Publications by authors named "Lucena R"

Article Synopsis
  • TOR kinases are crucial for nutrient signaling and cell growth, organized into TORC1 and TORC2 complexes.
  • In budding yeast, TORC2 is particularly important for regulating growth rate and cell size, but how it functions is not fully understood.
  • Researchers discovered that the kinases Yck1 and Yck2 significantly impact the phosphorylation and localization of Mss4, a key player in TORC2 signaling, but their inhibition has minor effects on well-characterized pathways, indicating a potential role in less defined TORC2 functions.
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A congenital neurologic disorder affected a herd of Tabapuã cattle. Of 98 newborn calves, 12 (12%) were affected; they were sired by 3 related bulls. This frequency suggested a genetic disorder caused by an autosomal recessive gene.

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This study describes the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological aspects of an outbreak of ruminal acidosis and ruminitis caused by the ingestion of hedge lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus L.) in 70 cattle in the state of Paraiba, Northeastern Brazil. The herd had been transported from the state of Piauí to Paraiba.

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  • The breeding of wild birds as pets in Paraíba is influenced by cultural and socioeconomic factors, as well as the declining status of the species.
  • Data was collected from local breeders about their practices and the commercialization aspects of bird breeding, focusing on three main species known for their singing and use in bird fighting.
  • The study highlights the complexity of captive breeding in terms of management practices and behavioral factors, indicating a need for further research to assess the impact of these practices on bird genetics through artificial selection.
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The occurrence of esophagitis and ingluvitis caused by Typhimurium in passerines seized from illegal wildlife trafficking is described. This illegal activity causes stress and leads to lowered immunity in the birds. Additionally, inadequate hygiene conditions predispose the birds to diseases such as salmonellosis.

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  • - A new electroanalytical method using disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes modified with non-toxic carbon nanodots was developed for detecting codeine in biological fluids and soft drinks.
  • - Graphene quantum dots were found to be the most effective modifier, allowing for precise codeine measurement with low detection limits and good accuracy in saliva samples.
  • - This cost-effective and portable method can directly analyze soft drinks for codeine without needing sample preparation, making it useful for identifying potential drug adulteration in beverages.
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Direct coupling sample preparation with mass spectrometry has risen as a reliable analytical strategy in bioanalysis as it provides a high sample throughput. This approach avoids an exhaustive separation step, thus being cost-effective compared to the traditional analytical workflow. The selectivity and sensitivity levels rely on the mass spectrometric analysis and the appropriate selection of the sample preparation.

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  • The study aimed to determine if scalp cooling can enhance the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on motor cortex excitability.
  • It involved 105 healthy participants in a randomized, double-blind design where various tDCS protocols and scalp cooling were tested, with motor evoked potentials measured to assess changes in brain excitability.
  • Results indicated that neither tDCS nor scalp cooling produced measurable improvements in motor cortex excitability, suggesting that these methods do not alter cortical excitability effectively.
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The use of natural materials as precursors for synthesizing sorptive phases can reduce the environmental impact of the sample preparation step. In this article, two natural materials, i.e.

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  • Parenting a child with autism can cause significant stress, anxiety, and depression for family members, prompting a study on mental disorders in their first-degree relatives.
  • A systematic review of 19 articles revealed a 13% prevalence of affective disorders in mothers of individuals on the autism spectrum, and these relatives were 2.17 times more likely to have affective disorders compared to relatives of neurotypical individuals.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of assessing mental health in the parents and siblings of children with autism to provide adequate support and improve overall care for the affected individuals.
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An on-site extraction device is presented consisting of scotch tape modified with concentric domains of micrometric hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) particles surrounded by a ring of nanometric magnetic ones. On the one hand, HLB microparticles are readily available at the surface of the tape, exposed to interact with the target analytes, being responsible for the extraction capacity of the sorptive phase. On the other hand, the presence of magnetic nanoparticles enables the attachment of the modified tape onto a metallic screw via a magnet, which is then coupled to a wireless drill, enabling the stirring of the microextraction device.

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This study aims to assess the musculoskeletal risk of military personnel on a Leopard 2 A6 main battle tank crew and to identify associated factors for future prevention and mitigation strategies. A sample of 57 Portuguese military personnel, who are or were part of the Leopard 2 A6 main battle tank crew, answered a questionnaire on their perception of task performance, considering muscle demands, comfort, posture, movements, and associated symptoms. A subsample of four soldiers from the Armoured Squadron of the Portuguese Mechanized Brigade were assessed using an inertial measurement unit system and underwent a whole-body kinematic analysis coupled with a Rapid Entire Body Assessment during a simulated two-hour mission.

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The baru ( Vog.), a fruit native to the Cerrado biome, is well-known for its almonds, which are extensively exploited and exported. Unfortunately, the remaining parts of this fruit are often discarded.

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A two-year-old female crossbreed dog, previously a stray with no known owner, was adopted and subsequently spayed. The dog exhibited weight loss over a period of two months and died suddenly during a leashed walk. Upon necropsy, enlargement of the submandibular, prescapular, and popliteal lymph nodes was noted.

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Teratogenic plants can be found in pastures in different parts of the world and represent a threat to the reproduction of ruminants. In the northeast region of Brazil, several studies have indicated that Cenostigma pyramidale (Tul.) Gagnon & G.

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Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess the current clinical practice of physiotherapists and occupational therapists on early detection and early intervention for children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Brazil.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. A purpose-developed electronic survey was disseminated across the country to physiotherapists and occupational therapists working with young children with or at risk of CP.

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Direct coupling of sample preparation with mass spectrometry (MS) can speed up analysis, enabling faster decision-making. In such combinations, where the analysis time is mainly defined by the extraction procedure, magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction emerges as a relevant technique because of its rapid workflow. The dispersion and retrieval of the magnetic sorbent are typically uncoupled stages, thus reducing the potential simplicity.

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This article describes the synthesis of sorptive phases for bioanalysis based on the modification of cellulose paper with natural beeswax as sorbent, resulting in a substrate completely renewable and sustainable. The preparation of the sorptive phases consisted of the dissolution of beeswax in hexane, followed by its drop-casting on cellulose paper and subsequent evaporation of the solvent. The beeswax modification of paper renders it hydrophobic, enabling the extraction of the target analytes, i.

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Background: Opioids are effective painkillers used for medical purposes. Their prolonged ingestion can provoke some side effects (including overdose or constipation) that are minimized by using opioid antagonists (e.g.

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A 37-year-old immunocompetent man was admitted to the emergency department due to recurrent pain and oedema of his right knee. Two months earlier, he had undergone surgery to repair his meniscus. Arthroscopic joint lavage was performed and was recovered in culture.

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Direct mass spectrometry (MS) is an exciting strategy in bioanalysis, enabling rapid decision-making in different scenarios. Its application is usually hindered by matrix effects and the typically low concentration of the target compounds in the biofluids. In this sense, combining a previous sample preparation step minimizes or removes these shortcomings.

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Tor kinases play diverse and essential roles in control of nutrient signaling and cell growth. Tor kinases are assembled into two large multiprotein complexes referred to as Tor Complex 1 and Tor Complex 2 (TORC1 and TORC2). In budding yeast, TORC2 controls a signaling network that relays signals regarding carbon source that strongly influence growth rate and cell size.

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species produce a secondary metabolite known as T-2 toxin, which is the primary and most harmful toxin found in type A trichothecenes. T-2 toxin is widely found in food and grain-based animal feed and endangers the health of both humans and animals. T-2 toxin exposure in humans and animals occurs primarily through food administration; therefore, the first organ that T-2 toxin targets is the gut.

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Introduction: Although pharmacological treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has demonstrated efficacy, several individuals persist in experiencing social and academic impairment. Additionally, the occurrence of significant side effects may render the use of psychotropic medications untenable. However, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, shows promising results in treating ADHD.

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This study aimed to investigate the mineral profile and histopathological findings in the liver of Leptodactylus macrosternum (white-lipped frog) and to assess the association between melanomacrophage areas and hepatic fungal granuloma with several factors such as weight, snout-cloacal length, sex, hepatosomatic index, season (dry and rainy), and condition factor K. A total of 135 frogs of different ages were collected from three areas in the city of Petrolina, Pernambuco, with varying land use (conventional agriculture, organic agriculture, and Caatinga stricto sensu). The liver of all specimens exhibited changes such as granulomatous lesions, inflammatory cell infiltrate, blood vessel congestion, and sinusoid dilation.

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