RESUMO Práticas inadequadas de manejo antes do abate podem comprometer o bem-estar animal e a qualidade da carne suína. Este estudo visou avaliar os efeitos do período de transporte (TT), período de descarga (TD), e período de pré-abate (TE) nos indicadores termofisiológicos animais e no pH da carne suína, utilizando uma abordagem multivariada. Este estudo foi realizado num matadouro localizado em Aquiraz, Ceará, Brasil. Um total de 60 suínos mestiços com 107 ± 5 kg de peso corporal foram distribuídos em três grupos experimentais: grupo A (TT = 180 min, TD ≤ 10 min, e TE = 24 horas), grupo B (TT = 60 min, TD ≤ 15 min, e TE = 18 horas), e grupo C (TT = 45 min, TD ≤ 5 min, e TE = 24 horas). A análise discriminante canônica foi implementada e as diferenças entre tratamentos são representadas graficamente. Os dois primeiros componentes foram responsáveis por 97% dos tratamentos. A análise discriminante mostrou que o grupo C apresentou diferenças multivariadas em relação aos outros, particularmente com temperatura retal elevada antes do abate (38,4 ± 0,23 °C) e frequência respiratória (131 ± 7,0 respirações min-1) e temperatura retal (39,7 ± 0,18 °C) à chegada ao matadouro. O período de transporte (TT), período de descarga (TD) e o stress térmico das instalações influenciaram variáveis fisiológicas, tais como a temperatura retal e a frequência respiratória. Além disso, as variáveis de estresse fisiológico também favoreceram cortes com pH básico, resultando em perda de qualidade.

ABSTRACT Inadequate pre-slaughter handling practices may compromise animal welfare and pork quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of transport period (TT), unloading period (UT), and pre-slaughtering period (WT) on animal thermophysiological indicators and pork pH using a multivariate approach. This study was conducted in a slaughterhouse located in Aquiraz, Ceará state, Brazil. A total of 60 mestizo pigs with 107 ± 5 kg body weight were distributed into three experimental groups: group A (TT = 180 min, UT ≤ 10 min, and WT = 24 hours), group B (TT = 60 min, UT ≤ 15 min, and WT = 18 hours), and group C (TT = 45 min, UT ≤ 5 min, and WT = 24 hours). Canonical discriminant analysis was implemented and the differences between treatments are represented graphically. The first two components accounted for 97% treatments. The discriminant analysis showed that group C presented multivariate differences in relation to others, particularly with high rectal temperature before slaughter (38.4 ± 0.23 °C) and respiratory rate (131 ± 7.0 breaths min-1) and rectal temperature (39.7 ± 0.18 °C) upon arrival at the slaughterhouse. Transport period (TT), unloading period (UT), and thermal stress of the facilities influenced physiological variables, such as rectal temperature and respiratory rate. Furthermore, the physiological stress variables also favored cuts with basic pH, resulting in quality loss.

RESUMO A presente pesquisa objetivou avaliar a quantidade de carbono estocado no substrato sob influência de espécies de plantas presentes em um telhado verde extensivo em dois períodos. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida nos meses de março e setembro de 2020, no Edifício Garagem do Empresarial Charles Darwin, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. Adotou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com as espécies de plantas (Grama Esmeralda (Zoysia japonica), Lambari roxo (Tradescantia zebrina), and Capim-do-texas (Pennisetum setaceum)) alocadas nas parcelas e os períodos de coleta dos materiais (março e setembro) nas subparcelas. Para isso, foram quantificados o teor de CO2 e concentração de carbono orgânico no substrato. Trinta amostras de substrato foram retiradas em cada período. Para o teor de CO2, não houve diferença estatística entre as espécies, apenas entre os períodos avaliados, com médias de 14.05 e 96.97 mg, para os meses de março e setembro, respectivamente. Sendo assim, setembro apresentou o maior potencial de armazenamento de CO2 no substrato. Para a concentração de carbono orgânico, houve diferença estatística entre as espécies e períodos, com valores médios de 95.05 e 129.22 g kg-1 para as espécies Capim-do-texas e Lambari roxo, respectivamente, e 131.15 e 100.81 g kg-1, para março e setembro, respectivamente.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the influence of three plant species and two periods on the amount of carbon stored in the substrate in an extensive green roof. The study was carried out in March and September 2020 at Charles Darwin Business Garage Building, Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. A completely randomized design with a split-plot scheme was adopted, with plant species (zoysia grass [Zoysia japonica], inch plant [Tradescantia zebrina], and fountain grass [Pennisetum setaceum]) allocated to plots and the material collection periods (March and September) to subplots. The CO2 and organic carbon concentrations in the substrate were quantified. Thirty samples were obtained from the substrate during each period. No statistically significant difference was observed in CO2 content among species treatments; however, there was a significant difference between the two periods evaluated, with average values of 14.05 and 96.97 mg in March and September, respectively. Therefore, September has the greatest potential for CO2 storage in the substrate. Significant differences were observed in organic carbon concentrations among species and between periods, with average values of 95.05 and 129.22 g kg-1 for fountain grass and inch plant, respectively, and 131.15 and 100.81 g kg-1 in March and September, respectively.

RESUMEN Introducción: Las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (ECNT) tienen las tasas de mortalidad y morbilidad más altas del mundo. El uso de plantas medicinales en la terapia de estas enfermedades es una realidad muy extendida. Sin embargo, la mayoría de las especies vegetales contienen cristales de oxalato cálcico, producto del metabolismo vegetal y su ingesta se correlaciona con la aparición de problemas renales como la litiasis urinaria, especialmente en personas predispuestas a estas afecciones. Objetivo: Determinar la cantidad de ácido oxálico en especies vegetales que se utilizan en el tratamiento de las ECNT. Metodología: Se obtuvieron extractos acuosos y ácidos de 0,5 g del fármaco vegetal de la especie y, posteriormente, se tituló con una solución estandarizada de permanganato de potasio 0,02 mol.L-1con las concentraciones de ácido oxálico expresadas en g/100g de fármaco vegetal seco. Resultados: La concentración de ácido oxálico osciló entre 4,58 ± 0,09 g/100 g a 17,21 ± 0,07 g/100 g en especies de plantas y la extracción de ácido fue más eficiente. Se realizó una optimización metodológica para las especies que presentaron los mejores resultados, Psidiumguajava y Artocarpus heterophyllus. Conclusión: Los datos obtenidos pueden servir de base para decisiones médicas y para profesionales que prescriben plantas medicinales.

SUMMARY Introduction: Chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) are a group of diseases characterized by having the highest mortality and morbidity rates in the world. Despite the increase in new drug technologies, the use of medicinal plants as an aid in therapy for these diseases is a widespread reality. However, most plant species contain inorganic crystals of calcium oxalate, a product of plant metabolism, which has several functions in plant tissues. For the human species, its ingestion is associated with the arising of kidney problems such as urinary lithiasis, especially in people who have a predisposition to these conditions. Aim: To determine the amount of oxalic acid in plant species, which are used in the treatment of CNCDs. Methodology: After collection and characterization the plant species, aqueous and acidic extracts were obtained from 0.5 g of the plant drug of each species and, subsequently, were titrated with a standardized 0.02 mol.L-1 potassium permanganate solution and the concentrations of oxalic acid were expressed in g/100 g of dry vegetable drug. Result: The data obtained from the concentration of oxalic acid ranged from 4.58 ± 0.09 g/100 g to 17.21 ± 0.07 g/100 g and demonstrated that the concentrations from acid extraction are higher compared to the aqueous extraction, for all vegetables species analyzed. Methodological optimization was performed for the species that showed the highest results, Psidium guajava and Artocarpus hetero phyllus. Conclusion: The data obtained can serve as input for medical decisions and for professionals who prescribe medicinal plants.

RESUMO Introdução: As doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT) são um grupo de doenças caracterizadas por apresentar as maiores taxas de mortalidade e morbidade do mundo. Apesar do aumento de novas tecnologias medicamentosas, o uso de plantas medicinais como auxiliar na terapia dessas doenças é uma realidade bastante difundida. No entanto, a maioria das espécies vegetais contém cristais inorgânicos de oxalato de cálcio, um produto do metabolismo vegetal, que possui diversas funções nos tecidos vegetais. Para a espécie humana, sua ingestão está associada ao surgimento de problemas renais como a litíase urinária, principalmente em pessoas com predisposição a essas condições. Objetivo: Determinar a quantidade de ácido oxálico em espécies vegetais, que são utilizadas no tratamento de DCNT. Metodologia: Após a coleta e caracterização das espécies vegetais, extratos aquosos e ácidos foram obtidos a partir de 0,5 g da droga vegetal de cada espécie e, posteriormente, titulados com solução padronizada de permanganato de potássio 0,02 mol.L-1 e as concentrações de ácido oxálico foram expressos em g/100 g de fármaco vegetal seco. Resultado: Os dados obtidos da concentração de ácido oxálico variaram de 4,58 ± 0,09 g/100 g a 17,21 ± 0,07 g/100 g e demonstraram que as concentrações da extração ácida são maiores em relação à extração aquosa, para todas as espécies vegetais analisadas. A otimização metodológica foi realizada para as espécies que apresentaram os maiores resultados, Psidiumguajava e Artocarpus heterophyllus. Conclusão: Os dados obtidos podem servir de subsídio para decisões médicas e para profissionais que prescrevem plantas medicinais.

ABSTRACT The characterisation of ventilation during the transport of broilers is essential to identify and solve problems related to the microclimate of the load. This study aimed to evaluate the ventilation patterns in alternative load layouts, i.e., with a central span or an air corridor, used in Brazil. Computational fluid dynamics simulations and wind tunnel tests were performed on virtual models and small-scale prototypes, respectively. The results showed that the load layout with a "central span" promoted positive ventilation patterns and increased wind circulation between the crates. However, it reduces the load transport capacity by approximately 20% (70 fewer crates), increasing the number of journeys. Therefore, the modification of the layout can optimise ventilation throughout the load; however, it becomes necessary to reduce the number of crates stacked on the truck, which is not feasible for the commercial transport of broilers because it makes it more onerous.

Abstract Acute lung injury is an inflammation that triggers acute respiratory distress syndrome with perialveolar neutrophil infiltration, alveolar-capillary barrier damage, and lung edema. Activation of the toll-like receptor 4 complex (TLR4/MD2) and its downstream signaling pathways are responsible for the cytokine storm and cause alveolar damage. Due to the complexity of this pulmonary inflammation, a defined pharmacotherapy has not been established. Thus, this study evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of milonine, an alkaloid of Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl, in an experimental model of lung inflammation. BALB/c mice were lipopolysaccharide-challenged and treated with milonine at 2.0 mg/kg. Twenty-four hours later, the bronchoalveolar fluid, peripheral blood, and lungs were collected for cellular and molecular analysis. The milonine treatment decreased the cell migration (mainly neutrophils) to the alveoli, the pulmonary edema, and the cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α). The systemic IL-6 level was also reduced. The milonine docking analysis demonstrated hydrophobic interaction at TLR4/MD2 groove with Ile124 and Phe126 amino acids. Indeed, the alkaloid downregulated the kinase-Akt and NF-κB through TLR4/MD2. Therefore, milonine is an effective inflammatory modulator being a potential molecule for the treatment of lung inflammation.

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the dynamics of heat zones in the load and its relationship with the stress of pigs during transport. Four journeys of 170 km were monitored, recording the physiological variables of 192 animals (48 per journey), namely rectal temperature (RT), body temperature (BT), respiratory rate (RR), blood lactate concentrations and salivary cortisol. Heat zones and ventilation patterns were characterized by the spatial variability of the enthalpy and the Computational Fluid Dynamics of the load. The formation of a thermal core was observed in the frontal region of the load, which extended through the lower (LD) and upper (UD) decks. Pigs transported in the LD had higher means of RR (UD = 89 and LD = 94 breaths/min), and salivary cortisol (UD = 33.84 and LD = 34.92 ng/mL). The pigs transported in the UD presented the highest mean BT (UD = 38.9 and LD = 38.1 °C) and lactate (UD = 61.63 and LD = 58.26 mg/dL). Pigs transported in the LD of the load were more susceptible to thermal stress, while pigs transported in the UD showed greater physical stress and muscle exhaustion.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the reactivity of the pupillary area (PA) as a non-invasive method for diagnosing stress in piglets submitted to transport. A total of 10 journeys were monitored and grouped according to the transport distance (15 and 75 km). Were sampled 360 piglets (25±3.8 kg) to measure the PA, body temperature (BT), and serum concentrations of cortisol and creatine kinase (CK). The micrometeorological characterization of the load was performed using enthalpy comfort index (ECI). It was possible to identify an increase of 19.32% (+18.91 mm2; P< 0.001) in PA of piglets transported in shorter journeys (15 km), as well as the highest mean values of BT (+ 1.24 °C; P< 0.001), cortisol (+ 2.37 ng/mL; P< 0.001) and CK (+ 379 U/L; P= 0.025). In this study, high correlations of PA were observed with r = 0.922, 0.900, 0.842 and 0.829 ( P< 0.05) for cortisol and CK, BT and ECI of trailer, respectively. In conclusion, we state that PA reactivity is a physiological response for the diagnosis of stress of piglets transported. Further research will refine this technique in order to make this non-invasive acquisition method more practical and adaptable to different transport conditions.

This study describes a virtual screening performed for two series of selenides (28 compounds), derived from N-phenylacetamides chlorides and 7-chloro-quinoline, to determine their potential for leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania donovani. Seven compounds were predicted as potential leishmanicides; therefore, they were synthesized from elemental selenium, as a precursor for the production of NaHSe, and subsequent reactions with 4,7-dichloro-quinoline and N-phenylacetamides chlorides were performed. The compounds were characterized by infrared (IR), 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and sent for in vitro cytotoxicity tests against L. amazonensis and were found to be active and selective, and two compounds presented half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 5.67 and 10.81 µg mL-1. They also presented good interaction energies in the docking study, suggesting that may exert their effects by inhibiting the N-myristoyltransferase and O-acetylserine sulfhydrylase enzymes in parasites.

Four new piperine derivatives, PC1-PC4, were synthesized, and their structures were fully characterized by infrared (IR) and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. Quantum chemical calculations were performed using density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP-D3/6-31G(d,p) and 6-311+G(2d,p) basis sets. Electronic properties, such as the energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and some global chemical reactivity descriptors, were evaluated to study the reactivity and stability of the compounds. 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts were calculated by using the gauge-invariant atomic orbital (GIAO) method and compared with experimental values. In addition, the compounds were evaluated in an antifungal study against Candida, Trichophyton and Microsporum strains, and only PC4 showed 70% inhibition in ten tested strains, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 1.23-2.46 μmol mL-1 and a minimum fungicide concentration (MFC) ranging from 9.84-19.68 μmol mL-1, and presented a fungistatic effect.

ABSTRACT The characterization of ventilation during the transport of broiler chickens is essential for identifying and characterizing the potential problems of a convective heat flow and its effects on the welfare and the health and production conditions of the chickens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ventilation patterns in two layout models of a live transport load: conventional (LC) and alternative (LA) with spacers placed between the chicken transport crates. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel tests were performed using small scale models. The results showed that the use of spacers between crates (LA model) modified the ventilation patterns and increased the wind circulation between crates. However, wind tunnel tests simulating a density of eight birds/crate were inconclusive because the ventilation was below the sensitivity of the measuring devices used (0.001 m/s). It can be concluded that the use of spacers between the transport crates can modify the ventilation patterns within the load and increase the air circulation between the crates. However, the internal ventilation within the crates has not changed, suggesting the need for studies on the aerodynamics of a transport crate for poultry use.

Abstract Aspergillus genus causes many diseases, and the species Aspergillus flavus is highly virulent. Treatment of aspergillosis involves azole derivatives such as voriconazole and polyenes such as amphotericin B. Due to an increase in fungal resistance, treatments are now less effective; the search for new compounds with promising antifungal activity has gained importance. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of the synthetic amide 2-chloro-N-phenylacetamide (A1Cl) against strains of Aspergillus flavus and to elucidate its mechanism of action. Thus, the minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration, conidial germination, associations with antifungal agents, cell wall activities, membrane activities and molecular docking were evaluated. A1Cl presented antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus strains with a minimum inhibitory concentration of between 16 and 256 μg/mL and a minimum fungicidal concentration between 32 and 512 μg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentration of A1Cl also inhibited conidial germination, but when associated with amphotericin B and voriconazole, it promoted antagonistic effects. Binding to ergosterol on the fungal plasma membrane is the likely mechanism of action, along with possible inhibition of DNA synthesis through the inhibition of thymidylate synthase. It is concluded that the amide 2-chloro-N-phenylacetamide has promising antifungal potential.

A series of fifteen new piperine-derived diesters was synthesized through the substitution reaction between the salt of piperic acid, obtained through piperine basic hydrolysis, with the δ-chloro-esters, obtained through the cleavage of tetrahydrofuran (THF) with acyl chlorides in the presence of ZnCl2. The final compounds were obtained with yields ranging from 50 to 84% and were characterized by infrared (IR) and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The new compounds were evaluated in silico in regard to their ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties, and in vitro for their antimicrobial activity against bacteria strains (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosas), yeast fungi (Candida albicans and C. tropicalis) and filamentous fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus and A. niger). The results from the in silico studies of Lipinski’s rule of five showed that most compounds present good pharmacological possibilities, and the results from in vitro antimicrobial activity showed that 8 of the 15 synthesized compounds displayed antimicrobial activity, inhibiting the growth of 40-80% of tested strains, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) interval ranging from 1024 to 256 µg mL−1.

Ten imides derived from safrole, 4a-4j, were synthesized and their structures were fully characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis. Among the ten imides studied, eight are new. The compounds were evaluated in an in silico study and showed strong to moderate antifungal activity against various strains of Candida and Cryptococcus. In particular, compounds 4b, 4c and 4h exhibited strong antifungal activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) between 0.17-0.73 µmol mL-1. The compound 4j exhibited antifungal activity with MIC 1.28 µmol mL-1 for all strains tested. In silico studies of the parameters of Lipinski’s rule of five indicated that these compounds are potential new drug candidates. The predict oral bioavailability can be evaluated through these parameters. In addition, a computational study helped assigning the stereochemistry of compound 4j, where the synthesized mixture is composed by two stereoisomers, 4j(1) (SRR) and 4j(2) (RSS).

This work aims to investigate the energy-related characteristics of apple bagasse, orange bagasse and cashew-apple bagasse to identify their potential as bioenergy feedstocks. For this, a detailed characterization was performed, including proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, atomic molar ratio, heating values, chemical composition, bulk density, bioenergy density, fuel-value-index (FVI), fossil fuel equivalence and potential CO2 retention. Proximate composition revealed moisture, volatile matter, fixed carbon and ash contents in the range of 7.8-9.3%, 67.1-74.2%, 16.2-22.0% and 1.6-5.7%, respectively. Typical values for carbon (44.8-49.9 wt.%), hydrogen (5.5-6.6 wt.%) and oxygen (40.1-44.2 wt.%), with low sulfur (< 0.1 wt.%) and nitrogen (< 2.7 wt.%) contents were found. In regard to bulk density (237.7-554 kg m−3) and bioenergy density (3.93-10.1 GJ m−3), juice processing residues have substantial values when compared with well-known lignocellulosic residues. Recoverable energy potential from the juice processing residues varied from 15.24 to 17.03 MJ kg−1. From FVI analysis, apple bagasse is expected to be more suitable for thermochemical processing. Orange bagasse, on the other hand, has the highest equivalent in fossil fuel volume. Consequently, its use as solid fuel may lead to a decrease in CO2 emissions from reference fuels.

Piperine, previously extracted from black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), was used as a precursor for the synthesis of twelve new diester derivatives. The final products were obtained through the bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction (SN2) of the alkyl 2-chloroacetates and the salt of piperic acid, obtained from the basic hydrolysis of piperine. The compounds were synthesized with yields of 55-84% and characterized by infrared spectroscopy and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance. The evaluation of the compounds’ potential as new drug candidates was done through an in silico study of ADME properties (absorption, distribution, metabolization and excretion) and evaluation of antimicrobial activity against bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), yeasts (Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis) and filamentous fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger). The in silico study showed that the compounds were good drug candidates and antimicrobial evaluation demonstrated that 9 of the 12 compounds exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging 1024-256 μg mL-1.