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Abstract in Brazil, the development of a strong technical foundation for soil and water conservation has made no-tillage (NT) the leading method for preparing land for temporary crops. Despite this, there's insufficient information regarding the extent to which farmers have adopted NT and conservation agriculture (CA) and the distribution and evolution of these practices within Paraná-a state at the forefront of NT and CA implementation. This study investigates the adoption rates of NT and CA among Paraná's farmers, focusing on temporary crops. It utilizes specialized data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics' agricultural censuses of 2006 and 2017. Adoption rates for NT and CA were determined by comparing their proportions in both the number of farming properties and the overall land area devoted to temporary crops across various microregions. Findings indicate a rise in the adoption of NT from 68.5% to 78.9% and CA from 14.6% to 27.7% over the 2006 to 2017 period. Moreover, adoption rates varied across the 39 microregions, with the highest rates in regions dominated by temporary crops, particularly soybeans, maize, and wheat. Conversely, the lowest adoption rates were found in microregions where permanent crops and pastures prevailed, and sugarcane, cassava, and rice were the primary temporary crops.

Artemisinin, a drug used to treat malaria, can be chemically synthesized or extracted from Artemisia annua L. However, the extraction method for artemisinin from biomass needs to be more sustainable while maintaining or enhancing its bioactivity. This work investigates the use of aqueous solutions of salts and ionic liquids with hydrotropic properties as alternative solvents for artemisinin extraction from Artemisia annua L. Among the investigated solvents, aqueous solutions of cholinium salicylate and sodium salicylate were found to be the most promising. To optimize the extraction process, a response surface method was further applied, in which the extraction time, hydrotrope concentration, and temperature were optimized. The optimized conditions resulted in extraction yields of up to 6.50 and 6.44 mg·g–1, obtained with aqueous solutions of sodium salicylate and cholinium salicylate, respectively. The extracts obtained were tested for their antimalarial activity, showing a higher efficacy against the Plasmodium falciparum strain compared with pure (synthetic) artemisinin or extracts obtained with conventional organic solvents. Characterization of the extracts revealed the presence of artemisinin together with other compounds, such as artemitin, chrysosplenol D, arteannuin B, and arteannuin J. These compounds act synergistically with artemisinin and enhance the antimalarial activity of the obtained extracts. Given the growing concern about artemisinin resistance, the results here obtained pave the way for the development of sustainable and biobased antimalarial drugs.

Inspecting and maintaining power lines is essential for ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of electrical infrastructure. This process involves regular assessment to identify hazards such as damaged wires, corrosion, or vegetation encroachment, followed by timely maintenance to prevent accidents and power outages. By conducting routine inspections and maintenance, utilities can comply with regulations, enhance operational efficiency, and extend the lifespan of power lines and equipment. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) can play a relevant role in this process by increasing efficiency through rapid coverage of large areas and access to difficult-to-reach locations, enhanced safety by minimizing risks to personnel in hazardous environments, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional methods. UAVs equipped with sensors such as visual and thermographic cameras enable the accurate collection of high-resolution data, facilitating early detection of defects and other potential issues. To ensure the safety of the autonomous inspection process, UAVs must be capable of performing onboard processing, particularly for detection of power lines and obstacles. In this paper, we address the development of a deep learning approach with YOLOv8 for power line detection based on visual and thermographic images. The developed solution was validated with a UAV during a power line inspection mission, obtaining mAP@0.5 results of over 90.5% on visible images and over 96.9% on thermographic images.

This paper presents the implementation of an innovative solution based on heterogeneous autonomous vehicles to tackle maritime pollution (in particular, oil spills). This solution is based on native microbial consortia with bioremediation capacity, and the adaptation of air and surface autonomous vehicles for in situ release of autochthonous microorganisms (bioaugmentation) and nutrients (biostimulation). By doing so, these systems can be applied as the first line of the response to pollution incidents from several origins that may occur inside ports, around industrial and extraction facilities, or in the open sea during transport activities in a fast, efficient, and low-cost way. The paper describes the work done in the development of a team of autonomous vehicles able to carry as payload, native organisms to naturally degrade oil spills (avoiding the introduction of additional chemical or biological additives), and the development of a multi-robot framework for efficient oil spill mitigation. Field tests have been performed in Portugal and Spain’s harbors, with a simulated oil spill, and the coordinate oil spill task between the autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) ROAZ and the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) STORK has been validated.

Malaria remains an important and challenging infectious disease, and novel antimalarials are required. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), the main breakdown product of benzyl glucosinolate, is present in all parts of Tropaeolum majus L. (T. majus) and has antibacterial and antiparasitic activities. To our knowledge, there is no information on the effects of BITC against malaria. The present study evaluates the antimalarial activity of aqueous extracts of BITC and T. majus seeds, leaves, and stems. We used flow cytometry to calculate the growth inhibition (GI) percentage of the extracts and BITC against unsynchronized cultures of the chloroquine-susceptible Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 − GFP strain. Extracts and/or compounds with at least 70% GI were validated by IC50 estimation against P. falciparum 3D7 − GFP and Dd2 (chloroquine-resistant strain) unsynchronized cultures by flow cytometry, and the resistance index (RI) was determined. T. majus aqueous extracts showed some antimalarial activity that was higher in seeds than in leaves or stems. BITC’s GI was comparable to chloroquine’s. BITC’s IC50 was similar in both strains; thus, a cross-resistance absence with aminoquinolines was found (RI < 1). BITC presented features that could open new avenues for malaria drug discovery.

More sustainable biosensor production is growing in importance, allowing for the development of technological solutions for several industries, such as those in the health, chemical, and food sectors. Tracking the latest advancements in biosensors’ scientific production is fundamental to determining the opportunities for the future of the biosensing field. This article aims to map scientific production in the biosensors field by running a bibliometric analysis of journal articles registered in the Web of Science database under biosensor-related vital concepts. The key concepts were selected by researchers and biosensor technology developers working on the BioAssembler Horizon project. The findings lead to identifying the scientific and technological knowledge base on biosensing devices and tracking the main scientific organisations developing this technology throughout the COVID-19 period (2019–2023). The institutional origin of the publications characterised the global distribution of related knowledge competencies and research partnerships. These results are discussed, shedding light on the scientific, economic, political, and structural factors that contribute to the formation of a scientific knowledge-based focus on the performance and design of these sensors. Moreover, the lack of scientific ties between the three axes of organisations producing expertise in this area (China, USA, and Russia) points towards the need to find synergies through new mechanisms of co-authorship and collaboration.

The present study aimed to explore the relationships between coping strategies, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, and satisfaction with life among Portuguese workers. A sample of 402 participants (207 male, 195 female), ranging in age from 18 to 70 years (M = 32.90, SD = 11.75), was included in the study. Participants reported varying levels of work experience, ranging from 1 to 45 years (M = 10.62, SD = 4.07). The sample encompassed diverse occupations, including arts and design (n = 28), engineering (n = 23), marketing (n = 27), administration (n = 50), transportation and logistics (n = 57), clerks (n = 63), lawyers (n = 21), factory workers (n = 20), accountant and finance (n = 41), journalism (n = 27), health care (n = 29), and others (n = 16). To examine the associations between each determinant and satisfaction with life, hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted. Two models were tested, with predictors entered in blocks based on theoretical and empirical considerations. The second model accounted for 52.4% of the variance in satisfaction with life (F (14, 384) = 3.884, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.27, adjusted R2 = 0.24). Depressive symptoms and stress consistently exhibited a significant association (p < 0.05) with satisfaction with life across all tested models. In terms of coping mechanisms, instrumental support reinterpretation, disengagement, and humor demonstrated a significant association with satisfaction with life (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that employing adaptive coping strategies may help mitigate symptoms of mental distress and enhance satisfaction with life. By understanding the relationships between coping strategies, mental health symptoms, and satisfaction with life, interventions can be developed to promote well-being and improve overall quality of life among Portuguese workers.

Nanoparticle (NP) research is an area of scientific interest with high potential for application in biomedical, optical, and electronic fields. Due to their relatively large surface area compared to their mass, NPs can be more chemically reactive and change their reactive strength or other properties. NP-based drug delivery systems provide transport and an effective and controlled way to release the drugs. This work aimed to study the solubility and biological activity of nano-encapsulated copper metal complexes for the induction of toxicity and mortality in larvae of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. After the nano-encapsulated metal complexes were prepared, the efficiency of this incorporation was determined by electron paramagnetic resonance, and toxicity bioassays were performed. The polymeric-based PLGA NPs encapsulating metal complexes exhibited high toxicity and specificity for target organisms (insect vectors, i.e., A. aegypti), with relatively less environmental impact and long-term control of their breeding.

Abstract This prospective study aimed to compare vascular parameters (endothelin-1 [ET-1] blood levels, laser Doppler imaging [LDI] of distal phalanxes, and nailfold capillaroscopy) between open-angle glaucoma patients with low- and high-tension optic disc hemorrhages (LTDH and HTDH, respectively). The 33 enrolled patients (mean age, 62.3 ± 13 years) were classified as LTDH or HTDH if they presented at the time of DH detection an intraocular pressure (IOP)

The aim was to evaluate the chemical composition, carbohydrates, protein fractionation and in vitro gas production of silages composed of spineless cactus and tropical forages and their effect on sheep performance. Treatments consisted of silages: corn silage (CS), spineless cactus silage (SCS), spineless cactus + gliricidia (SCG), spineless cactus + buffel grass silage (SCBG) and spineless cactus + pornunça (SCP). Silos were opened 60 days after ensiling, and analyses were carried out. The digestibility test lasted for 36 days, with eight animals per treatment. A completely randomized design was adopted. Considering carbohydrate fractionation, CS, SCS and SCBG silages had higher total carbohydrate content (p = 0.001). The SCS silage presented a higher A + B1 fraction (p = 0.001). The SCBG and SCG silages showed a higher B2 fraction (p < 0.0001) compared to the CS and SCS silages. The SCBG and SCP silages presented a higher C fraction (p = 0.001). For protein fractionation, the SCP and SCG silages showed higher crude protein contents (p = 0.001). The CS and SCS silages showed a higher A fraction (p = 0.001). The SCBG silage presented a higher B1 + B2 fraction (p = 0.001). The SCG silage showed a higher B3 fraction (p = 0.006) compared to SCBG silage. The SCS and SCP silages showed a higher C fraction (p = 0.001). Exclusive SCS silage showed higher in vitro dry matter digestibility (p = 0.001), dry matter degradability (p = 0.001) and total gas production (p = 0.001). The use of the SCBG, SCP and SCG silages to feed sheep increased the dry matter intake (p < 0.001). Sheep fed the SCG silage showed greater dry matter and crude protein digestibility compared to the sheep fed the CS, SCS and SCP silages (p = 0.002). There was a higher water intake (p < 0.001) with the use of the SCS and SCG silages to feed the sheep. The SCP and SCG silages provided a greater intake (p < 0.001) and excretion (p < 0.001) of nitrogen by the animals. Although there were no differences between the treatments for daily gains, lambs that received the spineless cactus-based silage associated with tropical forages showed higher gains (160–190 g/day) than lambs that received CS silage (130 g/day). Thus, the use of spineless cactus associated with buffelgrass, pornunça and gliricidia to prepare mixed silages (60:40) to feed sheep has potential use to feed sheep, with positive effects on nutrient degradation and increases in dry matter intake. Under experimental conditions, we recommend the exclusive use of spineless cactus silage associated with buffel grass, pornunça and gliricidia in feeding sheep in semi-arid regions, as it provides nutrients, water and greater daily gains compared to corn silage.

Resenha do livro: CAÑÓN, Lisandro; DA SILVA, Jussaramar (Ed.). Terrorismo de Estado. Brava Gente, 2023.

Resumo O artigo propõe uma apresentação da noção de “ontologia histórica” tal como elaborada por Michel Foucault e desenvolvida por Ian Hacking. Essa apresentação será feita a partir do estudo de dois conceitos concretos, que dizem respeito à relação entre história e memória, e se tornaram de grande importância para o debate teórico dos historiadores brasileiros: trauma e nostalgia. A partir de um diálogo com a obra da historiadora Lorraine Daston e levando em conta os seus débitos em relação aos trabalhos de Georges Canguilhem e Michel Foucault, o artigo mostra como aquelas duas categorias meta- históricas permitem articular ontologia histórica, epistemologia histórica e metafísica aplicada. A partir da historicidade daquelas duas categorias, argumenta-se que a história da medicina e a história das doenças podem contribuir para uma compreensão alargada sobre o sentido do trauma e da nostalgia na vida social, subjetiva e intelectual na modernidade.

A pandemia causada pelo vírus SARS-CoV-2 impactou de diversas formas a população mundial, sendo importante conhecer a ação da doença em seus diferentes contextos. Este trabalho objetivou analisar os fatores associados a pior prognóstico da doença em Francisco Beltrão, Paraná. Realizou-se um estudo do tipo caso-controle com pacientes acometidos pela COVID-19 no município entre março de 2020 e novembro de 2021. Dentre os resultados, verificou-se que a presença de um maior número de comorbidades favorece o óbito como desfecho, havendo 3,981 (IC95%: 2,312 – 6,853) mais chances de um indivíduo ir a óbito. Notou-se que os pacientes que tiveram o pior desfecho possuíam uma média de IMC mais elevada (31,86). Os pacientes com histórico de tabagismo apresentaram 1,787 (IC95%: 1,068 – 2,990) mais chances de ir a óbito. Em suma, em Francisco Beltrão, a presença de comorbidades, obesidade e histórico de tabagismo foram fatores de pior prognostico.

Abstract Crop rotation with species diversification contributes to the control of pests, diseases and weeds and improves soil fertility and conservation, which can lead to increased profitability in grain production systems. The objectives of this study were to determine whether grain production systems that employ crop rotation with species diversification are more productive and profitable than double-cropping rotations without diversification and to analyze the revenues and production costs of these cropping systems. An experiment was conducted in a region with subtropical climate between the crop years of 2014–2015 and 2019–2020. The experiment consisted of a randomized block design with six treatments and four replicates. The treatments consisted of six grain production systems, including five rotations with varied levels of species diversification and a corn–soybean rotation without species diversification, all under no-tillage. Productivity, revenue, production cost and profit indicators were analyzed. Productivity was compared by Duncan’s test (p ≤ 0.05). The grain production systems with species diversification showed better productivity and profitability than the corn–soybean system. The profit of the systems with species diversification was on average 37% higher than that of the system with corn–soybean rotation. In summary, grain production systems that employ crop rotation with species diversification showed higher productivity and profitability than the corn–soybean rotation without species diversification.

ABSTRACT This study is a historical overview of land governance initiatives implemented in Parana state, Brazil, since the 1970s, ranging from the work carried out by research institutes to government-sponsored programs. These initiatives encouraged the development of technologies and farmers’ widespread adoption of conservation practices. Furthermore, they highlight the factors that brought soil and water conservation to the forefront in discussions on agriculture. This bibliographic review was based on information in research papers and programs developed in Parana. We show that extensive work on management planning and natural resource conservation was undertaken in Parana to strengthen soil governance. The initiatives implemented in watersheds and the development of the no-tillage system represent considerable achievements. However, it was not always that straightforward. As time progressed, the false perception – mainly among farmers – that the erosion problem had been solved led many farmers to neglect soil conservation practices, and in some cases, to abandon agricultural terracing, contour farming, and crop rotation. This resulted in a resurgence of problems related to environmental degradation, aggravating erosion and causing losses of soil and water, with the concomitant environmental damage. In this regard, we describe the means deployed in a new strategy to stimulate a resurgence of effective soil governance based on public policies and public-private partnerships to promote soil and water conservation.

In fused deposition modeling (FDM), the cooling history impacts the bonding between filaments and layers. The existence of thermal gradients can cause non-homogeneous properties and localized stress points that may affect the individual filaments, resulting in distortion and detachment. Thermal analysis can aid in understanding the manufacturing flaw, providing necessary tools for the optimization of the printing trajectory. The present work is intended to deepen understanding of the thermal phenomena occurring during the extrusion of polymeric materials, aiming at more efficient three-dimensional (3D) printing methods. A one-dimensional (1D) finite differential method was implemented using MATLAB to simulate the temperature evolution of an extruded filament, and the results were compared with two-dimensional (2D) COMSOL Multiphysics simulations, and experimentally validated using infrared thermography. Acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) was used as a test material. The energy dissipation includes forced convection and radiation heat losses to the surrounding medium.

Secondary metabolites (SMs) from environmental bacteria offer viable solutions for various health and environmental challenges. Researchers are employing advanced bioinformatic tools to investigate less-explored microorganisms and unearth novel bioactive compounds. In this research area, our understanding of SMs from environmental Gram-negative bacteria lags behind that of its Gram-positive counterparts. In this regard, Pedobacter spp. have recently gained attention, not only for their role as plant growth promoters but also for their potential in producing antimicrobials. This study focuses on the genomic analysis of Pedobacter spp. to unveil the diversity of the SMs encoded in their genomes. Among the 41 genomes analyzed, a total of 233 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) were identified, revealing the potential for the production of diverse SMs, including RiPPs (27%), terpenes (22%), hybrid SMs (17%), PKs (12%), NRPs (9%) and siderophores (6%). Overall, BGC distribution did not correlate with phylogenetic lineage and most of the BGCs showed no significant hits in the MIBiG database, emphasizing the uniqueness of the compounds that Pedobacter spp. can produce. Of all the species examined, P. cryoconitis and P. lusitanus stood out for having the highest number and diversity of BGCs. Focusing on their applicability and ecological functions, we investigated in greater detail the BGCs responsible for siderophore and terpenoid production in these species and their relatives. Our findings suggest that P. cryoconitis and P. lusitanus have the potential to produce novel mixtures of siderophores, involving bifunctional IucAC/AcD NIS synthetases, as well as carotenoids and squalene. This study highlights the biotechnological potential of Pedobacter spp. in medicine, agriculture and other industries, emphasizing the need for a continued exploration of its SMs and their applications.

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, allows the fabrication of complex parts, which are impossible or very expensive to produce using traditional processes. That is the case for dinnerware and artworks (stoneware, porcelain and clay-based products). After the piece is formed, the greenware is fired at high temperatures so that these pieces gain its mechanical strength and aesthetics. The conventional (gas or resistive heating elements) firing usually requires long heating cycles, presently requiring around 10 h to reach temperatures as high as 1200 °C. Searching for faster processes, 3D-printed stoneware were fired using microwave (MW) radiation. The pieces were fired within 10% of the conventional processing time. The temperature were controlled using a pyrometer and monitored using Process Temperature Control Rings (PTCRs). An error of 1.25% was calculated between the PTCR (1207 ± 15 °C) and the pyrometer (1200 °C). Microwave-fast-fired pieces show similar mechanical strength to the references and to the electrically fast-fired pieces (41, 46 and 34 (N/mm2), respectively), presenting aesthetic features closer to the reference. Total porosities of ~4%, ~5% and ~9% were determined for microwave, electrically fast-fired and reference samples. Numerical studies have shown to be essential to better understand and improve the firing process using microwave radiation. In summary, microwave heating can be employed as an alternative to stoneware conventional firing methods, not compromising the quality and features of the processed pieces, and with gains in the heating time.

Abstract Biomedical research relies on identification and isolation of specific cell types using molecular biomarkers and sorting methods such as fluorescence or magnetic activated cell sorting. Labelling processes potentially alter the cells’ properties and should be avoided, especially when purifying cells for clinical applications. A promising alternative is the label-free identification of cells based on physical properties. Sorting real-time deformability cytometry (soRT-DC) is a microfluidic technique for label-free analysis and sorting of single cells. In soRT-FDC, bright-field images of cells are analyzed by a deep neural net (DNN) to obtain a sorting decision, but sorting was so far only demonstrated for blood cells which show clear morphological differences and are naturally in suspension. Most cells, however, grow in tissues, requiring dissociation before cell sorting which is associated with challenges including changes in morphology, or presence of aggregates. Here, we introduce methods to improve robustness of analysis and sorting of single cells from nervous tissue and provide DNNs which can distinguish visually similar cells. We employ the DNN for image-based sorting to enrich photoreceptor cells from dissociated retina for transplantation into the mouse eye.

Abstract Wikipedia, the largest encyclopedia ever created, is a global initiative driven by volunteer contributions. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and mobility restrictions ensued across the globe, it was unclear whether contributions to Wikipedia would decrease in the face of the pandemic, or whether volunteers would withstand the added stress and increase their contributions to accommodate the growing readership uncovered in recent studies. We analyze $$\mathbf {223}$$ 223 million edits contributed from 2018 to 2020 across twelve Wikipedia language editions and find that Wikipedia’s global volunteer community responded resiliently to the pandemic, substantially increasing both productivity and the number of newcomers who joined the community. For example, contributions to the English Wikipedia increased by over $$\mathbf {20\%}$$ 20 % compared to the expectation derived from pre-pandemic data. Our work sheds light on the response of a global volunteer population to the COVID-19 crisis, providing valuable insights into the behavior of critical online communities under stress.

ABSTRACT In Brazil, to conserve soil and water, the adoption of a complete array of conservation agriculture technologies in conjunction with contour farming and agricultural terraces is necessary. However, there is little knowledge about the awareness and adoption level of conservationist practices by farmers. In this context, the objective of the study, which took place in a watershed containing agricultural areas dominated by annual crops, was to verify farmers’ perception and adoption level of soil and water conservation practices and the relationship between their adoption level of conservation practices and their socioeconomic characteristics. For this purpose, a survey was carried out with farmers in the Rio Vermelho watershed in southern Brazil. It was found that the majority of farmers have adequate awareness about the use of soil and water conservation practices. Maintaining productivity was identified as the main reason to conserve soil and water, while reducing production costs and controlling erosion stood out as secondary reasons. Agricultural terraces and no-tillage were the most adopted practices by farmers. No-tillage was implemented by approximately 78.3% of landowners and 50% of tenants. However, only 26.8% of farmers adopted conservation agriculture. Overall, most farmers adopt conservationist practices, but in a partial manner, which may not be sufficient to ensure soil and water conservation. Awareness of soil and water conservation needs to be further improved.

Abstract Choosing a surgical specialty can be a hard decision for a medical student. Several studies present data showing that most medical students fear the surgical field and end up switching to another specialty. For cardiovascular surgery, the scenario is very similar. In the last decades, the interest in cardiovascular surgery has been decreasing worldwide and the cardiothoracic surgical societies across the globe have been trying to understand the factors that push away medical students and general surgical residents from the specialty. In this regard, our work aims to focus on describe the access of students to cardiovascular surgery, especially during medical school, as well as to provide a brief report of our current data regarding the specialty.

Resenha de “Heterocronias: Estudos sobre a multiplicidade dos tempos históricos”, de Marlon Salomon.

Resumo Este estudo tem como objetivo verificar se os efeitos espaciais são fatores determinantes dos preços das terras agrícolas no Brasil. Para isso, foram utilizados dados do valor da terra nua de municípios do Brasil, para o ano de 2020, disponibilizados pela Receita Federal. Embora a base de dados tenha cobertura nacional, os dados contíguos, necessários na aplicação dos modelos econométricos espaciais, permitiram abranger a região Centro-Sul do país. Foi realizada a análise exploratória de dados espaciais e aplicado o modelo econométrico Durbin espacial. Pelos resultados obtidos verifica-se a existência de forte dependência espacial no preço da terra, manifestada tanto na variável dependente, espacialmente defasada, quanto por meio de efeitos de transbordamento das variáveis independentes. Além disso, verificou-se que o grau de urbanização do município, o produto interno bruto per capita municipal, o tamanho médio das propriedades, a produtividade agrícola e a área dedicada ao plantio da soja, na propriedade rural, também são importantes fatores determinantes do preço das terras agrícolas. Conclui-se que efeitos espaciais têm influência na determinação dos preços das terras agrícolas no Brasil.

O ensino de temas considerados de alta abstração, como a síntese de proteínas, constitui um desafio para docentes, uma vez que necessita de práticas pedagógicas que aproximem a temática à realidade dos estudantes e ao mesmo tempo sejam eficazes. O ensino remoto emergencial propôs o desafio de desenvolver procedimentos metodológicos adaptados ao meio virtual ao passo que possibilitou a inserção de novos meios de ensinar, como é o caso do uso da gamificação, que insere características de jogos ao contexto educacional. O objetivo deste trabalho foi relatar as experiências no planejamento e socialização de um quiz, por meio da plataforma Kahoot!, no ensino e aprendizagem da temática síntese de proteínas na primeira série do ensino médio de uma escola pública de Alagoas. O jogo foi aplicado, de forma virtual em uma aula online, por iniciantes à docência participantes do Programa Institucional de Bolsas de Iniciação à Docência (PIBID) sob supervisão docente. O quiz abordou os principais fenômenos da síntese de proteínas e foi respondido em tempo real pelos estudantes em seus respectivos aparelhos, que além responderem as questões de múltipla escolha, também podiam acompanhar o ranking de pontuações a cada questão respondida por todos os participantes. Como resultado, a utilização do quiz trouxe contribuições para a formação docente e dos discentes engajados, ao passo que permitiu perceber que o uso de tecnologias de gamificação no contexto educacional pode proporcionar melhor assimilação de conteúdos considerados de difícil entendimento.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated host response to an invading pathogen such as multidrug-resistant bacteria. Despite recent advancements, sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, resulting in a significant global impact and burden. This condition affects all age groups, with clinical outcomes mainly depending on a timely diagnosis and appropriate early therapeutic intervention. Because of the unique features of nanosized systems, there is a growing interest in developing and designing novel solutions. Nanoscale-engineered materials allow a targeted and controlled release of bioactive agents, resulting in improved efficacy with minimal side effects. Additionally, nanoparticle-based sensors provide a quicker and more reliable alternative to conventional diagnostic methods for identifying infection and organ dysfunction. Despite recent advancements, fundamental nanotechnology principles are often presented in technical formats that presuppose advanced chemistry, physics, and engineering knowledge. Consequently, clinicians may not grasp the underlying science, hindering interdisciplinary collaborations and successful translation from bench to bedside. In this review, we abridge some of the most recent and most promising nanotechnology-based solutions for sepsis diagnosis and management using an intelligible format to stimulate a seamless collaboration between engineers, scientists, and clinicians.

The recent pandemic and consequent lockdown had a substantial impact on mental health and optimism regarding the future. Previous research showed that levels of depression, anxiety, and stress had increased throughout the pandemic. Nonetheless, how individuals cope when faced with adversity may be associated with positive expectations regarding the future. A sample of 274 Portuguese workers (female = 54) with a mean age of 40.86 (SD = 0.70) and work experience of 19.68 years (SD = 12.07) met inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the proposed study. They represented a variety of working classes (i.e., arts, engineering, marketers, transportation and logistic, clerks, personal trainers, managers, lawyers, accountants, directors, journalism, health care). We investigated the associations between depression, stress, anxiety, adaptive and maladaptive coping, and optimism while controlling for working experience, gender, and work type. We found that depression was related to lower levels of optimism. However, for participants scoring high on adaptive coping and anxiety, higher scores of optimism were reported. Gender, work type, and experience did not significantly influence the results. These results provide evidence through which positive mental health can be promoted after the pandemic.

O café está entre as principais culturas agrícolas do Paraná. Porém, após a retração desta cultura, decorrente, sobretudo, das dificuldades de recuperação das lavouras após a geada negra de 1975 e da expansão de outros cultivos no território, como a soja, o milho e o trigo, houve uma expressiva mudança na dinâmica espacial e na estrutura da produção agropecuária paranaense. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a dinâmica espacial ocorrida na cafeicultura do Paraná. Os dados são oriundos do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, da Organização das Nações Unidas para Alimentação e Agricultura, do Ministério da Indústria, Comércio Exterior e Serviços e do Banco Central do Brasil. Foi realizada a análise de concentração para área colhida, quantidade produzida e do valor bruto de produção, para mensurar a convergência do mercado de cada mesorregião. Em seguida, foi realizada a análise de quociente locacional, para identificar as microrregiões especializadas na produção de café. Por fim foram efetivadas as análises de componentes principais e de agrupamentos, para caracterizar a estrutura e a dinâmica dos sistemas de produção de café nas microrregiões paranaenses especializadas na cafeicultura. A partir dos resultados foi possível verificar que entre 1997 e 2016, ocorreu uma contração da lavoura de café, com uma queda de 66,5% na área colhida e 71,5% na produção. Além disso, houve uma redução no número de microrregiões especializadas na cafeicultura, passando de 13 em 1997, para 9 em 2016. Foram identificados dois componentes principais que, juntos, explicaram 88,06% da variabilidade dos dados, sendo nominados por produção técnica e produção destinada a indústria de torrefação e moagem de café. Com base na análise de agrupamentos foram definidos quatro grupos, que se distinguiram em relação à especialização na produção do café, do número de fábrica de torrefação e moagem de café, da quantidade e tipo de crédito rural concedido aos produtores (familiar ou patronal) e do número de trabalhadores na lavoura. Dentre as transformações no processo produtivo do café, observou-se o deslocamento espacial ao longo do tempo, que resultou em mudanças significativas nas regiões especializadas na cafeicultura paranaense.

RESUMO A poesia de Augusto de Campos afirmou-se concreta ao abandonar a convenção aceitas pelas gerações modernistas imediatamente anteriores. Avançou em prol de uma nova pluralidade de sentidos atingidos pela exploração intensiva do potencial expressivo da palavra e da sua materialidade. É um poeta de invenção, que recuperou a funcionalidade da página, controlando o tempo e o silêncio, que manipulam as sensações através do espaço em branco, e deslocou-se para as galerias e ruas. Neste artigo é analisada a poesia de Augusto de Campos considerando como o texto, na sua forma visual e tipográfica, activa as camadas de significação verbivocovisual e, subsidiariamente, as referências culturais e simbólicas associadas às formas da letra e aos media.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la ingesta, digestibilidad aparente, balance hídrico, balance de nitrógeno y rendimiento productivo en corderos alimentados con ensilaje de nopal asociado con forrajes tropicales. En el experimento se utilizaron 40 corderos machos cruzados intactos, con un peso corporal inicial de 18.85 ± 1.2 kg. El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar, con 5 tratamientos y 8 repeticiones. Los tratamientos consistieron en dietas con diferentes proporciones de pasto buffel y salvado de trigo como fuentes de fibra detergente neutro (FDN), en ensilaje de alimento total (EAT) a base de nopal: EAT1 - 279 g/kg de pasto buffel; EAT2 - 240 g/kg de pasto buffel y 17 g/kg de salvado de trigo; EAT3 - 198 g/kg de pasto buffel y 34 g/kg de salvado de trigo; EAT4 - 108 g/kg de pasto buffel y 74 g/kg de salvado de trigo; EAT5 – 118 g/kg de salvado de trigo. La ingesta más baja de FDN se encontró en corderos que consumieron EAT5 (402 g/día). La digestibilidad aparente de los carbohidratos no fibrosos fue mayor para EAT5, mientras que la digestibilidad aparente de FDN de EAT5 y EAT4 fue mayor que la de EAT1. Las dietas promovieron una ganancia diaria de peso promedio de 180.8 g/día. En condiciones experimentales, el uso de nopal forrajero y concentrado en forma de raciones mixtas totales de ensilaje conduce a una mayor ingesta de proteína cruda, carbohidratos no fibrosos, extracto etéreo y mayor digestibilidad de carbohidratos no fibrosos y fibra detergente neutro, sin embargo, todas las dietas fueron viables en la alimentación de ovinos confinados, proporcionando ganancias de hasta 198 g/d según la formulación de la dieta.

Purpose: To report a successful ab-interno trabeculotomy with Kahook Dual Blade (KDB) in secondary traumatic angle recession glaucoma in a child and discuss the possible mechanisms of action. Observations: A 7 years-old boy presented, after a blunt trauma in the left eye, with angular recess surroundings 110° and concomitant intra-ocular pressure (IOP) elevation around 35 mmHg, despite the maximum topical and systemic ocular hypotensive therapy. As there was no glaucomatous neuropathy yet, a KDB ab-interno trabeculotomy was performed. After KDB's surgery, oral and topical hypotensive medications were gradually withdrawn until complete suspension with IOP levels around 11 mmHg, which has remained the same in the last 2 years. Both functional and structural assessment of glaucoma have maintained stable throughout the follow-up until the present moment. Conclusion and Importance: The KDB has demonstrating a favorable safety profile and a useful surgical technique that should be considered mainly in trabecular glaucomas, as well as those secondary to trauma. Studies are still needed to define which patient and glaucoma profile are the most suitable for the procedure and for how long it is effective.

Abstract Currently, the relation between edit behavior, link structure, and article quality is not well-understood in our community, notwithstanding that this relationship may facilitate editing processes and content quality on Wikipedia. To shed light on this complex relation, we classify article edits and perform an in-depth analysis of editing sequences for 4941 articles. Additionally, we build a network of internal Wikipedia hyperlinks between articles. Using this data, we compute parsimonious metrics to quantify editing and linking behavior. Our analysis unveils that conflicted articles differ substantially from others in almost all metrics, while we also detect slight trends for high-quality articles. With our network analysis we find evidence indicating that controversial and edit war articles frequently span structural holes in the Wikipedia network. Finally, in a prediction experiment we demonstrate the usefulness of edit behavior patterns and network properties in predicting conflict and article quality. With our work, we assist online collaboration communities, especially Wikipedia, in long-term improvement of content quality by offering valuable insights about the interplay of article quality, controversies and edit wars, editing behavior, and network properties via sequence-based edit and network-based article metrics.

Abstract Background Cultural and religious practices of African origin have decisively influenced traditional health practices in the Americas since the African diaspora. Plants are core elements in the religions of African origin. Compared with other parts of Brazil where the Afro-Brazilian presence is widely recognized, in Southern Brazil, these cultural practices are often socially invisible. Yet, there are several terreiros of three Afro-Brazilian religions: Candomblé, Umbanda, and Ritual deAlmas e Angola. We hypothesize that the importance of plants in Afro-Brazilian religions is linked not only to spiritual and magical issues but also to the medicinal properties of these plants. We seek to answer the following questions: (a) Which plants are used in the terreiros and what are their indications for use?; (b) Are there plants that stand out culturally in these religious groups?; and (c) What is the importance of the adaptive maintenance and replacement process in the use of plants in these religions, considering the Neotropical and African plants? Methods We performed a census of the existing terreiros on the Island of Santa Catarina to collect information on the knowledge and use of plants. In all terreiros that consented to participate in the research, we collected data through semi-structured interviews, guided tours for plant collection, and participant observation. We identified the botanical species through expert consultations and botanical literature. Results We interviewed 27 spiritual leaders, who cited 93 plants belonging to 86 botanical species. We identified 14 categories of use, with emphasis on liturgical ritual use (59%), general and unspecified diseases (32%), and digestive diseases (27%). In most liturgics uses, direct contact between plant and patient occurs, as in the case of bathing and the cleansing use of smoke. Sixteen plants were cited in all terreiros, configuring a set of species that can be considered as culturally important plants for these religious groups. Conclusions These groups have extensive knowledge about a highly consensual set of therapeutic plants that should be further investigated pharmacologically to understand the effect of their external use. Also, we emphasize the importance of recognizing and valuing this ancestral Afro-Brazilian knowledge and learning also from these people about their broader vision of health which also adds more spirituality in health care.

A cadeia produtiva do leite possui relevância para a economia brasileira, gerando empregos e renda. Além disso, a produção de leite, em razão da produção familiar, exerce importante função social. No entanto, a produção de leite é espacialmente heterogênea no país, sobretudo pelos diferentes padrões tecnológicos de produção. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a distribuição e a dinâmica espaço-temporal da produção de leite no Brasil. Para isso, foram utilizados, acerca da produção de leite no país nos anos de 2000 e 2016. Por meio do Quociente Locacional (QL), foram identificadas as microrregiões brasileiras especializadas na produção de leite. Foi realizada Análise Exploratória de Dados Espaciais (AEDE) e do I de Moran, para medir a autocorrelação espacial entre as regiões. Por fim, foi empregada a Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP), para verificar as relações de agrupamento das variáveis, em função das regiões especializadas na produção de leite. Foi identificada queda no número de microrregiões especializadas na produção de leite entre 2000 e 2016, Assim, em 2016, cerca de 20% das microrregiões e pouco mais de 22% dos municípios do Brasil eram especializados na produção de leite. As microrregiões e municípios especializados na produção de leite estão concentrados, principalmente, nos estados de Minas Gerais e Goiás e na região Sul do Brasil. Houve aumento da produtividade de leite em todas as regiões do país, principalmente naquelas onde há concentração na produção. Constatou-se a formação de clusters Alto-Alto nas regiões mais produtivas do país, ou seja, a Sul e a Sudeste, onde se observa os efeitos do transbordamento tecnológico, bem como a formação de clusters baixo-baixo nas regiões menos produtivas, a Norte e a Nordeste. Foram formados dois componentes principais. O primeiro componente agregou variáveis relacionadas com a produção de leite em volume, enquanto o segundo componente relacionou variáveis inerentes a produtividade. Foi possível verificar o crescimento recente da produção e da produtividade de leite no país, bem como evidenciar a heterogeneidade na produção. Verificou-se que embora tenha ocorrido queda no número de microrregiões e municípios especializados na produção de leite, houve concentração e aumento na produção e produtividade de leite no Brasil.

An innovative study of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) was performed by mapping the effect based on direct measurements of the temperature change during magnetic field cycles with microscopic resolution (85 μ m) on a Co-doped Ni–Mn–Ga bulk sample using infrared thermography on the whole sample. The MCE maps were constructed for different sample temperatures ( T _sample ), cycling both on heating (from 272.8 K up to T _sample , with T _sample ⩽ 327.0 K) and on cooling (from 340.0 K down to T _sample , with T _sample ⩾ 266.8 K), cycling a 1.2 T magnetic field at each T _sample value. The MCE maps were calculated to evaluate the amplitude of the effect at the microscale for all T _sample values. This allows to analyze the contribution of each micrometric portion of the sample to the spatially heterogeneous behavior that was found. Significant differences of the MCE on heating and cooling are present associated to inhomogeneity dynamics, mostly near the structural transformation. The amplitude of the MCE and its inhomogeneity are both much more pronounced on the heating process. On the cooling process the effect behaves quite homogeneously since the structural transformation already occurred during the cooling to reach T _sample . The behavior of the MCE at selected map coordinates was scrutinized, revealing significant differences amongst sample locations. Moreover, the extreme amplitudes of MCE registered for diverse micro-regions occur at different temperatures, suggesting that the structural transformation occurs at varying temperatures and with different magnitudes. The study innovates by constructing MCE maps to evaluate minority behaviors in the MCE in contrast with the average behavior of the effect. This study displays the capability to discriminate the behavior of the transformation at the microscale.

In this paper some properties of the so-called exponentiated uniform distribution are derived and discussed, such as quantile function, moments, generating function, mean deviations, Bonferroni and Lorenz curves, Shannon and Rényi entropies. The proposed model, defined in the range [a;b] can be used as an alternative to the truncated models. The maximum likelihood estimation of the model parameter is also conducted and a simulation study was performed to verify the consistency of model parameter. An application to a real data set illustrates its potentiality comparing the new distribution with other three well-known truncated distributions.We also present, at the end, an section discussing about computational codes, where the scripts used in R software are available.

Objetivo: analisar, conhecer sobre o acolhimento de Travestis e Transexuais na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Métodos: trata-se de uma pesquisa bibliográfica de caráter exploratório com abordagem qualitativa, na qual realizou-se uma busca no período de março a junho de 2020 em base de dados confiáveis, em português, dentre os quais Scientifc Electronic Library Online Brasil (SciELO), Google Scholar e o site do Ministério da Saúde podem ser citados, dentre outros periódicos de referência na área. Resultados: após análise detalhada das publicações, verificou-se 16 publicações exploravam realmente o tema em questão, sendo utilizados para a construção da pesquisa. Considerações Finais: há um método principal para que o acolhimento seja qualificado e holístico, que é a capacitação do enfermeiro juntamente com a educação continuada para que ele ajude a mudar a realidade da vida do público Trans no âmbito de saúde.

Resumo: Questões relacionadas aos empreendimentos agrícolas vêm sendo discutidas em todo o mundo, o que ocorre pela importância deles no desenvolvimento econômico das nações, por estarem diretamente relacionados às transformações sociais dentro e fora do campo e por serem imprescindíveis para a produção e a oferta de alimentos, bem como para a segurança alimentar. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar as tendências de variação no número de empreendimentos agrícolas no Brasil, por tipo de atividade principal e por estrato de área, para o período de 2004 a 2015. Para tanto, foram utilizados dados da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios e calculadas as taxas médias de variação anual, por meio do teste t de Student, utilizando uma regressão dos mínimos quadrados ordinários na forma log-linear. Entre 2004 e 2015, foi constatada queda de 3,3% a.a. no número de empreendimentos agropecuários no Brasil, totalizando uma redução de 1.382.700 unidades produtivas. Também foi observado que as reduções mais intensas ocorreram nos empreendimentos agrícolas dedicados à produção de arroz (–13,4% a.a.), nos de lavouras temporárias (–12,5% a.a.) e naqueles com área de ≥ 50 a < 100 hectares (–4,5% a.a.). Tais constatações são relevantes e permitem o delineamento de ações voltadas à segurança alimentar e nutricional no Brasil.

In this work we explore the structure of a G-rich DNA aptamer termed AT11-L2 (TGGTGGTGGTTGTTGTTGGTGGTGGTGGT; derivative of AT11) by evaluating the formation and stability of G-quadruplex (G4) conformation under different experimental conditions such as KCl concentration, temperature, and upon binding with a variety of G4 ligands (360A, BRACO-19, PDS, PhenDC3, TMPyP4). We also determined whether nucleolin (NCL) can be a target of AT11-L2 G4. Firstly, we assessed by circular dichroism, UV and NMR spectroscopies the formation of G4 by AT11-L2. We observed that, for KCl concentrations of 65 mM or less, AT11-L2 adopts hybrid or multiple topologies. In contrast, a parallel topology predominates for buffer containing 100 mM of KCl. The Tm of AT11-L2 in 100 mM of KCl is 38.9 °C, proving the weak stability of this sequence. We also found that upon titration with two molar equivalents of 360A, BRACO-19 and PhenDC3, the G4 is strongly stabilized and its topology is maintained, while the addition of 3.5 molar equivalents of TMPyP4 promotes the disruption of G4. The KD values between AT11-L2 G4, ligands and NCL were obtained by fluorescence titrations and are in the range of µM for ligand complexes and nM when adding NCL. In silico studies suggest that four ligands bind to the AT11-L2 G4 structure by stacking interactions, while the RBD1,2 domains of NCL interact preferentially with the thymines of AT11-L2 G4. Finally, AT11-L2 G4 co-localized with NCL in NCL-positive tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line.

Purpose: To report an uncommon case of hyperopic shift and corneal haze, flattening and thinning following a single session of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), and provide longitudinal clinical data and serial analyses of corneal profile through Scheimpflug imaging. Furthermore, a careful literature review was undertaken to determine possible risk factors for this complication. Observations: A 47-year-old woman presented with blurred vision and mild corneal edema and haze three days following routine SLT. Ten days later, corneal edema resolved, but she was still symptomatic. Refraction exam revealed a significant hyperopic shift and high astigmatism (+4.00–6.00 x 80° versus −11.50 -0.75 x 170° at baseline). Scheimpflug imaging revealed a partial collapse of the corneal architecture, with an expressive central cornea flattening (>10 diopters) and thinning (>190μm). Over six months, refractometric and corneal parameters gradually (but not completely) returned to their pre-operative values. Conclusions and Importance: This tetrad of clinical findings - hyperopic shift, corneal haze, flattening and thinning - following SLT is referred herein by the authors as selective trabeculoplasty-induced keratopathy (STIK), which is a rare but serious complication. A critical analysis based on this case findings and on the few others reported so far suggests high-myopic patients to be more predisposed to this complication, as all reported cases had −5.0 diopters or more. Future studies are warranted to determine whether this complication can be prevented.

Abstract Huanglongbing (HLB) is considered one of the main citrus diseases; it spreads quickly through orchards, reducing the production and quality of the fruit of affected plants, and causes significant economic losses. In this context, the aim of this study was to estimate the incidence and economic impact of the losses generated by HLB in the micro-region of Paranavaí, in the state of Paraná, Brazil. We used data from the Paraná Agribusiness Defense Agency, which conducts surveys of host plants of the causal agent of HLB. The production sacrificed by HLB was estimated considering the following scenarios: (i) losses occurring from January 2011 to June 2013; and (ii) losses related to the potential production of the citrus plant over its useful life. Although the annual incidence of HLB in the Paranavaí region is currently below 2.5%, there was a 6-fold increase in the incidence of the disease, from 0.16% to 0.96%, in the period considered. Orchards that had lesser than 10,000 plants showed a higher incidence of the disease. The losses produced by HLB generated estimated economic impacts of US$11.8 million and US$39.2 million for the first and second scenarios, respectively. These results highlight the importance of the prevention and management of this disease.

A challenge in cell therapy for photoreceptor degeneration is inducing the grafted cells to grow and maintain light sensitive outer segments. Here, the authors use optogenetics to circumvent this problem and restore visual function in blind mice.

The adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) practices are essential for soil and water conservation. In CA, farmers must adopt no-tillage (NT) with crop rotation to maintain a permanent soil cover. In Brazil, mainly in the South region, for CA to be more efficient, practices such as contour farming and agricultural terraces should also be adopted. Thus, the objective of this study is to determine the extent to which NT has been adopted with crop rotation and others soil and water conservation practices. Data from the Agricultural Census in Paraná State, southern Brazil, were used. For the data analysis, the relationship between the level of adoption of NT and the use of crop rotation, contour farming and agricultural terraces was analyzed. A factor and cluster analysis were performed to distinguish regions in terms of soil and water conservation practices. The results show good overall soil and water conservation practices, although heterogeneity has been observed in the adoption practices between regions. Adoption of NT is high in almost all the studied regions. The conservation practice most widely used with NT is contour farming, whereas the least used is agricultural terraces. Conservation practices for runoff control are being neglected by farmers.

Issues related to farms have begun to be discussed in a global context due to their importance in the economic development process, as they have a direct impact on the social transformations within and away from the countryside and are an important part of the system ensuring the food supply and food security for the population. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize the trends in the number of farms in the rural areas of Paraná, Brazil, by main type of activity and by land size category for the period from 2002 to 2014. Data from the National Household Sample Survey were used, and the mean annual variation rates were calculated via Student’s t-test using a log-linear ordinary least squares regression model. A reduction of 3.5% per annum (pa) was seen in the number of farms, both in relation to main activities and land size. There was a sharper decline in the number of farms dedicated to soybean (8.9% pa) and corn (6.3% pa) production and in the number of farms ranging in size from 10 ha to < 100 ha of land (7.09% pa). This information may support the establishment of public actions focused on the farming sector in Paraná.

C-terminal binding proteins (CtBPs) are transcriptional modulators that can regulate gene expression through the recruitment of a corepressor complex composed of chromatin-modifying enzymes and transcriptional factors. In the brain, CtBPs have been described as regulators of cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Nevertheless, the role of CtBPs on postnatal neural stem cells (NSCs) fate is not known yet. Herein, we evaluate the expression and functions of CtBPs in postnatal NSCs from the subventricular zone (SVZ). We found that CtBPs were expressed in immature/progenitor cells, neurons and glial cells in the SVZ niche. Using the CtBPs modulator 4-methylthio 2-oxobutyric acid (MTOB), our results showed that 1 mM of MTOB induced cell death, while 5, 25, and 50 μM increased the number of proliferating neuroblasts, mature neurons, and oligodendrocytes. Interestingly, it also increased the dendritic complexity of immature neurons. Altogether, our results highlight CtBPs putative application for brain regenerative applications.

Crop rotation is one of the pillars of conservation agriculture. This practice has offered a series of advantages in terms of improving soil physical, chemical, and biological conditions. These advantages result in yield increases for all economic crops involved in the rotation systems and may also reduce production costs. In this context, the aim of this study was to compare the profitability of crop rotation systems with different levels of crop diversification. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with five treatments and four replications. The treatments included one less diversified crop rotation system (control) with soybean and wheat and four more diversified crop rotation systems (involving three or more species), including soybean, wheat, black oats, maize, canola, barley, blue lupine, white oats, beans, radish, triticale, rye, hairy vetch, and sorghum, under no-tillage conducted during a three-year cycle. Analyses were conducted considering productivity, operating cost, and economic profit. The highest accumulated gross yields were obtained in the more diversified crop rotation systems. The results show that the more diversified crop rotation systems were more profitable. When the opportunity cost was included, the most diversified crop rotations presented greater economic feasibility. The less diversified crop rotation system presented a negative economic profit. The crop rotation systems including beans presented the highest economic profit.

Differences in hydroxyurea response in sickle cell anemia may arise due to a series of factors with genetic factors appearing to be predominant. This study aims to investigate the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes and solute carriers on hydroxyurea response, in patients with sickle cell anemia. For that purpose, a total number of 90 patients with sickle cell anemia were recruited, 45 were undergoing hydroxyurea treatment, while 45 were not under the treatment. Association analyses were performed between CYP3A4 (rs2740574), CYP2D6 (rs3892097), CAT (rs7943316 and rs1001179), and SLC14A1 (rs2298720) variants and laboratory parameters. According to our findings, patients with hydroxyurea treatment demonstrated higher HbF levels and a significant improvement in hemolytic, hepatic, inflammatory, and lipid parameters in comparison to those without the treatment. We also found significant associations between the CYP2D6 (rs3892097), CAT (rs7943316 and rs1001179), and SLC14A1 (rs2298720) variants and an improvement of the therapeutic effects, specifically the hemolytic, hepatic, inflammatory, lipid, and renal parameters. In conclusion, our results highlight the importance of the investigated variants, and their strong association with hydroxyurea efficacy in patients with sickle cell anemia, which may be considered in the future as genetic markers.

Ao término das independências, vários países latino-americanos, imersos em contendas internas e com uma correlação de forças frágeis, representantes dos segmentos dominantes solicitam (ou se veem obrigados) a solicitar, assessoria dos Estados Unidos para organizar a estrutura econômica central do Estado. Tal assessoria veio através da denominada Misión Kemmerer. A missão, chefiada pelo Dr. Edwin Walter Kemmerer, professor de Economia na Universidade de Princeton constitui-se em uma das mais exitosas missões de toda a América latina. Através de instrumentos técnicos, estabilizou a economia dos países, agradando a praticamente todos os segmentos sociais, auxiliou na inserção de líderes sindicalistas no governo e subordinou o país definitivamente aos Estados Unidos. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar essa missão no Chile a partir da década de 1920 em face à crise do capitalismo que acirrava as contradições socioeconômicas e aos desdobramentos conjunturais que adentram a década de 1930, a partir de documentos que situam o sistema fiscal, monetário, bancário e a dívida contraída com os Estados Unidos.

Abstract The aim of this study was to identify and qualify the microregions specialized in orange production and the spatial dynamics of citrus production in the state of Paraná, Brazil. For this purpose, data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and the Brazilian Central Bank were used. The location quotient (LQ) methodology was applied, the principal component analysis (PCA) and the cluster analysis were carried out, and information regarding the location of industries and agribusiness cooperatives that process orange juice in the state of Paraná was collected. The LQ results, subdivided into 5-year periods, denote changes in the spatial dynamics of orange production. Between 1998-2002 and 2013-2017, the specialized microregions increased from nine to 11; in addition, the consolidation of a citrus belt, which extended from the northwestern to the northeast area of Paraná, took place. Two main components explained 89.16% of the total data variability and four clusters were identified. The microregion of Paranavaí was the most specialized and the most important for the orange production chain in Paraná. The dynamics of orange production were spatially associated with the location of industries and agribusiness cooperatives in the sector, which were concentrated in the northwestern and mid-northern Paraná.

ABSTRACT: Even in areas of predominance of Caiuá sandstone, with soils of low natural fertility that are highly susceptible to erosion and degradation processes, farmers have adopted systems with little diversification, because they believe that they provide a greater economic return. However, agricultural practices such as crop rotation can bring agronomic benefits in terms of conservation agriculture, in addition to economic gains, circumventing edaphoclimatic difficulties in the region. In this context, the objective of this study is to verify whether no-till crop rotation systems are economically profitable, in a Caiuá sandstone area in the northwest region of the Brazilian state of Paraná. To this end, an experiment was conducted in the municipality of Umuarama, state of Paraná, in the crop year 2014/15 to 2016/17. The experimental design used random blocks, with four treatments and four repetitions. The treatments consisted of four crop rotation systems, involving wheat, black oats, canola, safflower, rye, crambe, beans, maize, fodder radish, soybean, sorghum, lupin beans, buckwheat, and triticale cultivars. Crop yields, operating costs, income, and net farm income were assessed. From the results, it was reported that the highest income was obtained in the systems that adopted the largest number of winter and summer commercial crops. Only one treatment was profitable, that is, it had a positive net farm income. This scenario may be associated with the fragility of the region’s soil, which having low fertility, requires a high investment in fertilization and liming to ensure adequate production.