3,398 results match your criteria: "Federal University of Santa Maria.[Affiliation]"

Article Synopsis
  • Aspergillus westerdijkiae, known as 'golden mould,' can grow on dry-cured meats and produce the harmful mycotoxin ochratoxin A, posing health risks to humans.
  • The study explored how different temperatures (15, 20, and 25 °C) and water activity levels (0.85 to 0.99) affect the growth and ochratoxin production of two A. westerdijkiae strains over 28 days.
  • Optimal growth occurred at 20-25 °C and high water activity, while strain S1 produced the most ochratoxin A at certain conditions, indicating that even under ideal growth, mycotoxin production can be significant, highlighting the need for better
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Background: The sunflower looper, Rachiplusia nu (Guenée), evolved resistance to the insecticidal protein Cry1Ac expressed in soybean and emerged as an important soybean pest in Brazil, requiring the application of insecticides for their control. Here, we characterized the susceptibility of Brazilian populations of R. nu to several insecticides and developed diagnostic concentrations for a proactive insect resistance management (IRM) program.

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Aim: To evaluate the relationship of different levels of social capital with oral health-related adolescents' quality of life (OHRQoL).

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study nested in a cohort study started in 2010 with a sample of children 1 to 5 years old from Brazil. Individuals were followed after 10 years, data which was considered in this study (11 to 15 years old).

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Fatty acids (FAs) are biochemical components of food, essential for human health due to their numerous biological functions. However, many of then if consumed in excess can trigger disfunctions/illness. Therefore, analytical methods, such as gas chromatography (GC-FID) are essential for the accurate identification and quantification of FAs, playing an important role in food safety and quality assessment.

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The dynamics of fluvial erosion responds to soil erosion and surface runoff on hillslopes due to land use and environmental fragility, conditioned by the soil, geology, relief, and rainfall rate. Despite the increasing problems associated with fluvial erosion in Brazil, little information is available on bedload transport in headwater catchments under intense agricultural activity. Therefore, this study sought to characterize the fluvial erosion processes and bedload dynamics in an experimental catchment in southern Brazil located at the edge of the Brazilian Meridional plateau, which is representative of a large area of high environmental fragility and intense agricultural activity in Southern Brazil.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates why some physiotherapists prefer non-academic sources for clinical information and how personal factors like age, recent graduation, and education level impact this preference.
  • A survey of 610 physiotherapists revealed that nearly 25% prefer non-academic sources, particularly those over 34 years old who feel unable to apply scientific findings.
  • The findings suggest a need for improved training in evidence-based practice to boost confidence and competency in utilizing academic resources in patient care.
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Article Synopsis
  • * The study involved 34 women receiving ten weeks of individualized therapy that included perineal massage, vaginal dilation, and pelvic floor exercises, with evaluations before and after treatment.
  • * Results showed significant improvements in vaginal length, diameter, muscle strength, and quality of life metrics, with about 66.7% of participants experiencing resolution of vaginal stenosis post-intervention.
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The design and development of nanoparticle- and microparticle-based delivery systems incorporating carotenoids into carrier materials offers multiple advantages, including enhancing the bio-efficacy of these compounds due to improving their bioaccessibility and bioavailability. This study introduced pitanga saponified carotenoid extract (PSCE) and pitanga non-saponified carotenoid extract (PSCE) in a 12 % zein/1 %PEO solution and electrospun for fiber production. Then, the fibers were characterized, and their bioaccessibility and bioavailability were also evaluated.

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The conservation of seed quality throughout storage depends on established conditions, monitoring, sampling and laboratory analysis, which are subject to errors and require technical and financial resources. Thus, machine learning techniques can help optimize processes and obtain more accurate results for decision-making regarding the processing and conservation of stored seeds. Therefore, the aim was to assess and predict the physical properties (moisture content, seed mass, length, thickness, width, volume, apparent specific mass, projected area, sphericity, mean diameter, circular area, circularity, drag coefficient), and physicochemical quality (crude protein, ash content, and acidity index) of Jatobá-do-Cerrado seeds under different processing conditions with pulp, without pulp (scarification), without pulp (fermented), and storage conditions at 10 and 23 °C over six months.

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This study aims to develop plant-based burgers with partial replacement of texturized soy protein (TSP) by mushrooms at proportions of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%. The substitution was evaluated regarding its impact on the burgers' chemical composition, texture, color, cooking performance, and sensory properties. Chemical analyses showed a significant increase in moisture content starting from the 10% substitution level, contributing to improved juiciness.

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Context: Biomechanical analyses of human movement require precise methods for quantifying measurements. The Modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT) is utilized by healthcare professionals and researchers to assess dynamic postural control. Despite its reliability, the manual application of mSEBT can introduce errors.

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Background: Given that people with patellofemoral pain (PFP) exhibit deficits in postural control, certain postural reactions may be associated with movement alterations in this population. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate whether manipulation of the support base for balance maintenance could lead to different patterns of lower limb kinematics in people with PFP during single-legged squats.

Methods: Fourteen participants with PFP and 14 asymptomatic controls were first assessed performing single-legged squats freely, and then while holding a stick to provide stabilization during the task.

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Probiotics have awakened a great interest in the scientific community for their potential beneficial effects on health. Although only allowed by the European Food Safety Agency as a nutrition declaration associated with the improvement of lactose digestion, recent in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated their varied beneficial effect for the improvement of certain pathologies. However, probiotics face stability and viability challenges, which make their delivery difficult in sufficient quantities for these effects to be observed.

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Background: The low glyphosate uptake capacity, possibly due to the lipophilic character of epicuticular wax on leaves, may contribute to the natural tolerance of some weed species. The use of pre-emergence herbicides like S-metolachlor, which inhibits very-long-chain fatty acid synthesis, might enhance glyphosate's post-emergent efficacy against hard-to-control weeds, such as Euphorbia heterophylla L. (milkweed) and Ipomoea triloba L.

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Anxiety modulators elicit different behavioral outcomes in adult zebrafish: Emphasis on homebase-related parameters and spatio-temporal exploration.

Pharmacol Biochem Behav

January 2025

Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Natural and Exact Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Federal University of Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Avenue, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil; The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA. Electronic address:

Anxiety is an emotion that represents a crucial anticipatory reaction of aversive stimuli, with clinical relevance in cases of disproportional and severe occurrences. Although distinct animal models have contributed to elucidate anxiety-related mechanisms, the influence of anxiogenic and anxiolytic modulations on both locomotion and exploration-related parameters in the open field test (OFT) is not fully elucidated. Here, we aimed to assess the influence of anxiogenic and anxiolytic manipulations on the exploratory dynamics of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) focusing on homebase-related behaviors.

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A paradigm shift in the understanding of bidirectional interactions between peripheral and central nervous systems is essential for development of rehabilitation and preventive interventions based on physical exercise. Although a causal relationship has not been completely established, modulation of voltage-dependent ion channels (Ca, Cl, K, Na, lactate-, H) in skeletal and neuronal cells provides opportunities to maintain force production during exercise and reduce the risk of disease. However, there are caveats to consider when interpreting the effects of physical exercise on this bidirectional axis, since exercise protocol details (e.

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Environmental enrichment reduces adgrl3.1-Related anxiety and attention deficits but not impulsivity.

Behav Brain Res

February 2025

School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, UK; Surrey Sleep Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. Electronic address:

Article Synopsis
  • Environmental factors, particularly environmental enrichment (EE), influence the development and severity of neuropsychiatric disorders, especially externalizing disorders that involve impulsive and aggressive behaviors.
  • The study focused on zebrafish with a gene linked to impulsivity and attention deficits (adgrl3.1), showing that those raised in enriched environments exhibited reduced anxiety and improved attention but continued to display impulsive behaviors.
  • These results indicate that while EE can help alleviate some symptoms associated with externalizing and internalizing disorders, impulsivity is more resistant to environmental modifications.
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This study aimed to evaluate the impact of carboxymethylation on the structural and functional properties of β-glucan derived from the pathogenic oomycete Pythium insidiosum. β-Glucan was extracted and subjected to carboxymethylation (CM-glucan), with structural changes analyzed using C and H NMR spectroscopy. The modified β-glucan's ability to adsorb mycotoxins, specifically deoxynivalenol (DON) and T2 toxin, was assessed through in vitro adsorption assays.

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Palm oil is the world's second most consumed vegetable oil, sourced from the tropical palm tree Elaeis guineensis. Its consumption has been associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease, largely due to its elevated palmitic acid content, however those studies are contradictory and inconclusive. Wishing to contribute to this issue, the present study aims to investigate the molecular and toxicological effects of this oil and the involvement of oxidative stress, given its role in metabolic dysfunctions using Drosophila melanogaster.

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This study was conducted to evaluate the adsorbent characteristics of two mycotoxin binders (BBAc - composed of bentonite, β-glucans, and activated charcoal, and SepHt - composed of heat-treated sepiolite) against deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisin B (FB) using Brunaeur-Emmett-Teller, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Freundlich, and Langmuir isotherm models and linear regression equations. Both products were tested at 0.5% with increasing levels of DON or FB (0.

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Androgen independent phase in prostate cancer (PCa) commonly limits the therapeutic efficacy. through its main active compound, α-thujone, appears to be an option, considering its anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic and pro-apoptotic effects on hepatocellular carcinoma. However, studies on PCa are limited.

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Introduction: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) affects multiple food-animal species and spreads rapidly among ungulate populations, posing significant challenges for disease control. Understanding the dynamics of FMD transmission and evaluating the effectiveness of control measures are critical for mitigating its impact. This study introduces a multiscale compartmental stochastic model to simulate FMD spread and assess countermeasures.

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Foot drop is a condition characterized by impairment of the ability to dorsiflex the foot at the ankle joint. We aim to review the literature and report a case of isolated unilateral foot drop of central causes. A 59-year-old male previously healthy presenting with a right foot drop was admitted.

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Opportunistic Screening for Low Bone Mineral Density in Routine Computed Tomography Scans: A Brazilian Validation Study.

J Clin Densitom

October 2024

Department of Radiology and Imaging Diagnosis, University Hospital of Santa Maria (HUSM-EBSERH), Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil; Technology Center, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.

Introduction/background: Osteoporotic fractures are a major health concern worldwide due to high mortality rates, deterioration in quality of life, and elevated healthcare costs related to hospital treatment. However, most patients who sustain an osteoporotic fracture have never been formally screened for osteoporosis. Opportunistic screening of osteoporosis through conventional computed tomography (CT) scans performed for unrelated reasons could help identify patients with low bone mass.

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