Limited fossil fuel reserves combined with greenhouse gas intensification due to CO2 emissions has encouraged research in renewable fuels. In this work, a flash pyrolysis study of elephant grass ...cultivars—Pennisetum purpureum Schum cultivar Mott (MEG), P. purpureum Schum cultivar Roxo (REG), and P. purpureum Schum cultivar Capiaçu (CEG)—was carried out. The biomasses were evaluated in terms of energy characterization by proximate and ultimate analysis, thermogravimetric analyses (TG/DTG), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and analytical pyrolysis (Py‐GC/MS) at 600°C. The characterization results showed that these biomasses have potential for energy applications and to produce valuable chemicals. The pyrolysis products produced were mainly oxygenated, including short‐chain organic acids (C1‐C4), furans, esters, aldehydes, ketone, and phenols. Although the obtained results were similar for the three biomasses with small variations in the yields of the pyrolysis products, the study reveals an important difference in terms of energy density. CEG was proven as the most promising elephant grass cultivar to be applied for fast pyrolysis to obtain bio‐oil due to its higher dry matter production (2115 t km−2), power generated (9529 MWh km−2), HHV (16.22 MJ kg−1), lower ash content (6.75%), higher volatile content (74.84%), and higher carbon content (42.57%).
•Zebrafish are a powerful novel organism in neuroscience and physiology research.•Housing in transparent and white tanks for 15 days increased their anxiety-like behavior.•Housing in black and blue ...tanks lowered zebrafish anxiety-like behavior.•Housing in blue (vs. white) tanks also reduced whole-body cortisol levels.•Color of housing environment strongly modulates behavioral and endocrine phenotypes in zebrafish.
Color of the environment is an important factor modulating human and animal behavior and physiology. Animal models are a valuable tool to understand how colors affect social, cognitive and affective responses. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly emerging as an important organism in neuroscience and physiology. Here, we examine whether the color of housing environment influences zebrafish anxiety-like behavior and whole-body cortisol levels. Overall, housing for 15 days in transparent and white holding tanks increases, and in black or blue tanks decreases, baseline anxiety-like behavior in adult zebrafish. Housing in blue tanks (vs. white) also reduced their whole-body cortisol levels. Taken together, our data suggest that color of the housing environment affects neurobehavioral and endocrine responses in zebrafish, with multiple implications for behavioral phenomics and animal welfare. Our study also reinforces zebrafish as a promising model organism to study neurobiology of compex brain-environment interactions.
•Colors are an important biological factor affecting human and animal behavior and physiology.•The zebrafish is rapidly emerging as a novel model species in neuroscience research.•Colors potently ...affect zebrafish affective, social and cognitive behaviors.•Color is a key factor in zebrafish neurophenomics and CNS disease modeling.
Color is an important environmental factor that in multiple ways affects human and animal behavior and physiology. Widely used in neuroscience research, various experimental (animal) models may help improve our understanding of how different colors impact brain and behavioral processes. Complementing laboratory rodents, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is rapidly emerging as an important novel model species to explore complex neurobehavioral processes. The growing utility of zebrafish in biomedicine makes it timely to consider the role of colors in their behavioral and physiological responses. Here, we summarize mounting evidence implicating colors as a critical variable in zebrafish models and neurobehavioral traits, with a particular relevance to CNS disease modeling, genetic and pharmacological modulation, as well as environmental enrichment and animal welfare. We also discuss the growing value of zebrafish models to study color neurobiology and color-related neurobehavioral phenomics, and outline future directions of research in this field.
Implant-related infections at the early healing period are considered one of the main risk factors in implant failure. Designing coatings that control bacterial adhesion and have cell stimulatory ...behavior remains a challenging strategy for dental implants. Here, we used plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) to produce antimicrobial coatings on commercially pure titanium (cpTi) using bioactive elements (calcium and phosphorus) and different copper (Cu) sources: copper acetate (CuAc), copper sulfate (CuS), and copper oxide (CuO); coatings containing only Ca and P (CaP) served as controls. Cu sources drove differential physical and chemical surface features of PEO coatings, resulting in tailorable release kinetics with a sustained Cu ion release over 10 weeks. The antibacterial effects of Cu-containing coatings were roughness-dependent. CuAc coating exhibited optimal properties in terms of its hydrophilicity, pores density, and limited surface roughness, which provided the most robust antibacterial activity combined with appropriate responses of human primary stem cells and angiogenic cells. Our data indicate that Cu source selection largely determines the functionality of Cu-containing PEO coatings regarding their antibacterial efficacy and cytocompatibility.
Benchmark comparisons in surgery allow identification of gaps in the quality of care provided. The aim of this study was to determine quality thresholds for high (HAR) and low (LAR) anterior ...resections in colorectal cancer surgery by applying the concept of benchmarking.
This 5-year multinational retrospective study included patients who underwent anterior resection for cancer in 19 high-volume centres on five continents. Benchmarks were defined for 11 relevant postoperative variables at discharge, 3 months, and 6 months (for LAR). Benchmarks were calculated for two separate cohorts: patients without (ideal) and those with (non-ideal) outcome-relevant co-morbidities. Benchmark cut-offs were defined as the 75th percentile of each centre's median value.
A total of 3903 patients who underwent HAR and 3726 who had LAR for cancer were analysed. After 3 months' follow-up, the mortality benchmark in HAR for ideal and non-ideal patients was 0.0 versus 3.0 per cent, and in LAR it was 0.0 versus 2.2 per cent. Benchmark results for anastomotic leakage were 5.0 versus 6.9 per cent for HAR, and 13.6 versus 11.8 per cent for LAR. The overall morbidity benchmark in HAR was a Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI®) score of 8.6 versus 14.7, and that for LAR was CCI® score 11.9 versus 18.3.
Regular comparison of individual-surgeon or -unit outcome data against benchmark thresholds may identify gaps in care quality that can improve patient outcome.
To evaluate the effects of 20 weeks of resistance and concurrent training on psychotic and depressive symptoms, quality of life outcomes, and serum IGF-1, IGFBP-3, and brain-derived neurotrophic ...factor (BDNF) concentrations in patients with schizophrenia.
In this blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, 34 patients with schizophrenia were assigned to one of three groups: control (CTRL, n=13), resistance exercise (RESEX, n=12), or concurrent exercise (CONCEX, n=9). Symptoms, quality of life, strength, and other variables were assessed.
A significant time-by-group interaction was found for the RESEX and CONCEX groups on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score for disease symptoms (p = 0.007), positive symptoms (p = 0.003), and on the arm extension one-repetition maximum (1RM) test (p = 0.016). In addition, significant improvements on negative symptoms (p = 0.027), on the role-physical domain of the Short Form-36 Health Survey (p = 0.019), and on the chest press 1RM test (p = 0.040) were observed in the RESEX group. No changes were observed for the other variables investigated.
In this sample of patients with schizophrenia, 20 weeks of resistance or concurrent exercise program improved disease symptoms, strength, and quality of life. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01674543.
Functional lateralization in directional preference for predator evasion was examined in 45 Pointed‐belly frogs (Leptodactylus podicipinus). T‐maze trials revealed a preference for rightward escape, ...though individual bias was minimal, at only 33%, to evade predictability. Sex and size didn't influence escape decisions, aligning with predator avoidance strategies.
in Portuguese is available with online material.
—Portuguese
Examinamos a lateralização funcional na evasão de predadores em 45 rãs de barriga pontuda (Leptodactylus podicipinus). Testes em labirinto mostraram preferência por escapar para a direita, com apenas 33% de viés individual, enquanto sexo e tamanho não afetaram as decisões de fuga, indicando estratégias consistentes de evitar predadores.
Functional lateralization in directional preference for predator evasion was examined in 45 Pointed‐belly frogs (Leptodactylus podicipinus). T‐maze trials revealed a preference for rightward escape, though individual bias was minimal, at only 33%, to evade predictability. Sex and size didn't influence escape decisions, aligning with predator avoidance strategies.
Collaborative networks are of great value for science and technology (S&T) institutions as a way of sharing, generating and disseminating new knowledge that could ultimately lead to innovations. ...Driven by the need to assess the contribution and effectiveness of these networks in informing S&T management, we explored the evolution and dynamics of tuberculosis scientific networks involving the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the major public health S&T Institution in Brazil. Social network analysis (SNA) was used to produce a 10-year (2005-2009, 2010-2014) retrospective longitudinal mapping of Brazilian tuberculosis research networks within the country and internationally, highlighting Fiocruz collaborations. Co-authorship analysis showed a significant expansion of collaboration in Brazil and the role of Fiocruz and other leading national institutions in maintaining connectivity, facilitating knowledge exchange and reducing network vulnerability. It also identified influential researchers that can act as information leaders and support strategic decisions. When we focused on networks inside the institution, the analysis showed a clear discontinuation between the clinical and the public health research areas, which needs specific internal policies to improve collaborations since outcomes in TB are expected to provide better diagnostic tools and more effective treatments. The approach provides evidence to support S&T management by pinpointing: key central institutions maintaining network connectivity; most influential researchers that can act as advisors/experts for investment and induction policies; key Fiocruz researchers that could improve information exchange, systems integration and innovation within the institution; opportunities for synergy between internal research groups working in complementary areas. In summary, we observed that SNA parameters proved to be a valuable tool that, along with other indicators, can strengthen knowledge platforms to support S&T management efforts.
•Sex is an important variable in translational biomedical research.•Here, we evaluate sex differences in zebrafish behavioral responses to pain and fear.•Female adult zebrafish more robustly (than ...males) altered pain-like behavior.•Zebrafish of both sexes responded equally strongly to fear evoked by alarm substance.
Sex is an important variable in translational biomedical research. While overt sex differences have been reported for pain and fear-like behaviors in humans and rodents, these differences in other popular model organisms, such as zebrafish, remain poorly understood. Here, we evaluate potential sex differences in zebrafish behavioral responses to pain (intraperitoneal administration of 5% acetic acid) and fear stimuli (exposure to alarm substance). Overall, both male and female zebrafish exposed to pain (acetic acid injection) show lesser distance traveled, fewer top entries and more writhing-like pain-related behavior vs. controls, whereas female fish more robustly (than males) altered some other pain-like behaviors (e.g., increasing freezing episodes and time in top) in this model. In contrast, zebrafish of both sexes responded equally strongly to fear evoked by acute alarm substance exposure. Collectively, these findings emphasize the growing importance of studying sex differences in zebrafish behavioral and pain models.
•Melatonin is an important brain hormone regulating circadian rhythm, neuroprotection and neuroimmune interactions.•Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is increasingly used in biomedical and neuroscience ...research.•Mounting evidence implicating melatonin in brain disorders and behavior.•Animal models are becoming a valuable tool to study neurobiology of melatonin.
Melatonin is an important hormone regulating circadian rhythm, neuroprotection and neuroimmune processes. However, its exact physiological roles in brain mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we summarize the mounting evidence implicating melatonin in brain disorders and behavior, based on clinical and experimental studies in-vivo. In addition to rodent models, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) is becoming increasingly utilized in biomedical and neuroscience research. Here, we discuss melatonin neurobiology of zebrafish, and parallel these findings with clinical and rodent data. We also discuss the genomic effects of melatonin in zebrafish, and emphasize the growing utility of zebrafish models to study melatonin neurobiology and drug discovery.
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