Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Benzothiazole compounds are known as an important bicyclic ring system with multiple applications. These compounds have a wide range of biological activities, including anticancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities. In this study, benzothiazole compounds were synthesized and their various biological activities were examined. The synthesized benzothiazoles were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties against various bacterial and fungal strains. The compound 6e is most active ligand in the series against bacteria and fungi as compared to standard antibiotics. Especially, this compound significant effect against Staphylococcus aureus (32.00 ± 1.73 mm). These compounds exhibited potent anticancer activity against gastrointestinal cancer cells, demonstrating their potential as therapeutic agents. The lowest antiproliferative response after administration of the compounds was observed in HCT116 cells, while the most effective antiproliferative response was observed in AGS cells (> 10 µg/mL). In all cell lines, 40 and 100 µg/mL application values of the selected compounds showed significant increases in the expression of caspase-3, 8 and 9. We also utilized a computational docking approach to investigate the interaction of these benzothiazoles with VEGFR-2 kinase. Our docking studies showed that compounds 6a and 6d may be promising therapeutic agents against gastrointestinal system cancers due to their ability to bind to VEGFR-2 kinase.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract It was compared smartphone-based measurements of static balance control and mobility of elderly population with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). The present cross-sectional study investigated 73 participants grouped in a control group (n = 36) and a DM2 group (n = 37). Smartphone’s built in inertial sensors were used to record inertial changes of the participants during static balance and mobility (Timed Up and Go test – TUG) tasks. The inertial variations as a function of the time were analyzed and compared between groups. Both groups were matched in age, body mass index, male-female proportion, but DM2 group had significant larger fasting glucose than control group. Additionally, DM2 group had worst static balance control with open and closed eyes than the controls (p < 0.05) as well as they also had longer duration to execute the different events of the mobility test than the controls (p < 0.05). DM2 patients had decline of motor functions compared to controls and the use of bult-in sensors of smartphones was feasible to identify these functional impairments. The easy access of smartphones could be improving the screening of functional impairments in DM2 patients.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, H1N1 seasonality disappeared worldwide. In Brazil, information on how coronavirus impacted this seasonality is scarce. In this study, we aimed to verify whether COVID-19 pandemic was associated with changes in the seasonality of H1N1, modeling the time series of H1N1 between pre-pandemic (2018 and 2019), pandemic (2020 and 2021) and post-pandemic (2022 and 2023) periods. For this purpose, we superimposed on this time series cases of COVID-19 from 2020 to 2023. Our findings highlighted that H1N1 exhibited a consistent seasonal pattern in the pre-pandemic period, with peaks mainly in months with the highest rainfall. However, this seasonality disappeared during the pandemic, with a significant decrease in the number of cases, in contrast with the predicted seasonality of H1N1 for the same period. In addition, the seasonal pattern of H1N1 in the post-pandemic showed a return to that observed in the pre-pandemic period, especially in 2023. We observed that the COVID-19 pandemic was consistently associated with changes in H1N1 seasonality in Brazil, underscoring the relative importance of monitoring patterns of respiratory syndromes to enhance our understanding of how coronavirus is associated with changes in seasonal diseases.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Plasmodium falciparum is known to cause severe malaria, current treatment consists in artemisinin-based combination therapy, but resistance can lead to treatment failure. Knowledge concerning P. falciparum essential proteins can be used for searching new antimalarials, among these a potential candidate is shikimate dehydrogenase (SDH), an enzyme part of the shikimate pathway which is responsible for producing endogenous aromatic amino acids. SDH from P. falciparum (PfSDH) is unexplored by the scientific community, therefore, this study aims to establish the first protocol for active PfSDH expression. Putative PfSDH nucleotide sequence was used to construct an optimized expression vector pET28a+PfSDH inserted in E. coli BL21(DE3). As a result, optimal expression conditions were acquired by varying IPTG and temperature through time. Western Blot analysis was applied to verify appropriate PfSDH expression, solubilization and purification started with lysis followed by two-steps IMAC purification. Enzyme activity was measured spectrophotometrically by NADPH oxidation, optimal PfSDH expression occur at 0.1 mM IPTG for 48 hours growing at 37 °C and shaking at 200 rpm, recombinant PfSDH obtained after purification was soluble, pure and its physiological catalysis was confirmed. Thus, this study describes the first protocol for heterologous expression of PfSDH in soluble and active form.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Using Amazonian fruits to flavor kombuchas is a promising proposal, as it adds nutritional value to the drink. This work sought to develop kombucha flavored with Amazonian fruits and evaluate the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of the formulations. Three kombucha formulations were prepared using green tea (Camellia sinensis) and three Amazonian fruits: cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum), tapereba (Spondias lutea L.) and bacuri (Platonia insignis). Kombucha fermentations were evaluated before and after the insertion of nectars through the analysis of phenolic compounds, vitamin C and antioxidant capacity. Analyzes of pH, total sugars, acetic acid, ethanol, and microbiological characterization of final formulations were also carried out. For the first fermentation, were found values of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of 30.60 ± 0.93 mg EAG/L and 295.02 ± 5.59 µmol ET/mL, and the formulation with tapereba showed the highest values for total phenolic compounds (34.92 ± 12.25 mg EAG/L), antioxidant capacity (320.57 ± 9.53 µmol ET/mL) and vitamin C (198.25 mg/100g). Thus, the formulations developed had a crucial nutritional appeal to stimulate consumption by the population, in addition to enabling the valorization and addition of commercial value to the Amazonian fruits used.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Hypostomus soniae is a small sized armored catfish endemic to the Tapajos River basin and ranked as one of the most exploited ornamental fish in the Santarem export marketplace. This study aims to evaluate distributional patterns of Hypostomus soniae and contribute to the species conservation in the face of development of the ornamental fish trade in the Amazon region. We compiled data associated with geographic coordinates in public repositories, supplemented with original field records. We compared our data to published records in the literature and museum collections to check for accuracy. To investigate the fishery and commercialization of H. soniae, we conducted interviews with ornamental fish stakeholders from the local trade. We also made direct observations in the fishing sites and export facilities in Santarem. A cluster analysis of the geolocation data was carried out to explore the spatial distribution patterns. The volume of captures and exportation of H. soniae decreased during the period 2020-2023. The occurrence of H. soniae was associated with annual rainfall ranging from 2,000 mm to 2,500 mm and concentrated in two municipalities of the State of Mato Grosso and two of the Para State. The species distribution area has been threatened, unfortunately, by fishermen who do not respect the laws that support artisanal fishing in the Amazon.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract The phylogenetic affinities of early dinosaurs are a controversial topic. There are disputing scenarios aiming to explain the evolutionary tree of these reptiles. A number of factors play a role on this issue. High levels of intraspecific variation experienced by the earliest forms are pointed by distinct authors as one of the main sources of phylogenetic biases. In the present study, we performed experimental analyses incorporating skeletally immature individuals as distinct operational taxonomic units in order to investigate the effect of ontogeny on the phylogeny and morphospace of early Late Triassic sauropodomorphs. The results support an “artificial” grouping of skeletally immature individuals of early dinosaurs in the phylogenetic trees, which is controlled by ontogenetic development. Such results are interpreted as the effect of ontogenetic control on the states of certain morphological characters, producing false synapomorphies. In addition, the morphological disparity analysis indicated a significant difference between the skeletally immature and mature individuals, corroborating previous assumptions. At this point, we suggest caution during the scoring process of early dinosaurs. Some approaches that avoid ontogenetically sensitive characters revealed a putative solution. Nevertheless, additional specimens and alternative tools are mandatory in order to properly deal with this issue.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) is a fish with a high production potential in Brazil. However, one limitation is the excessive amount of ether extract in its carcass, an undesirable characteristic for the consumer. One approach to overcome this limitation is to improve carcass quality through zootechnical additives such as caffeine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing the diet of pacu with caffeine on cut yield, biological indices, and carcass composition. Two hundred pacu with an initial weight of 1,687 g were used. The animals were allocated to 20 aquaculture cages of 1 m³, with 10 animals per cage. A completely randomized design with four treatments and five replicates was used. The treatments evaluated consisted of four inclusion levels of caffeine: T1 = 0.00 g; T2 = 0.16 g; T3 = 0.32 g, and T4 = 0.48 g caffeine.kg-1 of feed. The findings show that caffeine can be recommended as a diet supplement for carcass improvement of pacu, reducing the fat content and increasing the protein content of the carcass. Caffeine up to 0.32 g.kg-1 of feed can be added to the diet of pacu without affecting its performance or cut yield.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract This study was conducted to determine the best combination of protein sources in diets for jundiá, based on growth, metabolism, and nutrient deposition. Five protein combinations were tested: casein + fish meal (control), casein + gelatin, casein + albumin, casein + albumin + fish meal, and albumin + fish meal, in diets containing 370 g Kg-1 of crude protein and 13.4 MJ Kg-1 of digestible energy. The fish (9.38 ± 0.12 g) were allocated in a water recirculation system at a density of 3.35 g L-1 per experimental unit and fed until apparent satiety for 40 days with the diets. The fish fed with the control diet had the highest final weight, specific growth rate, protein and feed efficiency ratio, protein retention, and best apparent feed conversion. On the other hand, fish that received casein + albumin and albumin + fish meal diets showed worse results in growth and body protein retention, low trypsin and chymotrypsin activity, and high intestinal amylase activity. Therefore, the combination referred to as control (casein + fish meal) conclusively provides the best rhythm for nutrient digestion and metabolism processes, enabling fish to reach greater growth and retention of body protein with low whole-fish fat content.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Many aspects of the ecology, evolution and social behavior of wild-living primates remain un-explored and require further investigation. While long-term field studies are crucial for addressing conservation concerns for many primates’ species, acquiring the necessary data is often challenging, often due to difficulties in locating study groups. Radio-telemetry has significantly facilitated the study of primates and other animals living in tropical forests. However, there are important practical challenges in the process of capturing and releasing animals after placement of telemetry collars. In this study, we report guidelines and considerations for capturing and collaring wild capuchin monkeys, Sapajus nigritus cucullatus, in the Atlantic Forest of Argentina. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to making captures safer, preventing harm and stress to animals when using radio-telemetry in monitoring strategies for conservation of this primate species. These methods can be useful for researchers using field capture and radio-telemetry for monitoring groups or populations of wild primates, specifically wild Sapajus.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract This study investigated the spatial distribution, parasite interactions, and affinities of Branchiura parasites according to macrohabitat and surface type on fish from the Araguari River, Amapá State, in the Brazilian Amazon. This study presents novel information on the interactions of branchiuran species with host fish, and how the morphology of their attachment structures is associated with different host surface morphologies, with and without scales. A total of 558 fish specimens of 26 species were collected, of which 109 fish (10 species) were parasitized by at least one branchiuran parasite; these were selected for further study. The parasites were collected from the buccal cavity, gills, fins, and integument of the host fish. Parasites with suction discs (Argulus) were mainly associated to hosts with small scales and no scales, while parasites with hooks (Dolops) were mainly associated to hosts with large scales. Overall, parasites with suction discs were more specialized per site than those with hooks.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract Fish parasites are an important part of aquatic biodiversity and knowing these species and their interactions with their hosts helps in monitoring the aquatic biota. The present study investigated the ectoparasite crustacean fauna of ten fish species from the upper Araguari River, in the state of Amapá, northern Brazil. A total of 508 fish were collected and analyzed from July to November 2014, of which 82.6% (109) were parasitized by one or more crustacean ectoparasite species. In the ten host fish species, a total of 308 ectoparasite specimens were collected, from 12 taxa, such as Argulus multicolor Stekhoven, 1937, Argulus spinulosus Silva, 1980, Argulus sp.1, Argulus sp.2, Argulus sp.3, Dipteropeltis sp., Dipteropeltis hirundo Calman, 1912, Dolops bidentata Bouvier, 1899, Dolops striata Bouvier, 1899 (Argulidae), Braga fluviatilis Richardson, 1911, Braga amapaensis Thatcher, 1996 (Cymothoidae) and Excorallana berbicensis Boone, 1918 (Corallanidae). Higher levels of prevalence and abundance were recorded for Hoplias aimara (Valenciennes, 1847) and Tometes trilobatus Valenciennes, 1850, respectively. These ectoparasites were found in the fins, integument, mouth, and anus of the host fish. Argulus sp.2 and D. bidentata were the most abundant parasites (65.1%), and had the highest species richness. This study registered 36 novel host-parasite interactions, and thus represents a new record for all host species here examined.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract The family Hymenochaetaceae includes a diversity of 893 species described around the world. Its representatives are known by their usually rusty colored basidiomes with a poroid hymenial surface, hydnoid or smooth, woody consistency, and wide morphological variation regarding the arrangement on the substrate. They behave as saprophytic, parasitic, ectomycorrhizal and play a fundamental role in the decomposition of wood in forest ecosystems. In the Brazilian Amazonia region, approximately 40 species of Hymenochaetaceae are currently recorded. The main goal of this study was to increase the knowledge on Hymenochaetaceae from the Brazilian Amazonia. Collections were carried out between October 2021 and April 2022 in the state of Pará, municipalities of Tomé-Açu and Bujaru, to expanding the knowledge of this fungal family to the Brazilian Amazonia. A total of 15 specimens were identified, distributed in seven genera and 12 species. Four species are new records for the state of Pará (Fomitiporia apiahyna, Phellinus neocallimorphus, Phellinus sancti-georgii, and Sclerotus extensus) and two of them are new records for the Brazilian Amazonia (P. neocallimorphus and P. sancti-georgii). Our findings contribute to taxonomic knowledge of this family in the Brazilian Amazonia and reduce the information gaps about the diversity of species.

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract The present study modeled the adsorption process of the drug diclofenac sodium on activated charcoal. For this purpose, a mass balance-based model was used considering a fixed bed column. The mass transfer rate in the solid phase was represented by a driving force model proposed in this study, and a gamma exponent with a range of 0>γ≤2 was assigned to the model. Different isotherms were adopted to represent the equilibrium at the solid/liquid interface: the Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips and Redlich-Peterson isotherms. The modeling was approached from the perspective of Bayesian statistics, and the Markov chain Monte Carlo method was used for parameter estimation. Model validation was performed with experimental data obtained under different operating conditions of initial concentration ($C_{0

Resumo em Inglês:

Abstract With the evolution of energy storage, Thermal Runaway (TR) stands out as the most critical safety concern for Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs). This study employs a prismatic lithium battery with a nominal capacity of 40Ah, featuring Li(Ni0.6Co0.2Mn0.2)O2 as the cathode material. The investigation delves into the thermal runaway characteristics of the battery at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% State of Charge (SOC) in a nitrogen environment. The findings indicate: 1) an ascending trend in the highest temperatures at various points within the battery as SOC increases, accompanied by a declining trend in normalized gas production and a non-linear relationship between the heat released during TR and the stored electrochemical energy; 2) the highest temperature point within the battery consistently resides at the surface, offering insights for the temperature monitoring of the Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS); 3) a direct correlation between higher SOC and increased material ejection, with a mass loss rate of 25.8% at 100% SOC, a static total gas production of 2.45 mol, and a maximum explosion index of 0.2886 kPa⋅m⋅s⁻¹.