Extracting the fingerprints of sequences of random rhythmic auditory stimuli from electrophysiological data.

It has been classically conjectured that the brain assigns probabilistic models to sequences of stimuli. An important issue associated with this conjecture is the identification of the classes of models used by the brain to perform this task. We address this issue by using a new clustering procedure for sets of electroencephalographic (EEG) data recorded from participants exposed to a sequence of auditory stimuli generated by a stochastic chain.

Estimating the impact of school closures on the COVID-19 dynamics in 74 countries: A modelling analysis.

Background: School closures have been a prominent component of the global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) response. However, their effect on viral transmission, COVID-19 mortality and health care system pressure remains incompletely understood, as traditional observational studies fall short in assessing such population-level impacts.

Methods And Findings: We used a mathematical model to simulate the COVID-19 epidemics of 74 countries, incorporating observed data from 2020 to 2022 and historical school closure timelines.

Antifungal potential of silver nanoparticles stabilized with the flavonoid naringenin.

Fungal infections caused by yeast have increased in recent decades, becoming a major threat to public health. Antifungal therapy represents a challenging problem because, in addition to presenting many side effects, fungal resistance has been increasing in recent years. As a result, the search for new therapeutic agents has advanced with the use of new technologies such as nanoparticles (NPs).

Clinical Outcome of Endothelium-Outward Preloaded Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty in Long-Term Dextran-Containing Transport Medium Preservation.

Purpose: To analyze the clinical outcome of organ-cultured endothelium-outward preloaded DMEK (pDMEK) using the RAPID cartridge.

Methods: This prospective study included 80 eyes of 80 patients who received a pDMEK. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell count (ECC), and central corneal thickness were measured preoperatively and 4 to 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively.

Declaration of Sweeteners on Food Labels: A Scoping Review of Methodological Issues and Prevalence.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently published a guideline that recommends against the use of nonsugar sweeteners. Food labels are a key source of information for consumers, to enable them to make informed decisions regarding the consumption of food additives. However, discrepancies in the concepts and categorizations of sweeteners in labeling recommendations and regulations may influence the results of studies on the prevalence of sweeteners in foods.

Oropharyngeal cancer incidence and trends in Brazil.

Background: Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) incidence is rising globally, predominantly in high-income countries due to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, further data on OPC incidence in Brazil is needed. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence, trends, and predictions of OPC in Brazilian population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) by period, sex, and topography.

Synergistic activity of Pitstop-2 and 1,6-hexanediol in aggressive human lung cancer cells.

Metastatic cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming, which involves changes in the metabolic fluxes, including endocytosis, nucleocytoplasmic transport, and mitochondrial metabolism, to satisfy their massive demands for energy, cell division, and proliferation compared to normal cells. We have previously demonstrated the ability of two different types of compounds to interfere with linchpins of metabolic reprogramming, Pitstop-2 and 1,6-hexanediol (1,6-HD). 1,6-HD disrupts glycolysis enzymes and mitochondrial function, enhancing reactive oxygen species production and reducing cellular ATP levels, while Pitstop-2 impedes clathrin-mediated endocytosis and small GTPases activity.

Harnessing PGPRs from Asparagus officinalis to Increase the Growth and Yield of Zea mays L.

Microbial biotechnology employs techniques that rely on the natural interactions that occur in ecosystems. Bacteria, including rhizobacteria, play an important role in plant growth, providing crops with an alternative that can mitigate the negative effects of abiotic stress, such as those caused by saline environments, and increase the excessive use of chemical fertilizers. The present study examined the promoting potential of bacterial isolates obtained from the rhizospheric soil and roots of the Asparagus officinalis cultivar UF-157 F2 in Viru, la Libertad, Peru.

Complementary Strategies to Identify Differentially Expressed Genes in the Choroid Plexus of Patients with Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease causing myelin and axon damage through inflammatory and autoimmune processes. Despite affecting millions worldwide, understanding its genetic pathways remains limited. The choroid plexus (ChP) has been studied in neurodegenerative processes and diseases like MS due to its dysregulation, yet its role in MS pathophysiology remains unclear.

Assessing water quality restoration measures in Lake Pampulha (Brazil) through remote sensing imagery.

Urban reservoirs are frequently exposed to impacts from high population density, polluting activities, and the absence of environmental control measures and monitoring. In this study, we investigated the use of satellite imagery to assess restoration measures and support decision-making in a hypereutrophic urban reservoir. Since 2016, Lake Pampulha (Brazil) has undergone restoration measures, including the application of Phoslock®, to mitigate its poor water quality conditions.

Influence of a handheld X-ray unit in the diagnosis of proximal caries lesions using different digital systems.

Objectives: To assess the influence of a handheld X-ray unit in the diagnosis of proximal caries lesions using different digital systems by comparing with a wall-mounted unit.

Methods: Radiographs of 40 human teeth were acquired using the Eagle X-ray handheld unit (Alliage, São Paulo, Brazil) set at 2.5 mA, 60 kVp and an exposure time of 0.

Polarized vision in the eyes of the most effective predators: dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata).

Polarization is a property of light that describes the oscillation of the electric field vector. Polarized light can be detected by many invertebrate animals, and this visual channel is widely used in nature. Insects rely on light polarization for various purposes, such as water detection, improving contrast, breaking camouflage, navigation, and signaling during mating.

Characterization of Microcapsules Obtained from Lemon Balm Extract (Melissa officinalis L.) by the Ionic Gelation Process.

The plant specie, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) is one of the most important species of the Lamiaceae family and its use as a plant extract has been highlighted by the population and the scientific community due to its rich chemical composition and the presence of bioactive compounds with potential antioxidant activity, associated with various health benefits. Research and development of innovative technologies are focused on the identification of these substances, their properties and applications.

Description of Colobomatus conodoni n. sp. (Cyclopoida: Philichthyidae), a New Parasitic Copepod from the Barred Grunt Conodon nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Actinopterygii: Haemulidae) Off the Brazilian Coast.

Introduction: Copepods of the genus Colobomatus Hesse, 1873 are parasites associated with subcutaneous spaces of marine fish. To date, around 76 species of the genus have been described in marine ecosystems, but few species have been recorded in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Methods: One hundred and eight specimens of Co.

Photobiomodulation of alveolar bone healing in rats with low-level laser and light emitting diode therapy.

The present study investigates the potential contribution of Photobiomodulation (PBM) to the regeneration of the bone following the extraction of the first mandibular molar in rats. The study evaluates the efficacy of PBM, using both Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and Light-Emitting Diode Therapy (LEDT), as promotors of osteoblastic activity and the formation of new bone. Study design, setting, and sample: 45 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into three groups of 15 individuals - (i) control group (left lower molar removed only), (ii) the LLL group (molar removed, followed by LLLT), and (iii) the LED group (molar removed, followed by LEDT).

Clinical and imaging aspects associated with persistent apical periodontitis: subsides for the treatment decision-making process.

Objectives: To evaluate cases of persistent apical periodontitis (PAP) and what are the imaging and clinical aspects that could be considered in the PAP diagnosis and in their treatment decision-making process.

Methodology: 423 patients with apical periodontitis at the time of non-surgical root canal treatment (NSRCT) were followed-up for at least 1 year. Periapical radiographic images were used to compare and determine periapical status at each time using the PAI scoring system.

Dry crude pomegranate peel extract as a bio-input for medicinal pharmaceutical gel with healing activity.

The sustainable use of pomegranate peel, a by-product of the food industry, is gaining importance in developing pharmaceutical bio-inputs, aligning with circular economy practices and waste reduction. This study explores the application of dry crude pomegranate peel extract (PPE) as a bio-input for medicinal gels with wound healing properties. PPE was extracted via percolation in ethanol and freeze-dried.

Deletion of and genes in serovars induces a comparable immune response to wild-type infection in different chicken lineages.

It was previously reported that utilization of tetrathionate and 1,2-propanediol by spp. through the metabolic pathways encoded by and operons are related to overgrowth and out-competing microbiota in an anaerobic environment. However, recent knowledge demonstrated which strains in the absence of and genes provoke both higher intestinal colonization and spreading bacteria on faeces in relation to their respective wild-type strain, and generate more prominent inflammation as well.

Chlorhexidine Compared with Povidone-Iodine in Intravitreal Injection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Povidone-iodine (PI) is the standard antiseptic for intravitreal injections (IVIs), while chlorhexidine (CHX) is a potential alternative. The efficacy of PI versus CHX in preventing endophthalmitis remains debated, with studies showing mixed results. To compare the effectiveness of using PI compared with CHX in IVI procedures regarding endophthalmitis rates, culture-positive endophthalmitis rates, and changes in visual acuity.

Quality of Life and Adaptation of People With a Colostomy Plug: A Before-After Interventional Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine health-related quality of life and adaptation of persons with a colostomy before and after use of a colostomy plug.

Design: Single group before-and-after study.

Subjects And Setting: The study sample comprised 19 people with a colostomy who attended an outpatient clinic João Pessoa, in Paraiba, Brazil.

Assessment of cfDNA release dynamics during colorectal cancer surgery.

Approximately two-thirds of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) undergo resection with curative intent; however, 30% to 50% of these patients experience recurrence. The concentration of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) before and after surgery may be related to the prognosis of patients with CRC, but there is limited information regarding cfDNA levels at the time of surgery. Here, we analyzed surgical cfDNA release using plasma samples from 30 colorectal cancer patients at three key points during surgery: preoperative (immediately before surgery), intraoperative (during surgery), and postoperative (at the end of surgery).

FhaA plays a key role in mycobacterial polar elongation and asymmetric growth.

Unlabelled: Mycobacteria, including pathogens like , exhibit unique growth patterns and cell envelope structures that challenge our understanding of bacterial physiology. This study sheds light on FhaA, a conserved protein in , revealing its pivotal role in coordinating cell envelope biogenesis and asymmetric growth. The elucidation of the FhaA interactome in living mycobacterial cells reveals its participation in the protein network orchestrating cell envelope biogenesis and cell elongation/division.

Symptom assessment related to the menstrual cycle to predict endometriosis and adenomyosis in university students.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of endometriosis and adenomyosis among university students and identify potential predictors of these diseases among these symptoms.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a private university in northeastern Brazil. The students were asked to complete an electronic questionnaire using a Google Form link.

Embryo Cryopreservation: What do couples think about it?

Objective: To investigate the perspectives of infertile couples regarding embryo cryopreservation throughout assisted reproduction treatment.

Methods: The convenience sample included infertile couples undergoing assisted reproduction treatment. They responded to a questionnaire specifically designed to gauge views and opinions on cryopreservation of surplus embryos.