Could the reproductive system explain the stability and long-term persistence in a natural hybrid zone of Petunia (Solanaceae)?

The long-term success of populations is dependent on individual reproductive success, and in general, increased population size and genetic diversity contribute to population maintenance, reducing the risk of local extinction. Interspecific hybridization has consequences that can vary according to the hybrids' fate, which can be strongly influenced by the reproductive capacity of hybrids and canonical individuals from the contact zone. We examined the reproductive biology and morphology of two closely related Petunia (Solanaceae) species and their interspecific hybrids from Serra do Sudeste, Southern Brazil, and we measured their reproductive success under controlled conditions based on seed production and germination from five pollination treatments. We found differences in self-compatibility degree among individuals, lineages, and pollination treatments based on high total seed production (> 204,000 seeds) and germination (630 seedlings evaluated). No correlation was observed between corolla colour and reproductive success or between floral morphological traits and compatibility. High self-compatibility and inter-lineage compatibility can explain the hybrid populations' maintenance and origin, favouring the two analysed species' introgression

Women and work: film analysis of Most Beautiful Thing

Purpose – This article aims to present aspects related to women’s personal life and work illustrated in the TVseries Most Beautiful Thing (Coisa Mais Linda, in Portuguese).Design/methodology/approach – To this end, a film analysis was carried out considering the first season ofthe TV series Most Beautiful Thing, and to analyze the data, qualitative content analysis was used according toBardin (2006).Findings – The analysis showed that women’s struggles were and are distinct. While white women are fightingfor the right to work - concomitantly reconciling their roles as mother, wife and housewife -, black and poorwomen fight for survival and dignity. As result, the film analysis showed that women’s search for a differentsocial position is related to an inherent cultural aspect. It is relevant to mention herein that this struggle remainsup to the present; such struggle is characterized by the occultation of the social role played by women.Research limitations/implications – As a limitation, there are few studies that address the theme of whiteand black women during the period reported in the series.Originality/value – The main contribution of this article is the use of a filming product that portrays the1950s, but bringing current discussions on the role of women in society, especially regarding the labor market,the patriarchal domination of men, prejudice, racial, and class discrimination

Fármacos Anticorpos Monoclonais para o Tratamento do Câncer: uma Perspectiva Brasileira

Introdução: Os anticorpos monoclonais (mAb) são alternativa terapêutica importante no tratamento do câncer. Porém, o acesso a essa terapia é desigual entre países com diferentes rendas. Objetivo: Comparar os fármacos mAb aprovados para uso contra câncer nos EUA com os aprovados no Brasil e discutir, por meio do mecanismo de ação, alternativas terapêuticas disponíveis. Método: A lista de fármacos mAb aprovados pelo FDA foi coletada de publicação prévia e complementada com dados presentes no site dessa agência, assim como mecanismo de ação, data de aprovação e indicações clínicas foram obtidos das bulas dos medicamentos nesse mesmo site. Da mesma forma, os dados de data de aprovação pela Anvisa foram obtidos em consultas ao site dessa agência. Os fármacos foram tabelados e organizados conforme características estruturais e separados em quatro grandes grupos, conforme seu mecanismo de ação. Resultados: Até 2022, 48 mAb foram aprovados para uso contra o câncer pelo FDA. Destes, 37 foram aprovados pela Anvisa para uso no Brasil, com tempo médio entre aprovação no exterior e no Brasil próximo a dois anos. A maioria dos mAb são humanos ou humanizados (77%) e variam bastante com relação ao mecanismo de ação, sendo o antígeno de linfócitos B CD20 e o checkpoint imunológico PD-1/PD-L1 os principais alvos dos mAb avaliados. Conclusão: Apesar de alguns fármacos aprovados no exterior ainda não estarem aprovados no Brasil, o atraso para registro não parece estar relacionado à demora da Anvisa. Além disso, para a maioria dos casos de fármacos ainda não aprovados no Brasil, existem alternativas terapêuticas disponíveis.

Why not "do simple things in a simple way": Use of the Pap test as the first step in screening genetic stability for human cultured stem cell therapy?

The aim of this study was to analyze adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) using the Pap test as a first screening step to evaluate genetic stability. Human adipose tissue from six healthy female donors was obtained from elective liposuction procedures. The cells were isolated, cultivated at P2/P3, characterized by flow cytometric analysis, and differentiation induced. The AT-MSCs were stained by Papanicolaou staining and analyzed according to the Bethesda classification, and viability-apoptosis relationships were evaluated. The results of the Pap test for Sample I indicated high-grade alterations consistent with genetic instability; for Samples II-V, atypical cells of undetermined significance; and for Sample VI, normal cells. These results demonstrate the potential of using the Pap test as an initial screening step to evaluate the genetic stability of cultured AT-MSCs and also suggest its use for other adherent cells such as embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells

Fatores associados ao risco, à percepção e ao conhecimento de quedas em idosos

Objetivo: Verificar os fatores associados ao risco, percepção e conhecimento de quedas; e dor em idosos.Método: Estudo transversal realizado no Serviço de Emergência de um hospital de ensino da cidade de São Paulo, entre setembro de 2019 e março de 2020, selecionados 197 idosos com 65 anos ou mais, que não estavam desorientados e confusos, de ambos os  sexos.Aplicou-se: Falls Risk Awareness Questionnaire, Escalas de Queda de Morse e Numérica de Dor. Utilizaram-se testes Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis.Resultados: Entrevistados com risco alto de quedas apresentaram maior idade (p=0,0041), aqueles com rede de apoio tiveram menor percepção e conhecimento do risco de queda (p=0,0025) e apresentaram menor percentual de dor intensa (p=0,0033).Conclusão: Fatores associados ao risco, percepção e conhecimento de quedas e dor em idosos foram idade, renda familiar, número de dependentes da renda, cuidador, rede de apoio, hipertensão, défice de deambulação, anti-hipertensivos, hipolipemiantes, escolaridade, comorbidades e religião. Palavras-chave: Idoso. Acidentes por quedas. Serviço hospitalar de emergência. Hospitais

Positive mental health in university students and its relations with psychological vulnerability, mental health literacy, and sociodemographic characteristics: a descriptive correlational study

This study aimed to evaluate positive mental health (PMH) and its relation with sociodemographic characteristics, mental health literacy, and the psychological vulnerability scale (PVS) in Portuguese university students aged 17 to 62. A descriptive correlational study was carried out. An online survey was conducted to evaluate demographic variables, and several questionnaires were applied to evaluate positive mental health, psychological vulnerability, and mental health literacy. The data was collected from 1 November 2019 to 1 September 2020. Overall, 3405 students participated in the study. The results show that 67.8% of students revealed a high level of PMH, 31.6% presented a medium level of PMH, and 0.6% had a low level of PMH. Male students reported higher personal satisfaction (t (3170) = −2.39, p = 0.017) and autonomy (t (3170) = −3.33, p = 0.001) in PMH compared to female students. Students without a scholarship scored higher (t (3127) = −2.04, p = 0.42) in PMH than students who held a scholarship. Students who were not displaced from their home reported higher (t (3170) = −1.99, p = 0.047) self-control in PMH than those displaced from their home. University students with higher PMH results had lower PVS results and higher literacy results. The findings of this study will contribute to identifying students’ PMH intervention needs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Polypyrrole/ionic liquid/Au nanoparticle counter-electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells : improving charge-transfer resistance at the CE/electrolyte interface

To provide a viable alternative for counter electrodes used in dye sensitized solar cells, polypyrrole (PPy) based films have been synthesized via electrochemical deposition in the presence of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imidate (NTf2) and incorporated with gold nanoparticles (Aunanop). The films were analyzed by SEM, UV-Vis-NIR, Raman, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Cyclic voltammetry and Conductivity measurements. The presence of the ionic liquid is found to result in a more conductive film, to improve catalytic reduction of I3 − and the electrochemical reversibility of the electrode. In addition to increase conductivity, impedance spectroscopy has shown that incorporating Aunanop in the PPy/NTf2 film helps improving the interfacial charge transportation, the electrocatalytic properties and solar energy conversion efficiency. DSSCs assembled with PPy based CE presented nearly the same J-V characteristic parameters as observed from conventional Pt based devic

A Brief Review on the Importance use of Solar Energy in the Treatment of Recalcitrant Effluents Applying Advanced Oxidation Processes

Several studies have reported the adverse effects of persistent compounds in the wastewater, showing the fragility of the biologic treatment. Harmful effects for both aquatic biota and human being are caused by those compounds. In order to minimize the adverse environmental impacts, Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) are used in the degradation of those pollutants to achieve high removal rates. In the present the comparisons between the efficiency of AOPs using natural and artificial Ultra Violet light (UV) were made based on the literature review, addressing constructive and operational characteristics of the reactors. The findings indicated that the high levels of solar energy, which are registered in different regions of Brazil, show the viability of the AOP using natural radiation to the decontamination of industrial effluents. Thus the inclusion of advanced oxidation in the treatment of wastewater could be considered as a significant contribution to the supported development in Brazil