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Aluminum‐doped zinc oxide Al:ZnO (AZO) is a non‐toxic material applied as a transparent conductive oxide film. In this study, we report on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of AZO films obtained by thermally oxidizing aluminum‐doped Zn films produced by a versatile and low‐cost method of doping using the magnetron sputtering technique deposition. We use aluminum wire above the zinc target to produce Al:Zn films. The influence of r.f. power and different Al wire lengths on the AZO film properties were studied. The resulting AZO films exhibited Al concentrations of up to 2.85% and an optical gap between 3.22 and 3.29 eV. The transmittance was greater than 80% for all samples, and the electrical resistivity decreased by two orders of magnitude with Al doping. As a result, the sample with an aluminum concentration of approximately 1% had the lowest resistivity. In this work, it was possible to relate the lower resistivity with larger grain size and smaller concentrations of defects or vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Language teaching allows teachers to give students the chance to occupy spaces in different spheres. Some learn a language for personal tastes, others for professional reasons. When we learn another language, in addition to the linguistic aspects, we get to know cultural nuances and the way a society conceives the world based on its experiences and formulates its vision according to social identification. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present and discuss the use of idiomatic expressions for teaching Portuguese to Spanish speakers, as well as contrasting them with expressions in the Spanish language. We believe that phraseology, which is the combination of words with a degree of idiomaticity, contributes to the communication of interlocutors (CORPAS-PASTOR, 1996; ZULUAGA, 2003; XATARA, 2013; ORTIZ ALVAREZ, 2014; MONTEIRO-PLANTIN, 2014). In this way, we show Brazilian Portuguese expressions that are used in everyday communication and that can be used in teaching Portuguese to natural Spanish speakers. Making use of phraseological elements in foreign/additional language classes can be a challenge for teachers who are already accustomed to the way they are taught. However, we would like to point out that teaching Portuguese as a mother tongue (PLM) is different from teaching it as a foreign/additional language (PLE), and seeking training is necessary in order to incorporate elements that are widespread in the culture and language in which the learners are inserted, since they contribute to their mastery of the language. In this way, we conclude that using idiomatic phraseology in the classroom is a support for teachers, since language and culture are inseparable, and presenting elements such as jargon, slang, proverbs, among others, enriches language learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the degradation of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, attributed to logging, land use changes, and pollution, despite some remediation efforts. It mentions that urban expansion has encroached on forested areas, while climate change threatens low-lying regions with flooding and salinity intrusion, emphasizing the need for strengthened protection measures and conservation efforts involving public-private partnerships and targeted strategies.

Heterocíclicos contendo oxigênio apresentam pronunciada bioatividade. Em especial, destaca-se o heterocíclico do tipo lactona, que possui amplo potencial farmacológico, incluindo atividades antibacterianas, antivirais e anti-inflamatórias. As lactona são de interesse para as áreas medicinais, agroquímicas, industriais, e por esse motivo, diversificados métodos são desenvolvidos a fim de obter compostos com núcleo lactona com complexidade estrutural. O presente trabalho objetiva a síntese de híbridos de fenazina lactona e inicialmente, procedeu-se à síntese do ácido de meldrum e fenazina (seguindo método da literatura). Posteriormente, os derivados lactona foram sintetizados usando um balão de fundo redondo (25 mL) e adicionando 0.2 mmol de benzaldeído, 0.2 mmol de ácido meldrum, 0.2 mmol de fenazina em 70°C por 2 horas de reação com diferentes catalisadores do tipo ácidos e bases de Lewis e Bronsted-Lowry (SnCl2.2H2O e p-TSOH), incluindo líquidos iônicos (MAI.Cl, MSI, diácido imidazol e PEI.LI). Utilizou-se solventes polares próticos (etanol, água, metanol, butanol) e apróticos (DMF, acetato de etila, THF e acetonitrila). Com aplicação das diversas condições de reação, foi possível obter melhores rendimentos usando o catalisador MAI.Cl e utilizando etanol como solvente para obtenção 90% de rendimento. Essas condições reacionais serão aplicadas na síntese de diferentes derivados de fenazina-lactona que posteriormente terão sua bioatividade avaliada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A síntese de compostos benzodiazepínicos por meio de reações multicomponentes (RMCs) vem ganhando destaque na química orgânica, especialmente por seu potencial farmacológico, que abrangem uma variedade de propriedades terapêuticas: atividade psicoterápicas sedativas, hipnóticas, anti-helmínticas e anti-inflamatórias. O presente trabalho objetiva sintetizar derivados benzodiazepínicos, por meio da escolha das melhores condições reacionais. A síntese foi realizada utilizando 1 mmol de o-fenilenodiamino, 1 mmol de dimedona, 1 mmol de benzaldeído em 20 mol% de catalisador, 2 mL de solvente, em 65°C por 2 horas de reação. Diferentes catalisadores foram testados em condições variadas, incluindo ácidos e bases de Lewis/Bronsted-Lowry (Ácido p-tolueno sulfônico e SnCl2.2H2O) e líquidos iônicos (MAI.Cl, diácido de imidazol, MSI e PEI.LI). Os melhores rendimentos foram usando diácido de imidazol e SnCl2.2H2O, que devido a facilidade de purificação, optou-se pelo uso do líquido iônico (22%). Quando aumentado a quantidade do catalisador para 50 mol%, o rendimento aumentou para 51%, confirmando a importânica do uso de líquidos iônicos na síntese de derivados benzodiazepínicos. Essas condições serão aplicadas na síntese de diferentes derivados de benzodiazepínicos, que terão grupos inseridos nas cadeias aromáticas com intuito de aumentar a relação da estrutura-atividade para busca de compostos mais ativos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fires are one of the main sources of disturbance in fire-sensitive ecosystems such as the Amazon. Any attempt to characterize their impacts and establish actions aimed at combating these events presupposes the correct identification of the affected areas. However, accurate mapping of burned areas in humid tropical forest regions remains a challenging task. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of four operational BA products (MCD64A1, Fire_cci, GABAM and MapBiomas Fogo) on a regional scale in the southwestern Amazon and propose a new approach to BA mapping using fraction images extracted from data cubes of the Brazilian orbital sensors CBERS-4/WFI and CBERS-4A/WFI. The methodology for detecting burned areas consisted of applying the Linear Spectral Mixture Model to the images from the CBERS-4/WFI and CBERS-4A/WFI data cubes to generate shadow fraction images, which were then segmented and classified using the ISOSEG non-supervised algorithm. Regression and similarity analyses based on regular grid cells were carried out to compare the BA mappings. The results showed large discrepancies between the mappings in terms of total area burned, land use and land cover affected (forest and non-forest) and spatial location of the burned area. The global products MCD64A1, GABAM and Fire_cci tended to underestimate the area burned in the region, with Fire_cci underestimating BA by 88%, while the regional product MapBiomas Fogo was the closest to the reference, underestimating by only 7%. The burned area estimated by the method proposed in this work (337.5 km2) was 12% higher than the reference and showed a small difference in relation to the MapBiomas Fogo product (18% more BA). These differences can be explained by the different datasets and methods used to detect burned areas. The adoption of global products in regional studies can be critical in underestimating the total area burned in sensitive regions. Our study highlights the need to develop approaches aimed at improving the accuracy of current global products, and the development of regional burned area products may be more suitable for this purpose. Our proposed approach based on WFI data cubes has shown high potential for generating more accurate regional burned area maps, which can refine BA estimates in the Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of carnauba-based wax to preserve the quality of bean grains. Three lots of beans of 25 kg each were used. The first remained without carnauba wax (treatment 0), the second with carnauba wax diluted with water in a 1:1 proportion (treatment 1), and carnauba wax without dilution (treatment 2). Sensory analysis, color, cooking time, absorption capacity, and insect-plague infestation were performed during 8 months of storage. Carnauba wax does not compromise the sensorial quality and color of the beans. Thus, it can be used without interfering with the products acceptance by the consumer. Carnauba wax did not prevent the hard-to-cook damage, which the consumer associates with a longer period of cooking time. Moreover, it was not efficient in controlling the infestation of Acanthoscelides obtectus insects. The water absorption by beans was influenced by wax application, storage period, and hydration temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we conducted an in-depth analysis to characterize potential Acanthamoeba castellanii (Ac) proteins capable of recognizing fungal β-1,3-glucans. Ac specifically anchors curdlan or laminarin, indicating the presence of surface β-1,3-glucanbinding molecules. Using optical tweezers, strong adhesion of laminarin- or curdlancoated beads to Ac was observed, highlighting their adhesive properties compared to controls (characteristic time τ of 46.9 and 43.9 s, respectively). Furthermore, Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) G217B, possessing a β-1,3-glucan outer layer, showed significant adhesion to Ac compared to a Hc G186 strain with an α-1,3-glucan outer layer (τ of 5.3 s vs τ 83.6 s). The addition of soluble β-1,3-glucan substantially inhibited this adhesion, indicating the involvement of β-1,3-glucan recognition. Biotinylated β-1,3-glucan-binding proteins from Ac exhibited higher binding to Hc G217B, suggesting distinct recognition mechanisms for laminarin and curdlan, akin to macrophages. These observations hinted at the β-1,3-glucan recognition pathway's role in fungal entrance and survival within phagocytes, supported by decreased fungal viability upon laminarin or curdlan addition in both phagocytes. Proteomic analysis ident ified several Ac proteins capable of binding β-1,3-glucans, including those with lectin/glucanase superfamily domains, carbohydrate-binding domains, and glycosyl transferase and glycosyl hydrolase domains. Notably, some identified proteins were overexpressed upon curdlan/laminarin challenge and also demonstrated high affinity to β-1,3-glucans. These findings underscore the complexity of binding via β-1,3-glucan and suggest the existence of alternative fungal recognition pathways in Ac. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Load managing and price optimizer are significant elements in triple models and combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) models. In this study, a new CCHP model utilizes a fuel cell as the main drive with a heat recovery system, a 5-kW PEMFC pile, a small immersion chiller, a humidifier, and a gas compressor is considered. The system has been assessed regards to environment, thermodynamics, and economics in terms of view. A developed type of Honey Badger Optimizer has been suggested to optimize the effectiveness of the model. The system productivity has been assessed by the exergy, energy, yearly price, and pollutant release decrease. According to model studies, low operating temperatures, high intake gas pressures, and high relative humidity all contribute to improved system efficiency and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Based on simulation data, the electricity efficiency at the final optimized point is found to be 69.77%, which is a significant improvement over the baseline efficiency of 63.3% before optimization. Furthermore, the optimized system resulted in a yearly reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 1.47e7 g, which represents a notable improvement over the 1.20e7 g reduction achieved by the standard system. • New CCHP model is proposed for a fuel cell as the main drive with heat recovery system. • System is analyzed based on environment, thermodynamics, and economics terms of view. • Developed version of Honey Badger Optimizer to improve the system efficiency. • Productivity is by the energy, exergy, yearly price, and pollutant release decrease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2023, Brazil achieved positive environmental strides in the Amazon, with a 22% reduction in deforestation rates and a 16% decline in total fire counts compared with 2022, attributed to renewed environmental policy implementation. However, despite progress, deforestation remains above the target, and forest wildfires in old‐growth Amazonian forests surged by 152% in 2023 versus 2022, threatening biodiversity and carbon stocks. The rise in fires poses challenges for traditional farmers, impacts urban areas' air quality, and necessitates urgent measures like enhanced firefighting capabilities and long‐term strategies for fire‐free production chains to protect the Amazonian standing forests—a global socio‐environmental asset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Caatinga biome, characterized by its dynamic vegetation due to climate and land use changes, experiences varied environmental responses during the dry and rainy seasons. This research aims to dissect the complexity of surface radiation fluxes, vapor pressure, and air and soil temperatures across three distinct vegetation densities within the Caatinga: recovering, degraded, and preserved. Utilizing data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer/Enhanced Vegetation Index products to analyze these densities offers a novel lens through which to view the biome's reaction to climatic shifts. Our findings unveiled specific patterns of solar and longwave radiation fluxes that correlate with key climatic variables like air temperature and surface albedo. This investigation not only addresses a critical gap in our knowledge of a globally significant but underexplored biome, but it also advances our comprehension of how vegetation density influences radiation fluxes in arid settings. Insights from this study are vital for forecasting and mitigating the ecological and climatic impacts of land cover transformations in semiarid regions worldwide. Significantly, the degraded site displayed nearly double the solar radiation reflection (138 Wm−2) compared to the recovering site (68 Wm−2), underscoring the role of vegetation density in modulating local climate conditions, despite atmospheric consistency across the study sites. [Display omitted] • The Caatinga biome covers the world's most densely populated dry region. • The study observes radiation fluxes over different vegetation densities. • Recovering and degraded vegetation had higher incoming solar radiation. • Preserved Caatinga areas emitted the most intense longwave radiation. • Degraded Caatinga showed the highest surface albedo values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]