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Summary Preantral to early antral follicles transition is a complex process regulated by endocrine and paracrine factors, as well as by a precise interaction among oocyte, granulosa cells and theca cells. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate this step of folliculogenesis is important to improve in vitro culture systems, and opens new perspectives to use oocytes from preantral follicles for assisted reproductive technologies. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the endocrine and paracrine mechanisms that control granulosa cell proliferation and differentiation, formation of the antral cavity, estradiol production, atresia, and follicular fluid production during the transition from preantral to early antral follicles. The strategies that promote in vitro growth of preantral follicles are also discussed.

Os mármores são rochas metamórficas de natureza calcária, em razão a problemas ambiental, surge a ideia do aproveitamento deste resíduo como catalisador na produção do biodiesel após ativação térmica quanto a capacidade de produção de biodiesel metílico a partir do óleo de soja via FTIR e HPLC/UV. O resíduo do pó de mármore foi obtido na Di Ponta Marmoraria (Teresópolis-RJ). Os resultados permitem concluir que o pó de mármore é eficaz para a produção do biodiesel de óleo de soja quando seco a 900°C, sendo possível o redirecionamento do resíduo de marmoraria para produção de biodiesel.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has had no mortality-improving pharmacological intervention despite 50 years of high-caliber research due to its heterogeneity (Huppert LA, Matthay MA, Ware LB. Semin Respir Crit Care Med 40: 31–39, 2019). For the field to advance, better definitions for ARDS subgroups that more uniformly respond to therapies are needed (Bos LDJ, Scicluna BP, Ong DSY, Cremer O, van der Poll T, Schultz MJ. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 200: 42–50, 2019; Dickson RP, Schultz MJ, T van der P, Schouten LR, Falkowski NR, Luth JE, Sjoding MW, Brown CA, Chanderraj R, Huffnagle GB, Bos LDJ, Biomarker Analysis in Septic ICU Patients (BASIC) Consortium. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 201: 555–563, 2020; Sinha P, Calfee CS. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 200: 4–6, 2019; Calfee CS, Delucchi K, Parsons PE, Thompson BT, Ware LB, Matthay MA, NHLBI ARDS Network. Lancet Respir Med 2: 611–620, 2014; Hendrickson CM, Matthay MA. Pulm Circ 8: 1–12, 2018). A plethora of high-quality clinical research has uncovered the next generation of soluble biomarkers that provide the predictive enrichment necessary for trial recruitment; however, plasma-soluble markers do not specify the damaged organ of origin nor do they provide insight into disease mechanisms. In this perspective, we make the case for querying the transcriptome of circulating endothelial cells (CECs), which when shed from vessels after inflammatory insult, become heralds of site-specific inflammatory damage. We review the application of CEC quantification to multiple disease phenotypes (including myocardial infarction, vasculitides, cancer, and ARDS), in each case supporting the association of CEC number with disease severity. We also argue for the utility of single-cell RNA transcriptomics to the understanding of cell-specific contributions to disease pathophysiology and its potential to uncover novel insight on signals contributing to CEC shedding in ARDS.

Context An obligate biotrophic parasitism with a rust fungus led to gall formation on Byrsonima variabilis. Aims The hypothesis that the host leaf–rust fungi interaction alters the dynamics of plant cell walls and the histochemical profile toward favouring the plant cell-to-fungi cell translocation of metabolites is tested. Methods Gall samples were sectioned and submitted to anatomical, histometric, histochemical, and immunocytochemical techniques to evaluate structural alterations and the detection of primary and secondary metabolites, as well as the epitopes of glycoproteins, pectins, and hemicelluloses. Key results Fungi gall development results in the hypertrophy of the stomatal chamber and the hyperplasia of epidermis and spongy parenchyma. The cell-to-cell translocation of metabolites from plant mesophyll cells toward the rust fungi gall is favoured by the epitopes of homogalacturonans (HGs) and (1 → 5) α-l-arabinans detected in the hyphae passage sites in the pycnial and aecial stages. The arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) may favour mycelial nutrition and differentiation, and cell wall adhesion. HGs and arabinans confer porosity to mesophyll cell walls, which favours the traffic of molecules toward the rust fungi gall. Conclusions The unexpected labelling of AGPs, HGs, and arabinans in fungi cell walls is a novelty regarding the plant–fungi interaction. The primary metabolites detected in rust fungi support hyphae growth and spore maturation. Implications The immunolabelling of host plant cell wall components on fungi cell walls indicates the integrative role of some plant cell wall components in the biological process of pathogen colonisation in leaf tissues.

Natural transformation, the process whereby a cell acquires DNA directly from the environment, is an important driver of evolution in microbial populations, yet the mechanism of DNA uptake is only characterized in bacteria. To expand our understanding of natural transformation in archaea, we undertook a genetic approach to identify a catalog of genes necessary for transformation in Methanococcus maripaludis. Using an optimized method to generate random transposon mutants, we screened 6144 mutant strains for defects in natural transformation and identified 25 transformation-associated candidate genes. Among these are genes encoding components of the type IV-like pilus, transcription/translation associated genes, genes encoding putative membrane bound transport proteins, and genes of unknown function. Interestingly, similar genes were identified regardless of whether replicating or integrating plasmids were provided as a substrate for transformation. Using allelic replacement mutagenesis, we confirmed that several genes identified in these screens are essential for transformation. Finally, we identified a homolog of a membrane bound substrate transporter in Methanoculleus thermophilus and verified its importance for transformation using allelic replacement mutagenesis, suggesting a conserved mechanism for DNA transfer in multiple archaea. These data represent an initial characterization of the genes important for transformation which will inform efforts to understand gene flow in natural populations. Additionally, knowledge of the genes necessary for natural transformation may assist in identifying signatures of transformation machinery in archaeal genomes and aid the establishment of new model genetic systems for studying archaea.

O parkinsonismo é um distúrbio do sistema nervoso de maior incidência masculina do que feminina, visto que, por mecanismos fisiológicos, o estrogênio possui efeitos neuroprotetores, com funções como aumento da dopamina, um neurotransmissor essencial para o controle das funções motoras. Além disso, previne a formação dos corpúsculos de Lewy e da agregação da α-sinucleína, responsáveis pela progressão da Doença de Parkinson. Por isso, a doença se apresenta diferentemente nas mulheres. A remoção cirúrgica de ambos os ovários em mulheres na pré-menopausa para a prevenção do câncer de ovário parece favorecer o surgimento da doença, tendo em vista a perda da produção do hormônio protetor. Assim, o objetivo do estudo é analisar a associação entre a ooforectomia bilateral precoce e o desenvolvimento de parkinsonismo e Doença de Parkinson em mulheres na pré-menopausa. Trata-se de uma revisão bibliográfica sistemática, do tipo quantitativa, que utilizou as plataformas do PubMed, SciELO e Cochrane Library como bases de dados para seleção dos artigos, todos na língua inglesa. Foram utilizadas literaturas publicadas com recorte temporal de 2017 a 2022. De acordo com as literaturas analisadas, a ooforectomia bilateral precoce em mulheres na pré-menopausa aumenta o risco do desenvolvimento de parkinsonismo. Desse modo, a diminuição dos procedimentos cirúrgicos profiláticos para câncer de ovário nas pacientes com risco médio de malignidade reduziria o risco dessa condição.

The milk production is strongly influenced by the dairy cow welfare related to a good nutrition and the analysis of the digestibility of feeds allows us to evaluate the health status of the animals. Through faeces’ visual examination it is possible to estimate the quality of diet fed in terms of lacking in fibre or too high in non-structural carbohydrates. The study was carried out in 2021, on four dairy farms in central Italy. The purpose of this work is the classification and evaluation of dairy cow faeces using RGB image analysis through an artificial intelligence (AI) (convolutional neural network (CNN)) algorithm. The main features to analyse are pH, colour and consistency. For the latter two RGB imaging was combined with deep learning and AI to reach objectivity in samples’ evaluation. The images have been captured with several smartphones and cameras, under various light conditions, collecting a data set of 441 images. Images acquired by RGB cameras are then analysed through CNN technology that extracts features and data previously standardized by a faecal score index assigned after a visual analysis and based on five classes. The results achieved with different training strategies show a training accuracy of 90% and a validation accuracy of 78% of the model which allow us to identify problems in bovine digestion and to intervene promptly in feed variation. The method used in this study eliminates subjectivity in field analysis and allows future improvement of increasing the data set to strengthen the model.

Manuscript type: Research paper Research aims: India has recently joined the accounting revolution by implementing the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) through the convergence mode. This paper aims to examine the value relevance of Indian accounting information by finding an association between stock returns and the levels of earnings and changes in earnings. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study follows both relative and incremental association approaches to investigate changes in the value relevance of accounting information prepared using the IFRS converged Indian Accounting Standards (Ind-AS), while also examining the impact of their voluntary use. The study employs the Easton and Harris (1991) model on accounting data collected from 2012-13 to 2019-20. The panel data of 7,064 firm-year observations covers 883 firms listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and uses relevant econometric tests and multivariate panel regressions to test the hypotheses. Research findings: The findings reveal a decline in the returns value relevance following both mandatory and voluntary IFRS convergence. Theoretical contribution/Originality: The study is the first to document the changes in value relevance based on stock returns since the IFRS convergence process began in India. Practitioner/Policy implication: This line of research is significant in Indian capital markets to unravel the effects of the new standards on accounting as well as stock market variables. It has managerial implications for firm and standard-setters. Research limitation: The value relevance results are based on the returns model alone and the study does not analyse the price model.

The rock river frog Thoropa miliaris (Cycloramphidae) is a saxicolous species endemic to the Atlantic Forest. There is scarce literature on potential predators of this species, which is likely related to the difficulty of recording its predatory interactions. In this paper, we report opportunistic records of predation on T. miliaris by the snake Chironius laevicollis (Colubridae), spiders of the genus Ctenus (Ctenidae), and the bird Furnarius rufus (Furnariidae). In addition, we compiled the reports of predation on T. miliaris from current published data.

International studies have recorded evidences of improved accounting information attributed to the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The concurrent literature is however, scant in India. This study is one of the first of its kind to explore value relevance in the context of financial reporting for a large sample in India since IFRS convergence. The paper examines the value relevance of financial reporting of firms listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in India by employing the Ohlson, (1995) Price Model. It aims to identify whether fundamental accounting variables like book value per share (BVPS) and earnings per share (EPS) are more value relevant after the IFRS converged Indian Accounting Standards (IndAS) became mandatory for listed firms. The hypotheses are tested using multivariate panel regressions on the annual data of 910 listed firms from 2013-14 to 2018-19 – resulting in 5460 observations – to include the pre and post mandatory convergence periods. The study documents a statistically significant association between stock prices of our sample firms and their key accounting variables (BVPS and EPS) along with an increase in the explanatory power of the model during the post mandatory convergence period.

The inverse-scattering imaging condition (ISIC) for reverse time migration (RTM) aims at recovering amplitudes proportional to seismic reflectivity. It has been derived as the high-frequency asymptotic inverse of Born modeling, which justifies its being called a true-amplitude imaging condition. It involves the temporal and spatial derivatives of the up- and downgoing wavefields, in this way generalizing the conventional crosscorrelation imaging condition. The temporal derivations can be redistributed between different wavefield contributions, in this way deriving a set of different implementational forms of the ISIC. By making use of the wave equation for the up- and downgoing wavefields, one can substitute the time derivatives by the Laplacian operator. This provides a theoretical foundation for a popular filter for reducing the backscattering artifacts in RTM. Using Born data from a simple three-layer model and the Marmousi II model as well as the Sigsbee2b data, we have determined that the theoretical equivalence of the equations leads to similar but not identical images. Our numerical tests indicate that the ISIC versions using spatial derivatives are the most economical approach, and that the images obtained with the second time derivative of the source wavefield indicate slightly improved resolution over the other implementations, making the combination of these two characteristics the best choice.

Delimiting salt inclusions from migrated images is a time-consuming activity that relies on highly human-curated analysis and is subject to interpretation errors or limitations of the methods available. We propose to use migrated images produced from an inaccurate velocity model (with a reasonable approximation of sediment velocity, but without salt inclusions) to predict the correct salt inclusions shape using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Our approach relies on subsurface Common Image Gathers to focus the sediments' reflections around the zero offset and to spread the energy of salt reflections over large offsets. Using synthetic data, we trained a U-Net to use common-offset subsurface images as input channels for the CNN and the correct salt-masks as network output. The network learned to predict the salt inclusions masks with high accuracy; moreover, it also performed well when applied to synthetic benchmark data sets that were not previously introduced. Our training process tuned the U-Net to successfully learn the shape of complex salt bodies from partially focused subsurface offset images., Comment: Manuscript published at Geophysics

This article presents the validation of a non-linear FE numerical model of a multi-span stone arch railway bridge based on experimental tests and under in-service freight trains. Static loading tests allow evaluating the bridge response in terms of vertical displacements in the arches, opening/closure deformations on specific block joints of the arches, and vertical compressive stress variations in the piers. The bridge FE model is developed by combining the potentialities of a global continuous homogeneous model, based on FEM and Drucker-Prager model, and a local modelling approach based on a dedicated non-linear contact model. The freight vehicle modelling is based on a flexible FE approach, and the validation of the dynamic behaviour of the train-bridge system involved the comparison between numerical and experimental responses. All the numerical responses are in very good agreement with the experimental responses. Finally, a simulation of the dynamic behaviour of the train-bridge system is performed for realistic scenarios of freight traffic considering speeds between 40 and 140 km/h.

Rammed earth construction is spread worldwide in new buildings and also as architectural heritage, representing a cultural identity that must be preserved. However, rammed earth heritage is also well known for its high seismic vulnerability and despite the increasing concern for this aspect, few experimental investigations were conducted so far on the seismic response of such structures due to the high required costs and complexity of the tests. Shake table tests are the most adequate to investigate the performance of a building; indeed, besides allowing direct observations, seismic tests consent to calibrate numerical models that can be later used to investigate the sensitivity of the structure to various parameters. In this framework, an experimental program was undertaken on a rammed earth mockup by means of shake table tests carried out at the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering (LNEC) in Lisbon. To investigate the out-of-plane behaviour of rammed earth walls, the mockup was built in full scale with a U-shape plan and then was subjected to a series of seismic inputs with increasing magnitude. The results are here discussed in terms of crack pattern, damage detection, peak displacements, base shear coefficient, hysteretic curve, and dissipated energy against ground motion parameters, such as peak ground values, cumulative absolute velocity (CAV), arias intensity (AI), input energy (IE), and specific energy density (SED). In conclusion, the model responded as a rigid block to earthquake simulations, and linear and quadratic correlations were found between the performance of the mockup and various of the seismic input parameters., This work was partly financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC) under the ISISE Research Unit, reference UIDB/04029/2020, and by project PTDC/ECM-EST/2777/2014 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016737). The support from grant SFRH/BD/131006/2017 is kindly acknowledged. Thanks are also due to the Laboratory of Structures (LEST) of the University of Minho and to the companies JoAo Bernardino, Lda. and TERRACRUA-Construcoes Ecologicas Unipessoal, Lda for building the rammed earth model.

The accurate and fast estimation of velocity models is crucial in seismic imaging. Conventional methods, like Tomography and Full-Waveform Inversion (FWI), obtain appropriate velocity models; however, they require intense and specialized human supervision and consume much time and computational resources. In recent years, some works investigated deep learning(DL) algorithms to obtain the velocity model directly from shots or migrated angle panels, obtaining encouraging predictions of synthetic models. This paper proposes a new flow to increase the complexity of velocity models recovered with DL. Inspired by the conventional geophysical velocity model building methods, instead of predicting the entire model in one step, we predict the velocity model iteratively. We implement the iterative nature of the process when, for each iteration, we train the DL algorithm to determine the velocity model with a certain level of precision/resolution for the next iteration; we name this process as Deep-Tomography. Starting from an initial model that roughly approaches the true model, the Deep-Tomography is able to predict an appropriate final model, even in complete unseen data, like the Marmousi model., Comment: 27 pages, 9 figures. First manuscript version submitted to Geophysical Journal International in February 2022

SummaryThis study aims to evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on bovine oocyte maturation, mitochondrial activity and transzonal projections (TZP), as well as on the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and messenger RNA (mRNA) for catalase (CAT) superoxide dismutase (SOD), periredoxin-6 (Prdx6), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), growth and differentiation factor-9 (GDF9), histone H1Foo, cyclin B1 (CCNB1) and c-Mos. Bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COC) of medium-sized antral follicles (3.0–6.0 mm) were prematured in TCM-199 for 8 h at 38.5°C in 5% CO2. After prematuration in the presence of forskolin and C-type natriuretic peptide, COCs were matured in TCM-199 alone or with 0.1, 0.5 or 2.5 mM NAC. Then, oocytes were classified according to the stage of chromatin. Furthermore, mitochondrial activity and intracellular levels of ROS and TZP were also evaluated. The levels of mRNAs for CAT, SOD, Prdx6, GPx, GDF9, H1Foo, CCNB1 and c-Mos were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that NAC significantly increased the percentages of oocytes with resumption of meiosis when compared with those oocytes matured in control medium. Oocytes had homogeneous mitochondrial distribution, and those cultured with 0.1 and 0.5 mM NAC had lower levels of ROS when compared with the control. In addition, 0.5 mM NAC reduced TZP and the levels of mRNA for CCNB1. In contrast, NAC did not influence the expression of CAT, GPx, Prdx6, SOD, GDF9, H1Foo, and c-Mos. In conclusion, 0.5 mM NAC reduced the levels of ROS, TZP and mRNA for CCNB1, and improved in vitro resumption of meiosis in oocytes from medium-sized bovine antral follicles.

This paper presents a new method for allocating transmission system costs in hydro prevailing energy markets. The proposed approach is based on nodal pricing, and it considers multiple hydrological scenarios obtained from optimized energy models. These models are much closer to the operational reality of hydro dominant systems and more adequate to the transmission operation planning. The nodal pricing strategy comprises two steps to recover the total costs of the transmission system. The first one calculates the charges corresponding to the utilized network capacity, estimated at a specified operating condition, and it brings the locational signal to the tariff. In the second step, the charges related to the transmission capacity available but not used in the system are assessed by a postage stamp. This latter step accomplishes the task of recovering the total transmission charges and defining the final tariff for specific operating dispatching. On the other hand, the optimized energy models, based on stochastic dual dynamic programming, are used to minimize the operating costs while penalizing possible energy spillages. These models create monthly sequences of hydrothermal coordinated generating scenarios and dispatching conditions, which are used by the nodal pricing strategy to produce the generation/load charges and tariffs and the corresponding statistics. The proposed method, combining the nodal pricing strategy and the optimized energy model, is applied to a Brazilian network configuration and the results are fully discussed. Moreover, probabilistic analyses are also performed to describe the annual costs of transmission of thermoelectric and hydroelectric plants and industrial electrointensive consumers installed in different areas of the network.

Studying species interactions in nature often requires elaborated logistics and intense fieldwork. The difficulties in such task might hinder our ability to answer questions on how biotic interactions change with the environment. Fortunately, a workaround to this problem lies within scientific collections. For some animals, the inspection of preserved specimens can reveal the scars of past antagonistic encounters, such as predation attempts. A common defensive behaviour that leaves scars on animals is autotomy, the loss of a body appendage to escape predation. By knowing the collection site of preserved specimens, it is possible to assess the influence of organismal biology and the surrounding environment in the occurrence of autotomy. We gathered data on tail loss for 8189 preserved specimens of 33 snake and 11 amphisbaenian species to investigate biological and environmental correlates of autotomy in reptiles. We applied generalized linear mixed effect models to evaluate whether body size, sex, life-stage, habitat use, activity pattern, biome, tropicality, temperature and precipitation affect the probability of tail loss in limbless reptiles. We observed autotomy in 23.6% of examined specimens, with 18.7% of amphisbaenian and 33.4% of snake specimens showing tail loss. The probability of tail loss did not differ between snakes and amphisbaenians, but it was higher among large-sized specimens, particularly in adults and females. Chance of tail loss was higher for diurnal and arboreal species, and among specimens collected in warmer regions, but it was unaffected by biome, precipitation, and tropicality. Autotomy in limbless reptiles was affected by size-dependent factors that interplay with ontogeny and sexual dimorphism, although size-independent effects of life-stage and sex also shaped behavioural responses to predators. The increase in probability of tail loss with verticality and diurnality suggests a risk-balance mechanism between species habitat use and activity pattern. Although autotomy is more likely in warmer regions, it seems unrelated to seasonal differences in snakes and amphisbaenians activity. Our findings reveal several processes related to predator-prey interactions involving limbless reptiles, demonstrating the importance of scientific collections to unveil ecological mechanisms at different spatio-temporal scales.

Summary Full-Waveform Inversion (FWI) is the current standard method to determine final and detailed model parameters to be used in the seismic imaging process. However, FWI is an ill-posed problem that easily achieves a local minimum, leading the model solution in the wrong direction. Recently, some works proposed integrating FWI with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). In this case, the CNN weights are updated following the FWI gradient, defining the process as a Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN). FWI integrated with CNN has an important advantage. The CNN stabilizes the inversion, acting like a regularizer, avoiding local minima-related problems and sparing an initial velocity model in some cases. However, such a process, especially when not requiring an initial model, is computationally expensive due to the high number of iterations required until the convergence. In this work, we propose an approach which relies on combining supervised learning and physics-informed by using a previously trained CNN to start the DL-FWI inversion. Loading the pre-trained weights configures transfer learning. The pre-trained CNN is obtained using a supervised approach based on training with a reduced and simple data set to capture the main velocity trend at the initial FWI iterations. The proposed training process is different from the initial works on the area which obtained the velocity model from the shots in supervised learning tasks, and that required a large amount of labelled data to ensure reasonable model predictions. We investigated in our approach two CNN architectures, obtaining more robust results and a reduced number of parameters when using a modified U-Net. The method was probed over three benchmark models, showing consistently that the pre-training phase reduces the process’s uncertainties and accelerates the model convergence using minimal prior information. Besides, the final scores of the iterative process are better than the examples without transfer learning. Thus, transfer learning solved one main limitation of the previous PINN approaches: the unfeasible number of iterations when not using an initial model. Moreover, we tested the method using data with low-frequency band limitations, since the lack of low frequencies is a common issue within real seismic data. The inversion converges to reasonable results probing the method’s robustness with restricted frequency content.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of concentrate levels (CL) (45 to 90% on a dry matter basis) on the abundance of some species of cultured-rumen bacterial, protozoa, and Archaea in four rumen-fitted Nellore cattle. Species-designated primers were used to quantify rumen bacteria, while group and Domain-specific primers were used to quantify protozoa and Archaea by qPCR. CL caused a tendency of quadratic effect (p = 0.067) in the abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes, while the abundance of Ruminococcus albus (p = 0.003) and Selenomans ruminantium (p = 0.006) presented a linear increase according to CL. Prevotella ruminicola abundance was quadratically affected by CL (p = 0.005), and Streptococcus bovis demonstrated a tendency of linear decrease (p = 0.076). There was no effect of CL in the abundance of Archaea (p = 0.248), but there was a quadratic effect in the abundance of protozoa (p = 0.033). The increase in CL from 45 to 90% for feedlot cattle promoted significant changes in the abundance of some species of bacteria and protozoa. However, these changes were more abrupt than reported in the literature because the changes in the diets were made progressively. Thus, a progressive increase in CL seems to cause few disturbances in the abundance of cultured rumen bacteria.

Methanogens are essential for the complete remineralization of organic matter in anoxic environments. Most cultured methanogens are hydrogenotrophic, using H2as an electron donor to reduce CO2to CH4, but in the absence of H2many can also use formate. Formate dehydrogenase (Fdh) is essential for formate oxidation, where it transfers electrons for reduction of coenzyme F420or to a flavin-based electron bifurcating reaction catalyzed by heterodisulfide reductase (Hdr), the terminal reaction of methanogenesis. How these competing reactions are coordinated is unknown. Furthermore, methanogens that use formate encode at least two isoforms of Fdh in their genomes, but how these different isoforms participate in methanogenesis is also unknown. UsingMethanococcus maripaludis, we undertook a biochemical characterization of both Fdh isoforms involved in methanogenesis. Both Fdh1 and Fdh2 interacted with Hdr to catalyze the flavin-based electron bifurcating reaction, and both reduced F420at similar rates. F420reduction preceded flavin-based electron bifurcation activity for both enzymes. In a Δfdh1mutant background, a suppressor mutation was required for Fdh2 activity. Genome sequencing revealed that this mutation resulted in loss of a specific molybdopterin transferase (moeA), allowing for Fdh2-dependent growth. This suggests that both isoforms of Fdh are functionally redundant, but their activitiesin vivomay be limited by gene regulation under different growth conditions. Together these results expand our understanding of formate oxidation and the role of Fdh in methanogenesis.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Elderly people represent a vulnerable but increasing population presenting to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The benefit of revascularization in acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is well-stablished. However, the benefit in elderly patients has been questioned, considering the patient’s expected survival, functional and cognitive status, comorbidities, procedure’s risk and need for extended anti-thrombotic therapy. Purpose To evaluate the effect of PCI on the prognosis of a group of very old patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods We retrospectively analyzed all consecutive very old patients (≥90-year-old) admitted with ACS submitted to coronarography (CA) in one tertiary center, from January 2008 to December 2021. Clinical features were collected, including major adverse cardiac events (MACE), a defined composite endpoint of all-cause death, ischemic stroke, ACS, or hospitalization for acute heart failure, which were compared according if PCI was performed or not. Q-square, Cox regression and Log-rank tests were applied. Results A total of 79 patients were enrolled; 43 of them underwent PCI. Groups were comparable in basal characteristics, with similar median age at the event (92 years old, interquartile range IQR: 3), see picture 1. Most patients with ST-elevation (STE) ACS (n=45) had PCI (70% vs. 41%, p= 0,01), while in non ST-elevation (NSTE) ACS and unstable angina there was higher proportion of non-PCI (30% vs. 58%, p= 0,01). Individuals submitted to PCI were more likely to have single or double lesion vessel (76% vs 27%, p During median follow-up time of 6 months (IQR: 27), mortality was similar in both groups (79% vs 67%; p=0.1). Nevertheless, overall MACE-free survival was significantly longer in PCI group than in the no-PCI group, and PCI treated patients had a risk of MACE 52% lower than the patients assigned to medical therapy (hazard ratio 0.508, p=0.007); see picture 2. Conclusion Very old patients presenting with ACS treated with either PCI presented longer MACE-free survival. These finding suggest that very old patients with ACS and single vessel disease may benefit systematically from PCI with stent. Efforts should be made to optimize care in this under-represented population in the clinical trials.

Aim Case report regarding the repair of a complex incisional hernia, with loss of domain (LoD), where adjuvant techniques were used. Materials and methods Data from the patient's electronic chart and literature review. Results A 77-year-old female patient is referred for evaluation. She had a multi-recurrent incisional hernia, symptomatic with pain and recurrent episodes of intestinal occlusion. Clinical and imaging evaluation confirmed a complex incisional hernia with LoD, located in the left iliac and flank regions. Abdominal wall muscle blockade was done with botulinum toxin. A progressive pneumoperitoneum catheter was placed laparoscopically, and 11 liters of air were instilled over 13 days. Imaging showed lengthening of the AW muscles. Posterior component separation and transversus abdominis release was performed on the left side, and a retrorectus dissection the right side. A macroporous polypropylene mesh was attached on the left to the twelfth rib, psoas muscle, transverse process of lumbar vertebrae, iliac crest, Cooper's ligament and pubis, and on the right with transfascial sutures. A seroma developed on the post operative period. No other complications occurred. Discussion If a patient never had an AW reconstruction surgery, with a mesh on the retromuscular plane, this option should be offered, by a specialized hernia surgeon, regardless of the number of recurrences. Progressive pneumoperitoneum has existed for many years, but is seldom used. Likewise, botulinum toxin is emerging as a powerful tool to prepare AW reconstruction, but much is still unknow. Heterogeneity in the data is a hinderance to the wide adoption of these techniques.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction and objective Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) occlusion are at increased risk of mortality. Most studies have shown an association between LMCA occlusion and cardiac arrest. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and the prognosis of patients with ACS due to LMCA occlusion with cardiac arrest at presentation. Methods We performed a retrospective multicenter study of 128 consecutive patients with ACS due to LMCA occlusion admitted in three Portuguese tertiary hospitals between 2008 and 2020. Patients were divided according to the presentation with cardiac arrest. Results Among this cohort, 26% patients presented with cardiac arrest. Regarding baseline characteristics, they were younger (58 vs 65 years; p=0.001) but no other significant differences were found. Cardiac arrest was associated to shorter symptoms-to-balloon time (150 vs 195 minutes; p=0.042) and higher recourse to fibrinolysis (12.1% vs 0%, p=0.004). They also had higher prevalence of cardiogenic shock (88% vs 51%; p Conclusion In our real-world cohort, more than one quarter of patients with ACS due to LMCA occlusion presented with cardiac arrest, which correlates to a higher incidence of cardiogenic shock, as well as higher short- and long-term mortality. Only younger age and lower symptoms-to-balloon time were independently associated to cardiac arrest. Despite cardiac care improvements, technological evolution, and better patient/system-delay times, this is still a subpopulation with poor prognosis. Further studies are needed to find innovative strategies that can make a difference in this subgroup of patients.

Objective: This article describes the findings from a qualitative study conducted in a psychiatric emergency room at the Hospital of the State University of Campinas (Unicamp). Two focus groups collect data from people with serious mental illness (SMI) and professionals from hospital-based psychiatric services (HBPS) to explore challenges and opportunities for future implementation of peer support on Unicamp psychiatric emergency room service in Campinas Brazil. Research Design: The study was conducted in Campinas, Brazil, in January 2020. Volunteers formed two focus groups (n = 10) and discussed relevant questions to implement a peer-based model on the ER psychiatric unit. Methods: Thematic Analysis was used for this study. The sessions were recorded and later transcribed, and data were analyzed and organized in Themes. Results: The research team grouped four themes from the client's perceptions of challenges: lack of access to mental health services, lack of care, treatment voiceless, self-perception about stigma. The client's perceptions of opportunities generate two themes: trust and relationships and appraisal of emotional network and support. The professional's perceptions developed four themes of challenges described as sustainability and adherence to treatment, living with serious mental illness, ER professional roles and limits, and implementation of peer support in the ER. The professional's perceptions of opportunities generated two themes: understanding peer support roles and the positive impact of peer support in the ER. Conclusions: The qualitative data highlights the need for peer support working in the ER psychiatric unit. Also suggested the relevance of large-scale research to build strategies to future implement peer support on the ER psychiatric unit. Keywords: Qualitative research, peer support, people with serious mental illness, mental health workers.

The Brazilian coast is rich in monazite which is found in beach sand deposits. In this study, the composition of the monazite sands from beaches of State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, was investigated. The concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs), Th, and U were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In the studied region, the mean concentration of investigated elements increased in the following order: Tm Yb Ho Lu Eu Er Tb Dy U Y Th Gd Sm Pr Nd La Ce. The sampling sites were classified into three clusters and discriminated by the concentrations of REEs, Th, and U found. In general, the radiological risk indices were higher than the established limits, and the risk of developing cancer was estimated to be higher than the world average.

Biofilms are complex tri-dimensional structures that encase microbial cells in an extracellular matrix comprising self-produced polymeric substances. The matrix rich in extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) contributes to the unique features of biofilm lifestyle and structure, enhancing microbial accretion, biofilm virulence, and antimicrobial resistance. The role of the EPS matrix of biofilms growing on biotic surfaces, especially dental surfaces, is largely unravelled. To date, there is a lack of a broad overview of existing literature concerning the relationship between the EPS matrix and the dental implant environment and its role in implant-related infections. Here, we discuss recent advances in the critical role of the EPS matrix on biofilm growth and virulence on the dental implant surface and its effect on the etiopathogenesis and progression of implant-related infections. Similar to other biofilms associated with human diseases/conditions, EPS-enriched biofilms on implant surfaces promote microbial accumulation, microbiological shift, cross-kingdom interaction, antimicrobial resistance, biofilm virulence, and, consequently, peri-implant tissue damage. But intriguingly, the protagonism of EPS role on implant-related infections and the development of matrix-target therapeutic strategies has been neglected. Finally, we highlight the need for more in-depth analyses of polymicrobial interactions within EPS matrix and EPS-targeting technologies' rationale for disrupting the complex biofilm microenvironment with more outstanding translation to implant applications in the near future.

Data on multidisciplinary programs dedicated to home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in Latin America are limited. This study describes the results of the first multidisciplinary pediatric intestinal rehabilitation program for HPN at a public tertiary hospital in Brazil.We retrospectively reviewed patients aged 0-18 years with intestinal failure (IF) who required parenteral nutrition (PN) for60 days between January/2014 and December/2020.Fifty-four patients were discharged on HPN (15 achieved enteral autonomy, 34 continued on HPN at the end of the study, 1 underwent intestinal transplantation, and 4 died). The median (IQR) age at the study endpoint of patients who achieved enteral autonomy was 14.1 (9.7-19) versus 34.7 (20.4-53.9) months in those who did not achieve enteral autonomy. Overall prevalence of catheter-related thrombosis was 66.7% and catheter-related bloodstream infection rate was 0.39/1000 catheter-days. Intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) was present in 24% of all patients; none of the patients who achieved enteral autonomy had IFALD. All patients showed significant improvement in anthropometric parameters during the HPN period. The sociodemographic characteristics of the patients' family members were mothers less than 20 years old (7.5%), schooling time more than 10 years (55.5%), and household income between 1 and 3 times the minimum wage (64.8%). The 5-year survival rate for HPN is 90%, and 27.7% of patients achieve enteral autonomy.The treatment of pediatric patients with IF followed by a multidisciplinary pediatric intestinal rehabilitation program with HPN is feasible and safe in the Brazilian public health system.

Background Skeletal age (SA) is an estimate of biological maturity status that is commonly used in sport-related medical examinations. This study considered intra-observer reproducibility and inter-observer agreement of SA assessments among male tennis players. Methods SA was assessed with the Fels method in 97 male tennis players with chronological ages (CA) spanning 8.7–16.8 years. Radiographs were evaluated by two independent trained observers. Based on the difference between SA and CA, players were classified as late, average or early maturing; if a player was skeletally mature, he was noted as such as an SA is not assigned. Results The magnitude of intra-individual differences between repeated SA assessments were d = 0.008 year (observer A) and d = 0.001 year (observer B); the respective coefficients of variation were 1.11% and 1.75%. Inter-observer mean differences were negligible (t = 1.252, p = 0.210) and the intra-class correlation coefficient was nearly perfect (ICC = 0.995). Concordance of classifications of players by maturity status between observers was 90%. Conclusion Fels SA assessments were highly reproducible and showed an acceptable level of inter-observer agreement between trained examiners. Classifications of players by skeletal maturity status based on assessments of the two observers were highly concordant, though not 100%. The results highlight the importance of experienced observers in skeletal maturity assessments.

Several hundred terabytes of single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data are available in public repositories. These data refer to various research projects, from microbial population cells to multiple tissues, involving patients with a myriad of diseases and comorbidities. An increase to several Petabytes of these scRNA-seq data is a realistic prediction for coming years. Therefore, thoughtful analysis of these data requires large-scale computing infrastructures and software systems optimized for such platforms to generate correct and reliable biological knowledge. This paper presents CellHeap, a flexible, portable, and robust platform for analyzing large scRNA-seq datasets, with quality control throughout the execution steps, and deployable on platforms that support large-scale data, such as supercomputers or clouds. In addition, CellHeap includes an efficient solution to make use of parallel computational resources, improving total execution time. Furthermore, we show a case study of a this platform, with its deployment in the Brazilian Santos Dumont supercomputer, which was used to process dozens of Terabytes of COVID-19 scRNA-seq raw data. Our results show that most of the total execution time is spent in CellHeap initial phases and that there is great potential for a parallel solution to speed up scRNA-seq data analysis significantly. Additionally, we analysed the produced results, with a focus on particular modulations of Fc receptors considering mild and severe cases verified to be coherent from a biological perspective.

Background External root resorption (ERR) has a multifactorial etiology and is difficult to diagnose, which means that is continues to be of research interest. This work mainly aims to determine whether external root resorption can be differentially detected in root-filled versus non-endodontically treated teeth using digital periapical radiography (DPR) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods The Checklist for Reporting In-vitro Studies (CRIS) guidelines were followed throughout this study. This experiment highlights the preparation and generation of standardized synthetic teeth measured on three-dimensional records converted into Digital Imaging and Communication on Medicine (DICOM) file format. Twelve replicate maxillary incisors were randomized into two groups: (G1) six non-endodontically treated, and (G2) six endodontically treated teeth. In both groups, actual tooth lengths of all specimens were measured and compared with measurements obtained using DPR and CBCT. Simulated ERR lesions [0.12, 0.18, 0.20 mm × 0.5 mm depth in the mesial, distal and palatal apical regions] were created progressively, radiographic images were recorded, and 24 DPRs and 96 CBCTs were obtained in total. Eight blinded, previously calibrated researchers made a total of 1920 measurements (using Horos Software). Data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk, ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon rank post-hoc tests [Bonferroni correction in multiple comparison tests (p Results ICC values for intra- and inter-examiner agreement were appropriate. DPR overestimated ERR detection compared to the actual and CBCT measurements [Mean diff = 0.765 and 0.768, respectively]. CBCT diagnosis of ERR lesions in specimens without root canal treatment was significantly more accurate than DPR diagnoses on both non-endodontically and endodontically-treated specimens [p = 0.044; p = 0.037, respectively]. There was an 18.5% reduction in sensitivity in all DPR diagnoses made on endodontic teeth versus those made on non-endodontically treated teeth. For the smallest ERR lesions, this sensitivity was even more marked, with 27.8 and 25% less sensitivity, respectively. Conclusions The results of this study highlight that both CBCT and DPR are good diagnostic methods for ERR. Nevertheless, root canal filling material influences diagnostic capability in ERR. The clinical significance was that the presence of intracanal material reduces the detection and diagnosis of ERR by DPR in teeth with root canal treatment.

The objective is to assess the performance of seven semiautomatic and two fully automatic segmentation methods on [18F]FDG PET/CT lymphoma images and evaluate their influence on tumor quantification. All lymphoma lesions identified in 65 whole-body [18F]FDG PET/CT staging images were segmented by two experienced observers using manual and semiautomatic methods. Semiautomatic segmentation using absolute and relative thresholds, k-means and Bayesian clustering, and a self-adaptive configuration (SAC) of k-means and Bayesian was applied. Three state-of-the-art deep learning–based segmentations methods using a 3D U-Net architecture were also applied. One was semiautomatic and two were fully automatic, of which one is publicly available. Dice coefficient (DC) measured segmentation overlap, considering manual segmentation the ground truth. Lymphoma lesions were characterized by 31 features. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) assessed features agreement between different segmentation methods. Nine hundred twenty [18F]FDG-avid lesions were identified. The SAC Bayesian method achieved the highest median intra-observer DC (0.87). Inter-observers’ DC was higher for SAC Bayesian than manual segmentation (0.94 vs 0.84, p

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