RESUMO O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a influência de diferentes épocas de plantio e variáveis meteorológicas no desempenho produtivo da mandioca industrial na região do Agreste de Alagoas. Os tratamentos foram cinco datas de plantio, com espaçamento temporal de 25 dias entre elas: D1 - 10 de abril, D2 - 05 de maio, D3 - 30 de maio, D4 - 24 de junho e D5 - 19 de julho. O período experimental foi de abril de 2021 a setembro de 2023, dois ciclos de cultivo. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. As variáveis analisadas foram: dados agrometeorológicas e de crescimento e produção da cultura. Na região do Agreste de Alagoas, entre as estações chuvosa e seca, a ET0 média diária varia de 2,9 a 4,7 mm, respectivamente. A temperatura média do ar é 24,3 °C e atende as demandas térmicas da cultura da mandioca. A precipitação anual é suficiente para garantir a produção de mandioca, porém, há sazonalidade nas chuvas, com período seco da primavera ao verão, o que prejudica plantios mais tardios. Na região do Agreste de Alagoas, o melhor período para o plantio da mandioca é de 10 de abril a 5 de maio, que é o início do período chuvoso da região e garante melhores resultados em: altura do dossel vegetativo (3,2 m), diâmetro do caule (2,8 cm), índice de área foliar (3,0), comprimento máximo (43,1 cm), número (6,6) e rendimento de raízes (72,8 t ha-1), biomassa total (145 t ha-1) e teor de amido (34,3%).

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different planting times and meteorological variables on the productive performance of industrial cassava in the Agreste region of Alagoas state, Brazil. The treatments were five planting dates, 25 days apart: D1 - April 10, D2 - May 5, D3 - May 30, D4 - June 24 and D5 - July 19. The experiment was conducted from April 2021 to September 2023 (two cultivation cycles), using randomized blocks, with four replicates. The variables analyzed were agrometeorological data, crop growth and yield. In the Agreste region of Alagoas, the average daily ET0 varies from 2.9 to 4.7 mm between the rainy and dry seasons, respectively. The average temperature of 24.3 °C meets the thermal demands of cassava cultivation. Although annual rainfall is sufficient to guarantee cassava production, it is seasonal, with a dry period from spring to summer, which compromises subsequent plantings. In the Agreste region of Alagoas, the best time to plant cassava is from April 10 to May 5, which is the beginning of the rainy season and ensures better vegetative canopy height (3.2 m), stem diameter (2.8 cm), leaf area index (3.0), maximum root length (43.1 cm), number (6.6) and yield (72.8 t ha-1), total biomass (145 t ha-1) and starch content (34.3%).

RESUMO A germinação controlada é um procedimento simples e de baixo custo que busca melhorar a qualidade nutricional, funcional e sensorial de sementes destinadas à alimentação. As condições de germinação influenciam diretamente na composição final do broto, sendo função principalmente do tempo de processo. Assim, objetivou-se examinar os efeitos de períodos de germinação nas propriedades nutricionais de sementes de feijão lima das variedades ‘Orelha-de-Vó Preta’, ‘Raio-de-Sol’, ‘Branca’ e ‘Raio-de-Sol Grande’. Foram avaliados os teores de água, proteínas, amido, açúcares totais e redutores, compostos fenólicos totais, taninos, flavonoides e antocianinas nos tempos 0, 24, 48, 72 e 96 horas. Os dados foram processados em delineamento inteiramente casualizado e dispostos em esquema fatorial (4 × 5), com três repetições. O processo de germinação aumentou o teor de proteína e reduziu o teor de amido; promovendo o aumento parcial dos açúcares redutores e dos açúcares totais. Os compostos fenólicos totais, taninos, flavonóides e antocianinas aumentaram com o tempo de processo, atingindo valores máximos absolutos entre 72 e 96 horas. A variedade ‘Orelha-de-Vó Preta’ apresentou os maiores valores de compostos fenólicos totais e antocianinas; o teor de flavonóides foi maior na ‘Orelha-de-Vó Preta’ e no ‘Raio-de-Sol Grande’, enquanto a variedade ‘Branca’ apresentou o maior teor de taninos totais. Portanto, conclui-se que a germinação demonstrou ser um processo capaz de aprimorar a composição nutricional e funcional do feijão lima.

ABSTRACT Controlled germination is a simple low-cost procedure to improve the nutritional, functional and sensory quality of seeds intended for food. Germination conditions directly influence the final composition of the sprout, being mainly a function of the process time. Thus, the aim was to examine the effects of germination periods on the nutritional properties of lima bean seeds of the varieties ‘Orelha-de-Vó Preta’, ‘Raio-de-Sol’, ‘Branca’, and ‘Raio-de-Sol Grande’. The water content, proteins, starch, total and reducing sugars, total phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, and anthocyanins were evaluated at times 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. The data was processed in a completely randomized design and arranged in a factorial scheme (4 × 5), with three replicates. The germination process increased the protein content and reduced the starch content, promoting a partial increase in reducing sugars and total sugars. The total phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, and anthocyanins increased with the process time, reaching absolute maximum values between 72 and 96 hours. The variety ‘Orelha-de-Vó Preta’ presented the highest values of total phenolic compounds and anthocyanins; the flavonoid content was higher in ‘Orelha-de-Vó Preta’ and ‘Raio-de-Sol Grande’, while the variety ‘Branca’ presented the highest of total tannins content. Therefore, it is concluded that germination has proven to be a process capable of enhancing the nutritional and functional composition of lima beans.

ABSTRACT Early garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivars are an alternative for growing this vegetable in low-altitude semi-arid regions, due to its lower requirement for mild temperatures and photoperiod. However, it is necessary to identify the cultivars that best adapt to these environmental conditions to improve management and maximize their production characteristics. In this sense, the objective was to evaluate early garlic cultivars’ biometric, yield, and quality characteristics under low altitude conditions in the semi-arid region. Two field trials were carried out in a Brazilian semi-arid region to evaluate 14 early-cycle and virus-free garlic cultivars. The climatic variations between the experiments influenced the performance of some cultivars in terms of biometric, yield, and quality characteristics. ‘Inhumas Casca Roxa’ (65.25 and 57.62 cm; 6.49 and 6.48 t in 2022 and 2023, respectively) and ‘Ugarte’ (61.70 and 55.14 cm; 6.34 and 5.62 t in 2022 and 2023, respectively) showed higher height and total yield. Likewise, ‘Inhumas Casca Roxa’ and ‘Ugarte’ stood out for bulb mass (20.00 and 19.61 g respectively), and percentage of bulbs in classes 5 (30.6% and 32.8%, respectively) and 6 (8.3% and 9.2%). These materials also showed good post-harvest quality characteristics, such as high pungency for fresh consumption and/or processing by industry. It is recommended to cultivate ‘Inhumas Casca Roxa’ and ‘Ugarte’ for garlic production in low-altitude semi-arid conditions.

Plants of the genus Crotalaria are known for their antagonistic effect against nematodes. It has been found that pyrrolizidine alkaloids are the main metabolites involved in such antagonistic activity. Aiming at obtaining extracts with higher alkaloid content and enhanced potential for use as bionematicides, we investigated the chemical composition and nematicidal activity of extracts obtained from Crotalaria juncea and Crotalaria ochroleuca cultivated in vitro through micropropagation. Remarkably, extracts from the callus of C. ochroleuca (lethal concentration of 95% (LC95) = 157.7 μg mL-1) and C. juncea (LC95 = 189.9 μg mL-1) exhibited high toxicity against Meloidogyne javanica. The ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight with high mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MSE) analysis revealed the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, flavones, flavone glycosides, and isoflavones. These findings highlight the potential of tissue culture to obtain extracts from Crotalaria species compared to conventionally cultivated plants and provide a higher concentration of metabolites with nematicidal effects, paving the way for sustainable agriculture.

Abstract In this study, we developed a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sensor to monitor respiratory rates. The sensor utilizes a passive RFID tag enhanced with a metamaterial-inspired structure to boost its maximum gain value. This gain increased from -0.39 dBi to 0.57 dBi. Monitoring of the respiratory rate was conducted by analyzing variations in the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), which were influenced by respiratory movements. The RSSI data collected from the RFID tag readings were processed using the Daubechies wavelet of order 5 (db5) with three levels of signal decomposition, resulting in signals with reduced noise. These measurements were particularly effective when the participant was at rest, with the RFID tag positioned over the abdomen. The maximum reading range obtained was 1.04 m. The respiratory rates derived from the RSSI variations were validated against a vital signals monitor, confirming that they fell within the expected frequency variation range of the multiparameter monitor.

ABSTRACT Sweet potato is a vital food root, rich in vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds. Genotypes that meet these nutritional demands are essential to combat nutrient deficiencies and promote human health. Thus, it presupposes the hypothesis that sweet potato genotypes differ in physicochemical quality and bioactive compounds when evaluated under the same environmental conditions. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the physicochemical quality and bioactive compounds in genotypes of orange-fleshed sweet potato. The experiment was conducted from April 2022 to August 2022 in the experimental area of Agronomic Engineering, located at the Academic Unit Specialized in Agricultural Sciences (UAECA) - UFRN, in Macaíba, RN, Brazil. The treatments were composed of eight genotypes, being two cultivars (BRS Amélia and Beauregard) and six accessions (Macaíba I, Macaíba II, Macaíba III, Macaíba IV, Ceará-Mirim, and Natal I) of orange-fleshed sweet potato from the UAECA teaching collection. After harvest, the following characteristics were evaluated: firmness, elasticity, hydrogen potential (pH), titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids (SS), ratio (SS/TA), Vitamin C, and the bioactive compounds: anthocyanins, flavonoids, and total carotenoids. The orange-fleshed sweet potato genotypes showed distinct characteristics for the physicochemical variables and the bioactive compounds. Due to increased pulp pH, anthocyanins were reduced in the Ceará-Mirim, Macaíba III, and Macaíba IV genotypes. The Macaíba II and Natal I genotypes stood out regarding the SS/TA ratio, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. In contrast, the Macaíba III genotype had the highest carotenoid content and great bioactive potential.

RESUMO A batata-doce é uma raiz alimentar vital, rica em vitaminas, minerais e compostos bioativos. Genótipos que atendam a essas demandas nutricionais são essenciais para combater deficiências de nutrientes e promover a saúde humana. Assim, pressupõe-se a hipótese de que os genótipos de batata-doce diferem na qualidade físico-química e nos compostos bioativos quando avaliados sob as mesmas condições ambientais. Deste modo, este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a qualidade físico-química e os compostos bioativos em genótipos de batata-doce de polpa alaranjada. O experimento foi conduzido de abril de 2022 a agosto de 2022, na área experimental de Engenharia Agronômica, localizada na Unidade Acadêmica Especializada em Ciências Agrárias (UAECA) - UFRN, em Macaíba, RN, Brasil. Os tratamentos foram compostos por oito genótipos, sendo duas cultivares (BRS Amélia e Beauregard) e seis acessos (Macaíba I, Macaíba II, Macaíba III, Macaíba IV, Ceará-Mirim e Natal I) de batata-doce de polpa alaranjada da coleção didática da UAECA. Após a colheita, foram avaliadas as seguintes características: firmeza, elasticidade, potencial hidrogeniônico (pH), acidez titulável (AT), sólidos solúveis (SS), razão (SS/AT), vitamina C e os compostos bioativos: antocianinas, flavonoides e carotenoides totais. Os genótipos de batata-doce de polpa alaranjada apresentaram características distintas para as variáveis físico-químicas e os compostos bioativos. Devido ao aumento do pH da polpa, as antocianinas foram reduzidas nos genótipos Ceará-Mirim, Macaíba III e Macaíba IV. Os genótipos Macaíba II e Natal I se destacaram quanto à relação SS/AT, flavonoides e antocianinas. Em contrapartida, o genótipo Macaíba III apresentou o maior teor de carotenoides e grande potencial bioativo.

This study details the preparation, antileishmanial assay, and in silico analysis of twenty 2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,3-triazolyl)propyl vanillin derivatives. These compounds were synthesized in three steps and evaluated against Leishmania infantum, Leishmania amazonensis, and Leishmania braziliensis promastigotes. Compounds 3s and 3t were the most effective, showing good activity against all Leishmania species tested. Molecular docking indicated that all compounds bind favorably to the sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) enzyme from L. infantum. ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) analysis indicated good oral bioavailability, non blood-brain barrier penetration, and high gastrointestinal absorption. Posaconazole and compounds 3e, 3s, and 3t remained stable in the CYP51 binding region during 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Root mean square deviation (RMSD) and root mean square fluctuations (RMSF) analyses from the MD trajectory revealed significant conformational fluctuations of the CYP51 N-terminal, suggesting occasional expulsion of 3e, potentially explaining its higher IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) values. Pairwise decomposition analyses from molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) calculations highlighted the importance of hydrophobic residues in interacting with the synthesized derivatives.

ABSTRACT The objective of the research was to study the drying of trapiá pulp with the addition of drying aids, determining the drying kinetics and thermodynamic properties of the samples. Formulations of the pulp was treated with the additives monoglycerides, carboxymethylcellulose - CMC and guar gum in different combinations and concentrations (F1 - 0.5% CMC and 0.5% Monoglycerides; F2 - 0.5% Guar Gum and 0.5% Monoglycerides; and F3 - 0.25% Guar Gum, 0.5% CMC and 0.5% Monoglycerides) trapiá. Drying was carried out at 50, 60 and 70 ºC with 0.5 cm thick layers. The drying kinetics were determined, and different mathematical models fitted to the data. The Midilli model best represented the drying kinetics, with determination coefficients ≥ 0.9985. The effective diffusivities increased with increase in temperature with magnitudes to the order of 10-10 m2 s-1. The enthalpy variations (ΔH) reduced with increase in temperature and were positive. The entropy variations (ΔS) were negative and inversely proportional to the temperature. The variation in Gibbs free energy (ΔG) was positive and increased with increase in temperature.

RESUMO O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar a secagem da polpa de trapiá com a adição de aditivos de secagem, determinando a cinética de secagem e as propriedades termodinâmicas das amostras. Foram elaboradas formulações a partir da polpa e os aditivos monoglicerídeos, carboximetilcelulose - CMC e goma guar em diferentes combinações e concentrações (F1 - 0,5% de CMC e 0,5% de Monoglicerídeos; F2 - 0,5% de Goma Guar e 0,5% de Monoglicerídeos; e F3 - 0,25% de Goma Guar, 0,5% de CMC e 0,5% de Monoglicerídeos). A secagem foi realizada a 50, 60 e 70 ºC com camadas de 0,5 cm de espessura. A cinética de secagem foi determinada e diferentes modelos matemáticos foram ajustados aos dados. O modelo Midilli foi o que melhor representou a cinética de secagem, com coeficientes de determinação ≥ 0,9985. As difusividades efetivas aumentaram com o aumento da temperatura, com magnitudes da ordem de 10-10 m2 s-1. As variações de entalpia (ΔH) diminuíram com o aumento da temperatura e foram positivas. As variações de entropia (ΔS) foram negativas e inversamente proporcionais à temperatura. A variação da energia livre de Gibbs (ΔG) foi positiva e aumentou com o aumento da temperatura.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the anticancer activity of the extract, fractions, and isolated compounds of the flowers of Fridericia platyphylla, and to characterize the bioactive compounds. The chemical diversity of the extracts and fractions was investigated using liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). We were able to annotate 26 compounds from the classes of flavones, flavonols, flavanones, isoflavones, and cinnamic acid and its derivatives. The dichloromethane fraction showed greater cytotoxicity at a concentration of 100 µg mL−1. In addition, the inhibitory concentrations of the dichloromethane fraction were 22.14 and 30.9 µg mL−1 for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, respectively, and were capable of inhibiting tumor cell migration. Brachydins A and C were isolated from the dichloromethane fraction and showed the greatest cytotoxicity. The results obtained from this study show the potential biological effect of F. platyphylla flowers as a possible antitumor pharmacological agent.

The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) stands for being the most serious epidemic (so far) of the 21st century. However, only a few computational studies have investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the neutralization of the spike protein by antibodies of different classes. Hence, bioinformatic methods were employed to unravel the factors contributing to the remarkable neutralization capacity exhibited by specific antibodies. Initially, crystallographic structures of IgA monomeric / dimeric, IgG, and IgM antibodies binding with the receptor-binding domain region of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were retrieved. Subsequently, rigid molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations were performed over 100 ns with explicit water solvation. Lastly, an energy decomposition was conducted to estimate the binding affinity using the last frames from molecular dynamics. The results revealed a higher binding affinity for both monomeric and dimeric forms of IgA antibodies against the spike protein. Additionally, a greater number of hydrogen bonds were observed during their interaction with the spike protein, as well as greater structural instability along the time and especially a more thermodynamically favorable interaction affinity. In this way, the research contributes a small piece to the complex puzzle of understanding the humoral immune response induced by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Fruits of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi were investigated. A fast and efficient method for the simultaneous determination of 11 polyphenolic substances by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was applied. Limits of quantification ranged between 0.78 and 3.14 mg L-1. High concentrations of kaempferol were found. An exploratory evaluation was performed using principal component analysis (PCA) for fruit origin differentiation. Total phenolic content (TPC) ranged from 274 to 517 mg GAE 100 g-1; total flavonoid content (TFC) ranged from 101 to 283 mg QE 100 g-1. In vitro analyses showed that antioxidant capacity with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) ranged from 1.7 to 7 µM DPPH 100 g-1. The bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect were also evaluated against: Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella choleraesuis, Candida albicans and C. glabrata, using broth microdilution assay. It can be inferred that S. terebinthifolia Raddi fruit has the potential to act as an ally in the search for new alternatives in the action against pathogens, and it can be used as a potential natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agent. Metals (Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn) were also determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), with emphasis on high concentrations of Mg, Zn and Fe.

Lantana caatingensis Moldenke (Verbenaceae) is an endemic plant from northeastern Brazil. However, its chemical composition is almost unknown. This study aimed to characterize the chemical compounds found in L. caatingensis and investigate the antileishmanial potential of its hydroalcoholic extract and polar fractions. Compounds present in the hydroalcoholic extract obtained from L. caatingensis leaves and its polar fractions (ethyl acetate and methanolic) were analyzed by liquid chromatography with a photodiode-array detector coupled to electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. An antileishmanial assay was performed in a 96-well plate against Leishmania major promastigotes using resazurin on a plate spectrophotometer and the results were expressed as percentage of growth inhibition. Nine compounds were determined in the investigated extract and fractions, classified as flavonoids, flavonoid C-glycosides and phenylethanoid glycosides. The antileishmanial activity revealed that the hydroalcoholic extract and the ethyl acetate fraction were active against L. major promastigotes with inhibitory concentration of 71.78 and 26.86 µg mL-1, respectively, while the methanolic fraction was inactive (478.40 µg mL-1). This is the first report on the chemical composition and antileishmanial activity of L. caatingensis extracts. These results contribute to further knowledge of species belonging to the Lantana genus.

This study aimed to employ bibliometric methodologies to provide an overview of silver nanoparticles used as antimicrobial agents over the past decade. According to research conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, a total of 2504 articles were published globally, of which 109 were from Brazilian institutions. Notably, approximately 70% of the leading article-producing countries are in Asia, with India emerging as the primary contributor with 1892 articles. Brazil ranked sixth in terms of publication volume, contributing 366 articles. Predominantly, the Southeastern region of Brazil exhibited the highest publication output, constituting 61% of the total, with the state of São Paulo playing a central role. Despite a gradual increase in the number of publications, most studies focused on synthesis methodologies, mainly producing aqueous silver nanoparticle solutions and their correlation with antimicrobial applications. The scarcity of publications addressing their efficacy in final commercialized products poses challenges for regulatory actions, quality control, and sanitary surveillance. Bibliometric studies are valuable tools for guiding future research efforts with significant potential impacts to foster a deeper understanding of this topic within the scientific community.

In this work, a miniaturized version of the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) method was optimized, validated, and applied for extracting eight pesticide residues in anuran liver tissue samples. The extracts were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection, and the detected residues in liver tissue samples were identified by tandem mass spectrometry-liquid chromatography. The optimized extraction method entailed the scale reduction of the QuEChERS method twenty times using 500 mg of liver tissue sample, 200 mg Mg2SO4, 50 mg NaCl, 1.5 mL of acetonitrile, and a mixture of 25 mg C18 + 25 mg PSA (primary-secondary amine) as dispersive solid-phase extraction sorbent. The method was validated using liver tissue samples spiked at two levels of pesticide concentrations according to the SANTE/11312/2021 document. Recoveries ranged from 91-110% with a relative standard deviation < 20%. The method robustness assessed by the Steiner and Youden test resulted in recovery rate variations of less than 2% for all pesticides after deliberated changes in seven variables. The validated method was applied to 72 liver tissue samples from two anuran species, registering residues of some pesticides in 31 samples. The proposed method proved to be efficient, precise, and robust for determining pesticide residues in anuran liver tissues.

This study aimed to isolate, purify and characterize secondary metabolites present in Amburana acreana leaves, native to the state of Rondônia, using classical chromatographic methods and 1D, 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. From the hydroethanolic leaves extract of A. acreana, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, coumarin, campesterol 3-β-D-glucoside and amburoside B, all known compounds, were identified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of isolation and chemical characterization of secondary metabolites in A. acreana. In addition, in vitro assays indicated that amburoside B does not have inhibitory potential on the growth of gram-negative bacteria. The presence of these compounds suggests that, thus far, amburosides (A and B) could be chemotaxonomic markers of the genus Amburana.