Harnessing the synergy of Urochloa brizantha and Amazonian Dark Earth microbiomes for enhanced pasture recovery.

Amazonian Dark Earths (ADEs) are fertile soils from the Amazon rainforest that harbor microorganisms with biotechnological potential. This study aimed to investigate the individual and potential synergistic effects of a 2% portion of ADEs and Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu roots (Brazil's most common grass species used for pastures) on soil prokaryotic communities and overall soil attributes in degraded soil.

SHOULDER PAIN, ULTRASOUND CHANGES, AND FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE IN OBESE PATIENTS.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of shoulder pain, level of functional performance, and morphological involvement of the rotator cuff on ultrasound in morbidly obese patients.

Methods: The study included 54 morbidly obese patients receiving follow-up care in a bariatric surgery outpatient clinic, which were compared with a control group consisting of 49 participants. Presence of shoulder pain, shoulder functional performance, ultrasound of the rotator cuff and blood tests were the parameters evaluated.

Environmental and human health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in rehabilitating iron mine lands in the Brazilian Amazon.

Waste pile substrates from Fe mining may carry potentially toxic elements (PTE). Rehabilitation efforts must maintain soil vegetation cover effectively, avoiding the dispersion of particulate matter and reducing the risk to the environment and human health. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the pseudo-total and extractable contents, perform chemical fractionation, and assess the bioaccessibility and risk of PTE in waste piles of Fe mining in the Eastern Amazon.

Microbial activity of the inoculum determines the impact of activated carbon, magnetite and zeolite on methane production.

The conversion of organic matter to methane through anaerobic digestion (AD) process can be enhanced by different materials. However, literature reports show inconsistent results on the effect of materials in different AD systems. In this study, we evaluated the influence of the inoculum's activity on methane production (MP) efficiency in the presence of different materials (activated carbon (AC), magnetite (Mag), and zeolite (Zeo)).

Factors associated with hypercholesterolemia in older adults: A cross-sectional investigation.

Objective: To investigate the factors associated with hypercholesterolemia in older adults residing in a small municipality in northeastern Brazil.

Methods: This is a population-based cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted with 232 older adults (women: 58.60%; men: 41.

Soil Application of Selenium in Wheat ( L.) Under Water Stress Improves Grain Quality and Reduces Production Losses.

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans. However, much of the world's human population is deficient in this element, which has become a public health problem. This study aimed to evaluate whether applying severe water stress to wheat plants ( L.

Antennal sensilla variability among castes and sexes in the leaf-cutter ant Acromyrmex subterraneus subterraneus.

Insect antennae play a crucial role in communication, acting as receptors for both chemical and physical cues. This sensory reception is facilitated by specialized cuticular structures known as sensilla, which exhibit diverse morphologies and functions. In ants, caste polymorphism and sexual dimorphism manifest in antennal structure.

Dynamic representation of appetitive and aversive stimuli in nucleus accumbens shell D1- and D2-medium spiny neurons.

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a key brain region for motivated behaviors, yet how distinct neuronal populations encode appetitive or aversive stimuli remains undetermined. Using microendoscopic calcium imaging in mice, we tracked NAc shell D1- or D2-medium spiny neurons' (MSNs) activity during exposure to stimuli of opposing valence and associative learning. Despite drift in individual neurons' coding, both D1- and D2-population activity was sufficient to discriminate opposing valence unconditioned stimuli, but not predictive cues.

Short-term Oral Nitrite Administration Decreases Arterial Stiffness in Both Trained and Sedentary Wistar Rats.

Background: Nitric Oxide (NO) plays an important role in blood pressure (BP) regulation, acting directly on peripheral vascular resistance through vasodilation. Physical training (via eNOS/NO) and intake of nitrite have been considered major stimuli to increase NO.

Objective: We examined the effects of oral nitrite administration and aerobic exercise training on BP and arterial stiffness in Wistar rats.

Extracellular vesicles derived-microRNAs predicting enzalutamide-resistance in 3D spheroid prostate Cancer model.

Enzalutamide (ENZ) has emerged as a major treatment advance in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients; however the development of resistance remains a key challenge. The extracellular vesicles (VEs)-derived miRNAs play crucial roles tumor microenvironment cell communication, thereby influencing resistance mechanisms. Considering the urgent need for molecular biomarkers to monitor ENZ response and predict resistance, we intend to identify an EV-derived miRNA profile associated with ENZ resistance using an innovative 3D-spheroid in vitro model.

Artificial intelligence-driven tool for spectral analysis: identifying pesticide contamination in bees from reflectance profiling.

Pesticide poisoning constantly threatens bees as they forage for resources in pesticide-treated crops. This poisoning requires thorough investigation to identify its causes, underscoring the importance of reliable pesticide detection methods for bee monitoring. Infrared spectroscopy provides reflectance data across hundreds of spectral bands (hyperspectral reflectance), presumably enabling the efficient classification of pesticide contamination in bee carcasses using artificial intelligence (AI) models, such as machine learning.

Insecticides used for controlling cotton mealybug pose a threat to non-target bumble bees.

Bumble bees (Bombus spp., Hymenoptera, Apidae) play a crucial role in pollinating greenhouse tomato crops. However, tomato production is constantly threatened by different invasive pests that often lead to the increased use of pesticides, with negative consequences for pollinators.

A novel electrochemical immunosensor for the determination of tuberculosis diagnosis exploiting graphene-affinity peptide.

Conventional methods for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB), a significant global health challenge, often have drawbacks like time-consuming procedures, limited sensitivity, and the need for complex, expensive infrastructure. Hence, the development of electrochemical immunosensors has emerged as a promising strategy for TB detection due to their simplicity, speed, sensitivity, portability, and cost-effectiveness. In this study, we developed a rapid, simple, and low-cost immunosensor using a lab-made screen-printed electrode (SPE) based on the peptide TB 68-G as a recognition site.

Brazilian Consensus on the Application of Thermal Ablation for Treatment of Thyroid Nodules: A Task Force Statement by the Brazilian Society of Interventional Radiology and Endovascular Surgery (SOBRICE), Brazilian Society of Head and Neck Surgery (SBCCP), and Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM).

There is increasing interest in ultrasound-guided ablation treatments for thyroid diseases, including benign and malignant ones. Surgeons, radiologists, and endocrinologists carry out these treatments, and various organizations within these specialties have recently released multiple international consensus statements and clinical practice standards. The aim of the present consensus statement is to provide guidance, cohesion, and standardization of best practices for thermal ablation procedures of thyroid nodules.

Action of melatonin and physical exercise on the liver of cirrhotic rats: Study of oxidative stress and the inflammatory process.

Background And Aim: Cirrhosis is characterized by structural and functional alterations of the liver. Melatonin (MLT) has antioxidant properties. Physical exercise (EX) can reverse muscle loss in cirrhotic patients.

Antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of procyanidins: potential for clinical and biotechnological applications.

Procyanidins (PCs) have emerged as agents with potential antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities, although their mechanisms of action and structure-activity relationships remain poorly understood. This review assessed the potential mechanisms of action and applications of these compounds to explore these aspects. Studies on the antimicrobial properties of PCs suggest that they are involved in osmotic imbalance, DNA interactions and metabolic disruption.

Flexible, Electrochemical Skin-Like Platform for Inflammatory Biomarker Monitoring.

Addressing global challenges in wound management has greatly encouraged the emergence of home diagnosis and monitoring devices. This technological shift has accelerated the development of new skin patch sensors for continuous health monitoring. A key requirement is the creation of flexible platforms capable of mimicking human skin features.

Influence of Thermal Treatment and Granulometry on Physicochemical, Techno-Functional and Nutritional Properties of Lentil Flours.

Legume flours are an increasingly popular food ingredient. Thermal treatments applied prior to milling legumes and granulometry can modify flour properties, altering sensory, digestibility and functional attributes. Raw and treated (soaked and cooked) lentil flours of different granulometry were produced.

Comparative Study of the Healing Process of Disbudding Wounds in Calves Using Bepanthene or an Antibiotic Spray.

The process of disbudding female calves is a common procedure in many dairy farms, avoiding injuries caused by horns and reducing feed bunk space requirements. The most common method for disbudding calves is by the use of a cautery iron, responsible for destroying the horn-generating tissue. After the procedure, wounds may be treated with an antibiotic-based spray.