Insights into heme degradation and hydrogen peroxide induced dimerization of human neuroglobin.

In this work, we investigated the H2O2-induced oligomerization of wild-type human neuroglobin (hNgb) and of some selected variants (C46AC55A, Y44A, Y44F, Y44AC46AC55A, Y44AC46AC55A) to clarify how the process is affected by the Cys46/Cys55 disulfide bond and the distal H-bonding network and to figure out the molecular determinants of the H2O2-induced formation of amyloid type structures and hNgb aggregates. It turns out that hydrogen peroxide exerts a twofold effect on hNgb, inducing both heme breakdown and protein dimerization/polymerization. The enhanced resistance to the oxidizing effect of H2O2 of the disulfide free variants indicates that both effects are strictly influenced by the heme accessibility for H2O2. Most importantly, the H2O2-induced neuroglobin dimerization/polymerization turns out to be triggered by tyrosyl radicals resulting from the oxidizing action of Compound I ([Por•Fe(IV)=O]+). Peptide mapping indicates that the H2O2-induced dimerization/polymerization of hNgb mainly involves Tyr44, which forms covalent bonds with all the other tyrosine residues, with a minor contribution from Tyr88. The presented findings contribute further important pieces of information in the quest of identifying all capabilities of human neuroglobin and ultimately its physiological task

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

SÓ HÁ FELIZ ANO NOVO COM RESPEITO E ESPERANÇA NO FUTURO

Os primeiros tempos de trabalho na RBPEC foram de muito aprendizado e é com este espírito que iniciamos nosso diálogo com nossos Leitores e Leitoras.Foi, entre crises, dificuldades, tropeços, desafios e muitas aprendizagens que encerramos 2022 e, cheias de esperança, iniciamos um novo ano. Em 2023, além de esperanças renovadas, desejamos que todos e todas tenham a necessária disposição para reconstruir espaços da Educação, Ciência, Educação em Ciências e da Divulgação Científica. Sim, só existe a possibilidade de fazermos um ano realmente novo se estivermos munidos de muita esperança e vontade de fazer mais, melhor, diferente. Acreditamos que assim, e somente assim, faremos e teremos um feliz ano novo.</jats:p

Iniciando nossa Caminhada

Em meio ao contexto pandêmico, esperamos que todas e todos se encontrem bem e com saúde. Este editorial é dedicado aos que lutam contra o negacionismo científico e as opressões sociais.Assim, é com alegria que escrevemos esse texto a você leitora e leitor da RBPEC, para iniciarmos um diálogo sobre a nossa revista.A Revista Brasileira de Pesquisa em Educação em Ciências foi criada em 2001 e lançada oficialmente no III Encontro Nacional de Pesquisa em Educação em Ciências (III ENPEC, Atibaia, SP, 7 a 10 de novembro de 2001). A partir de então, foi publicada regularmente, com periodicidade quadrimestral, passando à modalidade de fluxo contínuo em 2019.Como vocês sabem, foi classificada como A2 no QUALIS CAPES (2013-2016) das áreas de Educação e Ensino, além de estar indexada em bases como DOAJ, Latindex, IRESIE, Redalyc, entre outros; o que só demonstra seu papel de divulgação na nossa área, fruto de um trabalho coletivo dos/as editores/as, avaliadores/as e autores/as. A vocês que fazem a RBPEC, o nosso reconhecimento pelo trabalho colaborativo, solidário e voluntário.</jats:p

THERE IS ONLY HAPPY NEW YEAR WITH RESPECT AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

The initial times of work on RBPEC were times of much learning and with that spirit we start our dialogue with our readers.It was, between crises, difficulties, setbacks, challenges and lots of learnings, that we close 2022 and, full of hope, initiate a new year. In 2023, beyond renewed hopes, we wish everyone to have the necessary disposition to rebuild the spaces of Education, Science, Science Education and the Scientific Disclosure. Yes, there’s only the possibility to make a year really new if we have a lot of hope and will to do more, better and different. We believe that in this way, and only in this way, we will make and have a happy new year.</jats:p

SOLO HAY FELIZ AÑO NUEVO CON RESPETO Y ESPERANZA PARA EL FUTURO

Los primeros años de trabajo en la RBPEC fueron de mucho aprendizaje y es con ese espíritu que iniciamos nuestro diálogo con nuestros Lectores.Fue, en medio de crisis, dificultades, contratiempos, desafíos y muchos aprendizajes, que cerramos el 2022 y, llenas de esperanza, comenzamos un nuevo año. En el 2023, además de renovadas esperanzas, esperamos que todos tengan la disposición necesaria para reconstruir espacios de Educación, Ciencia, Enseñanza de las Ciencias y Divulgación Científica. Sí, sólo existe la posibilidad de hacer un año verdaderamente nuevo si estamos dotados de mucha ilusión y ganas de hacer más, mejor, diferente. Creemos que así, y sólo así, tendremos un feliz año nuevo.</jats:p

Linking sediment properties with conductivity values: an approach to investigate intra point bar grain-size variability in fluvial deposits

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Fluvial and fluvio-tidal meandering channels are widespread in coastal areas, where they shape the present-day landscapes and build up thick sedimentary successions. Deposits accumulated by these channels host the most surficial aquifers, which are deeply exploited by agricultural and industrial activities. Understanding sedimentary facies distribution within these deposits is crucial to predict groundwater flow and also has relevant implications for aquifer management.&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;This study focuses on deposits accumulated by a late Holocene meandering river of the Venetian Plain (Northeast Italy). Combining remote sensing and geophysical data, sedimentary cores, and statistical analyses, we characterize the geometry and sedimentology of two adjacent point-bar bodies, with a specific focus on along-bar sediment grain-size distribution.&amp;amp;#160;&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;The study paleochannel is ca. 30 m wide and its planform evolution was reconstructed by analyzing the scroll-bar pattern of the related point bars from satellite images. This channel generated two meander bends, namely B1 and B2, that progressively expanded during their evolution; moreover, bend B1 was affected by a downstream rotation of the bend apex during its final stage of growth.&amp;amp;#160;&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Geophysical investigations (Frequency Domain Electro-Magnetometer) provided information about the electric conductivity of the studied sedimentary bodies by allowing for the visualization of horizontal 2D maps with averaged conductivity values with a vertical resolution of 1 m. Point-bar bodies are characterized by slightly lower conductivity values (7 to 80 mS/m) than channel-fill deposits (49-147 mS/m), whereas overbank deposits exhibit the highest values (115 to 300 mS/m). In the B1 point-bar, conductivity values reflect the scroll-bar pattern and are lower in the upstream and pool zones, whereas, in the B2 point-bar, the conductivity exhibits almost uniform horizontal values at each depth.&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Sedimentary cores reveal that the two point bars consist of well-sorted sands, ranging from fine to very coarse sand, with no heterolithic deposits. Bar deposits cover a basal lag consisting of very coarse sand with shell fragments. Channel-fill deposits are made of fine to very fine sand with muddy intercalations. Overbank deposits consist of massive mud, which is locally organic-rich.&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;The combination of core analysis and conductivity maps highlights a correlation between conductivity values and sediment textural properties, revealing that finer sediments (i.e., mud in overbank areas) are more conductive than coarser ones (i.e., sand in the point-bar bodies). These observations provide information about the spatial distribution of grain size at different depths, showing the occurrence of different vertical grain-size trends within point-bar deposits. Moreover, statistical analyses reveal that the conductivity values in bar deposits are primarily influenced by the grain-size sorting, and subordinately by grain size and composition.&amp;amp;#160;&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;Our findings provide a link between planform evolution of fluvial bends and grain-size distribution within the related bars, with implications to predict subsurface flow propagation within alluvial sedimentary bodies.&amp;amp;#160;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</jats:p

Beginning our Walk

Amid these pandemic times, we hope that everyone is well and healthy. This editorial is dedicated to those fighting scientific denialism and social oppression. Thus, it is with joy that we write this text to the readers of RBPEC, to begin a dialogue about our journal. The Brazilian Journal of Research in Science Education was established in 2001 and officially launched at the III National Meeting of Research in Science Education (III ENPEC), which was held in Atibaia, SP, between November 7th-10th, 2001. The journal has been published three times annually since then and adopted a continuous publication mode in 2019. As you may know, the journal has been not only classified as A2 according to QUALIS CAPES (the Brazilian official system for classifying scientific production) between 2013-2016 in the fields of Education and Teaching, but also indexed in databases such as DOAJ, Latindex, IRESIE, Redalyc, among others. This demonstrates its role in terms of dissemination within our field of knowledge, which is the result of a collective work between editors, peers, and authors. We are thankful to all of you who make part of RBPEC, for your collaborative, solidary and voluntary work