Compositional analysis of baru (Dipteryx alata Vogel) pulp highlighting its industrial potential.

Baru (Dipteryx alata Vogel), a fruit native to the Brazilian Cerrado, has gained scientific interest due to its nutritional potential and commercial value. Its edible seed, of high commercial value, represents around 5 % of the fruit. On the other hand, its pulp, a byproduct of the baru processing industry, is normally discarded, generating a huge volume of waste with reported antioxidant properties.

Enhanced physicochemical and antifungal properties of starch bionanocomposites reinforced with nanocellulose and functionalized with AgNPs derived from cocoa bean shell.

This study explored the synergistic combination of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), eucalyptus-derived nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and cassava starch to develop bionanocomposites with advanced properties suitable for sustainable and antifungal packaging applications. The influence of AgNPs synthesized through a green method using cocoa bean shell combined with varying concentrations of NFC were investigated. Morphological (scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy), optical (L*, C*, °hue, and opacity), chemical (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), mechanical (puncture force, tensile strength, and Young's modulus), rheological (flow curve and frequency sweeps, strain, and stress), barrier, and hydrophilicity properties (water vapor permeability, solubility, wettability, and contact angle), as well as the antifungal effect against pathogens (Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, Colletotrichum musae, and Fusarium semitectum), were analyzed.

Impact of Plant-Based School Meals on Gut spp. Abundance and Health Outcomes in Schoolchildren from Bahia, Brazil.

Plant-based diets have been linked to various health benefits, including an improved gut microbiota composition, potentially influencing non-communicable diseases. This study investigates the impact of a school meal intervention on the gut microbiota, specifically the abundance of spp. (BIF), in Brazilian schoolchildren.

GO@β-AgMoO Composite: One-Step Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance against RhB Dye.

The combination of materials to improve properties of interest has become one of the strategies widely used for numerous applications, including new catalysts, over the last few decades. In this study, silver molybdate (β-AgMoO) microcrystals were efficiently obtained by the hydrothermal method, obtaining composites with different amounts of graphene oxide (GO) (1, 2.5, 5, 7.

3D Graphene-Like Carbon Structures from Poly(Acrylic Acid): A Novel Synthetic Route.

Emerging contaminants, such as the hormone 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE), in aquatic environments pose a serious risk to both human and environmental health, making efficient removal essential. This study evaluated the effectiveness of three-dimensional porous carbon structures derived from poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc, Carbopol 990) as adsorbents for removing EE from aqueous solutions. Activated carbon materials were prepared using varying ratios of KOH as an activating agent (PAAc : KOH; 1 : 0 AAC, 1 : 1 AC1, 1 : 2 AC2, and 1 : 3 AC3).

The Synergic Effect of -MoO, α-MoO, and β-MoO Phase Mixture as a Solid Catalyst to Obtain Methyl Oleate.

Extensive research in the last few decades has conclusively demonstrated the significant influence of experimental conditions, surfactants, and synthesis methods on semiconductors' properties in technological applications. Therefore, in this study, the synthesis of molybdenum oxide (MoO) was reported by the addition of 2.5 (MoO_2.

Effects of Dietary Guanidinoacetic Acid on the Performance, Rumen Fermentation, Metabolism, and Meat of Confined Steers.

With the increase in population, it is increasingly necessary to produce food more efficiently. This has expanded the market for additives, which are products that directly (nutritional effect) or indirectly (effect on animal health) favor productivity. Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is a natural precursor of creatine.

Childhood obesity is associated with a high degree of metabolic disturbance in children from Brazilian semi-arid region.

Projected to impact 310 million children by the next decade, childhood obesity is linked to serious health issues like metabolic disturbance and cardiovascular diseases. This study introduces a novel approach for the integrated assessment of inflammatory, glycemic and lipid disorders in obese children in resources-limited settings and also identifies key factors contributing to these changes. Conducting a cross-sectional analysis of 231 children aged 5-12 years from public schools in Brazil's semi-arid region, the research involved collecting medical history, anthropometric measurements, and blood samples to analyze glycemic and lipid profiles, along with C-reactive protein levels.

Grape seed oil in the diet of primiparous Jersey cows before and after parturition: effects on performance, health, rumen environment, and milk quality.

The objective of the study was to determine whether adding grape seed oil (GSO) to the diet of primiparous Jersey breeds during the transition period would improve animal health by measuring effects on the rumen environment, serum biochemistry, oxidative response, and the composition and quality of milk. We used 14 Jersey heifers, weighing an average of 430 kg and 240 days of gestation. The animals were divided into two groups and offered a basal diet, including GSO in the concentrate for the GSO group (dose of 25 mL per animal day) and the same dose of soybean oil (SO) for the control group.

Quality of Life and Hormonal Impairment in Pediatric Patients With Craniopharyngiomas.

Introduction: Craniopharyngiomas (CP) are tumors in the sellar region that, despite a high survival rate, are associated with significant morbidity, including hypothalamic, hormonal, and visual dysfunction. This study aimed to assess the quality of life (QoL) in pediatric patients with CP and to evaluate its relationship with various factors, with a focus on the impact of endocrine dysfunction.

Methods: In this observational cross-sectional study, patients with CP aged between 0 and 18 years, currently followed up in a tertiary hospital by a multidisciplinary team, were included.

Inclusion of exogenous enzymes in feedlot cattle diets: Impacts on physiology, rumen fermentation, digestibility and fatty acid profile in rumen and meat.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if the inclusion of a blend composed of exogenous enzymes (amylase, protease, cellulase, xylanase and beta glucanase) in the individual and combined form in the feedlot steers diet has benefits on the physiology, rumen fermentation, digestibility and fatty acid profile in rumen and meat. The experiment used 24 animals, divided into 4 treatments, described as: T1-CON, T2-BLEND (0.5 g mixture of enzyme), T3-AMIL (0.

Chapter 1: The Burden of Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) affects an estimated 6 million American adults, and the prevalence continues to increase, driven in part by the aging of the population and by increases in the prevalence of diabetes. In recent decades, improvements in the survival of patients with HF have resulted in a growing number of individuals living longer with HF. HF and its comorbidities are associated with substantial impairments in physical functioning, emotional well-being, and quality of life, and also with markedly increased rates of morbidity and mortality.

Calcium ferrites for phosphate adsorption and recovery from wastewater.

In this study, calcium ferrites with different Ca : Fe atomic ratios (1 : 1, 1 : 2, 1 : 3 and 2 : 1) were prepared from Ca and Fe nitrates treated at 300, 700 and 900 °C and evaluated for phosphate adsorption and recovery from wastewater. TG, XRD, Mössbauer spectroscopy, SEM, VSM magnetic measurements, and BET analyses showed the formation of two different calcium ferrite phases, , CaFeO and CaFeO at 700 and 900 °C. The adsorption results indicated that the formation of calcium ferrite structure is critical for phosphate adsorption/recovery.

Parent Perspectives on Assisted Communication and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Importance: Parents of nonspeaking children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may present with complex challenges associated with communicating with their children.

Objective: To explore the firsthand experiences of parents of children with ASD who use assisted communication (AC) to communicate, which has yet to be explored in the literature.

Design: Semistructured interviews with ten parents of individuals with ASD, age 15 to 36 yr, who use AC to communicate.

Higher Bifidobacterium spp. fecal abundance is associated with a lower prevalence of hyperglycemia and cardiovascular risk markers among schoolchildren from Bahia, Brazil.

The gut microbiome has recently been the subject of considerable scientific interest due to its essential bodily functions. Several factors can change the composition and function of the gut microbiome, and dietary habits are one of the most important contributors. Despite the recognition of the probiotic effects related to the genus Bifidobacterium spp.

Genetic analysis of osteogenesis imperfecta in a large Brazilian cohort.

Introduction: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous disorder caused by disruption of type I collagen synthesis. Previous Brazilian molecular OI studies have been restricted to case reports or small cohorts. The Brazilian OI Network (BOIN) is a multicenter study collecting clinical OI treatment data from five reference centers in three regions of Brazil.

Prognostic factors in treatment of traumatic femoropopliteal arterial injuries at a Brazilian trauma center.

Background: Despite significant improvements in outcomes, traumatic arterial limb injuries remain a significant cause of limb loss and mortality.

Objectives: This study sought to identify predictors of mortality and major amputation in patients undergoing revascularization after femoropopliteal arterial trauma.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of a trauma registry from an urban trauma center in Brazil.

Corticosteroid Therapy and Vascular Complications in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Meta-analysis With Meta-regression.

Background: Corticosteroid use is associated with vascular fragility, prolonged wound healing, and infections. Therefore, we sought to compare outcomes between patients with aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement who were using corticosteroids versus those who were not.

Methods: This is a study-level meta-analysis and meta-regression of observational studies.

Functional status of individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta: data from a reference center.

Objective: To evaluate the functional status of individuals with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) followed up at a reference center in the state of Bahia.

Materials And Methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study, which evaluated individuals with OI, based on a non-probabilistic sampling. To assess motor function, the Motor Function Measure (MFM) score was used, in addition to the measurement of muscle strength using the Medical Research Council (MRC) score.

An Environmental and Nutritional Evaluation of School Food Menus in Bahia, Brazil That Contribute to Local Public Policy to Promote Sustainability.

Aimed at improving the quality of school meals, the Sustainable School Program (SSP) implemented low-carbon meals, twice a week, in 155 schools of 4 municipalities, reaching more than 32,000 students. This study evaluated the environmental impact and nutritional viability of this intervention for this population. The 15 most repeated meals from the conventional and sustainable menus were selected, and we considered the school age group and number of meals served per student/day.

Brachytherapy for Pediatric Patients at Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus: A Model of International Cooperation for Highly Specialized Treatments.

Purpose: Childhood cancer is rare, and treatment is frequently associated with long-term morbidity. Disparities in survival and long-term side effects encourage the establishment of networks to increase access to complex organ-conservative strategies, such as brachytherapy. We report our experience of an international cooperation model in childhood cancers.

COVID-19 in the Perioperative Period of Cardiovascular Surgery: the Brazilian Experience.

Introduction: We investigated the clinical course and outcomes of patients submitted to cardiovascular surgery in Brazil and who had developed symptoms/signs of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the perioperative period.

Methods: A retrospective multicenter study including 104 patients who were allocated in three groups according to time of positive real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2): group 1, patients who underwent cardiac surgery > 10 days after positive RT-PCR; group 2, patients with a positive RT-PCR within 10 days before or after surgery; group 3, patients who presented positive RT-PCR > 10 days after surgery. The primary outcome was mortality and secondary outcomes were postoperative complications, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and postoperative days of hospitalization.

Endobronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a child with postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans.

Endobronchial mucoepidermoid tumors are rare neoplasms. Due to nonspecific symptoms, diagnosis can be challenging, but early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for prognosis. We present the case of a boy, with chronic respiratory insufficiency due to bronchiolitis obliterans, that presented worsening exertional dyspnea at 12 years.

Is there an association between prostate-specific antigen and androgen levels in 46, XX patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia?

Introduction: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a genetic disease characterized by defective cortisol synthesis and excessive levels of sex hormones, can cause precocious puberty in both sexes in untreated individuals and virilization in female patients with a 46, XX karyotype. The female paraurethral (Skene's) gland has been reported as prostate analogous. Growth of prostate tissue is associated with androgen production; therefore, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels may represent a marker of virilization in 46, XX patients with CAH.

Use of iron mine tailing as fillers to polyethylene.

The iron mine tailings accumulation in dams is an environmental and economic problem. The composite based on high-density polyethylene/iron mine tailing production for the application of wood plastic and some items of domestic plastic industry can be a good alternative to reduce the rejects in the environment. This work presents the influence of the processing methodology in the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of composites based on the high-density polyethylene/iron mine tailing.