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Abstract Nanocomposites based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are suitable for sensors, due to matrix ability to incorporate nanotube properties. Thus, we developed a low-cost, nanostructured poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) polymer piezoresistive sensor produced by additive manufacturing. For this, solution layers of acetone, dimethylformamide and CNTs functionalized with carboxylic acid were pulverized on an ABS substrate using an aerograph. Electrical characterization revealed an anisotropic piezoresistive response of the material, induced by the printing lines direction. Field Emission Gun-Scanning Electron Microscopy showed the nanostructured film spreading after five layers of CNTs as well as the random entanglement of nanotubes on parallel and perpendicular 3D-printed ABS substrates. Raman spectroscopy indicated compression and p-type doping of CNTs in interaction with the polymer, as seen mainly by the blueshift of the G and 2D subbands. The results show that the material is promising for pressure sensors, with potential applications in robotic haptic feedback systems.

Interdisciplinary marine research is pivotal for addressing ocean sustainability challenges but may exclude diverse socio-economic, cultural, or identity groups. Drawing on perspectives of marine Early Career Researchers, we highlight the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in advancing interdisciplinary marine science and present ten recommendations to enhance DEI. As our ocean faces increasing threats, fostering DEI within this domain is not merely an aspirational goal but an ethical imperative.

Drought is a natural hazard that can cause a wide range of impacts affecting the environment, society, and the economy. Providing an impact assessment and reducing vulnerability to these impacts for regions beyond the local scale, spanning political and sectoral boundaries, requires systematic and detailed data regarding impacts. This study presents an assessment of the diversity of drought impacts across Europe based on the European Drought Impact report Inventory (EDII), a unique research database that has collected close to 5000 impact reports from 33 European countries. The reported drought impacts were classified into major impact categories, each of which had a number of subtypes. The distribution of these categories and types was then analyzed over time, by country, across Europe and for particular drought events. The results show that impacts on agriculture and public water supply dominate the collection of drought impact reports for most countries and for all major drought events since the 1970s, while the number and relative fractions of reported impacts in other sectors can vary regionally and from event to event. The analysis also shows that reported impacts have increased over time as more media and website information has become available and environmental awareness has increased. Even though the distribution of impact categories is relatively consistent across Europe, the details of the reports show some differences. They confirm severe impacts in southern regions (particularly on agriculture and public water supply) and sector-specific impacts in central and northern regions (e.g., on forestry or energy production). The protocol developed thus enabled a new and more comprehensive view on drought impacts across Europe. Related studies have already developed statistical techniques to evaluate the link between drought indices and the categorized impacts using EDII data. The EDII is a living database and is a promising source for further research on drought impacts, vulnerabilities, and risks across Europe. A key result is the extensive variety of impacts found across Europe and its documentation. This insight can therefore inform drought policy planning at national to international levels.

Abstract Drosophila suzukii is a pest native to Southeast Asia that causes significant economic losses to soft fruit crops. Phytosanitary irradiation is a promising treatment for D. suzukii hosts; yet an internationally recognized irradiation protocol is lacking. To fulfil specific requirements for proposing an irradiation treatment for D. suzukii, naturally infested blueberries and cherries containing a total of 37,489 late pupae were irradiated with a maximum absorbed dose of 80 Gy. Infested hosts containing a total of 9578 late pupae were considered unirradiated controls. Prevention of egg laying by females that emerged from treated pupae was considered the treatment endpoint. The fecundity and egg viability of females that emerged from treated pupae mated with their siblings were evaluated using blueberries. While females from unirradiated pupae laid a total of 43,142 eggs, no egg was laid by females that emerged from irradiated pupae. In addition, 1-day-old adults were irradiated with nominal doses of 20 and 72 Gy to evaluate whether egg laying could be prevented in flies emerging before the irradiation treatment. Females irradiated with 72 Gy laid eggs that did not hatch. Our findings suggest the minimum absorbed dose of 80 Gy as a phytosanitary irradiation treatment against D. suzukii and may support its inclusion as a treatment option in the annex of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures 28 (ISPM 28).

Abstract The Yang–Mills–Chern–Simons theory in three-dimensional Minkowski space-time is studied in a gauge-fixing scheme which interpolates between the covariant gauge and light-cone gauge, the interpolating gauge-fixing. The ultraviolet finiteness of the theory is proved via the Becchi–Rouet–Stora (BRS) algebraic renormalization procedure, which allows us to demonstrate the vanishing of all $$\beta $$ β -functions and all anomalous dimensions to all orders in perturbation theory.

ABSTRACT: Background: Clubfoot occurs in 30% of patients with myelomeningocele (MM) and is the most frequent foot deformity in patients with arthrogryposis (ART). Patients have high recurrence rates with more conservative interventions and may require talectomy. This study investigated the long-term clinical outcomes of talectomy in patients with MM and ART and identified factors associated with favorable outcomes. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on cases of clubfoott in MM and ART between 1975 and 2010, excluding if follow-up was

Abstract The therapeutic arsenal for veterinary pharmacotherapy includes both medicines for exclusive veterinary use and human medicines prescribed off-label for animals. Unlike medicines for exclusive veterinary use, the package inserts of human medicines detail the qualitative composition of the excipients in these products. Some excipients may cause adverse reactions in specific animal populations, necessitating that healthcare professionals identify and avoid administering medicines containing these excipients to susceptible animals. In this study, we analyzed 120 package inserts for human medicines prescribed for animals and, identified 14 excipients of concern for this population: 10 in liquid products, 6 in semi-solid products, and 5 in solid products. The identified excipients include ethyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, benzalkonium chloride, mannitol, sodium metabisulfite, sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polysorbate, and ethoxylated castor oil. Although off-label use of human medicines in veterinary practice is permitted, the study suggests that regulatory agencies and professional councils should raise awareness among veterinary prescribers and pharmacists regarding these excipients. This unprecedented study highlights the urgent need to address this issue, aiming to encourage research on excipient safety in animal populations and strengthen veterinary pharmacovigilance services.

Tendo como principal objectivo a análise das alterações provocadas no complexo de troca do solo pela prática continuada do regadio, recolhemos, de forma georeferenciada, nos 12400 ha que constituem o Perímetro de Rega do Caia e áreas imediatamente adjacentes (situado nos Municípios de Elvas e Campo Maior, distrito de Portalegre, Portugal), 14280 amostras da camada superficial do solo (0-20 cm), as quais, depois de misturadas 10 a 10 de forma a que cada amostra compósita representasse 11,1 ha, foram analisadas no que respeita à composição do complexo de troca do solo e à capacidade de troca catiónica (CTC). Com recurso a software apropriado (sistemas de informação geográfica - SIG), foi possível relacionar individualmente as amostras de solo analisadas com o sistema cultural (sequeiro, menos de 15 anos em regadio, entre 15 e 25 anos em regadio e mais de 25 anos em regadio) e com o grupo de solos presente (Regossolos, Cambissolos, Vertissolos, Calcissolos, Luvissolos e Fluvissolos), sendo então possível analisar a influência do sistema cultural no complexo de troca do solo e a forma como os diferentes grupos de solos eram influenciados pelo regadio. Com excepção dos Vertissolos, os resultados obtidos confirmam um decréscimo generalizado dos valores da capacidade de troca catiónica, soma de bases de troca e grau de saturação em bases e um aumento do teor de sódio de troca nos solos explorados em regadio, que tende a agravar-se ao longo do tempo, pelo menos nos primeiros 30 anos desta prática.Being the main goal of this work the analysis of the changes in the soil exchange complex brought by the continued irrigation practice, we collect georeferenciatilly, in the 12400 ha constituting the Caia Irrigation Perimeter and adjacent areas (located in the Elvas and Campo Major region, Portalegre district, Portugal), 14280 topsoil samples (020 cm), which, after mixed 10 by 10, in a way that each aggregate sample represented 11.1 ha, were analyzed for soil exchange complex composition and for soil exchange capacity (CEC). With the use of appropriate software (Geographic Information Systems-GIS), it was possible to relate the results of individual samples analysed with the cultural system (rain feed, less than 15 years in irrigation, between 15 and 25 years in irrigation and more than 25 years in irrigation) and the soil group (Regosols, Cambisols, Vertisols, Calcisols, Luvisols and Fluvisols), and then analyze the influence of the cultural system in the soil exchange complex and how the different soil groups were influenced by irrigation. With the Vertisols exception, the results confirm a decline in soil exchange capacity, sum of bases and base saturation ratio values and an increase in the exchange sodium percentage, which tends to get worse over time, at least in the first 30 years of this practice.

Abstract Whilst the importance of fungal primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs) has been recognised, few studies have empirically assessed how land-use patterns influence them. Here, we show the impacts of different land-use patterns on fungal PBAPs within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot. Spanning a distance of ca. 600 km within this biome, we collected fungal bioaerosols in the following land-use patterns: a 25-year-old coffee plantation, a 2.5-year-old Eucalyptus plantation, a 3-months-old maize crop, a 2-year-old and another 7-year-old native forest reforestation area, and a native forest fragment. Using the portable Burkard air sampler, a total of 14 morphotype-species were found. Cladosporium sp. comprised as much as about 95% of all fungal spores collected, being present in all samples (frequency of 100%). Forest systems had as much as 5-to-19-fold more fungal spores in the air than maize crops. Sampling height and time (morning vs. afternoon) did not influence fungal concentration and number of species. In addition, using data derived from an eddy covariance tower in the Eucalyptus site, we estimated the emission rate to be 6649 spores m−2 s−1. Our study confirms that land-use patterns affect fungal PBAPs, and that replacing large areas of native Atlantic Forest by monospecific stands, a homogenisation of airborne fungi is occurring, with unknown consequences for climate regulation.

The present paper analyzes and discusses specific methodological aspects instrumental in promoting the teaching of Green Chemistry (GC); it examines proposals and teaching experience reports from 284 papers published in the "Journal of Chemical Education" (JChemEd), until 2019. Using Discursive Textual Analysis and drawing upon previous studies, 143 papers were selected for containing nontraditional teaching activities for the incorporation of GC into chemistry teaching, which were grouped into seven (emerging) categories, focusing on: learning subjects, curriculum, integrative contents, context, other education environments, use of instructional materials, and comparison between GC and Traditional Chemistry. Most proposals focus on the learning subject, followed by curriculum discussions and integrative contents. Several papers brought aspects related to the systemic vision for the interconnection of GC with sustainability/sustainable development, revealing a new methodological challenge by proposing integrative content as teaching strategies. Despite their good intentions, most teaching experiences and intervention proposals still remain attached to occasional and poorly evaluated events.

Abstract COVID-19 is a multisystemic disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 airborne virus, a member of the Coronaviridae family. It has a positive sense single-stranded RNA genome and encodes two non-structural proteins through viral cysteine-proteases processing. Blocking this step is crucial to control virus replication. In this work, we reported the synthesis of 23 statine-based peptidomimetics to determine their ability to inhibit the main protease (Mpro) activity of SARS-CoV-2. Among the 23 peptidomimetics, 15 compounds effectively inhibited Mpro activity by 50% or more, while three compounds (7d, 8e, and 9g) exhibited maximum inhibition above 70% and IC50

The increase in the penetration of inverter based renewable energy resources comes with several challenges. For one, the power quality can be cited as an issue due to the impact of the electronic devices in the grid voltage profile, which can cause harmonic disturbances and then affect all other installations nearby. Considering the issue previously described,} this paper analyzes the effects of grid voltage harmonic disturbances in the operation of a grid-connected Voltage Source Converter (VSC) with current control in the stationary reference frame. A mathematical model is derived and validated both through simulations and experiments in order to associate the voltage harmonic magnitude disturbance with the respective current harmonic magnitude response from the grid-connected VSC. The model is also utilized to tune paralleled resonant controllers to mitigate the effect. Furthermore, the results and analyses highlight not only the effectiveness but also the limitations from the proposal.

Abstract The present study modeled the adsorption process of the drug diclofenac sodium on activated charcoal. For this purpose, a mass balance-based model was used considering a fixed bed column. The mass transfer rate in the solid phase was represented by a driving force model proposed in this study, and a gamma exponent with a range of 0 > γ ≤ 2 was assigned to the model. Different isotherms were adopted to represent the equilibrium at the solid/liquid interface: the Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips and Redlich-Peterson isotherms. The modeling was approached from the perspective of Bayesian statistics, and the Markov chain Monte Carlo method was used for parameter estimation. Model validation was performed with experimental data obtained under different operating conditions of initial concentration ($C_{0

Abstract Water is a scarce, strategic resource and the most important input for economic development, especially in agricultural countries such as Brazil. Cocoa production is directly related to water availability, and, as climate changes, selecting drought-tolerant genotypes is vital to keep cacao crops sustainable. Here, we evaluated cacao genotypes under irrigated and water-stressed conditions and selected drought-tolerant ones based on nutritional and physiological traits. Thirty-nine genotypes were monitored for three years for agronomic traits and higher fruit yield. After this evaluation, the 18 most promising genotypes were evaluated in a randomized block design, under a 2 (with and without irrigation) $$\times$$ × 18 (genotypes) factorial arrangement, with three replicates and five plants per plot. We evaluated seven physiological and 11 nutritional traits, selecting genotypes based on the Genotype-by-Trait Biplot approach. Significant effects (p

In this article, exact expressions are presented for the probability density function, cumulative distribution function, moment generating function, and higher-order moments of the instantaneous signal-to-noise ratio, considering the product and the sum of the products of $N$ $\alpha$-$\mathcal {F}$ variates with pointing errors. New expressions for the outage probability (OP), bit error probability (BEP), ergodic channel capacity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUC) are deduced, as well as the asymptotic ones. The obtained expressions are used to assess the influence of various channels and system parameters on the system performance. We analyze a scenario considering dual-hop terahertz links and another regarding reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS)-assisted systems. All expressions derived in this work are new, and Monte Carlo simulations corroborate the analytical curves shown.

Background/Objectives: Skin injuries are common in the equine clinical practice, requiring effective treatment to support natural healing. Bacuri butter is gaining attention for its potential in wound healing and its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Natural polymers such as onion (Allium cepa) bioplastics have been investigated for their potential as occlusive dressings and for tissue regeneration. Methods: This study evaluated the healing process of experimentally induced skin wounds on horses treated with bacuri butter, washed onion film, and unwashed onion film. Clinical and histopathological analyses of the wounds were conducted in six clinically healthy horses over 28 days, with a control group receiving Ringer’s lactate solution. The onion films were produced and characterized for their chemical structure and properties, while the bacuri butter was sourced and prepared for application. Results: All treatments, including the control group, promoted wound healing without relevant differences in wound contraction rates, gross aspect, or histopathological parameters. Conclusions: Therefore, despite minor variations observed in the clinical evaluations between the treatment groups, the bacuri butter or onion biopolymer showed no significant healing effect on skin wounds in horses. Additionally, this study showed the potential of equine models in testing novel therapeutic approaches for wound healing, benefiting both veterinary and human medicine.

Abstract The objective was to evaluate the behavior of melon genotypes (Cucumis melo L.) in the physical, chemical and biochemical quality of melon fruits as a function of electrical conductivity irrigation water levels (ECw). The experimental design adopted was randomized blocks in a 5 x 3 factorial scheme with five replications. The first factor was represented by five salinity levels (0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 dS m-1) and the second factor by accessions A35, and A24, and the hybrid Sancho. The physical, chemical and biochemical variables showed a reduction in production, with smaller fruits, with less weight, smaller cavity, with increased pulp thickness for Sancho. Vitamin C and yellow flavonoids increased indicating antioxidant power against ROS. The genotypes showed similar post-harvest behavior, however, the hybrid Sancho stood out over the others, possibly because it is an improved material. Accession A24 presented physiological and biochemical responses that classify it as intolerant.

Abstract Bacterial contamination causes irreparable losses in the performance of alcoholic fermentation. Antibiotics are used to control these microorganisms, but they generate residues and cause microbial resistance. Today the only commercial product used by the mills is hops, but it is very expensive. As an alternative, the objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of using extracts from plants grown in the Cerrado for antimicrobial control during an alcoholic fermentation to replace antibiotics. Hydraethanolic extracts of leaves and essential oil of the following species were tested: Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, Serjania erecta, Serjania marginata, Campomanesia adamantium and Syzygium cumini. Only the extract of Serjania marginata did not show any activity against the bacterium Bacillus sp. Both the essential oils as well as the hydroalcoholic extracts of S. terebinthifolius and C. adamantium and the extract of S. erecta showed antibacterial activity without harming the yeast, with potential to replace the hops.

Abstract The formation of groups of interacting individuals improves performance and fitness in many decentralised systems, from micro-organisms to social insects, from robotic swarms to artificial intelligence algorithms. Often, group formation and high-level coordination in these systems emerge from individuals with limited information-processing capabilities implementing low-level rules of communication to signal to each other. Here, we show that, even in a community of clueless individuals incapable of processing information and communicating, a dynamic environment can coordinate group formation by transiently storing memory of the earlier passage of individuals. Our results identify a new mechanism of indirect coordination via shared memory that is primarily promoted and reinforced by dynamic environmental factors, thus overshadowing the need for any form of explicit signalling between individuals. We expect this pathway to group formation to be relevant for understanding and controlling self-organisation and collective decision making in both living and artificial active matter in real-life environments.

Abstract The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family regulates various and important aspects of nervous system development, ranging from the well-established roles in neuronal patterning to more recent and exciting functions in axonal growth and synaptogenesis. In addition, FGFs play a critical role in axonal regeneration, particularly after spinal cord injury, confirming their versatile nature in the nervous system. Due to their widespread involvement in neural development, the FGF system also underlies several human neurological disorders. While particular attention has been given to FGFs in a whole-cell context, their effects at the axonal level are in most cases undervalued. Here we discuss the endeavor of the FGF system in axons, we delve into this neuronal subcompartment to provide an original view of this multipurpose family of growth factors in nervous system (dys)function. Video Abstract

Abstract Objective This study aimed at investigating a set of peripheral cytokines in elderly female patients with MDD, comparing them to controls, and assessing the potential influence of clinical comorbidities on inflammatory markers. Methods Twenty-five elderly female patients diagnosed with MDD and 19 age-matched female controls were enrolled on this study. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were evaluated with commercially-available assays. Results Elderly female patients with MDD exhibited higher plasma IL-6 and IL-4 levels when compared to controls. In a logistic regression model taking cytokine levels, comorbidities, and age into account, only type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) remained associated with MDD. Conclusion Diabetes influences the association between MDD and higher levels of cytokines in elderly female patients. Future studies should take this evidence into account in order to mitigate confounding factors.

Abstract The use of residues from coffee production to obtain biochar is a sustainable approach, which aims to minimize the environmental impact of these materials. In this study, the effect of adding coffee straw biochar on the physiological quality of lettuce and sorghum seeds was investigated. Thus, the objective of this work was to study the effect of adding different concentrations of coffee biochar in the substrate composition on the physiological quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) seeds. The experimental design used was completely randomized, with five concentrations of biochar (0; 7.5; 15; 30 and 60%), conducted with four replications of 25 seeds. The use of biochar in the concentrations studied does not provide an increase in the average germination percentage and vigor of lettuce and sorghum seeds. The increase in the concentration of biochar caused less seed vigor, suggesting a toxic effect. For seed germination, there was no significant difference between lettuce and sorghum species, regardless of treatment. For the germination speed index, sorghum seeds have higher means, except for the treatment with the addition of 15% coffee straw biochar. Lettuce seeds have higher shoot length averages, except for treatment with 100% commercial substrate. The sorghum seeds have higher mean root length and dry mass than lettuce, regardless of the treatment.

IntroductionThe inflammatory response after spinal cord injury (SCI) is an important contributor to secondary damage. Infiltrating macrophages can acquire a spectrum of activation states, however, the microenvironment at the SCI site favors macrophage polarization into a pro-inflammatory phenotype, which is one of the reasons why macrophage transplantation has failed.MethodsIn this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of the macrophage secretome for SCI recovery. We investigated the effect of the secretome in vitro using peripheral and CNS-derived neurons and human neural stem cells. Moreover, we perform a pre-clinical trial using a SCI compression mice model and analyzed the recovery of motor, sensory and autonomic functions. Instead of transplanting the cells, we injected the paracrine factors and extracellular vesicles that they secrete, avoiding the loss of the phenotype of the transplanted cells due to local environmental cues.ResultsWe demonstrated that different macrophage phenotypes have a distinct effect on neuronal growth and survival, namely, the alternative activation with IL-10 and TGF-β1 (M(IL-10+TGF-β1)) promotes significant axonal regeneration. We also observed that systemic injection of soluble factors and extracellular vesicles derived from M(IL-10+TGF-β1) macrophages promotes significant functional recovery after compressive SCI and leads to higher survival of spinal cord neurons. Additionally, the M(IL-10+TGF-β1) secretome supported the recovery of bladder function and decreased microglial activation, astrogliosis and fibrotic scar in the spinal cord. Proteomic analysis of the M(IL-10+TGF-β1)-derived secretome identified clusters of proteins involved in axon extension, dendritic spine maintenance, cell polarity establishment, and regulation of astrocytic activation.DiscussionOverall, our results demonstrated that macrophages-derived soluble factors and extracellular vesicles might be a promising therapy for SCI with possible clinical applications.

Abstract Salinity is harmful to crops when the concentration of soluble salts overcomes the salinity threshold of the crop, causing osmotic stress and limitations in plant growth. In this scenario, adopting tolerant cultivars is the most adequate strategy to minimize agricultural losses. However, the inheritance of tolerance depends on the genotype. From this perspective, this study assessed the tolerance to severe salt stress in 11 cotton cultivars based on gas exchange parameters and the free proline content. The cultivars were grown in a greenhouse and subjected to 34 days of saline irrigation (10 dS m-1), starting 45 days after seedling emergence (B1 phase). Plant growth was monitored weekly until the end of the salt stress period. The treatments consisted of a combination of two factors: eleven cultivars associated with two electrical conductivity levels of irrigation water (ECw: 0.3 and 10.0 dS m-1). The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a 11 × 2 factorial arrangement with three replications (66 plots), with the experimental unit consisting of one plant per plot. Salinity impacted plant growth, being reflected on the gas exchange and free proline data of most cultivars. However, BRS 286, FMT 705, BRS 416, and BRS Acácia, and CNPA 7MH withstood the effects of stress and osmotically adjusted to the salt stress conditions, thus minimizing the damage to growth. Those cultivars are the most indicated for improvement programs aiming at tolerance to salt stress based on the results found in this research.

Abstract The symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and fruit tree plants is a sustainable strategy for producing seedlings. However, information for Dipteryx alata Vogel., a native species, is still scarce. Thus, this study aimed to identify the most promising AMF inoculum for producing D. alata seedlings and their effects on growth. Seedlings were inoculated with Clareoideoglomus etunicatum, Gigaspora albida, Gigaspora margarita, a mixture of these three species, and an uninoculated control. Height, diameter, and chlorophyll index were evaluated at 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 days after seedling transplanting, while biomass production, quality index, dependence, and mycorrhizal efficiency were evaluated at 180 days. Greater diameter and height values were observed for D. alata seedlings at 180 days and inoculated with G. albida, G. margarita, and the mixture. AMF of the genus Gigaspora positively contributed to biomass production and seedling quality. D. alata seedlings show high mycorrhizal dependence on G. albida and G. margarita inoculum, which had good mycorrhizal efficiency. AMF, especially those of the genus Gigaspora, favor the production of high-quality D. alata seedlings.

RESUMO O jacurutu Bubo virginianus (Gmelin, 1788) tem ampla distribuição pela América, estendendo-se desde o Alasca e norte do Canadá, até o centro da Argentina e Uruguai. Apesar de relativamente comum, diferentes aspectos da história natural desta espécie ainda permanecem pouco conhecidos, sobretudo na Região Neotropical. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi obter informações referentes à área de vida utilizada por B. virginianus, sua biologia reprodutiva e dieta no Pampa brasileiro. O estudo foi realizado entre abril de 2015 e abril de 2018, no município de Santa Margarida do Sul, região central do Pampa brasileiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A área de estudo conta com capões de Eucaliptus spp., sob os quais a vegetação é predominantemente formada por gramíneas, com manchas de arbustos espinhosos em pontos específicos. Os arredores do capão principal são utilizados para criação extensiva de gado em campo nativo além de cultivos de soja e arroz. A coleta de dados foi baseada no acompanhamento visual dos indivíduos com ao menos uma observação quinzenal durante o período não reprodutivo, e ao menos uma observação semanal durante o período de utilização do ninho. Além do ninho, foram verificados os poleiros de descanso dos indivíduos monitorados e coletadas as egagrópilas regurgitadas, para posterior estudo de seus hábitos alimentares. A área de vida utilizada pelo casal foi estimada em 0,35 km² pelo método do MCP, ou 0,41 km² baseado em estimativas pelo método de Kernel. Os indivíduos parecem demonstrar interesse por locais limítrofes da área de vida durante a noite e preferindo a parte central da mesma para abrigo/descanso durante o dia. O tempo de utilização do ninho foi de três meses em todos os períodos reprodutivos. A estação reprodutiva da espécie está relacionada ao pico do inverno, com um a dois filhotes nascendo próximo ao final da estação. Os filhotes permaneceram na área de vida dos pais por um período de sete até dez de meses, dispersando durante os meses do outono do ano seguinte. Por fim, a dieta foi baseada em roedores, sobretudo Holochilus vulpinus (Brants, 1827) e aves, seguindo um padrão já conhecido para espécie.

Introdução: A anemia falciforme é uma doença genética que ocorre devido a substituição do ácido glutâmico pela valina, o que gera o aparecimento da hemoglobina S. Em situações de hipóxia, eritrócitos com a mutação sofrem uma mudança estrutural, que gera fragilidade membranar e consequentemente hemólise, expondo o conteúdo intracelular para o plasma e culminando em uma intensa ativação do sistema imune em condições de crise vaso-oclusiva (CVO). Objetivo: Analisar o perfil de biomarcadores hematológicos em pacientes com anemia falciforme atendidos no Hemocentro do Amazonas. Materiais e métodos: Foram incluídos 45 pacientes em estado estacionário (StSt) e 16 pacientes em crise vaso-oclusiva (CVO). Foram coletadas amostras de sangue periférico em tubo de EDTA para análise do hemograma pelo equipamento ADVIA 2120i. Os dados foram tabulados em planilhas do Microsoft Excel e utilizados para posterior análise. A comparação dos dados foi feita com o teste de Mann-Whitney e a correlação pelo teste de Spearman no software GraphPad Prism v.9.0, com intervalo de confiança de 95% e p significativo quando p < 0.05. Para a pesquisa de biomarcadores empregou-se os valores acima do percentil 50 para identificar os alto produtores e construção dos gráficos. Resultados: O grupo dos pacientes em crise vaso-oclusiva foram marcados por menor hematócrito (p = 0,006), maior contagem de leucócitos totais (p = 0,02) e maior valor absoluto de neutrófilos (p = 0,003). Observamos várias correlações positivas nos pacientes em StSt, enquanto durante a crise, a quantidade de correlações significativas entre as células e parâmetros foi reduzida. Na pesquisa de biomarcadores, observamos que pacientes em CVO são alto produtores de neutrófilos, linfócitos e monócitos, bem como de hemoglobina. Discussão: O perfil imunológico guiado pela contagem de leucócitos tem sido muito empregado na rotina clínica, entretanto, nossos resultados demonstraram que na condição StSt, há uma maior confiança na representação dos dados, em comparação da crise, além de uma melhor dinâmica entre os parâmetros. Já na CVO, embora seja marcada por intensa produção de mediadores inflamatórios, e consequente maior participação da imunidade inata, observamos que a hemoglobina acaba também por atuar como um bom marcador de decisão clínica. Fisiologicamente, muitos dos mediadores são recrutados para sítios ativos e, portanto, podem acabar reduzidos no sangue periférico durante a crise, o que poderia justificar a imunomodulação desregulada em quadros de crise, e estímulo inflamatório. Conclusão: Para fins de acompanhamento clínico, observamos que os leucócitos podem ser empregados em momentos de crise do paciente, no entanto possui pouca interferência nos parâmetros gerais. Mais estudos são necessários para comparar exames de melhor acessibilidade e de baixo custo para determinar melhores prognósticos clínicos dentro dos pacientes com anemia falciforme.

Introdução: A COVID-19 tem sido uma doença de grande impacto para a saúde pública desde 2020. Sua causa se dá pela transmissão do SARS-CoV-2, um vírus altamente contagioso, que se desenvolveu rapidamente e evoluiu um quadro de pandemia. Sua veiculação pelo ar facilita a disseminação para muitos indivíduos e gera ampla variedade de sintomas, podendo ser classificados de leves a graves, além de terem alta taxa de mortalidade. Os monócitos foram descritos com uma função primordial no processo inflamatório e de retroalimentação positiva na resposta ao vírus, porém poucos estudos avaliam sua dinâmica na resposta convalescente da COVID-19. Objetivo: Descrever as subpopulações de monócitos circulantes na resposta imunológica de pacientes convalescentes da COVID-19. Material e métodos: Foram incluídos 50 pacientes convalescentes, sem sintomas a 30 dias prévios à coleta, do sexo masculino, e sem outras doenças infecciosas. Também foram incluídos 50 candidatos aptos à doação de sangue. Foi utilizado sangue total para imunofenotipagem dos subtipos de monócitos, com base na expressão de CD14, CD16 e HLA-DR. A aquisição dos dados foi feita por citometria de fluxo, no citômetro FACS Canto II e a estratégia foi feita no software FlowJo v. 10.6. O soro foi coletado e empregado na detecção de anticorpos IgG anti-S e anti-N por quimioluminescência na Fundação HEMOAM. Para análise estatística, foi realizada a comparação dos grupos pelo teste de Kruskall-Wallis, enquanto a correlação foi realizada pelo teste de Spearman. Todas as análises foram feitas no software GraphPad Prism v. 6.0, considerando intervalo de confiança de 95% e p significativo para p < 0.05. Resultados: Não foi identificada diferença estatística quanto aos dados sociodemográficos. Já na quantificação dos monócitos totais, foi observado um aumento significativo dos monócitos (p < 0,03), além das subpopulações, onde foi observada uma redução dos monócitos clássicos (p < 0,0001), e aumento nos monócitos intermediários (p < 0,0003) e não clássicos (p < 0,0001) nos convalescente. A análise de correlação mostrou uma correlação negativa entre os monócitos não clássicos e a produção de anticorpo IgG apenas anti-S. Discussão: Nossos resultados demonstraram um aumento significativo de monócitos totais na fase convalescente, o que parece ser guiado pelos monócitos intermediários e não clássicos. Esses resultados corroboram com diversos outros estudos publicados, os quais podem estar atrelados à função reparadora devido ao dano causado durante a fase aguda da doença. Conclusão: Os dados deste estudo demonstraram uma dinâmica dos monócitos na fase convalescente, mesmo após a cura clínica, que pode estar envolvido no quadro de COVID longa. Porém, mais estudos são necessários a fim de compreender a função dos monócitos durante a fase ativa da doença, bem como no desenrolar da fase convalescente.

Abstract Sugarcane is one of the largest agricultural commodities when considering the export volume and the number of jobs generated. Sugarcane production in the Brazilian Northeast region is generally low due to several factors, including the irregular rainfall distribution, which highlights the importance of studies aimed at mitigating the deleterious effects of water stress. In this scenario, this study aimed to evaluate calcium pyruvate as a water deficit attenuator on the agro-industrial quality of sugarcane in the second cycle of cultivation. The experiment was conducted out under greenhouse conditions of the Federal University of Campina Grande, where five sugarcane commercial genotypes tested (G1- RB863129, G2- RB92579, G3- RB962962, G4- RB021754, and G5- RB041443) and three irrigation management strategies (E1- full irrigation, E2- water deficit with application of 30 mM of calcium pyruvate, and E3- water deficit without calcium pyruvate application), distributed in randomized blocks in 5 × 3 factorial arrangement with three replications. The RB021754 genotype under water deficit and without foliar application of calcium pyruvate increased the fiber content (13.2%) and the sugarcane moist cake weight (143.5 g). The effects of water deficit in sugarcane genotypes are attenuated by the exogenous application of 30 mM of calcium pyruvate, with benefits on the polarized sucrose content, apparent sucrose content of the juice, soluble solids content, purity, corrected cane POL, total recoverable sugars, and stem mass in relation to plants under water deficit without calcium pyruvate application.

BackgroundPromoting healthy eating in children is key to preventing chronic diseases, and vegetable consumption is notably lower than recommended in this population. Among the interventions tested, gamification has shown promise in promoting familiarization, increasing knowledge, and potentially increasing vegetable intake. ObjectiveThis pilot study aimed first to translate the digital game “Veggies4myHeart” into French and to assess its influence on young children’s preferences and willingness to taste vegetables when combined with repeated tasting and education. We also aimed to investigate the acceptability and applicability of the game in 2 classrooms. MethodsDuring 5 consecutive weekly sessions, children from 2 elementary classes played the digital game consisting of 5 mini games on different vegetables (lettuce, carrot, red cabbage, cucumber, and tomato) in pairs for 10-15 minutes. In addition, they discussed one of the vegetables and tasted the 5 vegetables in each session. Pretest and posttest food preferences and willingness to taste the vegetables were compared. Teachers participated in a semistructured interview. ResultsA total of 45 children aged 5 to 6 years tested the French version of the digital game. The children’s declared food preferences were already high for carrot, cucumber, and tomato, with scores higher than 4 out of a maximum of 5. The scores did not change significantly after the intervention, except for red cabbage (pretest: mean 2.52, SD 1.49; posttest: mean 3.29, SD 1.67; P=.006) and a composite score (pretest: mean 3.76, SD 1.06; posttest: mean 4.05, SD 1.03; P=.001). Before the intervention, 18 (44%), 30 (73%), 16 (39%), 29 (71%), and 26 (63%) children out of 41 were willing to taste lettuce, carrot, red cabbage, cucumber, and tomato, respectively. After the intervention, no significant statistical differences were observed, with 23 (51%), 36 (80%), 24 (53%), 33 (73%), and 29 (64%) children out of 45 willing to taste lettuce, carrot, red cabbage, cucumber, and tomato, respectively. Teachers supported this tool combined with repeated tasting and education and highlighted facilitators and barriers that should be anticipated to improve implementation in schools. ConclusionsIn this study, we translated an existing digital game applicable and acceptable to both children and teachers. A larger study is warranted to confirm the effectiveness of interventions using the digital game to promote vegetable preference, willingness to taste, and intake.