The authors aimed to estimate the area of the leaf blade of different plants based on linear and dry weight measures, calibrated with the free software ImageJ. The leaves of cotton plants (Gossypium ...hirsutum L) var. IMACD 6001, cashew (Anacardium occidentale L) var. FAGA 10, soybean (Glycine max L) var. M-SOY 7639RR, and corn (Zea mays L) var. Penta TL were collected from the lower third, middle and top in different phenological phases. It was found that images with a resolution of at least 7.2 megapixels can be used to estimate the actual leaf blade area, processed with the ImageJ software till 324cm^sup 2^. They observed a good agreement in the estimation of the leaf blade area based on linear and dry mass measures and, therefore, it is recommended to estimate leaf area leaves with damaged pieces or measures from several samples of leaves collected at the field based on the dry weight of the leaves, as it is operationally viable.
Microplastics are ubiquitous contaminants of marine ecosystems around the world and Antarctica is no exception. Microplastics can be influenced by sedimentary dynamics mainly on coastal areas where ...they are more abundant in Antarctica. This study evaluated microplastic contamination in beach environments from two Antarctic Specially Protected Areas, aiming to identify relationships between microplastic numbers and sedimentological parameters on beach sediments. Low numbers of microplastics were found (> 0.5 mm; fibers excluded) - one particle per sample in 4 of 15 samples analyzed - and there is no evidence of widespread contamination. Sedimentological parameters reveal differences between sampled environments, but low numbers of microplastics impaired statistical comparison. All sediment samples are coarse, denoting highenergy depositional environments that are likely little susceptible to microplastic accumulation. Microplastic contamination in the Antarctic coastal ecosystem is heterogeneous, and their detailed characterization assisted by a systematization of methods can improve the understanding of microplastics distribution patterns in the cold coastal ecosystem.
Este trabalho teve por objetivo, avaliar a estratificação do perfil da resistência à penetração (RP) em solo de textura média sob pastagem degradada, por meio da técnica de componentes principais. A ...penetrometria foi realizada em 120 pontos distantes 0,50 m do vértice de uma malha de 6 x 10 m, sendo dois pontos dispostos na linha de nível e dois acompanhando o desnível do terreno e, em outros 54 pontos radialmente distanciados em 0,125 m. Os fatores foram extraídos por componente principais, rotacionados pelo método varimax e retidos conforme os critérios de Kaiser-Guttman e da análise paralela de Horn. As medidas de adequação de amostragem variaram de 0,733 a 0,852. A maior variabilidade ocorreu nas camadas superficiais, com coeficientes de variação (CV) de até 58,20% contra CV de 13,38% nas camadas intermediárias. Os maiores valores médios foram registrados entre 30 e 80 mm de profundidade, atingindo 5,55 MPa para ensaios realizados na linha de nível e 6,12 MPa quando acompanhado o desnível do terreno. A RP medida por um penetrógrafo se adequa ao tratamento estatístico da análise fatorial por componentes principais e o critério de Kaiser-Guttman possibilita modelos de AF melhores ajustados, para estratificar o perfil RP.
Bio-insecticides have been increasingly used worldwide as ecofriendly alternatives to pesticides, but data on their effects in non-target freshwater organisms is still scarce and limited to insects. ...The aim of this study was to determine the lethal and sub-lethal effects of the bio-insecticides Bac Control (based on
Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki
—Btk) and Boveril (based on
Beauveria bassiana
—Bb) on regeneration, behavioral, and reproductive endpoints of the freshwater planarian
Girardia tigrina
. The estimated LC
50–48h
were > 800 mg a.i./L for Btk and 60.74 mg a.i./L for Bb. In addition, exposure to Btk significantly decreased locomotion and feeding activities of planarians (lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) of 12.5 mg a.i./L Btk) and fecundity rate (LOEC = 3.12 mg a.i./L Btk), whereas exposure to Bb significantly delayed regeneration (LOEC = 0.75 mg a.i./L Bb) and decreased fecundity rate (1.5 mg a.i./L Bb) of planarians
.
Thus, both bio-insecticides induced deleterious sub-lethal effects on a non-insect freshwater invertebrate species. However, only Bb-based formulation affected the survival, fecundity rate, and regeneration at concentrations below the maximum predicted environmental concentration (PEC = 247 mg/L). Thus, care should be taken when using such formulations as alternatives to chemical insecticides near aquatic ecosystems.
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CEKLJ, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
In chronic kidney disease dogs, the inflammatory process increases C-reactive protein concentrations. This study aimed to determine C-reactive protein serum concentrations in stage IV chronic kidney ...disease dogs treated with intermittent hemodialysis. A prospective cohort study was conducted with 23 dogs allocated into three groups: control group (CG, n = 7), intermittent hemodialysis group (IHG, n = 8) and clinical treatment group (CTG, n = 8), both comprised of stage IV chronic kidney disease dogs. One blood sample from CG (initial evaluation) and two samples from IHG and CTG (first- and last-moment) were obtained to determine C-reactive protein concentration, total leukocytes, platelets, erythrocytes, total plasma protein, serum albumin, urea, creatinine, and phosphorus. C-reactive protein was higher in IHG compared to CG in the first- and last-moments (p <0.001) and compared to CTG in the first-moment (p = 0.0406). C-reactive protein presented moderate positive correlation with leukocytes (r = 0.5479; p = 0.01), and moderate negative correlation with albumin (r = - 0.5974; p = 0.006) and red blood cells (r = - 0.5878, p = 0.01). A high correlation coefficient was observed in the tests’ evaluation (CI = 0.59–0.78; r = 0.70; P<0.0001). In conclusion, both assays used in this study to measure C-reactive protein have provided safe and reliable quantification of the results. Additionally, despite IHG dogs presented an active inflammatory profile, intermittent hemodialysis has proven to be beneficial, leading to a clinical improvement in life quality of patients, and thus being recommended for stage IV CKD dogs when performed by trained professionals.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Anaerobic biodigesters play a crucial role in enhancing animal waste management. However, the presence of pathogens in the biodigestion process poses a significant concern. Candida spp., a widespread ...fungus known for its opportunistic nature and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, including reciprocal transmission between humans and animals, is one such pathogen of concern. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the virulence profile of Candida spp. originating from anaerobic biodigestion processes. Here we demonstrate that strains isolated from the biodigestion process of dairy cattle waste exhibit noteworthy virulence mechanisms, surpassing the virulence of clinical control strains. After we identified strains from affluent, effluent, and biofertilizer, we observed that all analyzed isolates produced biofilm. Additionally, a substantial proportion of these isolates demonstrated phospholipase production, while only a few strains exhibited protease production. Furthermore, all strains exhibited resistance or dose-dependent responses to amphotericin B and itraconazole, with the majority displaying resistance to fluconazole. In the in vivo test, we observed a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between the LT50 and biofilm formation as well as hyphae/pseudohyphae production. Additionally, some isolates demonstrated a quicker nematode-killing capacity compared to clinical controls. Our findings underscore the considerable pathogenic potential of certain Candida species present in the dynamics of anaerobic biodigestion. Importantly, the anaerobic biodigester system did not eliminate Candida strains from dairy cattle waste, highlighting the need for caution in utilizing biodigester products. We advocate for further studies to explore the virulence of other microorganisms in various animal production contexts. Furthermore, our results emphasize the urgency of enhancing waste treatment methods to effectively eliminate pathogens and curb their potential dissemination.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented need for epidemiological monitoring using diverse strategies. We conducted a project combining prevalence, seroprevalence, and genomic surveillance ...approaches to describe the initial pandemic stages in Betim City, Brazil. We collected 3239 subjects in a population-based age-, sex- and neighborhood-stratified, household, prospective; cross-sectional study divided into three surveys 21 days apart sampling the same geographical area. In the first survey, overall prevalence (participants positive in serological or molecular tests) reached 0.46% (90% CI 0.12-0.80%), followed by 2.69% (90% CI 1.88-3.49%) in the second survey and 6.67% (90% CI 5.42-7.92%) in the third. The underreporting reached 11, 19.6, and 20.4 times in each survey. We observed increased odds to test positive in females compared to males (OR 1.88 95% CI 1.25-2.82), while the single best predictor for positivity was ageusia/anosmia (OR 8.12, 95% CI 4.72-13.98). Thirty-five SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sequenced, of which 18 were classified as lineage B.1.1.28, while 17 were B.1.1.33. Multiple independent viral introductions were observed. Integration of multiple epidemiological strategies was able to adequately describe COVID-19 dispersion in the city. Presented results have helped local government authorities to guide pandemic management.
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