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Abstract Iron Formations (IF) are threatened by mining, particularly the Mesovoid Shallow Substratum (MSS), an understudied subterranean environment. We evaluate the spatiotemporal patterns of subterranean fauna in MSS of iron duricrust (canga) in the Iron Quadrangle and Southern Espinhaço Range, southeastern Brazil. Samplings took place between July 2014 and June 2022 using five trap types. We sampled 108,005 individuals, 1,054 morphospecies, and seven phyla, globally the largest dataset on MSS in IF. Arthropoda represented 97% of all invertebrates sampled. We identified 31 troglomorphic organisms, primarily Arthropoda and Platyhelminthes. MSS traps were the most efficient method, capturing 80% of all invertebrates. Morphospecies were more prevalent in each locality than shared among localities. Species replacement was the main processes to spatial differences. Over time, we found a decrease of total dissimilarity and importance of species replacement for troglomorphic organisms. A positive correlation between spatial distance and compositional dissimilarity of invertebrates was found. Iron Quadrangle and Southern Espinhaço Range showed marked differences in the spatiotemporal patterns of subterranean fauna. Brazilian IF are threatened, with their biological significance not fully understood but highly endangered due their limited distribution. Conservation efforts require a comprehensive understanding of both biotic and abiotic factors shaping the entire IF ecosystem.

Melanagromyza sojae, the soybean stem fly (Zehntner) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), is a new pest in soybean and chickpea crops in South America. The objective of this study was to determine population fluctuations of M. sojae in both crops using adults caught in yellow sticky traps and by sampling injured plants. Additionally, an update of its geographical distribution in Argentina is provided. Adults of this species were collected for multiple years and during the cycles of both soybean and chickpea crops, on volunteer soybean plants, and during periods when the crops were not present. Injuries caused by M. sojae occurred throughout the growing period of chickpea and the reproductive stages of soybean. The highest infestation level was registered in chickpea crops. Regarding the distribution of M. sojae, we have reported Medicago sativa, Vigna radiata, Mellilothus sp., Helianthus annuus, Carthamus tinctorius, Heliotropium sp., Glandularia sp., and Parthenium sp. for the first time as new host plants in Argentina. The presence of M. sojae in Chaco province (Argentina) was also reported for the first time. Finally, the highest percentage of infestation registered in chickpea crops shows that M. sojae is a pest in chickpea-growing areas in Argentina where this pest is widely distributed. It is of vital importance to develop effective control methods, to research and recommend efficient management strategies and control methods for M. sojae in chickpea.

Abstract This study aimed to produce water-soluble oat extract enriched with mango peel flour (MPF) as a source of active compounds and to use this ingredient as a partial substitute for whole milk in Greek yogurt (GY) for its nutritional enrichment. Enriched water-soluble oat extracts (EWSOE) were produced with different concentrations of MPF (0%, 1%, 1.5% and 2%) and characterized in relation to pH, titratable acidity, soluble proteins and total phenolics. Three GY formulations were prepared by partially replacing whole milk with EWSOE and the best formulation (in relation to sensory analyzes and phenolics compounds) was selected for storage study, chemical characterization, and sensory acceptance testing. MPF addition increased soluble proteins and total phenolics in EWSOE. GY formulations prepared with EWSOE had similar sensory scores. During storage, GY prepared with EWSOE containing 2% MPF exhibited changes in pH and titratable acidity and a reduction in total phenolics. Color parameters, cholesterol, and fatty acid composition did not change over 21 days of storage. The major fatty acids in GY were oleic and palmitic acids. The selected product had low lactose content (1.2%), achieved satisfactory sensory acceptance in relation to the evaluated attributes, and had lipid (~6.19%) and protein (~3.96%) contents within regulatory requirements. Additionally, EWSOE is a valuable ingredient in GY preparation, offering beneficial nutritional and functional properties.

Most cave formation requires mass separation from a host rock in a process that operates outward from permeable pathways to create the cave void. Given the poor solubility of Fe(III) phases, such processes are insufficient to account for the significant iron formation caves (IFCs) seen in Brazilian banded iron formations (BIF) and associated rock. In this study we demonstrate that microbially-mediated reductive Fe(III) dissolution is solubilizing the poorly soluble Fe(III) phases to soluble Fe(II) in the anoxic zone behind cave walls. The resultant Fe(III)-depleted material (termed sub muros) is unable to maintain the structural integrity of the walls and repeated rounds of wall collapse lead to formation of the cave void in an active, measurable process. This mechanism may move significant quantities of Fe(II) into ground water and may help to explain the mechanism of BIF dissolution and REE enrichment in the generation of canga. The role of Fe(III) reducing microorganism and mass separation behind the walls (outward-in, rather than inward-out) is not only a novel mechanism of speleogenesis, but it also may identify a previously overlooked source of continental Fe that may have contributed to Archaean BIF formation.

The main goal of this work was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of green superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) produced with coconut water for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania amazonensis. Optical and electron microscopy techniques were used to evaluate the effects on cell proliferation, infectivity percentage, and ultrastructure. SPIONs were internalized by both parasite stages, randomly distributed in the cytosol and located mainly in membrane-bound compartments. The selectivity index for intracellular amastigotes was more than 240 times higher compared to current drugs used to treat the disease. The synthesized SPIONs showed promising activity against Leishmania and can be considered a strong candidate for a new therapeutic approach for treating leishmaniases.

Abstract Dams are one of the main threats to Neotropical potamodromous fish, causing blockages of migratory routes and loss of breeding areas in an increasing number of drainage systems. In this scenario, current data argue that the maintenance of free-flowing tributaries along fragmented watersheds would be an important strategy to the migratory fish conservation, both in panmixia situations and in scenarios with different coexisting stocks, as already reported for Prochilodus lineatus. This study analyzed microsatellite loci and mitochondrial haplotypes in samples of P. lineatus obtained in different years along the Cinzas River basin, as well as in the Capivara Reservoir (largest Reservoir in the Paranapanema main channel, upper Paraná River) and in the Tibagi River, all connected by free stretches, aiming to investigate the contributions of the Cinzas River basin to the population dynamics of migratory fish in the Capivara reservoir region. Both markers detected high genetic diversity levels and indicated different genetic stocks of P. lineatus along the Cinzas River basin, suggesting some temporal genetic structuring, as well as the mixture of these stocks in the sample from the Capivara reservoir and from other points, corroborating the relationships among stocks in this reservoir and its tributaries.

Abstract The Alfeu-I lamproite is one of the few alkaline rock occurrences in the South of Brazil that represents the alkaline event related to the South Atlantic opening and the enormous magmatic activity that formed the Paraná basalts. Alfeu-I lamproite is a diatreme facies and exhibits an inequigranular texture with macrocrysts of mica, spinel, garnet, and ilmenite and microcrysts of mica, pyroxene, and rare olivine, all immersed in a groundmass of pyroxene, spinel, perovskite, rutile, ilmenite, and, more rarely, olivine. Major element compositions of Alfeu-I pyroxene, garnet, ilmenite, mica, and olivine were determined by electron microprobe analyses, and trace element concentrations of clinopyroxene, garnet, ilmenite, and mica were measured using laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry techniques. Temperature, pressure, and oxygen fugacity (fO2) conditions during the crystallization of Alfeu-I lamproite were calculated with the geothermobarometers and olivine, spinel, garnet, and orthopyroxene. The resulting mean equilibrium temperature ranges from 1375°C at 4 GPa to 1395°C at 5 GPa, whereas the fO2 points to ΔFMQ = +2.4 (at 4 GPa) and ΔFMQ = +2.2 (at 5 GPa). Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd isotopic data together with the trace element concentrations of minerals suggest that melting of a mantle source enriched in incompatible elements and volatiles due to previous subduction events occurred during the Gondwana breakup around 125 Ma ago. Fluids that may have originated from subducting slabs in the old subduction zone are probably the cause of the high fO2 conditions in Alfeu-I lamproite.

Abstract Most cave formation requires mass separation from a host rock in a process that operates outward from permeable pathways to create the cave void. Given the poor solubility of Fe(III) phases, such processes are insufficient to account for the significant iron formation caves (IFCs) seen in Brazilian banded iron formations (BIF) and associated rock. In this study we demonstrate that microbially-mediated reductive Fe(III) dissolution is solubilizing the poorly soluble Fe(III) phases to soluble Fe(II) in the anoxic zone behind cave walls. The resultant Fe(III)-depleted material (termed sub muros) is unable to maintain the structural integrity of the walls and repeated rounds of wall collapse lead to formation of the cave void in an active, measurable process. This mechanism may move significant quantities of Fe(II) into ground water and may help to explain the mechanism of BIF dissolution and REE enrichment in the generation of canga. The role of Fe(III) reducing microorganism and mass separation behind the walls (outward-in, rather than inward-out) is not only a novel mechanism of speleogenesis, but it also may identify a previously overlooked source of continental Fe that may have contributed to Archaean BIF formation.

Abstract Cnesterodon hypselurus is a small fish that has a restricted distribution in southern Brazil, including headwaters of the Tibagi and Itararé river basins (Upper Paraná River). This study reported C. hypselurus in a headwater of Cinzas River basin, where there were no previous records of this species, and employed microsatellite loci and mitochondrial haplotypes in a population genetic analysis. A total of 57 specimens was analyzed, including 30 from Cinzas River basin, 25 from Itararé River basin and two from Tibagi River basin. Results indicated low genetic diversity levels (HE = 0.334 and h = 0.246) for the sample from Cinzas River, suggesting reflections of a founder effect after the species had dispersed from one watershed to another, possibly by headwater captures. Since different populations were detected between the Cinzas and Itararé rivers (DEST = 0.248, P-value < 0.05) and other occurrence sites are still unknown in the Cinzas River basin, the data herein have great relevance and should be taken into account in future management and conservation actions, as well as in evolutionary studies of C. hypselurus.

Severe cooling at high northern latitudes, which marked the onset of Heinrich Stadial 4, was synchronous with changes in tropical monsoon systems and preceded Antarctic warming by around 300 years, according to a compilation of speleothem and ice core records.

The success of endodontic treatment depends on the effective disinfection of the root canal system.The literature describes many treatment protocols. Aim: The purpose of this prospective in vivo study was to evaluate the healing status observed after endodontic treatment performed with foraminal cleaning in mandibular molars with apical periodontitis. Materials and Method: Fifty mandibular molars were selected and instrumented with ProDesign Logic files. First, mechanized patency was performed with a 25/0.01 instrument; if it was easily achieved, a larger diameter instrument was chosen (30/0.01, 35/0.01, or 40/0.01) that best matched the apical foramen. Then, a respective shaping file corresponding to the patency file was selected for instrumentation. Irrigation was carried out with saline solution and 2% chlorhexidine gel. A 17% EDTA solution was used for the final irrigation and agitated with the EasyClean system. A device was used to standardize the initial, final, and subsequent digital radiographic examinations for the follow-up. A 3-level scoring system was used for evaluation, in which score 1 indicated complete lesion healing, score 2 incomplete healing, and score 3 no healing. Results: There was no significant difference between the frequencies of scores 1 and 2 assigned at the two assessment time points (p > 0.05). Complete healing (score 1) was observed in 58%, incomplete healing (score 2) in 42%, and no healing (score 3) in 0% of cases. Conclusion: The endodontic preparation protocol followed by foraminal cleaning favored the healing process in teeth with apical periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron Formations (IF) are threatened by mining, particularly the Mesovoid Shallow Substratum (MSS), an understudied subterranean environment. We evaluate the spatiotemporal patterns of subterranean fauna in MSS of iron duricrust (canga) in the Iron Quadrangle and Southern Espinhaço Range, southeastern Brazil. Samplings took place between July 2014 and June 2022 using five trap types. We sampled 108,005 individuals, 1,054 morphospecies, and seven phyla, globally the largest dataset on MSS in IF. Arthropoda represented 97% of all invertebrates sampled. We identified 31 troglomorphic organisms, primarily Arthropoda and Platyhelminthes. MSS traps were the most efficient method, capturing 80% of all invertebrates. Morphospecies were more prevalent in each locality than shared among localities. Species replacement was the main processes to spatial differences. Over time, we found a decrease of total dissimilarity and importance of species replacement for troglomorphic organisms. A positive correlation between spatial distance and compositional dissimilarity of invertebrates was found. Iron Quadrangle and Southern Espinhaço Range showed marked differences in the spatiotemporal patterns of subterranean fauna. Brazilian IF are threatened, with their biological significance not fully understood but highly endangered due their limited distribution. Conservation efforts require a comprehensive understanding of both biotic and abiotic factors shaping the entire IF ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dolines are a widespread karst landform, and understanding their genesis can provide critical information about the evolution of subsurface karstification and groundwater flow zones. Swarms of collapse dolines characterise the karst in the southern portion of the Irecê Basin, northeastern Brazil. The basin comprises Neoproterozoic carbonate rocks approximately 100 m thick, bounded by less soluble older quartzites. The distribution of dolines is not uniform, as they cluster along NW‐SE axes and are aligned with cave systems and permeability (fracture) corridors mostly associated with the Almas and Água de Rega ephemeral rivers. Detailed analysis of sectors with a higher density of dolines was performed using LiDAR and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery at two different scales to obtain morphometric and orientation patterns. As expected, scale dependency is observed, with an increase in density and circularity index at a higher resolution scale, but a decrease in mean area and perimeter. However, Voronoi polygon indices are similar at both scales (6.86 ± 1); the departure from the more stable number of six due to the clustering of dolines associated with NW‐SE oriented structural trends. Doline density trends closely follow the orientation of caves, but they are not always spatially connected, since doline evolution may either occlude the caves or be related to a non‐identified void. The Irecê Basin karst system displays a continuum of landforms evolving initially from high‐density fracture zones (fracture corridors), which work as favourable dissolution zones, grading into more integrated flow routes, cave systems and eventually clusters of collapse dolines. Collapse dolines are widespread karst landforms worldwide, and their genesis requires the presence of dissolution voids at depth, which may pass undetected from the surface. In some sectors of Irecê Basin, the existence of doline alignments but the absence of known caves indicates the potential of collapse dolines to be used as proxies for subsurface karstification. Such an approach may allow the prediction of the location and orientation of subsurface zones of enhanced dissolution that can potentially represent productive aquifers or favourable zones for geofluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of the resources system (SRS) is an important element in the integration/project of Agile/Virtual Enterprises (A/V E) because its performance is dependent of this selection, and even of its creation. However, it remains a difficult matter to solve because is still a very complex and uncertain problem. We propose that using Value Analysis (VA) in the pre-selection of resources phase represents a significant improvement of the SRS process. The current literature fails to formally address the pre-selection phase and none of the resource selection models incorporate the resources value and its consequence in the complexity of the selection process. Whereby, ours developed model with VA constitutes an innovative approach towards greater sustainability in the configuration of A/V E in the context of Industry 4.0, where a massive interconnection among enterprises is expected and consequently the increase of the selection process complexity. After the construction of a demonstrator tool for a set of the problem formulations, this paper verifies by computational results the thesis regarding the benefits of applying VA to the SRS process: VA reduces the complexity of the SRS process, even ensuring that the final system of resources achieve higher quality/value grade.

Abstract Background Studies have investigated risk factors for infections by specific species of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB), but few considered the group of GNB species and most of them were performed in the setting of bacteremia or hospital infection. This study was implemented to identify risk factors for sepsis by CR- and carbapenem-susceptible (CS) GNB in intensive care unit (ICU) patients to improve management strategies for CR-GNB sepsis. Methods We developed a case-case-control study from a prospective cohort of patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis-2 or sepsis-3 criteria in which blood and other sample cultures were collected and antimicrobial therapy was instituted, in an adult clinical-surgical ICU, at tertiary public hospital in Rio de Janeiro, from August 2015 through March 2017. Results Among the total of 629 ICU admissions followed by 7797 patient-days, after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria we identified 184 patients who developed recurrent or single hospital-acquired sepsis. More than 90% of all evaluable cases of sepsis and 87% of control group fulfilled the modified sepsis-3 definition. Non-fermenting bacilli and ventilator-associated pneumonia predominated as etiology and source of CR-GNB sepsis. While Enterobacteriaceae and intra-abdominal surgical site plus urinary-tract infections prevailed in CS-GNB than CR-GNB sepsis. Carbapenemase production was estimated in 76% of CR-GNB isolates. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed previous infection (mostly hospital-acquired bacterial infection or sepsis) (OR = 4.28; 95% CI 1.77–10.35), mechanical ventilation (OR = 4.21; 95% CI 1.17–15.18), carbapenem use (OR = 3.42; 95% CI 1.37–8.52) and length of hospital stay (OR = 1.03; 95% CI 1.01–1.05) as independent risk factors for sepsis by CR-GNB. While ICU readmission (OR = 6.92; 95% CI 1.72–27.78) and nosocomial diarrhea (OR = 5.32; 95% CI 1.07–26.45) were factors associated with CS-GNB sepsis. Conclusions The investigation of recurrent and not only bacteremic episodes of sepsis was the differential of this study. The results are in agreement with the basic information in the literature. This may help improve management strategies and future studies on sepsis by CR-GNB.