Continuous colonization of the Atlantic coastal rain forests of South America from Amazônia.

The two main extensions of rain forest in South America are the Amazon (Amazônia) and the Atlantic rain forest (Mata Atlântica), which are separated by a wide 'dry diagonal' of seasonal vegetation. We used the species-rich tree genus to test if Amazônia-Mata Atlântica dispersals have been clustered during specific time periods corresponding to past, humid climates. We performed hybrid capture DNA sequencing of 810 nuclear loci for 453 accessions representing 164 species that included 62% of Mata Atlântica species and estimated a dated phylogeny for all accessions using maximum likelihood, and a species-level tree using coalescent methods.

Polarization-Dependent Plasmon-Induced Doping and Strain Effects in MoS Monolayers on Gold Nanostructures.

Monolayers of transition-metal dichalcogenides, such as MoS, have attracted significant attention for their exceptional electronic and optical properties, positioning them as ideal candidates for advanced optoelectronic applications. Despite their strong excitonic effects, the atomic-scale thickness of these materials limits their light absorption efficiency, necessitating innovative strategies to enhance light-matter interactions. Plasmonic nanostructures offer a promising solution to overcome those challenges by amplifying the electromagnetic field and also introducing other mechanisms, such as hot electron injection.

The added value of using convective-permitting regional climate model simulations to represent cloud band events over South America.

Climate science has long explored whether higher resolution regional climate models (RCMs) provide improved simulation of regional climates over global climate models (GCMs). The advent of convective-permitting RCMs (CPRCMs), where sufficiently fine-scale grids allow explicitly resolving rather than parametrising convection, has created a clear distinction between RCM and GCM formulations. This study investigates the simulation of tropical-extratropical (TE) cloud bands in a suite of pan-South America convective-permitting Met Office Unified Model (UM) and Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) climate simulations.

COVID-19 Inflammatory Syndrome: Lessons from TNFRI and CRP about the Risk of Death in Severe Disease.

: Cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 is responsible for irreversible tissue damage and death. Soluble mediators from the TNF superfamily, their correlation with clinical outcome, and the use of TNF receptors as a potent predictor for clinical outcome were evaluated. : Severe COVID-19 patients had the levels of soluble mediators from the TNF superfamily quantified and categorized according to the clinical outcome (death versus survival).

Unraveling Interfacial Photoinduced Charge Transfer and Localization in CsPbBr Nanocrystals/Naphthalenediimide.

Halide perovskites have attracted much attention for energy conversion. However, efficient charge carrier generation, separation, and mobility remain the most important issues limiting the higher efficiency of solar cells. An efficient interfacial charge transfer process associated with exciton dynamics between all-inorganic CsPbBr nanocrystals and organic electron acceptors has been suggested.

Rashba Spin Splitting Limiting the Application of 2D Halide Perovskites for UV-Emitting Devices.

Layered lead halide perovskites have attracted much attention as promising materials for a new generation of optoelectronic devices. To make progress in applications, a full understanding of the basic properties is essential. Here, we study 2D-layered (BA)PbX by using different halide anions (X = I, Br, and Cl) along with quantum confinement.

Facial Fat Graft Injection Reduces Asymmetry and Improves Forehead Contour in Early Infancy Apert Syndrome Patients.

Background: The objective of this study is to report the outcomes of a modified comprehensive Apert syndrome surgical protocol in which fat injection was performed during early infancy concurrent with postposterior vault distraction osteogenesis (PVDO) distractor removal.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 40 consecutive young patients with Apert syndrome who underwent PVDO and subsequent distractor removal between 2012 and 2022. Of these 40 patients, 12 patients underwent facial fat injection concurrent with distractor removal to treat residual supraorbital bar recession as part of a modified comprehensive Apert syndrome surgical protocol.

Inflammatory Response and Activation of Coagulation after COVID-19 Infection.

Unlabelled: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection is responsible for causing a disease with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. Predisposition to thromboembolic disease due to excessive inflammation is also attributed to the disease. The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical and laboratory aspects of hospitalized patients, in addition to studying the pattern of serum cytokines, and associate them with the occurrence of thromboembolic events.

Enrichment of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the surface microlayer and foam in synthetic and natural waters.

Bench-scale experiments were performed to interrogate poly- and perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) enrichment in the water surface microlayer (SML). In initial experiments using electrolyte-only solutions, the perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctane carboxylate (PFOA) enrichment in the SML were reasonably (with a factor of 2) described by the Gibbs adsorption equation coupled with a Freundlich-based interfacial adsorption model. Enrichment in the SML among perfluorinated sulfonates and perfluorinated carboxylates of varying chain lengths was proportional to their surface activity.

Clinical-Epidemiology Aspect of Inpatients With Moderate or Severe COVID-19 in a Brazilian Macroregion: Disease and Countermeasures.

COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease 2019, is an infectious viral disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus. Since its emergence, its epidemiology has been explored; however, for some regions of the world, COVID-19's behavior, incidence, and impact remain unclear. In continental nations like Brazil, this lack of knowledge results in nonuniform control, prevention, and treatment measures, which can be controversial in some locations.

A field study to assess the role of air-water interfacial sorption on PFAS leaching in an AFFF source area.

Field-deployed lysimeters were used to measure the concentrations of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in soil porewater at a site historically impacted with aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). Samples collected over a 49-day period showed that perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) were the PFASs with the highest concentrations in porewater, with concentrations of approximately 10,000 and 25,000 ng L, respectively. The corresponding average mass flux to underlying groundwater observed for PFOS and PFHxS was 28,000 ± 11,000 and 92,000 ± 32,000 ng m d, respectively.

Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) and Organokines: What Is Now and What Will Be in the Future.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is characterized by steatosis, lobular inflammation, and enlargement of the diameter of hepatocytes (ballooning hepatocytes), with or without fibrosis. It affects 20% of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Due to liver dysfunction and the numerous metabolic changes that commonly accompany the condition (obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome), the secretion of organokines is modified, which may contribute to the pathogenesis or progression of the disease.

An immunoinformatics-based designed multi-epitope candidate vaccine (mpme-VAC/STV-1) against Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Pneumonia is a serious global health problem that accounts for over one million deaths annually. Among the main microorganisms causing pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the most common ones for which a vaccine is immediately required. In this context, a multi-epitope vaccine against this pathogen could be the best option that can induce effective immune response avoiding any serious adverse reactions.

Investigation into the geometry and distribution of oil inclusions in sea ice using non-destructive X-ray microtomography and its implications for remote sensing and mitigation potential.

As climate change brings reduced sea ice cover and longer ice-free summers to the Arctic, northern Canada is experiencing an increase in shipping and industrial activity in this sensitive region. Disappearing sea ice, therefore, makes the Arctic region susceptible to accidental releases of different types of oil and fuel pollution resulting in a pressing need for the development of appropriate scientific knowledge necessary to inform regulatory policy formulation. In this study, we examine the microstructure of the surficial layers of sea ice exposed to oil using X-ray microtomography.

Novel Therapeutic Options for Chagas Disease Based on Bioactive Compounds from Algae, Bacteria and Fungi Species.

Chagas Disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a Neglected Tropical Disease that affects around seven million people, especially in Latin America. Noteworthy, there has been an increase in the numbers of case reports in non-endemic areas, such as North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia. The disease is a vector-borne disease caused by the pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi being transmitted by infected bugs.

Evaluation strategies in active learning in higher education in health: integrative review.

Objectives: to analyze scientific evidence on evaluation strategies for active learning methods in health undergraduate programs.

Methods: integrative literature review in the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, Nursing Database, Scopus, Web of Science and Education Resources Information Center databases.

Results: different evaluation strategies are used: Presentation of seminars, Self-evaluation, Evaluation of student performance in Tutotest-Lite tutoring, Peer Evaluation, Active Learning and Critical Thinking Self-evaluation Scale, Objective and Structured Clinical Exam, Portfolio, Progressive Disclosure Questions, Modified Dissertation Questions, Progression Test, Dissertation Test, Objective Test, Immediate Learning Checks, Clinical Case Resolution and Cumulative Test.

Strategies of active learning methodologies in nursing education: an integrative literature review.

Objectives: to analyze the scientific evidence on the strategies of active learning methodologies used in the training of nurses, as well as their contributions and obstacles in training.

Methods: integrative literature review conducted with 33 selected articles in the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, Nursing Database, Scopus, Web of Science and Education Resources Information Center databases.

Results: among the strategies, simulation, problem-based learning and flipped classroom were highlighted.

Photooxidation and biodegradation potential of a light crude oil in first-year sea ice.

Disappearing sea ice in the Arctic region results in a pressing need to develop oil spill mitigation techniques suitable for ice-covered waters. The uncertainty around the nature of an oil spill in the Arctic arises from the ice-covered waters and sub-zero temperatures, and how they may influence natural attenuation efficiency. The Sea-ice Environmental Research Facility was used to create a simulated Arctic marine setting.

and Mutations in T/NK-Cell Chronic Lymphoproliferative Disorders of Large Granular Lymphocytes (LGL): Association with Disease Features.

and () mutations are the most common mutations in T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL) and chronic lymphoproliferative disorders of NK cells (CLPD-NK), but their clinical impact remains unknown. We investigated the frequency and type of mutations in FACS-sorted populations of expanded T/NK-LGL from 100 (82 clonal; 6 oligoclonal; 12 polyclonal) patients, and its relationship with disease features. Seventeen non-LGL T-CLPD patients and 628 age-matched healthy donors were analyzed as controls.

Costs of healthcare-associated infections to the Brazilian public Unified Health System in a tertiary-care teaching hospital: a matched case-control study.

Background: Little is known about the economic burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in Brazil.

Aim: To analyse the costs of hospitalization by reimbursement from the Brazilian government, via the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) affiliation, and direct costs in the adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Methods: The matched-pairs case-control study (83 patients with HAIs and 83 without HAIs) was performed at a referral tertiary-care teaching hospital in Brazil in January 2018.

The Recombinant Form of P21 Controls Infection by Modulating Host Immune Response.

P21 protein (P21) is a putative secreted and immunomodulatory molecule with potent bioactive properties such as induction of phagocytosis and actin cytoskeleton polymerization. Despite the bioactive properties described so far, the action of P21 on parasite replication in muscle cell lineage or parasitism during acute experimental infection is unclear. We observed that recombinant P21 (rP21) decreased the multiplication of in C2C12 myoblasts, phenomenon associated with greater actin polymerization and IFN-γ and IL-4 higher expression.

L-arginine supplementation during the final third of gestation improves litter uniformity and physical characteristics of neonatal piglet thermoregulation.

The study assessed the effects of dietary L-arginine supplementation from days 85 to 115 of gestation on sow performance, litter quality, piglet physiology and survival variables in the first 24 hr of life. Twenty multiparous sows, with a history of hyperprolificacy (more than 14 piglets per litter), were used. A completely randomized experimental design was used, consisting of two treatments: feed supplemented or not with 1% L-arginine from days 85 to 115 of gestation.