Patterns of use of heated tobacco products: a comprehensive systematic review.

Introduction: Relative or absolute safety of heated tobacco products (HTP) remains unknown, while independent literature suggests that these products do not favour tobacco control. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate HTP usage patterns and the effect of HTP use on conventional tobacco smoking (use transitions).

Methods: We used Pubmed/MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library to identify all articles published up to February 2022 on HTP use.

Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in from Artificial Water Systems: Findings from a Two-Year Study.

Background: species are the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease and, as ubiquitous waterborne bacteria, are prone to antimicrobial resistance gene (ARG) acquisition and dissemination due to the antimicrobial contamination of natural environments. Given the potential health risks associated with ARGs, it is crucial to assess their presence in the population.

Methods: The ARGs and were detected in 348 samples, isolates, and DNA extracts using conventional PCR.

Impact of inter-city interactions on disease scaling.

Inter-city interactions are critical for the transmission of infectious diseases, yet their effects on the scaling of disease cases remain largely underexplored. Here, we use the commuting network as a proxy for inter-city interactions, integrating it with a general scaling framework to describe the incidence of seven infectious diseases across Brazilian cities as a function of population size and the number of commuters. Our models significantly outperform traditional urban scaling approaches, revealing that the relationship between disease cases and a combination of population and commuters varies across diseases and is influenced by both factors.

IVF with frozen-thawed sperm after prolonged capacitation yields comparable results to ICSI in horses: A morphokinetics study.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the current clinical practice for the in vitro production of equine embryos. The use of conventional fertilization methods such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), has historically been associated with poor success in horses. However, recent improvements have led to better outcomes with IVF, though only when using fresh semen, which limits its use in clinical practice.

Pentacyclic Triterpenoid Content in Cranberry Raw Materials and Products.

Cranberry fruit extracts have been shown to inhibit expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in THP-1 cells and reduce colonic tumor burden and tissue inflammation in a mouse model of colitis. These activities are attributed to both the triterpenoid and polyphenol constituents of the fruit. The pentacyclic triterpenoids ursolic acid (UA), oleanolic acid (OA), corosolic acid (CA), maslinic acid (MA), and esters of UA and OA occur in the waxy layer of cranberry peel, and their content in cranberry products is likely to vary with the fruit source and processing methods.

Biochar improves growth and physiology of Swietenia macrophylla king in contaminated soil by copper.

The production of açaí seed waste from the commercial and extractive exploitation of the Euterpe oleraceae palm tree is a serious problem that contributes to environmental contamination and production of greenhouse gases, a fact that suggests the need for an environmentally correct destination for this waste produced on a large scale. To this end, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential of acaí seed biochar (BCA) in mitigating the toxic effects of copper in Brazilian mahogany plants, analyzing biometrics and gas exchange. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five blocks, in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme, corresponding to the control (without Cu) and three concentration of Cu (200, 400, and 600 mg Cu kg) and three levels of BCA (0%, 5% and 10%) proportional to the amount of soil in the pots, totaling sixty experimental units.

Do forage production and ingestive behavior of locally adapted sheep differ from an irrigated silvopastoral system to an irrigated monoculture in the semi-arid region?

This study aimed to evaluate forage production and ingestive behavior of Morada Nova sheep in an intensive system with capim-tamani grass in both monoculture and silvopastoral irrigated systems in the Semi-arid region. Eighteen adult sheep, approximately 3 years old, with an average body weight of 26.8 ± 4.

Microbial Bioherbicides Based on Cell-Free Phytotoxic Metabolites: Analysis and Perspectives on Their Application in Weed Control as an Innovative Sustainable Solution.

Weeds cause significant agricultural losses worldwide, and herbicides have traditionally been the main solution to this problem. However, the extensive use of herbicides has led to multiple cases of weed resistance, which could generate an increase in the application concentration and consequently a higher persistence in the environment, hindering natural degradation processes. Consequently, more environmentally friendly alternatives, such as microbial bioherbicides, have been sought.

A Multi-Country Survey on the Availability of Intraoperative Use of Echocardiography for Noncardiac Surgery.

Background: This survey aimed to explore the availability and accessibility of echocardiography during noncardiac surgery worldwide.

Methods: An internet-based 45-item survey was sent, followed by reminders from August 30, 2021, to August 20, 2022.

Results: 1189 responses were received from 62 countries.

A new device to treat ping-pong skull fractures: The hammer puller technique. A comparative analysis using a realistic simulation model.

Background: This study aims to describe a new surgical technique for the treatment of ping-pong skull fractures and to evaluate its efficacy in a realistic simulation model compared to the dissector elevation technique.

Methods: A total of 64 fractures were obtained using 16 model units, each with four fractures (two frontal and two parietal). The hammer puller technique was applied for left-sided fractures and the dissector technique for right-sided fractures.

An Enzymatic and Proteomic Analysis of during Biodegradation of Gossypol in Cottonseed.

Cotton is an important plant-based protein. Cottonseed cake, a byproduct of the biodiesel industry, offers potential in animal supplementation, although the presence of the antinutritional sesquiterpenoid gossypol limits utilization. The macrofungus offers potential in detoxification of antinutritional factors.

Morphometric evaluation of the linea alba in fresh corpses.

Purpose: Diastasis recti abdominis is an increase in the distance between the medial borders of the two rectus muscles. It is most often triggered after intra-abdominal pressure increases, such as postpartum or in obesity. Most publications are based on radiological studies or are done in certain subgroups, without unanimous reference values of the distance between the rectus abdominis or standardization.

Robotic-assisted approaches to urachal carcinoma: A comprehensive systematic review of the safety and efficacy outcomes.

Introduction: Surgical intervention is the treatment of choice in patients with urachal carcinoma. Due to complications and to reduce hospital stay from open surgery, minimally invasive approaches are desirable. Nowadays, robotic-assisted surgery has become increasingly popular, and robot-assisted cystectomy can be performed in patients with urachal carcinoma with low complication rates.

Assessment of reflectance confocal microscopy for monitoring treatment of actinic keratosis and field cancerization with daylight photodynamic therapy.

Actinic keratosis (AK) is the most common pre-malignant cutaneous lesion of the skin, often associated with field cancerization. Daylight photodynamic therapy (DL-PDT) is used as treatment, showing good histological results. Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) may be useful as a non-invasive, real-time approach to monitor treatment, however, there is a lack of data on the correlation between RCM and histopathological findings in AK patients treated with DL-PDT.

A school-based physical activity intervention in primary school: effects on physical activity, sleep, aerobic fitness, and motor competence.

Objective: The "Super Quinas" project evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention program to improve physical activity, aerobic fitness, sleep, and motor competence on children in primary school.

Methods: The experimental group ( = 19) enrolled in a 12-week intervention program (one more extra-curricular activity class of 60 min per week) compared to the CG ( = 19), all aged 9-10 years. Physical activity (PA) and sleep were measured by accelerometry, and aerobic fitness was measured by Children's Yo-Yo test (YYIR1C) during the 1st week (PRE), the 6th week (DUR), and the 12th week (POST) of the intervention program.

Analysis of the dermoscopic features of excised melanomas and their relation with tumor thickness in a tertiary hospital in Brazil.

Background: Dermoscopy is a non-invasive, cost-effective tool useful in the assessment of pigmented lesions. The aim of this study was to analyze the dermoscopic features in excised melanomas in a tertiary hospital in Brazil and the influence of Breslow thickness on the dermoscopic features observed.

Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study in which dermoscopic images of 43 melanomas were evaluated.

Fluid Slip and Drag Reduction on Liquid-Infused Surfaces under High Static Pressure.

Liquid-infused surfaces (LIS) have been shown to reduce the huge frictional drag affecting microfluidic flow and are expected to be more robust than superhydrophobic surfaces when exposed to external pressure as the lubricant in LIS is incompressible. Here, we investigate the effect of applying static pressure on the effective slip length measured on Teflon wrinkled surfaces infused with silicone oil through pressure measurements in microfluidic devices. The effect of static pressure on LIS was found to depend on air content in the flowing water: for degassed water, the average effective slip length was = 2.

Qualitative data collection to identify truck drivers' attitudes toward a transition to platooning systems.

The platooning technology allows for two or more trucks running in convoy at a pre-defined distance between each other, being virtually connected using connectivity technology and automated driving support systems. It is recognized that truck platooning systems bring economical and environmental advantages. Thus, it is time for a transition from the existing truck freight activity towards truck platooning systems.

Visualizing a Nanoscale Lubricant Layer under Blood Flow.

Tethered-liquid perfluorocarbons (TLPs) are a class of liquid-infused surfaces with the ability to reduce blood clot formation (thrombosis) on blood-contacting medical devices. TLP comprises a tethered perfluorocarbon (TP) infused with a liquid perfluorocarbon (LP); this LP must be retained to maintain the antithrombotic properties of the layer. However, the stability of the LP layer remains in question, particularly for medical devices under blood flow.

Influence of the Growing Region on the Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of North American Cranberry Fruit ( Aiton).

The impact of the growth environment on the production of health-promoting phytochemicals in cranberry fruit ( Aiton) is not well established despite increased production worldwide. We investigated the secondary metabolite composition among the cranberry fruit of nine cultivars produced in two major coastal North American growing regions that differ in climate. Using H NOESY NMR to generate metabolic fingerprints, principal component analysis revealed variation between the two regions and identified likely contributing metabolites.