ABSTRACT Among the main problems that compromise the development of forest species are water and salt stresses, especially in the early stages of development, when seedlings are more sensitive. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the morphophysiological and biochemical changes in Enterolobium contortisiliquum seedlings subjected to abiotic stresses. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks (RCB), composed of five treatments, with four replicates, and the experimental plot consisted of twenty plants. From the 31st day after sowing, when the seedlings reached approximately 15 cm in height, they began to receive the treatments, which consisted of different levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (0.3; 2; 4; 6; 8 dS m-1) for salt stress and periods of water restriction (0; 4; 8; 12 and 16 days without irrigation) for water stress. The traits evaluated were: plant height, root length, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, total dry matter, Dickson quality index, height/shoot dry matter ratio, total soluble sugars, starch, total amino acids and proline. An increase in the electrical conductivity of irrigation water and days without irrigation compromised the development of E. contortisiliquum seedlings, which was intensified from 2 dS m-1 and four days without irrigation for salt and water stresses, respectively. The mechanism of survival of E. contortisiliquum to abiotic stresses involves reduction in the growth and quality of seedlings, with activation of biochemical defense mechanisms of the species.

ABSTRACT The objective was to verify if the primary root emission can be recommended as a vigor test for soybean seeds. For this, five lots of varieties ANTA 82, NA7337 and BRS1074IPRO were evaluated by first count, germination, emergence, emergence speed index and tetrazolium tests. In the root protrusion test at 20, 25 and 30 ºC, two evaluation criteria were adopted: primary root emission precocity index (PREPI) and percentage of seeds that emitted the primary root (PRE). The seeds counted were those with a primary root equal to or greater than 2 mm, every 12 h from the installation of the test until 120 h. The design was completely randomized and means were compared, within each evaluation time, using the Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. Pearson’s linear correlation was performed for PREPI and PRE with emergence. PREPI was not considered efficient. For the PRE, at 20 ºC, there was a correlation at 72 h, for the three varieties. At 25 ºC there was a correlation for a period of 36 h for ANTA 82 and NA7337 and 60 h for BRS1074IPRO. At 30 ºC there was a correlation in the time of 36 h for the three cultivars. Considering that speed in obtaining results is important in vigor tests, it is concluded that primary root emission for 36 h after installing the test at 30 ºC is recommended as a vigor test in the quality control of soybean seeds.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to assess morphologic and genetic data on ascariasis in swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) and humans in low-resource rural and periurban communities in the state of Piauí, Brazil. Our cross-sectional survey included 100 fecal samples obtained from swine and 682 samples from humans. Fifteen pigs were necropsied. Human and porcine fecal samples were examined to identify Ascaris eggs. Parasites obtained in the swine necropsies were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the mitochondrial gene encoding the cytochrome oxidase 1 (cox1) enzyme was partially amplified and sequenced for molecular taxonomy and phylogenetic analyses. The overall prevalence of Ascaris eggs in the swine fecal samples was 16/100 (16%). No Ascaris eggs were identified in the human fecal samples. SEM of six worms recovered from pigs demonstrated morphological characteristics of A. suum. Cox1 sequences were compatible with A. suum reference sequences. Original and reference (GenBank) nucleotide sequences were organized into clusters that did not segregate the parasites by host species or and region. The largest haplogroups were dominated by haplotypes H01, H02 and H31. In the communities studied, there was no epidemiological evidence of the zoonotic transmission of ascariasis at the human-swine interface.

Resumo O presente estudo teve como objetivo acessar dados morfológicos e genéticos sobre a ascaridíase em suínos (Sus scrofa domesticus) e humanos, em comunidades rurais e periurbanas no estado do Piauí. O estudo transversal incluiu 100 amostras fecais de suínos e 682 amostras obtidas de humanos. Quinze suínos foram necropsiados. Amostras fecais suínas e humanas foram examinadas para detecção de ovos de Ascaris. Os parasitas adultos, obtidos nas necropsias, foram estudados através de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), e o gene mitocondrial codificante da enzima citocromo oxidase 1 (cox1) foi parcialmente amplificado e sequenciado para análises filogenéticas e de taxonomia molecular. A prevalência de Ascaris em amostras fecais de suínos foi 16/100 (16%), não sendo identificado nenhum caso de infecção por este parasita em humanos. A análise por MEV de parasitas recuperados de suínos demonstrou características morfológicas de Ascaris suum. As sequências nucleotídicas de cox1 foram compatíveis com A. suum. As sequências originais e de referência (obtidas no GeneBank) foram organizadas em clusters que não segregaram os parasitas por hospedeiro ou região geográfica. Os maiores haplogrupos foram dominados pelos haplótipos H01, H02 e H31. Nas comunidades estudadas, não foi evidenciada transmissão zoonótica de A. suum na interface suíno-humana.

Resumo Parasitos do gênero Oesophagostomum causam doenças entéricas e podem afetar a criação de animais, como os suínos. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar as espécies e explorar a diversidade genética de Oesophagostomum spp. infectando suínos em contato próximo com humanos, no estado do Piauí, Brasil. Oitenta e sete amostras fecais foram coletadas para testes parasitológicos, análise morfométrica dos ovos e análises moleculares. A taxa geral de positividade para ovos estrongiliformes foi de 81,6%. Quarenta e duas amostras de ovos estrongiliformes foram submetidas à PCR e seis sequências cox1 (637 bp) foram identificadas para o gênero Oesophagostomum. As sequências foram identificadas como Oesophagostomum dentatum, O. quadrispinulatum e O. columbianum. Na árvore filogenética e na rede haplotípica, 89 sequências foram separadas em sete clusters, incluindo sequências de referência do GenBank. Oesophagostomum dentatum e O. quadrispinulatum são espécies estreitamente relacionadas e formaram um grupo monofilético com O. aculeatum. Oesophagostomum columbianum apresentou semelhança com sequências de parasitas obtidos de pequenos ruminantes e o clado foi posicionado mais próximo de O. bifurcum. Alta diversidade interespecífica foi encontrada e a diversidade intraespecífica variou de acordo com as espécies. Esse foi o primeiro estudo a caracterizar sequências de DNA de Oesophagostomum isoladas de suínos no Brasil.

Abstract Helminths of the genus Oesophagostomum cause enteric diseases and affect domestic animals such as pigs. The aim of this study was to explore the species composition and genetic diversity of Oesophagostomum spp. infecting pigs in close contact with humans in the state of Piauí, Brazil. Eighty-seven fecal samples were collected for parasitological tests and molecular analysis. Through microscopy, the overall positivity rate for strongyliform eggs was 81.6% among the pigs studied. Forty-two strongyliform egg samples were subjected to PCR and six cox1 sequences (637 bp) were identified for the genus Oesophagostomum. The sequences were identified as Oesophagostomum dentatum, O. quadrispinulatum and O. columbianum. In the phylogenetic tree and haplotype network, 89 sequences were separated into seven clusters, which also included reference sequences from GenBank. Oesophagostomum dentatum and O. quadrispinulatum were seen to be closely related species and formed a monophyletic group related to O. aculeatum. Oesophagostomum columbianum showed similarity with sequences from parasites infecting small ruminants and the clade was positioned closer to O. bifurcum. High interspecific diversity was found and intraspecific diversity varied according to the species. This was the first study to characterize Oesophagostomum DNA sequences obtained from pigs in Brazil.

Resumo Este estudo realizou uma revisão sistemática das estratégias de autorregulação da aprendizagem em trabalhos defendidos entre 2014 e 2019, a partir dos descritores “estratégias de aprendizagem”, “autorregulação da aprendizagem” e “aprendizagem autorregulada”. Foram analisadas 13 teses e 57 dissertações, defendidas em 22 universidades (15 públicas e sete privadas), localizadas majoritariamente nas regiões Sudeste e Sul. O nível da Graduação foi o mais pesquisado, e a maior parte das pesquisas utilizou o delineamento descritivo-correlacional e a abordagem quantitativa. Os principais temas tiveram como foco a utilização da autorregulação/estratégias de aprendizagem por discentes. Com docentes, os trabalhos focalizaram intervenções sobre formação inicial e continuada. Por fim, apontam-se lacunas e contribuições para a educação.

Abstract This study carried out a systematic review of self-regulating strategies for learning in works defended between 2014 and 2019, using the descriptors “learning strategies”, “self-regulation of learning” and “self-regulated learning”. Thirteen dissertations and 5 theses were analyzed and defended in 22 universities (15 public and seven private ones). Most of them are from the Southeast and South regions of Brazil. The undergraduate level was the most researched, with the majority of studies using the descriptive-correlational design and the quantitative approach. The main themes were the use of self-regulation/learning strategies by students. The work with teachers focused on interventions in pre-and in-service training. Finally, we point out gaps and contributions to education.

Resumen Este estudio realizó una revisión sistemática sobre estrategias de autorregulación para el aprendizaje en trabajos defendidos entre 2014 y 2019, a partir de los descriptores “estrategias de aprendizaje”, “autorregulación del aprendizaje” y “aprendizaje autorregulado”. Fueron analizados 13 tesis y 57 disertaciones, defendidas en 22 universidades (15 públicas y siete privadas). La mayoría proviene de las regiones Sudeste y Sur de Brasil. El nivel de la Graduación fue el más investigado, habiendo la mayoría de las investigaciones utilizado el diseño descriptivo-correlacional y el enfoque cuantitativo. Los temas principales fueron la utilización de autorregulación/estrategias de aprendizaje de los estudiantes. Con los docentes, los trabajos se centraron en intervenciones de capacitación inicial y continua. Finalmente, se señalan brechas y contribuciones a la educación.

RESUMO No processo do fazer docente e fazer-se docente, a escrita de si nas disciplinas de Psicologia e Sociologia da Educação constitui um campo fecundo de intervenção, investigação e formação inicial de futuros professores. Alunos do curso de Pedagogia trouxeram à luz episódios que potencializaram um exercício de significar e ressignificar sua trajetória de vida, sua inserção nos grupos, sua subjetividade e singularidade, que foi dispositivo reflexivo valioso na aprendizagem significativa de conceitos da Psicologia e da Sociologia da Educação. Participaram alunos do Curso de Pedagogia de uma Universidade pública. A metodologia proposta consistiu em produções narrativas autobiográficas fundamentadas nas teorias estudadas no transcorrer das disciplinas de Psicologia e Sociologia da Educação. Concluiu-se que há na autobiografia, a presença pouco considerada de elementos que influem na formação alicerçando visões, aceites e recusas teóricas e necessita ser considerada na formação inicial.

ABSTRACT In the process of teaching and becoming a teacher, self-writing in the disciplines of Psychology and Sociology of Education constitutes a fruitful field of intervention, research and initial training for future teachers. Students in the Pedagogy course brought to light episodes that potentiated an exercise in signifying and reframing their life trajectory, their insertion in groups, their subjectivity and uniqueness, which was a valuable reflective device in the meaningful learning of concepts from Psychology and Sociology of Education. Students from the Pedagogy Course at a public university participated. The proposed methodology consisted of autobiographical narrative productions based on the theories studied throughout the disciplines of Psychology and Sociology of Education. It was concluded that there is in the autobiography, the little-considered presence of elements that influence the formation supporting theoretical views, acceptances and refusals and needs to be considered in the initial formation.

RESUMEN En proceso del hacer docente y hacerse docente, la escritura de si en las asignaturas de Psicología y Sociología de la educación constituyen un campo fecundo de intervención, investigación y formación inicial de futuros profesores. Alumnos del curso de Pedagogía trajeron a la luz episodios que potencializaron un ejercicio de significar y resignificar su trayectoria de vida, su inserción en los grupos, su subjetividad y singularidad, que fue dispositivo reflexivo valioso en el aprendizaje significativa de conceptos de la Psicología y de la Sociología de la Educación. Participaron alumnos del Curso de Pedagogía de una Universidad pública. La metodología propuesta consistió en producciones narrativas autobiográficas fundamentadas en las teorías estudiadas en el transcurrir de las asignaturas de Psicología y Sociología de la Educación. Se concluye que hay en la autobiografía, la presencia poco considerada de elementos que influyen en la formación basando visiones, aceptes y rechazos teóricos y necesita ser considerada en la formación inicial.

BACKGROUND Early diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) and identification of strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to anti-TB drugs are considered the main factors for disease control. OBJECTIVES To standardise a real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay technique and apply it to identify mutations involved in M. tuberculosis resistance to Isoniazid (INH) directly in Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stained slides. METHODS Were analysed 55 independent DNA samples extracted from clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis by sequencing. For application in TB diagnosis resistance, 59 ZN-stained slides were used. The sensitivity, specificity and Kappa index, with a 95% confidence interval (CI95%), were determined. FINDINGS The agreement between the tests was, for the katG target, the Kappa index of 0.89 (CI95%: 0.7-1.0). The sensitivity and specificity were 97.6% (CI95%: 87.7-99.9) and 91.7% (CI95%: 61.5-99.5), respectively. For inhA, the Kappa index was 0.92 (CI95%: 0.8-1.0), the sensitivity and specificity were 94.4% (CI95%: 72.7-99.8) and 97.3% (CI95%: 85.8-99.9), respectively. The use of ZN-stained slides for drug-resistant TB detection showed significant results when compared to other standard tests for drug resistance. MAIN CONCLUSIONS qPCR genotyping proved to be an efficient method to detect genes that confer M. tuberculosis resistance to INH. Thus, qPCR genotyping may be an alternative instead of sequencing.

ABSTRACT This study aims to describe the prevalence, distribution, and factors associated with soil-transmitted helminthiases (STHs) in rural localities in Piaui, Brazil. Two cross-sectional surveys (n=605 subjects; 172 families) were carried out in order to obtain socio-demographic, anthropometric, spatial and parasitological data. Parasites were evaluated using Kato-Katz and centrifugal sedimentation techniques. Eggs were measured to assess infection with zoonotic Strongylida parasites. Kernel maps were constructed with Q-GIS. The prevalence of hookworm infection was 12.4% (75/605). Other helminthes found were Trichuris trichiura (n=1; 0.2%) and Hymenolepis nana (n=1; 0.2%). The hookworm positivity rate was significantly lower among subjects who had used albendazole when compared with individuals who had not used anthelmintics or had used antiprotozoal drugs in the last 6 months (8/134 [6.0%] vs. 59/415 [14.2%]; p=0.009). A total of 39/172 (22.7%) families had at least one infected member. The association between the number of dwellers and hookworm positivity in the family was present in a logistic regression multivariate model. Assessment of worm burdens showed 92.2% light, 6.2% moderate, and 1.6% heavy infections. Hookworm eggs (n=34) measured 57.2 - 75.4 µm in length and 36.4 - 44.2 µm in width (mean ± SD = 65.86 ± 4.66 µm L and 40.05 ± 1.99 µm W), commensurate with human hookworms. Hotspots suggest that transmission has a focal pattern. STHs persist in impoverished rural areas in Northeastern Brazil where currently available control strategies (mass drug administration) apparently do not allow the elimination of the infection.

BACKGROUND To cope with the emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), new molecular methods that can routinely be used to screen for a wide range of drug resistance related genetic markers in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome are urgently needed. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the performance of multiplex ligaton-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) against Genotype® MTBDRplus to detect resistance to isoniazid (INHr) and rifampicin (RIFr). METHOD 96 culture isolates characterised for identification, drug susceptibility testing (DST) and sequencing of rpoB, katG, and inhA genes were evaluated by the MLPA and Genotype®MTBDRplus assays. RESULTS With sequencing as a reference standard, sensitivity (SE) to detect INHr was 92.8% and 85.7%, and specificity (SP) was 100% and 97.5%, for MLPA and Genotype®MTBDRplus, respectively. In relation to RIFr, SE was 87.5% and 100%, and SP was 100% and 98.8%, respectively. Kappa value was identical between Genotype®MTBDRplus and MLPA compared with the standard DST and sequencing for detection of INHr [0.83 (0.75-0.91)] and RIFr [0.93 (0.88-0.98)]. CONCLUSION Compared to Genotype®MTBDRplus, MLPA showed similar sensitivity to detect INH and RIF resistance. The results obtained by the MLPA and Genotype®MTBDRplus assays indicate that both molecular tests can be used for the rapid detection of drug-resistant TB with high accuracy. MLPA has the added value of providing information on the circulating M. tuberculosis lineages.

BACKGROUND In high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries, there are few data on the performance of new molecular commercialised assays developed locally. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the performance of a new molecular commercialised assay for TB diagnosis (Detect-TB) in three laboratories. METHODS A total of 302 sputum samples from an equal number of patients with presumptive diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) were submitted for routine smear microscopy, culture, and Detect-TB assay at three different sites in Brazil (the cities of Caxias do Sul, São Paulo and Canoas). FINDINGS Seventy four (24.7%) TB cases were diagnosed (65 bacteriologically confirmed). When compared to smear microscopy/culture results, the overall sensitivity and specificity of Detect-TB assay was 84.6% (CI 95%; 73.7-91.6) and 93.1% (CI 95%; 89.1-95.8), respectively. When compared to bacteriological and clinical diagnostic criteria, the sensitivity and specificity of Detect-TB assay was 74.3% (CI 95%; 63.3-82.9) and 92.9% (CI 95%; 88.7-95.6), respectively. Among the three sites - Caxias do Sul, São Paulo and Canoas - the sensitivity and specificity were respectively 94.7% and 97.8%; 71.4% and 93.9%, 82.1% and 88.9%. MAIN CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that the Detect-TB assay could be applied routinely in reference laboratories across different regions in Brazil.

ABSTRACT: The boundary line is a method frequently used to assess the nutritional status of plants when the relationship between the variables under analysis is influenced by other interacting factors. The objective of this study was to propose and test the boundary line model to estimate the nutrient sufficiency range and nutritional status of irrigated muskmelon. The lower and upper limits of the sufficiency range were calculated as a basis for assessment of the nutritional status of muskmelon. Leaf material was collected from 70 muskmelon crop areas in northern Brazil. The nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Zn, Mn, B, and Cu) concentrations in the leaf tissue and the respective fruit yield of each area were measured. The proposed model to estimate the boundary line allowed estimation of the sufficiency range of nutrients for irrigated muskmelon. The main growth-limiting factors of muskmelon due to nutritional deficiency were P > N = K, and those caused by nutrient excess were N > Zn = Cu.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) threatens global TB control and is a major public health concern in several countries. We therefore developed a multiplex assay (LINE-TB/MDR) that is able to identify the most frequent mutations related to rifampicin (RMP) and isoniazid (INH) resistance. The assay is based on multiplex polymerase chain reaction, membrane hybridisation and colorimetric detection targeting of rpoB and katG genes, as well as the inhA promoter, which are all known to carry specific mutations associated with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). The assay was validated on a reference panel of 108 M. tuberculosis isolates that were characterised by the proportion method and by DNA sequencing of the targets. When comparing the performance of LINE-TB/MDR with DNA sequencing, the sensitivity, specificity and agreement were 100%, 100% and 100%, respectively, for RMP and 77.6%, 90.6% and 88.9%, respectively, for INH. Using drug sensibility testing as a reference standard, the performance of LINE-TB/MDR regarding sensitivity, specificity and agreement was 100%, 100% and 100% (95%), respectively, for RMP and 77%, 100% and 88.7% (82.2-95.1), respectively, for INH. LINE-TB/MDR was compared with GenoType MTBDRplus for 65 isolates, resulting in an agreement of 93.6% (86.7-97.5) for RIF and 87.4% (84.3-96.2) for INH. LINE-TB/MDR warrants further clinical validation and may be an affordable alternative for MDR-TB diagnosis.

Este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito do fertilizante orgânico no crescimento de raiz e da parte aérea do meloeiro em função de graus dias acumulado. Foi instalado um experimento em vasos, em delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições em esquema fatorial 2x6, referente a presença e ausência de fertilizante orgânico e seis épocas de amostragens (7; 14; 21; 28; 35 42 dias), totalizando 48 parcelas experimentais. Para cada amostragem determinou-se número de folhas (NF), área foliar (AF), matéria seca de raiz (MSR) e matéria seca da parte aérea (MSPA). A taxa de crescimento absoluto (TCA) divergiu em função da adubação para as diferentes características avaliadas e na presença do fertilizante orgânico, verificou-se que as somas calóricas para se obter as maiores TCAmax foram maiores nos tratamento que não receberam o fertilizante orgânico.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of organic fertilizer on root and shoot growth in the melon as a function of accumulated growing degree days. An experiment was set up in pots, in a randomized block design, with four replications and a 2x6 factorial arrangement, corresponding to the presence and absence of organic fertilizer, and six sampling dates (7; 14; 21; 28; 35 and 42 days), giving a total of 48 plots. For each sample, the number of leaves (NL), leaf area (LA), root dry matter (RDM) and shoot dry matter (SDM) were determined. The absolute growth rate (AGR) differed for those traits analysed according to the type of fertilisation used and the presence of organic fertilizer, it was found that the caloric totals required to get the highest AGR were higher in those treatments that received no organic fertilizer.

The occurrence of tuberculosis (TB) in prisons has been described as an alarming public health problem in many countries, especially in developing nations. The objective of this study was to conduct a survey among prisoners with TB respiratory symptoms in order to estimate the incidence of the disease, to analyze the drug susceptibility profile and genotype the isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the city of Charqueadas, southern of Brazil. The TB incidence was 55/1,900 inhabitants in the prison; this corresponds to an incidence of 3,789/100,000 inhabitants, with a prevalence of 72/1,900 (4,960/100,000 inhabitants). Drug susceptibility test was performed and, among the analyzed isolates, 85% were susceptible to all drugs tested and 15% were resistant to at least one drug, of which 89% were resistant only to isoniazid (INH) or in combination with another drug. The genotype classification of spoligotyping analysis showed that 40% of the isolates belong to LAM family, 22% to T family, 17.5% to Haarlem family, 12.5% to U family and 3% to X family. The shared international spoligotypes most frequently found were 729 (27%), 50 (9.5%), 42 (8%), 53 (8%) and 863 (8%). In conclusion, it was observed that TB in this specific population had been caused, mostly, by strains that have been transmitted in the last few years, as demonstrated by the large level of genotype clustering. In addition, it was found specific large clusters, which were not often found in the general population from the same period and in the same region.

Direct smear examination using Ziehl-Neelsen staining for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) diagnosis is inexpensive and easy to use, but has the major limitation of low sensitivity. Rapid molecular methods are becoming more widely available in centralized laboratories, but they depend on timely reporting of results and strict quality assurance obtainable only from costly commercial kits available in high burden nations. This study describes a pre-commercial colorimetric method, Detect-TB, for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in which an oligonucleotide probe is fixed onto wells of microwell plates and hybridized with biotinylated polymerase chain reaction amplification products derived from clinical samples. The probe is capable of hybridising with the IS6110 insertion element and was used to specifically recognise the M. tuberculosis complex. When combined with an improved silica-based DNA extraction method, the sensitivity of the test was 50 colony-forming units of the M. tuberculosis reference strain H37Rv. The results that were in agreement with reference detection methods were observed in 95.2% (453/476) of samples included in the analysis. Sensitivity and specificity for 301 induced sputum samples and 175 spontaneous sputum samples were 85% and 98%, and 94% and 100%, respectively. This colorimetric method showed similar specificity to that described for commercially available kits and may provide an important contribution for PTB diagnosis.