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This study aimed to compare the conventional soybean ( Glycine max L.) cultivation method with integrated systems in an Latossolo Vermelho Acriférrico típico and how these systems affect soil cover biomass production, initial nutrient concentration in plant residues, soil respiration and microclimate, as well as soybean growth, physiology and productivity. A comparative analysis of microclimate and soil respiration, plant physiology, and growth was conducted between a conventional soybean monoculture (soybean grown without plant residues on the soil from the previous crop) and soybean grown in soil containing maize residues. Additionally, experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of monocultures and previous integration between maize, three cultivars of Panicum maximum (Zuri, Tamani, and Quênia guinea grass) and Pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan cv. BRS Mandarim) on soil health, physiological aspects, and soybean production. Our results indicated that all cultivars of Panicum maximum can be used in integrated systems. The triple consortium resulted in greater production of ground cover biomass and a higher concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur, which contributed to lower soil temperature and greater humidity, without a concomitant increase in soil respiration. Consequently, soybeans grown in the resulting integrated systems cover biomass showed a higher net photosynthesis rate and increased leaf chlorophyll index, resulting in taller plants, with higher above-ground biomass production and 21.0% and a 36.8% increase in grain yield when compared to soybean cultivated on maize biomass and on soil without cover residue, respectively. The data presented in this study demonstrated that integrated systems, with the presence of grasses and legumes, improve soil climatic conditions and nutrient availability, enhancing soybean physiology and productivity characteristics, thus contributing to the sustainability of agricultural production, even in the short term. Further long-term research is strongly recommended.

Modern agriculture faces the challenge of increasing production without expanding cultivated areas, promoting sustainable practices that ensure food security and environmental preservation. Integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLSs) stand out as an effective strategy, diversifying and intensifying agricultural production in a sustainable manner, ensuring adequate soil cover, and improving nutrient cycling efficiency. Thus, this study aimed to explore and compare integrated crop–livestock systems with Zuri guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. BRS Zuri) and Quênia guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. BRS Quênia) against the conventional soybean/maize succession method in a tropical region, and how these systems affect biomass decomposition, C:N ratio, nutrient cycling, and fertilizer equivalents. A field experiment was conducted in two phases: the first in the second-crop season and the second in the main season, using a randomized block design with four replicates. The treatments consisted of two ICLS systems, one with Zuri and Quênia guinea grasses established after soybean, and a succession system with maize established after soybean. The results indicated that Quênia guinea grass showed greater desiccation efficiency, with an injury rate of 86.5% at 21 days, 8.5% higher compared to Zuri guinea grass. In terms of biomass, Zuri and Quênia guinea grasses had average productions of 7021.1 kg ha−1, which was 43.25% higher compared to maize biomass. The biomass decomposition of the grasses was faster due to their lower C:N ratio, resulting in greater nutrient release into the soil. Both forage grasses (Zuri and Quênia guinea grasses) are suitable for integrated crop–livestock systems, as they showed similar biomass production and nutrient accumulation. Soybean yield was not influenced by the different cropping systems, showing similar results between the biomass of Zuri and Quênia guinea grasses and maize. However, grass biomass enriches the soil more through the return of fertilizer equivalents, which in future studies could be considered for the reduction of mineral fertilizers, ensuring greater sustainability of agricultural systems.

The ensiling potential of Tamani guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. BRS Tamani) and Stylosanthes cv. Bela in monoculture or intercropped systems, and the effect of two treatments on ensiling (with and without inoculant) on fermentation quality and nutritional composition of the silage after 50 days of ensiling, were evaluated. The experiment was conducted at the Instituto Federal Goiano, Campus Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil, using a randomized block design with four replications in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme, totaling 24 experimental silos. The forage was harvested during a 28-day regrowth cycle. Results indicated that silages without inoculants showed inadequate fermentative characteristics, compromising nutritional preservation. The addition of microbial inoculants improved the fermentation process, ensuring proper preservation of silage. The intercropping of Tamani guinea grass with Stylosanthes cv. Bela resulted in higher dry matter production and improved the nutritional value of the silage, with increases of 3.46% in crude protein content, 20.96% in ADIP (acid detergent insoluble protein), 6.31% in soluble carbohydrates, and 10.06% in starch compared to the silage of Tamani guinea grass in monoculture. Therefore, the use of silage from intercropped Tamani guinea grass and Stylosanthes cv. Bela with the addition of inoculants can be recommended as a productive and sustainable practice, reducing costs associated with protein and mineral supplementation.

Forages are one of the most cultivated crops in the world. However, nutritional deficiency is common, specifically in N, P, and Ca in many forage-growing regions. Silicon (Si) can attenuate the stress caused by nutritional deficiency, but studies on Si supply’s effects on forage plants are still scarce. This research was carried out to evaluate whether the Si supply can mitigate the effects of N, P, and Ca deficiencies of two forages and the physiological and nutritional mechanisms involved. Two experiments were carried out with two forage species ( Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu and Megathyrsus maximum cv. Massai). We used nutrient solution under balanced nutrition conditions and nutritional stress due to the lack of N, P, and Ca combined with the −Si and +Si. The deficiencies of N, P, and Ca in both forages’ cultivation caused damage to physiological and nutritional variables, decreasing the plant dry matter. However, in both forage species, the Si addition to the nutrient solution decreased the extravasation of cellular electrolytes and increased the content of phenolic compounds, the green colour index, the quantum efficiency of photosystem II, the efficiencies of use of N, P and Ca and the production of shoot dry matter. The beneficial effects of Si were evidenced in stressed and non-stressed plants. The research emphasised the advantage of using Si to grow U. brizantha and M. maximum under N, P, and Ca deficiency, contributing to their sustainable cultivation.

A hybrid magnetron sputtering process (dcMS/HiPIMS) was developed to manufacture nanostructured CrN/Cr 1-x Al x N multilayers, motivated by improving the low-emission efficiency when applied on gas-nitrided diesel piston rings of a next-generation of combustion engines. In order to improve the mechanical, tribological, and corrosion behavior of the multilayers, the hybrid dcMS/HiPIMS process was designed by selecting the optimal sputtering procedure applied to AISI 440 base steel. The effect of substrate bias and carousel rotational speed on the phase composition, crystallographic texture, residual stresses, surface roughness, coating periodicity and densification, instrumented hardness, elastic modulus, as well as wear and corrosion resistance was determined. The results have demonstrated that hybrid magnetron sputtering produces multilayers with a superlattice structure, which outperforms commercial PVD coatings of CrN for diesel piston rings manufactured by cathodic arc evaporation. Also, multilayer periodicities in the range of 5 to 10 nm yield the best tribological performance under bench tests for the piston ring/cylinder liner system.

Insulin resistance-associated obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are commonly accompanied with metabolic lipid abnormalities and are characterized by hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-c levels (atherogenic index plasma, AIP). The primary molecular mechanism that is known to cause insulin resistance is chronic low-grade inflammation. Considering that omega-3 fatty acid reduces subclinical inflammation, we hypothesized that fish oil could affect insulin resistance and AIP. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effects of fish oil supplementation on the inflammatory, insulin resistance, and atherogenic factors in overweight/obese T2DM patients. In this study, we recruited 32 overweight and/or obese patients diagnosed with T2DM for over one year and who exhibited hypertriglyceridemia. These patients received fish oil supplementation (4.0 g/day) for eight weeks. Anthropometric and body composition measurements were obtained. In addition, blood samples were collected before and after omega-3 supplementation for the evaluation of lipid profile, glycemia, insulin, and inflammation. As expected, patients showed reduction in the TNFα, IL-1β, and Il-6 levels after fish oil supplementation and showed improved insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR) without observed alterations in anthropometric and body composition. These observations were followed by reduction in the levels of triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acids, increase in HDL cholesterol levels, and a significant reduction in triglycerides/HDL-c ratio, and total cholesterol/HDL-c ratio. Fish oil supplementation is effective in reducing the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, improving insulin resistance, and reducing atherogenic factors in overweight/obese and T2DM patients independent of weight loss. •Subclinical chronic inflammation link obesity and insulin resistance•Insulin resistance is the primary inducer for diabetic dyslipidemia and risk factor for cardiovascular disease.•So, we hypothesized that omega-3 could improve insulin resistance and dyslipidemia.•Omega-3 is effective in reducing proinflammatory cytokines, insulin resistance, and atherogenic factors.

This multidisciplinary study investigates , a Brazilian medicinal species, focusing on its chemical composition and antimycobacterial potential. UHPLC-HRMS/MS of leaves, stems, branches, and roots revealed 58 compounds, including neolignans, lignanamides, triterpenes, flavonoids, and carotenoids. Fourteen metabolites, notably benzofuran neolignans and pentacyclic triterpenes are annotated here for the first time. Quantitative analyses by HPLC-DAD-UV showed that eupomatenoid-5, eupomatenoid-6, and conocarpan were most abundant in leaves, reaching amounts approximately twice those found in branches and stems and about ten times higher than in roots, supporting the optimal defense theory and organ-specific accumulation of bioactive metabolites. Biological assays against strains H37Rv and M299 revealed strong inhibitory activity for the leaf extract and isolated neolignans. Eupomatenoid-5 and eupomatenoid-6 achieved inhibition comparable to rifampicin, with low MIC values, while conocarpan exhibited moderate activity. Antimycobacterial effects were more pronounced against the H37Rv strain, although relevant inhibition was also observed for the hypervirulent M299 strain. These findings highlight as a rich source of benzofuran neolignans and promising antimycobacterial properties. The integration of advanced mass spectrometric analyses with bioassays demonstrates the value of combining chemical and biological approaches to uncover novel natural products. The putative identification of new neolignans and triterpenes, along with the confirmation of potent antimycobacterial activity, provides a robust foundation for further studies on biosynthesis, structure-activity relationships, and potential biotechnological applications.

We characterized 3 autochthonous dengue virus serotype 3 cases and 1 imported case from 2 states in the North and South Regions of Brazil, 15 years after Brazil's last outbreak involving this serotype. We also identified a new Asian lineage recently introduced into the Americas, raising concerns about future outbreaks.

Lactoferrin (Lf) is an important immunomodulator in infections caused by different agents. During SARS-CoV-2 infection, Lf can hinder or prevent virus access to the intracellular environment. Severe cases of COVID-19 are related to increased production of cytokines, accompanied by a weak type 1 interferon response. We investigated the influence of bovine Lf (bLf) in the immune response during SARS-CoV-2 infection and assays. Our results show a strong binding between bLf and TLR4/NF-κB , as well as an increase in mRNA expression of these genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with bLf. Furthermore, the treatment increased mRNA expression in infected K18-hACE2 mouse blood, indicating an activation of innate response. Our results show that, when bLf was added, a reduction in the NK cell population was found, presenting a similar effect on PD-1 in TCD4 and TCD8 cells. In the culture supernatant of PBMCs from healthy participants, bLf decreased IL-6 levels and increased CCL5 in COVID-19 participants. In addition, K18-hACE2 mice infected and treated with bLf presented an increase of serum pro-inflammatory markers (GM-CSF/IL-1β/IL-2) and upregulated mRNA expression of and in the lung tissue. Furthermore, bLf treatment was able to restore levels in brain tissue. The data indicate that bLf can be part of a therapeutic strategy to promote the immunomodulation effect, leading to homeostasis during COVID-19.

Serological diagnosis of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is challenging because of the antibody cross-reactivity among flaviviruses. At the same time, the role of Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT) is limited by the low proportion of symptomatic infections and the low average viral load. Here, we compared the diagnostic performance of commercially available IgM, IgAM, and IgG ELISAs in sequential samples during the ZIKV and chikungunya (CHIKV) epidemics and co-circulation of dengue virus (DENV) in Brazil and Venezuela. Acute (day of illness 1-5) and follow-up (day of illness ≥ 6) blood samples were collected from nine hundred and seven symptomatic patients enrolled in a prospective multicenter study between June 2012 and August 2016. Acute samples were tested by RT-PCR for ZIKV, DENV, and CHIKV. Acute and follow-up samples were tested for IgM, IgAM, and IgG antibodies to ZIKV using commercially available ELISAs. Among follow-up samples with a RT-PCR confirmed ZIKV infection, anti-ZIKV IgAM sensitivity was 93.5% (43/46), while IgM and IgG exhibited sensitivities of 30.3% (10/33) and 72% (18/25), respectively. An additional 24% (26/109) of ZIKV infections were detected via IgAM seroconversion in ZIKV/DENV/CHIKV RT-PCR negative patients. The specificity of anti-ZIKV IgM was estimated at 93% and that of IgAM at 85%. Our findings exemplify the challenges of the assessment of test performance for ZIKV serological tests in the real-world setting, during co-circulation of DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV. However, we can also demonstrate that the IgAM immunoassay exhibits superior sensitivity to detect ZIKV RT-PCR confirmed infections compared to IgG and IgM immunoassays. The IgAM assay also proves to be promising for detection of anti-ZIKV seroconversions in sequential samples, both in ZIKV PCR-positive as well as PCR-negative patients, making this a candidate assay for serological monitoring of pregnant women in future ZIKV outbreaks.