Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Data-centric training enables meaningful interaction learning in protein-ligand binding affinity prediction

Predicting protein–ligand binding affinity remains a fundamental challenge in drug discovery, where deep learning models have become central. However, these models often struggle with protein and ligand biases, and their generalization to unseen targets remains limited. Here, we...

Integrating long-term demography and population genetics reveals the persistence of a threatened palm in fragmented Atlantic Forest landscapes

Anthropogenic disturbances are a major cause of extinction and population decline, especially in small, unprotected forest fragments where demographic and genetic challenges are more pronounced. Euterpe edulis , a key resource palm species in the Atlantic Forest, plays a crucial...

HTLV infection among pregnant women attending a viral hepatitis referral center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) remains a neglected infection worldwide, despite its potential for severe disease and vertical transmission. In Brazil, the burden of HTLV infection among pregnant remains poorly understood, underscoring the need for updated epidemiological...

Trends in Medicines Discontinuation and Implications for Access in Brazil (2014–2024)

ABSTRACT Purpose The World Health Organization ( WHO ) began recognizing drug shortages as a global issue in 2014, impacting health systems and patient care. Shortages arise from supply chain disruptions, production issues, and mismatches between supply and demand, aggravated by...

Acute Ethanol Exposure Inhibits GABA Uptake in Embryonic Chicken Retina

Abstract GABA is the major inhibitory amino acid in the central nervous system (CNS), and its homeostasis is crucial for inhibitory/excitatory balance. Its reuptake is mediated by GABA transporters, including type 1 (GAT-1), a high-affinity GABA plasma membrane transporter. Ethan...

Theory of High-Tc Superconductivity in Cuprates

Abstract The essential physical processes underlying the phenomenon of high-Tc superconductivity in cuprates occur in the $$CuO_2$$ planes, found in these materials. The dynamics of the active electrons belonging to such planes is well described by the Three Bands Hubbard Model (...

Of milk, pitch, and blood: vernacular naming patterns of exudate-producing plants in Brazil

Abstract Background Vernacular plant names often limn traits of the plants they name. This study investigates whether exudate is one such trait and, if so, which qualities of exudates are referenced in the vernacular names of exudate-producing plants in Brazil, a country whose ri...

Surfactantsfor Enhanced Oil Recovery: Progress andInnovations over the Past Decade

Abstract Surfactant-based strategies have emerged as key approaches for enhancing oil recovery (EOR), particularly in mature reservoirs where conventional production methods leave a substantial fraction of oil unrecovered. This review provides a comprehensive and critical assessm...

Histopathological analysis of CD163 and myeloperoxidase expression in neutrophil-rich dermatoses

Background Predominance of myeloperoxidase immunoreactive mononucleated cells in the dermal infiltrate defines histiocytoid Sweet’s syndrome. These cells are believed to represent immature myeloid cells of granulocytic lineage, and the authors suppose that they could be present i...

From Seaweed to Corrosion Inhibitor: A Multi-MethodValidation of λ-Carrageenan as a Non-Toxic Inhibitorunder Acidic Hydrodynamic Conditions

Abstract Corrosive processes are responsible for direct and indirect costs in industrial systems, which can be mitigated by corrosion inhibitors. The awareness of environmental risks has motivated sustainable approaches, such as naturally derived biopolymers, due to low toxicity...

Strain-Specific Reduction of Ndel1 Enzymatic Activity During Early Zika Virus Infection in the Neonatal Brain

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during early development is associated with severe neurodevelopmental impairment, including congenital microcephaly, yet the molecular mechanisms linking viral exposure to neuronal dysfunction remain incompletely understood. Ndel1 (nudE neurodevelopmen...

An Equational and Graphical Fixed-Point Calculus (Functional Pearl)

The fixed-point calculus is a toolbox of theorems for reasoning equationally about fixed points. However, the underlying concepts of the calculus are not defined equationally, including the central definition, that of least fixed point. Thus, although the key theorems of the fixe...

Reduced IP6K levels impair life-cycle transitions and intracellular development of Trypanosoma cruzi within human cardiomyocytes

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease (CD). During its life cycle, T. cruzi undergoes several key differentiation processes that are essential for its survival. The precise mechanisms that regulate these processes remain elusive, and any interference in thi...

DOPAL links dopamine dysregulation to neurodegeneration: a translational systematic review and meta-analysis

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) is the most reactive dopamine (DA)-derived aldehyde and has been implicated in selective dopaminergic neurodegeneration in α-synucleinopathies, including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Here, we present the first...

Discontinuous Peripheral Punctate Echogenic Foci in Thyroid Nodules: A New Sonographic Pattern Suggestive of Papillary Carcinoma

Background: Ultrasound risk stratification systems for thyroid nodules worldwide describe different types of echogenic foci, including punctate echogenic foci (microcalcifications), coarse internal calcifications, and peripheral (rim) calcifications (complete or incomplete), with...

Sociolinguistic scales and the texturing of three staircases: Bodies, memories and affect

This article explores staircases as multimodal sites for semiotic and epistemic reflection on meaning-making. Building on the shared etymology of staircase and scale , and drawing on a scalar understanding of semiosis, I analyse three installations— A Stumbling Staircase , A Stai...

Peptidomic Characterizationand Functional Propertiesof Goat and Cow Milk Kefir before and after In Vitro Digestion

Abstract Kefir is a fermented beverage produced from goat or cow milk. This study evaluated the bioactive potential and peptidomic profile of kefirs from both species before and after in vitro digestion. Peptides from undigested, gastric, and intestinal phases were characterized...

A lean-based method for patient journey improvement: enhancing value and performance in healthcare delivery

Purpose This research introduces a lean-based method, from the customer’s perspective, aimed at continuously improving the sequence of value and non-value stages throughout the purchase journey, named the ideal customer journey method (ICJM). Design/methodology/approach The ICJM...

Dynamic collapse initiation and propagation in submarine pipelines: A fluid–structure interaction study

The dynamic propagation of collapse in submarine pipelines is strongly influenced by fluid–structure interaction (FSI), yet its quantitative effects remain insufficiently characterized. This study investigates the role of the surrounding fluid on collapse propagation dynamics thr...

Lead-Time Sensitivity of GFS Forecasts for the Deadly 2011 Nova Friburgo Disaster (Brazil): A Hindcast-Based Synoptic and Thermodynamic Assessment

Abstract The catastrophic rainfall of 11–12 January 2011 triggered hundreds of landslides and flash floods in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, with Nova Friburgo among the affected municipalities. This paper assesses how the predictability of this event dep...