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\"This twenty-eight day fitness and nutrition plan-- the same one Olajide gives his clients-- lets you unleash your body's natural energy at home without having to invest a fortune on useless gym equipment.\"--Page 4 of cover.

Even though desert dust is the most abundant aerosol by mass in Earth's atmosphere, the relative contributions of the world's major source regions to the global dust cycle remain poorly constrained. This problem hinders accounting for the potentially large impact of regional differences in dust properties on clouds, the Earth's energy balance, and terrestrial and marine biogeochemical cycles. Here, we constrain the contribution of each of the world's main dust source regions to the global dust cycle. We use an analytical framework that integrates an ensemble of global aerosol model simulations with observationally informed constraints on the dust size distribution, extinction efficiency, and regional dust aerosol optical depth (DAOD). We obtain a dataset that constrains the relative contribution of nine major source regions to size-resolved dust emission, atmospheric loading, DAOD, concentration, and deposition flux. We find that the 22–29 Tg (1 standard error range) global loading of dust with a geometric diameter up to 20 µm is partitioned as follows: North African source regions contribute ∼ 50 % (11–15 Tg), Asian source regions contribute ∼ 40 % (8–13 Tg), and North American and Southern Hemisphere regions contribute ∼ 10 % (1.8–3.2 Tg). These results suggest that current models on average overestimate the contribution of North African sources to atmospheric dust loading at ∼ 65 %, while underestimating the contribution of Asian dust at ∼ 30 %. Our results further show that each source region's dust loading peaks in local spring and summer, which is partially driven by increased dust lifetime in those seasons. We also quantify the dust deposition flux to the Amazon rainforest to be ∼ 10 Tg yr−1, which is a factor of 2–3 less than inferred from satellite data by previous work that likely overestimated dust deposition by underestimating the dust mass extinction efficiency. The data obtained in this paper can be used to obtain improved constraints on dust impacts on clouds, climate, biogeochemical cycles, and other parts of the Earth system.

Nutrient input in aquaculture ponds can influence fish growth, health, water quality, and effluent composition. This study assessed the effects of pond fertilization on the performance and health of tambaqui ( Colossoma macropomum ), as well as on effluent and sediment. Unfertilized and biweekly fertilized replicated ponds were compared. All ponds were stocked with tambaqui juveniles (93.8 ± 15.0 g) at a density of 4,000 fish ha −1 and fed commercial feed. Fertilization did not affect fish yield but improved the feed conversion ratio. After a 10-month trial, three monogenean ectoparasitic flatworm species were identified, with no differences in abundance between treatments. Fertilization reduced water turbidity and increased total and dissolved phosphorus in the effluent, while ammonia levels remained unchanged. Chlorophyll a concentration increased by 59% and zooplankton density by 51% in fertilized ponds, while phytoplankton density was, on average, ∼44% higher during certain months compared to unfertilized ponds. A significant interaction between treatment and time was observed for dissolved oxygen. By the end of the trial, fertilization did not increase organic matter in the sediment. However, it led to higher concentrations of total nitrogen and phosphorus, whereas potassium levels remained unchanged. Overall, pond fertilization improved feed efficiency, did not influence monogenean abundance, and resulted in only minor changes in effluent and sediment quality.

Propolis has various pharmacological properties of clinical interest, and is also considered a functional food. In particular, hydroalcoholic extracts of red propolis (HERP), together with its isoflavonoid formononetin, have recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with known added value against dyslipidemia. In this study, we report the gastroprotective effects of HERP (50–500 mg/kg, p.o.) and formononetin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) in ethanol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced models of rat ulcer. The volume, pH, and total acidity were the evaluated gastric secretion parameters using the pylorus ligature model, together with the assessment of gastric mucus contents. The anti-Helicobacter pylori activities of HERP were evaluated using the agar-well diffusion method. In our experiments, HERP (250 and 500 mg/kg) and formononetin (10 mg/kg) reduced (p < 0.001) total lesion areas in the ethanol-induced rat ulcer model, and reduced (p < 0.05) ulcer indices in the indomethacin-induced rat ulcer model. Administration of HERP and formononetin to pylorus ligature models significantly decreased (p < 0.01) gastric secretion volumes and increased (p < 0.05) mucus production. We have also shown the antioxidant and anti-Helicobacter pylori activities of HERP. The obtained results indicate that HERP and formononetin are gastroprotective in acute ulcer models, suggesting a prominent role of formononetin in the effects of HERP.

Lipid droplets (lipid bodies, LDs) are dynamic organelles that have important roles in regulating lipid metabolism, energy homeostasis, cell signaling, membrane trafficking, and inflammation. LD biogenesis, composition, and functions are highly regulated and may vary according to the stimuli, cell type, activation state, and inflammatory environment. Increased cytoplasmic LDs are frequently observed in leukocytes and other cells in a number of infectious diseases. Accumulating evidence reveals LDs participation in fundamental mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions, including cell signaling and immunity. LDs are sources of eicosanoid production, and may participate in different aspects of innate signaling and antigen presentation. In addition, intracellular pathogens evolved mechanisms to subvert host metabolism and may use host LDs, as ways of immune evasion and nutrients source. Here, we review mechanisms of LDs biogenesis and their contributions to the infection progress, and discuss the latest discoveries on mechanisms and pathways involving LDs roles as regulators of the immune response to protozoan infection.

One of the main themes of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity is Digital Sequence Information (DSI): genomic or related data deposited in publicly accessible databases in a digital language. These sequences are important for research in areas such as biodiversity conservation and bioprospecting. Some characteristics of organisms that stimulate the commercial use of biodiversity may have been developed by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, and therefore, they have associated traditional knowledge. We present proposals of the Brazilian Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities on this topic.

The Arecaceae and Myrtaceae families are widespread across Brazil. They include many of Brazil's native fruit species. Local communities use these plants for many purposes. Their health impacts come from bioactive compounds, notably phytochemicals. These compounds are crucial for managing chronic diseases and can serve as antimicrobial agents. Therefore, this review aimed to present and discuss the importance of commercialization, consumption, and development of new products from some plant matrices native to Brazil, such as purple-araçá, bacaba, cherry of Rio Grande, grumixama, juçara, and pitanga with emphasis on the phenolic profile and functional potential as agents in biological activities. The information presented herein serves as a foundation for enhancing practices ranging from cultivation and consumption to the formulation of innovative ingredients and food products. This emphasis is particularly relevant for underexplored fruits, such as purple-araçá and bacaba, which possess untapped potential for further investigation and application.

Size grading is a common management practice in fish farming to minimize growth variability. Such practice has not been established for pirarucu Arapaima gigas. Therefore, the present study assessed the effect of size grading on the growth of pirarucu. Juvenile pirarucu were divided into three groups: ungraded fish (U: mean initial weight 1.12 kg), small fish (S: mean initial weight 0.81 kg), and large fish (L: mean initial weight 1.36 kg), and reared for 129 days (phase I) and 158 additional days (phase II), consecutively. No significant difference was observed in the final length, specific growth rate, biomass, survival and feed conversion rate between fish groups. Ungraded fish presented a greater decrease in the coefficient of variation for weight in phase I than in phase II. Size sorting resulted in significantly higher growth after 287 days of farming in the L-graded fish (9.49 kg, final weight), followed by the ungraded group (8.80 kg) and S-graded group (8.01 kg). However, the mean weight of pooled S- and L-graded fish was similar to the ungraded fish group in phase I and phase II, indicating that grading did not improve the general performance of pirarucu in captivity.

Millions of tons of mineral dust are lifted by the wind from arid surfaces and transported around the globe every year. The physical and chemical properties of the mineral dust are needed to better constrain remote sensing observations and are of fundamental importance for the understanding of dust atmospheric processes. Ground-based in situ measurements and in situ filter collection of Saharan dust were obtained during the Fennec campaign in the central Sahara in 2011. This paper presents results of the absorption and scattering coefficients, and hence single scattering albedo (SSA), of the Saharan dust measured in real time during the last period of the campaign and subsequent laboratory analysis of the dust samples collected in two supersites, SS1 and SS2, in Algeria and in Mauritania, respectively. The samples were taken to the laboratory, where their size and aspect ratio distributions, mean chemical composition, spectral mass absorption efficiency, and spectral imaginary refractive index were obtained from the ultraviolet (UV) to the near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths. At SS1 in Algeria, the time series of the scattering coefficients during the period of the campaign show dust events exceeding 3500 Mm (exp -1), and a relatively high mean SSA of 0.995 at 670 nm was observed at this site. The laboratory results show for the fine particle size distributions (particles diameter <5μm and mode diameter at2–3 μm) in both sites a spectral dependence of the imaginary part of the refractive index Im(m) with a bow-like shape, with increased absorption in UV as well as in the shortwave infrared. The same signature was not observed, however, in the mixed particle size distribution (particle diameter<10 μm and mode diameter at 4 μm) in Algeria. Im(m) was found to range from 0.011 to 0.001i for dust collected in Algeria and 0.008 to 0.002i for dust collected in Mauritania over the wavelength range of 350-2500 nm. Differences in the mean elemental composition of the dust collected in the supersites in Algeria and in Mauritania and between fine and mixed particle size distributions were observed from EDXRF measurements, although those differences cannot be used to explain the optical properties variability between the samples. Finally, particles with low-density typically larger than 10 μm in diameter were found in some of the samples collected at the supersite in Mauritania, but these low-density particles were not observed in Algeria.

Fertilization of aquaculture ponds has been pointed out as an efficient practice to improve fish feed conversion and growth performance. In this way, the present study aimed to assess the effect of pond fertilization on the growth performance, body composition, and water quality of juvenile pirarucu Arapaima gigas reared in earthen ponds (600 m²) during the grow-out phase. Two fertilized and two non-fertilized ponds were stocked with 208 juvenile pirarucus (19.9 ± 3.6 g and 15.0 ± 0.9 cm) and reared for 100 days. All four ponds were limed before the study. Ponds were fertilized before fish were stocked and weekly until the end of the experiment, and fish offered feed until apparent satiation. Pirarucu reared in fertilized ponds presented higher final weight (20%) and biomass (19%), further to lower feed intake and feed conversion rate (1.31) than fish reared in non-fertilized ponds (1.61). Pond fertilization did not affect the fish coefficient of variation, which was reduced over the culture cycle. The body composition of fish reared in fertilized ponds presented higher water content, protein, and energy retention rates and lowered crude fat and energy. Fertilized ponds presented lower transparency levels and higher pH from the 50th day of culture, whereas ammonia concentration was higher in the fertilized ponds in the first 25 days. Therefore, pond fertilization is a recommended practice for pirarucu during the grow-out phase.