Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for the Douro Winemaking Region: Dynamic Crop Modelling and Ensemble Projections for Yield, Alcohol Content, and Phenology.

Climate change is expected to significantly reshape viticulture across traditional wine regions, including the Douro winemaking region (DWR) in northern Portugal. This study evaluates projected impacts of climate change on key viticultural parameters, such as grapevine yield, phenology, and potential alcohol content, using an ensemble of high-resolution downscaled climate simulations for the recent-past (1986 to 2015) and for two emission scenarios: SSP1-2.6 (low-emissions pathway) and SSP5-8.

Development and Simulation-Based Validation of Biodegradable 3D-Printed Cog Threads for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a prevalent condition, affecting women all over the world, and is commonly treated through surgical interventions that present limitations such as recurrence or complications associated with synthetic meshes. In this study, biodegradable poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) cog threads are proposed as a minimally invasive alternative for vaginal wall reinforcement. A custom cutting tool was developed to fabricate threads with varying barb angles (90°, 75°, 60°, and 45°), which were produced via Melt Electrowriting.

Biomechanical evaluation of biodegradable PCL cog threads for prolapse rehabilitation.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a prevalent pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) that significantly impacts women's quality of life, driving the need for innovative and less invasive treatment options. Surgical intervention remains the primary treatment for POP; however, it is often associated with high invasiveness, substantial risks, and a notable rate of failure. In this study, we investigate the potential of biodegradable cog threads, commonly used in cosmetic facial lifting, as an alternative surgical solution for reinforcing vaginal wall defects.

Lab Legends and Field Phantoms: The Tale of Virus-Resistant Plants.

Plant viruses present significant challenges to global agriculture, causing crop losses, threatening food security, and imposing economic burdens. Advances in biotechnology have revolutionized strategies to attack these threats, with genetically modified and genome-edited virus-resistant plants, developed using precision tools such as RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas technology, playing pivotal roles. Despite these breakthroughs, fragmented regulatory frameworks and divergent policies across regions including the European Union and the Global South hinder the global adoption of such innovations.

Biologic Therapies for Severe Asthma: Current Insights and Future Directions.

Severe asthma is a subset of difficult-to-treat asthma that requires the verification of inhaler technique, the correction of modifiable risk factors, as well as diagnosis and comorbidity review. When severe asthma is suspected, patients should undergo proper phenotyping (T2-high or T2-low) and be referred to a specialized severe asthma clinic. The current biologics for severe asthma treatment include omalizumab (anti-IgE), mepolizumab and reslizumab (anti-IL-5), benralizumab (anti-IL-5 receptor), dupilumab (anti-IL-4/IL-13), and tezepelumab (anti-TSLP).

The proteome of human adult whipworm Trichuris trichiura: A source of potential immunomodulatory molecules.

Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), including Trichuris trichiura, pose a major global health challenge, particularly in children, causing significant morbidity. However, T. trichiura's ability to modulate host immune responses offers a unique opportunity to discover biomolecules with therapeutic potential for inflammatory, allergic, and autoimmune disorders.

Linear Accelerator (LINAC) Radiosurgical Management of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations: An Experience From a Tertiary Care Center.

Introduction: Brain arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are complex vascular pathologies with a significant risk of hemorrhage. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an effective treatment modality for AVM, initially popularized on the Gamma Knife (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden) platform, and now benefits from the modern advances in linear accelerator (LINAC)-based platforms. This study evaluates the outcomes of LINAC-based SRS/hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (hFSRT) for cerebral AVMs.

Therapeutic potential of a novel hybrid protein: Mitigating allergy and airway remodeling in chronic asthma models induced by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

Background: The house-dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is a key trigger of allergic asthma. Therefore, it is essential to develop new vaccines that can alter inflammatory processes and airway remodeling. The goal of this study was to test the hypoallergenic and immunogenic characteristics of the hypoallergen rDer p 2231 in a murine model of chronic asthma induced by D.

Green tech soil analysis: a comparison of potentially toxic element contents among urban, agricultural, and gold mining areas in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon.

Artisanal gold mining can lead to soil contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs), necessitating soil quality monitoring due to environmental and human health risks. However, determining PTE levels through acid digestion is time-consuming, generates chemical waste, and requires significant resources. As an alternative, portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) offers a faster, more cost-effective, and sustainable analysis.

Properties and environmental quality of the overburden and tailings of manganese mining in the Eastern Amazon.

Knowledge about the characteristics of overburden and tailings from manganese (Mn) mining is essential for defining their levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and appropriate environmental management. This study aimed to assess the total and bioavailable contents of PTEs in Mn mining areas in the Eastern Amazon, as well as the associated environmental risks. The samples were collected in areas of overburden and tailings deposition, in addition to forest soils in the Azul mine, Carajás Mineral Province, Brazil.

Bacterial nanocellulose as a simple and tailorable platform for controlled drug release.

In this study we present a proof of concept of a simple and straightforward approach for the development of a Bacterial Nanocellulose drug delivery system (BNC-DDS), envisioning the local delivery of immunomodulatory drugs to prevent foreign body reaction (FBR). Inspired by the self-adhesion behavior of BNC upon drying, we proposed a BNC laminate entrapping commercial crystalline drugs (dexamethasone-DEX and GW2580) in a sandwich system. The stability of the bilayer BNC-DDS was evidenced by the high interfacial energy of the bilayer films, 150 ± 11 and 88 ± 7 J/m respectively for 2 mm- and 10-mm thick films, corresponding to an increase of 7.

Three-Dimensional Melted Electrowriting Drug Coating Fibers for the Prevention of Device-Associated Infections: A Pilot Study.

Medical device-related infections (DRIs), especially prevalent among critically ill patients, impose significant health and economic burdens and are mainly caused by bacteria. Severe infections often necessitate device removal when antibiotic therapy is inefficient, delaying recovery. To tackle this issue, PCL drug-eluting coated meshes were explored, and they were printed via melt electrowriting (MEW).

Fast, Efficient Tailoring Growth of Nanocrystalline Diamond Films by Fine-Tuning of Gas-Phase Composition Using Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition.

Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films are attractive for many applications due to their smooth surfaces while holding the properties of diamond. However, their growth rate is generally low using common Ar/CH with or without H chemistry and strongly dependent on the overall growth conditions using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD). In this work, incorporating a small amount of N and O additives into CH/H chemistry offered a much higher growth rate of NCD films, which is promising for some applications.

Biodegradation of e-waste microplastics by Penicillium brevicompactum.

Electronic and electric waste (e-waste) management strategies often fall short in dealing with the plastic constituents of printed circuit boards (PCB). Some plastic materials from PCB, such as epoxy resins, may release contaminants, but neither potential environmental impact has been assessed nor mitigation strategies have been put forward. This study assessed the biodegradation of microplastics (1-2 mm in size) from PCB by the fungus Penicillium brevicompactum over 28 days, thus contributing to the discussion of mitigation strategies for decreasing the environmental impact of such plastics in the environment.

Treatment of subclinical mastitis in dairy goats experimentally infected with Staphylococcus aureus using natural therapeutic protocol.

In herds of dairy goats, mastitis represents a major health and economic problem due to the multiresistance of some microorganisms. In this context, the study aimed to determine the potential of antimicrobial action and antibiofilm of the crude ethanolic extract (CEE) of Hymenaea martiana (jatobá) leaves, as well its fractions, on Staphylococcus sp isolated from bacterial cultures of goat milk. In vitro assays were performed to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), as well as tests of the effect of CEE on biofilm formation and quantification and the consolidated biofilm.

Artisanal mining of monazite and cassiterite in the Amazon: Potential risks of rare earth elements for the environment and human health.

Artisanal mining is intensely carried out in developing countries, including Brazil and especially in the Amazon. This method of mineral exploration generally does not employ mitigation techniques for potential damages and can lead to various environmental problems and risks to human health. The objectives of this study were to quantify the concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) and estimate the environmental and human health risks in cassiterite and monazite artisanal mining areas in the southeastern Amazon, as well as to understand the dynamics of this risk over time after exploitation.

Voice Handicap Index: Cut-Off Points for Screening European Portuguese With Voice Disorders.

Objectives: To determine cut-off values of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and the shortened version (VHI-10) for European Portuguese (EP) with voice disorders. In addition, to analyze the discriminatory power of individual items of the VHI-10 and the ability to detect differences in various Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) diagnoses.

Study Design: Cross-sectional cohort study.

Influence of spontaneous and inoculated fermentation of açai on simulated digestion, antioxidant capacity and cytotoxic activity.

This work describes the kinetic study of different types (spontaneous, lactic and alcoholic) of açai fermentation in terms of total phenolics and total anthocyanins, as well as antioxidant capacity, before and after simulated digestion (SD). Cytotoxicity (A549, HCT8 and IMR90 cells) and formation of reactive oxygen species (A549 cells) were also evaluated. The results revealed that spontaneous fermentation (SF) for 24 h, followed by SD, generated a product with greater bioaccessibility of phenolics (52.

Experiences with remote communication in adult intensive care units during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review protocol.

Objective: The objective of this review is to explore the lived experiences of critically ill adults, their families, or health care professionals with remote communication in intensive care units (ICUs) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Family visiting restrictions in ICUs during the COVID-19 pandemic imposed significant challenges to communication between critically ill adults, their families, and the health care team. Evidence shows that several communication strategies were developed and implemented in ICUs during the COVID-19 pandemic to promote family engagement; however, the experiences of critically ill adults, their families, and health care professionals with these strategies are scattered across primary qualitative studies.

Human and environmental exposure to rare earth elements in gold mining areas in the northeastern Amazon.

Rudimentary methods are used to exploit gold (Au) in several artisanal mines in the Amazon, producing hazardous wastes that may pose risks of contamination by rare earth elements (REEs). The objectives of this study were to quantify the concentrations of REEs and assess their environmental and human health risks in artisanal Au mining areas in the northeastern Amazon. Thus, 25 samples of soils and mining wastes were collected in underground, colluvial, and cyanidation exploration sites, as well as in a natural forest that was considered as a reference area.

An Overview of the Conventional and Novel Methods Employed for SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody Measurement.

SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and is responsible for the pandemic that started in 2020. The virus enters the host cell through the interaction of its spike glycoprotein with the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) on the host cell's surface. Antibodies present an important role during the infection and pathogenesis due to many reasons, including the neutralization of viruses by binding to different spike epitopes.