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Mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae provides a very promising alternative for producing carbohydrate-rich biomass to convert into bioethanol and value-added biocompounds, such as vitamins, pigments, proteins, lipids and antioxidant compounds. Spirulina platensis may present high yields of biomass and carbohydrates when it is grown under mixotrophic conditions using cheese whey. However, there are no previous studies evaluating the influence of this culture system on the profile of fatty acids or antioxidant compounds of this species, which are extremely important for food and pharmaceutical applications and would add value to the cultivation process. S. platensis presented higher specific growth rates, biomass productivity and carbohydrate content under mixotrophic conditions; however, the antioxidant capacity and the protein and lipid content were lower than that of the autotrophic culture. The maximum biomass yield was 2.98 ±0.07 g/L in growth medium with 5.0% whey. The phenolic compound concentration was the same for the biomass obtained under autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions with 2.5% and 5.0% whey. The phenolic compound concentrations showed no significant differences except for that in the growth medium with 10.0% whey, which presented an average value of 22.37±0.14 mg gallic acid/g. Mixotrophic cultivation of S. platensis using whey can be considered a viable alternative to reduce the costs of producing S. platensis biomass and carbohydrates, shorten cultivation time and produce carbohydrates, as it does not require adding expensive chemical nutrients to the growth medium and also takes advantage of cheese whey, an adverse dairy industry byproduct.

We investigated the influence of diaphragmatic activation control (diaphC) on the relaxation rate, contractile properties and electrical activity of the inspiratory muscles of healthy subjects. Assessments were performed non-invasively using the sniff inspiratory pressure test (SNIP) and surface electromyography, respectively. Twenty-two subjects (10 men and 12 women) performed 10 sniff maneuvers in two different days: with and without diaphC instructions. For the SNIP test with diaphC, the subjects were instructed to perform intense activation of the diaphragm. The tests with the best SNIP values were used for analysis. The maneuver with diaphC when compared to the maneuver without diaphC exhibited significant lower values for: SNIP (p <0.01), maximum relaxation rate (MRR) (p <0.01), maximum rate of pressure development (MRPD) (p <0.01), contraction times (CT) (p = 0.02) and electrical activity of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) (p <0.01), scalene (SCL) (p = 0.01) and intercostal (CI) (p = 0.03) muscles. In addition, the decay constant (tau, [tau]) and relaxation time (½ RT) did not present any changes. The diaphragmatic control performed during the SNIP test influences the inspiratory pressure and the contractile properties of inspiratory muscles. This occurs due to changes in the pattern of muscle recruitment, which change force velocity characteristics of the test. Thus, instruction on diaphC should be encouraged for better performance of the SNIP test and for evaluation targeting the diaphragm muscle activity.

Cutaneous secretions of amphibians have bioactive compounds, such as peptides, with potential for biotechnological applications. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the primary structure and investigate peptides obtained from the cutaneous secretions of the amphibian, Leptodactylus vastus , as a source of bioactive molecules. The peptides obtained possessed the amino acid sequences, GVVDILKGAAKDLAGH and GVVDILKGAAKDLAGHLASKV, with monoisotopic masses of [M + H] ±  = 1563.8 Da and [M + H] ±  = 2062.4 Da, respectively. The molecules were characterized as peptides of the class of ocellatins and were named as Ocellatin-K1(1–16) and Ocellatin-K1(1–21). Functional analysis revealed that Ocellatin-K1(1–16) and Ocellatin-K1(1–21) showed weak antibacterial activity. However, treatment of mice with these ocellatins reduced the nitrite and malondialdehyde content. Moreover, superoxide dismutase enzymatic activity and glutathione concentration were increased in the hippocampus of mice. In addition, Ocellatin-K1(1–16) and Ocellatin-K1(1–21) were effective in impairing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and NF-kB activation in living microglia. We incubated hippocampal neurons with microglial conditioned media treated with LPS and LPS in the presence of Ocellatin-K1(1–16) and Ocellatin-K1(1–21) and observed that both peptides reduced the oxidative stress in hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, these ocellatins demonstrated low cytotoxicity towards erythrocytes. These functional properties suggest possible to neuromodulatory therapeutic applications.

The present work aimed to study different parts of colored cotton waste through energetic characterization and analytical flash pyrolysis. Stalks and bolls of BRS cotton cultivars from Sementes do Brasil (Green, Ruby, Topaz and Jade) were studied, using white cotton (BRS 286) as a comparison. The energetic potential of biomass was evaluated by bulk density, High Heating Value (HHV), proximate and ultimate analysis, compositional and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Pyrolysis was performed in a micro-pyrolyzer and the products were identified by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (Py-GC/MS). The results indicated a significant energetic potential, suggesting that can be used as an alternative energy source for thermochemical processes. The results of conventional pyrolysis indicated the presence of oxygenated compounds of different organic groups: aldehydes, ketones, phenols, furans and ethers, characteristic of the decomposition of lignocellulosic materials. Light organic acids in the C1-C4 range stood out the most, followed by phenols that appeared in a considerable proportion. Finally, it is concluded that the energy potential and pyrolysis products of the different parts (stalks and bolls) of colored cotton waste can be used to generate bioenergy and various chemical compounds of plant origin from green chemistry.

Radar Absorbing Materials (RAM) are a class of composites that can attenuate incident electromagnetic waves to avoid radar detection. Most carbon allotropes that have the potential to be used as RAM are either carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, carbon black (CB) and ultimately, sustainable porous carbon (SPC). Here, black wattle bark waste (following tannin extraction) was used as a sustainable source to produce SPC made from biomass waste. It was characterized and used as a filler for a silicone rubber matrix to produce a flexible RAM. The electromagnetic performance of this composite was compared with composites made with commercial CB and CNT through reflection loss (RL), where −10 dB is equivalent to 90% of attenuation. These composites were evaluated in single-layer, double-layer, and as radar absorbing structures (RAS) with the aim of improving their effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) performances and a reduction in costs. The CNT composite presented a RL of −26.85 dB at 10.89 GHz and an EAB of 2.6 GHz with a 1.9 mm thickness, while the double-layer structures using CNT and SPC provided a RL of −19.74 dB at 10.75 GHz and an EAB of 2.51 GHz. Furthermore, the double-layer structures are ~42% cheaper than the composite using only CNT since less material is used. Finally, the largest EAB was achieved with a RAS using SPC, reaching ~2.8 GHz and a RL of −49.09 dB at 10.4 GHz. Summarizing, SPC made of black wattle bark waste can be a competitive, alternative material for use as RAM and RAS since it is cheaper, sustainable, and suitable for daily life uses such as absorbers for anechoic chambers, sensors, and electromagnetic interference shields for electronics, wallets, vehicles, and others.

Gas–liquid membrane contactor is a promising process intensification technology for offshore natural gas conditioning in which weight and footprint constraints impose severe limitations. Thanks to its potential for substituting conventional packed/trayed columns for acid-gas absorption and acid-gas solvent regeneration, gas-liquid membrane contactors have been investigated experimentally and theoretically in the past two decades, wherein aqueous-amine solvents and their blends are the most employed solvents for carbon dioxide removal from natural gas in gas-liquid membrane contactors. These efforts are extensively and critically reviewed in the present work. Experimentally, there are a remarkable lack of literature data in the context of gas–liquid membrane contactors regarding the following topics: water mass transfer; outlet stream temperatures; head-loss; and light hydrocarbons (e.g., ethane, propane, and heavier) mass transfer. Theoretically, there is a lack of complete models to predict gas-liquid membrane contactor operation, considering multicomponent mass balances, energy balances, and momentum balances, with an adequate thermodynamic framework for correct reactive vapor–liquid equilibrium calculation and thermodynamic and transport property prediction. Among the few works covering modeling of gas-liquid membrane contactors and implementation in professional process simulators, none of them implemented all the above aspects in a completely successful way.

This study aimed to assess the impact of adding forage cactus as an additive to the production of corn silage without the cob on the performance of feedlot sheep and subsequent silage losses. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of three treatments: corn silage without cob; 0% = 100% corn plant without the cob; 10% = 90% corn plant without cob + 10% forage cactus; 20% = 80% corn plant without cob + 20% forage cactus. Significant effects were observed for dry matter intake (P = 0.0201), organic matter (P = 0.0152), ether extract (P = 0.0001), non-fiber carbohydrates (P = 0.0007). Notably, nutrient digestibility showed significant differences in organic matter (P = 0.0187), ether extract (P = 0.0095), neutral detergent fiber (P = 0.0005), non-fiber carbohydrates (P = 0.0001), and metabolizable energy (P = 0.0001). Performance variables, including total weight gain (P = 0.0148), average daily weight gain (P = 0.0148), feeding efficiency, and rumination efficiency of dry matter (P = 0.0113), also exhibited significant effects. Consequently, it is recommended to include 20% forage cactus in corn silage, which, based on natural matter, helps meet animals’ water needs through feed. This inclusion is especially vital in semi-arid regions and aids in reducing silage losses during post-opening silo disposal.

Although mobulids (Mobulidae) are threatened with extinction, basic information about their biology and ecology is still lacking. Therefore, we analyzed impacts of fishing, morphology, coloration, and stomach content of mobulid carcasses stranded on the coast of Ilha Comprida, southeastern Brazil, found in protected areas of sustainable use. The carcasses were of a juvenile female manta ray (believed to be Mobula cf. birostris), two adult females M. birostris (one with a partially aborted fetus), and two adult M. hypostoma (one female with an aborted fetus, and one male). The stomach content of a M. birostris consisted almost exclusively of a newly reported prey item, the sergestid Acetes americanus, highlighting the variation of prey items in the species’ diet. This is the first record of a pregnant M. birostris in the South Atlantic Ocean and the first account of A. americanus as a mobulid prey item. The reported mobulids have been impacted by fishing activities, even within sustainable use protected areas, highlighting the importance of improving surveillance in the area and the communication between the fishing communities, scientists, and managers for designing better conservation plans for the species. Future research and conservation efforts are urgently needed to better understand the spatial and temporal distribution of mobulids, as well of its prey A. americanus, to further confirm that mobulids use this site as a feeding and nursery area and to reduce the anthropogenic impacts on these endangered populations.

Riparian forests provide abundant plant litter – mostly in the form of dead leaves (hereafter litter) – for both forest soils and adjacent stream ecosystems, supporting terrestrial and aquatic detritus‐based food webs. Although the fate of litter is predominantly dependent on its chemical and physical traits, there is limited availability of data on those traits over large spatial scales or empirical comparisons of traits across tropical biomes. We filled this gap by exploring the differences and similarities of nine litter traits and their dependence on phylogenetics for 68 plant species from riparian forests across three continental‐scale, South American biomes: Amazon, Atlantic Forest and Cerrado. All three biomes produced litter with similar percentages of carbon (C) and phosphorus (P), C:P mass ratios, specific leaf area and toughness. However, litter from the driest biome (Cerrado) was better defended chemically (higher phenolic content) and had lower nutritional quality (higher C:nitrogen [N] mass ratio) but showed lower nutritional limitation (lower N:P mass ratio) than litter from more humid biomes. We found no phylogenetic signal for traits after constructing a phylogenetic tree across all biomes, suggesting that trait differences across biomes were environmentally determined. However, a strong phylogenetic signal was observed for P in the Atlantic Forest, which indicates that closely related species have similar %P in that biome. Our findings suggest that litter from more humid biomes was higher in nitrogen, although more phosphorus‐limited, than litter produced in drier climates such as that of the Cerrado biome.

To analyze academic education in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) according to university students from the health area. Cross-sectional study with 1399 students from six public and private Brazilian universities, with online and in-person collection of socioeconomic, demographic, educational and academic data, carried out in 2019. The bivariate analysis was applied for the outcome “presence of CIM in academic health education”, using the SPSS Statistic program, version 23.0™. The prevalence of the presence of CIM in academic health education was 52.3%, being 31.1% in the compulsory and 8% in the non-compulsory curricular education, 2.0% in scientific research and 4.7% in university extension activities. There was an association of the outcome with knowledge of the national CIM policy (OR = 5.258; p = 0.000), of which knowledge can be indicated and used in one’s professional area (OR = 4.836; p = 0.000), interest and/or use of CIM by the teachers/tutors of the course (OR = 3.955; p = 0.000), stimulus by the university to carry out scientific research (OR = 3.277; p = 0.000) and university extension projects with CIM (OR = 3.686; p = 0.000). Academic education using CIM in health area courses is not very prevalent in teaching, research and university extension in Brazil, but when present in the curricular and non-curricular educational processes, it shows a significant association with knowledge, skills and their use by university students. The creation of a National Educational Planning in CIM is a vital imperative. •Academic education in Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) in health area courses is not very prevalent in Brazil.•When present in the educational processes, it shows a association with knowledge, skills and their use by students.•There was an association with knowledge of the national CIM policy in Brazil.•The creation of a National Educational Planning in CIM is a vital imperative.