Abstract The shape of the secondary sexual characters is, traditionally, used to discriminate the marine shrimps at the species level. However, the qualitative evaluation of structures that are ...morphologically variable in the taxonomy of species can favor misunderstandings and misidentifications. These possibilities of taxonomic inaccuracies are especially alarming when there is a need to evaluate the invasion of introduced species. The present study used geometric morphometric analyses to identify differences in the cephalothorax shape that would help discriminate the native and non-native species of Litopenaeus of the South American coast. The comparative morphology analysis was conducted using the right profile of adult males’ cephalothorax of L. schmitti, captured in the natural environment, and L. vannamei captured in the natural environment or grown in shrimp farms. In intraspecific evaluation, it was not possible to distinguish the specimens of L. vannamei that were grown in shrimp farms from those acclimated to the natural environment. However, significant interspecific differences in shape were found in the shape of this body structure. Additionally, the base position of the first rostral spine to the tip of the hepatic spine is indicated as a characteristic that can be used to distinguish these two species by eye in the field.
To investigate the anthropogenic contamination of the Port of Suape, five surface sediments were collected and subjected to a geochemical characterization based on the determination of environmental ...biomarkers such as sterols, aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and also metals and arsenic. Sterol analyses point to a moderate level of sewage contamination, while n-alkanes analyses indicated contamination by petroleum in an early stage of biodegradation. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons analyses pointed to a mixture of contributions for the organic matter, which were predominantly found for petrogenic and pyrolytic sources. The quantification of trace metals indicated a low risk to the environment, except for As, which was identified as displaying moderate contamination. During the analysis of all biomarkers, the sediment collected near one of the shipyards was the most affected. These results enable comprehension of the level of contamination in an important Brazilian port and the need to develop remediation policies.
The Ipojuca River is considered the third most polluted river in Brazil due to the intense anthropogenic activities in the surrounding urban areas. The most important effluent is sewage discharge, ...which is responsible for considerable contamination. Traditional analyses (infrared spectroscopy, organic matter (OM), elemental analysis and granulometry) and advanced analysis of sterols by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were applied to evaluate the levels of urban contamination from sewage in 10 surface sediment samples from the Ipojuca River, in a stretch located in the Caruaru city, Pernambuco, Brazil. The results pointed to sandy sediments, rich in OM from anthropogenic sources (predominant). Eight different sterols were detected with a total concentration in a range between < limit of quantification (LOQ) and 1,634.4 µg g-1. Coprostanol (fecal biomarker) was detected in high concentrations (557.3 µg g-1) in the sediment collected close to an open-air market (considered the largest in the world), making it the most contaminated in the region. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed areas tending towards contamination and that 90% of sediments were contaminated by sewage. These results can be considered useful for preventive and remedial actions toward promoting human health in this region.
ANN has been applied on prediction of viscosity, iodine value and induction period of biodiesel, whose properties directly reflect its level of degradation, to evaluate the oxidative stability. The ...method indicates be useful as a tool to evaluate the potential of raw materials to produce a biodiesel with good oxidative stability and to reach improvements concerning official methods. Display omitted
•Good performance of a model of ANN to predict quality parameters of biodiesel.•Quality of biodiesel.•Useful tool to evaluate the potential of raw materials to produce biodiesel.
In the search for alternative fuels that can gradually replace petroleum derivatives, biodiesel is highlighted as a substitute for diesel and it is defined as a biofuel obtained from transesterification of triglycerides. Despite of several advantages over mineral diesel, an elementary disadvantage of biodiesel is its low oxidative stability, which is strongly influenced by the unsaturation degree of its fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and by the conditions to which biodiesel is exposed during storage, transporting and handling. The present work focuses on the optimization and application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) on prediction of viscosity, iodine value and induction period of biodiesel, properties that directly reflect its level of degradation, to evaluate the oxidative stability. The input variables were the percentages of the 13 most common FAMEs in biodiesels and the transesterification does not change the fatty esters profile of the raw material. In this case the ANN method allows predicting viscosity, iodine value and induction period, either before transesterification, after synthesis of biodiesel or during the storage. Therefore, this method can be useful as a tool to evaluate the potential of raw materials to produce a biodiesel with good oxidative stability and to reach improvements concerning official methods. The optimization process of the ANN occurred in three steps: test of algorithms for adjusting weights, test of stopping condition and test of activation functions, and the physicochemical properties were treated independently. For the set of test samples, which simulates real samples, the application of the optimized ANNs provided results with root mean squared errors (RMSE) of 0.55mm2/s, 3.49g/100g and 0.89h for viscosity, iodine value and induction period, respectively, what ensures the feasibility of the proposed method. A comparison between the proposed method and linear methods from literature, both based on the biodiesel composition indicates that our ANN model is much more adequate to the problem addressed.
The Herpotrichiellaceae family is an important group of dematiaceous filamentous fungi, associated with a variety of pathogenic fungal species causing chromoblastomycosis (CBM) and phaeohyphomycosis ...(PHM), both with polymorphic clinical manifestations and worldwide incidence. Currently, the identification of this family and determination of the causative agent is challenging due to the subjectivity of morphological identification methods, necessitating the use of molecular techniques to complement diagnosis. In this context, genetic sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) has become the norm due to a lack of alternative molecular tools for identifying these agents. Therefore, this study aimed to develop PCR-Multiplex methodologies to address this gap. Sequences from the ITS and Large Subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA were used, and after manual curation and in vitro analyses, primers were synthesized for the identification of the targets. The primers were optimized and validated in vitro, resulting in two PCR-Multiplex methodologies: one for identifying the Herpotrichiellaceae family and the bantiana clade, and another for determining the species Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Fonsecaea monophora. Ultimately, the assays developed in this study aim to complement other identification approaches for these agents, reducing the need for sequencing, improving the management of these infections, and enhancing the accuracy of epidemiological information.
Abstract Limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy type 2G/R7 (LGMD2G/R7) is an ultra‐rare condition initially identified within the Brazilian population. We aimed to expand clinical and genetic information ...about this disease, including its worldwide distribution. A multicenter historical cohort study was performed at 13 centers in Brazil in which data from index cases and their affected relatives from consecutive families with LGMD2G/R7 were reviewed from July 2017 to August 2023. Additionally, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify case reports and series of the disease worldwide. Forty‐one LGMD2G/R7 cases were described in the Brazilian cohort, being all subjects homozygous for the c.157C>T/(p.Gln53*) variant in TCAP . Survival curves showed that the median disease duration before individuals required walking aids was 21 years. Notably, women exhibited a slower disease progression, requiring walking aids 13 years later than men. LGMD2G/R7 was frequently reported not only in Brazil but also in China and Bulgaria, with 119 cases identified globally, with possible founder effects in the Brazilian, Eastern European, and Asian populations. These findings are pivotal in raising awareness of LGMD2G/R7, understanding its progression, and identifying potential modifiers. This can significantly contribute to the development of future natural history studies and clinical trials for this disease.
Resting heart rate reflects sympathetic nerve activity. A significant association between resting heart rate (HR) and all causes of cardiovascular mortality has been reported by some epidemiologic ...studies. Despite suggestive evidence, resting heart rate (RHR) has not been formally explored as a prognostic factor and potential therapeutic outcome and, therefore, is not generally accepted in adolescents.
The core of the debate is the methodological aspects used in "Resting heart rate: its correlations and potential for screening metabolic dysfunctions in adolescents"; the points are: cutoff used for cluster RHR, two different statistical models used to analyze the same set of variables, one for continuous data, and another for categorical data; interpretation of p-value < 0.05, sampling process involving two random stages, analysis of design effect and the parameters of screening tests.
Aspects that must be taken into account for evaluation of a screening test to measure the potential for discrimination for a common variable (population with outcome vs. no outcome population), the main indicators are: sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. The measures of argumentation equality (CI) or difference (p-valor) are important to validate these indicators but do not indicate quality of screening.
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a staple crop widely cultivated by small farmers in tropical countries. However, despite the low level of technology required for its management, it can be ...affected by several diseases, with anthracnose as the main threat. There is little information about the main species of Colletotrichum that infect cassava in Brazil. Thus, the objective of this work was to study the diversity, prevalence and virulence of Colletotrichum species that cause anthracnose in cassava leaves in northern Brazil. Twenty municipalities of the Pará and Tocantins states were selected, and leaves with symptoms were collected in those locations. Pure cultures were isolated in the laboratory. Species were identified using phylogenetic analyses of multiple loci, and their pathogenicity, aggressivity and virulence levels were assessed. Our results showed the greatest diversity of Colletotrichum associated with anthracnose in cassava plants of the “Formosa” cultivar in the Tocantins and Pará states. We determined the presence of Colletotrichum chrysophilum, C. truncatum, C. siamense, C. fructicola, C. plurivorum, C. musicola and C. karsti, with C. chrysophilum as the most aggressive and virulent. Our findings provide accurate identifications of species of Colletotrichum causing anthracnose in cassava crops, which are of great relevance for cassava breeding programs (e.g., the search for genotypes with polygenic resistance since the pathogen is so diverse) and for developing anthracnose management strategies that can work efficiently against species complexes of Colletotrichum.
Water samples were collected from 7 locations along major rivers of Piracicaba River basin for 22 months. The 4 upstream points represent non-polluted sites and the 3 downriver points represent ...polluted sites. Due to sewage input, concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), major conservative cations and anions increased significantly in the polluted sites. The major increases were observed for sodium, chloride and sulfate. Nitrate was an exception for this pattern, with similar concentrations between polluted and non-polluted sites. The probable cause was reduction of nitrate to ammonium in the polluted sites, where anoxic conditions prevail. Most of the variables had an inverse correlation with water discharge, especially in the polluted points. The sewage load was diluted by precipitation and surface waters.
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