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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]

William R. Rowe argues for the low probability of the existence of God given our ignorance of the goods that come from apparently gratuitous evils. After exploring this argument, I present Stephen Wykstra's response, which is known as 'sceptical theism', focusing on the evocation of the so-called 'parent analogy'. According to the parent analogy, God's knowledge, compared to ours, is analogous to the comparison between a parent's knowledge and a one-month-old infant's. After pointing out some difficulties with this analogy, I develop an improved version of sceptical theism. My main point is that the most valuable disinterested love and awe for God can be best developed in a world with two evils: our ignorance about most of the justifying goods and the apparent divine absence to sufferers. Moreover, since disinterested love and awe for God bring numerous benefits to human beings, God has good reasons for creating a world with these two evils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the current market for cattle farming, it is necessary to implement reproductive technologies and biotechnologies on a property. In this sense, BIOTEC activities to bring these biotechnologies to small producers in APL Oeste, this work aims to show the main benefits and difficulties encountered in this implementation. These highlighted benefits and difficulties are based on the experience of the institution’s veterinarians and interns during activities on APL Oeste properties, in terms of what else is needed both to improve results after the implementation of biotechnologies, and productivity itself. The difficulties of a structural, nutritional and management nature are highlighted, and the main benefits are the genetic improvement and zootechnical control of animals, which shows that there is still a lot to improve so that these activities can reach more producers and improve their results in those that are already in the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pantanal biome—a tropical wetland area—has been suffering a prolonged drought that started in 2019 and peaked in 2020. This favored the occurrence of natural disasters and led to the 2020 Pantanal fire crisis. The purpose of this work was to map the burned area's extent during this crisis in the Brazilian portion of the Pantanal biome using Sentinel-2 MSI images. The classification of the burned areas was performed using a machine learning algorithm (Random Forest) in the Google Earth Engine platform. Input variables in the algorithm were the percentiles 10, 25, 50, 75, and 90 of monthly (July to December) mosaics of the shade fraction, NDVI, and NBR images derived from Sentinel-2 MSI images. The results showed an overall accuracy of 95.9% and an estimate of 44,998 km2 burned in the Brazilian portion of the Pantanal, which resulted in severe ecosystem destruction and biodiversity loss in this biome. The burned area estimated in this work was higher than those estimated by the MCD64A1 (35,837 km2), Fire_cci (36,017 km2), GABAM (14,307 km2), and MapBiomas Fogo (23,372 km2) burned area products, which presented lower accuracies. These differences can be explained by the distinct datasets and methods used to obtain those estimates. The proposed approach based on Sentinel-2 images can potentially refine the burned area's estimation at a regional scale and, consequently, improve the estimate of trace gases and aerosols associated with biomass burning, where global biomass burning inventories are widely known for having biases at a regional scale. Our study brings to light the necessity of developing approaches that aim to improve data and theory about the impacts of fire in regions critically sensitive to climate change, such as the Pantanal, in order to improve Earth systems models that forecast wetland–atmosphere interactions, and the role of these fires on current and future climate change over these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors concluded that the most reliable vegetation indices for monitoring post-fire vegetation recovery were the Leaf Chlorophyll Content Index (LCCI) and Normalized Difference Red-Edge and SWIR2 (NDRESWIR). The complexity of vegetation fires in South America is observed from two recent fire crises: the 2019 Amazonia fire crisis, which was mainly associated with deforestation [[1]], and the 2020 Pantanal fire crisis [[2]], which was triggered by unprecedented drought and heat wave events [[3], [5]]. Vegetation fires represent a major disturbance in the tropics, with South America notable for having both fire-sensitive (e.g., Amazonia and Atlantic Forest) and fire-prone (e.g., Cerrado and Pantanal) biomes. In a similar study also conducted in southern Ecuador, Maxwald et al. [[9]] identified the most reliable vegetation indices for post-fire vegetation monitoring, and analyzed vegetation recovery across different classes of fire severity. [Extracted from the article]

River dolphins of the genus Inia are among the most endangered cetacean species in the world. However, information on the elemental constitution of the blood and milk of these species is still quite scarce. This study aims to evaluate the wavelength‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (WD‐XRF) spectrometry to detect and quantify heavy metals in blood and milk samples of a free‐ranging female Amazon river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) from Central Amazon, Brazil. The WD‐XRF method detected and quantified 14 elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu) in the samples analyzed, in which 13 elements were in the blood and 14 were in the milk. The WD‐XRF method did not detect some heavy metals, including those already described for the Amazon river dolphin milk (e.g., mercury) detected by other analytical methods, such as atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). However, it is possible that the samples analyzed may come from a non‐contaminated individual. Therefore, the joint use of different analytical methods is recommended for future analyses. In addition, both blood and milk samples presented high concentrations of some metals, and the health risks of botos are discussed. This result demonstrates that the WD‐XRF method is a viable analytical procedure for detecting certain elements and quantifying their concentrations in liquid biological samples of Amazonian cetaceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) edible mushroom growth in an axenic block is the most popular method worldwide allowing higher productivity and a shorter cultivation cycle, than the conventional in wood logs. Blocks might be composed of residues from several agro-industrial activities. Among them, the brewery industry generates abundant waste that can cause negative environmental impacts if its incorrect disposal of in the environment, but it has not been studied to shiitake. The goal of this study was to evaluate if it is possible to produce it on barley malt bagasse (BMB) as one of the raw materials on the block. Results show shiitake biological efficiency (BE), productivity (PR), and their features. Substrates with C:N ratios of 30:1 and 36:1 resulted in BE values of 20.18 and 16.41% and PR of 10.91 and 10.19% showing that it is possible to product shiitake on blocks containing BMB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Brazil publicly committed to reduce deforestation in Amazonia at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26), the Brazilian parliament is moving toward weakening environmental laws. Deforestation rates continue ascending, reaching in 2021 the highest value since 2006 (13,235 km2). To overcome this paradox, strategies to curb deforestation are mandatory. The current strategy, "Plano Amazônia 21/22," prioritizes law enforcement actions to curb illegal deforestation in only 11 Amazonian municipalities. Here, we show that this prioritization is likely to be insufficient since these municipalities account for just 37% of the current deforestation rate. This strategy may also be undermined by the leakage of deforestation actions to unmonitored municipalities. Using a set of spatially explicit datasets integrated into a deforestation‐prediction modeling approach, we propose a science‐based alternative method for ranking deforestation hotspots to be prioritized by law enforcement actions. Our prioritization method accounts for more than 60% of the deforestation, detecting larger deforested areas in both private and public lands, while covering 27% less territory than "Plano Amazônia 21/22." Optimizing the detection of priority areas for curbing deforestation, as proposed here, is the first step to reducing deforestation rates and comply with the Brazilian legal commitment of 3925 km2 year−1. [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.

The objective of this study was to analyze the trend of the age standardized mortality rate (ASMR) for cervical cancer in Brazil between 2005 and 2019 and investigate its association with the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), an indicator of development status strongly correlated with health outcomes. We conducted an ecological time-series study using data from the Mortality Information System of the Ministry of Health. Trend analyses were performed using Prais–Winsten regression. The association between the SDI and ASMR was evaluated using simple linear regression. Between 2005 and 2019, 105,472 deaths from cervical cancer were recorded. The ASMR was 10.18 deaths/100,000 women. The North region presented the highest magnitude (20.23 deaths/100,000 women) and the Southeast region the lowest (7.83 deaths/100,000 women). We observed a decreasing trend of the ASMR for cervical cancer in the country. The Northeast, Central-West and Southeast regions showed a decreasing trend; South stationary trend and the North region showed an increasing trend. Most of the states showed a stationary or decreasing trend. It was found that the SDI was inversely associated with the ASMR and Annual Percent Change (APC). In conclusion, we observed a decreasing trend of ASMR for cervical cancer and inverse association with SDI in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a disease characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue. The lipid profile is defined by the biochemical determination of Total Cholesterol (TC), HDLCholesterol (HDL-c), Triglycerides (TG) and LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-c), and it is possible that TC, LDL-c and TG when outside normal values may cause increased visceral fat (VF) and vice versa. This study aimed to verify the correlation between% Body Fat (%BF), VF and dyslipidemia. 139 participants, 21 men with a mean age of 68.04 ± 7.99 and 118 women with a mean age of 62.16 ± 11.79, were submitted to %VF evaluation and 12-hour fasting blood collection. As a result, it was found that when the correlation between %BF and VF was performed there was a moderate (R=0.458) and significant (p<0.0001) correlation. Regarding %BF and lipid profile components, our data showed that in women with% BF outside the healthy parameters (OHP), 63.50% had HDL-c OHP. As for VF, most men had VFOHP and of these 52.60% had HDL-c FPS, in women with VFOHP, 63.20% had HDL-c OHP. However, when the correlation test between VF, %BF and each component of the lipid profile was performed, there was a weak and inverse correlation between VF x HDL and weak positive correlation between VF x TG. It is concluded, therefore, that the increased %BF causes an increase in VF and in relation to %BF and lipid profile no significant correlations were observed, however, VF causes a decrease in HDL-c and an increase in TG in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is a country that has a vast territory and contains many natural landscapes features and immense variety of rocks, shapes and structures of great aesthetic and scientific value. Geosites are areas that have numerous geological potentials, where these characteristics are notable from a scientific, didactic or touristic point of view. In this sense, this work carried out a cataloguing of geosites in the municipality of Conceição da Aparecida, in the south of Minas Gerais state aiming at the geoconservation of the geological heritage, the balanced use of natural resources and the identification of geosites. The lands of the study area belong to several units of the crystalline basement entitled Campos Gerais Formation, Carrancas Group, Petunia Complex, Varginha-Guaxupé Complex and Andrelândia Complex composed essentially by gneissic rocks. The development of this work consisted in the construction of a qualitative base on the studied area from the analysis of topographic maps, the use of GIS and later field activity, laboratory analysis and the elaboration of the results. In this way, the relationship between man and nature can be evidenced from the proposals for geoconservation and the identification of these areas for future generations. Thus, the integrity of nature and the best quality of life for man will be maintained. he scientific and local community will be informed about the issues of geographic space, enabling investments and better management practices in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

This paper investigates changes in European container port rankings, in order to determine if and how a new dynamic phase can follow a phase of maturity in a container port range. We examine mobility in ranking during 2000–2019 and shed light on the influence of neighbouring ports in a range as well as the level of maturity of each range. Findings from three different methods (Gini coefficient and the Lorenz curve; Markov chains; Spatial Markov Chains) show that, overall, there is a low probability for ports to change status and to enter into a new dynamic phase. Our results confirm that path dependence plays an important role in port systems, with very low inter-class mobility. When mobility occurs, it is mostly for small and medium ports, and this mobility is higher when ports are surrounded by large ports. These results suggest that competition with existing larger ports can be good for the port system rather than allowing traffic to concentrate in a small number of ports. Finally, mature port ranges can enter a renewed dynamic phase, as smaller ports seek either to compete for market share or alternatively seek mergers with large ports where competition possibilities are absent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Amazon region of Brazil is a vitally important region for water and carbon cycling both for the region and the globe. This region is experiencing the impacts of global climate change as well as local land cover changes. Here, we investigated water and carbon estimates and related remotely sensed variables from both MODIS satellite and the Noah-MP land surface model for 3 years (2015–2017) in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Land surface temperature agrees well between MODIS and the model, while the leaf area index (LAI) is higher in the model simulations. The monthly evapotranspiration (ET) from MODIS (MOD16A2) and gross primary productivity (GPP, MOD17A2) were lower than, but well correlated with, the model simulations. A noticeable exception was in the Broadleaf Forest class, which accounts for approximately 50% of the land cover in the state, where the modeled LAI was out of phase with the satellite observations, resulting in significantly poorer performance in the water and carbon fluxes for that land cover class. In addition, we investigated the sensitivity of the ET and GPP to precipitation forcing. The modeled ET relationships show correlations of approximately 0.6 for all classes (Broadleaf Forest being the exception, 0.24), while the MODIS shows reduced values averaging about 0.5 (Broadleaf Forest = 0.03). The slopes of the relationships illustrated the same sensitivity between MODIS and Noah-MP with the exception of Grasslands and Open Shrublands. The GPP relationships with precipitation show lower correlations across all land cover types for both MODIS and Noah-MP, with the slopes being significantly different for the Open Shrublands and Broadleaf Forest classes. In each of these classes, the Noah-MP simulations resulted in increased sensitivity to precipitation than was observed in the MODIS products. We highlight that this comparison is essential for increasing our understanding of how these different sources estimate water and carbon cycling and can be utilized for assessing the impacts of climate and land cover change in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the changes in food consumption patterns and indicators regarding health risk factors in the Brazilian population. Method: The study analyzed data obtained from VIGITEL surveys in years 2008, 2011,2014 and 2017. The study selected variables related to eating habits and health perception indicators, in addition to weight and height, to calculate the BMI (Body Mass Index), as well as age and years of schooling of respondents. Data were analyzed using frequency tables and specific statistical procedures as the Student's t test, Pearson's correlation and the linear regression slope. Results: The results suggest that the average BMI of the Brazilian population is increasing, reaching an average value of 26.32 in 2017. It is also observed that Brazilians evaluate their health as good, although the prevalence of diagnoses of high blood pressure, diabetes and dyslipidemia has increased considerably in recent years. Individuals diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes or dyslipidemia have a significantly lower frequency of consumption of beans, vegetables, soft drinks, and alcohol; and a significantly higher frequency of fruits consumption. The results also revealed that the number of years of schooling is positively and significantly associated with the frequency of consumption of vegetables, fruits, alcohol, and the habit of replacing dinner for snacks. Conclusion: Although nutritional habits of Brazilians have improved, the increased number of diagnoses of non-communicable diseases is worrying and requires the proper design of public healthcare policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity of five strains of Lentinula edodes (LE-240, LE-241, LE-243, LE-244 and BP-245) is evaluated and their nutritional rates assessed and compared, totally or in parts, produced in wood from eucalyptus clone. The chemical composition of the wood before and after the culture cycle, mass and number of basidioma produced by the strains, protein rates of entire mushrooms, stipites and pillei were evaluated. Mean protein rates of entire mushrooms varied between 11.16 and 15.78%, with strains LE-240 and BP-245 featuring the highest rates. LE-241 had the best production performance, with the greatest production in basidium mass and greater decomposition of holocellulose rates. Current assay evidenced the importance of strain choice adapted to climatic conditions of the culture region. Strains may actually differ in productivity and nutritional quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Epoxide hydrolases (EHs) are enzymes involved in the metabolism of endogenous and exogenous epoxides, and the development of EH inhibitors has important applications in the medicine. In humans, EH inhibitors are being tested in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and show potent anti-inflammatory effects. EH inhibitors are also considerate promising molecules against infectious diseases. EHs are functionally very well studied, but only a few members have its three-dimensional structures characterized. Recently, a new EH from the filamentous fungi Trichoderma reseei (TrEH) was reported, and a series of urea or amide-based inhibitors were identified. In this study, we describe the crystallographic structures of TrEH in complex with five different urea or amide-based inhibitors with resolutions ranging from 2.6 to 1.7 Å. The analysis of these structures reveals the molecular basis of the inhibition of these compounds. We could also observe that these inhibitors occupy the whole extension of the active site groove and only a few conformational changes are involved. Understanding the structural basis EH interactions with different inhibitors might substantially contribute for the study of fungal metabolism and in the development of novel and more efficient antifungal drugs against pathogenic Trichoderma species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to describe anthropometric indicators, life habits and physical activity performed in ecological parks without guidance. Abdominal circumference and body mass index were measured, and health and physical activity habits were identified by face-to-face interview. 318 volunteers participated, subdivided by age group; 60.4% women and 39.6% men. The abdominal circumference of the young men presented adequate values, between 30 and 59 years close to the border and elderly high circumference. The entire female sample exhibited high abdominal circumference. The body mass index of all men and women were classified as overweight or obese. About living habits, 94% of men do not smoke, 50.7% consume alcohol and 86.2% do not diet. Of the women, 95% do not smoke, 59% consume alcohol and 58% diet. About 70% of them attend the parks more than a year ago and choose to carry out their activities in parks. Most practice walking between 4 and 5 times a week with sessions lasting an hour or more. Regarding procedures for performing physical activities, 47% warm up, 50% elongate before and 48% elongate at the end of the effort. The goal of active lifestyle practitioners is to maintain health. Most use outdoor gym equipment and affirm the importance of the Physical Education professional on the spot. It is suggested nutritional intervention and presence of professionals to supervise safe physical activity for the population, such actions should be promoted by public health policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to establish a relationship between the moral standard of wealth maximizing, by Richard Posner and the execution of preliminar agreements on mergers and aquistion transactions as well as the performance of due diligences that takes place between tthe pre-contract and the final agreement. Thus, the present research aims to answer the following question: "In what way is it possible to recognize the application of the wealth maximization ethical standard in operations of merger and acquisition of companies?", justifying legally and economically the celebration of agreements prior to the final agreements on this kind of contracts. The present study is based on the epistemic foundation of rationalism, based on deductive method of analysis, achieved through books, scientific articles and documental research. The present article was constructed with the following structure: 1) Introduction; 2) The wealth maximization as an ethical standard; 3) Preliminary agreements on mergers and acquisitions transactions; 4) The due diligence process; 5) The link between wealth maximization ethical standard and due diligence; 6) Final considerations. At the end of the investigation it was possible to establish that the ethical standard of wealth maximization can be verified from the analysis of the characteristics and purposes of the due diligence practice, insofar as this practice makes it possible to know about the real economic value of a given business, in order to prevent the execution of a financial transaction in which one of the parties involved ends up receiving or paying values that do not maximize the utility of the operation, avoiding a situation of economic inefficiency, according to the ethical standard of maximization proposed by Posner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological impacts resulting from global warming and conventional agricultural practices are predicted to affect crop productivity and reduce the land area available for agriculture in the near future. Perennial crops can sustain high yields without replanting for numerous consecutive years, resulting in important climate benefits. At this time, the coupling between these ecosystems and the atmosphere is not well understood. The objective of this study was to examine the magnitude and temporal variability of the surface energy, water and carbon exchanges in a perennial Kernza wheatgrass crop in Salina, north-central region of Kansas (KS), USA. The study period comprised approximately 4.5 years (May 2012-October 2016) of eddy covariance observations collected at the US-KLS AmeriFlux tower established in April 2012. We analyzed the temporal dynamics of the fluxes of radiation, water and carbon in the perennial wheatgrass crop during five growing seasons. The results obtained here demonstrated the ability of the perennial Kernza in maintaining a relatively high water-use efficiency throughout the whole growing season and its highest evapotranspiration and net carbon uptake rates, particularly when compared to annual counterparts. These findings are important in order to better understand the coupling between the hydrologic and carbon cycles in these novel agroecosystems as well as to understand the benefits and disadvantages in relation to annual crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any young person with unhealthy body weight control practices or who has a certain obsession with food/shape/weight or exercise can be a candidate for an eating disorder. Considering this and the growth of scientific productions on the subject was that it was aimed to investigate the prevalence of risk behavior for binge eating in adolescents of the Master College in São Luís-MA. It is a descriptive cross-observational quantitative study with 139 students from a private school with an age of 12 to 17 years. For the diagnosis, the questionnaire was used on standards of food and weight reviewed (QEWP-R), created for the diagnosis of the TCAP (periodic food compulsion disorder) and subclinical tables of binge eating, validated by (BORGES and contributors, 2005). Of the adolescents participating in this study most were female, family income from 3 to 4 minimum wages and color/brown race. As regards the nutritional status, the Eutrophy was appointed as dominant; It was identified that 1.4% of the sample presented TCAP and 41% presented episodes of Binge eating in the last six months. Of this group of risk behavior/subclinical cases of periodic binge eating, the main reports that relate to the episodes were: eat much faster than usual and eat large amounts of food without hunger. In addition, teenagers who have had episodes of compulsion, more than half reported compensatory behaviors to avoid weight gain (fasting, slimming pills and excessive exercise) and a relatively high percentage stated already have used laxative, diuretic and vomit induction for bodily weight control. The data showed the importance of returning efforts to early treatment of binge episodes and the identification of risk sub-groups. It is expected that the results of this research can subsidize the development of other research, in addition to activities in the school with the implementation of lectures to educate parents and students about the food disorder and to promote changes that cause impacts health and quality of life of this public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work involved the optimization and validation of a method, according to Directive 2002/657/EC and the Analytical Quality Assurance Manual of Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, Brazil, for simultaneous extraction and determination of fumonisins B1 and B2 in maize. The extraction procedure was based on a matrix solid phase dispersion approach, the optimization of which employed a sequence of different factorial designs. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for determining these analytes using the selected reaction monitoring mode. The optimized method employed only 1 g of silica gel for dispersion and elution with 70% ammonium formate aqueous buffer (50 mmol L −1 , pH 9), representing a simple, cheap and chemically friendly sample preparation method. Trueness (recoveries: 86–106%), precision (RSD ≤19%), decision limits, detection capabilities and measurement uncertainties were calculated for the validated method. The method scope was expanded to popcorn kernels, white maize kernels and yellow maize grits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the spatial-temporal patterns of water-use efficiency (WUE) obtained through MODIS gross primary productivity (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET) products (MOD17 for GPP and MOD16 for ET) in the Upper Tapajos and Curua-Una River basins, located in the oriental flank of the Amazon region, and to validate the results with flux tower measurements within the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA) project. The spatial variation of WUE was primarily related to the larger presence of forested areas in the Upper Tapajos River basin (western part) compared with the Curua-Una River basin (eastern part), which is situated within the so-called arc of deforestation. Temporally, WUE showed a pronounced seasonal pattern, varying with the dry and wet seasons in the region. A decrease of ~3% in WUE was observed during the dry season, which was related to the low water availability and increased vapour pressure deficit during the dry period, which induces stomatal closure, leading to a decline in the photosynthetic rate. Comparison between the WUE estimates obtained by MODIS data and observations from the LBA towers showed an average error of 17%, varying between ~12% and ~28% for the different sites. MODIS WUE depends on the accuracy of both GPP and ET estimation. In this sense, we highlight that improvements in both MODIS GPP and ET products are necessary and should focus on reducing the uncertainties related to the biophysical vegetation parameters and meteorological data that serve as input information in the algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Epoxide hydrolases (EHs) are enzymes that have high biotechnological interest for the fine and transformation industry. Several of these enzymes have enantioselectivity, which allows their application in the separation of enantiomeric mixtures of epoxide substrates. Although two different families of EHs have been described, those that have the α/β-hidrolase fold are the most explored for biotechnological purpose. These enzymes are functionally very well studied, but only few members have three-dimensional structures characterised. Recently, a new EH from the filamentous fungi Trichoderma reseei (TrEH) has been discovered and functionally studied. This enzyme does not have high homology to any other EH structure and have an enatiopreference for ( S )-(−) isomers. Herein we described the crystallographic structure of TrEH at 1.7 Å resolution, which reveals features of its tertiary structure and active site. TrEH has a similar fold to the other soluble epoxide hydrolases and has the two characteristic hydrolase and cap domains. The enzyme is predominantly monomeric in solution and has also been crystallised as a monomer in the asymmetric unit. Although the catalytic residues are conserved, several other residues of the catalytic groove are not, and might be involved in the specificity for substrates and in the enantioselectivy of this enzyme. In addition, the determination of the crystallographic structure of TrEH might contribute to the rational site direct mutagenesis to generate an even more stable enzyme with higher efficiency to be used in biotechnological purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to obtain the drying and water absorption curves of husk rice grain (Oryza sativaL.), cv. Urucuia, as well as the thermodynamic properties. Five temperatures (35°C, 45°C, 55°C, 65°C and 75°C) were used. Two terms, logarithmic, modified Midilli, Page and Verma models were used to model the drying process, and the Peleg model was used to model the soaking process. The modified Midilli and Peleg models satisfactorily accounted for the processes of drying and absorption of water, respectively. The activation energy for the drying and soaking was 51.03 and 37.06 kJ mol−1, respectively. The enthalpy and entropy decreased with increasing temperature, regardless of the process. Their values ranged between −6.60 and 48.47 kJ mol−1and between −0.1084 and −0.2464 kJ mol−1K−1for enthalpy and entropy, respectively. The Gibbs free energy increased with increasing temperature, with values between 69.36 and 86.22 kJ mol−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to evaluate alterations on the water sorption of coffee due to roast, grind, and storage. Crude grain coffee ( Coffea arabica) was roasted at two levels: medium light and moderately dark. Grain was grinded in fine (0.59 mm), medium (0.84 mm), and coarse (1.19 mm) particle sizes, besides the whole coffee lot. Samples were then stored at polypropylene bags and kept at biochemical oxygen demand type chambers in two storage temperatures (10 and 30C). These were analyzed at 0, 30, 60, 120, and 180 days, regarding water content and water activity. Mathematical modeling and thermodynamic properties of coffee moisture adsorption process were accomplished. It was concluded that particle size did not significantly affect water content of coffee, independently of roast degree. Sigma-Copace model best represented hygroscopic equilibrium of roasted coffee. Water content reduction increases the differential enthalpy and entropy of sorption and Gibbs free energy. Practical Applications Commercialization of crude grain coffee, soluble coffee, roasted, and grinded coffee, among others (extract, essences, and concentrated) represents 9.2% of Brazilian exportation. Higher distances lead to physical, chemical, and microbiological changes in agricultural products. This trend could cause the deterioration of food products. Information on the sorption characteristics of roasted and grinded coffee could not be found in the literature, regardless of this culture importance. Sorption isotherms data are key information to predict optimum storage and trading conditions to ensure quality. Finally, the lack of quality may affect employees, entrepreneurs, and other professionals that works with coffee. This article presents the adsorption isotherms and thermodynamic properties of roasted and grinded coffee ( Coffea arabica L.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epoxide hydrolases (EHs) are enzymes that are present in all living organisms and catalyze the hydrolysis of epoxides to the corresponding vicinal diols. EHs have biotechnological potential in chiral chemistry. We report the cloning, purification, enzymatic activity, and conformational analysis of the TrEH gene from Trichoderma reesei strain QM9414 using circular dichroism spectroscopy. The EH gene has an open reading frame encoding a protein of 343 amino acid residues, resulting in a molecular mass of 38.2 kDa. The enzyme presents an optimum pH of 7.2, and it is highly active at temperatures ranging from 23 to 50 °C and thermally inactivated at 70 °C (t 1/2 = 7.4 min). The Michaelis constants ( K m ) were 4.6 mM for racemic substrate, 21.7 mM for ( R )-(+)-styrene oxide and 3.0 mM for ( S )-(−)-styrene oxide. The k cat / K m analysis indicated that TrEH is enantioselective and preferentially hydrolyzes ( S )-(−)-styrene oxide. The conformational stability studies suggested that, despite the extreme conditions (high temperatures and extremely acid and basic pHs), TrEH is able to maintain a considerable part of its regular structures, including the preservation of the native cores in some cases. The recombinant protein showed enantioselectivity that was distinct from other fungus EHs, making this protein a potential biotechnological tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The work proposes a numerical simulation of an on-grid hybrid CHP system. • Up to 4 residential consumers, the CHP does not require importation from the grid. • Economic viability is more sensible to electricity cost than natural gas price. • Lower reverse metering factor increases the PEMFC operation, affecting the payback. • The hybrid system has emissions as low as 276.16 gCO 2 eq/kWh for the best scenario. This work focuses on the numerical simulation of an on-grid hybrid combined heat and power (CHP) system to meet small residential demands, using natural gas and solar energy. The system includes a natural gas reformer, a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (FC), photovoltaic panels (PV) and batteries connected to the grid by a bidirectional inverter. The impact of four parameters in the economic viability are investigated: number of consumers, electric and natural gas tariffs evolution, reverse metering factor and configuration of the system (energy sources, with or without storage). The results showed that the system can feed up to 4 consumers without significantly purchasing energy from the grid. Also, the electric tariffs exert more influence than natural gas tariffs over the performance of the system in terms of net present value. Dealing with configuration aspect, the FC + PV configuration provided earlier payback predictions, since fewer equipment substitutions were required. Reverse metering factor impact on system's final profit and payback estimation was verified just slight. As results of environmental analysis conducted for the operation of the system, it was shown that emissions as low as 276.5 gC O 2 e q / k W h are achievable for the FC + PV configuration with cogeneration, meaning a 61.5% reduction in comparison with gas microturbines technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Amazon region, the estimation of radiation fluxes through remote sensing techniques is hindered by the lack of ground measurements required as input in the models, as well as the difficulty to obtain cloud-free images. Here, we assess an approach to estimate net radiation (Rn) and its components under all-sky conditions for the Amazon region through the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) model utilizing only remote sensing and reanalysis data. The study period comprised six years, between January 2001–December 2006, and images from MODIS sensor aboard the Terra satellite and GLDAS reanalysis products were utilized. The estimates were evaluated with flux tower measurements within the Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA) project. Comparison between estimates obtained by the proposed method and observations from LBA towers showed errors between 12.5% and 16.4% and 11.3% and 15.9% for instantaneous and daily Rn, respectively. Our approach was adequate to minimize the problem related to strong cloudiness over the region and allowed to map consistently the spatial distribution of net radiation components in Amazonia. We conclude that the integration of reanalysis products and satellite data, eliminating the need for surface measurements as input model, was a useful proposition for the spatialization of the radiation fluxes in the Amazon region, which may serve as input information needed by algorithms that aim to determine evapotranspiration, the most important component of the Amazon hydrological balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most cases of aspiration pneumonia in children, the disease is specific to this age group. Clinical and radiological correlation is essential for the diagnosis. The present pictorial essay is aimed at showing typical images of the most common etiologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many studies on container port efficiency and that seek to understand what factors, such as technical and scale efficiency, private versus public terminal management or macro-economic factors, play on the efficiency score of a given port. There are fewer studies that focus on the role played by the inter-port competitive environment. This role remains difficult to assess. In fact, on the one hand, a port subject to high inter-port competition may record higher efficiency scores due to the pressure from the competitive environment. On the other hand, a port subject to high competition may be forced to over-invest and could therefore records a lower efficiency score. This article investigates this issue and examines how the degree of competition measured at different levels (local, regional and global level) impacts the efficiency score of a given container port. To do so, we implement a truncated regression with a parametric bootstrapping model. The model applied to information gathered for 200 container ports in 2007 and 2010 leads to the following conclusions: port efficiency decreases with competition intensity when measured in a range of 400–800 km (regional level); and the effect from competition is not significant when competition is measured at a local (less than 300 km) or at a global (more than 800 km) level. Estimates also show a tendency for ports who invested from 2007 to 2010 to experience a general decrease in efficiency scores, an element which could be explained by the time lag between the investment and the subsequent potential increase in container throughput. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The creation process of reaction models generalizes the optimized implementation of convolutional neural networks for different types of reactions, using experimental data and being able to expand to simulated data and atomic-level reactions. • The quantity of samples and the quality of the table can interfere in the result of the model, but these problems are avoided by pretreating and processing the data or by the optimization process. • Maintaining academic rigor, the user can accurately infer the results of chemical reactions and reduce operational costs by using CatS. With the machine learning evolution around the world, the application of these technologies has spread to several multidisciplinary areas. In heterogeneous catalysis it was no different. Studies that cover multiple fields have been developed applying these techniques; however, they are not widely employed to experiments due to mutual communication and understanding of problems between these two areas. In this work, a new way of developing, optimizing and presenting convolutional neural networks to the scientific community is proposed in addition to discussions about the problematic use of these tools. With accuracies above 90%, and surpassing previous works, the user will be able to infer results regarding usual chemical reaction systems, such as water-gas shift, selective CO oxidation, and steam reforming, without an exhaustive bibliographic or experimental research to evaluate the best combination of reaction parameters and catalyst features. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work presents a mathematical model to simulate the flow start-up of gelled oils in pipelines. The model comprises the conservation equations of mass and momentum and an elasto-viscoplastic constitutive equation to account for thixotropy of the material. The flow is considered one-dimensional, laminar and compressible and the cross-section shear stress is admitted to vary linearly so that the constitutive equation can be integrated along the pipe radius. The balance equations are solved by the method of characteristics, the constitutive equation by the finite difference method and finally they are altogether integrated iteratively. Two kinds of boundary conditions are investigated: a constant inlet pressure and a constant inlet flow rate. Two time-scales are identified in the current study: the pressure wave propagation time and the material response time. It can be anticipated that the ratio of this two times are quite important on the restart time in case of a constant pressure boundary condition and on the magnitude of the maximum pressure for a constant flow rate boundary condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar radiation is a meteorological component of great importance to soil-plant-atmosphere processes, and the majority of weather stations do not register this component since they do not have the equipment for its quantification. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of models to estimate solar radiation for the annual, rainy and dry periods in Aquidauana "Alto Pantanal" region of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. This study was conducted using meteorological data obtained from January 2008 to December 2011. The automatic meteorological station was located in Aquidauana, and belongs to the network of the Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET). The data collected included maximum and minimum temperatures, and solar radiation. The Annandale, Bristow-Campbell, Hargreaves-Samani and Weiss empirical models were evaluated, and all were compared with the solar radiation value measured by the meteorological station. In Aquidauana, the Alto Pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul, regardless of the time of year, the Bristow-Campbell model is recommended to estimate solar radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Inward freight rates are 23% higher than for outward ones. [•] Outward freight rates tend to be higher for indirect services than for long journeys. [•] Surcharges, and in particular, the ancillary charges, seem to be used as one of the main revenue-makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In earlier studies, we reported that a heterologous prime-boost regimen using recombinant plasmid DNA followed by replicationdefective adenovirus vector, both containing Trypanosoma cruzi genes encoding trans-sialidase (TS) and amastigote surface protein (ASP) 2, provided protective immunity against experimental infection with a reticulotropic strain of this human protozoan parasite. Herein, we tested the outcome of genetic vaccination of F1 (CB10XBALB/c) mice challenged withmyotropic parasite strains (Brazil and Colombian). Initially, we determined that the coadministration during priming of a DNA plasmid containing themurine IL-12 gene improved the immune response and was essential for protective immunity elicited by the heterologous prime-boost regimen in susceptiblemale mice against acute lethal infections with these parasites. The prophylactic or therapeutic vaccination of resistant female mice led to a drastic reduction in the number of inflammatory infiltrates in cardiac and skeletal muscles during the chronic phase of infection with either strain. Analysis of the electrocardiographic parameters showed that prophylactic vaccination reduced the frequencies of sinus arrhythmia and atrioventricular block. Our results confirmed that prophylactic vaccination using the TS and ASP-2 genes benefits the host against acute and chronic pathologies caused by T. cruzi and should be further evaluated for the development of a veterinary or human vaccine against Chagas disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein secondary structures are important in many biological processes and applications. Due to advances in sequencing methods, there are many proteins sequenced, but fewer proteins with secondary structures defined by laboratory methods. With the development of computer technology, computational methods have (started to) become the most important methodologies for predicting secondary structures. We evaluated two different approaches to this problem—driven by the recent results obtained by computational methods in this task—(i) template-free classifiers, based on machine learning techniques; and (ii) template-based classifiers, based on searching tools. Both approaches are formed by different sub-classifiers—six for template-free and two for template-based, each with a specific view of the protein. Our results show that these ensembles improve the results of each approach individually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that combination of increasing Amazon deforestation and the specter of drought now threatens widespread fire and respiratory health risks that could worsen COVID-19 pandemic endangering all Amazonians.

Knowledge of the relationship between the equilibrium moisture content of the product and the air that involves it is essential to guarantee product quality and preserve its characteristics during storage. This trend can be studied by sorption isotherms. Thus, this study aimed to obtain desorption and adsorption isotherms of soybean grains to determine the mathematical model that best fits the experimental data and analyze the hysteresis phenomenon. Soybean grains with a moisture content of 21.95% (db) were used to verify the desorption process. The grains were dried until 3.50% (db) for the adsorption process. The static-gravimetric method was employed to determine the equilibrium moisture content of the grain at different temperatures (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50°C) and relative humidity levels (0.10 to 0.92%). Eight mathematical models were fitted to the experimental data. The modified Halsey model satisfactorily represented the desorption and adsorption phenomena of soybean grains. The equilibrium moisture content of soybean grains increased along with an increment in water activity. The increase in temperature led to a reduction in the equilibrium moisture content of soybean grains at a constant water activity. The equilibrium moisture content values obtained by desorption are higher than those obtained by adsorption, indicating the hysteresis phenomenon at the studied temperature range. The isotherms obtained for the desorption and adsorption process were classified as type III because of the high oil content in soybean grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, using data envelopment analysis, assesses the efficiency of 122 iron ore and coal ports in 2005. Estimates for 54 loading and 68 unloading ports show that the main source of inefficiency in bulk terminals is related to the scale. Results aggregated at a country level demonstrate that the national efficiency can be achieved either through a limited number of large ports or by combining smaller ports with complementary characteristics—national network effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The desorption isotherms and thermodynamic properties of cocoa beans were obtained during the drying process of this product. The isotherms were determined by dynamic method for various temperature (25, 35, 45 and 55 °C) and relative humidity (RH) conditions (30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80%). Equilibrium moisture content data were correlated by the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) model, which presented good fit to the data, according to statistical procedures. Equilibrium moisture content ranged from 5.90 to 16.67 d.b.; it increased with an increment in the RH and decreased with increased temperature at a constant RH. Enthalpy values for each model coefficient were encountered, ranging from −90.05 to 545.96 kJ kg−1. The integral isosteric heat of desorption and differential entropy increased with decreased equilibrium moisture content, a tendency also found for Gibbs free energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gonads of six adult giant otter males (Pteronura brasiliensis) and of one adult neotropical otter male (Lontra longicaudis) were analyzed both for histology and gross anatomy. The mean testes mass/body mass ratio in giant otters was 0.046 ± 0.0071%. The presence of spermatozoa inside the seminiferous and epididymal tubules revealed that two-year-old giant otters were already sexually mature. The mean diameter of the seminiferous and epididymal tubules of mature giant otters was 126.3 ± 13.37 μm and 198.8 ± 31.19 μm, respectively. The small amount of spermatozoa in the testes and epidimydes of 5 out of 6 giant otters analyzed suggests a seasonal testes activity in this species, which is in accordance to the observations of a monogamous mating system and seasonal reproduction of free-ranging giant otters. The testes of the neotropical otter were proportionally larger, wider and heavier than the testes of the giant otters. The testes mass/body mass ratio in L. longicaudis was 0.25%, 5.5 times greater than that of giant otters. The mean diameter of the seminiferous and epididymal tubules of the neotropical otter were 179.8 ± 17.01 μm and 238.5 ± 24.64 μm, respectively, which were significantly larger than those of the giant otter. The differences in testes size between these two otter species might be related to different mating systems. The greater dimensions of the testes of the neotropical otter, together with the greater body size of males when compared to females, suggest a non-monogamous mating system in this species, probably polyginy or promiscuity, which, however, needs to be better investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper describes a mathematical model used to simulate the restart of an axial, compressible and transient flow of a Bingham fluid in circular or annular pipes. The model is based on the mass and momentum conservation equations plus a state equation that relates pressure to density. The viscous effect is modeled by employing a friction factor approach. The governing equations are discretized by using the finite volume method with a first-order upwind scheme, and the resulting non-linear algebraic equations are then solved iteratively. The model results were corroborated by an analytical solution for Newtonian flows. Additionally, the results were also in reasonable agreement with results reported in the literature. We also conducted sensitivity analyses with respect to Reynolds number, aspect ratio, gravity and the non-linear advective terms of the governing equations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The desorption isotherms and thermodynamic properties of two cultivars of sweet corn were obtained during the drying process of these products. The isotherms were determined by a dynamic method for various temperature and humidity conditions. Equilibrium moisture content ( Xeq) data were correlated by the Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer model and an artificial neural network (ANN) model. These models were fitted to the experimental data. The Xeq for corn grain increased with an increase in the relative humidity at fixed temperature and decreased with an increase in temperature at a constant relative humidity. The experimental data were analysed by a thermodynamic approach to obtain the isosteric heat of desorption (Δ H), differential entropy (Δ S), activation energy ( Ea) and Gibbs free energy (Δ G). The Δ H and Δ S increased with a decrease in moisture content, while Δ G decreased exponentially with an increase in Xeq. The Arrhenius equation was used to obtain Ea values, with Supersweet corn having higher Ea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]