Cetaceans are highly adapted marine mammals whose survival depends on precise auditory and echolocation systems. Therefore, disease processes affecting these systems, including parasitic infections pose significant morbidity and may result in stranding and death. Here, we describe the pathologic and parasitological findings in an adult, male melon-headed whale ( Peponocephala electra ) stranded dead on the Brazilian coast. The...

This study aimed to evaluate the exposure of Chelonia mydas (green turtles) inhabiting the south coast of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil, to essential and toxic elements. Concentrations of Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn were determined in shell, muscle, liver, and kidney samples from 43 individuals using ICP-OES. Element concentrations varied according to tissue type. Specifically, the average concentrations of A...

Statistical analysis of in vitro assay data is a critical step towards a good interpretation of biological responses. However, it is still frequently undermined due to inappropriate statistical procedures, misinterpretation, insufficient statistical power—often resulting from small sample sizes—or poorly defined methodologies, in case of standardized tests. In line with practices commonly adopted in clinical studies and more r...

Purpose Vascular dysfunction is a pathophysiological mechanism in peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD patients exhibit reduced circulating expression of microRNA-126 (c-miRNA-126) and VEGF. Submaximal walking (SW) is recommended in PAD because it increases walking capacity, partially by improving vascular regulation, which can be observed after a walking session. Nevertheless, previous studies were conducted with maximal walk...

Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) affects approximately 42% of acute stroke patients, increasing hospitalization costs and length of stay. Early identification improves outcomes, yet many patients—especially in low-resource settings—lack access to gold-standard evaluations. This scoping review explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and data science—defined as the interdisciplinary use of computational methods, stat...

Aim We investigate the distribution of dispersal modes — endozoochory (via animal ingestion), synzoochory (via animal seed accumulation) and anemochory (via wind)—and seed mass of woody plants across Brazilian ecosystems, testing whether their relative abundance in local plant communities could be predicted by climate, edaphic factors and dispersal agents (e.g., the main vectors moving seeds). We expected climate to be the mai...