Publications by authors named "Martins N"

This study introduces the penta-structured semiconductor p-CGeP through density functional theory simulations, which possesses an indirect band gap transition of 3.20 eV. Mechanical analysis confirms the mechanical stability of p-CGeP, satisfying Born-Huang criteria.

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Lagochilascariasis is a neglected zoonosis that affects domestic and wild mammals, including humans, and can form nodules, especially on the neck. Although emerging, it is considered a rare disease in the Americas and, therefore, the objective was to report an atypical case of recurrent otitis with the formation of polyps in the ear canal in a domestic feline associated with lagochilascariasis in Brazil. A cat had a purulent exudate in one of her ears and responded poorly to treatments.

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The U4 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) forms a duplex with the U6 snRNA and, together with U5 and ~30 proteins, is part of the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP complex, located at the core of the major spliceosome. Recently, recurrent variants in the U4 RNA, transcribed from the gene, and in at least two other genes were discovered to cause neurodevelopmental disorder.

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spp. is a flagellated protozoan that parasitizes the small intestine of various mammals, birds, and amphibians, being transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Giardiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in both developed and developing countries, with a prevalence of 0,1-5% and 20-30%, respectively, and is correlated with poor hygiene practices, such as irregular handwashing, which consequently contaminates food when handled.

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Patients continue to suffer from preventable harm and uneven quality outcomes. Reliable clinical outcomes depend on the quality of robust administrative systems and reliable support processes. Critically ill patient handoffs from the operating room (OR) to the intensive care unit (ICU) are known to be high-risk events.

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Background: Falls are a common problem experienced by people living with HIV yet predictive models specific to this population remain underdeveloped. We aimed to identify, assess and stratify the predictive strength of various physiological, behavioral, and HIV-specific factors associated with falls among people living with HIV and inform a predictive model for fall prevention.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to explore predictors of falls in people living with HIV.

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Notocotylidae is a family with a cosmopolitan distribution, with 13 genera parasitizing birds and mammals. Four of these genera were registered in the Americas, and two parasitizing rodents in Argentina. In this paper, specimens of the genus Hippocrepis parasitizing Holochilus brasiliensis from Argentina are studied on the basis of morphological and molecular characteristics.

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Recent studies have highlighted the potential of earwax or cerumen, a non-conventional biomatrix, in volatilomics research as a valuable matrix for disease biomarker discovery. Despite that, there are still gaps in using non-conventional biomatrices in metabolomics research. In this sense, this study aimed to elucidate the main analytical factors involved in the extraction and analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in cerumen by headspace/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS/GC-MS) using Design of Experiments (DoE) approaches.

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Microbial inulinase enzymes have a number of applications in biotechnology. In this study, new strains of Aspergillus welwitschiae were investigated as producers of inulinases and their endo- and exo-inulases were characterized in silico and their protein modeling was performed. The inulinase production by A.

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  • * A study focusing on Brazilian adolescents ages 12-17 found that over 80% experience social jetlag, particularly affecting older girls, those from private schools, and morning classes.
  • * Factors contributing to social jetlag include unhealthy behaviors like skipping breakfast, drinking alcohol, and excessive screen time, highlighting the need for awareness and interventions for better sleep health among youth.
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Plants are a source of valuable organic chemical compounds with complex structures rich in therapeutic activities. The encapsulation of compounds in nanostructured systems is an alternative to avoid limitations, such as instability and low solubility, and to promote therapeutic use. The objective of the present review was to summarize the data in the literature on the physicochemical characteristics, biomedical efficacy, and toxicity of nanostructures containing extracts and oils obtained from annatto ().

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  • The rise in asthma cases, especially in urban areas, has led to research on preventive measures, driven by the hygiene theory which suggests early exposure to infections may protect against allergic diseases.
  • The study evaluated the effects of three specific probiotics (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis) on asthma using mice, testing different concentrations over 26 days prior to allergen exposure.
  • Results showed that none of the probiotics effectively reduced asthma-related symptoms like airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, indicating that the effectiveness of probiotics varies by strain and dosage, prompting the need for further research.
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Combination therapy integrated with nanotechnology offers a promising alternative for breast cancer treatment. The inclusion of pequi oil, anacardic acid (AA), and docetaxel (DTX) in a nanoemulsion can amplify the antitumor effects of each molecule while reducing adverse effects. Therefore, the study aims to develop pequi oil-based nanoemulsions (PeNE) containing DTX (PDTX) or AA (PAA) and to evaluate their cytotoxicity against triple-negative breast cancer cells (4T1) in vitro.

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Phalacrocorax brasilianus (Gmelin, 1789) (Aves: Phalacrocoracidae) is one of the few piscivorous birds inhabiting freshwater and saline environments, being considered one of the most abundant aquatic species in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, especially along the state's coastline. It is known that birds are hosts to a wide variety of disease-causing agents, among them, nematodes of the Contracaecum (Anisakidae) have a large number of recognized species. However, little is still known about the occurrence of these parasites in the Southern region of Brazil.

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Emerging chemical contaminants (ECCs) are among the major environmental threats in present century. A variety of ECCs is released into aquatic environments with little knowledge about their long-term impacts to organisms. We examined the role of acclimation of the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus to silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for determining their ability to deal with these ECCs individually and in mixtures along multiple generations.

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  • Treatment of recurring atrial flutter can be difficult due to anatomical challenges that hinder effective linear ablation.
  • A case involving a 54-year-old patient with recurring peri-mitral flutter was successfully treated using bipolar ablation to create a complete conduction block.
  • This method offers a viable alternative to traditional ablation techniques when deeper lesions are needed for effective treatment.
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Context: The relentless need for new materials to be used in electronic devices has opened new research directions in materials science. One of them involves using two-dimensional materials, among which there is current interest in using germanene. The heteroatom doping of germanene has been proposed as a possible approach to fine-tuning its electronic properties.

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Airborne spp. are critical pathogens that cause nosocomial infections in hospitals. Despite their importance, little is known about the distribution of species in the indoor air of hospitals in Brazil.

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This observational study aimed retrospectively assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnosis and severity of the disease in southern Brazil. All new cases diagnosed with HNSCC from March 11, 2019 to March 10, 2020 (pre-COVID-19) and from March 11, 2020 to March 10, 2021 (COVID-19) were included. The data collected were: date of the histopathological diagnosis, sociodemographic data, place of residence, data related to the tumor (location of the primary tumor, lymph node involvement, distant metastasis and TNM clinical staging), time elapsed between the diagnosis and treatment initiation.

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Background: Echocardiography is essential for the assessment of patients with heart transplants. However, normal values in such individuals are not clearly defined.

Objectives: To compare conventional echocardiographic and speckle tracking variables between patients with unrejected heart transplants and healthy individuals.

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Violence against women or gender-based violence (GBV) is a significant public health issue facing women and girls in different settings. It is reported to have worsened globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on increased violence against women in general, which has been reported in many settings globally, there is a paucity of evidence of its impact on violence against highly vulnerable women living with HIV or tuberculosis (TB).

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Article Synopsis
  • The synthesis of biphenylene, which combines various carbon ring structures, has advanced 2D materials research, focusing on a new material called biphenylene-like indium nitride (BPN-InN).
  • BPN-InN displays a direct band gap energy of 2.02 eV, making it a strong candidate for use in optoelectronic devices.
  • Mechanical tests showed that BPN-InN's properties, such as Young's modulus and band gap energy, changed under different strains, highlighting its potential for further exploration in semiconductor applications.
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Introduction: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of chronic inflammatory diseases, often affecting women in reproductive age. These diseases can have a significant impact on the reproductive health of women. Preconception counseling and medication adjustments have shown to reduce flares and improve pregnancy outcomes in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different anti-mycotoxin feed additives on the concentration of mycotoxins in milk, urine, and blood plasma of dairy cows fed diets artificially contaminated with mycotoxins. Secondarily, performance, total-tract apparent digestibility of nutrients, and blood parameters were evaluated. Twelve multiparous cows (165 ± 45 DIM, 557 ± 49 kg BW, and 32.

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