bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Earth Observation—An Essential Tool towards Effective Aquatic Ecosystems’ Management under a Climate in Change
Authors: Lisboa Filipe , Brotas Vanda , Santos Filipe Duarte
Published: July 2024

Numerous policies have been proposed by international and supranational institutions, such as the European Union, to surveil Earth from space and furnish indicators of environmental conditions across diverse scenarios. In tandem with these policies, different initiatives, particularly on both sides of the Atlantic, have emerged to provide valuable data for environmental management such as the concept of essential climate variables. However, a key question arises: do the available data align with the monitoring requirements outlined in these policies? In this paper, we concentrate on Earth Observation (EO) optical data applications for environmental monitoring, with a specific emphasis on ocean colour. In a rapidly changing climate, it becomes imperative to consider data requirements for upcoming space missions. We place particular significance on the application of these data when monitoring lakes and marine protected areas (MPAs). These two use cases, albeit very different in nature, underscore the necessity for higher-spatial-resolution imagery to effectively study these vital habitats. Limnological ecosystems, sensitive to ice melting and temperature fluctuations, serve as crucial indicators of a climate in change. Simultaneously, MPAs, although generally small in size, play a crucial role in safeguarding marine biodiversity and supporting sustainable marine resource management. They are increasingly acknowledged as a critical component of global efforts to conserve and manage marine ecosystems, as exemplified by Target 3 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which aims to effectively conserve 30% of terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas by 2030 through protected areas and other conservation measures. In this paper, we analysed different policies concerning EO data and their application to environmental-based monitoring. We also reviewed and analysed the existing relevant literature in order to find gaps that need to be bridged to effectively monitor these habitats in an ecosystem-based approach, making data more accessible, leading to the generation of water quality indicators derived from new high- and very high-resolution satellite monitoring focusing especially on Chlorophyll-a concentrations. Such data are pivotal for comprehending, at small and local scales, how these habitats are responding to climate change and various stressors.
Objective Falls Risk Assessment Using Markerless Motion Capture and Representational Machine Learning
Authors: Maudsley-Barton Sean , Yap Moi Hoon
Published: July 2024

Falls are a major issue for those over the age of 65 years worldwide. Objective assessment of fall risk is rare in clinical practice. The most common methods of assessment are time-consuming observational tests (clinical tests). Computer-aided diagnosis could be a great help. A popular clinical test for fall risk is the five times sit-to-stand. The time taken to complete the test is the most commonly used metric to identify the most at-risk patients. However, tracking the movement of skeletal joints can provide much richer insights. We use markerless motion capture, allied with a representational model, to identify those at risk of falls. Our method uses an LSTM autoencoder to derive a distance measure. Using this measure, we introduce a new scoring system, allowing individuals with differing falls risks to be placed on a continuous scale. Evaluating our method on the KINECAL dataset, we achieved an accuracy of 0.84 in identifying those at elevated falls risk. In addition to identifying potential fallers, our method could find applications in rehabilitation. This aligns with the goals of the KINECAL Dataset. KINECAL contains the recordings of 90 individuals undertaking 11 movements used in clinical assessments. KINECAL is labelled to disambiguate age-related decline and falls risk.
Design and Evaluation of a Rapid Monolithic Manufacturing Technique for a Novel Vision-Based Tactile Sensor: C-Sight
Authors: Fan Wen , Li Haoran , Xing Yifan , Zhang Dandan
Published: July 2024

Tactile sensing has become indispensable for contact-rich dynamic robotic manipulation tasks. It provides robots with a better understanding of the physical environment, which is a vital supplement to robotic vision perception. Compared with other existing tactile sensors, vision-based tactile sensors (VBTSs) stand out for augmenting the tactile perception capabilities of robotic systems, owing to superior spatial resolution and cost-effectiveness. Despite their advantages, VBTS production faces challenges due to the lack of standardised manufacturing techniques and heavy reliance on manual labour. This limitation impedes scalability and widespread adoption. This paper introduces a rapid monolithic manufacturing technique and evaluates its performance quantitatively. We further develop and assess C-Sight, a novel VBTS sensor manufactured using this technique, focusing on its tactile reconstruction capabilities. Experimental results demonstrate that the monolithic manufacturing technique enhances VBTS production efficiency significantly. Also, the fabricated C-Sight sensor exhibits its reliable tactile perception and reconstruction capabilities, proofing the validity and feasibility of the monolithic manufacturing method.
Tape-Shaped, Multiscale, and Continuous-Readable Fiducial Marker for Indoor Navigation and Localization Systems
Authors: Neto Benedito S. R. , Araújo Tiago D. O. , Meiguins Bianchi S. , Santos Carlos G. R.
Published: July 2024

The present study proposes a fiducial marker for location systems that uses computer vision. The marker employs a set of tape-shaped markers that facilitate their positioning in the environment, allowing continuous reading to cover the entire perimeter of the environment and making it possible to minimize interruptions in the location service. Because the marker is present throughout the perimeter of the environment, it presents hierarchical coding patterns that allow it to be robust against multiple detection scales. We implemented an application to help the user generate the markers with a floor plan image. We conducted two types of tests, one in a 3D simulation environment and one in a real-life environment with a smartphone. The tests made it possible to measure the performance of the tape-shaped marker with readings at multiple distances compared to ArUco, QRCode, and STag with detections at distances of 10 to 0.5 m. The localization tests in the 3D environment analyzed the time of marker detection during the journey from one room to another in positioning conditions (A) with the markers positioned at the baseboard of the wall, (B) with the markers positioned at camera height, and (C) with the marker positioned on the floor. The localization tests in real conditions allowed us to measure the time of detections in favorable conditions of detections, demonstrating that the tape-shaped-marker-detection algorithm is not yet robust against blurring but is robust against lighting variations, difficult angle displays, and partial occlusions. In both test environments, the marker allowed for detection at multiple scales, confirming its functionality.
High-Accuracy Phase Frequency Detection Technology Based on BDS Time and Frequency Signals
Authors: Du Baoqiang , Tan Lanqin
Published: July 2024

For the time and frequency signals of Beidou satellites, a high-accuracy phase frequency detection technology based on phase group synchronization is proposed. Using the Beidou receiver and satellite signals as the frequency standard and the measured signals, respectively. The Beidou receiver and the satellite signals are sent to the phase coincidence detector of the different frequencies to generate a phase coincidence point pulse, which is sent to the different frequency phase detector as a control signal to generate the phase differences between the Beidou receiver and satellite signals, and then complete the high-accuracy phase synchronization between the Beidou receiver and satellite signals. Experimental results show that when the delay resolution reaches ps level, the phase synchronization accuracy of the system can reach 10 ps, which has the characteristics of small phase noise, low development cost, simple circuit structure, and high synchronization accuracy compared with the traditional phase synchronization technologies. Therefore, it would be widely used in satellite positioning, astrometry, precision navigation, aerospace, satellite launch, power transmission, communications, radar, and other high-tech fields.
MSA-Net: A Precise and Robust Model for Predicting the Carbon Content on an As-Received Basis of Coal
Authors: Wang Yinchu , Liu Zilong , Chen Feng , Xiong Xingchuang
Published: July 2024

The carbon content as received (Car) of coal is essential for the emission factor method in IPCC methodology. The traditional carbon measurement mechanism relies on detection equipment, resulting in significant detection costs. To reduce detection costs and provide precise predictions of Cars even in the absence of measurements, this paper proposes a neural network combining MLP with an attention mechanism (MSA-Net). In this model, the Attention Module is proposed to extract important and potential features. The Skip-Connections are utilized for feature reuse. The Huber loss is used to reduce the error between predicted Car values and actual values. The experimental results show that when the input includes eight measured parameters, the MAPE of MSA-Net is only 0.83%, which is better than the state-of-the-art Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) method. MSA-Net exhibits better predictive performance compared to MLP, RNN, LSTM, and Transformer. Moreover, this article provides two measurement solutions for thermal power enterprises to reduce detection costs.
De La Chapelle Syndrome: Clinical and Physical Performance Implications
Authors: Chiarello Paola , Seminara Giuseppe , Bossio Sabrina , Sicilia Luciana , Greco Francesca , Malatesta Paola , Greco Emanuela Alessandra , Aversa Antonio
Published: July 2024

Gynecomastia in adolescence is a benign condition that mostly disappears spontaneously within approximately two years from onset. When it is associated with hypogonadism, it may suggest a disorder of sexual differentiation. We report the case of a young man (18 years old) with gynecomastia associated with azoospermia, small testes, hyperestrogenism and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. A karyotype 46,XX was found, and searching for SRY (sex-determining region Y) by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) highlighted the presence of the gene on the terminal region of the short arm, with breakpoints likely in Xp22.3 and Yp11.3. Implications of testosterone replacement therapy with respect to sex differentiation disorder and to physical performance are discussed.
E-SERS: An Enhanced Approach to Trust-Based Ranking of Apps
Authors: Chowdhury Nahida , Maharjan Ayush , Raje Rajeev R.
Published: July 2024

The number of mobile applications (“Apps”) has grown significantly in recent years. App Stores rank/recommend Apps based on factors such as average star ratings and the number of installs. Such rankings do not focus on the internal artifacts of Apps (e.g., security vulnerabilities). If internal artifacts are ignored, users may fail to estimate the potential risks associated with installing Apps. In this research, we present a framework called E-SERS (Enhanced Security-related and Evidence-based Ranking Scheme) for comparing Android Apps that offer similar functionalities. E-SERS uses internal and external artifacts of Apps in the ranking process. E-SERS is a significant enhancement of our past evidence-based ranking framework called SERS. We have evaluated E-SERS on publicly accessible Apps from the Google Play Store and compared our rankings with prevalent ranking techniques. Our experiments demonstrate that E-SERS, leveraging its holistic approach, excels in identifying malicious Apps and consistently outperforms existing alternatives in ranking accuracy. By emphasizing comprehensive assessment, E-SERS empowers users, particularly those less experienced with technology, to make informed decisions and avoid potentially harmful Apps. This contribution addresses a critical gap in current App-ranking methodologies, enhancing the safety and security of today’s technologically dependent society.
Substitution of Conventional Vehicles in Municipal Mobility
Authors: Wüstenhagen Sven , Kirschstein Thomas
Published: July 2024

Among the economic sectors, mobility is showing significant environmental impacts, especially in the use phase of vehicles. By substituting fossil-fuelled propelling systems, environmental impacts such as the Global Warming Potential (GWP) can be reduced. The use of properly designed light electric vehicles (LEVs) significantly reduces further environmental impacts, as well as maintenance costs, which are relevant for a circular economy. For example, the use of low-voltage (42 V) propelling systems enables the maintenance of LEVs in a broader range of existing bicycle workshops. Regarding the environmental impacts, the described LCA results indicate the advantage of LEVs compared with EVs and ICVs, e.g., vehicle weight is found to be a main factor related to environmental impact for each type of vehicle. This implies a reduced need for battery capacity and lower emissions of particulate matter from tire and break abrasion. This study aims to present the application potential of LEVs and the related reduction in environmental impacts. Anonymised inventory lists of municipal vehicle fleets are analysed for quantifying the substitution potential of LEVs in specific use cases. For this purpose, the use phase of vehicles is analysed with a focus on product design for repair and recycling and supplemented by the results of a comparative environmental impact assessment of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), electric vehicles (EVs), and LEVs. The comparison is made on the premise of similar application requirements. These specifications are the ability of each of the vehicles to transport a maximum of three persons (driver included) or one driver and 250 kg of cargo in 3 m3 over a daily distance of 100 km in urban areas. On this basis, the municipal environmental benefits derived from substituting small vehicles in the form of ICEVs and EVs with LEVs are assessed. The results show that in the field of municipal mobility, a relevant number of conventional small vehicles can be substituted with LEVs. The environmental impacts in categories of the highest robustness level, RL I, that is, Global Warming Potential, fine dust emissions, and Ozone Depletion Potential, can be reduced by LEVs by 50% compared with EVs and by over 50% compared with ICEVs. The strong influence of vehicle weight on the abrasive conditions of tires and brakes is considerable, as shown by reduced fine dust emissions.
Enhancing Sustainable Development: Assessing a Solar Air Heater (SAH) Test Bench through Computational and Experimental Methods
Authors: Bakri Badis , Benguesmia Hani , Ketata Ahmed , Driss Slah , Nasraoui Haythem , Driss Zied
Published: July 2024

A solar air heater is a device that gathers solar radiation and converts it into heat. The core principle involves air moving through a solar collector, where sunlight naturally increases the air temperature within the collector. The benefit of this technology lies in its affordability and simplicity. The implementation of a solar air heater (SAH) test bench holds significant promise in addressing both global change and sustainable development objectives. The primary goal of this study is to examine the aerodynamic configuration of a novel solar air heater test bench accessible at the Laboratory of Electro-Mechanic Systems (LASEM). This study was carried out using the standard k-ω turbulence model with the use of the ANSYS Fluent 17.0 software. The results indicate that the velocity at the inlet directly influences the velocity fields, temperature, static pressure, and characteristics of turbulence. Furthermore, the numerical findings confirmed that the temperature and velocity profiles in the second channel are in good concordance with the experimental findings in the case of a fan, placed alongside the insulation, operating in a delivery mode. Based on these results, the computational approach is validated. When comparingforced convection to natural convection under identical conditions, there was a notable increase in the energy efficiency, with forced convection showing a significant improvement of approximately 31.8%. Indeed, the range of temperatures reached with the proposed design, is highly beneficial for both industrial and household applications.
Research on Low-Carbon Design and Energy Efficiency by Harnessing Indigenous Resources through BIM-Ecotect Analysis in Hot Climates
Authors: Ullah Habib , Zhang Hong , Ye Hongyu , Ali Ihsan , Cong Meng
Published: July 2024

In the face of contemporary challenges, such as economic instability, environmental degradation, and the urgent global warming crisis, the imperative of sustainability and energy efficiency has reached unparalleled significance. Sustainability encompasses not only the natural environment, but also extends to our immediate surroundings, including the built structures and the communities they serve. Embracing this comprehensive perspective, we embarked on a mission to conceive and construct a model house that harnesses state-of-the-art energy-efficient technologies. Our goal was to seamlessly integrate these features not only to meet our sustainability objectives, but also to mitigate environmental threats.This model embodies a harmonious fusion of indigenous resources, employing locally sourced stone and employing traditional construction techniques. Through this approach, we achieved significant reductions in carbon emissions and established a framework for passive cooling and heating systems. Moreover, the design is intrinsically attuned to its contextual surroundings, preserving the diverse tapestry of regional architectural styles. This study stands as a testament to the potential of innovative design and technology in shaping a sustainable future. The research employs a multi-dimensional approach, encompassing strategies of architectural design with a traditional planning approach, sustainable material selection, energy efficiency, and life cycle assessment across a diverse set of case studies. Building energy analysis is conducted through the application of BIM (Ecotect), providing insights into how BIM can adapt and thrive in various environments. Key findings underscore that thermal performance, minimizing energy loads, and reducing carbon emissions are pivotal aspects in designating a building as both green and energy efficient.
Responses of Nutritional Status and Productivity of Timor Mango Trees to Foliar Spray of Conventional and/or Nano Zinc
Authors: Makhasha Essa , Al-Obeed Rashid S. , Abdel-Sattar Mahmoud
Published: July 2024

The management of mango orchards is beset with a number of issues, including micronutrient deficits and significant fruit drop, which both contribute to decreases in mango tree output. Among these micronutrients, zinc is vital for increasing agricultural productivity, ensuring crop sustainability, and improving plant nutritional status during the growing season. To overcome zinc (Zn) deficiencies, this study was carried out during two successive seasons in an expected “Off” year (2022) and an expected “On” year (2023) on mature mango trees cv. Timor. To ameliorate this Zn deficiency, the effect of zinc in three forms—zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), sulfate (ZnSO4), and chelated (Zn-chelated)—as a foliar sprayon leaves’ mineral, chlorophyll, total carotenoids, and total carbohydrate contents and productivity were studied. Ten spray treatments were used in this study, including nano zinc (100 ppm), zinc sulfate (0.1%), and chelated zinc (0.2%) on two occasions, 7 January and 4 weeks after the first application, either alone or in combination with each other as compared to the control. In both study seasons, the results showed that all the zinc forms in mineral, chelated, or nano form had a positive effect on the number of flowers per panicle, the percentage of fruit set, the number of fruits per panicle, and the number of fruits per tree, and it decreased the percentage of fruit drop. Furthermore, all zinc forms significantly increased the leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Mn, B, and Zn contents (%), and all the treatments improved the chlorophyll, total carotenoid, and total carbohydrate contents compared with the other treatments. The most effective treatment was two applications of nano zinc at 100 ppm in terms of the nutritional status and productivity of Timor mango trees.
Connectivity Reveals the Relationships between Human Brain Areas Associated with High-Level Linguistic Processing and Macaque Brain Areas
Authors: Wang Fangyuan , Lu Xiaohua , Chen Xiaofeng , Wang Qianshan , Li Qi , Li Haifang
Published: July 2024

Cross-species research has advanced human understanding of brain regions, with cross-species comparisons using magnetic resonance imaging technology becoming increasingly common. Currently, cross-species research on human language regions has primarily focused on traditional brain areas such as the Broca region. While some studies have indicated that human language function also involves other language regions, the corresponding relationships between these brain regions in humans and macaques remain unclear. This study calculated the strength of the connections between the high-level language processing regions in human and macaque brains, identified homologous target areas based on the structural connections of white-matter fiber bundles, and compared the connectivity profiles of both species. The results of the experiment demonstrated that macaques possess brain regions which exhibit connectivity patterns resembling those found in human high-level language processing regions. This discovery suggests that while the function of a human brain region is specialized, it still maintains a structural connectivity similar to that seen in macaques.
Treatment of Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis with Two Doses of Botulinum Toxin A—Observational Study
Authors: Antón Andrés María , Candau Pérez Ernesto , Bermejo de la Fuente María
Published: July 2024

Hyperhidrosis (HH) is defined as the production of more sweat than is necessary for its thermoregulatory function, negatively affecting patients’ quality of life and interfering with their social, work and family life. In this context, the aim of thisstudy was to evaluate the efficacy of two different doses of botulinum toxin type A (50 or 100 units) in each axilla in severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis. A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional and post-authorisation study was conducted onpatients referred to our department.Thirty-one patients with severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis were included, some of whom received more than one infiltration during the follow-up period, performing a total of 82 procedures. They were assigned by simple random sampling to two types of treatment: infiltration of 50 or 100 units (U) of botulinum toxin A per axilla.Hyperhidrosis severity was assessed using the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS), and quality of life was assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire. Onabotulinum toxin A infiltration reduced the severity of hyperhidrosis and improved the quality of life of the treated patients, with no significant differences between the two groups.
Whole-Genome Characterization of Rotavirus G9P[6] and G9P[4] Strains That Emerged after Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction in Mozambique
Authors: Munlela Benilde , João Eva D. , Strydom Amy , Bauhofer Adilson Fernando Loforte , Chissaque Assucênio , Chilaúle Jorfélia J. , Maurício Isabel L. , Donato Celeste M. , O’Neill Hester G. , de Deus Nilsa
Published: July 2024

Mozambique introduced the Rotarix® vaccine into the National Immunization Program in September 2015. Following vaccine introduction, rotavirus A (RVA) genotypes, G9P[4] and G9P[6], were detected for the first time since rotavirus surveillance programs were implemented in the country. To understand the emergence of these strains, the whole genomes of 47 ELISA RVA positive strains detected between 2015 and 2018 were characterized using an Illumina MiSeq-based sequencing pipeline. Of the 29 G9 strains characterized, 14 exhibited a typical Wa-like genome constellation and 15 a DS-1-like genome constellation. Mostly, the G9P[4] and G9P[6] strains clustered consistently for most of the genome segments, except the G- and P-genotypes. For the G9 genotype, the strains formed three different conserved clades, separated by the P type (P[4], P[6] and P[8]), suggesting different origins for this genotype. Analysis of the VP6-encoding gene revealed that seven G9P[6] strains clustered close to antelope and bovine strains. A rare E6 NSP4 genotype was detected for strain RVA/Human-wt/MOZ/HCN1595/2017/G9P[4] and a genetically distinct lineage IV or OP354-like P[8] was identified for RVA/Human-wt/MOZ/HGJM0644/2015/G9P[8] strain. These results highlight the need for genomic surveillance of RVA strains detected in Mozambique and the importance of following a One Health approach to identify and characterize potential zoonotic strains causing acute gastroenteritis in Mozambican children.
Virtual Plug-In Hybrid Concept Development and Optimization under Real-World Boundary Conditions
Authors: Kexel Jannik , Müller Jonas , Herkenrath Ferris , Hermsen Philipp , Günther Marco , Pischinger Stefan
Published: July 2024

The automotive industry faces development challenges due to emerging technologies, regulatory demands, societal trends, and evolving customer mobility needs. These factors contribute to a wide range of vehicle variants and increasingly complex powertrains. The layout of a vehicle is usually based on standardized driving cycles such as WLTC, gradeability, acceleration test cases, and many more. In real-world driving cycles, however, this can lead to limitations under certain boundary conditions. To ensure that all customer requirements are met, vehicle testing is conducted under extreme environmental conditions, e.g., in Sweden or Spain. One way to reduce the development time while ensuring high product quality and cost-effectiveness is to use model-based methods for the comprehensive design of powertrains. This study presents a layout methodology using a top-down approach. Initially, powertrain-relevant requirements for an exemplary target customer are translated into a specification sheet with specific test cases. An overall vehicle model with detailed thermal sub-models is developed to evaluate the different requirements. A baseline design for a C-segment plug-in hybrid vehicle was developed as part of the FVV research project HyFlex-ICE using standardized test cases, highlighting the influence of customer profiles on the design outcome through varying weighting factors. The target customer’s design is analyzed in four real driving scenarios, considering variations in parameters such as the ambient temperature, traffic, driver type, trailer pulling, and battery state-of-charge, to assess their influence on the target variables. In the next step, the potential of hardware technologies and predictive driving functions is examined in selected driving scenarios based on the identified constraints of the baseline design. As a result, four application-specific technology packages (Cost neutral, Cold country, Hot country, and Premium) for different customer requirements and sales markets are defined, which, finally, demonstrates the applicability of the holistic methodology.
Applying Microbial Source Tracking Techniques for Identification of Pathways of Faecal Pollution from Water Sources to Point of Use in Vhembe District, South Africa
Authors: Mochware Opelo Tlotlo Wryl , Thaoge-Zwane Mathoto Lydia , Momba Maggy Ndombo Benkete
Published: July 2024

A safe water supply is a necessity, but it remains one of the backlogs of services rendered in rural areas of developing countries. This leads to vulnerable communities using water from available sources that is unsafe as it is contaminated with faecal matter. Microbial source tracking (MST) methods are gold-standard techniques that detect the exact sources of faecal contamination. This study, therefore, tracked and identified the exact sources of faecal contamination from the catchment to the point of use in rural areas of Vhembe District Municipality. Collected water samples (n = 1048) were concentrated by membrane filtration for the enumeration and detection of E. coli, followed by DNA extraction. The extracted DNA was subjected to a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to track target host-specific Bacteroidales genetic markers from the water source to the point of use. Rivers and dams exhibited maximum E. coli counts of up to 90 CFU/100 mL during the wet season and up to 50 CFU/100 mL during the dry season. Due to the effective treatment of these water sources, no E. coli bacteria were detected in any of the sampled municipal drinking water treatment plants at the point of treatment, while this indicator bacterium was detected at the point of use (households), with a maximum of 4 CFU/100 mL recorded during both the wet and dry seasons. Overall, the most prevalent MST marker exhibited during the wet season was BacCan (dog-associated, 6.87%), followed by BacCow (cow-associated, 5.53%), while Pig-2-Bac (pig-associated, 2.48%) was the least prevalent. The most prevalent marker exhibited during the dry season was BacCan (5.34%), followed by BacCow, with Pig-2-Bac (1.72%) being the least prevalent. A positive correlation (r = 0.31, p = 0.001) was established between the presence of the MST markers and detected E. coli from water sources to the point of use. The knowledge of the faecal contamination attributes in both public and domestic domains will assist in developing prevention and control strategies.
Effect of selected environmental factors on the growth and survivability of the larvae of the Chinese sleeper Perccottus glenii Dybowski 1877
Authors: Błażejewski Maciej , Hliwa Piotr
Published: July 2024

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the temperature (range 15 to 25°C), pH (6 to 9) and salinity of water (between 0 to 10‰) on the growth, condition and survival of larvae of the Chinese sleeper. During the 28‐day experimental rearing, the highest
average body weight of 81.3 ± 16.3 mg was reached in fish from the group maintained at a water temperature 25°C, and was almost five times higher than the weight at the temperature of 15°C (15.6 ± 2.2 mg). A significantly higher body weight of Chinese sleeper larvae was
also recorded in the group reared in alkaline water (pH 9), compared to those kept in acidic and neutral water. Statistically significant differences between the groups (p≤0.05) were recorded for the condition index (K) values and relative body weight (SGR) only in the experiment with different
water temperatures of fish rearing. The highest number (16% of the initial stock) of abnormal larvae, associated with a lower jaw and vertebral structure deformities, was recorded in the group reared at 5‰ salinity (Z5). Simultaneously, 100% mortality of the stock was
noted by the 10th day of rearing in the 10‰ salinity. The cumulative mortality of the Chinese sleeper larvae related to cannibalism Types I and II in all the experimental rearing was low, oscillating between 0.5% and 11.5% in the groups bred in water with a pH 9 and 0‰
salinity, respectively. The study results may help determine the critical values of water parameters that promote or limit development in the early stages of the Chinese sleeper and could be used in activities related to eradicating or significantly reducing the increasing abundance of this
alien invasive fish species in freshwater ecosystems.
“Un ángel con chancros”
Authors: Bacchiega Julia
Published: July 2024

Este trabajo se propone observar las prácticas de prostitución de jóvenes menores de edad en Argentina en las primeras décadas del siglo XX y problematizar las contradicciones en relación con el consentimiento. Con tal fin, reconstruye un caso a través de dos expedientes judiciales llevados adelante por la Justicia del Crimen de la Provincia de Buenos Aires en el año 1915 por el delito de “corrupción de mujeres”. Considerando los procesos como registros judicializados en constante negociación y disputa, indaga en las trayectorias de los involucrados y explora los arreglos que garantizaron la reproducción de la vida cotidiana en este tiempo, tensionadas por los dicotómicos sentidos inherentes al consentimiento.
Molusco contagioso - uma revisão abrangente sobre etiologia, epidemiologia, manifestações clínicas, investigação diagnóstica e tratamento
Authors: Gontijo Catharine Vaz , Teixeira Ana Beatriz Francione , Magalhães Ana Clara Felipe , Silva Camila Morais Oliveira e , Domingues Gabriela Palermo Correia
Published: July 2024

O molusco contagioso (MC) é uma infecção cutânea causada pelo vírus do MC, pertencente à família Poxviridae. Este vírus afeta principalmente crianças, mas pode ocorrer em adultos, especialmente aqueles com sistema imunológico comprometido. A transmissão ocorre por contato direto com lesões de pele infectadas ou indiretamente através de objetos contaminados, como toalhas e roupas. Epidemiologicamente, a doença é mais comum em climas tropicais e subtropicais, onde a umidade facilita a proliferação do vírus. Além disso, atividades que envolvem contato pele a pele, como esportes, podem aumentar o risco de infecção. Em adultos, a transmissão sexual é uma via significativa, especialmente em indivíduos com múltiplos parceiros sexuais. Clinicamente, o MC se manifesta por meio de pequenas pápulas brilhantes e indolores, geralmente com uma depressão central. Essas lesões podem surgir em qualquer parte do corpo, embora sejam mais comuns no tronco, membros e área genital. Para o diagnóstico, a observação clínica das lesões é geralmente suficiente devido às características distintivas das pápulas. No entanto, em casos de dúvida, a confirmação pode ser feita por biópsia ou citologia, onde a presença de corpos de inclusão eosinofílicos no citoplasma das células epidérmicas, conhecidos como corpos de molusco, é patognomônica. O tratamento pode variar dependendo da gravidade e do número de lesões. Em muitos casos, a infecção é autolimitada e as lesões resolvem espontaneamente em meses a anos. Contudo, opções terapêuticas incluem a crioterapia, curetagem, laser ou aplicação de agentes tópicos como o ácido salicílico e a cantaridina. Em pacientes imunocomprometidos, o tratamento pode ser mais desafiador e pode requerer terapias mais agressivas para prevenir a disseminação e complicações. Por fim, sua gestão envolve uma combinação de diagnóstico clínico e, quando necessário, intervenções terapêuticas específicas para acelerar a resolução das lesões e prevenir a disseminação da infecção.
Perspectivas sobre a dor neuropática na síndrome dolorosa regional complexa: uma análise abrangente
Authors: Henriques Carolina Gianoto , Pratti Natália Marçal , Catelan-Mainardes Sandra Cristina
Published: July 2024

A Síndrome Dolorosa Regional Complexa (SDRC), antigamente chamada de Distrofia Simpático Reflexa e de Causalgia, consiste em uma condição de dor crônica. Essa Síndrome é caracterizada por uma dor contínua, progressiva, regional, que afeta predominantemente as partes distais de uma extremidade e é precedida de uma lesão traumática ou de outra lesão. O presente artigo visou como objetivo analisar a Dor Neuropática na SDRC. Como metodologia, foi produzida uma pesquisa descritiva do tipo revisão de literatura integrativa. Assim, esta pesquisa baseou-se em uma análise de artigos selecionados das bases de dados Pubmed e Medline , publicados entre o período de 2018 a 2023. Foram utilizados para a busca os descritores "complex regional pain syndromes"; "dor crônica"; "manejo da dor". A partir dos achados, foram reunidos 17 artigos organizados segundo o critério PRISMA, que serviu de ferramenta de verificação e pontuação de credibilidade das fontes utilizadas. Como critério de elegibilidade, foram aplicados apenas trabalhos científicos completos, em língua inglesa e um em Islandês. As duplicatas e os artigos que não responderam a pergunta norteadora foram excluídos. A pesquisa possibilitou identificar os mecanismos fisiológicos da dor neuropática presente na síndrome e  contribuiu para destacar a importância da prevenção, diagnóstico e tratamento. Apesar disso, há lacunas na literatura, exigindo mais pesquisas para entender completamente a SDRC. Logo, essa temática mostra-se relevante, quando analisamos que é necessária uma abordagem multidisciplinar para o manejo eficaz da SDRC, para um diagnóstico precoce, bem como pela necessidade de melhorar as intervenções e qualidade de vida dos pacientes.
Utilização da crioterapia associada a enucleação com curetagem para o tratamento conservador de ameloblastoma sólido convencional – relato de caso
Authors: Cesca Clara Porto , Mendonça Débora Fernandes Barros , Oliveira Hugo Franklin Lima de , Valente Rômulo Oliveira de Hollanda , Andrade Marina Gonçalves de , Freitas Neto Jeoval Severino de
Published: July 2024

Os ameloblastomas são caracterizados como neoplasias que afetam a região oral e maxilofacial. Embora benignos, exibem comportamento localmente agressivo e altos índices de recorrência, demandando atenção na escolha da terapia a ser adotada. Este tumor tem origem no epitélio-odontogênico, surgindo dos remanescentes epiteliais envolvidos na formação dos dentes, representando um dos tumores odontogênicos mais comuns. A crioterapia utiliza o nitrogênio líquido para obter um processo de congelamento rápido e descongelamento lento, promovendo a formação de cristais de gelo intracelulares e extracelulares que causam perturbações no equilíbrio eletrolítico e osmótico das células, resultando na morte celular. O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a eficácia da terapia cirúrgica conservadora que consiste na enucleação, curetagem e utilização da crioterapia como ferramenta adjuvante, atuação contrária à conduta normalmente empregada nestes casos, a qual consiste na ressecção marginal ou segmentar seguida de cirurgia reconstrutiva. A paciente do sexo feminino, 65 anos de idade, foi encaminhado para o ambulatório de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Bucomaxilofacial apresentando uma radiografia panorâmica evidenciando a presença de uma lesão radiolúcida, bem delimitada e localizada em região anterior de mandíbula, após a realização de uma biópsia incisional, obteve-se o diagnóstico de ameloblastoma sólido convencional. Após vinte e quatro meses do tratamento conservador, a paciente evoluiu sem sinais de recidiva do tumor ou complicações no pós-operatório. Conclui-se que, embora o tratamento usual do ameloblastoma sólido convencional seja por meio de uma abordagem mais agressiva, o emprego da crioterapia em conjunto com uma terapia conservadora é eficaz, como também preserva a anatomia e funcionalidade do sistema estomatognático e proporciona taxas significativamente menores de recidivas.
Estudo comparativo dos efeitos reacionais das vacinas utilizadas pelo programa de imunização brasileiro durante o período de pandemia da COVID-19
Authors: RIbeiro Izabela Regina França , Santos Paulo Roberto de Oliveira , Diamante Artur Carvalho , Daher Lívia Aquino , Cruz Luiza Higino
Published: July 2024

Introdução: O elevado número de infecções por COVID 19 em um curto período ocasionou uma crise sanitária no sistema de saúde brasileiro e trouxe impactos significativos em diversos setores da economia. Com isso, uma das alternativas para tentar atenuar os efeitos da pandemia foi o Plano Nacional de Operacionalização da Vacinação Contra a COVID-19 (PNOVC), estratégia de vacinação do Programa Nacional de Imunizações contra a COVID-19, com definição de público alvo. A divisão dos grupos prioritários, por sua vez, foi pautada no risco de desenvolvimento de um quadro mais grave da doença (Kemp,2020). Há a possibilidade de desenvolvimento de efeitos reacionais após a aplicação dos imunizantes, portanto uma compreensão melhor acerca de quais são essas complicações, em quais grupos de indivíduos elas se concentram, sua frequência e intensidade, bem como outras informações, como o tipo da vacina, se fazem necessárias, representando um potencial de obtenção de dados extremamente relevantes. Objetivo: Analisar os fatores que influenciam o grau dos efeitos colaterais das vacinas oferecidas pelo Programa Nacional de Imunizações (PNI). Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo quantitativo, inserido nas ciências da saúde, a respeito das reações adversas provocadas pelas vacinas contra a COVID-19 disponíveis no Brasil. Foram considerados eventos adversos provenientes da vacina aqueles que se manifestarem até 72 horas após a aplicação (Brasil,2014). Como instrumento de coleta, foi utilizado um formulário, distribuído de maneira aleatória, a fim de selecionar as pessoas que se enquadram nos critérios de inclusão. Resultados e conclusões: A partir da observação dos dados coletados, foi notado que há uma redução do aparecimento de efeitos colaterais na população mais idosa, em mulheres e em pessoas com comorbidades em relação aos jovens, homens e pessoas com comorbidades, respectivamente (APS,2018). Aparentemente, há uma relação entre essa população com um déficit no sistema imune (Kemp,2020), mas para qualquer afirmação, novos e maiores estudos são necessários. Além disso, não ficou claro se a grande quantidade de participantes que tomaram a CoronaVac assintomáticos no pós-aplicação está relacionado com a idade mais avançada da população que tomou esta vacina ou com a vacina em si, já que que a idade mais avançada apareceu, neste estudo, com menos efeitos adversos em relação à aplicação das vacinas.
Resultado da aplicação de toxina botulínica no tratamento de paralisia facial de Bell: relato de caso
Authors: Resende Tatiana Carneiro de , Filice Letícia de Souza Castro , Prado Otávio Enrico Braga , Pacheco Roberto Fernandes , Motta Rodrigo Ferreira , Rovaris Denize Peruzzo , Mariano Maria Tereza Scardua
Published: July 2024

As paralisias e discinesias craniofaciais desencadeiam alterações funcionais e estéticas, que ocasionam repercussões de desordens físicas e psicológicas em seus portadores. Podem promover distúrbios de fala, deglutição e mastigação, além de desequilíbrio estático e dinâmico que afeta a expressão das emoções e, consequentemente, a autoestima e estado emocional do paciente. O objetivo deste estudo é relatar um caso de Paralisia de Bell (PB) em paciente de 42 anos com paralisia em hemiface direita, sendo o diagnóstico de PB feito por um neurocirurgião. O paciente sentia dor no ouvido da hemiface atingida, zumbido, dor de cabeça e elevação da pressão arterial. Foi encaminhado para fisioterapia, uso de corticoides, fonoaudiologia, antivirais e laser. Ficou em tratamento por dois anos e obteve uma melhora no quadro de apenas 30% da condição. Ao saber do nosso projeto que trata pacientes carentes com diagnóstico de paralisia facial, com uso de toxina botulínica, ele nos procurou e se encaixava nos critérios pertinentes. Realizou-se, então, a aplicação da toxina em pontos espalhados pela hemiface do paciente. Após 15 dias da aplicação da toxina em pontos estratégicos, o paciente nos gravou um vídeo de agradecimento emocionante, nos mostrando que o quadro havia tido uma melhora próxima dos 100%. A fala estava praticamente normalizada, a face estava visualmente normalizada e os espasmos faciais musculares eram raros. Dessa forma, demonstramos que a toxina botulínica é um importante aliado para melhora do quadro de PB, oferecendo benefícios imediatos à qualidade de vida e autoestima dos pacientes.
Novas abordagens terapêuticas para o Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico: uma revisão integrativa da literatura
Authors: Lima Charles Fabian de , Vieira Vitor Barbosa , Bohnenberger Gustavo , Smaili Najla Omar , Vieira Vinícius Nogueira Xisto , Domingues Elizete de Fátima , Aragão Ana Paula , Zanoni Rodrigo Daniel
Published: July 2024

Introdução: O Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico (LES) é uma doença autoimune sistêmica caracterizada por uma desregulação do sistema imunológico. O quadro clínico é amplo e varia desde leve inflamação de pele e articulações até condições graves com risco de vida. A terapia farmacológica do LES ainda é baseada em medicamentos imunomoduladores e imunossupressores inespecíficos, mas novos medicamentos vêm ganhando espaço no repertório de tratamento para a doença. Objetivo: integrar conhecimento referente às novas abordagens de tratamento para o LES. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão bibliográfica integrativa da literatura, elaborada a partir de trabalhos científicos acerca das novas abordagens terapêuticas para o LES. Foram considerados artigos originais e completos publicados em português, espanhol e inglês nos últimos dez anos, de 2014 até 2024, obtidos nas plataformas SCIELO, PUBMED e LILACS. Resultados: O tratamento padrão de todos os pacientes com LES utiliza terapia antimalárica, normalmente Hidroxicloroquina. O Belimumabe (BEL) é um anticorpo monoclonal (mAb) que mostrou eficácia em pacientes com doença ativa em terapia padrão de base. Outra droga conhecida é o Anifrolumabe que foi aprovado para o tratamento do LES moderado a grave em combinação com o tratamento padrão. Conclusão: o quadro clínico complexo e as diversas aberrações no sistema imunológico dos portadores do LES têm dificultado o desenvolvimento de novas terapias que possuam alta eficácia e poucos efeitos adversos.
Conhecimento, atitudes e práticas de estudantes do internato de medicina de uma instituição de ensino superior de Maceió frente ao paciente diabético
Authors: Sarmento Dominique Montini Corneta , Pereira Neto Antônio Lôbo , Souza Bruna Cavalcanti de , Cerqueira Raphaella Barbosa de Oliveira , Rodrigues Renata Katharyne Cordeiro , Nascimento Jhony Williams Gusmão do , Fachin Laérico Pol
Published: July 2024

Introdução: O diabetes mellitus (DM) representa um grupo de doenças metabólicas com etiologias diversas, caracterizado por hiperglicemia. Para estudantes de medicina maiores níveis de conhecimento sobre diabetes e suas complicações, são necessários porque são a fonte primária de informações para os pacientes. Dessa forma, faz-se necessário avaliar o nível de conhecimento dos estudantes durante o internato do curso de medicina de um Centro Universitário de uma capital do nordeste, a respeito do manejo do paciente portador de diabetes em diversos perfis de atendimento. Metodologia: O estudo realizado foi classificado como quantitativo primário do tipo analítico observacional e transversal. Foi conduzido por meio da apuração de dados coletados, através da elaboração de um questionário online. Resultados e Discussão: O curso de medicina de uma instituição de nível superior, possui em torno de 360 alunos matriculados no internato. Todavia, a resposta do questionário alcançou apenas 80 participantes, com nível de confiança de 95% e erro amostral de 10%. Destes se sentem seguros a tomarem ou sugerirem condutas dos pacientes diabéticos 77,5% dos estudantes que responderam ao questionário. De acordo com os dados, 81,3% dos participantes se consideram capazes de iniciar o tratamento e escalonar o uso de antidiabéticos orais. Conclusão: Diante dos dados obtidos, ficou notória a importância da pesquisa para avaliar o desempenho dos alunos frente um paciente diabético, visto que os pontos abordados no questionário são situações que podem facilmente acontecer aos futuros profissionais.