Resumen El Premio Nobel de Física 2021 fue otorgado a Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann y Giorgio Parisi por sus "contribuciones innovadoras a nuestra comprensión de los sistemas físicos complejos." Aquí repasamos algunas de las ideas y resultados que sirvieron de base científica al premio. También comentamos los trabajos de nuestro grupo de investigación sobre las propiedades de sistemas complejos de los láseres aleatorios y láseres de fibra aleatorios.

Abstract The 2021 Physics Nobel Prize was awarded to Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann, and Giorgio Parisi for their "groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of complex physical systems." Here we review some of the ideas and results which served as the scientific basis to the award. We also comment on the works by our research group on the complex systems properties of random lasers and random fiber lasers.

Resumo Este estudo tem como objetivo verificar como mercados distintos avaliam hotéis no Algarve através da análise de comentários online, a fim de identificar se os atributos de satisfação e insatisfação são semelhantes entre alguns dos principais mercados turísticos da região. São analisadas avaliações online de hotéis no Algarve, escritas em inglês, francês e português e publicadas no Tripadvisor por residentes britânicos, franceses e portugueses de janeiro de 2019 a dezembro de 2019. Após a análise de 8.596 avaliações textuais online, os resultados demonstraram que não apenas as taxas de satisfação e insatisfação em relação aos atributos hoteleiros diferem de acordo com a língua, mas também que clientes de diferentes países colocam ênfase diferente nos atributos do hotel. Além de ampliar a pesquisa atual sobre o uso de revisões online, os resultados deste estudo também auxiliam os hoteleiros a identificar oportunidades de melhoria. Embora muitos estudos sobre segmentação de marketing por meio da mineração de dados tenham sido realizados, este artigo analisa a satisfação dos clientes dos mercados turísticos relevantes e sugere implicações práticas atualizadas para os hoteleiros.

Abstract This study aims to verify how distinct markets evaluate hotels in the Algarve through the analysis of online reviews, in order to identify if satisfaction and dissatisfaction attributes are similar among some of the main markets of overnight stay tourists in the region. Online reviews of hotels in the Algarve, written in English, French as well as Portuguese and posted on Tripadvisor by British, French and Portuguese residents from January 2019 to December 2019 are analysed. After the analysis of 8,596 online textual reviews, the results demonstrated that not only satisfaction and dissatisfaction rates towards hotel attributes differ according to the language, but also that customers from different countries place dissimilar emphasis on hotel attributes. Besides extending the current research on the use of online reviews, the findings of this study also assist hoteliers to identify improvement opportunities. Although many studies on marketing segmentation through data mining have been conducted, this paper analyses the customer satisfaction of relevant tourist markets and suggests up-to-date practical implications for hoteliers.

Two series of allyl sulfonamides, prepared from Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts and primary aromatic sulfonamides, were fully characterized. The Z configuration for the products derived from 2-[hydroxy(phenyl)methyl]acrylonitrile (1) and E configuration for those derived from methyl 2-[hydroxy(phenyl)methyl]acrylate (2) were confirmed by X-ray diffraction for one compound of each series (1e, 2f). Density functional theory calculations for all allyl sulfonamides agreed with the X-ray crystallographic data. X-ray diffraction studies indicate that these compounds form dimers in their crystal structures. Fingerprint plots show that compound 1e is stabilized by H⋯H, C⋯H/H⋯C, O⋯H/H⋯O and N⋯H/H⋯N interactions, while the compound 2f has no N⋯H/H⋯N contacts. Hirshfeld surface analyses were performed to gain insight into the behavior of these interactions. Calculated frontier orbitals showed that their highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals are antibonding orbitals. The allyl sulfonamides 1e and 2f are among the most active compounds in each series, inhibiting approximately 60% of the mycelial growth of Botrytiscinerea at 3 mmol L-1.

Resumen Con el objetivo de exponer el potencial de los sistemas dinámicos de orden fraccionario, inconmensurables para la modelación de fenómenos epidemiológicos, en este artículo se ajustarán los parámetros de una generalización fraccionaria del modelo SIR (susceptibles, infectados y recuperados) para describir las distribuciones poblacionales generadas por el SARS-CoV-2 en Francia y Colombia, dos países cuyos contextos son totalmente diferentes. Asimismo, se mostrará cómo el sistema presentado logra describir adecuadamente los dos contextos debido a la flexibilidad proporcionada por las ecuaciones diferenciales de orden fraccionario. Los datos, para Colombia, fueron obtenidos del registro hecho por el Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones, considerándose las fechas del 24 de marzo del 2020 hasta el 10 de julio del mismo año. Por su parte, para Francia, los datos fueron tomados del monitoreo hecho por el Ministerio de Solidaridad y Salud, en un periodo comprendido desde el 1 de mayo de 2020 hasta el 6 de septiembre del mismo año. La metodología seguida es un análisis exploratorio centrado en la solución del modelo SIR fraccionario a partir del método de la transformación fraccionaria, ajustado mediante un plan sofisticado de optimización llamado algoritmo BOBYQA. Los resultados presentados muestran que el porcentaje de error máximo para la evolución de la población susceptible, infectada y recuperada en Francia es de 0.05 %, 19 % y 6 %, respectivamente. Mientras tanto, en Colombia se tiene un valor correspondiente de 0.003 %, 19 %, 38 %, esto para datos en los que se inició la dispersión de la enfermedad, donde la intervención humana no tuvo un cambio contundente en la comunidad.

Abstract To show the potential of non-commensurable fractional-order dynamical systems in modeling epidemiological phenomena, we will adjust the parameters of a fractional generalization of the SIR model to describe the population distributions generated by SARS-CoV-2 in France and Colombia. Despite the completely different contexts of both countries, we will see how the system presented here manages to adequately model them thanks to the flexibility provided by the fractional-order differential equations. The data for Colombia were obtained from the records published by the Colombian Ministry of Information Technology and Communications from March 24 to July 10, 2020. Those for France were taken from the information published by the Ministry of Solidarity and Health from May 1 to September 6, 2020. As for the methodology implemented in this study, we conducted an exploratory analysis focused on solving the fractional SIR model by means of the fractional transformation method. In addition, the model parameters were adjusted using a sophisticated optimization method known as the Bound Optimization BY Quadratic Approximation (BOBYQA) algorithm. According to the results, the maximum error percentage for the evolution of the susceptible, infected, and recovered populations in France was 0.05%, 19%, and 6%, respectively, while that for the evolution of the susceptible, infected, and recovered populations in Colombia was 0.003%, 19%, and 38%, respectively. This was considered for data in which the disease began to spread and human intervention did not imply a substantial change in the community.

Abstract Background Insects can be found in numerous diverse environments, being exposed to pathogenic organisms like fungi and bacteria. Once these pathogens cross insect physical barriers, the innate immune system operates through cellular and humoral responses. Antimicrobial peptides are small molecules produced by immune signaling cascades that develop an important and generalist role in insect defenses against a variety of microorganisms. In the present work, a cecropin B-like peptide (AgCecropB) sequence was identified in the velvetbean caterpillar Anticarsia gemmatalis and cloned in a bacterial plasmid vector for further heterologous expression and antimicrobial tests. Methods AgCecropB sequence (without the signal peptide) was cloned in the plasmid vector pET-M30-MBP and expressed in the Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) expression host. Expression was induced with IPTG and a recombinant peptide was purified using two affinity chromatography steps with Histrap column. The purified peptide was submitted to high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and structural analyses. Antimicrobial tests were performed using gram-positive (Bacillus thuringiensis) and gram-negative (Burkholderia kururiensis and E. coli) bacteria. Results AgCecropB was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) at 28°C with IPTG 0.5 mM. The recombinant peptide was purified and enriched after purification steps. HRMS confirmed AgCrecropB molecular mass (4.6 kDa) and circular dichroism assay showed α-helix structure in the presence of SDS. AgCrecropB inhibited almost 50% of gram-positive B. thuringiensis bacteria growth. Conclusions The first cecropin B-like peptide was described in A. gemmatalis and a recombinant peptide was expressed using a bacterial platform. Data confirmed tertiary structure as predicted for the cecropin peptide family. AgCecropB was capable to inhibit B. thuringiensis growth in vitro.

Abstract A thermal comfort index for the Northeast of Brazil was analyzed for two scenarios of climatic changes, A1B and A2, for 2021-2080, and compared with the reference period 1961-1990. A technique of regionalization was applied to rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature data from meteorological stations, obtained by statistical downscaling of projections from four global climate models. The results pointed to a significant reduction of rainfall and an increase of temperature for three different climatically homogeneous subregions. Regarding the thermal comfort index, the results point to an increase in days with heat discomfort between 2021 and 2080. In the northern portion, the higher percentage of days with heat discomfort will be significant since the first half of the period under appreciation, i.e., from 2021 to 2050. Conversely, in the eastern of northeastern Brazil, the increase of days with heat discomfort should happen in the period from 2051 to 2080, whereas the central-western part of the region, which, in the reference period, had recorded less than 1% of days with heat discomfort, might see an elevation of that percentage to 7% between 2021 and 2050, potentially reaching 48% of its days made uncomfortable by heat between 2051 and 2080.

Abstract This work is taken up to evaluate the relationship between the thermal comfort of spectators and athletes and the prevailing meteorological conditions during Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Empirical and physiological thermal comfort indices are calculated from data collected from an automatic weather station installed near the Olympic Stadium and interviews with the spectators. The study period was marked by a gradual rise in air temperature and by the occurrence of two significant weather events associated with wind gusts, which caused disturbances in some areas of the competitions. ET and NET were below the air temperature, indicating that both humidity and wind contributed to the reduction of the human-biometeorological indices. Majority of the interviewed persons reported comfortable sensation and weather conditions. These perceptions corroborate results of the thermal comfort indices calculated for these resting spectators. The comfort indices calculated for the athletes with high level of physical activity showed that PET estimated hotter thermal sensation those for the individuals at rest, indicating that the physical type of a person may strongly influence the thermal sensation and comfort during intense physical activity. Increasing trend observed in all the indices of human thermal comfort during the period of study shows consistency among them.

Congenital eyelid eversion is a rare condition of unknown aetiology. It has a higher prevalence in males and African populations, particularly in west African countries. Eyelid eversion is thought to be caused by birth trauma and/or intrauterine factors in the presence of certain predisposing factors. These factors include a vertically short anterior lid lamellae or vertical elongation of the posterior lamellar, generalised tissue hyperelasticity, congenital elevator disinsertion, absence of levator muscle function and/or some other intrinsic lid abnormality. Once everted, irritation of the eye causes orbicularis muscle spasm. This acts as a sphincter resulting in conjunctival strangulation with venous congestion and stasis. Increasing venous congestion causes conjunctival oedema that worsens the eyelid eversion. Here, we present one of the first known cases of congenital eyelid eversion that was successfully treated with conservative measures in a South African setting.

An analytical method for the determination of Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Na and Zn in breast of conventional, country and Christmas chicken and turkey samples using microwave induced plasma optical emission spectrometry (MIP-OES) technique was developed. Samples were decomposed in a digester block with a reflux system under conditions optimized using a central composite design as it follows: 2 g of sample, in 7.5 mL of HNO3 during 180 min at 160 °C. The accuracy was evaluated by the analysis of standard reference material SRM 1546 meat homogenate (94 to 108%) and also by addition and recovery tests (80 to 121%). The highest concentrations, in mg kg-1, of Al (2.77), Ca (88.3), Cu (1.99), Fe (3.65), K (3236), Mg (292.62) and Na (312.03) were found in the breast of conventional chicken sample. Zinc presented high value in the breast of turkey sample (10.6 mg kg-1). However, the found concentrations were lower than the daily consumption limit established by supervisory agencies and reference limits from Brazilian legislation. Cadmium, Cr and Hg presented values below limit of quantification. In this way, it is evident that chicken breast should be consumed in a complementary way in a healthy diet.

ABSTRACT The search for productive and stable genotypes is the main goal of breeding programs. The Genotype × Environment interaction strongly influences genotype performance, and makes the selection of new cultivars difficult. One way to take advantage of this interaction is to identify genotypes with high grain yield (GY) and stability in different environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the consistency of correlation between GY and stability evaluation methods in multi-environment trials and identify which methods are more suitable for selecting genotypes. GY data from 11 soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) cultivars conducted in Value for Cultivation and Use trials in 10 locations in Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul states, Brazil, in the 2013-2014, 2014-2015, and 2015-2016 crop seasons. A randomized complete block design with three replicates was used. Seven methods were applied to evaluate stability, and Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to compare methods. Positive associations were observed between GY and the harmonic mean of genotypic values (HMGV) across environments and genotype main effect + Genotype × Environment interaction effect by ideal genotype (GGE IG) methodologies, and between GY and the Lin and Binns method modified by Carneiro for general and unfavorable environments. The Eberhart and Russell, additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI1), and GGE for stability (GGE STA) methods presented no positive associations with GY in any year. Positive associations were found between the Wricke, AMMI1, and Eberhart and Russell methods because they were related to the static stability concept. The HMGV and GGE IG methods can be used together because they are consistently associated with GY and based on the dynamic stability concept.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration of Cu, Zn, Cr and Pb in different species of fish collected in the estuarine and limnic regions of the São Gonçalo channel, located in the Patos-Mirim lagoon complex in the coastal plain of Rio Grande do Sul State (Southern Brazil) during 2013 (autumn, winter and spring) and 2014 (summer). Fish samples were decomposed in a digester block with a reflux system under conditions optimized using a central composite design as it follows: 250 mg of fish sample, 5 mL HNO3, 2 mL H2O2 during 2 h at 150 °C. The concentrations obtained ranged from 6.7 to 12.0 mg kg -1 for Cu; 1.8 to 23.6 mg kg -1 for Zn; 37 to 487 µg kg -1 for Pb; and 40 to 1268 µg kg -1 for Cr. The highest concentrations of Cu, Zn and Pb, were observed in fishes collected at locations in the estuarine region and Cr showed high levels, especially in the limnic region. The samples of the species Loricariichthys anus (viola) showed the highest concentrations of all analytes investigated.

This paper presents a study involving the development of a new mini polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vessel project for biological sample preparation in micro scale in closed system with microwave radiation for subsequent determination of Cd, K, Mg and Na by atomic spectrometry techniques. All experiments were carried out in micro quantities of samples (up to 20 mg) and reagents (300 µL of HNO3) for 5 min at 350 W. Certified reference materials of biological samples (bovine muscle and liver) were used to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed system and the results obtained were in agreement with the certified value at 95% of confidence (t -test). Relative standard deviations (RSD) were lower than 8.0% for all elements. The proposed method is not only easy and fast, but it is also based on the use of an inexpensive system for sample digestion.

ABSTRACT This study covers the evaluation of the structure and the capacity in adsorbing orthophosphate ions of kaolinites collected from sampling sites in Manaus (Brazil). The kaolinites were obtained using physical fractioning (sieving/siphoning) techniques and chemical treatment with HCl, H2SO4, H2O2 and KCl. The investigation of the kaolinite lattices involved the Hinckley and Plançon indexes determined from X-ray diffraction data, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The absorption capacity of orthophosphate ions was calculated by Freundlich and Langergren isotherms. A transitional state was observed in the crystallographic structure from kaolinites because of the isomorphic substitution of Al3+ by Fe3+. This isomorphic substitution occurs accompanied by the optical pleochroism behavior, but it also reduces the mean particle sizes and increases the number of structural defects and magnetic properties of these kaolinites. Mössbauer spectroscopy showed that the substituting Fe3+ preferentially occupies octahedral sites. In the kaolinite lattices there are different octahedral sites of Al bounded by cis-OH-Fe3+ and trans-OH-Fe3+ octahedral sites. The kaolinite from the Kao1 sample has a higher number of cis-OH-Fe3+ from octahedral sites and is able to adsorb higher contents of orthophosphate ions than those from samples Kao2 and Kao3.

In this work, the photochemical vapor generation (PVG) coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry and a pre-concentration step with an Au column was used for the determination of Hg in biological samples and ethanol fuel. PVG with pre-concentration showed an up to 250-fold higher sensitivity compared to the approach without pre-concentration. The accuracy of analysis of biological samples was evaluated using certified reference materials (fish tissues), while for ethanol fuel samples, recovery tests were employed (91%). Analytical curves were linear (R > 0.99) in the studied range of 2.5 to 10 µg L-1 for conventional PVG and 0.2 to 0.5 µg L-1 for PVG with the pre-concentration step. For the last, the limits of detection reached for biological samples and ethanol fuel were 0.02 and 0.01 µg L-1, respectively. The systems presented are simple, sensitive and safe for the control of low Hg concentrations in different samples. However, only the system using pre-concentration with an Au column was capable of obtaining the reproduced signals of Hg in low concentrations of the order of 0.2 µg L-1.

This paper describes the optimization of a sample preparation method using response surface methodology for Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni and Ti determinations in samples of rice husk and rice husk ash by MIP OES. Sample preparation was performed using a reflux system adapted to the digestion tubes. This system allowed the decomposition of the samples without the necessity of replacement of the acids during this step without any loss of volatile elements. The decompositions were performed with 3.6 mL of HNO3 and 1.4 mL of H2SO4 for 205 min in a digester block at 225 ºC. The detection limit for determination of respective analytes in both samples were satisfactory. The RSDs for the analytes were less than 10%. Moreover, the accuracy of the method can be verified by recovery tests, whose values ranged from 82 to 115% for husk samples and 82 to 120% for ashes. The proposed method was presented as a simple, safe and low cost procedure being suitable for sample preparation and subsequent determination of metals by MIP OES.