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Tobacco production in Brazil is an essential source of income for many families, especially in the southern region. However, it is subject to attack by pests and diseases, such as the fungus gnats insect. To control this pest, the mite Stratiolaelaps scimitus is found in Brazilian soil, which has a predatory potential to fungus gnats. This study aimed to evaluate the use of S. scimitus as an insect control agent, compared to chemical control, in the production of tobacco seedlings in the floating system. The experiment was carried out on a farm in Crissiumal-RS, in a randomized block design, with four replications: T1= control, T2= chemical control based on Imidacloprid and Azadirachtin, and T3= S. scimitus. To analyze the control efficiency, adult insects were captured at different times, and the biological control did not differ from the chemical control. The biological treatment made it possible to reduce the use of chemical products. Concomitantly, questionnaires verified that producers are well accepting the new control model. Therefore, using S. scimitus could reduce the proliferation of fungus gnats in the production of tobacco seedlings in the floating system, but more studies need to be carried out for a better evaluation. RESUMO A produção de tabaco no Brasil é uma importante fonte de renda para muitas famílias, principalmente na região sul do País. No entanto, está sujeita ao ataque de pragas e doenças, como o inseto fungus gnats. Como alternativas ao controle dessa praga, encontra-se no solo brasileiro o ácaro Stratiolaelaps scimitus, que apresenta potencial predatório ao fungus gnats. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o uso do S. scimitus como agente de controle do inseto, comparado ao químico, na produção de mudas de tabaco no sistema floating. O experimento foi conduzido em uma propriedade rural no município de Crissiumal-RS, em delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições: T1= controle, T2= químico a base de Imidacloprido e Azadiractina e T3= S. scimitus. Para análise da eficiência de controle, foram realizadas capturas de insetos adultos em diferentes épocas, e o controle biológico não diferiu do controle químico. O tratamento biológico possibilitou redução no uso de produtos químicos. De forma concomitante, verificou-se por meio de questionários, que o novo modelo de controle está sendo bem aceito pelos produtores. Portanto, a utilização de S. scimitus foi capaz de reduzir a proliferação de fungus gnats na produção de mudas de tabaco no sistema floating, porém mais estudos precisam ser realizados para melhor avaliação.

The application of silicon (Si) represents one of the alternatives that can be used to mitigate the deleterious effects caused by salinity on plants in fertigated cultivation. The objective was to evaluate the effect of different levels of water salinity, associated with the use of sodium silicate on the production parameters and nutrient levels in the leaf and stem of mini watermelon in a protected environment. To conduct the experiment, a randomized block design was adopted, in a 6 x 2 factorial scheme, with 4 repetitions, with six levels of irrigation water salinity (1.05; 2.12; 3.26; 4.41; 5.91 and 7.32 dS m-1) and two types of Si application: without Si and in foliar solution. The following parameters were evaluated: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf and stem fresh and dry mass; biometric variables and total soluble solids content in the fruits; and nutrient contents in leaves and stem. The use of Si associated with fertigation with different salinity levels promoted a positive response for peel thickness, ºBrix, fresh and dry mass of leaves, and Si accumulation in leaves and stem. Salinity alone promoted an increase in pulp weight, ºBrix of the fruits and potassium content in the stem, besides increasing the manganese content and inhibiting the zinc content in the leaves. There was a significant interaction for the manganese content in the stem, with a positive response in the absence of foliar-applied Si and a negative response in the presence of foliar-applied Si under different levels of salinity. RESUMO A aplicação de silício (Si) representa uma das alternativas que podem ser utilizadas para mitigar os efeitos deletérios às plantas pela salinidade em cultivo fertirrigado. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de diferentes níveis de salinidade da água, associado ao uso de silicato de sódio sobre os parâmetros produtivos e os teores de nutrientes na folha e no caule da mini melancia em ambiente protegido. Para condução do experimento adotou-se delineamento em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 6 x 2, com 4 repetições, sendo seis níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação (1,05; 2,12; 3,26; 4,41; 5,91 e 7,32 dS m-1) e dois tipos de aplicações de silício: sem silício e aplicação em solução via foliar. Foram avaliados: a altura das plantas, diâmetro do caule, número de folhas, peso da matéria fresca e seca de folhas e caule; variáveis biométricas e teor de sólidos solúveis totais nos frutos; e teor de nutrientes nas folhas e caule. O uso do silício associado a fertirrigação com diferentes níveis de salinidade proporcionaram resposta positiva para espessura de casca, ºBrix, massa fresca e seca de folhas e, acúmulo de silício nas folhas e caule. A salinidade isolada proporcionou aumento para peso de polpa, ºBrix dos frutos e teor de potássio no caule e, incrementou o teor de manganês e inibiu teor de zinco nas folhas. Houve interação significativa para o teor de manganês no caule, com resposta positiva na ausência de silício foliar e negativa com aplicação foliar de silício sob diferentes níveis de salinidade.

Cowpea is a worldwide consumed legume due to its high nutrient concentrations. Selecting genotypes with high nutrient concentrations can contribute to developing biofortified cultivars. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional potential and indicate genotypes of Vigna unguiculata for genetic improvement based on nutritional traits. Forty-three cowpea genotypes belonging to the Active Germplasm Bank of the Federal University of Ceará were used in the study. The analyses of dry matter, ash, ether extract, proteins, and minerals (phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, sodium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, and boron) were performed in triplicate. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, means comparison test, genetic parameters, nutritional quality indexes, and the sum of ranks. Genetic variances predominated concerning environmental variation for the nutrient concentrations of cowpea can be transmitted to future generations. The CE-0151, CE-0189, CE-0207, CE-0228, CE-0248, CE-0542, CE-0685, CE-0686, CE-0796, CE-0997, and CE-1002 genotypes are indicated for selection for continuing the biofortified cowpea breeding program.

Background: Invasive lobular carcinomas (ILCs) are the most frequent special histologic subtype of breast cancer, accounting for up to 15% of all breast cancer cases. ILCs are characterized by a distinctive discohesive growth pattern, with cells arranged in single cell infiltrative file and dispersed throughout the stroma, which stems from the loss of E-cadherin expression due to bi-allelic inactivation of the CDH1 gene. A subset of breast cancers display a similar single cell infiltrative growth pattern but, in contrast to classic ILC, display diffuse strong membranous E-cadherin reactivity and membranous p120 expression. We refer to such cases as “lobular-like invasive ductal carcinoma” (LLIDC), but it is unclear if this terminology is appropriate and if such cases show biallelic inactivation of CDH1, similarly to ILCs. Here, we sought to define whether LLIDCs would harbor bi-allelic alterations of CDH1 and to perform an exploratory, hypothesis generating analysis of the repertoire of somatic genetic alterations of LLIDCs and classic ILCs. Materials and methods: Representative H&Es, as well as sections subjected to E-cadherin and p120 immunohistochemistry from seven classic ILCs and seven bona fide “lobular-like invasive ductal carcinomas” were retrieved and independently reviewed by two pathologists with experience and expertise in breast pathology. DNA samples were extracted from representative sections from tumor and normal breast tissue from each patient and subjected to an FDA-approved targeted sequencing assay comprising the coding regions and selected regulatory elements of 515 genes. Somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were detected with MuTect, indels with Strelka, Varscan2, Scalpel and Lancet. All mutations were manually inspected using the Integrative Genomics Viewer (IGV). The cancer cell fraction (CCF) of each mutation was inferred, as well as clonal probability, using ABSOLUTE. Copy number alterations and loss of heterozygosity were determined using FACETS. Mutational signatures were inferred using SigMA based on all synonymous and nonsynonymous somatic mutations. Results: Based on the histopathologic evaluation, of the 14 cases analyzed, seven were classified as ILC, and the other seven were classified as LLIDC. Sequencing analysis revealed that the classic ILCs harbored 16q LOH and CDH1 mutations (7/7), of which five were frameshift indel and two were splice site mutations consistently coupled with loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) of the wild-type allele. Conversely, five of the seven LLIDCs did not harbor CDH1 mutations or genomic rearrangements. CDH1 mutations were identified in 2 LLIDCs: one harbored a subclonal CDH1 in-frame indel mutation coupled with LOH. This case displayed membranous E-cadherin and p120 expression with areas of aberrant expression. The other CDH1-mutated LLIDC harbored a complex in-frame indel with subclonal LOH. This case displayed membranous E-cadherin and p120 expression. The comparative analysis of the repertoire of somatic genetic alterations and mutational signatures present in LLIDCs and classic ILCs did not reveal any significant differences. Conclusion: Despite the histologic similarities, LLIDCs differ from classic lobular carcinomas based on the lack of CDH1 bi-allelic inactivation and the patterns of expression of E-cadherin and p120 catenin. Further whole-genome sequencing analyses are warranted to define the molecular basis of the discohesive cancer cells of LLIDC display. Citation Format: Edaise M. da Silva, Thais Basili, Jing Yu, Juan Blanco-Heredia, Pier Selenica, Qiqi Ye, Arnaud da Cruz Paula, Higinio Dopeso, Antonio Marra, Steffi Oesterreich, Jorge Reis-Filho, Rohit Bhargava. Histologic, immunohistochemical and genomic comparison between classic Invasive lobular carcinomas and lobular-like invasive ductal carcinomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-23-15.

According to the principles of community ecology, sympatric species may suffer a selective pressure to decrease their niche overlap through mechanisms of niche partitioning. However, there is still a gap in knowledge of the main drivers influencing niche differentiation, particularly in communities composed by small-sized and inconspicuous species. The coastal epipelagic community structure of mid-trophic level species in the Northeast Atlantic was examined using stable isotope analysis to (1) decipher intrinsic and extrinsic factors promoting niche partitioning and (2) examine species divergence in the use of resources. A total of 474 individuals from a guild of 11 species were sampled during three years, and the influence of potential drivers of isotopic divergence was assessed. The niche partitioning was mainly determined by the taxonomic group in accordance with the fundamental principles of niche theory, which was consistent for both δ13C (i.e. habitat) and δ15N (i.e. prey). Body size was highly important in driving niche partitioning within species. Our results show that the predominant species in the guild were the most generalist, when compared with more specialised species with which they coexist. This study reveals that the intrinsic factors are determinant to decrease inter- and intra-specific niche overlap at the community level.

Rasmussen aneurysms are abnormalities of the pulmonary arterial system caused by tuberculosis (TB). They are associated with a highmortality rate when they cause life-threatening haemoptysis. High TB-prevalence regions have a large burden of TB-related haemoptysisbut often limited resources. This series of 25 patients who presented with life-threatening haemoptysis from current and/or previous TBwere found to have abnormal pulmonary arteries on computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA), which were judged to belikely contributors to their bleeding, either in isolation or with concomitant abnormal bronchial or systemic vasculature. These patientsunderwent transcatheter placement of Amplatzer vascular plugs in the feeder pulmonary artery. Bronchial and systemic lesions wereaddressed separately as needed. Immediate technical success was achieved in all patients, but four of them experienced intraoperativehaemoptysis related to dislodgement of the occluding platelet plug by the high-pressure automatic injector and wire. At 48 hours after theprocedure, 18 (72%) remained haemoptysis-free. Six of these experienced recurrence within 1 year of their procedure. Pulmonary arteryplacement of an Amplatzer vascular plug is a feasible option for treating bleeding Rasmussen aneurysms, but should be part of a combinedapproach to addressing suspected culprit vascular lesions in all intrathoracic vascular systems.

Natural brightness of epoxy adhesives can be reduced by adding cork. Besides, when cork was magnetized, it was possible to move them depending on the properties required in each section of the adhesive bond (PAT354/2019). The main objective of this work was to study possible changes in the thermal properties of the adhesive due to the addition of magnetic cork particles. If changes were significant, the use of magnetic cork particles would be compromised. To this end, natural cork particles and magnetic cork particles, with two different particle size (53–38 and 250–125 μm) and percentage (1 and 5 v/v%), were compared as reinforcement material. Magnetic cork was obtained by co-precipitated coating, according to patent number WO2019025651. The thermal properties studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry were activation energy of curing reaction, glass transition temperature (Tg) and thermal conductivity. Two different hardeners were studied and a factorial design (2k with k = 4) was carried out. It allowed to determine which variable or combination of variables had most impact on thermal properties. Results showed that the main parameter affecting thermal properties was the hardener, regardless of the kind of particle used. However, the presence of magnetic cork highlights further the differences found between hardeners. The conclusion of this study was that magnetic cork particles can be used as fillers in epoxy resin to make graded joints, since they do not affect the thermal properties of the resin. Graphical abstract

Nutrition screening (NS) allows health professionals to identify patients at nutritional risk (NR), enabling early nutrition intervention. This study aimed to systematically review the criterion validity of NS tools for hospitalized non-critical care pediatric patients and to estimate the prevalence of NR in this population. This research was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases until June 2021. The reviewers extracted the studies' general information, the population characteristics, the NR prevalence, and the NS tools' concurrent and predictive validity data. Quality evaluation was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, and Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2). The primary studies were qualitatively analyzed, and descriptive statistics were calculated to describe the NR prevalence. Of the total 3944 studies found, 49 met the inclusion criteria. Ten different pediatric NS tools were identified; the most frequently used were Screening Tool for Risk on Nutritional Status and Growth (STRONGkids), Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Pediatrics (STAMP), and Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS). The mean NR prevalence was 59.85% (range, 14.6%-96.9%). Among all NS tools analyzed, STRONGkids and PYMS showed the best diagnostic performance. STRONGkids had the most studies of predictive validity showing that the NR predicted a higher hospital length of stay (odds ratio [OR], 1.96-8.02), health complications during hospitalization (OR, 3.4), and the necessity for nutrition intervention (OR, 18.93). Considering the diagnostic accuracy, robust and replicated findings of predictive validity, and studies' quality, STRONGkids performed best in identifying NR in the pediatric population among the tools identified.

Determining the amount of nutrients accumulated by crops is an important tool for defining the order in which nutrients are taken up and required. However, the order and amount of accumulated nutrients vary depending on the genetic characteristics of the cultivars, climatic conditions, fertilization, soil and management systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of irrigation management strategies and doses of nitrogen (N) fertigation on the content and accumulation of macro and micronutrients and the N use efficiency in mini romaine lettuce “Astorga” cultivated in a protected environment, in two consecutive crop cycles. The treatments consisted of three irrigation strategies: continuous irrigation (Cont), intermittent irrigation, with three fractions a day, at 1-hour intervals (Int1); intermittent irrigation, with three fractions a day, at 4-hour intervals (Int2) and two nitrogen doses (100 and 130 kg/ha N), in daily fertigation. Intermittent irrigation management strategies (Int1 and Int2) increased the contents and accumulation of dry matter and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Mn and Zn. The dose of 130 kg/ha N only increased the content and accumulation of P and Mn in the first and second cycles, respectively. In general, lettuce accumulated macronutrients in the following decreasing order: K>N>Ca>P>Mg>S, whereas micronutrients followed the order Fe>Mn>Zn>B>Cu. The treatments Int1, Int2 and 100 kg/ha N optimized the N use efficiency.

Conyza spp. (fleabane) are among the main weeds found globally. They have an annual life cycle and herbaceous size, high seed production, are found in different agricultural environments, such as grain crops (Photo 1). Fleabane control can be hindered by one or more of the following factors: high propagule production, wind propagation of propagules, herbicide resistance. For example, a single fleabane plant can produce more than 200,000 seeds in a year. In Brazil, there are cases of Conyza sumatrensis with multiple resistance to the herbicides chlorimuron and glyphosate, simple resistance to paraquat, in addition to cases of simple or multiple resistance to these and other herbicides (photosystem II inhibitors and synthetic auxins). Also in Paraguay, a country that borders Brazil, there is a report of a biotype with triple resistance to the herbicides paraquat, chlorimuron and glyphosate. In addition to this scenario of difficulties in control and cases of resistance, only 2.7 fleabane plants m–2 can reduce soybean productivity by 50%. These cases of fleabane resistance to herbicides make their management difficult, due to the loss of control tools. One of the main problems in this regard is resistance to 2,4-D, due to the complex rapid necrosis resistance. Rapid necrosis is an uncommon response to 2,4-D herbicide and this response is related to environmental conditions during application (temperature and light). After application of 2,4-D, necrotic symptoms occur rapidly in the leaves, in some situations within less than an hour after application. The rapid accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after application of 2,4-D causes lipid peroxidation and the production of ROS is related to the occurrence of necrosis in C. sumatrensis. Rapid necrosis resembles a programmed cell death response. However, these symptoms do not lead to plant death, with subsequent plant recovery one to two weeks after application, in addition to disrupting sequential application with burndown herbicides. Considering this setback, alternatives to be used to control fleabane iinclude the use of other synthetic auxins, such as dicamba, triclopyr, halauxifen or fluroxypyr, or even other herbicides, such as atrazine and mesotrione, which are adopted in maize cultivation or in the off-season. These herbicides can be used in the first application in a mixture with glyphosate, in which the control is complemented by the sequential application of glufosinate. These herbicides mixed with glyphosate are believed to be effective in controlling 2,4-D-resistant fleabane in the first application of pre-sowing soybean desiccation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of glyphosate in mixtures with dicamba, triclopyr, halauxifen/diclosulam, fluroxypyr/clethodim, 2,4-D or atrazine/mesotrione, with sequential application of glufosinate, in the control of 2,4-D resistant fleabane in soybean pre-sowing.

Introdução: A Diabetes Mellitus Gestacional é uma doença que oferta complicações ao binômio mãe/bebê e que para seu acompanhamento necessita de uma atuação multiprofissional capaz de incluir a mãe ao promover educação em saúde. Objetivo: Realizar uma pesquisa-ação em educação em saúde acerca do tema diabetes gestacional, quantificar a prevalência da doença, observar o grau de conhecimento das gestantes e coletar opiniões da equipe multiprofissional em saúde sobre o tema. Métodos: Este é um estudo observacional, com método quali-quantitativo, a partir de entrevistas com os profissionais e com gestantes, além dos prontuários Resultados: Foram analisados 6051 prontuários, sendo 2254 classificados como “Alto risco” e 3797 como “Baixo risco”. Encontrou-se 89 diagnósticos de diabetes gestacional, sendo 88 inclusos em prontuários de alto risco; portanto, a prevalência da doença foi de 1,47% de todas as internações no hospital, sendo 3,9% do setor de Alto risco. A idade média de todas as pacientes diagnosticadas foi de 33,33 anos, sendo a maioria dentro da faixa etária de 30 a 39 anos. Após cálculo estatístico a partir dos prontuários, definiu-se amostra de 136 pacientes para aplicação de questionários, nos quais verificou-se que 74,26% dessas pacientes não sabiam responder quaisquer informações em relação ao contexto da doença, evidenciando a necessidade do processo de educação em saúde voltado para essas gestantes. Conclusão: A entrevista com a equipe multiprofissional do hospital mostrou engajamento ao contexto do diabetes gestacional na atualidade, reforçando a importância do cuidado ao paciente antes e após o parto.

Much effort has been devoted to the investigation of the reactivity of glycine, the smallest amino acid, in different environments in the interstellar medium (ISM). While the formation paths are expected to follow a gas-solid mechanism, the full picture of glycine survival in the ISM remains yet unrevealed. In this work, we have adopted density functional theory under periodic boundary conditions to simulate mechanisms for the decarboxylation of glycine on a water-rich surface and on a glycine ice. We have performed calculations at the PBE-D3/USPP level, from which several adsorption modes of glycine on each surface were investigated and decomposition mechanisms into CO2 and CH3NH2 on the different interfaces were suggested. Most favourable adsorption sites of glycine have adsorption energies of −106.54 and −98.52 kJ mol−1 on the water ice and glycine ice, respectively. Glycine decomposes into CO2 and CH3NH2 through a two-step mechanism on the water ice and four-step mechanism on the glycine surface, from which the barrier heights of the determinant steps were of 288.98 and 111.58 kJ mol−1, respectively. At temperatures of 50 K, decomposition of glycine into CO2 and CH3NH2 is an exergonic reaction, pointing to a thermodynamically controlled reaction in specific interstellar regions, such as hot-cores. Compared with reported glycine gas-phase reaction, much lower barrier heights for glycine formation were found in the surface models studied here.

SU-8 polymer is an excellent platform for diverse applications due to its high aspect ratio of micro/nanostructure fabrication and exceptional physicochemical and biocompatible properties. Although SU-8 polymer has often been investigated for various biological applications, how its surface properties influence the interaction of bacterial cells with the substrate and its colonization is poorly understood. In this work, we tailor SU-8 nanoscale surface properties to investigate single-cell motility, adhesion, and successive colonization of phytopathogenic bacteria

Aim: To unveil a putative correlation between phage genome flexibility and virion morphogenesis yield. Materials & methods: A deeper analysis of the mechanical properties of three Pseudomonas aeruginosa lytic phage genomes was undertaken, together with full genome cyclizability calculations. Results & conclusion: A putative correlation was established among phage genome flexibility, eclipse timeframe and virion particle morphogenesis yield, with a more flexible phage genome leading to a higher burst size and a more rigid phage genome leading to lower burst sizes. The results obtained are highly relevant to understand the influence of the phage genome plasticity on the virion morphogenesis yield inside the infected bacterial host cells and assumes particular relevance in the actual context of bacterial resistance to antibiotics.

Additive manufacturing of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) was investigated based on statistical analysis via an optimization method. The present article discusses the influence of the layer thickness (LT), infill percentage (IP), and contours number (C) on the maximum failure load and elastic modulus of the final product of ABS. ABS is a low-cost manufacturing thermoplastic that can be easily fabricated, thermoformed, and machined. Chemical, stress, and creep resistance is all excellent in this thermoplastic material. ABS combines a good balance of impact, heat, chemical, and abrasion resistance with dimensional stability, tensile strength, surface hardness, rigidity, and electrical properties. To comprehend the impact of additive manufacturing parameters on the build quality, both artificial neural network (ANN) and response surface method (RSM) were used to model the data. The main characteristics of the build considered for modeling were ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elastic modulus. Main effect plots and 3d plots were extracted from ANN and RSM models to analyze the process. The two models were compared in terms of their accuracy and capability to analyze the process. It was concluded that though ANN is more accurate in the prediction of the results, both tools can be used to model the mechanical properties of ABS formed by 3D printing. Both models yielded similar results and could effectively give the effect of each variable on the mechanical properties.

In this work, the wellhead axial movement of a subsea well was predicted with a previously presented multi-string model modified to account for a possible buckling of the well’s surface casing. This model represented the structural casing with a nonlinear spring that considers the casing-soil interaction using t-z curves with hysteretic behavior. In addition, the surface casing was modeled with a nonlinear spring that incorporates buckling deformation when the effective force is compressive and may be assumed not fully cemented due to, e.g., its long length, formation characteristics, or limitations of the rig. Finally, the other casing strings were represented with linear springs. Two case studies were conducted to verify the proposed model. In the first, the wellhead movements during each step of a simplified well’s construction and production were compared with those obtained in an equivalent beam-based FE model. Both models yielded the same results, encouraging the analysis of a second case, which investigated an actual well. In this case, the surface casing buckling led to considerable wellhead movement variations, consequently affecting the surface casing stress, especially in scenarios in which the structural casing’s bearing capacity was surpassed, highlighting the need to account for this phenomenon in the design of subsea wells.

Tectona grandis wood presents decent dimensional stability as well as highly suitable physical and mechanical properties. These characteristics have encouraged the intense usage of this species, which also includes the reuse of wood processing waste for panel production. Using teak wood waste, this study aims to manufacture and evaluate heat-pressed particleboards at 5 MPa and 100 °C, by being glued with castor oil-based polyurethane resin at proportions of 10% for the homogeneous boards and 12% for the heterogeneous solutions. Single-layer (homogeneous) boards were compared with three-layer particleboard specimens (heterogeneous) having the finer particles in the outer layers. The basic density, moisture content, modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity in the static bending and perpendicular tensile, water absorption, and thickness swelling after 24 h were evaluated to support this comparative study. All the manufactured particleboards met the standardized requirements of performance, thus being very feasible for usage as non-structural boards. When the two different compositions were analyzed, a considerably better performance of the three-layered particleboards was identified when compared to the homogeneous panels.

Knowledge of the soil water regime in a dynamic equilibrium condition (steady state) of the emitter–soil–plant system is essential to evaluate the adopted irrigation management, aiming to maximize the water use efficiency in irrigation. Thus, our objective was to determine the integrated effect of four irrigation levels on the soil moisture (θv) distribution pattern, mechanical soil penetration resistance (PR), and sugarcane rooting. Irrigation levels were established based on the percentage of reference evapotranspiration (ETo), as follows: 40% (W1), 70% (W2), 100% (W3), and 130% (W4) of ETo. From the soil moisture profile and PR versus θv regression models, PR profiles for each irrigation level were estimated. At the end of the crop cycle, trenches were opened to assess sugarcane root system. According to the results, the water dynamic in the soil profile resulted in a soil-wetting pattern that did not match the sugarcane rooting profile. For treatments W3 and W4 the wetting pattern indicated water loss through deep percolation. For all treatments and considering the entire soil profile, the PR values ranged from

Human untargeted metabolomics studies annotate only ~10% of molecular features. We introduce reference-data-driven analysis to match metabolomics tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data against metadata-annotated source data as a pseudo-MS/MS reference library. Applying this approach to food source data, we show that it increases MS/MS spectral usage 5.1-fold over conventional structural MS/MS library matches and allows empirical assessment of dietary patterns from untargeted data.

This study was carried out to evaluate the postharvest quality of processing tomato fruits, submitted to irrigation depths and periods of suspension of irrigation before harvest, irrigated by subsurface drip in Cerrado areas in the southern region of Goiás State, Brazil, in 2015 and 2016. The experiments were established under a randomized block design, with four replicates arranged in a split plots scheme. In the plots, five irrigation depths were evaluated (50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of the crop evapotranspiration) and, in the subplots, five periods of suspension of irrigation (0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days before harvest) were assessed. After harvesting, which occurred at 125 days after transplanting the seedlings, the average fruit mass, fruit shape (longitudinal and transversal diameter), total soluble solids content, titratable acidity, pH, firmness, pulp yield, and water productivity for pulp yield were evaluated. Irrigation deficit, with the replacement of less than 100% of crop evapotranspiration, allowed to save water but significantly reduced the size of the fruits and the production of concentrated pulp. The suspension of irrigation before harvest decreased pulp yield and fruit size. The highest water productivity for pulp yield of tomato fruits occurred under water deficit with 50% of crop evapotranspiration. Irrigation depths from 50 to 150% of crop evapotranspiration and suspension before harvest does not influence total soluble solids content, pH, and fruit firmness.

The objective was to evaluate the metabolic and performance differences in primiparous Nellore cows, which became pregnant at 14 or 24 months. Thirty-eight primiparous Nellore cows, which were bred for first pregnancy at 14 or 24-mo of age, with 202 ± 5 days of gestation were divided into two treatments according to breeding age: 14 or 24 months in the breeding season. Cows were evaluated for weight, body condition score (BCS), carcass characteristics, milk yield and blood parameters: glucose, total proteins, albumin, urea, beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), progesterone, and for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). There was an in-teraction (p < 0.01) between age at first pregnancy and time for body weight, where 24-mo cows were heavier, but both categories loss weight at parturition which concomitant decrease in the BCS (p < 0,01). However, BW of 24-mo remained stable (p > 0.05) after parturition. Milk yield was higher in 24-mo cows (p < 0.01). Interaction between sampling time and breading age was observed for Longissimus muscle area (p < 0.01) and tended for Longissimus muscle depth, where 24-mo cows had greater values in prepartum. Calves born from the cows bred at 24-mo, where was higher (p < 0.01) from 160 days of age until weaning at 240 days. Glucose, urea, total proteins, albumin and NEFA were affected (p < 0.01) by the parturition data-point. There was an interaction (p < 0.01) between breading age and sampling period for β-OHB. Progesterone concentration was greater in 24-mo cows (p < 0.01). It was concluded that primiparous cows that became pregnant at 14 or 24 months of age have different nutritional and metabolic responses.

Adhesive bonding is a constantly developing technique, and the volume of its industrial applications is rapidly increasing, which, in turn, requires improving the compatibility and performance of joining methods in specific applications. The industrial growth of adhesive bonding has also been linked to the broader implementation of composite materials and the increasing number of applications requiring joining dissimilar materials. Compared to traditional joining methods, adhesive bonding does not require local heating of the substrates or introducing holes or notches to them. It is instead a continuous joining method that promotes fewer regions of discontinuities and uniformity of the stress fields. Due to the industrial interest in this method, a substantial effort has been made to expand its range of applications and to provide the design tools that ensure it is a safe, reproducible, reliable, and durable process. The adhesive bonding research field is broad, ranging from adhesive formulation to evaluation of the final bonded structure. The present paper collects the relevant literature and discusses fundamental concepts and recent developments in the adhesive bonding technology, covering three essential topics: adhesive materials, joint designs and joint manufacturing methods, and joint modelling methods. Citing a wealth of relevant review papers, original papers, and book chapters, the paper intends to provide a coherent view of the state of the art, so the reader can identify the opportunities originating from the recent progresses in adhesive bonding.

IntroductionThe tumor microenvironment (TME) of glioblastoma (GB) is characterized by an increased infiltration of immunosuppressive cells that attenuate the antitumor immune response. The participation of neutrophils in tumor progression is still controversial and a dual role in the TME has been proposed. In this study, we show that neutrophils are reprogrammed by the tumor to ultimately promote GB progression.MethodsUsing in vitro and in vivo assays, we demonstrate the existence of bidirectional GB and neutrophil communication, directly promoting an immunosuppressive TME. Results and discussionNeutrophils have shown to play an important role in tumor malignancy especially in advanced 3D tumor model and Balb/c nude mice experiments, implying a time- and neutrophil concentration-dependent modulation. Studying the tumor energetic metabolism indicated a mitochondria mismatch shaping the TME secretome. The given data suggests a cytokine milieu in patients with GB that favors the recruitment of neutrophils, sustaining an anti-inflammatory profile which is associated with poor prognosis. Besides, glioma-neutrophil crosstalk has sustained a tumor prolonged activation via NETs formation, indicating the role of NFκB signaling in tumor progression. Moreover, clinical samples have indicated that neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), IL-1β, and IL-10 are associated with poor outcomes in patients with GB. ConclusionThese results are relevant for understanding how tumor progression occurs and how immune cells can help in this process.