Olfactory dysfunction is an increasingly recognised condition, associated with reduced quality of life and major health outcomes such as neurodegeneration and death. However, translational research ...in this field is limited by heterogeneity in methodological approach, including definitions of impairment, improvement and appropriate assessment techniques. Accordingly, effective treatments for smell loss are limited. In an effort to encourage high quality and comparable work in this field, among others, we propose the following ideas and recommendations. Whilst the full set of recommendations are outlined in the main document, points include the following: - Patients with suspected olfactory loss should undergo a full examination of the head and neck, including rigid nasal endoscopy with small diameter endoscopes. - Subjective olfactory assessment should not be undertaken in isolation, given its poor reliability. - Psychophysical assessment tools used in clinical and research settings should include reliable and validated tests of odour threshold, and/or one of odour identification or discrimination. - Comprehensive chemosensory assessment should include gustatory screening. - Smell training can be helpful in patients with olfactory loss of several aetiologies.
We hope the current manuscript will encourage clinicians and researchers to adopt a common language, and in so doing, increase the methodological quality, consistency and generalisability of work in this field.
Intensification of Brazilian cattle ranching systems has attracted both national and international attention due to its direct relation with Amazon deforestation on the one hand and increasing demand ...of the global population for meat on the other. Since Brazilian cattle ranching is predominantly pasture-based, we particularly focus on pasture management. We summarize the most recurrent opportunities and risks associated with pasture intensification that are brought up within scientific and political dialogues, and discuss them within the Brazilian context. We argue that sustainable intensification of pasturelands in Brazil is a viable way to increase agricultural output while simultaneously sparing land for nature. Since environmental degradation is often associated with low-yield extensive systems in Brazil, it is possible to obtain higher yields, while reversing degradation, by adopting practices like rotational grazing, incorporation of legumes and integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems. Technical assistance is however essential, particularly for small- and medium-scale farmers. Sound complementary policies and good governance must accompany these measures so that a 'rebound effect' does not lead to increased deforestation and other adverse social and environmental impacts. It is also important that animal welfare is not compromised. Although the discussion is presented with respect to Brazil, some aspects are relevant to other developing countries.
Mitochondria possess a Ca2+ transport system composed of separate Ca2+ influx and efflux pathways. Intramitochondrial Ca2+ concentrations regulate oxidative phosphorylation, required for cell ...function and survival, and mitochondrial redox balance, that participates in a myriad of signaling and damaging pathways. The interaction between Ca2+ accumulation and redox imbalance regulates opening and closing of a highly regulated inner membrane pore, the membrane permeability transition pore (PTP). In this review, we discuss the regulation of the PTP by mitochondrial oxidants, reactive nitrogen species, and the interactions between these species and other PTP inducers. In addition, we discuss the involvement of mitochondrial redox imbalance and PTP in metabolic conditions such as atherogenesis, diabetes, obesity and in mtDNA stability.
•Mitochondria possess Ca2+ influx and efflux pathways.•Mitochondrial Ca2+ regulates oxidative phosphorylation and redox balance.•Opening of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) is regulated by oxidants.•Mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation and redox imbalance regulate PTP.•PTP is involved in metabolic disorders such as atherogenesis, diabetes, and obesity.
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Natural regeneration provides multiple benefits to nature and human societies, and can play a major role in global and national restoration targets. However, these benefits are context specific and ...impacted by both biophysical and socioeconomic heterogeneity across landscapes. Here, we investigate the benefits of natural regeneration for climate change mitigation, sediment retention and biodiversity conservation in a spatially explicit way at very high resolution for a region within the global biodiversity hotspot of the Atlantic Forest. We classified current land-use cover in the region and simulated a natural regeneration scenario in abandoned pasturelands, areas where potential conflicts with agricultural production would be minimized and where some early stage regeneration is already occurring. We then modeled changes in biophysical functions for climate change mitigation and sediment retention, and performed an economic valuation of both ecosystem services. We also modeled how land-use changes affect habitat availability for species. We found that natural regeneration can provide significant ecological and social benefits. Economic values of climate change mitigation and sediment retention alone could completely compensate for the opportunity costs of agricultural production over 20 yr. Habitat availability is improved for three species with different dispersal abilities, although by different magnitudes. Improving the understanding of how costs and benefits of natural regeneration are distributed can be useful to design incentive structures that bring farmers’ decision making more in line with societal benefits. This alignment is crucial for natural regeneration to fulfill its potential as a large-scale solution for pressing local and global environmental challenges.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of ultrasound (US)-mediated phonophoresis alone or in association with diclofenac diethylammonium (DCF) administered topically in animal ...models of inflammation. A pre-clinical, prospective, and randomized experimental study of quantitative and qualitative nature was carried out. Phonophoresis was performed using a therapeutic ultrasound apparatus in two distinct models of acute inflammation. Edema was induced by an intraplantar injection of carrageenan and measured by plethysmography. The Hargreaves test was used to evaluate the antinociceptive activity and investigate the action of phonophoresis on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production. A histological analysis with hematoxylin-eosin was used to evaluate tissue repair, and the expression of COX-2 was determined by immunohistochemical analysis. At the peak of inflammatory activity (3 h), treatment with US, US+DCF, and DCF significantly reduced edema formation compared to the control group. Treatment with US+DCF was more effective than treatment with US alone at both analyzed times. In the analysis of the antinociceptive activity, the treatments significantly increased the latency time in response to the thermal stimulus. Histopathological analysis revealed a reduction of the inflammatory infiltrates and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the association was effective in reducing COX-2 expression compared to the control group. The association of DCF with US produced anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects in rat models of inflammation, which may be associated with inhibition of COX-2 and TNF-α production.
Most deforested lands in Brazil are occupied by low-productivity cattle ranching. Brazil is the second biggest meat producer worldwide and is projected to increase its agricultural output more than ...any other country. Biochar has been shown to improve soil properties and agricultural productivity when added to degraded soils, but these effects are context-dependent. The impact of biochar, fertilizer and inoculant on the productivity of forage grasses in Brazil (Brachiaria spp. and Panicum spp.) was investigated from environmental and socio-economic perspectives. We showed a 27% average increase in Brachiaria production over two years but no significant effects of amendment on Panicum yield. Biochar addition also increased the contents of macronutrients, soil pH and CEC. Each hectare amended with biochar saved 91 tonnes of CO
eq through land sparing effect, 13 tonnes of CO
eq sequestered in the soil, equating to U$455 in carbon payments. The costs of biochar production for smallholder farmers, mostly because of labour cost, outweighed the potential benefits of its use. Biochar is 617% more expensive than common fertilizers. Biochar could improve productivity of degraded pasturelands in Brazil if investments in efficient biochar production techniques are used and biochar is subsidized by low emission incentive schemes.
The essential oil from
Callistemon viminalis
(EOC) is rich in monoterpenes, with a variety of biological properties: antibacterial, antifungal, insecticide, and antioxidant. Inclusion complexes (ICs) ...with cyclodextrins (CDs) is an alternative to prevent toxicity, improve the activity, and reduce the concentration to be used. Thus, the objective of this work was to prepare an IC (EOC/β-CD) and evaluate the antibacterial, antifungal and phospholipase activities, as well as the toxicity. Antimicrobial activity used the agar diffusion test and antifungal activity the disc diffusion test. Toxicity tests were carried out using
Lactuca sativa L.
The inhibition of phospholipase activity using the venom of
Bothrops atrox
as an inducer was performed. Antibacterial and antifungal tests demonstrated a decrease in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the IC. It was most significantly observed for the bacterium
Listeria monocytogenes
, for which there was a decrease in the MIC from 250 µg mL
−1
to 62.5 µg mL
−1
after complexation, and for the fungus
Aspergillus flavus
, with a decrease in MIC from 125 µg mL
−1
to 62.5 µg mL
−1
after complexation. Toxicity tests with
Lactuca sativa
showed a decrease in toxicity after complexation in all parameters analyzed, with no statistical difference from the negative control. Inhibition of phospholipase activity induced by
Bothrops atrox
venom was more expressive in the highest proportion studied (1:10 m:m), exerting 23% inhibition. The assays demonstrated that the complexation between the EOC and β-CD is a promising alternative for use in different branches, especially in food industry, to fully exploit its application potential.
Supernovae are essential to understanding the chemical evolution of the universe. Type Ia supernovae also provide the most powerful observational tool currently available for studying the expansion ...history of the universe and the nature of dark energy. Our basic knowledge of supernovae comes from the study of their photometric and spectroscopic properties. However, the presently available data sets of optical and near‐infrared light curves of supernovae are rather small and/or heterogeneous, and employ photometric systems that are poorly characterized. Similarly, there are relatively few supernovae whose spectral evolution has been well sampled, both in wavelength and phase, with precise spectrophotometric observations. The low‐redshift portion of the Carnegie Supernova Project (CSP) seeks to remedy this situation by providing photometry and spectrophotometry of a large sample of supernovae taken on telescope/filter/detector systems that are well understood and well characterized. During a 5 year program that began in 2004 September, we expect to obtain high‐precisionu
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i
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BVYJHK
s
light curves and optical spectrophotometry for about 250 supernovae of all types. In this paper we provide a detailed description of the CSP survey observing and data reduction methodology. In addition, we present preliminary photometry and spectra obtained for a few representative supernovae during the first observing campaign.
A systematic synthetic study was performed to explain the usual trend in selectivity towards multi-coupling, over mono-coupling, in Suzuki–Miyaura reactions. This preference was observed under ...different reaction conditions: for various halobenzenes, using substituents on the boronic acid, and changing the catalyst and temperature. Moreover, this reaction selectivity was found to increase for more reactive systems towards oxidative addition and more diluted media. The results constitute experimental evidence that the formation of the totally substituted coupling product is kinetically favoured by a reaction path location—the proximity between the regenerated catalyst and the newly formed coupling intermediate promotes the subsequent reaction.
Dulce de leche is a South American traditional dairy product. However, due to the high sugar content, it is unsafe for consumers with special physiological conditions, such as diabetes. Light foods ...were developed to meet those demands whilst maintaining the sensory characteristics. The present study aimed to develop and characterize a formulation of light dulce de leche, using sweeteners to substitute sucrose, and gums as thickening and stabilizing agents. The physicochemical assays follow the AOAC manual, and the microbiological parameters were set according to MERCOSUL’s legislation. Thirty potential consumers perform the nine-point hedonic scale for product acceptance and the seven-point scale for buying intention. Compared to the traditional formulation, the product had better rheological properties, but a lighter color. All the raw materials and final products were considered safe by the recommended microbiological and toxicological standards; however, the product showed discrepancies to the physicochemical requirements. The formulation had an overall medium acceptance and low buying intention. The product had deficiencies, needing other compounds to reach the desired characteristics. Even though it leads to a more expensive final product, it is possible to adjust the product and allow access to more selective consumers or with restrictions.
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