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A significant and increasing number of studies have been dedicated to complex concentrated alloys (CCAs) due to the improved properties that these metallic materials can exhibit. However, while most of these studies employ melting techniques, only a few explore powder metallurgy and pressureless sintering as production methods. In this work, a microstructural characterization of AlCrCuFeMnNi CCA samples obtained by powder metallurgy and pressureless sintering using mixtures of powders with different compositions was carried out. One batch of samples (B1) was prepared using commercial powders of Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni. Another batch (B2) used mixtures of CrFeMn, AlNi, and Cu powders. A third set of samples (B3) was obtained by adding 1% at. of Mg to the B2 powder. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, density measurements, and hardness tests. Thermodynamic calculations were also used to complement the microstructural characterization. All the obtained samples exhibited high relative density and hardness values. However, B3 samples showed a higher hardness, attributed to the finer distribution of oxide particles, which was promoted by the presence of Mg during sintering. These last samples presented a hardness/density ratio of 62 HV/(g cm−3), surpassing that of some martensitic stainless steels and nickel–titanium alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this initial study of a research project, this paper seeks to understand the thermal conditions in the cities of Lisbon and Munich, specifically focusing on Urban Heat Island intensity and on thermal comfort using the Universal Thermal Climate Index modeling data at the Local Climate Zone scale. Based on these datasets, Munich has exhibited more unfavourable thermal conditions than Lisbon. In terms of UHII, both cities have shown that low, medium, and high rise compact urban areas and bare rock or paved areas have the highest values, while sparsely built areas have the lowest. These results differ from the UTCI, which indicates that in Lisbon and Munich, these sparsely built areas as well as areas with low plants and vegetation are the most uncomfortable. In Munich, the population was exposed to very strong heat stress, while Lisbon experienced strong heat stress conditions. Conversely, low, medium, and high rise compact urban areas and densely wooded areas in Munich, and scattered trees areas and large low-rise urban areas in Lisbon, have demonstrated the lowest monthly mean and average maximum values. These results will be further explored in future studies in the city of Lisbon and cross-checked with data obtained from roving missions. This will enable a more detailed temporal and local analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn this study, we aimed to map theories and constructs used in psychological research to address LGBTQI and Christian belonging. Through the scoping review method aligned with PRISMA—Extension for Scoping Reviews, we revised 150 studies from the psychological field between 2012 and 2022. We found conflict/negative theories, a turning point from negative to increasingly positive frameworks, exclusively positive perspectives, and broader and challenging theories. There is a gradual shift from conflict/negative perspectives to include positive and broader theories. These findings are critical to base and expand new approaches regarding LGBTQI issues and Christianity in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term 'service user' is an amorphous concept that can refer to a variety of groups. It refers to people who use or have used a service, or to the carers or parents of service users, or it can be used to refer to lay people, the public or non-professionals. It can also be used to refer to all or any combination of these. To maximise the potential of simulation, it is crucial to involve service users: their inclusion in the co-design of simulations, alongside patient educators and participatory decision-makers, provides invaluable input from a patient perspective. They also make an important contribution by portraying patients in the scenarios within which students interact, providing perspectives based on real-life experiences, offering students an insight into how patients could respond. Such an approach to designing simulations as part of nursing education will help develop professionals who are more patient-centred, culturally competent and more responsive to patient needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low vitamin B12 has been associated with raised plasma homocysteines and the consumption of B vitamins has been shown to reduce homocysteines. Raised levels of homocysteines have been linked to causing symptoms of mental illness. B12 is also required in the synthesis of monoamines and is required to maintain neurological health. Aim: This study reviews research into the effects of the supplementation of B12 in the prevention and recovery of mental illness, and the potentiation of psychotropic medication. Methodology: This literature review follows a systematic approach to searching databases CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline, and PsycINFO where 287 non-duplicated articles results were received. Appropriate articles were identified through title and abstract screening and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Five articles were chosen to address the research question following critical appraisal. Thematic analysis was then conducted. Findings: This review identified five randomised controlled trials into the supplementation of various doses of B12 in conjunction with folic acid and B6. The supplement was measured against post-stroke depression prevention, the reduction of symptoms of depression in woman with cardiovascular disease, the effect on negative symptoms in schizophrenia, the reduction and prevention of depression in older adults, and the potentiation of psychotropic interventions. The papers reviewed showed inconclusive results, but evidence to support sub-groups and specific high-risk groups. Strong evidence showed supplementation of B12, folic acid and B6 has high rates of preventing post-stroke depression. Conclusion: The findings show that this area of research is still to be developed. The effects of B12 supplementation with other B vitamins on mental health have shown to be inconclusive. There is a case for its use to be considered within certain patient groups to aid recovery of mental health or in some high-risk patient groups. Recommendations are made for further research into high-risk groups of people that may have symptoms or symptoms that could be improved through the supplementation of B12. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to provide an overview on loneliness in older people, with an emphasis on how insights from this body of literature can significantly contribute to the enhancement of care provided by community nurses. This review aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the factors contributing to loneliness, its impact on the physical and mental health of older individuals, and the role community nurses can play in mitigating and addressing loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the challenges encountered by medical writers, especially those new to the field, highlighting the importance of learning from mistakes. It discusses lessons learned, such as clarifying the role of medical writers, conducting effective kick-off meetings, understanding the complexity of regulatory documents, and ensuring appropriate timelines for document development. It focuses on the continuous professional growth and development of medical writers.

We describe the diverse community of insect herbivores and parasitoids associated with the seeds and fruits of three sympatric Fabaceae species in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil: Inga vera, Senna multijuga and Leucaena leucocephala.A total of 5353 individual insects, representing 77 different species, were identified via morphology and DNA barcoding. The non‐native L. leucocephala had the least diverse natural enemy community (N = 17 species), while two native species, I. vera and S. multijuga, were more diverse (N = 40 and N = 24 species, respectively).Individuals from the insect order Hymenoptera, a group dominated by parasitoid wasps, were the most diverse recovered from our samples in all hosts. Additionally, individual herbivore and parasitoid species were more likely to be found on a single host, with only four out of the 77 species found in more than one plant species.This includes the generalist agricultural pest herbivore, Lasioderma serricorne, found in two species, and three parasitoids connecting native S. multijuga and non‐native L. leucocephala communities, hinting at recent host shifts.Furthermore, different host plant traits had complex effects on the herbivore and parasitoid communities, where seed number per fruit promoted a propagating effect on the abundance and richness at both higher trophic levels, whereas seed and fruit weight did not.We highlight the importance of including parasitoids in insect community studies because they are highly diverse and provide important ecosystem services. Additional study of the biology, behaviour and distributions of parasitoids would be advantageous to inform conservation and biological control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 21st century, the implementation of doctoral education in Geography has led to an increase in the number of theses focused on Physical Geography. However, little is known about the dynamics inherent to fieldwork techniques, methods, and studied topics. In order to gain a better understanding of this increasing trend and its evolution, this article examines 78 theses published by five public higher education institutions between 2000 and 2021. Through quantitative analysis, the study investigates the data sources, fieldwork techniques, and analytical methods used in the studies covering the topics of Biogeography, Climatology, Hydrology, Geomorphology, and Risk and Planning. From 2007 onward, there was an evident increase in research related to Risk and Planning, underscoring the role of Physical Geography in addressing territorial planning issues. The use of Geographic Information Systems, statistical analysis, and quantitative approaches highlights the significance of data sources and office-based analyses. The geographical context of the institutions where the studies were conducted appears to influence the choice of research areas and topics. The Bologna process, doctoral scholarships granted by the Foundation for Science and Technology, and the increase in funded research projects partially justify the diversity of identified topics and methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel procedure for the preparation of various 5‐aminotetrazoles derivatives was achieved using trichloroisocyanuric acid as a desulfurizing agent of thioureas and trimethylsilyl azide in ethyl acetate at room temperature. This methodology provided substituted 5‐aminotetrazoles through a more sustainable reaction using an affordable, safe, stable, and easily handled N‐halo reagent, a safer azide source, and an environmentally friendly solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodesulfurization is a biotechnological process that employs microorganisms as biocatalysts to remove sulfur from fuels usually at mesophilic conditions, targeting recalcitrant organosulfur compounds without affecting their hydrocarbon structure. One of the bottlenecks hindering its large-scale application is the inhibition of biodesulfurization activity by easily metabolized sulfur compounds, such as sulfates, even at residual concentrations. This increases production costs by requiring high-purity sulfur-free nutrients or complex induction steps to prevent/revert inhibition. The objective of this work was to bypass this limitation and demonstrate that it is possible to produce biocatalysts with biodesulfurization activity using sulfate as the only sulfur source, without employing inducers or genetic manipulation, simply by adjusting the sulfur : carbon ratio in continuous culture. With this goal, the bacterium Gordonia alkanivorans strain 1B was cultivated in a chemostat with a medium containing 10 g L−1 of fructose as the carbon source and different sulfate concentrations (12–50 mg per L SO42−) using Na2SO4. Then the bacteria were employed as biocatalysts in biodesulfurization assays with a recalcitrant organosulfur compound (dibenzothiophene). Under these conditions it was observed that 2.2 mgsulfate gfructose−1 ensured a biodesulfurization activity of 6.1 μmol gDCW−1 h−1, 15% greater than previously reported for this strain with an inducer, without limiting biocatalyst production. This novel procedure was further applied to another biocatalyst, Rhodococcus erythropolis strain D1, validating its wide applicability to other desulfurizing microorganisms. Overall, these results indicate a previously unknown regulation mechanism dependent on relative sulfur concentration, which influences cellular responses and regulates biodesulfurization activity, allowing the use of easily metabolized sulfur sources to produce cost-effective biocatalysts for biodesulfurization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal additive manufacturing (MAM) currently allows the production of mechanical components with technical specifications suitable for structural applications with a high level of complexity. Despite the most recent technological developments, additively manufactured parts may still lack the geometrical and dimensional accuracy as well as surface integrity required for precision mechanical assemblies and system reliability. These requirements often lead to post-processing operations through precision machining technologies. The present work focuses on the machinability study of 18Ni300 maraging steel obtained by laser powder bed fusion and its comparison with the conventional counterpart. Milling tests were carried out covering a wide range of cutting parameters, aiming at understanding their influence and comparing the obtained results in terms of cutting force, specific cutting pressure, roughness and chip morphology. In depth residual stresses have been measured for different operational and metallurgical conditions and their comparison was performed. A more significant effect of the feed parameter on the analysed data is noticed, particularly regarding the affected layer depth of the residual stresses due to cutting. Moreover, the higher mechanical strength of the additively manufactured alloy does not translate into an equivalent increase in the required average specific cutting pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The best activity of bimetallic AuPd nanoparticles for alcohol oxidation reaction is usually achieved by adjusting the Au/Pd molar ratio. Herein, alloy AuPd nanoparticles of ∼2.5–3.5 nm, ranging from Au‐rich to Pd‐rich compositions, were synthesized through a sol‐immobilization method. A calcination step under air conditions caused an increase in size up to 5.5 nm, but also driven the segregation of Pd to the surface, which generated an Au rich core with Pd on the shell. At high Pd content, the shell structure is formed by PdO. The catalytic activity of Pd‐rich samples (1 : 1, 1 : 2 and 1 : 4 Au : Pd) for benzyl alcohol oxidation increased ∼4‐fold after calcination. Upon reduction with H2, surface PdO motifs are reduced to Pd that did not dissolve back into the AuPd alloy core, maintaining the metallic Pd shell. The catalytic activity decreased. Therefore, restructuring alloyed AuPd nanoparticles into core‐shell like structures with PdO in the shell is beneficial to the catalytic activity, but reduction of PdO layer was detrimental. These results provide new insights on the optimization of AuPd catalysts, considering not only the Au/Pd molar ratio, but also the importance of PdO, which was not anticipated in the previous literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-based polyols were obtained from the thermochemical liquefaction of two biomass feedstocks, pinewood and Stipa tenacissima, with conversion rates varying between 71.9 and 79.3 wt.%, and comprehensively characterized. They exhibit phenolic and aliphatic moieties displaying hydroxyl (OH) functional groups, as confirmed by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) analysis. The biopolyols obtained were successfully employed as a green raw material to produce bio-based polyurethane (BioPU) coatings on carbon steel substrates, using, as an isocyanate source, a commercial bio-based polyisocyanate—Desmodur® Eco N7300. The BioPU coatings were analyzed in terms of chemical structure, the extent of the reaction of the isocyanate species, thermal stability, hydrophobicity, and adhesion strength. They show moderate thermal stability at temperatures up to 100 °C, and a mild hydrophobicity, displaying contact angles between 68° and 86°. The adhesion tests reveal similar pull-off strength values (ca. 2.2 MPa) for the BioPU either prepared with pinewood and Stipa-derived biopolyols (BPUI and BPUII). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were carried out on the coated substrates for 60 days in 0.05 M NaCl solution. Good corrosion protection properties were achieved for the coatings, with particular emphasis on the coating prepared with the pinewood-derived polyol, which exhibited a low-frequency impedance modulus normalized for the coating thickness of 6.1 × 1010 Ω cm at the end of the 60 days test, three times higher than for coatings prepared with Stipa-derived biopolyols. The produced BioPU formulations show great potential for application as coatings, and for further modification with bio-based fillers and corrosion inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyze the trend of severe obesity in the capitals of the Brazilian states and the Federal District, from 2006 to 2021. For this purpose, a time-series, population-based, observational study was designed using data from the VIGITEL Survey. The dependent variable of this study was the prevalence of severe obesity, which was defined as a body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2. Time series analysis was conducted using Joinpoint Regression Analysis Software v.4.9.1.0. In this study, a normal distribution was assumed, and the average annual percentage change (AAPC) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were presented. In total, 778,445 individuals participated in the study (38.2% were male and 61.8% were female). The prevalence of severe obesity has increased from 1.1% in 2006 to 1.9% in 2021. The average annual percentage change indicates an upward trend for the period (AAPC: 4.7; 95% CI: 3.8; 5.7). When stratifying the trend of severe obesity by sex, a significant upward trend was observed for females (AAPC: 4.3; 95% CI: 1.9; 6.8). There was a significant upward trend for all age groups, skin colors, and education levels. However, the older age groups and those with less education had lower AAPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The axon initial segment is a specialized compartment of the proximal axon of CNS neurons where action potentials are initiated. However, it remains unknown whether this domain is assembled in sensory dorsal root ganglion neurons, in which spikes are initiated in the peripheral terminals. Here we investigate whether sensory neurons have an axon initial segment and if it contributes to spontaneous activity in neuropathic pain. Our results demonstrate that myelinated dorsal root ganglion neurons assemble an axon initial segment in the proximal region of their stem axon, enriched in the voltage-gated sodium channels Nav1.1 and Nav1.7. Using correlative immunofluorescence and calcium imaging, we demonstrate that the Nav1.7 channels at the axon initial segment are associated with spontaneous activity. Computer simulations further indicate that the axon initial segment plays a key role in the initiation of spontaneous discharges by lowering their voltage threshold. Finally, using a Cre-based mouse model for time-controlled axon initial segment disassembly, we demonstrate that this compartment is a major source of spontaneous discharges causing mechanical allodynia in neuropathic pain. Thus, an axon initial segment domain is present in sensory neurons and facilitates their spontaneous activity. This study provides a new insight in the cellular mechanisms that cause pathological pain and identifies a new potential target for chronic pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the assessment and prevention of falls in nursing homes. Topics discussed include the high risk of falls among care home residents, the consequences of falls, the risk factors of falls care home residents, tips on preventing falls among care home residents, and the need to consider a multifactorial falls risk assessment tool for these residents.

A 25‐year set of daily radiosonde data was used to investigate temperature and humidity inversions at Neumayer Station, coastal Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. For the first time, inversions were studied differentiating between different synoptic conditions and different height levels. It was shown that, generally, inversions occurred on the majority (78%) of the days, with simultaneous occurrence of humidity and temperature inversions being observed on approximately two thirds of all days. Multiple inversions are common in all seasons for cyclonic and noncyclonic conditions, however, typically occur more frequently under cyclonic conditions. The seasonality of inversion occurrence and features, that is, inversion strength, depth and vertical gradients, was analysed statistically. Different formation mechanisms depending on inversion levels and prevailing weather situations are related to typical annual courses of certain inversion features. Winter maxima were found for the features that are mostly connected to the temperature close to the surface, which is mainly a result of the negative energy balance, thus influencing surface‐based inversions. At the second level, both temperature and humidity inversions are often caused by advection of comparably warm and moist air masses related to the passage of cyclones and their frontal systems. Hence, maxima in several inversion features are found in spring and fall, when cyclonic activity is strongest. Monthly mean profiles of humidity and temperature inversions reveal that elevated inversions are often obscured in average profiles due to large variations in inversion height and depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) has a poor survival. The combination of Dabrafenib plus Trametinib (DT) had a significant impact in survival of BRAF p.V600E patients. However, durable responses may be compromised by resistance. We aim to present our experience with DT in BRAF positive ATC patients and compare the outcomes with usual therapy, and to study tumor molecular alterations in the DT group. Methods: Patients treated between May 2018 and April 2022 in a tertiary referral center, assessed for BRAF status were included. Patients were divided in three groups: BRAF p.V600E treated with DT, BRAF wild type (WT) under multimodal therapy (MT), and BRAF WT under compassionate care (CC). Response was assessed monthly in the first 6 months and every 3 months afterwards, by RECIST 1.1. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. Results: Twenty-seven ATC patients were included (DT = 9, MT= 8, and CC = 10). Median OS was 475 days for DT, 156 days for MT, and 39 days for CC (P < .001). At 12 months, only patients in the DT group were alive (71%). Median PFS was 270 days, in the DT group, compared with less than 32 days in BRAF WT (P < .001). No severe adverse events were reported. Molecular profiling showed that in one of the four clinical progressions, a pathogenic NRAS mutation was found. Conclusions: Our results show a significant real-world efficacy of Dabrafenib plus Trametinib in both survival and recurrence compared with standard treatment, with a good safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non‐enzymatic electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is described. This study utilized a 3D bicontinuous nanoporous platinum‐gold alloy‐based sensor (NP−Pt(Au) electrode), which has a morphology that resembles a molecular sieve. SEM and CV were used to evaluate the morphological and electrochemical characteristics of the NP−Pt(Au) electrodes. The cathodic voltammetric response of H2O2 was enhanced at the NP−Pt(Au) as compared to planar Pt electrodes. The nanoporous electrode was able to maintain the H2O2 voltammetric profile even in the presence of the biofouling agent, serum albumin. Its application as a non‐enzymatic sensor for the amperometric measurement of H2O2 was explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a proof of concept constructing an experimental setup to explore the imaging capability of a single X-ray detector, simulating a pixelated X-ray detector, to measure EDXRF (Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence) and EDXRD (Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction) image spectra simultaneously. Combining a conventional rotating anode Cu X-ray source and assembling a single X-ray detector (Si-PIN Amptek, 139 eV at 5.98 keV) on a computer controlled XY stage, a proxy of an imaging X-ray detector was constructed for the measurement of simultaneous EDXRD and EDXRF of the same spot of a sample. The main advantages of this setup are the virtual need for sample preparation and the simultaneous XRF-XRD measurements of the same spot, enabling a combined and consistent analysis of a sample. The time consumed in an analysis using this setup is largely due to the need for acquiring multiple (several hundred) single spectra, which can be compensated, by using a variable acquisition time, depending on the count rate, exploring the high dynamic range of the X-ray emission during data acquisition. A Python code was written for offline data filtering and analysis. Using a simple geometrical model, d-spacings were calculated, and the model predictions were superimposed to the ED (Energy Dispersive) surface plots with good agreement. The instrument proved to work according to expectations and helped set the main experimental parameters for a more compact and portable setup under development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environment where plants grow, such as acidic soils, interferes with the nutrient concentration and physiological quality of seeds. This hypothesis was tested using wheat seeds as a model crop, grown in a tropical soil with and without lime application for twelve years. Here we show that lime provides remarkable enhancements in soil chemistry and seed composition, without altering the seed's germination and vigor. Also, it favors the production of seeds with additional molecular mechanisms that extend their longevity. Our results indicate that the application of lime mitigates acidity in tropical soils and ensures the production of seeds with enhanced chemical composition and longer life span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sex is increasingly recognized as a significant factor contributing to the biological and clinical heterogeneity in AD. There is also growing evidence for the prominent role of DNA methylation (DNAm) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: We studied sex-specific DNA methylation differences in the blood samples of AD subjects compared to cognitively normal subjects, by performing sex-specific meta-analyses of two large blood-based epigenome-wide association studies (ADNI and AIBL), which included DNA methylation data for a total of 1284 whole blood samples (632 females and 652 males). Within each dataset, we used two complementary analytical strategies, a sex-stratified analysis that examined methylation to AD associations in male and female samples separately, and a methylation-by-sex interaction analysis that compared the magnitude of these associations between different sexes. After adjusting for age, estimated immune cell type proportions, batch effects, and correcting for inflation, the inverse-variance fixed-effects meta-analysis model was used to identify the most consistent DNAm differences across datasets. In addition, we also evaluated the performance of the sex-specific methylation-based risk prediction models for AD diagnosis using an independent external dataset. Results: In the sex-stratified analysis, we identified 2 CpGs, mapped to the PRRC2A and RPS8 genes, significantly associated with AD in females at a 5% false discovery rate, and an additional 25 significant CpGs (21 in females, 4 in males) at P-value < 1×10−5. In methylation-by-sex interaction analysis, we identified 5 significant CpGs at P-value < 10−5. Out-of-sample validations using the AddNeuroMed dataset showed in females, the best logistic prediction model included age, estimated immune cell-type proportions, and methylation risk scores (MRS) computed from 9 of the 23 CpGs identified in AD vs. CN analysis that are also available in AddNeuroMed dataset (AUC = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.65–0.83). In males, the best logistic prediction model included only age and MRS computed from 2 of the 5 CpGs identified in methylation-by-sex interaction analysis that are also available in the AddNeuroMed dataset (AUC = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.56–0.82). Conclusions: Overall, our results show that the DNA methylation differences in AD are largely distinct between males and females. Our best-performing sex-specific methylation-based prediction model in females performed better than that for males and additionally included estimated cell-type proportions. The significant discriminatory classification of AD samples with our methylation-based prediction models demonstrates that sex-specific DNA methylation could be a predictive biomarker for AD. As sex is a strong factor underlying phenotypic variability in AD, the results of our study are particularly relevant for a better understanding of the epigenetic architecture that underlie AD and for promoting precision medicine in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One core medical writing skill is effectively communicating with the teams that will help us author our documents. With remote working playing an increasingly important role in our workforce, medical writers must adapt to this new reality. This article offers guidance for medical writers to run effective remote meetings, including a checklist with suggestions of what to do before, during, and after these calls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is unclear if different bioelectrical impedance (BI) devices provide similar results regarding raw parameters [Resistance (R), Reactance (Xc), Phase Angle (PhA), and Impedance (Z)] for the same population/individual undergoing a weight loss intervention. The aim was to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal agreement of raw data obtained by two BI devices in former athletes with overweight/obesity. Fifty-nine participants [mean (SD): 43.5 (9.2) years, 30.5 (4.0) kg/m2, 42% females] were included. All the assessments were performed before and after a 4-months lifestyle intervention targeting weight loss (WL). BI parameters were assessed at 50 kHz by two devices: a BI spectroscopy (Xitron Technologies, 4200B, San Diego, USA) and a phase-sensitive single-frequency device (BIA 101 AKERN, Florence, Italy). Cross-sectionally, BIS provided lower mean values for all parameters (0.4% for R, 1.6% for Xc, 1.0% for PhA and 0.4% for Z, p <0.001) compared to SF-BIA. In individuals with a WL≥2.5% (n =18), no longitudinal differences were found in any of the raw parameters between devices (p≥0.128) and there was no proportional bias (p≥0.408). Despite small baseline differences in raw BI parameters, both devices agreed in tracking changes over time at the group level but interpretation should be careful at the individual level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is particularly strong in Greenland, primarily as a result of changes in the transport of heat and moisture from lower latitudes. The atmospheric structures involved influence the surface mass balance (SMB) of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS), and their patterns are largely explained by climate oscillations, which describe the internal climate variability. By using k -means clustering, we name the combination of the Greenland Blocking Index, the North Atlantic Oscillation index and the vertically integrated water vapor as NAG (North Atlantic influence on Greenland) with the optimal solution of three clusters (positive, neutral and negative phase). With the support of a polar-adapted regional climate model, typical climate features marked under certain NAG phases are inter-seasonally and regionally analyzed in order to assess the impact of large-scale systems from the North Atlantic on the surface energy budget (SEB) components over the GrIS. Given the pronounced summer mass loss in recent decades (1991–2020), we investigate spatio-temporal changes in SEB components within NAG phases in comparison to the reference period 1959–1990. We report significant atmospheric warming and moistening across all NAG phases. The pronounced atmospheric warming in conjunction with the increase in tropospheric water vapor enhance incoming longwave radiation and thus contribute to surface warming. Surface warming is most evident in winter, although its magnitude and spatial extent depend on the NAG phase. In summer, increases in net shortwave radiation are mainly connected to blocking systems (+ NAG), and their drivers are regionally different. In the southern part of Greenland, the atmosphere has become optically thinner due to the decrease in water vapor, thus allowing more incoming shortwave radiation to reach the surface. However, we find evidence that, in the southern regions, changes in net longwave radiation balance changes in net shortwave radiation, suggesting that the turbulent fluxes control the recent SEB changes. In contrast to South Greenland under + NAG, the moistening of North Greenland has contributed to decreases in surface albedo and has enhanced solar radiation absorption. Regardless of the NAG phase, increases in multiple atmospheric variables (e.g., integrated water vapor and net longwave radiation) are found across the northern parts of Greenland, suggesting that atmospheric drivers beyond heat and moisture originated from the North Atlantic. Especially in the northern ablation zone, sensible heat flux has significantly increased in summer due to larger vertical and horizontal temperature gradients combined with stronger near-surface winds. We attribute the near-surface wind intensification to the emerging open-water feedback, whereby surface pressure gradients between the ice/snow-covered surface and adjacent open seas are intensified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decades from 1960 to 1980 brought a new ecclesial scenario, given the political, social and economic context throughout Latin America. There is a deepening of poverty and social inequality, as well as the opening of the Catholic Church to a new theological reading, from the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), Medellín (1968) and Liberation Theology. In the midst of this context, Bishop José Gomes is transferred to the Diocese of Chapecó, in western Santa Catarina, who becomes an icon of the progressive wing of the Catholic Church in Brazil. The bishop will unleash many liberating ecclesial and social fronts. Among them, it is interesting in this reflection to go through the methodology of the Reflection Groups, a singular ecclesial dimension in the formation and liberation of the consciences of the people of the West of Santa Catarina. To achieve this objective, we first reflect on the strengthening of the Groups and their methodology in the Diocese, and then, the fundamental role of Dom José in reinforcing and understanding such meetings as a privileged space for leadership formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new copper(II) complexes [Cu(μ-1κ O :2κ ONN′ -HL1)(μ-1κ O :2κ O′ -NO 3)] 2.[Cu(μ-1κ O :2κ ONN′ -HL1)(CH 3 OH)] 2 (NO 3) 2 (1) and [Cu(κ ONN′ -HL2)(μ-1κ OO' :2κ O′ -NO 3)] n (2), derived from the new pro-ligands H 2 L1 = 2-(5,6-dihydroindolo[1,2- c ]quinazolin-6-yl)-5-methylphenol and H 2 L2 = 2-(5,6-dihydroindolo[1,2- c ]quinazolin-6-yl)-4-nitrophenol, were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ESI-MS, and their structural features were unveiled by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. This discloses a dimeric structure for 1 and a polymeric infinite 1D metal-organic chain for 2. The complexes were evaluated as catalysts for the oxidation of toluene, a volatile organic compound (VOC), and for oxygen reduction and water splitting reactions. 1 exhibits a higher activity for the peroxidative conversion of toluene to oxygenated products (total yields up to 38%), whereas 2 demonstrates a superior performance for electrochemical energy conversion applications, i.e., for oxygen reduction (ORR), oxygen evolution (OER) and hydrogen evolution (HER) reactions in an alkaline medium in terms of higher ORR current densities, lower Tafel slope (73 mV dec−1) and higher number of electrons exchanged (3.9), comparable to that of commercial Pt/C. Complex 2 also shows a better performance with lower onset potential and higher current densities for both OER and HER when studied as electrocatalyst for water splitting. Benzimidazole Schiff base copper(II) complexes as catalysts for environmental and energy applications: VOC oxidation, oxygen reduction and water splitting reactions. [Display omitted] Benzimidazole Schiff base copper(II) complex 1 as efficient heterogeneous catalyst for toluene oxidation and complex 2 as effective electrocatalyst for energy conversion reactions. • Two new benzimidazole Schiff base copper(II) complex (1 and 2) was synthesized and characterized. • Complexes were evaluated as catalysts for the oxidation of toluene and as oxygen reduction and water splitting reactions. • For the peroxidative conversion of toluene to oxygenated products, 1 exhibits a higher activity (total yields up to 38%). • Complex 2 exhibits superior performance for electrochemical energy conversion applications. • Complex 2 exhibits better electrocatalysis for both OER and HER with lower onset potential and higher current densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adults are being vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 worldwide, but the longitudinal protection of these vaccines is uncertain, given the ongoing appearance of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Children remain largely unvaccinated and are susceptible to infection, with studies reporting that they actively transmit the virus even when asymptomatic, thus affecting the community. Methods: We investigated if saliva is an effective sample for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies in children, and associated viral RNA levels to infectivity. For that, we used a saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test, preceded or not by RNA extraction, in 85 children aged 10 years and under, admitted to the hospital regardless of COVID-19 symptomatology. Amongst these, 29 (63.0%) presented at least one COVID-19 symptom, 46 (54.1%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, 28 (32.9%) were under the age of 1, and the mean (SD) age was 3.8 (3.4) years. Saliva samples were collected up to 48 h after a nasopharyngeal swab-RT-qPCR test. Results: In children aged 10 years and under, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of saliva-RT-qPCR tests compared to NP swab-RT-qPCR were, respectively, 84.8% (71.8%–92.4%), 100% (91.0%–100%), and 91.8% (84.0%–96.6%) with RNA extraction, and 81.8% (68.0%–90.5%), 100% (91.0%–100%), and 90.4% (82.1%–95.0%) without RNA extraction. Rescue of infectious particles from saliva was limited to CT values below 26. In addition, we found significant IgM positive responses to SARS-CoV-2 in children positive for SARS-CoV-2 by NP swab and negative by saliva compared to other groups, indicating late infection onset (>7–10 days). Conclusions: Saliva is a suitable sample type for diagnosing children aged 10 years and under, including infants aged <1 year, even bypassing RNA extraction methods. Importantly, the detected viral RNA levels were significantly above the infectivity threshold in several samples. Further investigation is required to correlate SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels to viral transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on differences between pharmaceuticals and medical devices industries that points some key topics that pharmaceutical medical writers want to research before venturing on a medical device project. Topics include examines that medical devices have specific concepts, definitions and terminology as this includes the actual names of the regulatory documents that, although similar in scope to their pharmaceutical counterparts, have a different designation.

This article examines, using automated text analyses, the EU politicisation in the media of six Eurozone countries (Belgium, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain), between 2002 and 2017. By contrasting creditor and debtor countries, the article analyses how the Eurozone crisis affected the politicisation of the EU and its institutions using a unique dataset of 165,341 articles from 12 newspapers. The results show that the Eurozone crisis increased the politicisation of the EU, particularly in the countries that were at the forefront of the Eurozone bailouts. Importantly, the crisis contributed as well to a more multifaceted news coverage of the European Union, namely with a greater emphasis given to supranational institutions vis-à-vis intergovernmental ones. Yet, this supranational coverage was associated with the increasingly negative tone of articles. To that extent, this study shows that greater mention of EU institutions may not necessarily contribute to a Europeanisation of public debates. Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at: https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2021.1910778. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To understand the patent valuation practices developed in the academic context to promote innovation. Methodology: A systematic review of the literature was carried out from the scientific bases Scopus and Web of Science using specific search strings, in which 377 works were found. After applying the defined criteria, eight articles were analyzed. Originality: The study is justified due to the importance of understanding the valuation of academic patents as an inducer of innovation. Main results: The results led to a current understanding of perspectives related to the valuation of academic patents on two fronts: models of academic patent valuation and managerial practices of patent valuation in order to promote innovation. Theoretical-methodological contributions: The research presents an incremental theoretical contribution in the area of valuation of academic patents. Social/Managerial Contributions: Academic patent valuation practices are important mechanisms to induce technological innovation by universities, and the gains are generally defined in the form of royalties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work was developed within the scope of the research project "Easyfloor—Development of composite sandwich panels for building floor rehabilitation", which aims at developing an innovative hybrid sandwich panel as an alternative construction system to conventional floor solutions, mainly for building rehabilitation. The developed hybrid sandwich panel is composed of a top face layer of steel-fibre-reinforced self-compacting concrete (FRC), a core of polyurethane (PUR) closed-cell foam, a bottom face sheet, and lateral webs of glass-fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP). Full-scale experimental tests on the developed sandwich panels were carried out to characterize their short- and long-term (creep) flexural behaviour. The present work includes a detailed description of the developed panels and the experimental programme carried out and presents and discusses the relevant results. The experimental results showed an almost linear behaviour up to failure. The creep tests were carried out for a period of 180 days, using a creep load equal to 20% of its ultimate loading capacity. An average creep coefficient of 0.27 was obtained for this period. The composed creep model used to simulate the sandwich panel's creep deflections by considering the individual viscoelastic contributions was able to predict the observed structural response with good accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital libraries represent the most valuable resource for storing, querying, and retrieving scientific literature. Traditionally, the reader/analyst aims to compose a set of articles based on keywords, according to his/her preferences, and manually inspect the resulting list of documents. Except for the articles which share citations or common keywords, the results retrieved will be limited to those which fulfill a syntactic match. Besides, if instead of having an article as a reference, the user has an image, the process of finding and exploring articles with similar content becomes infeasible. This paper proposes a visual analytic methodology for exploring and analyzing scientific document collections that consider both textual and image content. The proposed technique relies on combining multiple Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) components and multidimensional projection to map the documents to a visual space based on their similarity, thus enabling an interactive exploration. Moreover, we extend its analytical capabilities with visual resources to display complementary information on selected documents that uncover hidden patterns and semantic relations. We evidence the effectiveness of our methodology through three case studies and a user evaluation, which attest to its usefulness during the process of scientific collections exploration. [Display omitted] • A methodology for handling scientific articles based on textual and image content. • A visual analytic tool called DRIFT which implements the proposed methodology. • Three case studies and a user evaluation demonstrate the utility of our methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the lack of a general drought definition, water users and managers have developed and used different indices. Many studies using drought indices have been made so as to detect drought events or just to compare their results and assess their advantages and disadvantages. In Portugal, these studies have been done for common drought indices; however, an integrated evaluation and comparison using recent data is needed. Therefore, this study is intended to give an updated overview of the behaviour of the proposed indices. This study proposes the usage of PDSI, scPDSI, SPI and SPEI. With the exception of the PDSI, all indices have been calculated through R packages. The results for the studied regions in mainland Portugal suggest that the drought situations are, in general, most significant and frequent than the wet periods. From our results, we can conclude that the SPI model is more sensitive to extreme drought events and can detect them earlier. The PDSI, scPDSI and SPEI are more reliable for drought monitorization at medium and long spells, which might represent the environmental interactions more closely to the reality. Also, the scPDSI tends to reduce the importance of short period recovering. It is then advisable that impact and scientifical studies consider all of these indices or at least some of them to have a broader and complete understanding of the drought situations to be studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate inflammatory changes in the induced sputum (IS) of gas station attendants (GSAs) at risk of exposure to fuel vapors through inhalation and susceptible to respiratory complaints and impaired lung function. Methods: Hypertonic saline-IS was collected from 52 GSAs who had never smoked (42 men, age = 35.9 ± 8.9 years) and had no known comorbidities. A group of 22 non-smokers (11 men, age = 30.5 ± 5.1 years) selected from the University staff served as control. The GSAs answered a questionnaire and underwent spirometry and chest tomography. A total of 15 inflammatory biomarkers associated with inflammation, including cytokines, chemokines, and mediators of immunological response, were also measured. Results: The most common symptoms of GSAs were coughing (42.3%) and dyspnea (59.6%) based on the New York Heart Association (NYHA; Class II) classification. Significant elevations (p < 0.05) in forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume within the first second were observed in the GSAs relative to those in the controls (GSA vs. control: 99 ± 12% vs. 90 ± 9% and 94 ± 11% vs. 87 ± 10%, respectively). The GSAs had a lower percentage of IS lymphocytes than that in the control group (4.5 ± 5.7% vs. 7.7 ± 9.8%). The GSAs also had significantly lower concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12P70, IFN-γ, and MIP-1α, but IL-3 levels were higher. No differences were observed in the airway thickness and the amount of emphysema between the GSAs and the controls. Conclusion: Despite normal lung function and absence of abnormalities on HRCT, GSAs have a higher frequency of respiratory complaints, with evidence of impairment of lymphocytic activity in the airways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of five post-weaning supplementation strategies and two weaning weight groups on long-term growth, puberty and pregnancy percentage of Brahman crossbred heifers. Early-weaned (118 ± 6 kg liveweight) and normally-weaned (183 ± 6 kg liveweight) heifers were allocated to group pens (n = 4 and n = 5/pen for early- and normally-weaned respectively) and offered one of five levels of post-weaning protein supplementation: 0, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 g of supplement/kg liveweight.day with ad libitum access to a low quality sabi grass (Urochloa mosambicensis) hay during the first dry season (169 days) after weaning. After the post-weaning supplementation period, all heifers grazed the same pastures as a single mob until the end of the experiment and were exposed to fertile bulls from January to May 2016. During the first dry season, supplement intake had a positive linear effect on liveweight gain and hip width gain with no difference in the response between weaning groups. Overall, heifers with higher supplement intakes (i.e. 5 and 10 g/kg) had higher hip height gain (P < 0.005), hip width gain (P < 0.001), body condition score (P < 0.001), and concentration of insulin-like growth factor-1 (P = 0.001), triiodothyronine (P = 0.04) and insulin (P = 0.05) in plasma compared to unsupplemented heifers. These changes resulted in thicker proliferative and hypertrophic zones (both P = 0.03) of the tuber coxae growth plate, larger diameter of terminal hypertrophic chondrocytes (both P = 0.004) at the end of the post-weaning supplementation period when comparing the highest level of supplementation with unsupplemented group. Unsupplemented heifers from both weaning weight groups demonstrated compensatory liveweight gain over the first wet season while evidence of catch-up growth in skeletal dimensions was observed in the second wet season. The main determining factor for pregnancy status of two-year-old Brahman crossbred heifers was pre-mating liveweight (P < 0.001), the pre-mating liveweight was in turn affected by post-weaning supplementation (P = 0.02) or weaning weight group (P < 0.001). This study further demonstrated the positive relationship between premating weight and the occurrence of pregnancy, with an approximate 300 kg pre-mating liveweight required to achieve approximately 80% (67.1–90.3% for a 95% confidence interval) probability of pregnancy in two-year-old Brahman crossbred heifers mated for 4 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hybrid High-Throughput Process Development approach streamlining chromatography process development. • Large Database of adsorption of mAb to protein A and CEX ligands. • Methodology for High-Throughput Screening of resins with mAb in harvest solution. • Similar mAb adsorption to protein A ligand for harvest and pure solution. • Influence feed concentration on the lumped overall mass transfer coefficient discussed. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) industry is becoming increasingly digitalized. Digital twins are becoming increasingly important to test or validate processes before manufacturing. High-Throughput Process Development (HTPD) has been progressively used as a tool for process development and innovation. The combination of High-Throughput Screening with fast computational methods allows to study processes in-silico in a fast and efficient manner. This paper presents a hybrid approach for HTPD where equal importance is given to experimental, computational and decision-making stages. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms of 13 protein A and 16 Cation-Exchange resins were determined with pure mAb. The influence of other components in the clarified cell culture supernatant (harvest) has been under-investigated. This work contributes with a methodology for the study of equilibrium adsorption of mAb in harvest to different protein A resins and compares the adsorption behavior with the pure sample experiments. Column chromatography was modelled using a Lumped Kinetic Model, with an overall mass transfer coefficient parameter (k ov). The screening results showed that the harvest solution had virtually no influence on the adsorption behavior of mAb to the different protein A resins tested. k ov was found to have a linear correlation with the sample feed concentration, which is in line with mass transfer theory. The hybrid approach for HTPD presented highlights the roles of the computational, experimental, and decision-making stages in process development, and how it can be implemented to develop a chromatographic process. The proposed white-box digital twin helps to accelerate chromatographic process development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we sought to identify the source of legitimacy that guided the adoption of Hospital Accreditation in four hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, in addition to assessing whether its adoption was aligned with issues of organizational efficiency. Using Scott's (1995) concepts about types of legitimacy, we conducted a survey consisting of in-depth interviews and semi-structured questionnaires with managers and employees. The result showed normative legitimacy best explained the adoption of hospital accreditation in public and private hospitals in Rio de Janeiro. The search for socially accepted normative values, such as quality of care and patient safety, determined the goals of hospitals that adopted hospital accreditation. The search for efficiency was also proven, evidencing that even in highly institutionalized environments, as in the case of accredited hospitals (Ruef and Scott, 1998), efficiency can go against the search for legitimacy, dismissing hospital certification practices as mere organizational myths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a world with so many crises, including food and environmental ones, for which Agroecology points out solutions, the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic increases the challenge of food production and supply networks. Therefore, the present work aims to report the development of two food marketing strategies from agroecological family farming, during the pandemic period, in the municipality of Gravatá, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. The work is anchored in the extensionist action, within the scope of the project “Amaterra: appropriating agroecology and sowing new times”, and use participatory methodologies as guides for the tool used, namely: the transversal walk on the property and the semi-structured interviews. Farming families demonstrated positive and challenging aspects in relation to agroecological fairs, as well as the alternatives created and improved by them, in the midst of the pandemic, such as door-to-door marketing in the rural community itself, and in the adherence to an integration system between producing and consuming families called Community that Sustains Agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water and salt stress conditions affect germination and seedling emergence. It is known that physiological priming can not only trigger different mechanisms to increase the speed and uniformity of germination, but also influence the antioxidant defence system of the seeds, especially in adverse conditions. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the physiological seed quality and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in seeds of Petroselinum crispum induced to tolerate saline stress through osmo-priming. Seeds were placed in polyethylene glycol solutions with three osmotic potentials (-0.5, -1.0 or -1.5 MPa) for 2, 4 or 6 days. Subsequently, they were placed on substrates moistened with sodium chloride solution (NaCl), in concentrations that generated osmotic potentials of -0.2, -0.4, -0.6, - 0.8 or -1.0 MPa, to germinate. The germination percentage, germination speed index, seedling length, fresh weight, dry weight and activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were evaluated. Germination and germination speed index decreased linearly with the increase in NaCl concentrations, indicating the species sensitivity. As for length, fresh weight and dry weight of seedlings, this effect was more expressive from the potential of -0.4 MPa. The vigour and activity of SOD, POD, and CAT enzymes were reduced in unprimed seeds, emphasising the effectiveness of the technique. The induction of tolerance to saline stress can be related to the activity of the antioxidant system observed in seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main arguments used to legitimise Christian military expansion in medieval Iberia was the location of the origin of the Christian Iberian kingdoms in the ancient Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo (507–711), which established a notion of political continuity between these entities. The legitimacy of the Visigothic Kingdom was reflected in the polities that emerged out of the process of Christian expansion, enabling military activity against Muslims to be portrayed as the restoration of Gothic Spain. In the present study, I refer to this view of the past, especially in thirteenth-century Castilian royal historiography, as the neo-Gothic myth. The neo-Gothic myth was an asset held by royalty in the cultural enactment of these social struggles. In this article, I inquire into the reaction of the seignorial aristocracy to the royalty's neo-Gothic claims, using the historiographical work by Count Pedro of Barcelos (c. 1285–1354). More specifically, I analyse how Count Pedro adapted the neo-Gothic myth to an aristocratic perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Force-directed algorithms are a class of methods widely used to solve problems modeled via physics laws and resolved by particle simulation. Visualization of general graphs is one of the research fields which uses such algorithms and provides a vast knowledge about their benefits and challenges. Taking advantage of the knowledge provided by graph visualization theory, some authors have adopted force-directed algorithms as a tool to deal with the community detection problem. However, researches in that direction seem to be neglected by the literature of complex network. This paper explores the use of force-directed algorithms as a tool to solve the community detection problem. We revisit the works proposed in this area and point out the similarities, but mainly highlight the particularities of such a problem concerning the draw of a general graph. This literature review aims to organize the knowledge about the subject and highlight the state-of-the-art. To conduct our review, we followed a research protocol inspired by systematic review guidelines. Our review exposes that many works have chosen models that are not ideal for dealing with the community detection problem. Furthermore, we also highlight the most appropriate force-directed models for community detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigments from microorganisms have triggered great interest in the market, mostly by their "natural" appeal, their favorable production conditions, in addition to the potential new chemical structures or naturally overproducing strains. They have been used in: food, feed, dairy, textile, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. The high rate of pigment production in microorganisms recovered from Antarctica in response to selective pressures such as: high UV radiation, low temperatures, and freezing and thawing cycles makes this a unique biome which means that much of its biological heritage cannot be found elsewhere on the planet. This vast arsenal of pigmented molecules has different functions in bacteria and may exhibit different biotechnological activities, such as: extracellular sunscreens, photoprotective function, antimicrobial activity, biodegradability, etc. However, many challenges for the commercial use of these compounds have yet to be overcome, such as: the low stability of natural pigments in cosmetic formulations, the change in color when subjected to pH variations, the low yield and the high costs in their production. This review surveys the different types of natural pigments found in Antarctic bacteria, classifying them according to their chemical structure. Finally, we give an overview of the main pigments that are used commercially today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storytelling is shown as an effective approach to humanize information perception. However, its potential to build a biased view of the information contents is often neglected. Moreover, narrative understanding and emotion may interfere with data visualization comprehension. In this research, we evaluated how users perceived the information in two different configurations: One with a report with graphs and narrative side notes texts, and the second with a redesigned fully annotated content. The test compared the two groups in both qualitative and quantitative methods. The quantitative results were obtained by a survey and statistically analyzed with a T-Test. This indicated that the condescending storytelling approach augmented the perception of the effect signaled by the presented narrative. Also, the qualitative results collected afterward by interview and focus group have shown that, as the readers of narrative models perceived a higher intensity of the effect, they have also expected an even higher result from the selected data. The final analysis of the experiment helped to indicate that ordering, highlights, and semantics have a strong role in how the narrative influences the perception of the reader. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A surfaguide microwave discharge operating at 2.45 GHz in Ar and Ar-CO2 mixtures is studied using diagnostics methods based on optical emission spectroscopy. The population densities of Ar metastable and resonant states of the lowest group of excited levels (1sx) are investigated for several experimental conditions using the self-absorption technique. It is found that the densities of these levels, ranging from 1017 to 1016m-3 for the pure Ar case, are dependent on the discharge pressure and applied power. The electron temperature and electron density are calculated via the balances of creation/loss mechanisms of radiative and metastable levels. In the range of the studied experimental conditions (50-300W of applied power and 0.5-6 Torr of gas pressure), the results have shown that lower values of electron temperature correspond to higher values of power and pressure in the discharge. Adding CO2 to the argon plasma results in a considerable decrease (about 3 orders of magnitude) of the Ar metastable atom density. The feasibility of using the ratio of two Ar emission line intensities to measure the electron temperature in CO2 discharges with small Ar admixtures is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purchasing function is of fundamental importance within an institution, wheter public or private, and is not restricted to the act of purchasing, but of the entire logistical process, including its storage until its final consumption. This technological article aimed to diagnose and propose changes in the procurement and warehouse process of a Federal Public Education Institution with a focus on internal procedures and communication between sectors. The methodology used was that of interviews with the unit manager and documentary and empirical analysis of documents and procedures. Situations were identified that need improvement, both preventively and correctly. Thus, interventions were proposed in the purchasing and warehousing processes aimed at more assertive purchases and more efficient inventory management. It was concluded that with small modifications in the procedures, the results are satisfactories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]