2010 to 2020.

Methods: We analyzed indication for surgical treatment, causes of reoperation, complications and the effectiveness of telescoping rod.

Results: The results were compared with the literature and with the same parameters from a previous study which a different telescopic rod developed by the same authors.

Toward Sustainable Wax Extraction from the L. Filter Cake Byproduct: Process Optimization, Physicochemical Characterization, and Antioxidant Performance.

L. exploitation and processing result in different byproducts, such as filter cake (FC). This study aimed to establish the most suitable experimental conditions to obtain lipophilic bioactive compounds from FC industrial residues, considering their high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, extraction yield, composition, and physicochemical properties.

Environmentally Friendlier Printable Conductive and Piezoresistive Sensing Materials Compatible with Conformable Electronics.

Flexible and conformable conductive composites have been developed using different polymers, including water-based polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), chemical-resistant polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and elastomeric styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS) reinforced with nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide with suitable viscosity in composites for printable solutions with functional properties. Manufactured by screen-printing using low-toxicity solvents, leading to more environmentally friendly conductive materials, the materials present an enormous step toward functional devices. The materials were enhanced in terms of filler/binder ratio, achieving screen-printed films with a sheet resistance lower than < 100 Ω/sq.