Showing papers by "Federal University of São Carlos published in 2021"

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

Abstract: In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field.

Enhanced optical asymmetry in supramolecular chiroplasmonic assemblies with long-range order.

Abstract: Chiral assemblies of plasmonic nanoparticles are known for strong circular dichroism but not for high optical asymmetry, which is limited by the unfavorable combination of electrical and magnetic field components compounded by strong scattering. Here, we show that these limitations can be overcome by the long-range organization of nanoparticles in a manner similar to the liquid crystals and found in helical assemblies of gold nanorods with human islet amyloid polypeptides. A strong, polarization-dependent spectral shift and the reduced scattering of energy states with antiparallel orientation of dipoles activated in assembled helices increased optical asymmetry g-factors by a factor of more than 4600. The liquid crystal–like color variations and the nanorod-accelerated fibrillation enable drug screening in complex biological media. Improvement of long-range order can also provide structural guidance for the design of materials with high optical asymmetry.

Prospects for beyond the Standard Model physics searches at the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment: DUNE Collaboration.

Abstract: The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) will be a powerful tool for a variety of physics topics. The high-intensity proton beams provide a large neutrino flux, sampled by a near detector system consisting of a combination of capable precision detectors, and by the massive far detector system located deep underground. This configuration sets up DUNE as a machine for discovery, as it enables opportunities not only to perform precision neutrino measurements that may uncover deviations from the present three-flavor mixing paradigm, but also to discover new particles and unveil new interactions and symmetries beyond those predicted in the Standard Model (SM). Of the many potential beyond the Standard Model (BSM) topics DUNE will probe, this paper presents a selection of studies quantifying DUNE’s sensitivities to sterile neutrino mixing, heavy neutral leptons, non-standard interactions, CPT symmetry violation, Lorentz invariance violation, neutrino trident production, dark matter from both beam induced and cosmogenic sources, baryon number violation, and other new physics topics that complement those at high-energy colliders and significantly extend the present reach.

A review on wind power smoothing using high-power energy storage systems

Abstract: Wind energy has been widely explored in recent decades and the integration of this renewable resource is increasing due to many factors, e.g., the need to mitigate climate change and reduce energy dependence on fossil fuels. Unfortunately, the stochastic characteristic of wind may have an impact on the reliability and power quality of electrical grids due to short-term power fluctuations. For wind power smoothing purposes, many researchers have been using energy storage systems (ESSs) as they perform extremely well, and are becoming less costly. In this context, this article presents a comprehensive review of the significant research conducted on the topic of wind power smoothing using high-power ESSs. Firstly, some energy storage technologies are discussed and compared, and a brief description of the main short-term applications of these technologies is provided. Afterwards, a literature review on wind power smoothing is conducted, showing evidence of the development of methods over the years. A bibliometric analysis is also presented, showing an increasing number of publications on this subject. Finally, this review indicates that more research is still needed to overcome wind power fluctuation issues and that further attention to topics such as hybrid ESSs and smoothing impacts on electrical grids should arise over the next years.

To which world regions does the valence–dominance model of social perception apply?

Abstract: Over the past 10 years, Oosterhof and Todorov’s valence–dominance model has emerged as the most prominent account of how people evaluate faces on social dimensions. In this model, two dimensions (valence and dominance) underpin social judgements of faces. Because this model has primarily been developed and tested in Western regions, it is unclear whether these findings apply to other regions. We addressed this question by replicating Oosterhof and Todorov’s methodology across 11 world regions, 41 countries and 11,570 participants. When we used Oosterhof and Todorov’s original analysis strategy, the valence–dominance model generalized across regions. When we used an alternative methodology to allow for correlated dimensions, we observed much less generalization. Collectively, these results suggest that, while the valence–dominance model generalizes very well across regions when dimensions are forced to be orthogonal, regional differences are revealed when we use different extraction methods and correlate and rotate the dimension reduction solution.

Deconstruction and Reassembly of Renewable Polymers and Biocolloids into Next Generation Structured Materials.

Abstract: This review considers the most recent developments in supramolecular and supraparticle structures obtained from natural, renewable biopolymers as well as their disassembly and reassembly into engineered materials. We introduce the main interactions that control bottom-up synthesis and top-down design at different length scales, highlighting the promise of natural biopolymers and associated building blocks. The latter have become main actors in the recent surge of the scientific and patent literature related to the subject. Such developments make prominent use of multicomponent and hierarchical polymeric assemblies and structures that contain polysaccharides (cellulose, chitin, and others), polyphenols (lignins, tannins), and proteins (soy, whey, silk, and other proteins). We offer a comprehensive discussion about the interactions that exist in their native architectures (including multicomponent and composite forms), the chemical modification of polysaccharides and their deconstruction into high axial aspect nanofibers and nanorods. We reflect on the availability and suitability of the latter types of building blocks to enable superstructures and colloidal associations. As far as processing, we describe the most relevant transitions, from the solution to the gel state and the routes that can be used to arrive to consolidated materials with prescribed properties. We highlight the implementation of supramolecular and superstructures in different technological fields that exploit the synergies exhibited by renewable polymers and biocolloids integrated in structured materials.

Magnetic nanoparticles in biomedical applications: A review

Abstract: Biomedical applications with emphasis on the design of smart materials, specifically magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are considered to have technological benefits because they can be manipulated using magnetic fields. Magnetic NPs have been widely used in hyperthermia, target drug delivery system, imaging, and extraction of biomolecules, postulating them also as an important tool in cancer treatment. Morphological structures of magnetic materials have drawn tremendous attention from diverse scientific fields due to their unique surface chemistry, nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and particularly their inducible magnetic moment. This review features recent research accomplishments made in the biomedical field using magnetic nanoparticles. The first part gives a comprehensive overview of magnetic nanoparticles in the treatment of chronic diseases and drug targeting. The second part includes the role of magnetic nanoparticles in electrochemical, optical-based immunoassays. The review also outlines the current challenges and future research perspectives for fostering advanced and high-performance magnetic nanoparticles in technological applications.

Review and outlook on high-entropy alloys for hydrogen storage

Abstract: Recently, a new class of alloys, namely, high-entropy alloys (HEAs), started to be investigated for hydrogen storage as they can form metal hydrides. Considering that the properties of metal hydrides are greatly influenced by the type of phase formed, and chemical composition, HEAs (with their vastness of compositions) present a high potential for developing promising materials for this application. A crucial aspect in assessing the potential of these alloys is the effective compositional design and synthesis. Here, we evaluate the methods used for obtaining HEAs for hydrogen storage and, based on the most advanced discussions of phase formation and stability in HEAs, we expose some strategies for a better assessment of the vast compositional field. Moreover, we present and discuss the first attempts to model the hydrogenation properties of HEAs using thermodynamics and data science. The development of these kinds of predictive tools is paramount for exploring HEAs' potential for hydrogen storage. To date, the most promising HEA compositions can be classified into three classes: body-centered cubic HEAs, lightweight HEAs, and intermetallic HEAs.

Intraspecific variation in tolerance of warming in fishes.

Abstract: Intraspecific variation in key traits such as tolerance of warming can have profound effects on ecological and evolutionary processes, notably responses to climate change. The empirical evidence for three primary elements of intraspecific variation in tolerance of warming in fishes is reviewed. The first is purely mechanistic that tolerance varies across life stages and as fishes become mature. The limited evidence indicates strongly that this is the case, possibly because of universal physiological principles. The second is intraspecific variation that is because of phenotypic plasticity, also a mechanistic phenomenon that buffers individuals' sensitivity to negative impacts of global warming in their lifetime, or to some extent through epigenetic effects over successive generations. Although the evidence for plasticity in tolerance to warming is extensive, more work is required to understand underlying mechanisms and to reveal whether there are general patterns. The third element is intraspecific variation based on heritable genetic differences in tolerance, which underlies local adaptation and may define long-term adaptability of a species in the face of ongoing global change. There is clear evidence of local adaptation and some evidence of heritability of tolerance to warming, but the knowledge base is limited with detailed information for only a few model or emblematic species. There is also strong evidence of structured variation in tolerance of warming within species, which may have ecological and evolutionary significance irrespective of whether it reflects plasticity or adaptation. Although the overwhelming consensus is that having broader intraspecific variation in tolerance should reduce species vulnerability to impacts of global warming, there are no sufficient data on fishes to provide insights into particular mechanisms by which this may occur.

Novel rare earth metal–doped one-dimensional TiO2 nanostructures: Fundamentals and multifunctional applications

Abstract: In last few years, titanium dioxide (TiO2)-based various dimensional (0D, 1D, 2D, and 3D) nanostructures (NSs) have been extensively investigated because of their outstanding physio-chemical properties and multifunctional applications in the variety of fields, including energy, environment, biomedicine, and so on. Particularly, one dimensional (1D) TiO2 NSs have gained much attention among the researchers as these nanomaterials can be explored in various morphologies, such as nanorods, nanotubes, nanofibers, nanowires, and so on. In addition to their unique 1D shape and large specific surface area, these 1D NSs show confinement in the radial direction making them more valuable than other dimensional NSs. However, owing to their large band gap, these NSs show inability of exploiting visible light and lower charge recombination rate becoming less efficient materials for the practical applications in the society. In order to achieve high efficiency of these materials and to improve their visible light activity, considerable efforts have been made by narrowing the band gap through doping or nanocomposite formation with other functional nanomaterials. This review article is mainly focused on the rare earth metal–doped 1D TiO2 NSs with the detailed mechanism of action, improved optoelectronic properties, and their multifunctional applications in the energy and environmental fields. It includes photocatalytic (photodegradation/surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of organic pollutants, photocatalytic CO2 reduction, photocatalytic water splitting, and upconversion-based photocatalytic activities) sensing, solar cells, supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries applications with an emphasis on their fundamental working principles. In addition, synthesis methods of rare earth metal–doped 1D TiO2 NSs, the doping effect on the microstructural and optical properties, and recent advances in these directions followed by challenges and future opportunities have been discussed.

Reduction in hospitalised COPD exacerbations during COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Reports have suggested a reduction in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, particularly hospital admissions for severe exacerbations. However, the magnitude of this reduction varies between studies. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched from January 2020 to May 2021. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts and, when necessary, full text to determine if studies met inclusion criteria. A modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess study quality. A narrative summary of eligible studies was synthesised, and meta-analysis was conducted using a random effect model to pool the rate ratio and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for hospital admissions. Exacerbation reduction was compared against the COVID-19 Containment and Health Index. RESULTS: A total of 13 of 745 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review, with data from nine countries. Nine studies could be included in the meta-analysis. The pooled rate ratio of hospital admissions for COPD exacerbations during the pandemic period was 0.50 (95% CI 0.44–0.57). Findings on the rate of community-treated exacerbations were inconclusive. Three studies reported a significant decrease in the incidence of respiratory viral infections compared with the pre-pandemic period. There was not a significant relationship between exacerbation reduction and the COVID-19 Containment and Health Index (rho = 0.20, p = 0.53). CONCLUSION: There was a 50% reduction in admissions for COPD exacerbations during the COVID-19 pandemic period compared to pre-pandemic times, likely associated with a reduction in respiratory viral infections that trigger exacerbations. Future guidelines should consider including recommendations on respiratory virus infection control measures to reduce the burden of COPD exacerbations beyond the pandemic period.

Supernova neutrino burst detection with the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment

Abstract: The Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), a 40-kton underground liquid argon time projection chamber experiment, will be sensitive to the electron-neutrino flavor component of the burst of neutrinos expected from the next Galactic core-collapse supernova. Such an observation will bring unique insight into the astrophysics of core collapse as well as into the properties of neutrinos. The general capabilities of DUNE for neutrino detection in the relevant few- to few-tens-of-MeV neutrino energy range will be described. As an example, DUNE's ability to constrain the $ u_e$ spectral parameters of the neutrino burst will be considered.

A Review on the Role and Performance of Cellulose Nanomaterials in Sensors.

Abstract: Sensors and biosensors play a key role as an analytical tool for the rapid, reliable, and early diagnosis of human diseases. Such devices can also be employed for monitoring environmental pollutants in air and water in an expedited way. More recently, nanomaterials have been proposed as an alternative in sensor fabrication to achieve gains in performance in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and portability. In this direction, the use of cellulose nanomaterials (CNM), such as cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), and bacterial cellulose (BC), has experienced rapid growth in the fabrication of varied types of sensors. The advantageous properties are related to the supramolecular structures that form the distinct CNM, their biocompatibility, and highly reactive functional groups that enable surface functionalization. The CNM can be applied as hydrogels and xerogels, thin films, nanopapers and other structures interesting for sensor design. Besides, CNM can be combined with other materials (e.g., nanoparticles, enzymes, carbon nanomaterials, etc.) and varied substrates to advanced sensors and biosensors fabrication. This review explores recent advances on CNM and composites applied in the fabrication of optical, electrical, electrochemical, and piezoelectric sensors for detecting analytes ranging from environmental pollutants to human physiological parameters. Emphasis is given to how cellulose nanomaterials can contribute to enhance the performance of varied sensors as well as expand novel sensing applications, which could not be easily achieved using standard materials. Finally, challenges and future trends on the use of cellulose-based materials in sensors and biosensors are also discussed.

Short‐ and long‐term social recognition memory are differentially modulated by neuronal histamine

Abstract: The ability of recognizing familiar conspecifics is essential for many forms of social interaction including reproduction, establishment of dominance hierarchies, and pair bond formation in monogamous species. Many hormones and neurotransmitters have been suggested to play key roles in social discrimination. Here we demonstrate that disruption or potentiation of histaminergic neurotransmission differentially affects short (STM) and long-term (LTM) social recognition memory. Impairments of LTM, but not STM, were observed in histamine-deprived animals, either chronically (Hdc-/- mice lacking the histamine-synthesizing enzyme histidine decarboxylase) or acutely (mice treated with the HDC irreversible inhibitor α-fluoromethylhistidine). On the contrary, restriction of histamine release induced by stimulation of the H3R agonist (VUF16839) impaired both STM and LTM. H3R agonism-induced amnesic effect was prevented by pre-treatment with donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. The blockade of the H3R with ciproxifan, which in turn augmented histamine release, resulted in a procognitive effect. In keeping with this hypothesis, the procognitive effect of ciproxifan was absent in both Hdc-/- and αFMH-treated mice. Our results suggest that brain histamine is essential for the consolidation of LTM but not STM in the social recognition test. STM impairments observed after H3R stimulation are probably related to their function as heteroreceptors on cholinergic neurons.

Principal Component Analysis: A Natural Approach to Data Exploration

Abstract: Principal component analysis (PCA) is often applied for analyzing data in the most diverse areas. This work reports, in an accessible and integrated manner, several theoretical and practical aspects of PCA. The basic principles underlying PCA, data standardization, possible visualizations of the PCA results, and outlier detection are subsequently addressed. Next, the potential of using PCA for dimensionality reduction is illustrated on several real-world datasets. Finally, we summarize PCA-related approaches and other dimensionality reduction techniques. All in all, the objective of this work is to assist researchers from the most diverse areas in using and interpreting PCA.

Knee osteoarthritis: key treatments and implications for physical therapy.

Abstract: Background Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic progressive disease that imparts a substantial socioeconomic burden to society and healthcare systems. The prevalence of knee OA has dramatically risen in recent decades due to consistent increases in life expectancy and obesity worldwide. Patient education, physical exercise, and weight loss (for overweight or obese individuals) constitute the first-line knee OA treatment approach. However, less than 40% of patients with knee OA receive this kind of intervention. There is an unmet need for healthcare professionals treating individuals with knee OA to understand the current recommended treatment strategies to provide effective rehabilitation. Objective To guide physical therapists in their clinical decision making by summarizing the safest and most efficacious treatment options currently available, and by delineating the most traditional outcome measures used in clinical research for knee OA. Conclusion There is a need for healthcare providers to abandon low-quality and ineffective treatments and educate themselves and their patients about the current best evidence-based practices for knee OA.

Disproportionate Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Among Pregnant and Postpartum Black Women in Brazil Through Structural Racism Lens

Abstract: The authors want to thank all the researchers from the Brazilian Group for Studies of COVID-19 and Pregnancy. Funding

Advantages and Disadvantages of Bioplastics Production from Starch and Lignocellulosic Components.

Abstract: The accumulation of plastic wastes in different environments has become a topic of major concern over the past decades; therefore, technologies and strategies aimed at mitigating the environmental impacts of petroleum products have gained worldwide relevance. In this scenario, the production of bioplastics mainly from polysaccharides such as starch is a growing strategy and a field of intense research. The use of plasticizers, the preparation of blends, and the reinforcement of bioplastics with lignocellulosic components have shown promising and environmentally safe alternatives for overcoming the limitations of bioplastics, mainly due to the availability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility of such resources. This review addresses the production of bioplastics composed of polysaccharides from plant biomass and its advantages and disadvantages.

Synthesis, functionalization, and environmental application of silica-based mesoporous materials of the M41S and SBA-n families: A review

Abstract: The functionalized silica-based mesoporous molecular sieves are widely used successfully in various applications, mainly due to their interesting and unique textural and structural features, which allow their use in the most different scientific areas, such as catalysis, adsorption, separation of target molecules, drug delivery devices, chemosensors, biosensors, so on. In this review, we report the state of the art of recent advancements on the modified, inspired, and architectured M41S- and SBA-n-based mesoporous arrays syntheses and its strategic use in the environmental approaches, mainly due to the great interest and need of the scientific community to obtain functionalized arrays with multiple features. In view of the different approaches that have been extensively explored for the functionalization of nano-architectured arrays presented in the literature, it is possible to state that the strategies of modification of the M41S- and SBA-n-based mesoporous arrays can enhance the adsorptive, catalytic, and separation properties of the functionalized mesoporous architectures. Thus, evidencing that these multifunctional materials synergistically modified, with different pore geometries and architectures, can be widely used in the environmental remediation area, aiming to minimize environmental impacts, improve quality of life, and avoid the generation of waste, aiming at an increasingly green, clean, and sustainable footprint in the synthesis and application processes of these multifunctional materials.

Zeta Potential and Colloidal Stability Predictions for Inorganic Nanoparticle Dispersions: Effects of Experimental Conditions and Electrokinetic Models on the Interpretation of Results.

Abstract: In this work, a set of experimental electrophoretic mobility (μe) data was used to show how inappropriate selection of the electrokinetic model used to calculate the zeta potential (ζ-potential) can compromise the interpretation of the results for nanoparticles (NPs). The main consequences of using ζ-potential values as criteria to indicate the colloidal stability of NP dispersions are discussed based on DLVO interaction energy predictions. For this, magnetite (Fe3O4) NPs were synthesized and characterized as a model system for performing electrokinetic experiments. The results showed that the Fe3O4 NPs formed mass fractal aggregates in solution, so the ζ-potential could not be determined under ideal conditions when μe depends on the NP radius. In addition, the Dukhin number (Du) estimated from potentiometric titration results indicated that stagnant layer conduction (SLC) could not be neglected for this system. The electrokinetic models that do not consider SLC grossly underestimated the ζ-potential values for the Fe3O4 NPs. The DLVO interaction energy predictions for the colloidal stability of the Fe3O4 NP dispersions also depended on the electrokinetic model used to calculate the ζ-potential. The results obtained for the Fe3O4 NP dispersions also suggested that, contrary to many reports in the literature, high ζ-potential values do not necessarily reflect high colloidal stability for charge-stabilized NP dispersions.

Plastic pollution: A focus on freshwater biodiversity

Abstract: Plastics are dominant pollutants in freshwater ecosystems worldwide Scientific studies that investigated the interaction between plastics and freshwater biodiversity are incipient, especially if compared to the marine realm In this review, we provide a brief overview of plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems around the world We found evidence of plastic ingestion by 206 freshwater species, from invertebrates to mammals, in natural or semi-natural ecosystems In addition, we reported other consequences of synthetic polymers in freshwater ecosystems—including, for instance, the entanglement of animals of different groups (eg, birds) The problem of plastic pollution is complex and will need coordinated actions, such as recycling programs, correct disposal, stringent legislation, regular inspection, replacement of synthetic polymers with other materials, and ecological restoration Current information indicates that the situation in freshwater ecosystems may be as detrimental as the pollution found in the ocean, although highly underappreciated