Magnetite Nanoparticles Encapsulated with PBS-PEG for AMF Hyperthermia.

Novel studies on typical synthesized magnetite nanoparticles were encapsulated into a poly (butylene succinate)/poly (ethylene glycol) copolymer (PBS-PEG). PBS was chosen because of its biocompatibility characteristics necessary for biomedical applications. PEG, as part of the macromolecular structure, increases the hybrid system's solubility in an aqueous environment, increasing the circulation time of the material in the bloodstream.

A Novel Design of a Torsional Shape Memory Alloy Actuator for Active Rudder.

SMA actuators are a group of lightweight actuators that offer advantages over conventional technology and allow for simple and compact solutions to the increasing demand for electrical actuation. In particular, an increasing number of SMA torsional actuator applications have been published recently due to their ability to supply rotational motion under load, resulting in advantages such as module simplification and the reduction of overall product weight. This paper presents the conceptual design, operating principle, experimental characterization and working performance of torsional actuators applicable in active rudder in aeronautics.

Intuitive eating has reduced the chances of being overweight in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: University students have been particularly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, and several sociodemographic and behavioral factors may be associated with the risk of overweight in this population. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the pandemic on the eating behavior and nutritional status of university students, and the factors associated with these changes, especially the role of intuitive eating in this process.

Methods: This is a repeated measures observational study with data collected in the first and third year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, from students over the age of 18 in the undergraduate programs of a federal university in southeastern Brazil.

Photodynamic therapy adjuvant to non-surgical periodontal therapy: Systematic review of randomized clinical trials.

Objectives: To systematically evaluate randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on whether adjuvant application of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) through the technique of irradiation in the external region of the periodontal pocket with optic-fibre tip offers benefits to scaling and root planning (SRP).

Methods: Five databases were searched by two independent reviewers according to pre-specified eligibility criteria up to April 2023. No restrictions regarding date of publication, language and minimum follow-up period were imposed.

Nickel-catalyzed reductive decarboxylation of fatty acids for drop-in biofuel production.

An operationally simple and highly selective method for the decarboxylation of fatty acids under remarkably mild conditions is described herein. The activation of the aliphatic carboxylic acids by esterification with -hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) enabled efficient deoxygenation to synthesize -alkanes in up to 67% yield, employing inexpensive PMHS as a hydrogen source, NiCl·6HO, bipyridine, and zinc in THF. In contrast to the conventional thermo-catalytic approaches, this protocol does not require high temperature and high pressure of hydrogen gas to deoxygenate biomass-derived carboxylic acids, thus representing an attractive alternative for producing drop-in biofuels.

Worms and gills, plates and spines: the evolutionary origins and incredible disparity of deuterostomes revealed by fossils, genes, and development.

Deuterostomes are the major division of animal life which includes sea stars, acorn worms, and humans, among a wide variety of ecologically and morphologically disparate taxa. However, their early evolution is poorly understood, due in part to their disparity, which makes identifying commonalities difficult, as well as their relatively poor early fossil record. Here, we review the available morphological, palaeontological, developmental, and molecular data to establish a framework for exploring the origins of this important and enigmatic group.

Evolutionary importance of the relationship between cytogeography and climate: New insights on creosote bushes from North and South America.

Relationships between genome size and environmental variables suggest that DNA content might be adaptive and of evolutionary importance in plants. The genus provides an interesting system to test this hypothesis, since it shows both intra- and interspecific variation in genome size. has an amphitropical distribution in North and South American deserts, where it is most speciose.

Cardioprotective effects of Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in hypertensive rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn. (Talinaceae) is a medicinal species that is widely distributed throughout Brazil.

First record of Trichodina heterodentata (Ciliophora: Trichodinidae) in banded knifefish Gymnotus carapo (Gymnotidae) cultured in Brazil.

The aim of this study was to report the first record of Trichodina heterodentata in banded knifefish Gymnotus carapo. Banded knifefish cultivated in the municipality of Jataí, state of Goiás, in the central western region of Brazil, experienced fish mortality rates of 3-4% per tank. Macroscopic analysis found that fish had lesions on their skin and gills.

Taxonomy of the sea stars (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) from Bahia State, including ontogenetic variation and an illustrated key to the Brazilian species.

Describing ontogenetic morphological change is an important part of integrative taxonomy; still, most taxonomic studies are based only on adult characters. Here, we provide illustrations and a morphological description of the sea stars from Bahia, including ontogenetic and intraspecific variation, and identify taxonomic issues. A total of 293 specimens from different localities along the Bahia State coastline and comparative material from other localities were examined.

Exploring the macrostructural anatomy of dendrochirotid sea cucumber's (Echinodermata) calcareous rings under micro-computed tomography and its bearing on phylogeny.

Despite descending from heavily calcified ancestors, the holothuroid skeleton is fully internal and composed of microscopic ossicles and a ring of plates bound by connective tissue, the calcareous ring. The calcareous ring exhibits a complex and poorly understood morphology; as a result, establishing unambiguous homology statements about its macrostructure has been challenging and phylogenetic studies have had to simplify this important structure. Here, we provide the first broad comparative study of Dendrochirotida calcareous rings using micro-computed tomography (μCT).

Piperazine designer drugs elicit toxicity in the alternative in vivo model Caenorhabditis elegans.

Piperazine designer drugs are a group of synthetic drugs of abuse that have appeared on the illicit market since the second half of the 1990s. The most common derivatives are 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP), 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (MeOPP) and 1-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl)piperazine (MDBP). They can be consumed as capsules, tablets, but also in powder or liquid forms.

Depressive symptoms and associated factors in elderly long-term care residents.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms in institutionalized elderly.

Methods: This is an epidemiological cross-sectional study with 42 elderly in a Long-Term Care Institution for the Elderly (LTCIE). Data was collected from April to December 2014 through a questionnaire with information on demographic and socioeconomic aspects, the Geriatric Depression Scale short version (GDS-15) and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).

PLGA-PEG nanoparticles containing gallium phthalocyanine: Preparation, optimization and analysis of its photodynamic efficiency on red blood cell and Hepa-1C1C7.

Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) has been used for the encapsulation of phthalocyanine motived by its biocompatibility and biodegradability. Many studies have already been done to evaluate the influence of parameters used in the PLGA nanoparticle synthesis but without the evaluation of the combinatory interaction between these parameters on the nanoparticulate properties. Ga(III)-phthalocyanine (GaPc) was encapsulated into the PEGlated PLGA-nanoparticles and the individual and combinatory effects of the emulsification time, the method used for the nanoparticle synthesis and the temperature of the aqueous phase was evaluated on the size, entrapment efficiency, efficacy of nanoparticle recovery, residual PVA and zeta potential value using a 2 factorial design (FD).

Synchrotron micro-CT scanning leads to the discovery of a new genus of morphologically conserved echinoid (Echinodermata: Cassiduloida).

Here we use synchrotron radiation-based micro-computed tomography (SRµCT) images of type specimens to confidently place Cassidulus malayanus in a new genus (Kassandrina gen. nov.) that would not have been discovered with traditional techniques, and to describe a new species of Cassidulus (Cassidulus briareus sp.

Chemical Changes during Maize Tissue Aging and Its Relationship with Mediterranean Corn Borer Resistance.

The Mediterranean corn borer (MCB), Sesamia nonagrioides Lef, is an important pest of maize in temperate areas, causing significant stalk lodging and yield losses. The main goals of this study were to determine possible changes in chemical traits (phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, sugars, fibers, and lignin) during plant development after the flowering stage and to assess how those traits may differ in diverse genotypes of maize, such as MCB resistant and susceptible. Higher values for some particular traits in more mature tissues seemed to increase their effectiveness against the MCB attack.

Microcystin-LR exposure induces oxidative damage in Caenorhabditis elegans: Protective effect of lutein extracted from marigold flowers.

Microcystin-LR (MIC-LR) is a hepatotoxin, with toxicity mechanisms linked to oxidative stress. Besides, neurotoxic effects of MIC-LR have recently been described. Herein, we evaluated the effects of environmentally important concentrations of MIC-LR (1, 10, 100, 250, and 500 μg/L) on oxidative stress markers and the survival rate of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C.

DNA damage in the elderly is associated with 5-MTHF levels: a pro-oxidant activity.

The aging phenomenon is associated with oxidative stress damage in biomolecules, especially DNA. 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), the active folate form, plays a pivotal role in maintaining genomic integrity. However, recently it was associated with cancer development.

Profile of work-related road traffic accident victims recorded by sentinel health units in Pernambuco, Brazil, 2012-2014.

Objective: to describe the profile of work-related road traffic accident (RTA) victims, reported by Road Traffic Accident Information Sentinel Units in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil, from 2012-2014.

Methods: descriptive study of fatal and non-fatal work-related road traffic accident victims, reported by 21 RTA Information Sentinel Units in Pernambuco.

Results: 87.

Association between inflammation processes, DNA damage, and exposure to environmental pollutants.

Environmental exposure to pollutants, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), could lead to carcinogenesis development. However, there is a gap on the mechanisms involved in this effect. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential relationship between exposure to environmental air pollution and inflammation process in DNA damage in taxi drivers.

Caenorhabditis elegans as an alternative in vivo model to determine oral uptake, nanotoxicity, and efficacy of melatonin-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules on paraquat damage.

Caenorhabditis elegans is an alternative in vivo model that is being successfully used to assess the pharmacological and toxic effects of drugs. The exponential growth of nanotechnology requires the use of alternative in vivo models to assess the toxic effects of theses nanomaterials. The use of polymeric nanocapsules has shown promising results for drug delivery.

Identifying Genetic Hotspots by Mapping Molecular Diversity of Widespread Trees: When Commonness Matters.

Conservation planning requires setting priorities at the same spatial scale at which decision-making processes are undertaken considering all levels of biodiversity, but current methods for identifying biodiversity hotspots ignore its genetic component. We developed a fine-scale approach based on the definition of genetic hotspots, which have high genetic diversity and unique variants that represent their evolutionary potential and evolutionary novelties. Our hypothesis is that wide-ranging taxa with similar ecological tolerances, yet of phylogenetically independent lineages, have been and currently are shaped by ecological and evolutionary forces that result in geographically concordant genetic patterns.

Microscopy and Microanalysis of an Extreme Case of Salt and Biodegradation in 17th Century Wall Paintings.

The present study characterizes the main deterioration mechanisms affecting the early 17th frescoes of Casa de Fresco, the only known example in Portugal of a semi-underground leisure room richly decorated with a balcony over a water well. Frescoes from the vault are at risk due to salt weathering and biodeterioration. The aim of the research was identification of the deterioration materials, determination of their origin, and their effect on the frescoes before future intervention.

How do cold-sensitive species endure ice ages? Phylogeographic and paleodistribution models of postglacial range expansion of the mesothermic drought-tolerant conifer Austrocedrus chilensis.

In view of global climate change, it is important to understand the responses of tree species to climate changes in the past. Combinations of phylogeographic analysis of genetic evidence, coupled with species distribution models (SDMs), are improving our understanding on this subject. We combined SDMs and microsatellite data from populations of the entire range of Austrocedrus chilensis, a dominant mesotherm (cold-sensitive) conifer of dryland forests of the southern Andes, to test the hypothesis of long-distance postglacial migration from northern and warmer refugia at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM).