Predicting the seasonal dynamics of Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in corn using artificial neural networks.

This study addresses the challenge of predicting Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) density in cornfields by developing an artificial neural network (ANN). Over two years, we collected data on meteorological variables (atmospheric pressure, air temperature, dew point, rainfall, relative humidity, solar irradiance, and wind speed), plant age, and density of D. maidis in cornfields located in two Brazilian biomes (Atlantic Forest and Brazilian Tropical Savannah).

Long-Term Physical Activity Mitigates Inflammaging Progression in Older Adults Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Inflammaging and physical performance were investigated in older adults before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Older women ( = 18) and men ( = 7) (mean age = 73.8 ± 7.

Fungi from Antarctic marine sediment: characterization and assessment for textile dye decolorization and detoxification.

Cold-adapted microorganisms can produce enzymes with activity at low and mild temperatures, which can be applied to environmental biotechnology. This study aimed to characterize 20 Antarctic fungi to identify their genus (ITS rDNA marker) and growth temperatures and evaluate their ability to decolorize and detoxify the textile dye indigo carmine (IC). An individual screening was performed to assess the decolorization and detoxification of IC by the isolates, as well as in consortia with other fungi.

Inflammatory Status in Trained and Untrained Mice at Different Pollution Levels.

Atmospheric pollution can be defined as a set of changes that occur in the composition of the air, making it unsuitable and/or harmful and thereby generating adverse effects on human health. The regular practice of physical exercise (PE) is associated with the preservation and/or improvement of health; however, it can be influenced by neuroimmunoendocrine mechanisms and external factors such as air pollution, highlighting the need for studies involving the practice of PE in polluted environments. Herein, 24 male C57BL/6 mice were evaluated, distributed into four groups (exposed to a high concentration of pollutants/sedentary, exposed to a high concentration of pollutants/exercised, exposed to ambient air/sedentary, and exposed to ambient air/exercised).

A novel honeycomb-like 3D-printed device for rotating-disk sorptive extraction of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides from environmental water samples.

In this study, 3D-printing based on fused-deposition modeling (FDM) was employed as simple and cost-effective strategy to fabricate a novel format of rotating-disk sorptive devices. As proof-of-concept, twenty organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides were determined in water samples through rotating-disk sorptive extraction (RDSE) using honeycomb-like 3D-printed disks followed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The devices that exhibited the best performance were comprised of polyamide + 15 % carbon fiber (PA + 15 % C) with the morphology being evaluated through X-ray microtomography.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior as Treatable Traits for Clinical Control in Moderate-to-Severe Asthma.

Background: Physical activity and sedentary behavior are treatable traits that may impact asthma control in distinct manners, but this impact remains poorly understood.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of physical activity and sedentary behavior on clinical control in adults with moderate-to-severe asthma.

Methods: This cross-sectional, multicentric study included 426 individuals with moderate-to-severe asthma.

Chilled Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) fillets: Modeling Pseudomonas spp. and psychrotrophic bacteria growth and monitoring spoilage indicators by H NMR and GC-MS during storage.

This study aimed to assess the growth of Pseudomonas spp. and psychrotrophic bacteria in chilled Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), a native South American fish, stored under chilling conditions (0 to 10 °C) through the use of predictive models under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. Growth kinetic parameters, maximum growth rate (μ 1/h), lag time (t h), and (N Log CFU/g) were estimated using the Baranyi and Roberts microbial growth model.

Effect of incorporation of calcium polyphosphate sub-microparticles in low-concentration bleaching gels on physical properties of dental enamel.

Aim: To evaluate the bleaching efficacy and effects on enamel properties of experimental gels with carbamide peroxide (CP; 10%) or hydrogen peroxide (HP; 6%) containing calcium polyphosphate sub-microparticles (CaPPs).

Methods: A total of 216 bovine tooth specimens were divided for microhardness and color analyses (n = 108) and block randomized into nine groups (n = 12): (G1) commercial CP (Whiteness Perfect, FGM; Brazil); (G2) experimental CP; (G3) CP-0.5%CaPPs; (G4) CP-1.

Carbonaceous adsorbent as green silica by-product applied to the treatment of contaminated effluent by pesticide commonly sprayed on rice cultivation.

Grain cultivation and its impacts on the environment have been the focus of many studies, especially due to generated solid waste and the wide use of agrochemicals aiming for greater productivity. In this context, the present study proposes a new and consistent step in constructing self-sustainability in rice farming. The proposed stage includes reusing green silica waste as an adsorbent to treat effluents contaminated by pesticides directly applied to rice cultivation.

Poly(ɛ-caprolactone) and Eudragit E blends modulate the drug release profiles from FDM printlets.

Thermoplastic polymers have been used to produce filaments by hot melt extrusion (HME), which can be applied to obtain 3D printlets by fused deposition modelling (FDM). Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a low melting point thermoplastic polymer that provides HME filaments with excellent mechanical and printability properties. However, due to the highly hydrophobic properties of PCL, they afford printlets with slow drug release behaviour.

Maintenance of enamel properties after bleaching with high-concentrated hydrogen-peroxide gel containing calcium polyphosphate sub-microparticles.

Objective: To assessed the physical and chemical properties of human-enamel after treatment with an experimental bleaching gel containing 35%-hydrogen peroxide (HP) and calcium polyphosphate sub-microparticles (CaPP).

Materials And Methods: Enamel/dentin specimens (4 × 4 × 3 mm) were obtained (n = 120) and allocated to different groups: control (saliva only); experimental (HP35%); commercial (whiteness-HP-Maxx); CaPP0.5% (HP35% + CaPP0.

Linking Intensive Care Unit functional scales to the International Classification of Functioning: proposal of a new assessment approach.

Background: There are several tools to assess functional and physical status in critical ill patients. These tools can guide rehabilitation strategies in Intensive care units (ICU). However, they are not standardized, and this can compromise their applicability.

Multicomponent Reactions Applied to Total Synthesis of Biologically Active Molecules: A Short Review.

Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) are processes in which three or more starting materials are combined in the same reaction vessel, forming an adduct that contains all or most of the atoms of the starting materials. MCRs are one-pot processes that provide attractive advantages for the total synthesis of target molecules. These reactions allow rapid access to structurally complex adducts from particularly simple starting materials.

Use of histone methyltransferase inhibitors in cancer treatment: A systematic review.

Histone modifications are an epigenetic mechanism, and the dysregulation of these proteins is known to be associated with the initiation and progression of cancer. In the search for the development of new and more effective drugs, histone modifications were identified as possible therapeutic targets. Histone methyltransferase (HMT) inhibitors correspond to the third generation of epigenetic drugs capable of writing or deleting epigenetic information.

Bioadhesive 3D-Printed Skin Drug Delivery Polymeric Films: From the Drug Loading in Mesoporous Silica to the Manufacturing Process.

The alliance between 3D printing and nanomaterials brings versatile properties to pharmaceuticals, but few studies have explored this approach in the development of skin delivery formulations. In this study, clobetasol propionate (CP) was loaded (about 25% ) in mesoporous silica nanomaterial (MSN) to formulate novel bioadhesive and hydrophilic skin delivery films composed of pectin (5% ) and carboxymethylcellulose (5% ) by 3D printing. As a hydrophobic model drug, CP was encapsulated in MSN at a 3:1 () ratio, resulting in a decrease of CP crystallinity and an increase of its dissolution efficiency after 72 h (65.

3D printed matrix solid forms: Can the drug solubility and dose customisation affect their controlled release behaviour?

The use of 3D printing in pharmaceutics has grown over the last years, along with the number of studies on the impact of the composition of these formulations on their pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical properties. Recently, we reported the combined effect of the infill percentage and the presence of a pore former on the drug release behaviour of 3D printed matrix solid forms prepared by fused deposition modelling. However, there are some open questions about the effect of the drug solubility and the size of these dosage forms on their controlled release properties.

No molecular evidence for influenza A virus and coronavirus in bats belonging to the families Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, and Molossidae in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

This study aimed to evaluate, by molecular methods, the presence of influenza A virus (IAV) and coronavirus in non-hematophagous bats collected in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Samples of lung tissue and small intestine from 105 bats belonging to three families (Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, and Molossidae) were collected in 22 municipalities in the state of São Paulo. Genetic identification of bats species was performed by amplification and sequencing of a fragment of 710 bp of the mitochondrial COI gene.

A critical review of traditional and advanced characterisation tools to drive formulators towards the rational development of 3D printed oral dosage forms.

The high degree of precision and control of 3D printing has given formulators the autonomy to engineer sophisticated and personalised medicines, starting a revolution in pharmaceutics. In addition, dosage forms with tailored drug release profile can be produced by changing some parameters of the 3D printing processes. Therefore, 3D printed medicines must be characterised in an orthogonal approach, to establish their physicochemical and biopharmaceutical features, and consequently to understand how these characteristics can be customised by changing the formulation and process parameters to ensure medicines' safety and efficacy.

Brain death communication with parents of children and adolescents: care strategies.

Objectives: to identify care strategies developed by professionals from critically ill patients' units in communicating BD with parents of children and adolescents.

Methods: an exploratory and descriptive research with a qualitative approach, carried out in two health institutions between October and December 2019, through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis took place through content analysis.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling studies of novel 1,2,3-triazole-linked menadione-furan derivatives as P2X7 inhibitors.

The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is an ion channel that promotes the passage of ions through the membrane through brief stimulation once activated by ATP, its endogenous opener. However, prolonged stimulation with ATP, which occurs in pathological processes, opens a nonselective pore in the plasma membrane, allowing the passage of large molecules and leading to cytokine release or even cell death. In this sense, the search for new inhibitors for this receptor has attracted a great deal of attention in recent years.

Redispersible 3D printed nanomedicines: An original application of the semisolid extrusion technique.

Semisolid extrusion is a layer-by-layer 3D printing technique that produces objects from gels or pastes. This process can be carried out at room temperature, without using a light source, and has been explored in pharmaceutics in the last few years. In this regard, our group hypothesized its suitability for the production of three-dimensional (3D) printed nanomedicines containing drug-loaded organic nanocarriers.

Development of a nanotechnological hydrogel containing desonide nanocapsules in association with acai oil: design and evaluation.

Nanotechnological products have been used as strategies to optimize the therapy and minimize the side effects of topical corticoids. The objective of this study was to develop hydrogels by the addition of sclerotium gum to the suspensions of desonide-loaded açai oil-based nanocapsules and to study their biological effect using an animal model of acute skin inflammation. The hydrogels presented a pH compatible with topical application (4.

Temporal trends in intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants: A Brazilian multicenter cohort.

Background: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a serious problem in preterm infants. Brazilian national data are unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and temporal trend of IVH in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants of 18 centers of the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research.