Abstract Microbial adaptations to extreme environments can lead to biotechnological applications. This study aimed to evaluate the resistance of Antarctic Cladosporium to adverse conditions (temperature, salinity, UV radiation, and nutrients) and refine their taxonomy. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis using ITS-act markers resulted in a more accurate taxonomic identification, revealing the presence of five different species, belonging to the complexes C. cladosporioides and C. sphaerospermum. The growth at different temperatures indicates that the soil isolates LAMAI 564 and 1800 (phylogenetically closely related) and LAMAI 2541 are psychrophilic, while the other isolates are psychrotolerant. The fungi isolated from the saline samples LAMAI 595, 616, and 1369 showed better growth results at higher salinity (15%). The fungi most resistant to UV radiation were isolated from terrestrial and marine samples (LAMAI 595, 616, 1800, and 564). LAMAI 595 and 616 (phylogenetically closely related and isolated from the same kind of sample) showed the capacity of nutritional versatility, growing well in both rich and poor-nutrient media. The fungus LAMAI 595 was the most promising for biotechnological application, exceeding the other isolates in the harsh conditions studied. The resistance of the Antarctic Cladosporium to adverse conditions opens new perspectives in the field of applied microbiology of extremophiles. applications temperature, temperature (temperature nutrients taxonomy ITSact ITS act identification species C sphaerospermum 56 180 phylogenetically 254 psychrophilic psychrotolerant 136 15%. 15 15% . (15%) 564. 564) 59 61 sample versatility poornutrient poor nutrient media application studied extremophiles 5 18 25 13 1 (15% 6 2 (15 (1 (

RESUMO Contexto: Doença inflamatória intestinal (DII), representada pela doença de Crohn (DC) e retocolite ulcerativa (RCU), é uma condição crônica e progressiva que afeta todas as faixas etárias, embora predomine em indivíduos jovens. Atualmente, tem sido documentado um aumento na prevalência de DII, de forma paralela ao aumento da população idosa. O escasso número de estudos que melhor caracterizem o impacto da DII na qualidade de vida (QV) em idosos motivou o presente estudo. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto da DII na QV de idosos atendidos em um centro terciário de DII. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo transversal que incluiu pacientes idosos (idade ≥60 anos) com DII, atendidos pelo Centro de DII do HU-UFJF, entre março de 2019 a dezembro de 2022, e que apresentavam remissão clínica ou atividade leve de doença. Acompanhantes idosos sem comorbidades graves que compareceram à consulta com os pacientes foram incluídos como grupo controle. Foram registradas características sociodemográficas e relativas a DII. A QV foi avaliada por meio de questionários previamente validados (WHOQOL-BREF e IBDQ). Pacientes com DII com atividade moderada a grave, história de hospitalização recente ou iminente, infecções graves ou oportunistas nos últimos 6 meses, neoplasia prévia, demência, dificuldade de compreensão/ preenchimento dos questionários foram excluídos. Resultados: Foram incluídos 123 pacientes (74 com DII e 49 no grupo controle), com idade média de 67±6,2 anos, sendo 52,7% com DC e 47,3% com RCU. Atividade leve da doença foi observada em 31,1%. Ambos os grupos (pacientes com DII e controle) foram comparáveis com base na idade, sexo, IMC e Índice de Comorbidade de Charlson. Pacientes com DII e controle apresentaram escores de QV similares nos diferentes domínios avaliados pelo WHOQOL-BREF. Por outro lado, quando avaliada a faceta geral de QV, pacientes com DII apresentaram escores significativamente menores na QV geral (3,71±0,87 versus 4,02±0,62, respectivamente; P=0,021) e na saúde geral (3,32±1,05 versus 3,69±0,94, respectivamente; P=0,035). A presença de atividade leve impactou negativamente nos escores de saúde geral e de domínio físico do WHOQOL-BREF quando comparados com pacientes em remissão (2,91±0,99 versus 3.47±1,04, respectivamente; P=0,035 e 12,27±2.63 versus 13,86±2,61, respectivamente; P=0,019). Não foi observado impacto na QV com a aplicação do questionário IBDQ no que se refere ao tipo de DII (161±38.5 versus 163.1±42,6 para DC e RCU, respectivamente; P=0.84) ou a presença de atividade (152.5±38.8 versus 166.4±40.5, respectivamente; P=0.17). Conclusão: Não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre pacientes idosos com DII em atividade leve ou quiescente e pacientes idosos sem DII quando observados os escores globais de QV. Porém, a DII impactou negativamente a faceta geral de QV, assim como a presença de atividade leve esteve associada a menores escores na saúde geral e no domínio físico avaliado pelo WHOQOL-BREF. Pacientes com DII tratados com terapia biológica apresentaram melhor QV do que aqueles em terapia convencional. Estudos futuros são necessários para escolha de ferramenta mais adequada para avaliação de QV nessa população. Contexto , (DII) (DC RCU (RCU) etárias jovens Atualmente idosa (QV estudo Objetivo Métodos 60 ≥6 anos HUUFJF, HUUFJF HU UFJF, UFJF HU-UFJF 201 2022 WHOQOLBREF WHOQOL BREF IBDQ. . IBDQ) grave iminente meses prévia demência compreensão excluídos Resultados 12 74 (7 4 controle, 6762 67 2 67±6, 527 52 7 52,7 473 47 3 47,3 311 31 1 31,1% sexo Charlson WHOQOLBREF. BREF. lado 3,71±0,87 371087 71 0 87 (3,71±0,8 402062 02 62 4,02±0,62 respectivamente P=0,021 P0021 P 021 3,32±1,05 332105 32 05 (3,32±1,0 369094 69 94 3,69±0,94 P=0,035. P0035 035 P=0,035) 2,91±0,99 291099 91 99 (2,91±0,9 347104 04 3.47±1,04 P=0,03 1227263 27 63 12,27±2.6 1386261 13 86 61 13,86±2,61 P=0,019. P0019 P=0,019 019 P=0,019) 161±38.5 161385 161 38 5 (161±38. 1631426 163 42 163.1±42, P=0.84 P084 84 152.5±38.8 1525388 152 8 (152.5±38. 1664405 166 40 166.4±40.5 P=0.17. P017 P=0.17 17 P=0.17) Conclusão Porém convencional (DII (RCU ≥ 20 202 ( 676 67±6 52, 47, 31,1 3,71±0,8 37108 (3,71±0, 40206 4,02±0,6 P=0,02 P002 3,32±1,0 33210 (3,32±1, 36909 9 3,69±0,9 P003 03 2,91±0,9 29109 (2,91±0, 34710 3.47±1,0 P=0,0 122726 12,27±2. 138626 13,86±2,6 P001 P=0,01 01 161±38. 16138 16 (161±38 163142 163.1±42 P=0.8 P08 152.5±38. 152538 15 (152.5±38 166440 166.4±40. P01 P=0.1 67± 31, 3,71±0, 3710 (3,71±0 4020 4,02±0, P00 3,32±1, 3321 (3,32±1 3690 3,69±0, 2,91±0, 2910 (2,91±0 3471 3.47±1, P=0, 12272 12,27±2 13862 13,86±2, 161±38 1613 (161±3 16314 163.1±4 P=0. P0 152.5±38 15253 (152.5±3 16644 166.4±40 3,71±0 371 (3,71± 402 4,02±0 3,32±1 332 (3,32± 369 3,69±0 2,91±0 291 (2,91± 347 3.47±1 P=0 1227 12,27± 1386 13,86±2 161±3 (161± 1631 163.1± 152.5±3 1525 (152.5± 1664 166.4±4 3,71± 37 (3,71 4,02± 3,32± 33 (3,32 36 3,69± 2,91± 29 (2,91 34 3.47± P= 122 12,27 138 13,86± 161± (161 163.1 152.5± (152.5 166.4± 3,71 (3,7 4,02 3,32 (3,3 3,69 2,91 (2,9 3.47 12,2 13,86 (16 163. 152.5 (152. 166.4 3,7 (3, 4,0 3,3 3,6 2,9 (2, 3.4 12, 13,8 (1 152. (152 166. 3, (3 4, 2, (2 3. 13, (15

ABSTRACT Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), represented by Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic condition that affects all age groups, predominantly in young individuals. Currently, an increase in the prevalence of IBD has been documented, in parallel with the increase in the elderly population. The scarce number of studies that better characterize the impact of IBD on Quality of Life (QoL) in the elderly motivated the present study. Objective: To evaluate the impact of IBD on the QoL of elderly people treated at a Tertiary IBD Center. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study that included elderly patients (age ≥60 years) with quiescent or mildly active IBD treated at the HU-UFJF IBD Center between March 2019 and December 2022. Elderly companions without severe comorbidities who attended the consultation with the patients were included as a control group. Sociodemographic and IBD-related characteristics were recorded. QoL was assessed using previously validated questionnaires (WHOQOL-BREF and IBDQ). Patients with IBD with moderate to severe activity, history of recent or imminent hospitalization, serious or opportunistic infections in the last 6 months, previous neoplasia, dementia, and difficulty understanding/fulfilling the questionnaires were excluded. Results: A total of 123 patients were included (74 with IBD and 49 in the control group), with a mean age of 67±6.2 years, 52.7% with CD, and 47.3% with UC. Mild disease activity was observed in 31.1%. Both groups (IBD patients and control) were comparable based on age, sex, BMI, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Patients with IBD and controls had similar QoL scores in the different domains assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF. On the other hand, when evaluating the general facet of QoL, IBD patients had significantly lower scores in General QoL (3.71±0.87 versus 4.02±0.62, respectively; P=0.021) and General Health (3.32±1.05 versus 3.69±0.94, respectively; P=0.035). The presence of mildly active IBD negatively impacted the general health score (2.91±0.99 versus 3.47±1.04, respectively; P=0.035) and the physical domain of the WHOQOL-BREF (12.27±2.63 versus 13.86±2.61, respectively; P=0.019) when compared to patients in remission. Conversely, no impact on QoL was observed with the Application of the IBDQ questionnaire regarding the type of the disease (161±38.5 versus 163.1±42.6 for CD and UC, respectively; P=0.84) or the presence of activity (152.5±38.8 versus 166.4±40.5, respectively; P=0.17). Conclusion: No statistically significant differences were found between elderly patients with mildly active or quiescent IBD and elderly patients without IBD when observing global QoL scores. However, IBD negatively impacted the general facet of QoL, just as mild activity was associated with lower scores in general health and the physical domain assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF. Patients with IBD treated with biological therapy had better Qol than those on conventional therapy. Future studies are needed to choose the most appropriate tool for assessing QoL in this population. Background IBD, , (IBD) Crohns Crohn s (CD UC (UC) individuals Currently documented population (QoL Objective Methods crosssectional cross sectional 60 ≥6 years HUUFJF HU UFJF 201 2022 group IBDrelated related recorded WHOQOLBREF WHOQOL BREF IBDQ. . IBDQ) hospitalization months neoplasia dementia understandingfulfilling understanding fulfilling excluded Results 12 74 (7 4 group, group) 6762 67 2 67±6. 527 52 7 52.7 473 47 3 47.3 311 31 1 31.1% sex BMI Index WHOQOLBREF. BREF. hand 3.71±0.87 371087 71 0 87 (3.71±0.8 402062 02 62 4.02±0.62 respectively P=0.021 P0021 P 021 3.32±1.05 332105 32 05 (3.32±1.0 369094 69 94 3.69±0.94 P=0.035. P0035 P=0.035 035 2.91±0.99 291099 91 99 (2.91±0.9 347104 04 3.47±1.04 12.27±2.63 1227263 27 63 (12.27±2.6 1386261 13 86 61 13.86±2.61 P=0.019 P0019 019 remission Conversely 161±38.5 161385 161 38 5 (161±38. 1631426 163 42 163.1±42. P=0.84 P084 84 152.5±38.8 1525388 152 8 (152.5±38. 1664405 166 40 166.4±40.5 P=0.17. P017 P=0.17 17 P=0.17) Conclusion However (UC ≥ 20 202 ( 676 67±6 52. 47. 31.1 3.71±0.8 37108 (3.71±0. 40206 4.02±0.6 P=0.02 P002 3.32±1.0 33210 (3.32±1. 36909 9 3.69±0.9 P003 P=0.03 03 2.91±0.9 29109 (2.91±0. 34710 3.47±1.0 12.27±2.6 122726 (12.27±2. 138626 13.86±2.6 P=0.01 P001 01 161±38. 16138 16 (161±38 163142 163.1±42 P=0.8 P08 152.5±38. 152538 15 (152.5±38 166440 166.4±40. P01 P=0.1 67± 31. 3.71±0. 3710 (3.71±0 4020 4.02±0. P=0.0 P00 3.32±1. 3321 (3.32±1 3690 3.69±0. 2.91±0. 2910 (2.91±0 3471 3.47±1. 12.27±2. 12272 (12.27±2 13862 13.86±2. 161±38 1613 (161±3 16314 163.1±4 P=0. P0 152.5±38 15253 (152.5±3 16644 166.4±40 3.71±0 371 (3.71± 402 4.02±0 3.32±1 332 (3.32± 369 3.69±0 2.91±0 291 (2.91± 347 3.47±1 12.27±2 1227 (12.27± 1386 13.86±2 161±3 (161± 1631 163.1± P=0 152.5±3 1525 (152.5± 1664 166.4±4 3.71± 37 (3.71 4.02± 3.32± 33 (3.32 36 3.69± 2.91± 29 (2.91 34 3.47± 12.27± 122 (12.27 138 13.86± 161± (161 163.1 P= 152.5± (152.5 166.4± 3.71 (3.7 4.02 3.32 (3.3 3.69 2.91 (2.9 3.47 12.27 (12.2 13.86 (16 163. 152.5 (152. 166.4 3.7 (3. 4.0 3.3 3.6 2.9 (2. 3.4 12.2 (12. 13.8 (1 152. (152 166. 3. (3 4. 2. (2 12. (12 13. (15

RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar características morfofisiológicas e produtivas em quatro cultivares semieretas de feijão-caupi submetidas a cinco populações de plantas. O experimento foi conduzido no campo experimental da Embrapa Meio-Norte, em Teresina-PI. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos completos casualizados com quatro repetições, em arranjo fatorial 4x5 sendo avaliadas quatro cultivares (BRS Guariba, BRS Novaera, BRS Potengi e BRS Tumucumaque) e cinco populações de plantas (105, 2x105, 3x105, 4x105 e 5x105 plantas ha-1). Houve diferenças significativas entre as cultivares para o comprimento do ramo principal (CRP), número de ramos laterais (NRL), massa de cem grãos (MCG) e rendimento de grãos secos (REND). O CRP máximo de 58,5 cm foi obtido com 300 mil plantas ha-1, correspondendo a um aumento de 11,5% quando comparado com 100 mil plantas ha-1. Entretanto, houve redução de 91,2% no NRL quando comparadas às populações de 100 e 500 mil plantas ha-1. Os aumentos de 188% obtidos no índice de área foliar (IAF) no intervalo de 100 e 500 mil plantas ha-1, explicam o aumento linear da taxa de crescimento da cultura (TCC) em função da maior produção de área foliar, bem como, os decréscimos obtidos na taxa de assimilação líquida (TAL), notadamente no intervalo de 100 a 300 mil plantas ha-1, devido ao consequente autossombreamento, que foi intensificado nas maiores populações. O IAF, a interceptação de luz e a TCC das cultivares aumentam em resposta às maiores densidades. O MCG e o REND não são afetados significativamente pelas diferentes populações.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate morpho-physiological and productive characteristics in four semi-erect cultivars of the cowpea under five plant populations. The experiment was conducted in the experimental area of Embrapa Meio-Norte in Teresina in the State of Piauí, Brazil (PI). The experimental design was of randomised complete blocks with four replications, in a 4 x 5 factorial scheme, for evaluating four cultivars (BRS Guariba, BRS Novaera, BRS Potengi and BRS Tumucumaque) and five plant populations (105, 2x105, 3x105, 4x105 and 5x105 plants ha-1). There were significant differences between cultivars for primary branch length (PBL), number of lateral branches (NLB), 100-grain weight (HGW), and dry-grain yield (GY). The maximum PBL of 58.5 cm was obtained with 300 thousand plants ha-1, corresponding to an increase of 11.5% when compared to 100 thousand plants ha-1. However, there was a reduction of 91.2% in NLB when compared to the populations of 100 and 500 thousand plants ha-1. The increases of 188% obtained in the leaf area index (LAI) in the range of 100 to 500 thousand plants ha-1 explain the linear increase in the crop growth rate (CGR) as being due to the greater production of leaf area; also, the decreases seen in the net assimilation rate (NAR), especially in the range of 100 to 300 thousand plants ha-1, are explained as due to the consequent self-shading, which was intensified in the larger populations. LAI, light interception, and CGR in the cultivars increase in response to higher densities. HGW and GY are not significantly affected by the different populations.

Mercury (Hg) occurs in the environment as a natural and anthropogenic element, and through the years the accumulation of mercury has affected the integrity of ecosystems and human health. This study presents a screening of microorganisms resistant to organic and inorganic mercury, the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration of Hg, the estimation of the mercury volatilization by selected microorganisms and the dynamics of volatilization. Eight Gram-negative bacteria resistant to high concentrations of mercury (60 to 210 mg L-1) were selected, and these isolates showed ability to volatilize the metal. The dynamics of the volatilization of the Proteus mirabilis M50C demonstrated that in only 4 h of incubation it was possible to volatilize 72% of the mercury present in the culture. The results showed promising application for bioremediation strategies.

This work evaluated the kinetics as well as the retention capacity of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) mycelium. The metal retention is a fast process with Cu being retained 3, 30, and 60 times faster than Zn, Cd, and Pb, respectively. Metal retention capacity varied amongst the different tested AMF species and decreased in the following order: Cu>Zn>>Cd>Pb. The Glomus clarum mycelium showed the highest retention capacity for Cu, Cd and Pb, whereas Zn was mostly retained by Gigaspora gigantea mycelium. The simultaneous application of all tested metals in solution decreased Cu and Zn retention by AMF mycelium. The high retention capacity of Cu and Zn by mycelium of G. clarum and G. gigantea suggests a promising use of these isolates in phytoremediation.