Morphometric Investigation of a Species Complex in Section Series (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae).

series was created by Barneby in 1991, embracing species diagnosed by their small subshrubby habit and the presence of gland-tipped setae and trimerous flowers. Most species are endemic to Northeastern Brazil, and some possess characters deemed diagnostic which nonetheless overlap, making species identification difficult. Our study aimed to test species circumscriptions and sets of characters that could be applied to unequivocally distinguish the species.

Conventional endotracheal tubes versus polymer-coated tubes in ventilator-associated pneumonia development: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Endotracheal tubes (ETT) are used in patients who require ventilatory support. Colonization of ETTs by microorganisms is associated with developing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Thus, this meta-analysis aims to compare conventional endotracheal tubes with those made using materials designed to prevent colonization.

Influence of alginate extraction conditions from the brown seaweed Dictyota mertensii on the functional properties of a novel glycerol plasticized alginate film.

Alginate films were prepared from the brown seaweed Dictyota mertensii using glycerol as a plasticizer. The effects of extraction conditions-time, temperature, and NaCO concentration-on the optical, barrier, and mechanical properties of the films were investigated using a central composite design (CCD). ANOVA and F tests confirmed the models' statistical significance at p ≤ 0.

The Toxicity of Poly(acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene) Microplastics toward Is Associated with Biofragmentation and Oxidative Stress.

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) is a thermoplastic copolymer commonly used in the electronics, automotive, and construction industries. In the aquatic environment, the formation of microplastics from larger-sized plastic waste occurs naturally, induced by physical, chemical, and biological processes that promote the aging of these particles. Here, we investigated the interactions between the freshwater amphipod and ABS microplastics (10-20 μm) (pristine and after accelerated aging) over 7 days of exposure.

Floodplain forests drive fruit-eating fish diversity at the Amazon Basin-scale.

Unlike most rivers globally, nearly all lowland Amazonian rivers have unregulated flow, supporting seasonally flooded floodplain forests. Floodplain forests harbor a unique tree species assemblage adapted to flooding and specialized fauna, including fruit-eating fish that migrate seasonally into floodplains, favoring expansive floodplain areas. Frugivorous fish are forest-dependent fauna critical to forest regeneration via seed dispersal and support commercial and artisanal fisheries.