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The environment of Lyman break analogues survey is an imaging survey of 33 deg2 of the southern sky. The survey was observed in u, g, r , and i bands with the Dark Energy Camera on the Blanco telescope. The main goal of this project is to investigate the environment of Lyman break analogues (LBAs) low-redshift (z ∼0.2) galaxies that are remarkably similar to typical star-forming galaxies at z  ∼ 3. We explore whether the environment has any influence on the observed properties of these galaxies, providing valuable insight on the formation and evolution of galaxies over cosmic time. Using the nearest neighbour method, we measure the local density of each object ranging from small to large scales (clusters of galaxies). Comparing the environment around LBAs with that of the general galaxy population in the field, we conclude that LBAs, on average, populate denser regions at small scales, but are located in similar environment to other star-forming galaxies at larger cluster-like scales. This offers evidence that nearby encounters such as mergers may influence the star formation activity in LBAs, before infall on to larger galaxy clusters. We interpret this as an indication of galaxy pre-processing, in agreement with theoretical expectations for galaxies at z  ∼ 2–3 where the gravitational interactions are more intense in early formation processes of these objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compares the efficacy and safety of two strategies for completing a previous incomplete colonoscopy: colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) and repeat conventional colonoscopy. The study included 192 CCE procedures and 181 repeat colonoscopies. The rate of appropriate colon examination with CCE was not significantly different from the cecal intubation rate of repeat colonoscopy. Both strategies were found to be effective and safe options for completing an incomplete colonoscopy. Factors such as patient preferences, comorbidities, costs, availability, and local expertise should guide the choice between the two options. [Extracted from the article]

Massive quiescent compact galaxies have been discovered at high redshifts, associated with rapid compaction and cessation of star formation (SF). In this work, we set out to quantify the time-scales in which SF is quenched in compact galaxies at intermediate redshifts. For this, we select a sample of green valley galaxies within the COSMOS field in the midst of quenching their SF at 0.5 < |$z$| < 1.0 that exhibit varying degrees of compactness. Based on the Hδ absorption line and the 4000 Å break of coadded zCOSMOS spectra for subsamples of normal-sized and compact galaxies we determine quenching time-scales as a function of compactness. We find that the SF quenching time-scales in green valley compact galaxies are much shorter than in normal-sized ones. In an effort to understand this trend, we use the Illustris simulation to trace the evolution of the SF history, the growth rate of the central super massive black hole (SMBH), and the AGN feedback in compact and normal-sized galaxies. We find that the difference in SF quenching time-scales is due to the mode of the AGN feedback. In the compact galaxies the kinematic-mode is dominant, being highly efficient at quenching the SF by depleting the internal gas. For normal-sized galaxies, the prevailing thermal-mode injects energy into the circumgalactic gas, preventing cold gas accretion and quenching SF via the slower strangulation mechanism. These results are consistent with the violent disc instability and gas-rich mergers scenarios, followed by strong AGN and stellar feedback. Although this kind of event is most expected to occur at |$z$|  = 2–3, we find evidences that the formation of compact quiescent galaxies can occur at |$z$| < 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent quest for more sustainable cement-based construction materials has triggered the pursuit of technically viable alternatives of cement, making reactive magnesium oxide (MgO) one of the least known top contenders to reduce this sector's environmental impact since it participates in the cement's hydration reactions and presents enhanced carbon capture ability during its life cycle. In this study, two different commercially available reactive MgO samples were evaluated as partial cement replacements (at 10%, 15%, and 20%, by weight) in the production of mortars. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, differential thermal analysis (DTA), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of cement, MgO samples, and resulting mortars were carried out. All specimens were evaluated in terms of their mechanical and durability-related performance (i.e., flexural and compressive strength, carbonation, water absorption by capillary action, and shrinkage). The main results suggest that, in spite of the decreased, albeit acceptable, performance with increasing incorporation of MgO as partial cement replacement, a significant decrease was observed in the shrinkage strain of cementitious materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We calculate the star formation quenching time-scales in green valley galaxies at intermediate redshifts (z~0.5-1) using stacked zCOSMOS spectra of different galaxy morphological types: spheroidal, disc-like, irregular and merger, dividing disc-like galaxies further into unbarred, weakly barred and strongly barred, assuming a simple exponentially decaying star formation history model and based on the Hδ absorption feature and the 4000 Å break. We find that different morphological types present different star formation quenching time-scales, reinforcing the idea that the galaxy morphology is strongly correlated with the physical processes responsible for quenching star formation. Our quantification of the star formation quenching time-scale indicates that discs have typical time-scales 60 per cent to five times longer than that of galaxies presenting spheroidal, irregular or merger morphologies. Barred galaxies, in particular, present the slowest transition time-scales through the green valley. This suggests that although secular evolution may ultimately lead to gas exhaustion in the host galaxy via bar-induced gas inflows that trigger star formation activity, secular agents are not major contributors in the rapid quenching of galaxies at these redshifts. Galaxy interaction, associated with the elliptical, irregular and merger morphologies, contributes, to a more significant degree, to the fast transition through the green valley at these redshifts. In light of previous works suggesting that both secular and merger processes are responsible for the star formation quenching at low redshifts, our results provide an explanation to the recent findings that star formation quenching happened at a faster pace at z ~ 0.8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The endophytic bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus produces exopolysaccharides (EPS) that are required for biofilm formation and colonization of rice seedlings. Here we investigated whether EPS produced by the G. diazotrophicus strain Pal5 protects the bacteria against free radicals. Methods: EPS-mediated protection of Pal5 cells against oxidative damage was evaluated by cell counting and fluorescence microscopy. Rice seedling inoculation studies were performed to investigate the antioxidant activity of EPS during plant colonization. The expression of three bacterial antioxidant genes during plant colonization was also monitored. Results: Free radical activities were reduced in vitro by the addition of Pal5 EPS. An EPS-defective Pal5 mutant was hypersensitive to HO and addition of purified EPS reversed this phenotype. Addition of EPS at the inoculation time increased colonization efficiency by the mutant strain and a similar effect was observed after addition of the antioxidant ascorbic acid. qPCR profiles of sodA, gor, and katE gene expression in the mutant confirmed the role of EPS during the initial plant colonization. Conclusions: Our results indicated that EPS produced by G. diazotrophicus protects the bacterial cells against oxidative stress in vitro and during colonization of rice plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of prosthetic treatment is to restore masticatory function. However, insufficient evidence supports the recommendation of one specific prosthetic intervention for partially edentulous patients. Function after the use of three different prostheses by the same partially edentulous subject. Mastication was assessed in 12 subjects (mean age 62·6 ± 7·8 years) after they had used removable partial dentures ( RPDs), implant-supported partial dentures ( IRPDs) and implant-fixed partial dentures ( IFPDs). Masticatory ability ( MA) was estimated by visual analogue scale questionnaire, while the mandibular chewing motion was evaluated by kinesiographic device, representing an objective measurement of masticatory function. Data were analysed by repeated-measures anova followed by Tukey- Kramer ( P < 0·05). MA improved after IRPD and IFPD use ( P < 0·05). Opening, closing and total cycle time duration were reduced after both IRPD and IFPD use ( P < 0·05), irrespectively the implant prosthesis type. IFPDs and IRPDs restore the masticatory function of partially edentulous patients better than RPDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of prosthetic treatment is to restore masticatory function. However, insufficient evidence supports the recommendation of one specific prosthetic intervention for partially edentulous patients. Function after the use of three different prostheses by the same partially edentulous subject. Mastication was assessed in 12 subjects (mean age 62·6 ± 7·8 years) after they had used removable partial dentures ( RPDs), implant-supported partial dentures ( IRPDs) and implant-fixed partial dentures ( IFPDs). Masticatory ability ( MA) was estimated by visual analogue scale questionnaire, while the mandibular chewing motion was evaluated by kinesiographic device, representing an objective measurement of masticatory function. Data were analysed by repeated-measures anova followed by Tukey- Kramer ( P < 0·05). MA improved after IRPD and IFPD use ( P < 0·05). Opening, closing and total cycle time duration were reduced after both IRPD and IFPD use ( P < 0·05), irrespectively the implant prosthesis type. IFPDs and IRPDs restore the masticatory function of partially edentulous patients better than RPDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial or complete edentulism impairs mastication. However, it is unclear how the chewing cycle is affected by prosthetics. We evaluated the chewing movements of patients fitted with complete ( CD) or removable partial denture ( RPD). A total of 29 subjects were kinesiographically evaluated during chewing of peanuts and Optocal portions in a random sequence. The subjects were divided into two groups according to prosthesis type. Group RPD was composed of 14 partially edentulous patients using a lower distal extension RPD (mean age 61 ± 8 years), and group CD contained 15 completely edentulous patients using CD (mean age 65·9 ± 7·9 years) in both jaws. Opening, closing, occlusal and masticatory cycle times, movement angle (opening and closing), maximum velocity (opening and closing), total area and chewing cycle amplitudes were evaluated. The results were subjected to anova and Tukey's HSD test at a significance level of 5%. The RPD group exhibited shorter opening and closing phases and masticatory cycle time ( P < 0·05). Maximum velocities were also higher in the RPD group, irrespective of the test material ( P < 0·05). The area and amplitude of the chewing envelope was smaller in the CD group ( P < 0·0001). The test material did not influence chewing cycles in any of the parameters evaluated ( P > 0·05). RPD wearers use a faster chewing sequence with greater vertical and lateral jaw excursions compared with CD wearers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent work, the authors show the mathematical structure behind both the Euler-Lagrange system and the set of conservation laws, in terms of the differential invariants of the group action and a moving frame. In this paper, the authors demonstrate that the knowledge of this structure allows to find the first integrals of the Euler-Lagrange equations, and subsequently, to solve by quadratures, variational problems that are invariant under the special Euclidean groups SE(2) and SE(3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noether's Theorem yields conservation laws for a Lagrangian with a variational symmetry group. The explicit formulae for the laws are well known and the symmetry group is known to act on the linear space generated by the conservation laws. The aim of this paper is to explain the mathematical structure of both the Euler-Lagrange system and the set of conservation laws, in terms of the differential invariants of the group action and a moving frame. For the examples, we demonstrate, knowledge of this structure allows the Euler-Lagrange equations to be integrated with relative ease. Our methods take advantage of recent advances in the theory of moving frames by Fels and Olver, and in the symbolic invariant calculus by Hubert. The results here generalize those appearing in Kogan and Olver [] and in Mansfield []. In particular, we show results for high-dimensional problems and classify those for the three inequivalent SL(2) actions in the plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of adding Lactobacillus acidophilus to a triple regimen for Helicobacter pylori eradication in untreated patients with peptic ulcers or ulcer-scars. This was a pre-randomized, single-blind, interventional, treatment-efficacy study with active controls and parallel-assignment, set in Coimbra, Portugal, on 62 consecutive H. pylori-positive untreated adults with peptic ulcers or ulcer-scars, diagnosed by gastroduodenoscopy, with pre-treatment direct Gram-staining and culture of gastric biopsies. The first 31 patients received esomeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg and clarithromycin 500 mg (EAC), all b.i.d., for 8 days. The remaining 31 added L. acidophilus, 5 × 10 organisms per capsule, 3 + 2 i.d. for 8 days (EACL). The main outcome measure was C urea breath test (UBT), ≥6 weeks after completion of therapy. Successful eradication (UBT-negativity after treatment), was similar in both groups (EAC = 80.6%; EACL = 83.9%, p = 0.740) by both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. The non-eradicated strains were susceptible in vitro to both antibiotics. Adding L. acidophilus to EAC triple therapy did not increase H. pylori eradication rates. Considering the cost and the burden of ingesting five extra capsules daily, supplementing the EAC therapy with L. acidophilus, at this dose, shows no benefit. Further studies with different dosages and duration of treatment, and other probiotics or probiotic combinations are required to improve eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This article concerns experimental research carried out in order to test the applicability of the hygroscopic moisture content (HMC) method to determine the salt content in lime-mortar and ceramic brick samples contaminated with nine distinct soluble salts (NaCl, KCl, Na2SO4, K2SO4, NaNO3, KNO3, Na2CO3, K2CO3 and CaSO4.2H2O). It was verified that the nature of the base-materials does not influence the results. For the salts with RHeq below the RH of the testing environment, excellent linear correlations between HMC and salt content were obtained. However, in the case of Na2SO4, several non-equilibrium situations occurred, indicating that the HMC method should not be “blindly” applied to samples contaminated with this salt. It was also shown that the use of deep narrow receptacles may delay the dissolution process but also that, with shallow receptacles, it may be more difficult to reach stabilization of the masses of samples due to the inevitable fluctuation of the climatic parameters in the climatic chamber. A complementary HMC experiment on NaCl and on Na2SO4 corroborates the thesis that states that mirabilite can not normally be formed by direct hydration of thenardite. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The hygroscopic moisture content (HMC) method for determining the salt content of salt-contaminated samples is described and discussed on a theoretical basis. It is shown that the method may allow either an absolute or a relative (quantitative or qualitative) measurement of the salt content, in the case of samples contaminated with salts of known or unknown thermodynamic properties. Possible criteria for detecting the appropriate end-moment of the test are discussed. It is demonstrated that the accuracy of the HMC method strongly depends on the capability of the climatic chamber for maintaining homogeneous and stable environmental conditions. Acceptability of the error associated to HMC measurements depends on the specific purposes of the test and, thus, requires a case-by-case evaluation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Glasgow Blatchford, preendoscopic Rockall and AIMS65 scores show no difference in predicting rebleeding rate and mortality in variceal bleeding" by I. Budimir and colleagues.

In this paper, mortar specimens were produced using two types of commercially-available reactive MgO as partial cement replacement (10%, 15% and 20%, by weight) and fine recycled concrete aggregate as siliceous sand substitute (50% and 100%, by volume). The specimens were subjected to thermogravimetric, energy dispersive X-ray, differential thermal and powder X-ray diffraction analyses. The mechanical and durability performance of all specimens was evaluated in terms of their flexural and compressive strength, dynamic modulus of elasticity, water absorption by capillary action, carbonation, and shrinkage. The main results indicate an overall decline in mechanical and durability-related performance with the use of both MgO and fine recycled concrete aggregates, but enhanced shrinkage behaviour was observed in all MgO-containing specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fornax galaxy cluster is the richest nearby (D ∼ 20 Mpc) galaxy association in the southern sky. As such, it provides a wealth of opportunities to elucidate on the processes where environment holds a key role in transforming galaxies. Although it has been the focus of many studies, Fornax has never been explored with contiguous homogeneous wide-field imaging in 12 photometric narrow and broad bands like those provided by the Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey (S-PLUS). In this paper, we present the S-PLUS Fornax Project (S+FP) that aims to comprehensively analyse the galaxy content of the Fornax cluster using S-PLUS. Our data set consists of 106 S-PLUS wide-field frames (FoV∼1.4 × 1.4 deg2) observed in five Sloan Digital Sky Survey-like ugriz broad bands and seven narrow bands covering specific spectroscopic features like [O  ii ], Ca  ii  H+K, Hδ, G band, Mg b triplet, Hα, and the Ca  ii triplet. Based on S-PLUS specific automated photometry, aimed at correctly detecting Fornax galaxies and globular clusters in S-PLUS images, our data set provides the community with catalogues containing homogeneous 12-band photometry for ∼3 × 106 resolved and unresolved objects within a region extending over ∼208 deg2 (∼5  R vir in RA) around Fornax' central galaxy, NGC 1399. We further explore the eagle and IllustrisTNG cosmological simulations to identify 45 Fornax-like clusters and generate mock images on all 12 S-PLUS bands of these structures down to galaxies with M ⋆ ≥ 108 M⊙. The S+FP data set we put forward in this first paper of a series will enable a variety of studies some of which are briefly presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the agreement and correlation between different endoscopic severity assessment tools for Crohn's disease (CD) and laboratory non-invasive parameters such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and fecal calprotectin (FC). The study included 312 ileocolonoscopies from 246 CD patients and found that the Simple Endoscopic Score for Crohn's Disease (SES-CD), Modified Multiplier SES-CD (MM-SES-CD), and Toronto Inflammatory Bowel Disease Global Endoscopic Reporting (TIGER) score had varying levels of agreement and correlation with CRP and FC. The authors conclude that while these endoscopic severity scores have moderate to strong agreement in assessing endoscopic activity, their correlation with laboratory non-invasive biomarkers is suboptimal. [Extracted from the article]

The morphological diversity of galaxies is a relevant probe of galaxy evolution and cosmological structure formation. However, in large sky surveys, even the morphological classification of galaxies into two classes, like late-type (LT) and early-type (ET), still represents a significant challenge. In this work, we present a Deep Learning (DL) based morphological catalogue built from images obtained by the Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey (S-PLUS) Data Release 3 (DR3). Our DL method achieves a purity rate of 98.5 per cent in accurately distinguishing between spiral, as part of the larger category of LT galaxies, and elliptical, belonging to ET galaxies. Additionally, we have implemented a secondary classifier that evaluates the quality of each galaxy stamp, which allows to select only high-quality images when studying properties of galaxies on the basis of their DL morphology. From our LT/ET catalogue of galaxies, we recover the expected colour–magnitude diagram in which LT galaxies display bluer colours than ET ones. Furthermore, we also investigate the clustering of galaxies based on their morphology, along with their relationship to the surrounding environment. As a result, we deliver a full morphological catalogue with 164 314 objects complete up to r petro < 18, covering ∼1800 deg2, from which ∼55 000 are classified as high reliability, including a significant area of the Southern hemisphere that was not covered by previous morphology catalogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is an increasingly used non-invasive tool to evaluate Crohn's disease (CD) activity. Recently, two IUS scores that evaluate inflammatory activity have emerged: the Simple Ultrasound Activity Score for CD (SUS-CD) and the International Bowel Ultrasound Segmental Activity Score (IBUS-SAS). We aimed to compare the accuracy of SUS-CD, IBUS-SAS and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in predicting inflammatory activity in the terminal ileum in ileocolonoscopy in CD patients. Methods: Retrospective study including all consecutive CD patients submitted to IUS with CEUS directed to the terminal ileum performed by a single operator between April 2016 and March 2020. Segmental SUS-CD and IBUS-SAS were calculated. A time-intensity curve of the contrast bowel wall enhancement was created with measurement of peak intensity using CEUS. The CD endoscopic activity in ileocolonoscopy was graded by Simple Endoscopic Score for CD (SES-CD) as inactive (SES-CD < 7) or active (SES-CD ≥ 7). Results: Fifty patients were included, 54.0% were female, with mean age of 34 ± 12 years, and most had isolated ileal disease (60.0%), and a nonstricturing, nonpenetrating behaviour (44.0%). Most of the patients (60.0%) had active endoscopic disease (SES-CD ≥ 7). SUS-CD and IBUS-SAS were not different between patients with active or inactive endoscopic disease (p = 0.15; 0.57, respectively), having a poor accuracy to correlate endoscopic activity (area under de curve (AUC) 0.62; 0.55, respectively). Peak intensity in CEUS was significantly different in patients with active or inactive endoscopic disease (p = 0.004), having a good accuracy to correlate endoscopic activity (AUC 0.80). Conclusion: Unlike CEUS, SUS-CD and IBUS-SAS were not able to accurately correlate endoscopic activity in terminal ileum in CD. Therefore, CEUS is a non-invasive emerging method that should be increasingly integrated in the ultrasonographic evaluation of CD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalypt species have high importance in the forestry sector in Brazil. The wood has wide range of uses, including pulp, charcoal, plywood panels and treated boards. However, eucalypt species are hard to identify in lumber, which can cause problems in industrial use. So, the aim of this study was to combine visible and near-infrared spectroscopy to discriminate wood samples of two Corymbia spp. and five Eucalyptus spp. Visible spectroscopy was performed according to the CIELab standard. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Near-infrared analyses were based on ASTM E1655-05. The data were analysed with the Unscrambler X chemometric program, in the raw form and after pre-processing with second derivative of Savitzky-Golay. Visible and near-infrared spectroscopy can be successfully applied to separate Eucalyptus and Corymbia species. In the visible spectroscopic analyses, it was possible to separate the wood samples into two colour groups, i.e. red/rose and grey/yellow/brown. In the near-infrared spectra it was possible to discriminate samples, and three groups associated with density of the species were formed. Both techniques were appropriate to distinguish species and their industrial use might solve practical problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a catalogue of 4499 groups and clusters of galaxies from the first data release of the multi-filter (5 broad, 7 narrow) Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey (S-PLUS). These groups and clusters are distributed over 273 deg2 in the Stripe 82 region. They are found using the PzWav algorithm, which identifies peaks in galaxy density maps that have been smoothed by a cluster scale difference-of-Gaussians kernel to isolate clusters and groups. Using a simulation-based mock catalogue, we estimate the purity and completeness of cluster detections: at S/N > 3.3, we define a catalogue that is 80 per cent pure and complete in the redshift range 0.1 < z < 0.4, for clusters with M200 > 1014 M⊙. We also assessed the accuracy of the catalogue in terms of central positions and redshifts, finding scatter of σR = 12 kpc and σz = 8.8 × 10−3, respectively. Moreover, less than 1 per cent of the sample suffers from fragmentation or overmerging. The S-PLUS cluster catalogue recovers ∼80 per cent of all known X-ray and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich selected clusters in this field. This fraction is very close to the estimated completeness, thus validating the mock data analysis and paving an efficient way to find new groups and clusters of galaxies using data from the ongoing S-PLUS project. When complete, S-PLUS will have surveyed 9300 deg2 of the sky, representing the widest uninterrupted areas with narrow-through-broad multi-band photometry for cluster follow-up studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a time in which mucosal vaccines development has been delayed by the lack of safe and effective mucosal adjuvants, the combination of adjuvants has started to be explored as a strategy to obtain potent vaccine formulations. This study describes a novel adjuvant combination as an effective approach for a nasal vaccine – the association of the mast cell activator compound 48/80 with chitosan based nanoparticles. It was hypothesized that mucoadhesive nanoparticles would promote the cellular uptake and prolong the antigen residence time on nasal cavity. Simultaneously, mast cell activation would promote a local microenvironment favorable to the development of an immune response. To test this hypothesis, two different C48/80 loaded nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared: Chitosan-C48/80 NP (Chi-C48/80 NP) and Chitosan/Alginate-C48/80 NP (Chi/Alg-C48/80 NP). The potential as a vaccine adjuvant of the two delivery systems was evaluated and directly compared. Both formulations had a mean size near 500 nm and a positive charge; however, Chi-C48/80 NP was a more effective adjuvant delivery system when compared with Chi/Alg-C48/80 NP or C48/80 alone. Chi-C48/80 NP activated mast cells at a greater extent, were better internalized by antigen presenting cells than Chi/Alg-C48/80 NP and successfully enhanced the nasal residence time of a model antigen. Superiority of Chi-C48/80 NP as adjuvant was also observed in vivo . Therefore, nasal immunization of mice with Bacillus anthracis protective antigen (PA) adsorbed on Chi-C48/80 NP elicited high levels of serum anti-PA neutralizing antibodies and a more balanced Th1/Th2 profile than C48/80 in solution or Chi/Alg-C48/80 NP. The incorporation of C48/80 within Chi NP also promoted a mucosal immunity greater than all the other adjuvanted groups tested, showing that the combination of a mast cell activator and chitosan NP could be a promising strategy for nasal immunization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intestinal ultrasound (IUS) is an increasingly used non-invasive tool to evaluate Crohn's disease (CD) activity. Recently, two IUS scores that evaluate inflammatory activity have emerged: the Simple Ultrasound Activity Score for CD (SUS-CD) and the International Bowel Ultrasound Segmental Activity Score (IBUS-SAS). We aimed to compare the accuracy of SUS-CD, IBUS-SAS and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in predicting inflammatory activity in the terminal ileum in ileocolonoscopy in CD patients.Methods: Retrospective study including all consecutive CD patients submitted to IUS with CEUS directed to the terminal ileum performed by a single operator between April 2016 and March 2020. Segmental SUS-CD and IBUS-SAS were calculated. A time-intensity curve of the contrast bowel wall enhancement was created with measurement of peak intensity using CEUS. The CD endoscopic activity in ileocolonoscopy was graded by Simple Endoscopic Score for CD (SES-CD) as inactive (SES-CD < 7) or active (SES-CD ≥ 7).Results: Fifty patients were included, 54.0% were female, with mean age of 34 ± 12 years, and most had isolated ileal disease (60.0%), and a nonstricturing, nonpenetrating behaviour (44.0%). Most of the patients (60.0%) had active endoscopic disease (SES-CD ≥ 7). SUS-CD and IBUS-SAS were not different between patients with active or inactive endoscopic disease (p = 0.15; 0.57, respectively), having a poor accuracy to correlate endoscopic activity (area under de curve (AUC) 0.62; 0.55, respectively). Peak intensity in CEUS was significantly different in patients with active or inactive endoscopic disease (p = 0.004), having a good accuracy to correlate endoscopic activity (AUC 0.80).Conclusion: Unlike CEUS, SUS-CD and IBUS-SAS were not able to accurately correlate endoscopic activity in terminal ileum in CD. Therefore, CEUS is a non-invasive emerging method that should be increasingly integrated in the ultrasonographic evaluation of CD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida krusei has been documented as an emerging pathogen causing nosocomial outbreaks. The consecutive isolation of C. krusei strains in three patients admitted to the same hospital department within 2 months lead us to consider the possibility of an outbreak. Additionally, C. krusei isolates were collected from the room surfaces, whereas another isolate had been recovered from the blood of one patient 2 years before. HinfI DNA restriction endonuclease-based analysis of all C. krusei isolates was performed and restriction profiles were compared. Surprisingly, isolates from different patients were unrelated, whereas isolates from biological products of the same patient showed indistinguishable HinfI restriction patterns and were similar to those obtained from the surrounding environment of the respective patients. The study approach revealed the endogenous origin of the C. krusei infectious episodes observed and demonstrated that, subsequent to colonizing a patient, C. krusei can be involved in infectious episodes distant in time. The hypothesis of an outbreak was excluded, although we believe that the methodology employed in the present study represents a valuable tool for diagnostic and epidemiological surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the journal Endoscopy, examines the incidence and risk factors for metachronous gastric lesions (MGL) after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of superficial gastric neoplasms (SGN). The study included 137 adult patients who underwent gastric ESD for SGN and had at least one follow-up upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The incidence of MGL was found to be 13.1% after a median follow-up duration of 9 months. Active smoking and intestinal metaplasia of the gastric corpus were identified as independent risk factors for the development of MGL. The authors suggest that identifying these risk factors can help tailor appropriate post-ESD endoscopic follow-up and optimize hospital resources. [Extracted from the article]

We present integral field spectroscopy observations of two star-forming dwarf galaxies in the Virgo cluster (VCC 135 and VCC 324) obtained with Potsdam Multi-Aperture Spectrograph/PPak at the Calar Alto 3.5 m telescope. We derive metallicity maps using the N2 empirical calibrator. The galaxies show positive gas metallicity gradients, contrarily to what is usually found in other dwarfs or spiral galaxies. We measure gradient slopes of 0.20 ± 0.06 and 0.15 ± 0.03 dex/ R e for VCC 135 and VCC 324, respectively. Such a trend has been only observed in few, very isolated galaxies or at higher redshifts (z > 1). It is thought to be associated with the accretion of metal-poor gas from the intergalactic medium, a mechanism that would be less likely to occur in a high-density environment like Virgo. We combine emission-line observations with deep optical images to investigate the origin of the peculiar metallicity gradient. The presence of weak underlying substructures in both galaxies and the analysis of morphological diagnostics and ionized gas kinematics suggest that the inflow of metal-poor gas to the central regions of the dwarfs may be related to a recent merging event with a gas-rich companion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The so-called ultraviolet (UV) upturn of elliptical galaxies is a phenomenon characterized by the up-rise of their fluxes in bluer wavelengths, typically in the 1200–2500 Å range. This work aims at estimating the rate of occurrence of the UV upturn over the entire red-sequence population of galaxies that show significant UV emission. This assessment is made considering it as function of three parameters: redshift, stellar mass, and – what may seem counter-intuitive at first – emission-line classification. We built a multiwavelength spectrophotometric catalogue from the Galaxy Mass Assembly survey, together with aperture-matched data from Galaxy Evolution Explorer Medium-Depth Imaging Survey (MIS) and Sloan Digital Sky Survey, covering the redshift range between 0.06 and 0.40. From this sample, we analyse the UV emission among UV bright galaxies, by selecting those that occupy the red-sequence locus in the (NUV − r) × (FUV − NUV) chart; then, we stratify the sample by their emission-line classes. To that end, we make use of emission-line diagnostic diagrams, focusing the analysis in retired/passive lineless galaxies. Then, a Bayesian logistic model was built to simultaneously deal with the effects of all galaxy properties (including emission-line classification or lack thereof). The main results show that retired/passive systems host an up-rise in the fraction of UV upturn for redshifts between 0.06 and 0.25, followed by an in-fall up to 0.35. Additionally, we show that the fraction of UV upturn hosts rises with increasing stellar mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the external validation of the REALISE score, a scoring system used to assess the efficacy of botulinum toxin injection (BT) in the treatment of chronic anal fissure (CAF). The study included adult patients who received BT for CAF, excluding those with inflammatory bowel disease. The REALISE score, which measures pain intensity, impact on quality of life, duration of anal pain, frequency of analgesic intake, and anal bleeding, was calculated before and after BT. The study found that BT is a valid and safe treatment option for CAF, with a 3-month fissure healing rate of 68%. The REALISE score was shown to be reliable in assessing the severity of anal fissures, and a post-BT REALISE cutoff of 5 accurately identified patients without fissure healing. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the impact of a structured capsule endoscopy (CE) training program on CE proficiency. The study included 57 participants who performed pretraining and posttraining assessments using the Capsule Endoscopy Training Assessment (CETA) tool. The results showed a significant improvement in participants' mean CETA score after training, with 87.7% of participants achieving the posttraining learning goal. The study also found that participants with previous experience in flexible endoscopic techniques and CE had higher pretraining scores but did not significantly differ in posttraining scores compared to those without experience. Overall, the study suggests that the CE training program was beneficial in improving CE proficiency, particularly for less experienced participants. [Extracted from the article]

The relationship between type 2 diabetes oral physiology, nutritional intake and quality of life has not been fully elucidated. We assessed the impact of type 2 diabetes - exclusive or associated with hypertension with beta-blockers treatment - on oral physiology, mastication, nutrition and quality of life. This cross-sectional study was performed with 78 complete dentate subjects (15 natural teeth and six masticatory units minimum; without removable or fixed prostheses), divided into three groups: diabetics ( DM) ( n = 20; 45·4 ± 9·5 years), diabetics with hypertension and receiving beta-blockers treatment ( DMH) ( n = 19; 41·1 ± 5·1 years) and controls ( n = 39; 44·5 ± 11·7 years) matched for gender, age and socioeconomic status. Blood glucose, masticatory performance, swallowing threshold, taste, food intake, stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow, pH and buffering capacity of saliva were assessed. Glycemia was higher in DM than in controls ( P < 0·01). No differences were observed between DM and controls for nutrition and quality of life. Both stimulated and unstimulated salivary flow rate were lower in DMH ( P < 0·01), which also presented the lowest number of teeth and masticatory units ( P < 0·0001), and reduction in the number of chewing cycles ( P < 0·01). Controls showed lower Decayed Missing Filled Teeth index ( DMFT) scores in comparison with DMH ( P = 0·021). Masticatory performance and saliva buffering capacity were similar among groups. Exclusive type 2 diabetes did not alter oral physiology, nutrition or quality of life. However, when hypertension and beta-blockers treatment were associated with diabetes, the salivary flow rate, chewing cycles and number of teeth decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systolic hypertension is associated with cognitive decline in the elderly. Altered blood pressure (BP) variability is a possible mechanism of reduced cognitive performance in elderly hypertensives. We hypothesized that altered beat-to-beat systolic BP variability is associated with reduced global cognitive performance in elderly hypertensive subjects. In exploratory analyses, we also studied the correlation between diverse discrete cognitive domains and indices of systolic BP and heart rate variability. Disproving our initial hypothesis, we have shown that hypertension and low education, but not indices of systolic BP and heart rate variability, were independent predictors of lower global cognitive performance. However, exploratory analyses showed that the systolic BP variability in semi-upright position was an independent predictor of matrix reasoning (B=0.08±.03, P-value=0.005), whereas heart rate variability in semi-upright position was an independent predictor of the executive function score (B=−6.36±2.55, P-value=0.02). We conclude that myogenic vascular and sympathetic modulation of systolic BP do not contribute to reduced global cognitive performance in treated hypertensive subjects. Nevertheless, our results suggest that both systolic BP and heart rate variability might be associated with modulation of frontal lobe cognitive domains, such as executive function and matrix reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The corrosion resistance of Ti and Ti–6Al–4V was investigated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, EIS, potentiodynamic polarisation curves and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The tests were done in Hank solution at 25°C and 37°C. The EIS measurements were done at the open circuit potential at specific immersion times. An increase of the resistance as a function of the immersion time was observed, for Ti (at 25°C and 37°C), and for Ti–6Al–4V (at 25°C), which was interpreted as the formation and growth of a passive film on the metallic surfaces. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the present report, we describe the first case of a phaeohyphomycotic brain abscess in a 5-year-old boy with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) admitted to hospital with seizures. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a cerebral abscess and the microbiology study showed a dark, melanin-pigmented fungus, exhibiting only sterile hyphae. This fungus was identified by the amplification and sequencing of the 5.8S RNA gene and of the adjacent internal transcriber spacer domains, ITS1 and ITS2, as Alternaria infectoria. Due to the impossibility of a surgical excision, and although several therapeutic strategies were attempted, the patient died. Limitations in the routine identification procedures and therapeutic options of this emerging opportunistic agent are highlighted in this report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of intracardiac echogenic foci (ICEF) and the association between ICEF and chromosomal and cardiac anomalies in Brazilian women. Methods: In a cross-sectional observational study, 373 of the 23,360 genetic sonograms performed at a private maternal–fetal medicine clinic over 5 years showed intracardiac echogenic foci (ICEF). These 373 sonograms were reviewed for chromosomal and cardiac anomalies and associations were analyzed using the χ 2 test or the Fisher exact test. P <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The prevalence of ICEF was 1.7%. Cardiac anomalies were detected in 10 sonograms (2.7%) and chromosomal anomalies in 14 (3.7%). There were cardiac defects in 6 (1.7%) of the 359 euploid fetuses with isolated ICEF. Of the 373 women who had fetuses with ICEF, 295 were younger than 35 years and 78 were 35 years or older. There were 6 fetuses (2.1%) with aneuploidy in the younger group and 8 (10.3%) in the older group. Conclusion: The prevalence of ICEF was 1.7%, and there was an association between cardiac and chromosomal anomalies. Women carrying fetuses with ICEF should be offered fetal echocardiography and karyotyping. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Progress, spread and natural transmission of Bahia bark scaling of citrus were evaluated in a trial where 240 screenhouse-nursed nucellar grapefruit plants –‘Clason’, ‘Little River Seedless’, ‘Red Blush’, ‘Reed’ and ‘Howell Seedless’ cvs – were planted alongside and 5 m apart from a 10-year-old symptomatic ‘Marsh Seedless’ grapefruit orchard. Plants were distributed in 16 rows of 15 trees, with three plants of each cultivar per row. Eight trial plants were kept in screen cages. Incidence of symptomatic plants was assessed at 3-months intervals, for 5 years, and for further 2 years at irregular intervals. Cumulative maps of disease incidence were produced for each assessment date and used in all analyses. Temporal progress was analysed by nonlinear fitting of three disease progress models. Spread was characterised in three levels of spatial hierarchy by the following analyses: ordinary runs, binomial dispersion index, binary power law fitting, isopath mapping and nonlinear fitting of disease gradient models. The first symptomatic plant was detected 2 years after planting. In the last disease assessment, 5 years after the first, 98% of the unprotected plants were symptomatic. None of the screen-caged trees showed any symptoms. Bahia bark scaling progress was polyetic and best described by the logistic model. Ordinary runs analysis showed little if any evidence of transmission between adjacent trees. Diseased plants showed a very aggregated pattern inside quadrats ( D > 5 and b > 1.53). Isopath mapping showed that main spread was only because of the primary inoculum source. Secondary foci were also observed, but they were never dissociated from main initial disease focus. Disease gradient followed wind direction, starting near the original inoculum source and was best described by exponential model. These results support a hypothesis of Bahia bark scaling transmission by air-borne vectors with limited dispersion ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PKC1 gene in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes protein kinase C that is known to control a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade consisting of Bck1, Mkk1 and Mkk2, and Mpk1. This cascade affects the cell wall integrity but the phenotype of Pkc1 mutants suggests additional targets which have not yet been identified. We show that a pkc1Δ mutant, as opposed to mutants in the MAP kinase cascade, displays two major defects in the control of carbon metabolism. It shows a delay in the initiation of fermentation upon addition of glucose and a defect in derepression of SUC2 gene after exhaustion of glucose from the medium. After addition of glucose the production of both ethanol and glycerol started very slowly. The Vmax of glucose transport dropped considerably and Northern blot analysis showed that induction of the HXT1, HXT2 and HXT4 genes was strongly reduced. Growth of the pkc1Δ mutant was absent on glycerol and poor on galactose and raffinose. Oxygen uptake was barely present. Derepression of invertase activity and SUC2 transcription upon transfer of cells from glucose to raffinose was deficient in the pkc1Δ mutant as opposed to the wild-type. Our results suggest an involvement of Pkc1p in the control of carbon metabolism which is not shared by the downstream MAP kinase cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prospective cross-sectional study was developed in order to determine the reproducibility of the measurement of the umbilical cord cross-sectional area (UCCSA) during normal pregnancies (patients with known dates of LMP and an ultrasound examination before the 20th week, without any pathologic condition), measured by different and trained examiners. The measurements of the umbilical cord cross-sectional area were obtained in a plane adjacent to the insertion of the cord abdomen, as proposed by Raio et al. 1999, after the different examiners were trained by the author. The inclusion criteria were: (1) singleton pregnancy; (2) gestation age >20 weeks; (3) intact membranes (4) normal umbilical Doppler flow velocimetry. The exclusion criteria, in the presence of any of those were: (1) congenital and/or chromosomal abnormalities; (2) pregnancy complications (any type); (3) inadequate size for gestational age with when the examination was performed, i.e. the weight below the 10th percentile or above the 90th; (4) abnormal AFI for the gestational age. The patients were examined and included only once. During the period of the study (February 2000–May 2001), 545 patients were examined, after meeting the inclusion criteria determined for the present study. The age of the patients ranged from 15 to 42 years (mean = 26.7 ± 4.8), 242 patients (44.4%) had two gestations, 135 patients (28.1%) were at their first gestation, 129 patients (23.7%) were at their third gestation and 39 patients had four or more gestations (3.8%). The ultrasound machine used was the Synergy Multi Sync M 500. The statistical program used was the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The first examiner collected 22% of the data, the second examiner collected 45% of the data, the third examiner collected 24% of the data and the fourth one collected 9% of the data. According to the analysis of variance (anova), we performed, comparing the data obtained by the different examiners,... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A prospective cross-sectional study was developed in order to determine reference ranges for the umbilical cord cross-sectional area (UCCSA) during normal pregnancies (patients with known dates of LMP and an ultrasound examination before the 20th week, without any pathologic condition). The measurements of the UCCSA were obtained in a plane adjacent to the insertion of the cord abdomen, as proposed by Raio et al, 1999. The inclusion criteria were: (1) singleton pregnancy, (2) gestation age >20 weeks, (3) intact membranes, (4) normal umbilical Doppler flow velocimetry. The exclusion criteria, in the presence of any of those, were: (1) congenital and/or chromosomal abnormalities; (2) pregnancy complications (any type); (3) inadequate size for gestational age when the examination was performed, i.e. the weight below the 10th percentile or above the 90th; (4) abnormal AFI for the gestational age. The patients were examined and included only once. During the period of the study (February 2000–May 2001), 545 patients were examined, after meeting the inclusion criteria determined for the present study. The age of the patients ranged from 15 to 42 years (mean = 26.7 ± 4.8), 242 patients (44.4%) had two gestations, 135 patients (28.1%) were at their first gestation, 129 patients (23.7%) were at their third gestation and 39 patients had four or more gestations (3.8%). The ultrasound machine used was the Synergy Multi Sync M 500 and the statistical analysis was performed by the program called Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Our data were considered normally by the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and then we figured the nomogram by linear regression analysis. The analysis of variance obtained through the F-test (value = 356.27) showed that our regression model was significant at the level of P < 0.001, showing that the curve represented well the studied population and that the confidence interval (95%) contained the real value of the UCCSA. The... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]