Electronic, Excitonic, and Optical Properties of Zinc Blende Boron Arsenide Tuned by Hydrostatic Pressure.

Based on first-principles calculations combined with a maximally localized Wannier function tight-binding method and the Bethe-Salpeter equation formalism, we theoretically investigate the effects of hydrostatic pressure on the electronic, excitonic, and optical properties of zinc blende boron arsenide. Our findings show: (i) a pressure-induced semiconductor-to-metallic phase transition without causing any change in the structural crystallographic ordering, (ii) a decrease in excitonic binding energy with increasing pressure as a consequence of band gap engineering, and (iii) a small excitonic response in the indirect absorption regime due to the indirect band gap.

Encapsulation of thyme essential oil (Thymus vulgaris) in chia mucilage (Salvia hispanica L.) and its application in fresh pork sausage.

This study evaluated the application of thyme essential oil (TEO) encapsulated in chia mucilage in meat sausages as a partial or total substitute for sodium nitrate and nitrite. We assessed three capsules produced with different concentrations of TEO (3.5 %, 7.

Sustainable Intervention: Grape Pomace Flour Ameliorates Fasting Glucose and Mitigates Streptozotocin-Induced Pancreatic Damage in a Type 2 Diabetes Animal Model.

: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by hyperglycemia, increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, and oxidative imbalances. This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary supplementations with 'Arinto' grape pomace flour (GPF) (WGPF) and 'Touriga Nacional' GPF (RGPF) in an animal model of T2DM. : T2DM was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) for 28 days and a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg) on the 21st day.

Use of EMPAgliflozin in the prevention of CARDiotoxicity: the EMPACARD - PILOT trial.

Background: Anthracycline-based chemotherapy represents a cornerstone treatment for a number of common cancers, including breast cancer, lymphoma, and sarcoma. However, anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity remains a significant concern, often presenting as a decline in cardiac function which can ultimately lead to heart failure (HF) or asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction, in up to 10-15% of patients.Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) therapies have been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of HF in high-risk non-cancer patients.

Stability and Optoelectronic Properties of Two-Dimensional Gallium Phosphide.

Using first-principles calculations, density functional theory, and the tight-binding method, we investigate the optoelectronic properties of two-dimensional gallium phosphide (2D GaP). Our investigation covers electronic properties, such as band structure and electronic band gap, and optical properties, including absorption spectra, refractive index, and reflectivity, considering excitonic effects. Additionally, structural aspects such as stability, elastic properties, and Raman and infrared spectra are also analyzed.

Spatial and seasonal distribution of Leptospira spp. seropositive horses in the Northeast region of Brazil.

Leptospirosis is an anthropozoonosis of economic and public health importance, caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira. Horses are deemed important in its transmission chain due to their proximity to humans, and because the species is often asymptomatic, making these animals potential silent reservoirs. In this context, the objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of seropositive horses for Leptospira spp.

Forensic application of sandpaper spray ionization mass spectrometry (SPS-MS): Direct analysis of solid pharmaceutical formulations and edible cannabis products.

In this work, we employed a new ambient ionization mass spectrometry technique, sandpaper spray mass spectrometry (SPS-MS), as an efficient tool to analyze pills and tablets of pharmaceutical formulations. The following samples were analyzed: regulators of blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, and drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Additionally, a hard candy of Cannabis sativa containing Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC) and its related isomer cannabidiol (CBD) was also evaluated.

Evaluation of the analytical and clinical performance of the Abbott Alinity m instrument for the quantification of HIV-1 RNA plasma viral load in a reference laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the analytical performance of the Alinity m system (Abbott Molecular) and to compare the clinical performance of HIV-1 assays on the Alinity m and m2000 RealTime platforms (Abbott Molecular).

Methods: The sensitivity, precision, and accuracy of the Alinity m instrument were determined using a panel of standard samples (n = 46). The carryover effect was assessed by analyzing HIV-negative clinical samples (n = 20).

The Role of Transplacental Infection in spp. Epidemiology in Cattle in Caatinga Biome, Brazil.

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease that affects domestic animals, wild animals, and humans. It represents a public health problem and has an important economic impact on livestock. This study aims to investigate the importance of genital and transplacental infection in the epidemiology of leptospirosis in cows maintained in Caatinga biome conditions, Northeastern Brazil, as well as reporting organs colonized by spp.

Progression From Patterns A to B in Wellens Syndrome: Electrocardiographic Progression in Wellens Syndrome.

We describe a clinical case series of 3 patients whose electrocardiogram evolved from type A Wellens syndrome to a type B. We emphasize that the diagnosis and treatment for both patterns is the same and that these findings suggest the evolution of the same disease.

The heme oxygenase-1 metalloporphyrin inhibitor stannsoporfin enhances the bactericidal activity of a novel regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in a murine model.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) (Mtb) poses significant challenges to global tuberculosis (TB) control efforts. Host-directed therapies (HDTs) offer a novel approach to TB treatment by enhancing immune-mediated clearance of Mtb. Prior preclinical studies found that the inhibition of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an enzyme involved in heme metabolism, with tin-protoporphyrin IX (SnPP) significantly reduced mouse lung bacillary burden when co-administered with the first-line antitubercular regimen.

BACH1 promotes tissue necrosis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis susceptibility.

Oxidative stress triggers ferroptosis, a form of cellular necrosis characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, and has been implicated in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) pathogenesis. We investigated whether Bach1, a transcription factor that represses multiple antioxidant genes, regulates host resistance to Mtb. We found that BACH1 expression is associated clinically with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

The heme oxygenase-1 metalloporphyrin inhibitor stannsoporfin enhances the bactericidal activity of a novel regimen for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in a murine model.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) (Mtb) poses significant challenges to global tuberculosis (TB) control efforts. Host-directed therapies (HDT) offer a novel approach for TB treatment by enhancing immune-mediated clearance of Mtb. Prior preclinical studies found that inhibition of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an enzyme involved in heme metabolism, with tin-protoporphyrin IX (SnPP) significantly reduced mouse lung bacillary burden when co-administered with the first-line antitubercular regimen.

Strong Evidence of the Role of Donkeys in the Epidemiology of spp. in Semiarid Conditions.

Donkeys () are historically known for their close relationship to humanity, which raises the need to study zoonotic diseases that affect them. In this perspective, leptospirosis stands out as a disease with an economic and public health impact, and its occurrence is facilitated in times of higher rainfall indexes, especially in large urban centers. In view of the scarcity of information about leptospirosis in donkeys, the objective of this study was to detect the presence of spp.

The Endogenous Retinoic Acid Receptor Pathway Is Exploited by Mycobacterium tuberculosis during Infection, Both In Vitro and In Vivo.

Retinoic acid (RA) is a fundamental vitamin A metabolite involved in regulating immune responses through the nuclear RA receptor (RAR) and retinoid X receptor. While performing experiments using THP-1 cells as a model for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, we observed that serum-supplemented cultures displayed high levels of baseline RAR activation in the presence of live, but not heat-killed, bacteria, suggesting that M. tuberculosis robustly induces the endogenous RAR pathway.

Sandpaper: Efficient Medium for Analysis of Polishable Solid Samples by Ambient Mass Spectrometry.

In this paper, we employed sandpaper as an efficient medium to analyze polishable solid samples. As proof of principle, the surfaces of coffee beans were sanded with pieces of sandpaper cut into a triangular shape. The triangle was placed in front of the mass spectrometer inlet, and methanol was dropped on its surface.

Bovine Leptospirosis in Caatinga Biome, Brazil: New Insights into Diagnosis and Epidemiology.

Bovine leptospirosis causes economic losses and raises public health concerns. It is possible that there are peculiarities in the epidemiology of leptospirosis in regions with a semiarid climate, such as the Caatinga biome in Brazil, where the climate is hot and dry, and the etiological agent require alternative routes of transmission. This study aimed to close knowledge gaps to the diagnosis and epidemiology of spp.

Antiplasmodial activity of coumarins isolated from : and studies.

is found in the Brazilian semiarid region. This specie is little chemically and biologically studied. spp.

Cell death induced by NLRP3-palmitate axis impairs pulmonary damage tolerance and aggravates immunopathology during obesity-tuberculosis comorbidity.

A low-grade and persistent inflammation, which is the hallmark of obesity, requires the participation of NLRP3 and cell death. During Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, NLRP3 signaling is important for bacterial killing by macrophages in vitro but was shown to be dispensable for host protection in vivo. We hypothesized that during obesity-tuberculosis (TB) comorbidity, NLRP3 signaling might play a detrimental role by inducing excessive inflammation.

Neurohumoral response and stress hyperglycemia in myocardial infarction.

Background: Hyperglycemia is associated with an increased risk for death in acute coronary syndromes. This could be related to underlying glucose metabolism abnormalities or be caused by a counter-regulatory stress response. However, there is a paucity of data on the relationship between stress hormones, hyperglycemia, and clinical outcomes in myocardial infarction.

GPX4 regulates cellular necrosis and host resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Cellular necrosis during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection promotes both immunopathology and bacterial dissemination. Glutathione peroxidase-4 (Gpx4) is an enzyme that plays a critical role in preventing iron-dependent lipid peroxidation-mediated cell death (ferroptosis), a process previously implicated in the necrotic pathology seen in Mtb-infected mice. Here, we document altered GPX4 expression, glutathione levels, and lipid peroxidation in patients with active tuberculosis and assess the role of this pathway in mice genetically deficient in or overexpressing Gpx4.

Risk factors associated with Leptospira sp. seroprevalence in goats in Northeast of Brazil.

Goat farming is of great importance for agriculture in Northeast of Brazil, which owns more than 90 % of the national herd, however, most studies on leptospirosis in goats in this region are local surveys with unplanned sampling. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in goats in Northeast region of Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 4121 goats from 222 herds, belonging to the states of Ceará, Paraíba, Piauí , Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe.