Effect of Glycerol and Sisal Nanofiber Content on the Tensile Properties of Corn Starch/Sisal Nanofiber Films.

Currently, petroleum-derived plastics are widely used despite the disadvantage of their long degradation time. Natural polymers, however, can be used as alternatives to overcome this obstacle, particularly cornstarch. The tensile properties of cornstarch films can be improved by adding plant-derived nanofibers.

Blue nests: The use of plastics in the nests of the crested oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus) on the Brazilian Amazon coast.

Birds have been impacted by plastic pollution via entanglement, accidental ingestion, and exposure to chemical contaminants. However, plastics were also observed as a nesting material for several species. For the first time, we describe the occurrence and composition of plastics in 36 nests of the crested oropendola (Psarocolius decumanus) in three different sites on the Amazon coast.

Sociobehavioral Risk Factors and Clinical Implications of Late Presentation Among People Living with HIV in the Brazilian Amazon Region.

This study aimed to analyze the prevalence, sociobehavioral factors and clinical-laboratory consequences of late presentation among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Brazilian Amazon region. In total, 402 HIV + individuals treated at reference units in Belém city (Pará, Brazil) between 2018 and 2019 were evaluated. Late presentation was defined as a first-collection LTCD4 count below 350 cells/µL.

Ligninolytic enzyme potential of Trametes spp. associated with leaf litter in riparian forest of the Amazônia region.

The present study explored the potential of leaf litter as a source of fungi able to produce ligninolytic enzymes for the biodegradation of anthraquinone dyes. Within the colonies isolated from the leaf litter, only three colonies of two species Trametes were selected based on the detection of oxidation and decolorization halos in Petri dishes with PDA (potato-dextrose-agar) + Guaicol and PDA + RBBR (Remazol Brilliant Blue R). The identification of the colonies was done through sequencing of the ITS region.

Hematological and anthelminthic responses of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) supplemented with Artrhospira platensis and Chlorella vulgaris.

The present study evaluated the hematological, antiparasitic and growth responses in tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) fed with diets supplemented with the microalgae Arthrospira platensis and Chlorella vulgaris (0%; 10% A. platensis; 10% C. vulgaris; and 5% A.

Activation of NOS-cGMP pathways promotes stress-induced sensitization of behavioral responses in zebrafish.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule involved in plasticity across levels and systems. The role of NOergic pathways in stress-induced sensitization (SIS) of behavioral responses, in which a particular stressor triggers a state of hyper-responsiveness to other stressors after an incubation period, was assessed in adult zebrafish. In this model, adult zebrafish acutely exposed to a fear-inducing conspecific alarm substance (CAS) and left undisturbed for an incubation period show increased anxiety-like behavior 24 h after exposure.

Performance of immunological assays for universal and differential diagnosis of HTLV-1/2 infection in candidates for blood donations from the Brazilian Amazon.

The present study compares the ability of distinct immunological assays (chemiluminescence immunoassay-CLIA, western blot-WB and flow cytometry-FC-Simplex and Duplex) to detect anti-HTLV (human T-lymphotropic virus) antibodies in candidates for blood donations at the Amazonas State Blood Center (Brazil) between January 2018 and December 2022. Overall, 257,942 samples from candidates for blood donations were screened using CLIA, which led to 0.15% seropositivity for HTLV (409 samples).

Behavioral Diversity Among Odonata Larvae Increases in Water with Greater Turbidity Under Captivity Conditions.

Various factors, including environmental variables, influence the behavior of aquatic insects. However, our understanding of insect behavior and their relationships with these variables remains limited. One important variable is water turbidity, which may be exacerbated by soil erosion, directly impacting visibility in the water and potentially affecting the organism's behaviors.

Catalytic conversion of residual raw material into biodiesel using a superior magnetic solid acid catalyst based on Zn-Fe ferrite: thermodynamic and kinetic studies.

This study investigates the potential and applicability of a novel solid magnetic catalyst constructed by incorporating molybdenum oxide (MoO) into zinc ferrite (ZnFeO) to biodiesel production using Waste Frying Oil (WFO) as the residual raw material. The molybdenum amounts (5, 15, 25, 35 and 45%) present in the catalyst were studied and the catalyst demonstrated great characteristics and high acid properties, as well as superior magnetic and catalytic attributes. The one variable at time (OVAT) optimization method revealed that the application of the MoO/ZnFeO catalyst resulted in obtaining a biodiesel with 97.

The role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in cardiac remodeling and dysfunction and as a possible blood biomarker in heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular diseases, being responsible for many hospitalizations annually. HF is considered a public health problem with significant economic and social impact, which makes searches essential for strategies that improve the ability to predict and diagnose HF. In this way, biomarkers can help in risk stratification for a more personalized approach to patients with HF.

Exploring the Potential of Genus Essential Oils: A Review of Biological Activities and Recent Advances.

The present study provides a comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of essential oils from species of the genus and their applications. The compiled results highlight the chemical diversity and biological activities of these oils, emphasizing their potential importance for various therapeutic and industrial applications. The findings reveal that essential oils present a variety of bioactive compounds, such as monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, which demonstrate antimicrobial activities against a range of microorganisms, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as yeasts.

Thermal Comfort of Nelore Cattle () Managed in Silvopastoral and Traditional Systems Associated with Rumination in a Humid Tropical Environment in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the thermal comfort of Nelore cattle () managed in silvopastoral and traditional systems associated with rumination behavior in a humid tropical environment in the Eastern Amazon, Brazil. The study was carried out on a rural property in Mojuí dos Campos, Pará, Brazil, during the transition period of the year, from June to July 2023. Over these two months, six consecutive data collection days were held.

Mitochondrial DNA variants, haplogroups and risk of Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Growing evidence has shown that mitochondrial dysfunction is part of the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants on PD onset is unclear.

Objectives: The present study aims to evaluate the effect of mtDNA variants and haplogroups on risk of developing PD.

Lippia alba essential oil: A powerful and valuable antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory medicinal plant from Brazil.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: In Brazilian popular medicine, Lippia alba leaves are used in teas to treat pain and inflammatory diseases.

Aim Of The Study: to evaluate the chemical composition, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory activities of Lippia alba essential oil and its major compound geraniol.

Material And Methods: Lippia alba leaves were collected in Pará state, Brazil.

Osmotic regulators in cowpea beans plants under water deficiency.

Cowpea is a leguminous plant belonging to the fabaceae family cultivated in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, with productive potential. Among the abiotic factors, water deficiency is one of the main environmental limitations that influence agricultural production in the world. The objective of this work was to study the relative water content and osmoregulators of cowpea plants subjected to water stress.

Emotional Eating and Uncontrolled Eating as Risk Predictors for Disordered Eating Attitudes in Candidates for Bariatric Surgery Treated at a Public Hospital in the Amazon.

This study analyzes the eating behavior and factors associated with the presence of disordered eating attitudes in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. It is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted at a hospital in the Amazon region of Brazil. The Disordered Eating Attitude Scale reduced version (DEAS-s) was used to assess the risk of eating disorders and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) was used to characterize eating behavior.

A Review of the Nutritional Aspects and Composition of the Meat, Liver and Fat of Buffaloes in the Amazon.

Thus, this review aims to deepen the understanding of buffalo farming in the Amazon, presenting the quality and nutritional value of buffalo meat and liver. This information serves as a subsidy to improve practices related to the breeding system, nutrition, health and sustainability associated with aquatic buffaloes. For this, a review of the databases was carried out using the descriptors "nutritional value of buffalo meat", "nutritional value of buffalo liver" and "buffalo breeding in the Amazon".

Alternative Substrates for the Development of Fermented Beverages Analogous to Kombucha: An Integrative Review.

Kombucha is a fermented beverage that originated in China and is spread worldwide today. The infusion of leaves is mandatory as the substrate to produce kombucha but alternative plant infusions are expected to increase the opportunities to develop new fermented food products analogous to kombucha, with high technological potential and functional properties. This review gathers information regarding promising alternative substrates to produce kombucha-analogous beverages, focusing on plants available in the Amazonia biome.

Impact of Production Systems on the Levels of Vitamin E, β-Carotene, and Cholesterol in the Liver of Cattle Raised in the Eastern Amazon.

The nutritional composition of bovine liver, particularly in terms of vitamins E, β-carotene, and cholesterol concentration, is significantly influenced by the cattle-rearing system and diet. This study aimed to elucidate the impact of four predominant cattle-rearing systems in the Eastern Amazon region on the vitamin E, β-carotene content, and cholesterol levels in bovine liver during the rainy season. Liver-tissue samples were collected from 48 cattle, with twelve specimens representing each rearing system.

SATIN: a micro and mini satellite mining tool of total genome and coding regions with analysis of perfect repeats polymorphism in coding regions.

Background: Tandem repeats are specific sequences in genomic DNA repeated in tandem that are present in all organisms. Among the subcategories of TRs we have Satellite repeats, that is divided into macrosatellites, minisatellites, and microsatellites, being the last two of specific interest because they can identify polymorphisms between organisms due to their instability. Currently, most mining tools focus on Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) mining, and only a few can identify SSRs in the coding regions.

Study of machine learning techniques for outcome assessment of leptospirosis patients.

Leptospirosis is a global disease that impacts people worldwide, particularly in humid and tropical regions, and is associated with significant socio-economic deficiencies. Its symptoms are often confused with other syndromes, which can compromise clinical diagnosis and the failure to carry out specific laboratory tests. In this respect, this paper presents a study of three algorithms (Decision Tree, Random Forest and Adaboost) for predicting the outcome (cure or death) of individuals with leptospirosis.