Publications by authors named "Rafael Alves"

Article Synopsis
  • This work presents a new framework to assess the economic value of illegal clearings in the Amazon rainforest using Habitat Equivalency Analysis while focusing on restoring ecosystem services.
  • The framework calculates the economic value by considering both past losses and potential future gains, resulting in a valuation of approximately Int.$ 341,611 for 10 hectares cleared, which is significantly higher than traditional timber-focused valuations.
  • The approach emphasizes low costs and efficiency, making it useful for preliminary environmental assessments and enhancing understanding of the financial impacts of deforestation in the Amazon.
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Background: COVID-19 has further burdened the Brazilian healthcare system, especially emergencies. Patients may have delayed seeking care for surgical abdominal pain. Delays in the approach may have impacted clinical evolution and outcomes.

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Exploring the intricate relationships between plants and their resident microorganisms is crucial not only for developing new methods to improve disease resistance and crop yields but also for understanding their co-evolutionary dynamics. Our research delves into the role of the phyllosphere-associated microbiome, especially Actinomycetota species, in enhancing pathogen resistance in Theobroma grandiflorum, or cupuassu, an agriculturally valuable Amazonian fruit tree vulnerable to witches' broom disease caused by Moniliophthora perniciosa. While breeding resistant cupuassu genotypes is a possible solution, the capacity of the Actinomycetota phylum to produce beneficial metabolites offers an alternative approach yet to be explored in this context.

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Clinical outcomes of arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) for hemodialysis remain inadequate since biological mechanisms of AVF maturation and failure are still poorly understood. Aortocaval fistula creation (AVF group) or a sham operation (sham group) was performed in C57BL/6 mice. Venous limbs were collected on postoperative day 7 and total RNA was extracted for high throughput RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis.

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Background: Theobroma grandiflorum (Malvaceae), known as cupuassu, is a tree indigenous to the Amazon basin, valued for its large fruits and seed pulp, contributing notably to the Amazonian bioeconomy. The seed pulp is utilized in desserts and beverages, and its seed butter is used in cosmetics. Here, we present the sequenced telomere-to-telomere genome of cupuassu, disclosing its genomic structure, evolutionary features, and phylogenetic relationships within the Malvaceae family.

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Zika (ZIKV) and chikungunya (CHIKV) are arboviruses that cause infections in humans and can cause clinical complications, representing a worldwide public health problem. Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of these pathogens and Culex quinquefasciatus may be a potential ZIKV vector. This study aimed to evaluate fecundity, fertility, survival, longevity, and blood feeding activity in Ae.

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Objective: A central arteriovenous fistula (AVF) has been proposed as a potential novel solution to treat patients with refractory hypertension. We hypothesized that venous remodeling after AVF creation in the hypertensive environment reduces systemic blood pressure but results in increased AVF wall thickness compared with remodeling in the normotensive environment.

Methods: A central AVF was performed in C57BL6/J mice previously made hypertensive with angiotensin II (Ang II); mice were sacrificed on postoperative day 7 or 21.

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Evidences on the effects of chemotherapy treatment cycles on measures of muscle, mental state, social and cognitive performance are scarce. The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of chemotherapy cycles on muscle strength and activation, functional capacity, quality of life, fatigue and anxiety of women with breast cancer. Therefore, twenty-two women divided into a treatment group (n = 10; 46.

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Introduction: Metacarpal fractures are common and can be treated surgically using Kirschner wires (K-wires) or intramedullary fixation with compression screws (IMCS).

Objectives: Analyze the postsurgical results from treating the metacarpal extra-articular fractures through the retrograde Kirschner wire technique, and compare it with the intramedullary compression screw fixation. Methods: Retrospective and quantitative studies were to analyze patients' medical records, and a postsurgical evaluation questionnaire was given to the patients, who were divided into K-wire and IMCS.

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Background: Nutritional status and growth curves can affect cognitive development, increase the risk of infection, and contribute to the development of chronic diseases. Its etiology is related to food, socioeconomic, and maternal conditions. However, to date, no data on these parameters exist in the state of Goiás, Brazil.

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Unlabelled: Currently, the market offers a wide variety of suture threads, made of materials with different structural and chemical properties. Among many other characteristics, they vary in origin, absorption or degradation, and structure. From this variety, the clinical doubt arises as to which material provides the patient with the best healing quality.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness in a real-world study of adjuvant trastuzumab in women with HER-2+ initial breast cancer in overall survival and recurrence-free survival. A retrospective cohort study was conducted with women who had HER-2+ breast cancer treated with trastuzumab from July 2012 to May 2017 and followed up until July 2021. The death rate was 2.

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Objective:  To develop a protocol for hybrid low-risk prenatal care adapted to Brazilian guidelines, merging reduced face-to-face consultations and remote monitoring.

Methods:  The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched on telemedicine and antenatal care perspectives and adaptation of the low-risk prenatal care protocols recommended by the Ministry of Health and by the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations.

Results:  Five relevant articles and three manuals were included in the review, for presented criteria to develop this clinical guideline.

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Tamoxifen (TMX) is used as adjuvant therapy for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer cases due to its affinity and inhibitory effects. However, about 30% of cases show drug resistance, resulting in recurrence and metastasis, the leading causes of death. A literature review can help to elucidate the main cellular processes involved in TMX resistance.

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The hydrothermal carbonization process is a suitable process for the conversion of potentially harmful lignocellulosic waste into hydrochars. Defective coffee beans were the precursor raw material for hydrochar synthesis. Reactions were performed in a high-pressure reactor at 150, 200, and 250 °C, in autogenous pressure, for 40 min.

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Objective: Evaluate the experience of private and public health services with the WALANT procedure in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This is a retrospective, multicenter longitudinal study gathering cases of hand surgery subjected to the WALANT technique in the Hospitals Dr. Radamés Nardini and IFOR during the COVID-19 pandemic (August 2020).

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Background: Currently, the advancement cancer treatment technology improves overall survival, however, adverse events are still a challenge for health professional. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause and vaginal stenosis are conditions that impact the quality of life of patients undergoing radiotherapy. We present two such cases in patients with previous cervical and endometrial cancer.

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Objective The population's ever-growing concern with genital aesthetic dysfunctions reflects an increasing demand in the field of intimate aesthetics. For this reason, as well as the lack of a standardized evaluation, this paper aims to develop a form that facilitates the initial investigation of aesthetic genital dysfunctions.  Methods An evaluation form for female and male genital dyschromia was developed between July and November 2018.

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Background: There is growing evidence that individuals within populations can vary in both habitat use and movement behavior, but it is still not clear how these two relate to each other. The aim of this study was to test if and how individual bats in a Stunira lilium population differ in their movement activity and preferences for landscape features in a correlated manner.

Methods: We collected data on movements of 27 individuals using radio telemetry.

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The intensive shift on land cover by anthropogenic activities have led to changes in natural habitats and environmental contamination, which can ultimately impact and threat biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as pollination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of native forest and human-modified land covers on the concentrations of chemical elements accumulated in the neotropical pollinator bee T. angustula.

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The present study aimed to compare soleus, lateral, and medial gastrocnemius muscles activation during leg press and calf raise exercises in trained men. The study involved 22 trained men (27.1 ± 3.

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The study aimed to evaluate the effects of chemotherapy treatment on muscle strength, quality of life, fatigue, and anxiety in women with breast cancer. Nineteen women who were undergoing a chemotherapy treatment (breast cancer treatment [BCT] group, 52.2 ± 13.

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Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae.

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The present article aims to compare electromyographic (EMG) activity of the knee extensors during traditional resistance training (TRT) and no load resistance training with or without visual feedback (NL-VF and NL-NF). Sixteen healthy men (age: 25.2 ± 3.

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