ABSTRACT Proper sampling of grain losses during harvesting operations, with reliable and efficient sizing of sample, is necessary for an efficient adjustment of the harvester to avoid harvest losses. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate sampling intensity and sample size for harvest loss evaluations in soybean crops. Sampling was carried out in five locations with soybean crops, evaluating three different harvesters. Harvest losses were measured using square wooden frames (50 × 50 cm), which were arranged on the ground longitudinally across the harvester header width after its passage; this process was repeated 25 times at each location. The greatest harvester header width in Location 1 enabled to simulate different sample sizes for this location (50 × 100, 50 × 150, 50 × 200, and 50 × 250 cm). Only one sample size (50 × 100 cm) was used for the simulations in the other locations. Sampling only half the harvester header width is recommended to estimate harvest losses when using 62-foot harvester header, whereas 12.5- and 17-foot harvester headers requires sampling across the entire harvester header width, with a semi-amplitude of the confidence interval of 20% of the mean for all harvesters.

RESUMO Devido às perdas de grãos que ocorrem durante a operação de colheita por não realizar a amostragem, ou realizá-la de forma ineficiente, é necessário seu dimensionamento para que seja confiável e eficiente, para que se possa realizar a adequada regulagem da colhedora e evitar as perdas de colheita. Neste sentido o objetivo desta pesquisa foi estimar a intensidade e tamanho amostral para avaliar perdas de colheita na cultura da soja. Foram realizadas amostragens em cinco localidades de produção soja, sendo avaliadas três colhedoras. Para mensuração, foram utilizadas estruturas de madeira quadradas, com dimensões de 50 × 50 cm, em que as mesmas foram dispostas longitudinalmente em toda a largura da plataforma da colhedora após a passagem da mesma. Esse processo foi repetido 25 vezes em cada local. Devido à maior largura da plataforma da colhedora na localidade 1, foi possível simular diferentes tamanhos amostrais para esta situação (50 × 100, 50 × 150, 50 × 200 e 50 × 250 cm). Para as demais localidades foi possível simular apenas um tamanho amostral de 50 × 100 cm. Para estimar perdas de colheita de colhedoras que possuem largura de plataformas de colheita de 62 pés, recomenda-se amostrar apenas a metade da largura de colheita. Já para as colhedoras com dimensões de plataformas de 12,5 e 17 pés de corte é recomendado que seja amostrado toda a largura de colheita com uma semi-amplitude do intervalo de confiança igual a 20% da média para todas as colhedoras.

ABSTRACT Brazil is one of the world's largest guava (Psidium guajava) producing countries, but the economic performance of this crop can be negatively affected by the damage caused by Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). The main methods for controlling C. capitata are based on broad-spectrum insecticide applications. However, the negative effects of using this control method stimulate the development of sustainable alternatives, such as the use of essential oils (EO). In this sense, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the repellent activity of EO of citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), clove (Syzygium aromaticum), and copaiba (Copaifera officinalis) for repellency of C. capitata in Paluma guava fruits and determine their effects on postharvest fruit quality, under laboratory-controlled conditions. The fruits were treated with citronella, clove, and copaiba EO and placed in covered plastic containers attached to the ends of arenas of 20 cm diameter and 15 cm height. The fruit physical and chemical analysis was carried out based on the same oils applied in the repellent test. The C. nardus essential oil presented a greater repellency of C. capitata females. The EO applications proved to be a good strategy for maintaining the fruit post-harvest quality.

RESUMO O Brasil está entre os maiores produtores mundiais de goiaba (Psidium guajava), mas o rendimento econômico dessa cultura pode ser negativamente afetado pelos danos causados por Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). Os principais métodos de controle de C. capitata são baseados em aplicações de inseticidas de amplo espectro. Porém, os efeitos negativos do uso desse controle estimulam o desenvolvimento de alternativas sustentáveis, como o uso de óleos essenciais. Nesse sentido, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade repelente dos óleos essenciais de citronela (Cymbopogon nardus), cravo (Syzygium aromaticum) e copaíba (Copaifera officinalis) em fruto de goiabeiras Paluma contra C. capitata e determinar suas influências na qualidade pós-colheita desses frutos trabalhados. Em condições controladas de laboratório, os frutos foram tratados com óleos essenciais de citronela, cravo e copaíba e acondicionados em recipientes de plástico com dimensões de 20 cm de diâmetro e 15 cm de altura. A análise físico-química dos frutos foi realizada com base nos mesmos óleos aplicados no teste de repelência. O óleo essencial de C. nardus apresentou maior repelência às fêmeas de C. capitata. A aplicação de óleos essenciais, mostrou-se uma estratégia para manutenção da qualidade póscolheita.

ABSTRACT Soil quality, measured through its chemical, physical and microbiological attributes, changes as a result of anthropic sensations and becomes an important tool to assess environmental quality. The objective of this study was to determine and evaluate the Quality Index of an Ultisol in a long-term (17-yr) plots under different management systems in the Coastal Tablelands of Sergipe State, in Northeastern, Brazil. Main effects were conventional tillage (CT), no-tillage (NT), and minimum tillage (MT) distributed cultivated strips with corn as the main crop. Split-range treatments were randomly distributed and cultivated with cowpea beans (Vigna unguiculata), sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), and millet (Pennisetum glaucum). A forest soil was used as reference, compared to the soil samples of the cultivated area. The Soil Quality Index (SQI) for the 0-0.10 m layer was calculated by the additive method. There were changes in soil properties between the different management systems, and between the experimental soil and the reference area. The highest SQI was obtained from the forest area (67.1) followed by the NT treatment (65.5), MT (65.1) and CT treatment (61.0). The lowest SQI was observed in the CT treatment previously cultivated with pigeon pea (56.5). Among the evaluated soil functions, maintenance of homeostasis had the greatest influence on the SQI. The higher acidity of the forest soil helps to explain the origin of the limitations of the soil in the cultivated area that occupies the same type of soil, tolerated by the adoption of conservationist managements.

RESUMO A qualidade do solo, medida por meio de seus atributos químicos, físicos e microbiológicos, muda em função das interações antrópicas e torna-se uma importante ferramenta para avaliar a qualidade ambiental. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar e avaliar o Índice de Qualidade de um Argissolo em parcelas de longo prazo (17 anos) sob diferentes sistemas de manejo nos Tabuleiros Costeiros do Estado de Sergipe, Nordeste do Brasil. Os principais efeitos foram plantio convencional (CC), cultivo minimo (CM) e plantio direto (MT) distribuídos em faixas cultivadas com milho como cultura principal. Os tratamentos fracionados foram distribuídos aleatoriamente e cultivados com feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata), crotalária (Crotalaria juncea), feijão guandu (Cajanus cajan) e milheto (Pennisetum glaucum). Um solo florestal foi utilizado como referência. O Índice de Qualidade do Solo (IQS) para a camada de 0-0,10 m foi calculado pelo método aditivo. Houve mudanças nas propriedades do solo entre os diferentes sistemas de manejo, e entre o solo do experimento e a área de referência. O maior IQS foi obtido da área de floresta (67,1) seguido do tratamento PD (65,5), CM (65,1) e tratamento CC (61,0). O menor IQS foi observado no tratamento CC previamente cultivado com feijão guandu (56,5). Dentre as funções avaliadas do solo, a manutenção da homeostase teve a maior influência no IQS. A maior acidez do solo florestal ajuda a explicar a origem das limitações do solo na área cultivada que ocupa o mesmo tipo de solo, exigindo a adoção de manejos conservacionistas.

ABSTRACT Salt stress affects the production of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) seedlings. However, substrates with alternative materials in their composition can mitigate the harmful effects on the formation of watermelon seedlings. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the emergence and production of watermelon seedlings grown in different substrates under salt stress. The research was conducted in an agricultural greenhouse belonging to the Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira, Redenção, Ceará, Brazil. The experimental design used was completely randomized in a split-plot scheme. The plots were five levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (ECw: 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 dS m-1) and the subplots consisted of two formulations of substrates (SB1: sandy soil + sand + bovine manure; and SB2: sandy soil + sand + biochar; both in a 1:1:1 proportion on volume basis), with five repetitions of 25 seeds. The increase in the electrical conductivity of irrigation water from 1.5 dS m-1 reduces the percentage, speed index, and mean speed of emergence and increases the mean time of emergence of the watermelon crop. Substrate formulated with biochar reduces the time and increases the emergence indexes, besides enabling higher growth and biomass accumulation of watermelon seedlings. Salt stress reduces the growth, biomass, and quality of watermelon seedlings, but with less intensity with the addition of biochar.

RESUMO O estresse salino afeta a produção de mudas de melancia (Citrullus lanatus). Porém, substratos com materiais alternativos na sua composição podem mitigar os efeitos deletérios na formação de mudas de melancia. Dessa forma, objetivou-se avaliar no presente estudo a emergência e a produção de mudas de melancia cultivada em diferentes substratos sob estresse salino. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em estufa agrícola pertencente à Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira, Redenção, Ceará, Brasil. O delineamento experimental adotado foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema de parcelas subdivididas. As parcelas corresponderam à cinco níveis de condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação (CEa: 0,5, 1,5, 2,5, 3,5 e 4,5 dS m-1) e as subparcelas à duas formulações de substratos (SB1: areia + arisco + esterco bovino; e SB2: areia + arisco + biochar; ambos com proporção 1:1:1 base de volume), com cinco repetições de 25 sementes. A elevação da condutividade elétrica da água a partir de 1,5 dS m-1 reduz os índices de emergência, e aumenta o tempo médio de emergência da cultura da melancia. Substrato formulado com biochar favorece os índices de emergência, além de possibilitar maior taxa de crescimento e desenvolvimento da biomassa de plântulas de melancia. O estresse salino reduz o desenvolvimento e a qualidade de plântulas de melancia, porém com menor intensidade com adição de biocarvão.

Criminal minds create new psychoactive substances (NPS) to dribble the Drug Regulatory System. Early Warning Systems (EWA) were instituted worldwide to combat this practice. Brazilian government has started establishing EWA at a national level since August 2021. The role of drug analysis laboratories in EWA is very important and experts working at forensic laboratories are in the main position to detect NPS and any changes in the molecular structures. However, for this practice, it is necessary to use reliable analyses techniques for unequivocal identification. The goal of this work is to use single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) to detect the presence of NPS and elucidate its molecular structure using single crystals from a seized blotter paper. XRD is also useful to prepare reference substances to produce entries to be included in Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mass spectrometry databases, which are some of the most relevant routine techniques in forensic laboratories. This approach was used to study the NPS 25R-NBOH and 25I-NBOMe using XRD, FTIR, Raman, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The results showed that molecular structure methods must be used to elucidate NPS in an unambiguous manner and the potential of XRD use in the forensic area as a reference method.

Abstract Chemical and pharmacological potentials of botanical species found in the Cerrado are well-known and widely studied. Chemical diversity of secondary metabolites produced by plants that belong to this Brazilian biome has triggered several studies in the fields of farming, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) from fresh leaves of three species found in the Brazilian Cerrado: Cardiopetalum calophyllum Schltdl. (EO-CC), Campomanesia adamantium (Cambess.) O. Berg (EO-CA) and Protium ovatum Engl. (EO-PO) and at determining their anti-Malassezia furfur and anti-inflammatory activities. Both GC-FID and GC-MS showed that the most abundant chemical class of the oils was the one of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. The major constituents identified in EO-CC were germacrene D (34.9%) and bicyclogermacrene (26.8%). EO-CA exhibited mainly germacrene D (21.7%) while EO-PO had high concentrations of germacrene D (25.0%) and γ-muurolene (18.6%). EOs were tested by the broth microdilution method on 96-well microplates and exhibited satisfactory activity against M. furfur, i. e., EO-CA had MIC = 375 µg/mL while EO-CC and EO-PO had MIC = 750 µg/mL. The chemotaxis model, which was used for evaluating their anti-inflammatory activity, showed that EOs exhibited effective results: C. calophyllum (EO-CC; IC50 = 24.4 µg/mL), C. adamantium (EO-CA; IC50 = 15.7 µg/mL) and P. ovatum (EO-PO; IC50 = 32.5 µg/mL). In short, biological activities of EO-CC, EO-CA and EO-PO, such as anti-Malassezia furfur and anti-inflammatory ones, were investigated and described for the first time.

Abstract Introduction Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with emtricitabine/tenofovir (FTC/TDF) is highly effective in preventing HIV infection. This study aimed to identify factors associated with PrEP early loss to follow-up (ELFU) among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM), travestis and transgender women (TGW). Methodology This was a prospective cohort study evaluating TGW and MSM who initiated PrEP at the Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI-Fiocruz) from 2014 to 2020. ELFU was defined as not returning for a PrEP visit within 180 days after first dispensation. Exposure variables included age, gender, race, education, transactional sex, condomless anal intercourse [CAI] (both in the past six months), binge drinking and substance use (both in past three months) and syphilis diagnosis at baseline. Multilevel logistic regression models with random intercepts and fixed slopes were used to identify factors associated with ELFU accounting for clustering of participants according to their PrEP initiation study/context (PrEP Brasil, PrEParadas, ImPrEP and PrEP SUS). Results Among 1,463 participants, the median age was 29 years (interquartile range 24-36), 83% self-identified as MSM, 17% as TGW, 24% were black, 37% mixed-black/pardo and 30% had < 12 years of education. Fifteen percent reported transactional sex, 59% reported CAI, 67% binge drinking, 33% substance use, and 15% had a syphilis diagnosis. Overall, 137 participants (9.7%) had ELFU. Younger age (18-24 years) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.9, 95%CI:1.2-3.2), TGW (aOR 2.8, 95%CI:1.6-4.8) and education < 12 years (aOR 1.9, 95%CI:1.2-2.9) were associated with greater odds of ELFU. Conclusion TGW, young individuals and those with lower education were at higher risk of PrEP ELFU. Our results suggest that the development of specific strategies targeting these populations should be a priority, through policies that aim to reduce the incidence of HIV infection.

Abstract Lychnophora pinaster, known as arnica-mineira, is endemic to campos rupestres, at risk of extinction. The present study aimed to characterize the ecogeography and phenolic constituents of 11 L. pinaster populations collected in the mesoregions North, Jequitinhonha, Metropolitan of Belo Horizonte and Campos das Vertentes in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Phenolic constituents were identified and quantified by Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry. Lychnophora pinaster occurs in sites at high altitude (700 and 1498 m), annual rainfall of up to 1455 m, soils with low fertility and predominantly loamy texture. Therefore, it can be considered tolerant to acidic soils, with low availability of nutrient. The most abundant substances in all populations were vitexin (18 – 1345 ng/g) and chlorogenic acid (60 – 767 ng/g). The 11 populations formed four groups in relation to the phenolic constituents, with group 1 consisting of the populations of the North Mesoregion (GM, OD) and Jetiquinhonha (DIMa), group 2, the Metropolitan of Belo Horizonte (SRM, NLSC, SM, RPS, CTRA), group 3, the North Mesoregion (ODMa and DI), and group 4, the Campos das Vertentes (CC). Among the populations, only those from the Metropolitan of Belo Horizonte showed correlation of soil properties with phenolic constituents.

The chemical-mineralogical characterization of rupestrian paintings in red, white, black and yellow colors, which decorate the rocky walls from the archaeological sites of Ema and Furna dos Índios (Inhuma, Piauí, Brazil) was performed. The chemical analyses were performed in situ by the non-invasive analytical technique X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) as well as in laboratory using a non-destructive approach, without previous sample preparation, and Raman microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) techniques. The results, when together, allowed unequivocal identification of the main substances responsible for the color pigments, namely, hematite (red pigment), gypsum (white pigment), amorphous carbon from charcoal (black pigment) and goethite (yellow pigment).

Electrospinning was used to produce poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based nanofibers containing nerolidol (NER) as the antimicrobial agent. The scanning electron microscopy results indicated the formation of homogeneous fibers in the absence of NER. However, its incorporation into the fiber prevented the complete solvent evaporation, ultimately leading to the coalescence of the fibers. It became more evident as the amount of NER increased from 0 to 50% m/v. The incorporation of NER also decreased the crystallinity of the fibers from 10 to ca. 6.5%. However, this decrease was not proportional to the concentration of NER. The contact angle results confirmed the presence of NER molecules on the surface of the fibers especially due to the increase of the contact angle from 0 (PVA/NER0) to 27.8º (PVA/NER50). The fibrous mats exhibited good antimicrobial activity, being even more efficient than the control in some cases, suggesting their potential for wound-dressing purposes.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Scientific production is a fundamental element for the reputation of a researcher and a university in such a way that the pressure to publish becomes increasingly prevalent in academia. Objective: We seek to analyze the growing phenomenon of predatory journals as a threat to the scientific universe and the ways in which they can be identified and avoided. Methodology: Based on the international literature, the concept, characteristics and ways of identifying predatory journals are discussed, in addition to some questions that can illuminate reflections on the ethical impacts that this reality has brought to the academic environment. Results: It is evident the need to face this threat through a joint action of authors (researchers), editors, teaching and research institutions, research funding agencies, and bibliographic databases in order to guarantee that scientific communication in the most diverse fields of knowledge is carried out in ethical, transparent and defensible ways. Conclusion: It is necessary for investigators to develop a specific competence to distinguish between reliable and fraudulent journals, disregarding invitations, which are often tempting, to publish or join editorial committees of predatory journals.

RESUMO Introdução: A produção científica constitui elemento fundamental para a reputação de um pesquisador e de uma universidade de tal modo que a pressão por publicar se torna cada vez mais preponderante no meio acadêmico. Objetivo: Busca-se analisar o crescente fenômeno das revistas predatórias como uma ameaça ao universo científico e as formas para que possam ser identificadas e evitadas. Metodologia: Com base na literatura internacional, discute-se o conceito, características e as formas de identificação das revistas predatórias, além de algumas questões que podem iluminar as reflexões sobre os impactos que essa realidade vem trazendo ao meio acadêmico. Resultados: Evidencia-se a necessidade de fazer frente a essa ameaça por meio de uma ação conjunta de autores (os investigadores), editores, instituições de ensino e pesquisa, agências de fomento à pesquisa, e bases de dados bibliográficas no sentido de garantir que a comunicação científica nos mais diversos campos do conhecimento se faça em moldes éticos, transparentes e defensáveis. Conclusão: Torna-se necessário o desenvolvimento, por parte dos investigadores, de uma competência específica para distinguir entre as revistas confiáveis e as fraudulentas desconsiderando os convites, muitas vezes tentadores, para publicar ou integrar comitês editoriais de periódicos predatórias.

Objective: To improve the ability of psychiatry researchers to build, deploy, maintain, reproduce, and share their own psychophysiological tasks. Psychophysiological tasks are a useful tool for studying human behavior driven by mental processes such as cognitive control, reward evaluation, and learning. Neural mechanisms during behavioral tasks are often studied via simultaneous electrophysiological recordings. Popular online platforms such as Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and Prolific enable deployment of tasks to numerous participants simultaneously. However, there is currently no task-creation framework available for flexibly deploying tasks both online and during simultaneous electrophysiology. Methods: We developed a task creation template, termed Honeycomb, that standardizes best practices for building jsPsych-based tasks. Honeycomb offers continuous deployment configurations for seamless transition between use in research settings and at home. Further, we have curated a public library, termed BeeHive, of ready-to-use tasks. Results: We demonstrate the benefits of using Honeycomb tasks with a participant in an ongoing study of deep brain stimulation for obsessive compulsive disorder, who completed repeated tasks both in the clinic and at home. Conclusion: Honeycomb enables researchers to deploy tasks online, in clinic, and at home in more ecologically valid environments and during concurrent electrophysiology.

Platonia insignis fruit, popularly known as bacuri, is traditionally used in folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Therefore, this study determined the chemical composition and biological activities of the bacuri’s shell and seeds extracts, considered residues from its consumption and industrial uses. Four biflavonoids (GB-2a, GB-1a, morelloflavone, and volkensiflavone) were identified in the extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and liquid chromatography-solid phase extraction-nuclear magnetic resonance (LC-SPE-NMR) techniques. Morelloflavone was identified as the main compound in the shell ethyl acetate extract, being responsible for the high in vitro antioxidant (50% effective concentration (EC50) ranging from 8.0-10.5 µg mL−1 in different protocols), anti-glycant (80%), and moderate inhibition of nitric oxide (1.56 µg mL−1 for > 90% cell viability) activities. This extract showed promising in vivo anti-inflammatory activity evaluated through the paw edema protocol after its incorporation into a liquid-crystalline drug carrier system, reducing the edema by up to 31%. The results demonstrated the potential of the fruit for the development of drugs of natural origin and corroborated to add economic value to these discarded residues.

Azathioprine is an immunosuppressive drug for several inflammatory disorders. Due to its clinical relevance, to explore the solid-state properties for excipient compatibility in the product quality review process is essential. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis (thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry (TG/DTG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) were applied. The compatibility studies evidenced that starch pregelatinized, colloidal silicon dioxide, and talc are fully compatible with azathioprine. However, stearic acid, magnesium stearate, and mannitol are incompatible after heat supply at temperatures easily reached by industrial processing. The nonlinear Vyazovkin isoconversional treatment performed the kinetic study of the thermal degradation. The activation energies were determined to clarify the influence of each excipient on the thermal drug stability, an essential procedure in the pharmaceutical development, and all over the commercial live span, in Good Manufacturing Practices.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to characterize the thermal environment and evaluate the behavior of finishing pigs housed in deep bedding and conventional systems. The work was carried out in the Department of Animal Science of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Southeast Minas Gerais, Rio Pomba campus. Three pens were used in an installation for breeding pigs in their finishing phase. Two pens contained deep bedding, with wood shavings and rice husks. The remaining pen was a conventional system. The behavior of the piglets was observed from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., noting the behaviors with the use of an ethogram, while data relating to the thermal environment in the stalls were automatically collected using data loggers. Thermal environment data for all systems presented thermal stress conditions. Regarding behavioral variables, animals in conventional systems had a higher frequency of visits to feeders, while animals in the deep bedding system were more active and visited the drinking fountains more frequently. Despite the higher level of activity of the animals in the deep bedding system, it is not possible to confirm that the deep bedding provides a better degree of well-being for the animals under thermal stress conditions.