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ABSTRACT The spatial variability of soil attributes in terraced areas is poorly studied in the semi-arid region. Considering that multivariate analysis enhances the diagnosis of spatial variability from geostatistics, soil attributes were studied in different zones between terrace channels in semi-arid region, more precisely in a retention terrace area in Canindé (Ceará, Brazil). Soil samples (n = 100) were collected at depths of 0.0 - 0.1 and 0.1 - 0.2 m for descriptive and geostatistical analysis. For multivariate analysis, samples from three zones relative to the terrace channel (Upper, Middle, and Lower) in the 0.0 - 0.2 m layer were considered, with 30 replicates. There was spatial dependence of soil attributes in the two layers studied. Near the channel, in the respective layers, there was higher clay content (13.7% and 14.7%) and higher degree of flocculation (61.3% and 71.7%) compared to the other zones. Water-dispersible clay was higher in the Upper zone (6.5% and 7.7% in the respective layers), while the Middle zone showed higher potential acidity in the evaluated layers (4.8 and 4.5 cmolc dm-3, respectively) compared to the other zones. In the multivariate analysis, there were highlights for the higher sum of bases in the Upper zone (18.9 ± 0.8 cmolc dm-3), higher sand content in the Middle zone (72.6 ± 0.6%), lower potential acidity (2.1 ± 0.2 cmolc dm-3) and higher phosphorus content (12.8 ± 3.0 mg kg-1) in the Low zone. The zone above the terrace channel loses mainly clay and requires practices to increase water and nutrient retention.

Abstract Recombinant multiepitope proteins (RMPs) are a promising alternative for application in diagnostic tests and, given their wide application in the most diverse diseases, this review article aims to survey the use of these antigens for diagnosis, as well as discuss the main points surrounding these antigens. RMPs usually consisting of linear, immunodominant, and phylogenetically conserved epitopes, has been applied in the experimental diagnosis of various human and animal diseases, such as leishmaniasis, brucellosis, cysticercosis, Chagas disease, hepatitis, leptospirosis, leprosy, filariasis, schistosomiasis, dengue, and COVID-19. The synthetic genes for these epitopes are joined to code a single RMP, either with spacers or fused, with different biochemical properties. The epitopes’ high density within the RMPs contributes to a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. The RMPs can also sidestep the need for multiple peptide synthesis or multiple recombinant proteins, reducing costs and enhancing the standardization conditions for immunoassays. Methods such as bioinformatics and circular dichroism have been widely applied in the development of new RMPs, helping to guide their construction and better understand their structure. Several RMPs have been expressed, mainly using the Escherichia coli expression system, highlighting the importance of these cells in the biotechnological field. In fact, technological advances in this area, offering a wide range of different strains to be used, make these cells the most widely used expression platform. RMPs have been experimentally used to diagnose a broad range of illnesses in the laboratory, suggesting they could also be useful for accurate diagnoses commercially. On this point, the RMP method offers a tempting substitute for the production of promising antigens used to assemble commercial diagnostic kits.

Abstract This research aimed to evaluate the resistance to sodium and magnesium sulfates of geopolymeric mortars, prepared with different proportions of alkaline activators of silicate and sodium hydroxide (Ma), Na2O content in relation to metakaolin (MK) and silica modulus (Ms). Additionally, an air-entraining additive was also used in an attempt to mitigate the expansive effects of sulfate attack for 20 weeks. The sulfate resistance properties were evaluated by the change in longitudinal length, mass variation, compressive strength, flexural tensile strength, and microstructure. SEM/EDS analyses suggest the formation of caminite and a change in the structure of the aluminosilicate gel to M-A-S-(H) in mortars exposed to MgSO4, while thenardite was indicated as a harmful product in mortars subjected to Na2SO4. The experimental results also showed that the greater amount of Na2SiO3 in the geopolymer formulation contributes to a denser structure and lower water absorption rate, but resulted in greater physical deterioration and expansion after immersion in sodium magnesium sulfate. The air-entraining additive did not minimize the tensions generated by the sulfate attack. In mortars synthesized with Na2O/MK = 15% and Ms = 1.5 (GEO-15-1.5) and Na2O/MK = 22% and Ms = 1.0 and 1.5 (GEO-22-1.0 and GEO-22-1.5), the compressive strengths were similar to standard samples when immersed in MgSO4, while in the Na2SO4 solution the increase in strength was attributed to the temporary refinement of the pores by sulfate crystals.

Abstract This study investigated the effect of dolomitic lime incorporation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of metakaolin-based geopolymers activated by alkaline solution. Five geopolymer mixtures were prepared with the addition of 0.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, and 10.0% dolomitic lime. The microstructure of the geopolymers was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction analyses (XRD). The compressive strength of the mixtures ranged between 53.2 and 63.0 MPa after 28 days of ambient curing. SEM/EDS analyses showed that the main phases formed were the N-A-S-H gel together with the C-A-S-H and N-M-A-S-H gels in the mixtures with dolomitic lime. In summary, the results showed that the incorporation of dolomitic lime can significantly improve the microstructure and properties of geopolymers.

IntroductionEpidemiology is considered both a field of research and a methodological approach within the broader health sciences. It aims to understand health-related events' causes and effects and provide the evidence necessary to prevent disease and implement effective control and prevention strategies. One of the main focuses of epidemiology is identifying the determinant factors in the health situation of populations since health-related anomalies are not randomly distributed among people. This understanding brings up the necessity of considering each place's particularities and observing the regularity of diseases in a population context.MethodsWe present the Contextual-Compositional Approach (CCA) for the discovery of associations between Health Indicators (HI) and Health Determinants (HD) for neonatal mortality rate monitoring in situations of anomalies. CCA uses time series concepts, anomaly detection, and data distribution between classes for studying HD under expected conditions and comparing them to the anomaly conditions indicated by the anomaly detection in the HI. CCA is evaluated using a neonatal mortality database in health facilities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.ResultsThe results show that CCA can reveal essential associations between the health condition and the population's social, economic, and cultural characteristics on different scales.ConclusionCCA stands out because it is easy to apply and understand, requiring little computational resources and parameters.

Objective: Develop an application to guide health professionals during home care in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The structure of the application was developed in four stages: Analysis - an integrative literature review was carried out with the Health Sciences databases, such as MEDLINE, SciELO, and LILACS. Design - this step involved planning and producing didactic content, defining topics and writing subjects, selecting media, and designing the interface (layout). Development - definition of the navigation structure and planning of the configuration of environments. Implementation - construction of an environment for downloading the application on the Internet. Results: The ORIENTA COVID-19 application has 40 screens and 130 images describing gowning, and undressing of PPE, including using a homemade mask, guidelines for care to prevent COVID-19, and social etiquette. After registration at the National Institute of Industrial Property, it will be available on the Google Play Store under ORIENTA COVID-19. Conclusion: After an integrative review of the literature obtained from the main databases, the ORIENTA COVID-19 application was developed to support health professionals during home care related to COVID-19.

The development of prophylactic vaccines is important in preventing and controlling diseases such as visceral leishmaniasis (VL), in addition to being an economic measure for public health. Despite the efforts to develop a vaccine against human VL caused by Leishmania infantum, none is available, and the focus has shifted to developing vaccines against canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Currently, commercially available vaccines are targeted at CVL but are not effective. Different strategies have been applied in developing and improving vaccines, such as using chimeric proteins to expand vaccine coverage. The search for patents can be a way of tracking vaccines that have the potential to be marketed. In this context, the present work presents a summary of immunological aspects relevant to VL vaccine development with a focus on the composition of chimeric protein vaccines for CVL deposited in patent banks as an important approach for biotechnological development. The resulting data could facilitate the screening and selection of antigens to compose vaccine candidates with high performance against VL.

Abstract Carbonation curing differs from weathering carbonation since it is performed intentionally at the early ages of cement hydration. This cure involves applying different levels of CO2 (5% to 99%) to concrete for a short period of time, usually followed by conventional hydration. The objective of this article was to evaluate the carbonation curing in metakaolin-based geopolymer concretes, activated with NaOH and Na2SiO3, and compare them with Portland cement (PC) concrete. The following tests were applied: determination of pH, carbonation depth, water absorption by immersion, void index, and compressive strength. The results showed that after the carbonation curing, the geopolymer concrete had compressive strength and carbonation depth equivalent to the concrete with PC, but with a lower absorbed CO2 content. Although this type of cement absorbs less CO2 but is more sensitive to carbonation. The effect on the void ratio was not remarkable. Furthermore, the alkalinity of concretes can be partially recovered after subsequent curing by water immersion.

# Background Lower limb injuries generate a significant health burden in basketball. Landing technique and ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion have been suggested as risk factors for lower limb injuries among youth athletes, but studies conducted specifically with basketball athletes are lacking. # Hypothesis/Purpose To describe the period prevalence of basketball-related injuries and to examine the association of the history of lower limb injuries with landing technique and ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion asymmetry among youth basketball athletes. # Study Design Cross-Sectional Survey. # Methods Youth basketball athletes were asked to complete a paper-based survey to investigate personal characteristics, training characteristics and their three-month history of basketball-related injuries. The Landing Error Scoring System and the Weight-Bearing Lunge Test were used to evaluate landing technique and ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion. Binary logistic regression was utilized to examine the association of the investigated variables with the presence of history of lower limb injuries among the athletes. # Results A total of 534 athletes participated. The three-month prevalence of basketball-related injuries was 23.2% (95% CI 19.7 -- 27), and the majority of the reported injuries affected the lower limbs (69.7%; n=110). Sprains were the most frequent type of injury (29.1%; n=46), and the ankle (30.4%; n=48) and knee (21.5%; n=34) were the most affected anatomic locations. Landing technique (p = 0.105) and ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion asymmetry (p = 0.529) were not associated with the history of lower limb injuries. # Conclusion The three-month prevalence of basketball-related injuries was 23.2%. Although ankle sprains were the most frequent injury, landing technique and ankle-dorsiflexion range of motion asymmetry were not associated with the history of lower limb injuries among youth basketball athletes. # Level of Evidence 3

Este artigo objetiva investigar a tentativa de cobrar da pessoa monitorada o pagamento das despesas oriundas da tornozeleira eletrônica sob o ponto de vista da expansão econômica do direito penal. A partir de uma pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, observa-se que normas nesse intuito decorrem de um sentimento repressor impregnado em parte da sociedade, somado à austeridade estatal em matéria prisional. Nesse sentido, estados-membros vêm aprovando leis do tipo alegando a competência legislativa concorrente em Direito Penitenciário, incorrendo no vício da inconstitucionalidade formal. Noutro ponto, um enfoque criminológico do problema demonstra que tal obrigação pecuniária prejudica a ressocialização do monitorado, pelo dispêndio de recursos que seriam destinados à subsistência. A pesquisa conclui que a tentativa de cobrança pela tornozeleira eletrônica resulta de um interesse social e estatal na redução de gastos e do garantismo dessa medida cautelar.

abstract: The shrinkage of cementitious materials is a complex phenomenon of volume reduction that can result in cracking, affecting the durability of these materials. The Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 15261 addresses long-term shrinkage without emphasis on the initial phase (< 24h) of hydration, which contains the plastic state of the cementitious material. Therefore, a method was proposed to measure the shrinkage in the first 24h of mortar hydration, on a laboratory scale, from prismatic samples, using molds from the Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 15261 (285x25x25mm) and rigid elements that transmit horizontal displacements of the sample to dial gauges. Cement mortar specimens were studied with the water/dry materials ratio fixed at 0.168 and varying the binder/aggregates ratio linearly: 33% (1:3); 25% (1:4); and 17% (1:6). Different exposures to the environment (sealed, open and wind) were applied. The analysis indicated that the proposed method was sensitive enough to indicate statistically significant relationships between the maximum initial shrinkages and the variation in the concentration of the binders, as well as indicating variations in the behavior of the initial shrinkage. The increase in cement concentration caused an increase in the average initial shrinkage of 76% in the samples exposed to air, 54% in those exposed to 5 m/s wind, and 22% in the sealed samples.

Resumo A pandemia causada pela doença do coronavírus 2019 (covid-19) estabeleceu desafios e estimulou o desenvolvimento de diferentes formas terapêuticas em várias áreas médicas. Estudos descreveram características clínicas e desfechos de pacientes, incluindo desordens do sistema de coagulação, em que os pacientes infectados pelo vírus apresentam um estado de hipercoagulabilidade e pró-inflamatório que mimetiza uma vasculite. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever o quadro clínico e a terapia empregada em uma série de três pacientes que evoluíram com quadro de oclusão arterial aguda no período pós-infecção por covid-19. O manejo aplicado nesses casos permitiu que os pacientes evoluíssem sem sequelas. A baixa incidência e a pobreza em relatos descritos tornam difícil o estabelecimento de critérios e opções terapêuticas universalmente aceitos nos casos de isquemia, seja precoce ou tardia, dos pacientes infectados pelo novo coronavírus.

Objective To build and validate a flowchart for the prevention and treatment of intestinal peristomal skin complications. Method For the construction of the algorithms, a systematic review was carried out in health sciences databases comprising the last 10 years. The evaluation of the algorithms was carried out by 38 nurses. For the validation of the algorithms, the Delphi technique was used. The statistical analysis used was the content validity index and the Cronbach alpha coefficient. The questionnaire was sent by e-mail and in person after approval by the Ethics and Research Committee. Results In the first evaluation of the algorithms, there was no agreement among the experts. However, after making the corrections suggested by the evaluators, the algorithms were resent, with a 100% consensus among the evaluators. The questions used to validate the algorithms contributed favourably to the internal consistency and content validation of the instrument, since the respective Cronbach alpha was 0.9062 and the global content validity index (g-CVI) was 0.91 in the first validation and 1.0 in the second validation. Conclusion After an integrative literature review, the flowcharts were built and validated by a professional with experience in the area, showing 100% agreement among the experts in the second evaluation.

Introduction: One of the markers of aging is oxidative stress, a condition characterized by an increase in free radicals concomitant with a reduction in antioxidant defenses. Within this, resveratrol is a compound that has been shown to act as a potent antioxidant. However, few studies highlight the cellular signaling pathways that are activated or inhibited during aging and that are responsible for this biological effect. Aim: To verify the antioxidant profile of resveratrol (5 μM) in leukocytes from donors in different age groups. Methods: The project was approved by the Ethics Committee. Individuals were divided into three groups: 20–39, 40–59, and 60–80 years old. After separating the leukocytes, assays were performed to evaluate the AMPK (AMP‐activated protein kinase) and Nrf2 (erythroid nuclear factor 2‐related factor 2) pathways. In addition, luciferase assay and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay were performed to evaluate transcription factor activation and Nrf2 expression, respectively. The analysis between age and treatment was performed using Pearson correlation (*P < 0.05). Results: There was a reduction in the antioxidant effect of resveratrol during the aging process. In leukocytes from donors over 60 years of age, the AMPK pathway was silenced. Nrf2 was active at all ages. There was an increase in the activation of the transcription factor and phosphorylated protein in all age groups. Conclusions: Nrf2 is an important biochemical mechanism responsible for the antioxidant effect of resveratrol. This effect diminishes with aging but is still observed. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 954–961. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To develop an application program for prevention and treatment of complications of intestinal peristomal skin. Method: The framework of the application software development were: Phase 1 – “Design, identification of the needs for the application development”: In this phase, the authors identified during their clinical practice that some professionals and caregivers find it difficult to provide care for at-risk ostomized patients or those with some kind of peristomal skin complication; Phase 2 – “Application prototype development”: this phase included the integrative literature review in the main databases; Phase 3 – “Creating the application”: this phase was intended to generate a decision tree algorithms, structure the database, and develop the software; Phase 4 – “Transition”: performing the application functionality testing. Results: The application “Dermatite Periestoma App” has 36 screens and 21 figures describing the procedures for prevention and treatment of complications of intestinal peristomal skin. It is freely available from the Play Store and has been registered with the Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial Ministério do Desenvolvimento, indústria e Comércio Exterior (Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, National Institute of Industrial Property). Conclusion: This study made it possible to describe the stages of planning and development of the mobile application “Dermatite Periestoma App”. The steps taken indicate that the “Dermatite Periestoma App” has great potential for clinical practice in the evaluation of patients with stomal complications or at risk for developing peristomal skin complications, preventive measures, therapeutic approaches, and for nursing education through the use of technology. Resumo: Objetivos: Desenvolver um aplicativo para prevenção e tratamento de complicações da pele periestoma intestinal. Método: As fases de desenvolvimento da estrutura do aplicativo foram: Fase 1 ‒ “Concepção, identificação das necessidades do desenvolvimento do aplicativo”: nessa fase os autores identificaram, durante sua prática clínica, que alguns profissionais e cuidadores têm dificuldade em prestar assistência aos ostomizados com risco ou que adquirirem algum tipo de complicação da pele periestoma; Fase 2 ‒ “Elaboração do protótipo do aplicativo”: essa fase contemplou a revisão integrativa da literatura nas principais bases de dados; Fase 3 ‒ “Construção do aplicativo”: essa fase consistiu na elaboração da árvore de decisão dos algoritmos, estruturação do banco de dados e desenvolvimento do software; Fase 4 ‒ “Transição”: foram realizados os testes de funcionalidade do aplicativo. Resultados: O aplicativo “Dermatite Periestoma App” tem 36 telas e 21 figuras descrevendo os procedimentos para prevenção e tratamento das complicações da pele periestoma intestinal. O mesmo está disponível gratuitamente naPlay Store e foi registrado no Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial Ministério do Desenvolvimento, indústria e Comércio Exterior. Conclusão: Este estudo possibilitou descrever as etapas do planejamento e desenvolvimento do aplicativo móvel “Dermatite Periestoma App”. As etapas percorridas indicam que o “Dermatite Periestoma App” tem grande utilidade potencial para a prática clínica na avaliação do ostomizado com complicação ou que apresenta risco para desenvolver complicações da pele periestoma, medidas preventivas, condutas terapêuticas, e para o ensino de Enfermagem por meio do uso de tecnologia.

The development of prophylactic vaccines is important in preventing and controlling diseases such as visceral leishmaniasis (VL), in addition to being an economic measure for public health. Despite the efforts to develop a vaccine against human VL caused by Leishmania infantum, none is available, and the focus has shifted to developing vaccines against canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Currently, commercially available vaccines are targeted at CVL but are not effective. Different strategies have been applied in developing and improving vaccines, such as using chimeric proteins to expand vaccine coverage. The search for patents can be a way of tracking vaccines that have the potential to be marketed. In this context, the present work presents a summary of immunological aspects relevant to VL vaccine development with a focus on the composition of chimeric protein vaccines for CVL deposited in patent banks as an important approach for biotechnological development. The resulting data could facilitate the screening and selection of antigens to compose vaccine candidates with high performance against VL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To create and validate a handbook for the prevention of peristomal skin complications. Methods: For the elaboration of the handbook, a literature review was conducted in the following databases: Cochrane Library, SciELO, LILACS, and MEDLINE. The handbook “Preventing and treating the complications of intestinal peristomal skin” was elaborated in nine steps. The first step addressed the concepts of ostomy, stoma type, and ostomy classification. In the second step, the following were described: definition of the collection equipment, type of collection equipment, and technique of changing one- and two-piece equipment. In the third step, the peristomal skin cleansing technique was described. In the fourth step, the types of complications of the peristomal skin were listed. In the fifth step, preventive approaches to avoid complications with the peristomal skin were described. In the sixth step, the therapeutic approaches in the treatment of aforementioned peristomal skin complications were addressed. In the seventh step, the handbook layout was created by an Information Technology professional. In the eighth step, the handbook was validated by 25 nurses. In the ninth step, the final version of the instrument was laid out. Results: The final version of the “Preventing and treating the complications of intestinal peristomal skin” handbook has 37 pages. It was registered in the International Standard Book Number: 978-85-67647-46-3, standard format size (21 cm high by 15 cm wide), totaling 50 illustrations. In the first evaluation, the evaluators assessed the manual as partially adequate to completely adequate. In the first evaluation, the content validity index ranged between 0.88 to 1.0; no 100% agreement was observed among the evaluators' answers. In the second evaluation, as an agreement was observed in all items, the content validity index was 1.0. Conclusion: The handbook “Preventing and treating the complications of intestinal peristomal skin” was elaborated based on scientific principles and had its content, language, and design validated by specialists in the field. Resumo: Objetivo: Construir e validar um manual para a prevenção das complicações da pele periestoma. Método: Para a construção do manual, realizou-se uma revisão nas bases: Biblioteca Cochrane, SciELO, LILACS e MEDLINE. O manual “Prevenindo e tratando das complicações da pele periestoma intestinal” foi elaborado em nove etapas. A primeira etapa abordou os conceitos de estomia, tipo de estoma, classificação de estomia. Na segunda etapa, foram elaborados: definição de equipamento coletor, tipo de equipamentos coletores, técnica da troca do equipamento de uma e duas peças. Na terceira etapa, definiu-se a técnica de limpeza da pele periestoma. Na quarta etapa, foram descritos os tipos de complicações da pele periestoma. Na quinta etapa, enfocaram-se as condutas preventivas para evitar as complicações com a pele periestoma. Na sexta etapa, foram descritas as condutas terapêuticas no tratamento das complicações da pele periestoma citadas acima. Na sétima etapa, foi realizada a diagramação do manual por um profissional da área de Tecnologia da Informação. Na oitava etapa, validação do manual por 25 enfermeiros. A nona etapa correspondeu à diagramação da versão final do instrumento. Resultados: A versão final do manual denominado “Prevenindo e tratando das complicações da pele periestoma intestinal” contém 37 páginas. Foi registrado no International Standard Book Number: 978-85-67647-46-3, tamanho padrão de formatação com 21 cm de altura por 15 cm de largura, totalizando 50 ilustrações. Na primeira avaliação, os juízes avaliaram o manual como parcialmente adequado a totalmente adequado. O Índice de validade de conteúdo na primeira avaliação foi entre 0,88 a 1,0; não tendo ocorrido 100% de concordância das respostas dos juízes; na segunda avaliação, tendo havido concordância dos juízes em todos os itens, o índice de validade de conteúdo foi 1,0. Conclusão: O manual intitulado “Prevenindo e tratando das complicações da pele periestoma intestinal” foi construído com embasamento científico, validado quanto ao conteúdo, à linguagem e à aparência por especialistas na área. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Estomia, Dermatite, Cuidados de enfermagem, Manual, Keywords: Ostomy, Dermatitis, Nursing care, Handbook

In this article we reflect on the contributions of GeoGebra in the dialectics of a didactic situation involving Central Tendency Measures. From the results of a master's research that aimed to investigate the potentialities of GeoGebra for the study of Central Tendency Measures, which were presented at the XIII Encontro Nacional de Educação Matemática. From the theoretical point of view the study resorted to dialectics of action, formulation and validation and institutionalization, present in the Theory of Didactic Situations. In a qualitative approach, Didactic Engineering assumptions were adopted to develop apply and analyze the sequence of activities. Applied to students graduating from the 9th grade of elementary school, the results of the study showed that in the proposed activities, in the different dialectics, the multiple representations of the data in GeoGebra constituted a didactic advantage which contributed to the understanding and analysis of the data, contributing to the study of Central Tendency Measures.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate, through multivariate data analysis, which tree legume residues have the best fertilizer potential for agricultural crops in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. The experiment was conducted in pots, in a randomized block design, with seven treatments and four replicates. Treatments consisted of residues of Sabiá, Jurema Preta and Gliricidia, besides two parts of the plant: leaves and leaves + branches. The pots were filled with 8.0 dm3 of soil and the residues were added in the form of green mass, corresponding to 73.0 g of dry mass per pot. Maize seeds were sown and, at 65 days after addition of the residues, soil chemical attributes, growth and nutrient contents in the plants were evaluated. The data were studied through principal component analysis, clustering analysis, canonical discriminant function analysis and means comparison test from canonical variable 1. Gliricidia residues positively influenced soil K and Mg contents, as well as height, stem diameter, number of leaves and leaf contents of P, N and Mg in maize plants. These residues showed greater dissimilarity and separation compared to the control treatment and led to statistically higher means compared to the other treatments. Jurema Preta leaves positively influenced soil Ca, N and TOC, as well as leaf contents of K and Ca and total dry mass of maize. Multivariate statistical analysis made it possible to identify distinct potentials among legume residues for use as fertilizer in maize crop, and Gliricidia is the species with highest potential.

# Background Throwing athletes present alterations in shoulder rotation range of motion (ROM), but not much is known about the relationship between these alterations and performance measurements in volleyball practitioners. # Purpose To compare the passive ranges of motion of internal rotation (IR), external rotation (ER), and total rotation motion (TRM) of the shoulder in dominant and nondominant limbs of young volleyball athletes and to investigate their relationship with ball speed during serves with and without precision (inside and outside court, respectively). The possible association of anthropometrics and competitive practice time with these velocities was also investigated. # Study Design Cross-sectional study. # Methods Fifty-seven male volleyball athletes (mean age 17.11 ± 1.88 y; weight 74.68 ± 9.7 kg; height 1.87 ± 0.09 cm) were evaluated for shoulder IR and ER with a bubble goniometer and serve speed inside and outside court was measured with a radar gun. Simple and multiple regression analyses were applied to investigate associations of ROM, anthropometrics, and competitive practice time with serve speed. # Results Dominant shoulders had diminished IR ROM compared to nondominant shoulders (59.1º ± 16.7º vs 66.4º ± 16.9º; *p* < 0.001) as well as diminished TRM (173.5º ± 31.8º vs 179.1º ± 29.9º; *p* < 0.001). Simple regression showed negative association between dominant ER and serve speed outside the court (*p* = 0.004). Positive associations existed between age and serve speed in both conditions (*p* < 0.001), BMI and speed inside (*p* = 0.009) and outside the court (*p* = 0.008), and between competitive practice time and speed inside (*p* = 0.008) and outside court (*p* = 0.003). However, multiple analysis confirmed only age (*p* < 0.001) and BMI to be associated with ball velocities (inside court *p* = 0.034; outside court *p* = 0.031). # Conclusion The results of this study demonstrated that young volleyball athletes presented lower IR and TRM of the shoulder in the dominant upper limb. Age and BMI were directly associated with ball velocities when serving. Passive rotation ROM did not have a relationship with this performance measurement. # Level of Evidence 3b

Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar reflexões de uma investigação em desenvolvimento, sobre o estudo de objetos estatísticos mediados pelo GeoGebra. A utilização de recursos tecnológicos para o ensino e a aprendizagem, que têm possibilitado o acesso a recursos favoráveis à construção de conhecimentos, é situado o ensino de estatística, considerando o aspecto curricular, que se refere aos recursos tecnológicos como um meio para o ensino de objetos de conhecimento e sua utilização está direcionada para o desenvolvimento de habilidades relativas a esses objetos de conhecimento. Sob uma perspectiva das abordagens de ensino, este relatório aponta para o Instrucionismo e o Construcionismo, como abordagens que podem direcionar para qual relação o estudo utilizando tecnologias pode favorecer. Atendendo a uma demanda curricular, a de promover o ensino da estatística, nas escolhas metodológicas deste percurso de investigação, há uma sinalização para a proposição de atividades que sejam desenvolvidas a partir de conhecimentos preliminares, sob análises a priori, para que, além da aplicação, seja possível tecer análises a posteriori dessas atividades. Na utilização dos recursos tecnológicos como suporte, a discussão se aporta no GeoGebra que, por meio de suas múltiplas janelas de representações de dados, emerge com uma vantagem didática ao ensino da estatística. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam que, a respeito da vantagem didática, um aspecto a se considerar é que as representações dos dados contribuem no poder de argumento acerca do objeto de estudo, isso tem a ver com as propriedades desse objeto e sua relação com os dados de origem em uma situação didática.

Neste trabalho apresentamos uma visão histórica das atividades e projetos realizados pela Sociedade Brasileira de Matemática no período de 1969-2011. Também apontamos algumas perguntas que poderão nortear trabalhos de pesquisa sobre a sua história. A Sociedade Brasileira de Matemática está sediada no Rio de Janeiro e entre suas ações destacam-se: o estímulo ao ensino de boa qualidade em todos os níveis, produção e divulgação de textos matemáticos (livros e periódicos); a promoção de reuniões científicas periódicas e o incentivo ao intercâmbio entre profissionais de Matemática do Brasil e do exterior.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to describe the effect of genetic composition on body condition score (BCS), on total lactation production, and on metabolic and hormone profiles of Holstein x Gyr cows under the same pre- and postpartum management conditions. The genetic groups ½ (n=8), – (n=10), and ≥⅞ (n=10) Holstein x Gyr (HG) were evaluated within the same farm, and all of them showed typical lactation curves. The time required to reach peak production did not differ between groups. The groups also did not differ as to time to reach the lowest BCS after calving or to recover BCS after calving, nor as to their BCS values in the week of first ovulation, number of weeks required for first ovulation, and service period. However, ½ HG cows had higher BCS at calving, but also greater BCS loss postpartum. Total lactation production and plasma insulin concentrations of – HG cows postpartum were similar to those of cows specifically selected for milk production. Using parameters obtained with Holstein cows to determine management conditions in farms with crossbred cows can have unwanted consequences, since these animals have different metabolic and hormone profiles.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the addition of parts of leguminous trees on the growth and nutrition of maize (Zea mays L.), as well as on the chemical attributes of a degraded soil, 65 days after applying the residues. The experiment was conducted in pots, in a randomized block design with ten treatments and four replicates. The evaluated treatments were: T1 - No residues of leguminous trees, T2 - Leaves of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, T3 - Branches of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, T4 - Leaves + branches of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, T5 - Leaves of Mimosa hostilis, T6 - Branches of Mimosa hostilis, T7 - Leaves + branches of Mimosa hostilis, T8 - Leaves of Gliricidia sepium, T9 - Branches of Gliricidia sepium and T10 - Leaves + branches of Gliricidia sepium. Pots were filled with soil from a degraded area and residues were added in the form of green mass after sowing the maize. Residues of leguminous trees positively influenced maize growth at 65 days after application and favored the accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the shoots. Green fertilizers improved soil chemical attributes at 65 days after application, especially nitrate-N (NO3 --N), ammonium-N (NH4 +-N), total inorganic N (NO3 --N + NH4 +-N) and K, demonstrating that these species are good options for recovering degraded areas in the semi-arid region of Ceará.

This research confronts the following concrete properties: water absorptions (by immersion and capillarity), electrical resistivity and compressive strength. Concrete mixtures with two types of cement were tested. Results showed that concretes with higher content of pozzolan had higher resistivity and greater absorption by capillarity, for water/cement ratios lower than 0,60. This behavior is attributed to reduced pore diameters and microstructure densification. However, for water/cement ratio of 0,60, concrete with lower content of pozzolan presented higher absorption by capillarity. It was observed that the compressive strength and the electrical resistivity behaved inversely proportional to the water/cement ratio, and the absorption by immersion and capillarity are directly proportional to the water/cement ratio. Correlations with high determination coefficients were found between tests.

BACKGROUND Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is an infectious disease that is a significant cause of death among infants aged under 1 year and the elderly in Brazil. Serodiagnosis is a mainstay of VL elimination programs; however, it has significant limitations due to low accuracy. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate three recombinant Leishmania infantum proteins (rFc, rC9, and rA2) selected from previous proteomics and genomics analyses to develop enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunochromatographic tests (ICT) for the serodiagnosis of human VL (HVL) and canine VL (CVL). METHODS A total of 186 human (70 L. infantum-infected symptomatic, 20 other disease-infected, and 96 healthy) and 185 canine (82 L. infantum-infected symptomatic, 27 L. infantum-infected asymptomatic, and 76 healthy) sera samples were used for antibody detection. FINDINGS Of the three proteins, rA2 (91.5% sensitivity and 87% specificity) and rC9 (95.7% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity) displayed the best performance in ELISA-HVL and ELISA-CVL, respectively. ICT-rA2 also displayed the best performance for HVL diagnosis (92.3% sensitivity and 88.0% specificity) and had high concordance with immunofluorescence antibody tests (IFAT), ELISA-rK39, IT-LEISH®, and ELISAEXT. ICT-rFc, ICT-rC9, and ICT-rA2 had sensitivities of 88.6%, 86.5%, and 87.0%, respectively, with specificity values of 84.0%, 92.0%, and 100%, respectively for CVL diagnosis. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The three antigens selected by us are promising candidates for VL diagnosis regardless of the test format, although the antigen combinations and test parameters may warrant further optimisation.

In Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Rad51 (TcRad51) is a central enzyme for homologous recombination. Here we describe the different roles of TcRad51 in DNA repair. Epimastigotes of T. cruzi overexpressing TcRAD51 presented abundant TcRad51-labeled foci before gamma irradiation treatment, and a faster growth recovery when compared to single-knockout epimastigotes for RAD51. Overexpression of RAD51 also promoted increased resistance against hydrogen peroxide treatment, while the single-knockout epimastigotes for RAD51 exhibited increased sensitivity to this oxidant agent, which indicates a role for this gene in the repair of DNA oxidative lesions. In contrast, TcRad51 was not involved in the repair of crosslink lesions promoted by UV light and cisplatin treatment. Also, RAD51 single-knockout epimastigotes showed a similar growth rate to that exhibited by wild-type ones after treatment with hydroxyurea, but an increased sensitivity to methyl methane sulfonate. Besides its role in epimastigotes, TcRad51 is also important during mammalian infection, as shown by increased detection of T. cruzi cells overexpressing RAD51, and decreased detection of single-knockout cells for RAD51, in both fibroblasts and macrophages infected with amastigotes. Besides that, RAD51-overexpressing parasites infecting mice also presented increased infectivity and higher resistance against benznidazole. We thus show that TcRad51 is involved in the repair of DNA double strands breaks and oxidative lesions in two different T. cruzi developmental stages, possibly playing an important role in the infectivity of this parasite.

Since the dawn of Brazilian trade, extensive cattle farming has predominated. Brazil's extensive pasture-based system uses pasture plants adapted to climate and soil conditions with limited use of purchased inputs. However, new technologies such as integrated crop and livestock systems have recently been adopted, with government support and public policies that are intended to encourage increased agricultural production in Brazil. Domestic and international stakeholders have prioritized sustainable agricultural development in Brazil's beef sector to reduce deforestation and other natural-habitat conversions. This review provides an overview of beef production in Brazil, focusing particularly on (1) historical factors that have encouraged an extensive, low-intensity style of production and (2) how national public policies supporting agriculture have improved sustainability in Brazil's beef industry. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, specific public policies for rural areas began to implement changes that addressed environmental concerns. Programs aimed at protecting secondary forests and increasing their areas are needed to offset the 42% of Brazil's greenhouse gas emissions that come from land-use change. To produce more beef with less environmental impact, cattle ranchers need to use their land more productively. Thus, public policy initiatives need to combat deforestation and preserve the environment and local communities, while sustainably intensifying Brazil's beef production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]