Abstract Quantitative data obtained from native forests is costly and time-consuming. Thus, alternative measurement methods need to be developed to provide reliable information, especially in Atlantic Rain Forests. In this study we evaluated the hypothesis that the combination of an Airborne Laser Scanner (ALS) and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) can provide accurate quantitative information on tree height, volume, and aboveground biomass of the Araucaria angustifolia species. The study was carried out in Atlantic Rain forest fragments in southern Brazil. We tested and evaluated 3 digital canopy height model (CHM) scenarios: 1) CHM derived from ALS models; 2) CHM derived from UAV models; and 3) CHM from a combined ALS digital terrain model and UAV digital surface model. The height value at each tree coordinate was extracted from the pixel in the three evaluated scenarios and compared with the field measured values. ALS and UAV+ALS obtained RMSE% of 6.38 and 12.82 for height estimates, while UAV was 49.91%. Volume and aboveground biomass predictions are more accurate by ALS and UAV+ALS, while the UAV produced biased estimates. Since the ALS is currently used, periodic monitoring can be carried out by a combination of active (ALS) and passive (UAV) sensors.

Abstract Xylose is the most abundant pentose sugar in lignocellulosic biomass and can be biologically converted into economically important products by microorganisms such as yeasts. This study aimed to characterize the bioconversion of xylose into xylitol and ethanol using four strains of Candida materiae belonging to the Spathaspora clade, which includes yeast species with the potential to convert D-xylose to xylitol and ethanol. Fermentation assays were performed in YPX medium (yeast extract, peptone, xylose 5%) under two oxygen-limiting conditions at inoculum concentrations of 1, 5 and 10 g L-1. The best results were obtained using a 5 g L-1 inoculum under moderate oxygen-limiting conditions. C. materiae UFMG-CM-Y480 produced 32.23 g L-1 of xylitol, yielding 0.743 g g-1 within 36 h. Different combinations of xylose and glucose (25/25 g L-1, 40/10 g L-1, 10/40 g L-1) were also used to verify the influence of sugars on C. materiae metabolism. Xylitol was preferentially produced in medium containing 40 g L-1 xylose. C. materiae UFMG-CM-Y480 produced 26.20 g L-1 of xylitol with a yield of 0.646 g g-1 in 36 h. Our results showed that C. materiae UFMG-CM-Y480 may convert D-xylose to xylitol with a better fermentative performance than other xylitol-producing yeasts.

Abstract In the present study, a taxonomic review was conducted on representatives of the genus Tetmemorus (Desmidiaceae, Zygnematophyceae) documented within Brazilian territory. This review involved compiling data from the literature and analyzing samples collected throughout the Bahia State, updating our knowledge about this genus in Brazil. For each identified taxon, we provided information such as description, distribution across biomes and states, watersheds, ecological aspects (including habitat and community types), a list of examined (and excluded) materials, and taxonomic comments. Additionally, a taxonomic key for all species reported in Brazil was provided. Through this comprehensive review, we identified a total of eight Tetmemorus taxa occurring in Brazilian territory, comprising five species (T. brebissonii, T. furcatus, T. granulatus, T. laevis, T. planctonicus) and three non-typical varieties (T. brebissonii var. minor, T. laevis var. borgei, T. laevis var. minutus).

Abstract In recent years, cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is used for surface disinfection. However, little is known about its ability to improve biocompatibility of metallic surfaces when compared to thermal plasma methods. In this context, the study aimed to evaluate the response of human endothelial cells (Ea.hy926) on titanium surfaces treated by non-thermal plasma method and thermal plasma method under nitriding atmosphere. The wettability was characterized by the sessile drop method, the topography and roughness were evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the microstructure by grazing angle X-ray diffraction (GIXRD). Endothelial cells were cultured and evaluated for morphology by scanning electron microscopy and viability by an MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. CAP treatment reduced the contact angle of the Ti surface (13.43° ± 1.48; p<0.05), increasing hydrophilicity. Rz roughness was higher on the nitrided surface (220.44±20.30; p< 0.001) compared to the CAP treated surfaces (83.29 ± 11.61; p< 0.001) and polished (75.98 ±34.21a); p<0.001). The different applied plasma treatments created different titanium surfaces improving the biocompatibility of endothelial cells, however CAP results demonstrate its potential for biomedical applications, considering the low cost and ease of use of the technique, allowing surface treatments before clinical procedures.

ABSTRACT This text discusses protection of Brazil’s cultural landscape. Issues include intentions to regulate heritage preservation tool and conceptual implications of cultural landscape as cultural heritage. Recent turning points in Brazil are the suspension of the national cultural landscape instrument in 2014, and Unesco’s recognition, between 2012 and 2021, of four cultural landscapes in Brazil, despite the fact that this was still under discussion by Brazil’s national agency for heritage preservation. The text proposes a critical analysis of Brazil’s cultural landscape instrument in the field of cultural heritage, taking into account the roots of Brazilian culture formation, which includes the role of nation building and heritage preservation policies. The critique links Brazil’s cultural landscape to that which emerges from the struggle and resistance of the Brazilian people, therefore, to a mestizo landscape, which needs to be assimilated in an inclusive perspective of all subjects.

RESUMO O texto discute a proteção da paisagem cultural brasileira levando em conta a intenção de regulamentação de um instrumento de preservação patrimonial e as implicações conceituais da paisagem como patrimônio cultural. Toma-se como pontos de inflexão a suspensão do instrumento da chancela da Paisagem Cultural Brasileira em 2014, bem como o reconhecimento de quatro paisagens culturais do Brasil pela Unesco entre 2012 e 2021, quando este instrumento ainda está em discussão no âmbito do órgão nacional de preservação patrimonial. Neste sentido, o texto propõe uma reflexão crítica sobre o instrumento da paisagem cultural brasileira no campo do patrimônio cultural, ao lado das raízes que formam a cultura brasileira, questão associada ao contexto mais amplo que atravessa a formação nacional e, consequentemente, a regulamentação das políticas de preservação do patrimônio no Brasil. A crítica almeja atrelar a paisagem cultural brasileira àquela que emerge da luta e da resistência do povo brasileiro, portanto, a uma paisagem mestiça, que precisa ser assimilada numa perspectiva inclusiva de todos os sujeitos.

Abstract Our research focuses on studying magnon dynamics in a Morse lattice. We used a Heisenberg Hamiltonian to represent the spins while a Morse formalism governed the lattice deformations. The strength of the spin-spin interaction depended on the distance between neighboring spins, which followed an exponential pattern. We explored various initial conditions for the lattice and spin wave function and observed how they affected the magnon-lattice propagation. Additionally, we analyzed the impact of the parameter that controlled the difference in time scales between spin and lattice deformation propagation. deformations spinspin pattern magnonlattice propagation Additionally

Abstract The water retention curve is widely used in studies involving soil. The management systems directly influence soil structure by altering water retention dynamics. Several equations are used to adjust the retention of water in the soil, but most of the time, the choice of these models occurs in an arbitrary way. From this problem, it was proposed with the present study to relate the best mathematical model to water retention, taking into account the different management systems adopted, based on previously established adjustment criteria. For the accomplishment the study, a soil of caulinitic mineralogy and average texture was utilized. The treatments were area under native Cerrado (Savanna), eucalyptus plantation with six and twelve years of cultivation, pasture with two and six years of cultivation, conventional plantation with two and eight years of cultivation, no-till with three and six years of cultivation. From the adjustment criteria for non-linear models, it was found that the management influences the choice of the water retention model. It is possible to observe that the greatest divergences between the models occurred close to the soil saturation zone, and that the Fredlung-Xing model is more efficient in adjusting the water retention curve under conservationist management systems.

Background Mosquitoes are important vectors of several diseases, including malaria and dengue, and control measures are mostly performed using chemical insecticides. Unfortunately, mosquito resistance to commonly applied insecticides is widespread. Therefore, a prospection for new molecules with insecticidal activity based on Amazon biodiversity using the anuransLeptodactylus knudseni andPhyllomedusa vaillantii was performed against the mosquito speciesAnopheles darlingi and Aedes aegypti.Methods The granular secretion from anuran skin was obtained by manual stimulation, and lethal concentrations (LCs) for larvicidal and adulticidal tests were calculated using concentrations from 1-100 ppm. The skin secretions from the anuran species tested caused significant mortality within the first 24 hours on adults and larvae, but differed within the mosquito species.Results The skin secretions from the anuran species tested caused significant mortality within the first 24 hours on adults and larvae, but differed within the mosquito species. The calculated LC50 of L. knudseni skin secretions against An. darlingiwas 0.15 and 0.2 ppm for adults and larvae, respectively, but much higher for Ae. aegypti, i.e., 19 and 38 ppm, respectively. Interestingly, the calculated LCs50 of P. vaillantii against both mosquito species in adults were similar, 1.8 and 2.1 ppm, respectively, but the LC50 forAn. darlingi larvae was much lower (0.4 ppm) than forAe aegypti (2.1 ppm).Conclusions The present experiments indicate that skin secretions from L. knudseni and P. vaillantii contain bioactive molecules with potent insecticide activity. The isolation and characterization of skin secretions components will provide new insights for potential insecticidal molecules.

As condições ambientais favorecem a predominância de populações densas de cianobactérias no nordeste do Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi entender a dinâmica das populações de cianobactérias nas estações seca e chuvosa, em duas profundidades, no reservatório de Arcoverde. Amostras de microalgas e cianobactérias foram coletadas durante 24 horas em intervalos de quatro horas (nictemerais) na subsuperfície e em 10 m, com uma garrafa de van Dorn, para a determinação da biomassa. Variáveis físicas e químicas foram obtidas, e os dados investigados por meio da Análise de Componentes Principais (ACP). Não foram encontradas variações nictemerais na composição taxonômica ou na distribuição das populações de cianobactérias entre os diferentes horários do dia, bem como entre as estações seca e chuvosa. Em ambas as estações, horários do dia e profundidades amostrais, a maior biomassa da comunidade fitoplanctônica foi constituída por cianobactérias. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszynska) Seenayya et Subba Raju foi dominante em todos os horários do dia, tanto na superfície como no fundo. Na estação chuvosa, as diferenças de biomassa de cianobactérias entre superfície e fundo foram menos pronunciadas do que na estação seca. Concluímos que: a) variáveis físicas explicam melhor as alterações das espécies na comunidade fitoplanctônica em um ambiente dominado por cianobactérias durante todo o ano; b) fatores climáticos sazonais associados a períodos de estratificação e desestratificação são importantes para as alterações na comunidade e as variações na biomassa, e c) a turbidez causada pela chuva favoreceu o aparecimento e o estabelecimento de outras cianobactérias, especialmente Planktothrix agardhii (Gomont) Anagnostidis & Komárek.

Environmental conditions favor the predominance of dense populations of cyanobacteria in reservoirs in northeastern Brazil. The aim of this study was to understand cyanobacterial population dynamics in the rainy and dry seasons at two depths in the Arcoverde reservoir. Microalgae and cyanobacteria samples were collected during 24 hours with intervals of 4 hours (nycthemeral) at sub-surface and 10 m using a van Dorn bottle and a determined biomass. Physical and chemical variables were obtained and the data were analyzed using the principal component analysis (PCA). No nycthemeral variations in the taxonomic composition or distribution of the populations of cyanobacteria were found between the different times of day in either the rainy or dry season. In both seasons, the greatest biomass of the phytoplankton community was made up of cyanobacteria at two depths and all times of the day. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszynska) Seenayya et Subba Raju was dominant at all times of the day on both the surface and at the bottom. In the rainy season, the differences in cyanobacterial biomass between the surface and bottom were less significant than in the dry season. The differences in cyanobacterial biomass between surface and bottom were less pronounced than those found in the dry season. We concluded that a) physical variables better explain the alterations of species in the phytoplankton community in an environment dominated by cyanobacteria throughout the year; b) seasonal climatic factors associated to periods of stratification and de-stratification are important for alterations in the community and variations in biomass and, c) the turbidity caused by rainfall favored the emergence and establishment of other cyanobacteria, especially Planktothrix agardhii (Gomont) Anagnostidis & Komárek.

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszynska) Seenayya et Subba Raju (Ordem Nostocales) é uma das espécies formadoras de florações mais prejudiciais no Brasil. Entender a dinâmica populacional dos diferentes morfotipos de C. raciborskii (reto e espiralado) pode auxiliar a previsão de condições favoráveis à proliferação e ao estabelecimento dessa espécie potencialmente produtora de saxitoxinas e cilindrospermopsina. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de duas diferentes intensidades luminosas e temperaturas na velocidade de crescimento e na morfologia dos tricomas de morfotipos reto e espiralado. Para tanto, foram utilizadas duas linhagens de C. raciborskii, não produtoras de toxinas, sendo uma com tricoma espiralado (ITEP31) e outra com tricoma reto (ITEP28), cultivadas em câmaras climáticas sob condições controladas em meio BG-11. Duas intensidades luminosas, 30 e 90 µmol.m-2.s-1 , foram combinadas com temperaturas de 21 e 31 °C e avaliadas as velocidades de crescimento e modificações morfológicas. Os morfotipos responderam de maneiras diferentes às temperaturas e intensidades luminosas. As linhagens investigadas, independentemente do morfotipo, apresentaram maiores velocidades de crescimento em intensidade luminosa e temperatura altas. A condição de temperatura baixa e intensidade luminosa alta prejudicaram o desenvolvimento de ambas as linhagens. Variações na morfometria celular, bem como a ausência de acinetos para ambas as linhagens, estiveram relacionadas às condições de temperatura baixa (21 °C). O morfotipo espiralado apresentou grande plasticidade fenotípica, alterando a morfologia do tricoma ao longo de sua curva de crescimento. Apesar de a análise com ferramentas moleculares não sustentar a separação dos morfotipos em espécies distintas, devem-se considerar as diferentes respostas ecofisiológicas entre os mesmos como conhecimento de extrema importância no controle populacional desses organismos potencialmente tóxicos.

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszynska) Seenayya et Subba Raju (Ordem Nostocales) is one of the most troublesome bloom-forming species in Brazil. Understanding the population dynamics of the different morphotypes of C. raciborskii (straight and coiled) could assist in the prediction of favourable conditions for the proliferation of this potentially toxin-producing species. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of two different light intensities and temperatures on the growth rate and morphology of the trichomes of the straight and coiled morphotypes. For such, two non-toxin producing strains of C. raciborskii were used - one with a coiled trichome (ITEP31) and another with a straight trichome (ITEP28). The strains were cultured in BG-11 medium in a climatic chamber under controlled conditions. Two light intensities (30 and 90 µmol.m-2.s-1 ) were combined at temperatures of 21 and 31 °C and the growth rate and morphological changes were analysed. The morphotypes responded differently to the different temperatures and light intensities. Both strains exhibited faster growth velocities when submitted to higher light intensity and temperature. The lower temperature and higher luminosity hampered the development of both strains. Variations in cellular morphology and an absence of akinetes in both strains were related to the lower temperature (21 °C). The coiled morphotype demonstrated considerable phenotype plasticity, changing the morphology of trichome throughout its growth curve. Although molecular analysis does not sustain the separation of the morphotypes as distinct species, their different eco-physiological responses should be considered further knowledge of extreme importance for the population control of these potentially toxic organisms.

As lagunas Mundaú e Manguaba (9° 34' 38"-9° 45' 30" S e 35° 44' 00"-35° 58' 13" W) são consideradas as maiores e mais produtivas do Estado de Alagoas e foram estudadas com o objetivo de identificar a existência de impactos antrópicos, nos períodos chuvoso e seco, com base na composição, diversidade e densidade fitoplanctônica. Coletas de material fitoplanctônico foram realizadas em 8 estações fixas, durante maré vazante e enchente nos períodos chuvoso e seco. As amostras foram coletadas com garrafa de "Van Dorn" e rede de plâncton. Foram identificados 155 táxons destacando-se as divisões Bacillariophyta e Cyanophyta. A espécie mais abundante na laguna Mundaú foi Skeletonema cf. costatum; na laguna Manguaba foram Cyclotella meneghiniana, Microcystis aeruginosa e Anabaena spiroides. A diversidade oscilou ente 0,17 bits cell/L e 4,81 bits cell/L. A predominância de espécies dulciaquícolas, (51%) evidenciou maior influência do fluxo limnético nos dois ambientes estudados. Os altos valores da densidade fitoplanctônica caracterizam as lagunas como ambientes fortemente impactados, indicando a existência de condições eutróficas na maioria das estações estudadas.

Mundaú and Manguaba Lagoons (9° 34' 38"-9° 45' 30" S and 35° 44' 00"-35° 58' 13" W) are considered the largest and most productive ones in the state of Alagoas and were studied with the purpose of identifying the existence of anthropic impacts. Samples were collected at 8 stations, during low tide and flooding in rainy and dry periods, using the "Van Dorn" bottle and plankton net. In total, 155 taxons were identified, with special emphasis on Bacillariophyta and Cyanophyta divisions. The most abundant species in Mundaú Lagoon was Skeletonema cf. costatum, and in the Manguaba Lagoon, Cyclotella meneghiniana, Microcystis aeruginosa and Anabaena spiroides. The diversity ranged from 0.17 bits cell/L to 4.81 bits cell/L. The predominance of freshwater species (51%), evidenced higher influence of the limnetic flow on the two environments studied. The high values related to the phytoplanktonic density characterize the lagoons as strongly impacted environments, indicating the existence of eutrophic conditions in most of the studied stations.