News

A study in rats analyzed neural rhythm in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus with machine learning techniques. The results could guide future personalized treatments for psychiatric disorders.

Analysis conducted in Spain used a methodology developed by researchers at the State University of Campinas to detect many toxins simultaneously.

Researchers discuss 17 case studies conducted in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Africa involving ways to implement integrated management of water, energy and food.

The unique image captured by researchers affiliated with the National Space Research Institute shows positive upward discharges produced by lightning rods and objects on nearby buildings competing to connect to the negative strike as it descended from the clouds. The photo was used to illustrate the cover of Geophysical Research Letters.

Machine learning tool measures how environmental variables such as humidity and solar radiation affect the amount of carbon captured in a given area.

A survey of news items on Brazilian deer published between 2011 and 2021 shows that most referred to habitat loss and poaching, but diseases transmitted by cattle and low reproductive efficiency were ignored as factors that can lead to species extinction. Lack of the right information can hinder conservation efforts.

Researchers at the State University of Campinas analyzed fossils found in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state, from dinosaurs that lived in the Late Triassic. The analysis showed that the three oldest dinosaurs lacked air sacs, which enabled pterosaurs to fly and are also found in present-day birds.

Significant changes in gut microbiota were observed in 42 men with coronary artery disease after they took 250 ml of red wine per day for five days a week over a period of three weeks.

Fatigue, breathlessness and other symptoms that may persist months after recovery from the infection may both favor sedentarism and be more frequent as a result of an inactive lifestyle, according to findings described by researchers at the University of São Paulo in an article in Scientific Reports.

In vitro tests were performed with cultured cells of glioblastoma, an aggressive type of cancer with few treatment options. The next step is to test the effects of the substances in normal nerve cells and animals.

The aim of the study was to analyze the virulence and antimicrobial resistance profile of the main agent of urinary tract infections.

The researchers analyzed data for more than 500 coffee farms in areas of Atlantic Rainforest and Cerrado, Brazil’s savanna-type biome, in 84 municipalities in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais.

Researchers followed 286 volunteers during a wave of COVID-19 in the Northeast region of Brazil in the first quarter of 2022. The number of cases fell among those who had been vaccinated with three doses, and they had more neutralizing antibodies than subjects who had not completed the vaccination scheme even when previously infected.

In a study involving mice, the scientists discovered that an avian variant of the TRPV1 receptor, which captures the burning sensation from pepper, can block chronic pain and provide protection against other stimuli in heart and brain cells.

An article by researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo argues that the analysis should consider not just the quantity but also the size and shape of plastic particles in water samples, as these variables influence the impact of plastic pollution on ecosystems.

When researchers at the State University of Campinas analyzed zika’s effects on normal and cancer cells, they discovered that while the virus can be used to treat the disease, it may trigger a harmful inflammatory process and damage the male reproductive system.

The study involved 28 volunteers diagnosed with sarcopenia, which is characterized by loss of muscle mass and strength.

The novel material was synthesized at the Center for Development of Functional Materials. The aim of the study was to combat the contamination caused by inappropriate disposal of pesticides and pharmaceuticals.

Technology developed at the University of São Paulo increases the precision of chemical analysis and reduces the use of expensive toxic solvents. The immediate focus was on parabens, potentially carcinogenic compounds used in industry as preservatives.

Brazilian researchers conducted preclinical trials involving mice to find the ideal dose and administration regime. The results suggest high daily doses of the probiotic are needed to obtain the benefit.

Representatives of the German higher education institution met with FAPESP’s senior executives to talk about their shared commitment to fostering research on sustainability.

The topic was raised by FAPESP President Marco Antonio Zago in his welcoming address to the São Paulo School of Advanced Science on the Bicentennial of Brazilian Independence, held on February 6-15 at Museu Paulista.

Wildcat prospecting has expanded faster since 2017 and occurs mainly on the Kayapó, Munduruku and Yanomami reservations, according to a study by scientists at Brazil’s National Space Research Institute.

First study to identify pixel and voxel organizational parameters in MRI scans of two different (albeit similar) benign tumors may contribute to development of more accurate, less invasive diagnosis.

A Brazilian study identified more than 74,000 active fires in the period. They were not mainly due to extreme drought, the foremost cause of the spate of forest fires seen in 2010. Half of the Amazon is typically vulnerable to fire in the two-month period analyzed. Human action was the main cause of the recent destruction.

The study cross-referenced datasets on 140 native species in the world’s largest dry tropical forest, located mainly in Bolivia and Argentina, with patches in Paraguay and Brazil. The wetter north has more tree-dwelling snakes, while most species have adapted to living underground in burrows in the drier south.

The technology was developed by a startup with FAPESP’s support and used in a project conducted in rural communities in the Northeast of Brazil. The World Health Organization included the project in a mapping exercise on developing-country primary healthcare initiatives that use AI and telemedicine.

The event will bring together world-renowned researchers to expand on this emerging new area of astrophysics related to hidden aspects of extreme phenomena. Registrations are due on March 17.

A book chapter by researchers at the Federal University of the ABC shows that scant progress has been achieved in addressing the concentration of land tenure in Brazil since the return to civilian rule in 1985. For the authors, extreme inequality and a lack of public policies to combat it are the main causes of rural conflict and violence.

A study conducted at the University of São Paulo provides knowledge for use in diagnosing and treating chronic fatigue syndrome, which affects 10%-20% of patients who recover from COVID-19.

In a Brazilian study involving 800 children, researchers found that extended breastfeeding protects the baby’s teeth as long as it is not given sugary food.

Based on an analysis of data for nearly 1,000 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing born in the 1950s and 1960s, researchers concluded that children’s relationships with parents influence longevity, although the impact is different for men and women.

Topics that will be covered include processing of high-resolution image data, single particle analysis, and in-cell structural biology by cryo electron tomography (Cryo-TM). Applications are due on March 06, 2023.

A study by Brazilian researchers shows that the use of bioenergy avoids greenhouse gas emissions. Another benefit of their bioreactor is conversion of apple pomace into organic fertilizer.

Using experimental fires set at different times of year in the Campos Amazônicos National Park, Brazilian researchers found that lags in acquiring and assessing information obtained from satellite imaging can lead to misinterpretation. The study points to the need for adjustments to monitoring algorithms.

Cetuximab is one of the few drugs approved for this type of cancer, but it is expensive and effective only for 40% of patients. An article in the journal Cells describes molecular alterations observed in tumor cells that indicate resistance to the drug, paving the way to the development of a predictive test.

Scientists who analyzed the combined use of two drugs – paclitaxel and immune checkpoint inhibitors – made discoveries that could pave the way for future research to combat the pain caused by other diseases.

Researchers at the University of São Paulo detected SARS-CoV-2 on the ocular surface in 18.2% of samples taken from patients hospitalized with the disease. The findings point to an alternative to nasopharyngeal swabbing and highlight the need for health workers to protect themselves from infection by ocular fluids.

Grass-covered pasture captures more methane than bare soil, albeit much less than forest-covered soil. Researchers at the University of São Paulo showed that proper pasture management strategies have the potential to reduce the impact of livestock production and mitigate global warming.

Results of in vitro tests are described by researchers at the University of São Paulo in the journal Scientific Reports point to avenues for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

An article by researchers at the State University of Campinas in Sport, Education and Society investigates the dark side of Olympic fame. The lead author’s PhD research included interviews with former gymnasts in the Brazilian team.

As part of a project supported by FAPESP, researchers at a startup called PollinTech are developing a strategy to use to sniffer bees to pollinate coffee crops. The firm took part alongside several other startups in the 22nd PIPE High Tech Entrepreneurship Program hosted by FAPESP to showcase innovative research.

In Brazil, researchers tracked 80 patients with moderate and severe forms of the disease for up to six months after they left hospital. Muscle impairment during hospitalization was also a predictor of higher healthcare costs in the ensuing months.

Flexible copper device identifies lead and cadmium in sweat and can be used by untrained personnel to monitor exposure to toxic materials.

A company funded by FAPESP’s program to support innovation by small businesses is launching a dietary supplement for consumer hair care.

Hydrogen peroxide is used to sterilize medical equipment, to bleach fabric, pulp and paper, and whiten teeth, among other applications.

In experiments conducted by scientists at the University of São Paulo, the performance of a model obtained in a 3D printer was equivalent to that of the conventional model produced manually. The biomimetic material can be produced on a large scale, reducing animal testing by the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.

A study analyzed changes to the built environment to promote physical activity in Brazil’s largest city between 2015 and 2020, using data from online public libraries as well as the city and state governments.

Brazilian researchers have discovered that central nervous system cells from patients with schizophrenia secrete substances that reduce the thickness of blood vessels in the brain, possibly leading to diminished metabolic flux in some parts of the CNS.

Stress, burnout, pain and poor sleep were some of the most frequent symptoms reported by nursing and other staff who care for patients in a study conducted by researchers at the Federal University of São Carlos in São Paulo state, Brazil.