The Benefits of COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Patients Hospitalized with Respiratory Symptoms: A Retrospective Cohort Study in South Brazil.

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a known risk factor for adverse health outcomes in pregnancy, affecting both maternal and neonatal health. Mounting evidence suggests that even a single dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine protects against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and is safe for both pregnant persons and neonates. Southern Brazil was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the protective effects of the vaccine on maternal and neonatal health are not well described.

Integrated Modeling and Target Classification Based on mmWave SAR and CNN Approach.

This study presents a numerical modeling approach that utilizes millimeter-wave (mm-Wave) Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave (FMCW) radar to reconstruct and classify five weapon types: grenades, knives, guns, iron rods, and wrenches. A dataset of 1000 images of these weapons was collected from various online sources and subsequently used to generate 3605 samples in the MATLAB (R2022b) environment for creating reflectivity-added images. Background reflectivity was considered to range from 0 to 0.

Measurement Properties of Wearable Kinematic-Based Data Collection Systems to Evaluate Ball Kicking in Soccer: A Systematic Review with Evidence Gap Map.

Kinematic assessment of ball kicking may require significant human effort (e.g., traditional vision-based tracking systems).

Activated Nanocellulose from Corn Husk: Application to As and Pb Adsorption Kinetics in Batch Wastewater.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the removal of Pb and As from an aqueous solution using corn residue cellulose nanocrystals (NCCs). The corn husk was subjected to alkaline digestion, followed by bleaching and esterification with 3% citric acid to obtain NCCs. A 10 ppm multimetal solution of Pb and As was prepared.

Phenolic Fractions from Walnut Milk Residue: Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxic Potential.

Walnut milk residues (WMR) were investigated for the first time through their phenolic characterization including soluble (free, esterified, and etherified) phenolics and those released from their insoluble-bound form (insoluble-bound phenolic hydrolysates, IBPHs) and their antioxidant properties. Free phenolics were recovered and alkaline or acid hydrolysis were used to recover the remaining phenolic fractions. Total phenolic compounds (TPCs) and their antioxidant activity were analyzed by Folin-Ciocalteu, FRAP, and ORAC methods, respectively.

Bioaccumulation of Cr by the Species and L. Grown with and Without Compost in a Sandy Soil Contaminated by Leather Industrial Effluents.

This research aimed to assess the bioaccumulation capacity of the species and L. using organic amendments to the phytoremediation of total chromium in the mid-zone of the Añashuayco Ravine, Uchumayo, Arequipa, impacted by tanneries from the Rio Seco Industrial Park. Additionally, it analyzed total chromium concentrations, soil physicochemical properties, and morphological changes in plants with and without organic matter.

Ant-Plant Mutualism in Palm Peat Swamp Forests: A Study of Host and Epiphyte Diversity in Ant Gardens.

Mutualisms characterized by reciprocal benefits between species are a fundamental relationship of tropical ecosystems. Ant Gardens (AGs) represent an interesting ant-plant mutualism, involving specialized interactions between vascular epiphytes and ants. While this relationship has been extensively studied in various tropical regions, the available information on Peruvian ecosystems is limited.

MET Exon 14 Skipping and Novel Actionable Variants: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Implications in Latin American Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients.

Targeted therapy indications for actionable variants in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have primarily been studied in Caucasian populations, with limited data on Latin American patients. This study utilized a 52-genes next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel to analyze 1560 tumor biopsies from NSCLC patients in Chile, Brazil, and Peru. The RNA sequencing reads and DNA coverage were correlated to improve the detection of the actionable exon 14 skipping variant (METex14).

Effects of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors on Body Composition and Fluid Status in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Failure.

: Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have emerged as integral therapeutic tools in the management of patients with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. In addition to their well-documented effects on lowering glucose levels and cardiovascular- and reno-protective actions, SGLT-2 inhibitors, through a reduction in body weight (BW), generate changes in the body composition and volume status that have not been clearly studied. : This retrospective, observational longitudinal cohort, single-center study analyzed and compared body composition and fluid status measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) from weeks 0 to 12 after the initiation of the cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program for coronary artery disease and heart failure in 59 patients who started treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2iG) and 112 patients without SGLT-2 inhibitors (non-SGLT-2iG).

Remimazolam Versus Propofol in General Anesthesia of Complex Surgery in Critical and Non-Critical Patients: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials.

: To compare the efficacy and safety of remimazolam with propofol in general anesthesia in adult patients. : A systematic search in Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase was performed. Patients undergoing complex surgery who were critically ill or non-critically ill were included.

Association Between Anthropometric and Hematological Parameters and the Diagnosis of Intestinal Parasitosis in Low-Income Children.

Objective: This study aims to determine the association between anthropometric values and laboratory tests with parasitosis diagnosis and identify diagnostic models for parasitosis without relying on copro-parasitological examinations.

Methods: Data were collected from 1894 children aged 0-14 who attended a medical center for low-income children in Lima, Peru, between 2021 and 2022. Anthropometric data (BMI, weight, height), laboratory data (red blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, eosinophils), and parasitological examination results were analyzed.

The Influence of the Degree of Dental Implant Insertion Compression on Primary Stability Measured by Resonance Frequency and Progressive Insertion Torque: In Vitro Study.

: This study aimed to evaluate the primary stability, according to the insertion torque value (ITV) and resonance frequency analysis (RFA), of dental implants placed in standardized blocks of bone quality equivalent to type II-A bone, using three surgical undersized protocols of 0.2 mm, 0.5 mm, and 0.

Haptic Technology: Exploring Its Underexplored Clinical Applications-A Systematic Review.

Background/objectives: Haptic technology has transformed interactions between humans and both tangible and virtual environments. Despite its widespread adoption across various industries, the potential therapeutic applications of this technology have yet to be fully explored.

Methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and randomized crossover trials was conducted, utilizing databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science.

The Human Side of Leadership: Exploring the Impact of Servant Leadership on Work Happiness and Organizational Justice.

The leadership literature suggests that a servant leadership style can reduce negative employee outcomes, even in challenging work environments such as the educational sector, where teachers play a key role in social development. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of servant leadership on work happiness and organizational justice. An explanatory study was carried out including 210 men and women who declared that they perform teaching activities, aged between 21 and 68 years (M = 38.

Adaptation and Validation of the Multidimensional Fairness Scale in Chilean University Students.

The Multidimensional Fairness Scale (MFS) assesses an individual's experience of fairness across the many contexts of daily life. It has been applied in the USA; however, the psychometric qualities of reliability and validity have not been examined in a Spanish-speaking population or among Chilean university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 377 university students to explore these properties.

The Challenge of Deep Learning for the Prevention and Automatic Diagnosis of Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: This review aims to evaluate several convolutional neural network (CNN) models applied to breast cancer detection, to identify and categorize CNN variants in recent studies, and to analyze their specific strengths, limitations, and challenges.

Methods: Using PRISMA methodology, this review examines studies that focus on deep learning techniques, specifically CNN, for breast cancer detection. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies from the past five years, with duplicates and those unrelated to breast cancer excluded.

Air Quality Prediction Based on Singular Spectrum Analysis and Artificial Neural Networks.

Singular spectrum analysis is a powerful nonparametric technique used to decompose the original time series into a set of components that can be interpreted as trend, seasonal, and noise. For their part, neural networks are a family of information-processing techniques capable of approximating highly nonlinear functions. This study proposes to improve the precision in the prediction of air quality.

Adaptive Compensatory Neurophysiological Biomarkers of Motor Recovery Post-Stroke: Electroencephalography and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Insights from the DEFINE Cohort Study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore longitudinal relationships between neurophysiological biomarkers and upper limb motor function recovery in stroke patients, focusing on electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) metrics.

Methods: This longitudinal cohort study analyzed neurophysiological, clinical, and demographic data from 102 stroke patients enrolled in the DEFINE cohort. We investigated the associations between baseline and post-intervention changes in the EEG theta/alpha ratio (TAR) and TMS metrics with upper limb motor functionality, assessed using the outcomes of five tests: the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Handgrip Strength Test (HST), Pinch Strength Test (PST), Finger Tapping Test (FTT), and Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT).

Psychometric Assessment of the Communication Skills Scale Among Peruvian Nurses and Factors Associated with Job Insecurity.

Background/objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Communication Skills Scale (CSS) among Peruvian nurses, as well as the factors associated with job insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We explored five models of confirmatory factor analysis for the CSS and its four subscales and assessed the convergent validity and criterion validity of the scale by analyzing its connection with job insecurity through stepwise multiple regression. We used insights from a focus group for the cultural adaptation of the scale.

Comparative Analysis of Sustainable Extraction Methods and Green Solvents for Olive Leaf Extracts with Antioxidant and Antihyperglycemic Activities.

Olive leaves are agro-industrial waste that pose an environmental management problem. However, they contain polyphenolic compounds with important bioactive properties beneficial to human. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two extraction technologies (pressurized liquid extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction) combined with green solvents (pure water, 15% ethanol, and 15% glycerol) at 50 °C and 70 °C.

Changes in Carotenoids and Quality Parameters of Sweet Paprika () After an Accelerated Heat Treatment.

Paprika, obtained from dried red pepper (), is valued for its characteristic colour and flavour. Its carotenoid content, which is important for both sensory and nutritional quality, varies depending on several factors (agronomic conditions and technological treatment with special attention to the drying methods) that influence the colour and antioxidant capacity of the samples. This study investigated the effect of an accelerated thermal treatment (80 °C for 8 h) applied to evaluate the oxidative stability of the carotenoids and the colour of ground paprika depending on its origin (Peru or China).

Biological Implications of the Intrinsic Deformability of Human Acetylcholinesterase Induced by Diverse Compounds: A Computational Study.

The enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) plays a crucial role in the termination of nerve impulses by hydrolyzing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). The inhibition of AChE has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for the management of neurological disorders such as Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The potential of various compounds as AChE inhibitors was investigated.

Drivers of Seasonal Change of Avian Communities in Urban Parks and Cemeteries of Latin America.

Urban parks and cemeteries constitute hot spots of bird diversity in urban areas. However, the seasonal dynamics of their bird communities have been scarcely explored at large scales. This study aims to analyze the drivers of urban bird assemblage seasonality in urban parks and cemeteries comparing assemblages during breeding and non-breeding seasons in the Neotropical Region.

Tiled Amplicon Sequencing Enables Culture-free Whole-Genome Sequencing of Pathogenic Bacteria From Clinical Specimens.

Pathogen sequencing is an important tool for disease surveillance and demonstrated its high value during the COVID-19 pandemic. Viral sequencing during the pandemic allowed us to track disease spread, quickly identify new variants, and guide the development of vaccines. Tiled amplicon sequencing, in which a panel of primers is used for multiplex amplification of fragments across an entire genome, was the cornerstone of SARS-CoV-2 sequencing.

Climate change, migration, and health: perspectives from Latin America and the Caribbean.

This article delves into the complex relationship between climate change, migration patterns, and health outcomes in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). While the severe impact of climate change on health in LAC is widely acknowledged, the article sheds light on the often-overlooked multiple effects on migration and the well-being of migrants. These impacts encompass poverty, food and water insecurity, and adverse physical and mental health outcomes.