Three-Dimensional Multi-Material Topology Optimization: Applying a New Mapping-Based Projection Function.

This paper presents an efficient and compact MATLAB code for 3D topology optimization of multi-materials. The multi-material problem using a mapping-based material interpolation function is adopted from previous work, in which each material is modeled in the same way, presenting a clear (clean) result of 0 and 1 for each material of the optimized structures, without gray elements, thus facilitating the manufacturing process. A new projection function, the sigmoid function, is adopted for the filtered design variables for each material in the domain.

Psychosocial Factors are Associated With Walking-Related Goal Attainment in Multiple Sclerosis: A Preliminary Study.

Background: Many individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) have difficulty walking, which may prompt a physical therapy (PT) referral. Psychosocial factors, including mood, pain, and social support, may affect patients' participation and overall success in meeting PT goals; however, this has yet to be examined in MS. This study aimed to explore the associations between walking-related PT goal attainment and psychosocial factors.

Direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists for cerebral venous thrombosis (DOAC-CVT): an international, prospective, observational cohort study.

Background: There is an unmet need for high-quality data from prospective studies on the safety and effectiveness of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for the treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). We aimed to compare the safety and effectiveness of DOACs versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for the treatment of CVT in a setting that reflects daily clinical practice.

Methods: DOAC-CVT was an international, prospective, observational cohort study done in 65 hospitals in 23 countries across five continents.

Kidney stones in patients with Wilson's disease at a tertiary hospital in Northeastern Brazil.

Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene leading to abnormal copper accumulation in tissues. Although the hepatic and neuropsychiatric effects of WD are well-documented, renal complications such as nephrolithiasis are less explored. This article examines the prevalence of nephrolithiasis and associated risk factors in a cohort of 36 WD patients.

Advancing Hydrogel-Based 3D Cell Culture Systems: Histological Image Analysis and AI-Driven Filament Characterization.

Machine learning is used to analyze images by training algorithms on data to recognize patterns and identify objects, with applications in various fields, such as medicine, security, and automation. Meanwhile, histological cross-sections, whether longitudinal or transverse, expose layers of tissues or tissue mimetics, which provide crucial information for microscopic analysis. : This study aimed to employ the Google platform "Teachable Machine" to apply artificial intelligence (AI) in the interpretation of histological cross-section images of hydrogel filaments.

Nutritional Status of Patients with Neoplasms Undergoing Ambulatory Chemotherapy and Associated Factors.

Background/objectives: Cancer, a leading cause of mortality globally and in Brazil, is influenced by environmental and behavioral factors, often linked to nutritional deficiencies such as low body mass index and muscle wasting, exacerbating prognostic outcomes and mortality rates. Timely nutritional interventions during chemotherapy are pivotal, necessitating continuous nutritional assessment for effective patient care management. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of non-metastatic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and identify factors influencing their nutritional status.

The contributions of vascular comorbidities on self-reported functional issues in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate 1) whether having a vascular comorbidity (i.e., hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, and diabetes) was associated with self-reported issues with functional activities among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 2) if certain contributing factors (i.

Optimizing seedling production for the conservation of the threatened Dyckia rariflora (Bromeliaceae).

Objectives: In vitro seed propagation can enhance plant species growth and enable the rapid production of seedlings while preserving genetic variability. This study aimed to develop in vitro seed propagation and acclimatization protocols for Dyckia rariflora to support conservation efforts of this bromeliad endemic to ferruginous campos rupestres. Seed germination and plant growth were tested using MS (Murashige & Skoog) culture medium with varying salt concentrations, sucrose levels, and the presence or absence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).

Expanding the Connection Between Cognition and Illness Intrusiveness in Multiple Sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) disease factors, such as cognitive impairment, can cause disruptions in meaningful activities, also known as illness intrusiveness. Although the association between specific objective measures of cognition and illness intrusiveness has been documented in MS, the contributions of individuals' perceptions of their cognition or whether any psychological factors can buffer the relationship have yet to be explored. This study aimed to (1) simultaneously examine objective processing speed and subjective cognition as disease factors contributing to illness intrusiveness and (2) explore whether resilience moderates the relationship between cognition and illness intrusiveness.

Presentation and management of cerebral proliferative angiopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis on treatment outcomes.

Cerebral Proliferative Angiopathy (CPA) is a rare brain vascular malformation, similar to Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM) but lacking of early venous drainage. Presentation and treatment outcomes were investigated, examining for morbidity, mortality and complications. A meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines.

The Impact of Beta-Blocker Maintenance on Decompensated Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Acute Heart Failure (HF) is related to a significant hospital mortality rate and functional impairment in many patients. However, there is still a lack of studies that support the use of Beta-blockers (BB) in the management of decompensated HF.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact on mortality of maintaining BB in patients with decompensated HF.

Validation of a Portable Respiratory Monitoring System for the Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Crossectional Study.

 Portable respiratory monitoring (PM) has been used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the general population. However, its validation in patients with both OSA and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), remains unclear.  The aim of the study was to validate PM for the diagnosis of OSA in patients with COPD.

Prospective Memory Complaints Are Related to Objective Performance in People With Multiple Sclerosis.

Objectives: To examine the association between subjective and objective prospective memory (PM) in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).

Design: Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional cohort study.

Setting: Community-based comprehensive multiple sclerosis center.

Risk Factors for Patellofemoral Pain in the Military: Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Background: The main cause for attrition of military training is musculoskeletal injuries to the knee, such as patellofemoral pain (PFP).

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify which factors increase the risk of occurrence of PFP in military personnel.

Study Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis.

Clinical characteristics and variables associated with COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in Luanda, Angola, in the first year of the pandemic.

Background: The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Africa is still unclear. In comparison to Europe and North America, morbidity and death rates are lower. Several factors have been proposed, including geographical variation in virus impact, environmental factors, differences in age distribution, and the impact of infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV infection and tuberculosis.

Improving prospective memory in persons with multiple sclerosis via telehealth: A randomized feasibility study.

Background: Persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) can experience deficits in prospective memory (PM) or "remembering to remember," which are associated with functional difficulties. However, no cognitive rehabilitation intervention has specifically addressed improving PM in PwMS. The Telehealth PM Intervention (TPMI) provides a novel combination of two strategies-visual imagery and implementation intentions-that have each been beneficial in other populations.

Patterns of prospective memory errors differ in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Prospective memory (PM) deficits have been documented in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to explore the specific types of errors made by persons with MS (PwMS), including differences between PwMS and healthy controls (HC) and PwMS who do and do not have impairments in processing speed and/or verbal learning and memory.

Method: PwMS ( = 111) and HC ( = 75) completed the Memory for Intentions Test (MIST), an objective measure of PM that has five types of errors that can be coded (PM failure, task substitution, loss of content, loss of time, and random errors).

Phenotypic variation seems not to be associated with the genetic profile in Zygopetalum (Orchidaceae): a case study of a high-elevation rocky complex.

Background: Hybridization associated with polyploidy studies is rare in the tropics. The genus Zygopetalum (Orchidaceae) was investigated here as a case study of Neotropical plants. In the rocky highlands of the Ibitipoca State Park (ISP), southeast Brazil, individuals with intermediate colors and forms between the species Z.

Cancer symptom clusters, cardiovascular risk, and quality of life of patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A longitudinal pilot study.

Patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy may have different cancer symptom clusters (CSC) that negatively impact their quality of life (QoL). These symptoms can sometimes arise from the disease itself or as a result of their cancer treatment. This study aimed to: examine the feasibility of longitudinal testing of CSC pattern and QoL in a sample of adult cancer patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy; to identify the cardiovascular risk of patients with cancer undergoing outpatient chemotherapy; and to investigate the most prevalent CSC and their impact on the QoL of these patients.

Sit less and move more! A cross-sectional study of the associations between physical activity and sedentary behaviors with inhibitory control in Brazilian adults.

Objective: To investigate the independent and joint associations between sedentary behaviors (SB) and physical activity (PA) with inhibitory control (IC) in adults.

Methods: A total of 111 participants (median age = 30 years; 60% women), completed the Stroop Color-Words test to assess IC. They also wore accelerometers for seven days to measure SB, light PA, moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and daily steps.

Nutritional status of women with non-metastatic breast cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the nutritional status of women with stage I to III breast cancer in the first and third cycles of outpatient chemotherapy and to identify factors associated with it.

Methods: The prospective longitudinal study was conducted at a Reference Hospital for Cancer Care in Brazil and included women aged ≥18 y diagnosed with stage I to III breast cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy. Assessments were performed during the 1st and 3rd cycles of chemotherapy, including anthropometric measurements, sociodemographic data, clinical information, and quality of life.

Multidisciplinary Team Care in Pituitary Tumours.

The optimal care for patients with pituitary tumours is best provided in a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment, which requires the contribution of multiple medical specialties working together. The benefits and advantages of the pituitary multidisciplinary team (MDT) are broad, and all relevant international consensus and guidelines in the field recommend that patients with pituitary tumours should always be managed in a MDT. Endocrinologists and neurosurgeons are normally the leading specialties within the pituitary MDT, supported by many other specialties with significant contributions to the diagnosis and management of pituitary tumours, including neuropathology, neuroradiology, neuro-ophthalmology, and otorhinolaryngology, among others.