Growing up without violence (GWV): Study protocol for a cluster randomised trial and process evaluation of a school-based intervention preventing adolescent sexual exploitation in Brazil.

Background: Sexual exploitation of children and adolescents (SECA) is a mostly invisible phenomenon, having negative impacts on adolescents' health and well-being.. There is increasing awarenessof preventative strategies to reduce sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, but limited evidence on their effectiveness and mechanisms.

Destructive and Protective Effects and Therapeutic Targets of IL-36 Family Cytokines in Dry Eye Disease.

Purpose: To explore the destructive and protective effects and therapeutic targets of IL-36 cytokines in dry eye disease using a murine dry eye model.

Methods: A dry eye model was established in C57BL/6 mice exposed to desiccating stress (DS) with untreated mice as controls. A topical challenge model was performed in normal mice with exogenous rmIL-36α, rhIL-38 and 2% ectoine, or PBS vehicle.

Phytochemicals and Biological Properties of Azorean Black Tea Samples from Different Zones of Tea Plantation.

tea has received considerable attention due to its beneficial effects on health, particularly due to its antioxidant properties that are affected by several factors, which have a high influence on the final quality of black tea. The objective of this study was to investigate the biological properties of Azorean black tea from five different zones of tea plantation in order to select specific areas to cultivate tea rich in targeted compounds beneficial to human health. The free radical scavenging activity (FRSA), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), ferrous ion chelating (FIC) activities, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and tannins were determined by colorimetric methods, and catechin and theaflavin contents were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

Dynamical properties of the composed Logistic-Gauss map.

This study focuses on the analysis of a unique composition between two well-established models, known as the Logistic-Gauss map. The investigation cohesively transitions to an exploration of parameter space, essential for unraveling the complexity of dissipative mappings and understanding the intricate relationships between periodic structures and chaotic regions. By manipulating control parameters, our approach reveals intriguing patterns, with findings enriched by extreme orbits, trajectories that connect local maximum and minimum values of one-dimensional maps.

Burnout and Professional Quality of Life Assessment in Portuguese Healthcare Professionals Working in Oncology and Palliative Care: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction/background: Burnout is a three-dimensional syndrome characterized by exhaustion that appears when the professional is constantly exposed to a stressful work environment, as well as depersonalization and lower personal accomplishment. Professional quality of life at work can be defined as the satisfaction degree that a person feels when being or going to their workplace.

Objective: To evaluate burnout and professional quality of life in healthcare professionals working in oncology and palliative care.

Unveiling the enzymatic pathway of UMG-SP2 urethanase: insights into polyurethane degradation at the atomic level.

The recently discovered metagenomic urethanases UMG-SP1, UMG-SP2, and UMG-SP3 have emerged as promising tools to establish a bio-based recycling approach for polyurethane (PU) waste. These enzymes are capable of hydrolyzing urethane bonds in low molecular weight dicarbamates as well as in thermoplastic PU and the amide bond in polyamide employing a Ser-Ser -Lys triad for catalysis, similar to members of the amidase signature protein superfamily. Understanding the catalytic mechanism of these urethanases is crucial for enhancing their enzymatic activity and improving PU bio-recycling processes.

BidCorpus: A multifaceted learning dataset for public procurement.

Digital transformation has significantly impacted public procurement, improving operational efficiency, transparency, and competition. This transformation has allowed the automation of data analysis and oversight in public administration. Public procurement involves various stages and generates a multitude of documents.

Status of Sepsis Care in European Hospitals: Results from an International Cross-Sectional Survey.

Rationale: Early detection, standardized therapy, adequate infrastructure and strategies for quality improvement should constitute essential components of every hospital's sepsis plan.

Objectives: To investigate the extent to which recommendations from the sepsis guidelines are implemented and the availability of infrastructure for the care of patients with sepsis in acute hospitals.

Methods: A multidisciplinary cross-sectional questionnaire was used to investigate sepsis care in hospitals.

Exploring the structure and nucleic acid interactions of the Leishmania sp. telomerase reverse transcriptase N-terminal region.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoans of the Leishmania genus, against which no effective treatment or control is available. Like other eukaryotes, parasite telomeres are maintained by telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein complex vital for genome stability. Its protein component, TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase), presents four structural and functional domains, with the TEN (Telomerase N-terminal) and TRBD (Telomerase RNA-binding) located at its N-terminal.

Biological contaminants analysis in microalgae culture by UV-vis spectroscopy and machine learning.

This study elucidates the utility and efficacy of UV-visible spectroscopy for the detection and characterization of biological contaminants within microalgae cultures, augmented by machine learning algorithms. Biological contamination, exemplified by flagellates and rotifers, poses a significant concern due to its potential to rapidly devastate entire cultures, thus jeopardizing commercial viability. Conventional analytical methods for monitoring contamination, such as microscopy and cytometry, are often labor-intensive, reliant on specialized expertise for microorganism identification, and may lack specificity in discerning the nature of contamination, impeding timely intervention.

Calcium-Binding Proteins in the Autistic Brain-Potential Links to Symptom Development.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex challenge, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. This review focuses on the proteins calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) in the context of ASD, exploring their clinical correlations and providing a deeper understanding of the spectrum. In addition, we seek to understand the role of these proteins in GABAergic regulation and their implication in the pathophysiology of ASD.

Atomistic adsorption of PETase onto large-scale PET 3D-models that mimic reality.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has been widely used in plastic products, leading to massive PET waste accumulation in ecosystems worldwide. Efforts to find greener processes for dealing with post-consumer PET waste led to the discovery of PET-degrading enzymes such as PETase (PETase). studies have provided valuable contributions to this field, shedding light on the catalytic mechanisms and substrate interactions in many PET hydrolase enzymes.

Prognostic value of GLIM criteria including systemic inflammation in patients with advanced cancer.

An assessment of systemic inflammation and nutritional status may form the basis of a framework to examine the prognostic value of cachexia in patients with advanced cancer. The objective of the study was to examine the prognostic value of GLIM criteria, including body mass index (BMI), weight loss (WL) and systemic inflammation (mGPS), in advanced cancer patients. Three criteria were examined in a combined cohort of patients with advanced cancer and their relationship with survival was examined using Cox regression methods.

Hospital Context Determinants of Variability in Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevalence: Multi-Level Analysis.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a major challenge in patient safety that affects services disproportionally. This paper aimed to assess how the HAI prevalence varies between hospital services and what contextual characteristics may explain such variance. A cross-sectional study was conducted on adult patients in Portuguese hospitals, using data from the European point prevalence survey of HAI prevalence.

Humic Acid Derived from Vermicompost Inhibits Alveolar Bone Degradation and Protects Against Renal Injury in an Experimental Model of Periodontitis.

Periodontal disease (PD) leads to the destruction of supportive tissues through an inflammatory response induced by biofilm accumulation. This low-grade systemic inflammation from PD increases the risk of comorbidities. Among potential therapeutic agents for PD, humic acids (HAs) are notable for their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.

Evaluation of Emotional Distress in Oncology Palliative Patients: Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and Palliative Outcome Scale (POS)-A Portuguese Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Cancer patients in palliative care frequently experience psychological distress, encompassing cognitive, behavioral, and emotional dimensions. This distress can significantly affect their capacity to accept the inevitability of death. Commonly, such distress manifests as sadness, depression, anxiety, and fear, which may culminate in an existential crisis.

High percentage of immune Th1 and Tc1 cells infiltrating visceral adipose tissue in people with obesity.

Subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissue dysfunction during the obesity onset can lead to increased expression of inflammatory molecules, and consequently to immune cell infiltration. The aim was to deeply characterize the T cells, those infiltrating SAT and VAT, compared to peripheral blood (PB), in individuals undergoing bariatric surgery. Forty-two adult individuals were recruited, SAT and VAT samples were collected.

Key elements for designing effective second victim support interventions: a focus group study in European clinical settings.

Background: The second victim (SV) experience limits the performance of health and care workers and places patients at risk. Peer support is recognised as the most effective, feasible and acceptable intervention to mitigate its impact.

Objective: To define a set of success factors when designing interventions to support SVs in health and care facilities based on expertise in different European countries.

Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon for the Management of In-Stent Coronary Restenosis: An Updated Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.

Background: Drug-coated balloons present a potentially advantageous therapeutic approach for managing coronary in-stent restenosis (ISR). However, the comparative benefits of paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCBs) over uncoated balloons (UCBs) remain unclear.

Aims: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes of patients treated with PCBs and UCBs.

Detection of carbapenemases in Enterobacterales susceptible in vitro to meropenem.

Introduction: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) is a global threat. We evaluate the prevalence of CPE among isolates categorized as meropenem-susceptible, but that meet the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) screening cut-off values for carbapenemase detection, and analyze the susceptibility of these isolates to new available drugs.

Methods: We analyzed 257 isolates from patients hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in Brazil, from July 2022 to April 2023.

Inter-island variability in trace elements and trophic ecology of Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) in the South Atlantic.

This study investigates essential (Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Ni) and non-essential (Li, Be, Cr, Rb, Sr, Cs, Cd, Sn, Ba, and Pb) element concentrations and stable isotope (δC, δN, δS) compositions in feathers of Brown Boobies (Sula leucogaster) from three distinct Atlantic islands: the Archipelagos of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (SPSP), Abrolhos, and Cagarras. We aimed to investigate the ecological and environmental factors influencing these seabird populations and assess potential variations in contaminant exposure and dietary habits based on location, sex, and maturity stages. Our finding revealed significant geographical differences in trace element concentrations.

Assessment of the effects of harvesting period of Clusia fluminensis Planch & Triana fruits on neutralization of the toxic activities of Bothrops jararacussu snake venom.

Snakebite envenomation is a public health issue that can lead to mortality and physical consequences. It is estimated that 5.4 million venomous snake bites occur annually, with 130,000 deaths and 400,000 amputations.