Land area devoted to sugarcane (
Saccharum
spp.) production in Brazil has increased from 2 million to 10 million ha over the past four decades. Studies have shown that, from an environmental ...perspective, the transformation of nitrogen (N) fertilizers into N
2
O gases can offset the advantages gained by replacing fossil fuels with biofuels. Our objectives here were to review recent developments in N management for sugarcane-biofuel production and assess estimates of N use efficiency (NUE) and N losses based on future scenarios, as well as for life-cycle assessments of bioenergy production. Approximately 60 % of N-based fertilizer applied to sugarcane fields in Brazil is recovered by plants and soils, whereas N losses to leaching and N
2
O emissions can average 5.6 and 1.84 % of the total applied N, respectively. Maintenance of trash, rotation with N-fixing legume species, and optimization of byproducts usage have potential for reducing the N requirements of sugarcane cultivation in Brazil. Moreover, the development of sugarcane genotypes with higher NUEs, along with management systems that consider soil capacity of mineralization, is required for improving the NUE of sugarcane. Strategies to maintain N as NH
4
+
in sugarcane-cropped soils also have the potential to reduce N losses and enhance NUE. The development of second-generation biofuels is important for increasing biofuel production while simultaneously maintaining N rates and improving NUE, and sugarcane systems in Brazil show potential for sustainable biofuel production with low N rates and limited N
2
O losses. Reducing N rates in sugarcane fields is thus necessary for improving sugarcane-based biofuel production and reducing its environmental impacts.
Direct lineage reprogramming is a promising approach for human disease modeling and regenerative medicine, with poorly understood mechanisms. Here, we reveal a hierarchical mechanism in the direct ...conversion of fibroblasts into induced neuronal (iN) cells mediated by the transcription factors Ascl1, Brn2, and Myt1l. Ascl1 acts as an “on-target” pioneer factor by immediately occupying most cognate genomic sites in fibroblasts. In contrast, Brn2 and Myt1l do not access fibroblast chromatin productively on their own; instead, Ascl1 recruits Brn2 to Ascl1 sites genome wide. A unique trivalent chromatin signature in the host cells predicts the permissiveness for Ascl1 pioneering activity among different cell types. Finally, we identified Zfp238 as a key Ascl1 target gene that can partially substitute for Ascl1 during iN cell reprogramming. Thus, a precise match between pioneer factors and the chromatin context at key target genes is determinative for transdifferentiation to neurons and likely other cell types.
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•Ascl1 has pioneer activity, accessing closed chromatin to allow other factors to bind•Unlike other pioneer factors, Ascl1 binds its physiologic neural targets in fibroblasts•A trivalent chromatin domain predicts iN reprogramming ability in other cell types•Zfp238 is a direct Ascl1 target and critical mediator of iN cell reprogramming
Of three transcription factors that together convert different cell types into induced neuronal (iN) cells, Ascl1 leads the way as the “pioneer factor,” followed by Brn2 and Myt1l. A trivalent chromatin state at Ascl1 target genes predicts which types of cells will respond to reprogramming by these factors.
Molybdenite (MoS2) is a naturally hydrophobic mineral with anisotropic surface properties. Its floatability is influenced by a number of factors such as, particle size and shape, face/edge ratio, ...degree of crystallization, face heterogeneity, pH, etc. Molybdenite is floated by using oily collectors, and its recovery is strongly affected by slime coating phenomena. A number of hydrolyzable cations, such as Ca2+ and Mg2+, depress molybdenite in alkaline solutions. Depression of molybdenite in seawater and saline waters is mainly induced by the precipitation of colloidal magnesium hydroxide when pH is raised to depress pyrite. Other metal cations present in recycled process water can also reduce the flotation recovery of molybdenite (e.g., Al3+, Fe2+, Cu2+ ions). The native floatability of molybdenite is highly depressed by natural polymers (starch, dextrin, guar gum, humic acids, etc.) and synthetic polymers (e.g., flocculants of the polyacrylamide type). The advances in understanding the surface chemistry of these systems are reviewed and discussed in this paper.
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•This paper reviews the surface chemistry and floatability of molybdenite, usually by-product in Cu/Mo sulfide ores.•Oil collectors are used to improve molybdenite flotation and the comparison with thiol collectors is discussed.•Some inorganic ions are strong molybdenite depressants, such as, calcium ions and lime.•Magnesium ions are also strong depressants for molybdenite flotation when saline, hypersaline or seawater are employed at pH > 10.0.•The depressant effect of polymers on molybdenite flotation is discussed, and particularly the effect of flocculants.
Socioeconomic factors have been consistently associated with suicide, and economic recessions are linked to rising suicide rates. However, evidence on the impact of socioeconomic interventions to ...reduce suicide rates is limited. This study investigates the association of the world's largest conditional cash transfer programme with suicide rates in a cohort of half of the Brazilian population.
We used data from the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort, covering a 12-year period (2004 to 2015). It comprises socioeconomic and demographic information on 114,008,317 individuals, linked to the "Bolsa Família" programme (BFP) payroll database, and nationwide death registration data. BFP was implemented by the Brazilian government in 2004. We estimated the association of BFP using inverse probability of treatment weighting, estimating the weights for BFP beneficiaries (weight = 1) and nonbeneficiaries by the inverse probability of receiving treatment (weight = E(ps)/(1-E(ps))). We used an average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) estimator and fitted Poisson models to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for suicide associated with BFP experience. At the cohort baseline, BFP beneficiaries were younger (median age 27.4 versus 35.4), had higher unemployment rates (56% versus 32%), a lower level of education, resided in rural areas, and experienced worse household conditions. There were 36,742 suicide cases among the 76,532,158 individuals aged 10 years, or older, followed for 489,500,000 person-years at risk. Suicide rates among beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries were 5.4 (95% CI = 5.32, 5.47, p < 0.001) and 10.7 (95% CI = 10.51, 10.87, p < 0.001) per 100,000 individuals, respectively. BFP beneficiaries had a lower suicide rate than nonbeneficiaries (IRR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.42, 0.45, p < 0.001). This association was stronger among women (IRR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.33, 0.38, p < 0.001), and individuals aged between 25 and 59 (IRR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.40, 0.43, p < 0.001). Study limitations include a lack of control for previous mental disorders and access to means of suicide, and the possible under-registration of suicide cases due to stigma.
We observed that BFP was associated with lower suicide rates, with similar results in all sensitivity analyses. These findings should help to inform policymakers and health authorities to better design suicide prevention strategies. Targeting social determinants using cash transfer programmes could be important in limiting suicide, which is predicted to rise with the economic recession, consequent to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Pérez-Ifrán, P, Magallanes, CA, de S. Castro, FA, Astorino, TA, and Benítez-Flores, S. Extremely low-volume burpee interval training equivalent to 8 minutes per session improves vertical jump ...compared with sprint interval training in real-world circumstances. J Strength Cond Res 38(1): 10-20, 2024-The aim of this study was to compare the cardiometabolic and physical effects of 2 time-matched high-intensity programs in a real-world environment. Forty-three active and healthy adults (sex = 31 men and 12 women; age = 27 ± 5 years; peak heart rate HR peak = 190.7 ± 10.6 beat·min -1 ) were randomized to 2 very low-volume protocols (∼8 minutes): sprint interval training (SIT) ( n = 15), burpee interval training (BIT) ( n = 15), and control (CON) ( n = 13). Subjects in SIT and BIT performed 5 days of 10 × 4 second "all-out" efforts with 30 seconds of recovery. Body composition, blood pressure, countermovement jump (CMJ), 10-m sprint, shuttle run test (SRT), autonomic modulation , self-efficacy, and intention were evaluated before and after training. Sprint interval training elicited a higher %HR peak , energy expenditure, rating of perceived exertion category ratio 10 scale, and feeling scale than BIT ( p < 0.05). SRT distance was significantly improved in SIT ( p = 0.03, d = 0.62), whereas CMJ height was significantly enhanced in BIT ( p = 0.0014, d = 0.72). Self-efficacy progressively worsened for SIT than for BIT as sessions increased, and significant differences were found in 5× a week frequency between protocols ( p = 0.040, d = 0.79). No differences in intention to engage were detected between the regimens ( p > 0.05). No changes were observed in body composition, blood pressure, 10-m sprint, SRTV̇O 2max , or autonomic variables with training ( p > 0.05). Results exhibit that extremely low-volume SIT improved running performance, whereas BIT increased the vertical jump.
The frontier molecular energy levels of organic semiconductors are decisive for their fundamental function and efficiency in optoelectronics. However, the precise determination of these energy levels ...and their variation when using different techniques makes it hard to compare and establish design rules. In this work, the energy levels of 33 organic semiconductors via cyclic voltammetry (CV), density functional theory, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and low‐energy inverse photoelectron spectroscopy are determined. Solar cells are fabricated to obtain key device parameters and relate them to the significant differences in the energy levels and offsets obtained from different methods. In contrast to CV, the photovoltaic gap measured using photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) correlates well with the experimental device VOC. It is demonstrated that high‐performing systems such as PM6:Y6 and WF3F:Y6, which are previously reported to have negligible ionization energy (IE) offsets (ΔIE), possess sizable ΔIE of ≈0.5 eV, determined by PES. Using various D–A blends, it is demonstrated that ΔIE plays a key role in charge generation. In contrast to earlier reports, it is shown that a vanishing ΔIE is detrimental to device performance. Overall, these findings establish a solid base for reliably evaluating material energetics and interpreting property–performance relationships in organic solar cells.
The photovoltaic gap measured by ultraviolet and low‐energy photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS/LE‐IPES) gives the best correlation to device properties, enabling the prediction of maximum Voc. Cyclic voltammetry (CV)‐derived redox potentials are less meaningful for predicting the energetic landscape at the “donor”–“acceptor” interface.
Background
Acute appendicitis is still a difficult diagnosis. Scoring systems are designed to aid in the clinical assessment of patients with acute appendicitis. The Alvarado score is the most well ...known and best performing in validation studies. The purpose of the present study was to externally validate a recently developed appendicitis inflammatory response (AIR) score and compare it to the Alvarado score.
Methods
The present study selected consecutive patients who presented with suspicion of acute appendicitis between 2006 and 2009. Variables necessary to evaluate the scoring systems were registered. The diagnostic performance of the two scores was compared.
Results
The present study included 941 consecutive patients with suspicion of acute appendicitis. There were 410 male patients (44%) and 531 female patients (56%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the AIR score was 0.96 and significantly better than the area under the curve of 0.82 of the Alvarado score (
p
< 0.05). The AIR score also outperformed the Alvarado score when analyzing the more difficult patients, including women, children, and the elderly.
Conclusions
This study externally validates the AIR Score for patients with acute appendicitis. The scoring system has a high discriminating power and outperforms the Alvarado score.
OPTN/SRTR 2018 Annual Data Report: Kidney Hart, A.; Smith, J. M.; Skeans, M. A. ...
American journal of transplantation,
January 2020, 2020-01-00, 20200101, Letnik:
20, Številka:
s1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Despite the ongoing severe mismatch between organ need and supply, data from 2018 revealed some promising trends. For the fourth year in a row, the number of patients waiting for a kidney transplant ...in the US declined and numbers of both deceased and living donor kidney transplants increased. These encouraging trends are tempered by ongoing challenges, such as a large proportion of listed patients with dialysis time longer than 5 years. The proportion of candidates aged 65 years or older continued to rise, and the proportion undergoing transplant within 5 years of listing continued to vary dramatically nationwide, from 10% to nearly 80% across donation service areas. Increasing trends in the recovery of organs from hepatitis C positive donors and donors with anoxic brain injury warrant ongoing monitoring, as does the ongoing discard of nearly 20% of recovered organs. While the number of living donor transplants increased, racial disparities persisted in the proportion of living versus deceased donors. Strikingly, the total number of kidney transplant recipients alive with a functioning graft is on track to pass 250,000 in the next 1‐2 years. The total number of pediatric kidney transplants remained steady at 756 in 2018. Deeply concerning to the pediatric community is the persistently low level of living donor kidney transplants, representing only 36.2% in 2018.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Peripheral Dopamine Moore, Shaun C; Vaz de Castro, Pedro A. S; Yaqub, Daniel ...
International journal of molecular sciences,
09/2023, Letnik:
24, Številka:
18
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Dopamine is synthesized in the nervous system where it acts as a neurotransmitter. Dopamine is also synthesized in a number of peripheral organs as well as in several types of cells and has ...organ-specific functions and, as demonstrated more recently, is involved in the regulation of the immune response and inflammatory reaction. In particular, the renal dopaminergic system is very important in the regulation of sodium transport and blood pressure and is particularly sensitive to stimuli that cause oxidative stress and inflammation. This review is focused on how dopamine is synthesized in organs and tissues and the mechanisms by which dopamine and its receptors exert their effects on the inflammatory response.
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