São José do Rio Preto - IBILCE - Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas

URI Permanente para esta coleçãohttps://hdl.handle.net/11449/253776

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Use of deep eutectic solvents in environmentallyfriendly dye-sensitized solar cells and their physicochemical properties: a brief review
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2024-04-08) Pishro, Khatereh [Unesp] ; Gonzalez, Mario Henrique [Unesp] ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
A novel way to mitigate the greenhouse effect is to use dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to convert carbon dioxide from the air into useful products, such as hydrocarbons, which can also store energy from the sun, a plentiful, clean, and safe resource. The conversion of CO2 can help reduce the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. However, there is a major obstacle in using DSSCs, since many solar devices operate with organic electrolytes, producing pollutants including toxic substances. Therefore, a key research area is to find new eco-friendly electrolytes that can effectively dissolve carbon dioxide. One option is to use deep eutectic solvents (DESs), which are potential substitutes for ionic liquids (ILs) and have similar advantages, such as being customizable, economical, and environmentally friendly. DESs are composed of low-cost materials and have very low toxicity and high biodegradability, making them suitable for use as electrolytes in DSSCs, within the framework of green chemistry. The purpose of this brief review is to explore the existing knowledge about how CO2 dissolves in DESs and how these solvents can be used as electrolytes in solar devices, especially in DSSCs. The physical and chemical properties of the DESs are described, and areas are suggested where further research should be focused.
Arsenic bioaccumulation and biotransformation in different tissues of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): A comparative study between As(III) and As (V) exposure and evaluation of antagonistic effects of selenium
(Elsevier, 2024-05-07) Ferreira, Nathalia dos Santos [Unesp] ; da Costa, Pedro Henrique [Unesp] ; de Sá, Ívero Pita ; Bernardo, Victoria Simões [Unesp] ; Torres, Flaviene Felix [Unesp] ; Figueiredo, Jozi Godoy ; Amaral, Clarice Dias Britto ; Nogueira, Ana Rita de Araújo ; da Silva, Danilo Grünig Humberto ; Gonzalez, Mario Henrique [Unesp] ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
The speciation of arsenic in fish has been widely investigated, but bioaccumulation and biotransformation of inorganic As in different tissues of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) are not fully understood. The present study aimed to investigate the bioaccumulation of As in Nile tilapia, as well as to evaluate the distribution of the main arsenic species (As(III), As(V), MMA, DMA, and AsB) in liver, stomach, gill, and muscle, after controlled exposures to As(III) and As(V) at concentrations of 5.0 and 10.0 mg L-1 during periods of 1 and 7 days. Total As was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). For both exposures (As(III) and As(V)), the total As levels after 7-day exposure were highest in the liver and lowest in the muscle. Overall, the Nile tilapia exposed to As(III) showed higher tissue levels of As after the treatments, compared to As(V) exposure. Speciation of arsenic present in the tissues employed liquid chromatography coupled to ICP-MS (LC-ICP-MS), revealing that the biotransformation of As included As(V) reduction to As(III), methylation to monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and subsequent conversion to nontoxic arsenobetaine (AsB), which was the predominant arsenic form. Finally, the interactions and antagonistic effects of selenium in the bioaccumulation processes were tested by the combined exposure to As(III), the most toxic species of As, together with tetravalent selenium (Se(IV)). The results indicated a 4-6 times reduction of arsenic toxicity in the tilapia.
Advances in Sustainable Extraction of Arsenic and Cadmium from Sewage Sludge: Use of Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvent Modified with Magnetic Nanoparticles
(American Chemical Society, 2024-09-05) Lamarca, Rafaela Silva [Unesp] ; Ferreira, Sabrina dos Santos [Unesp] ; Abuçafy, Marina [Unesp] ; Silva, Leandro dos Santos [Unesp] ; Pishro, Khatereh [Unesp] ; Amaral, Clarice Dias Brito ; Fernandes, Jose Oliveira ; Cunha, Sara ; Franco, Douglas Faza [Unesp] ; Gonzalez, Mario Henrique [Unesp] ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
A novel magnetic hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (MHDES) was synthesized, based on DL-menthol, acetic acid, and pyruvic acid, for subsequent use in the magnetic extraction of inorganic contaminants in sewage sludge samples. First, α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized using the coprecipitation method and were characterized by Xray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. These nanoparticles were then incorporated into the HDES and this modified material was used as a magnetic extracting agent. The stability of the α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles in HDES medium was confirmed by zeta potential measurements. The developed MHDES was tested in the extraction of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) from certified samples of sewage sludge, obtaining average recovery values of 106% and 93.2% for As and Cd, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values for As were 0.160 and 0.530 μg L−1, respectively, while the corresponding values for Cd were 0.280 and 0.940 μg L−1, respectively. The elemental compositions of real sewage sludge samples were evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The MHDES was used to extract two samples of real sewage sludge, obtaining values of 4.89 ± 0.2 μg g−1 (sample A) and 3.80 ± 0.1 μg g−1 (sample B) for arsenic, and 2.11 ± 0.07 μg g−1 (sample A) and 2.10 ± 0.07 μg g−1 (sample B) for cadmium. The extraction process was evaluated using AGREE software, obtaining a score of 0.73 (out of a total of 1.0). The proposed method using vortex and MHDES provided effective extraction of As and Cd from sewage sludge, with high potential for application to other matrice
Sustainable cadmium extraction from sewage sludge samples: A novel approach with hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents and ultrasound-assisted extraction (HDES-UAE) prior to ICP-MS analysis
(Elsevier, 2024-02-14) Paganini, Edér Ramos [Unesp] ; Ferreira, Nathalia dos Santos [Unesp] ; Ayala-Dur´an, Saydi Cristina [Unesp] ; Isquibola, Guilherme [Unesp] ; Lima Gomes, Paulo Clairmont Feitosa [Unesp] ; Amaral, Clarice Dias Britto ; Magnani, Marina [Unesp] ; Franco, Douglas Faza [Unesp] ; Fernandes, Jose Oliveira ; Cunha, Sara ; Gonzalez, Mario Henrique [Unesp] ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)
Hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDES) are a subclass of DES, formed by hydrogen bond donor and acceptor species, which have low solubility in hydrophilic systems as their main characteristic. In this work, two different mixtures based on DL-menthol (HDES 1: DL-menthol and acetic acid, 1:1 M ratio; HDES 2: DL-menthol, acetic acid, and pyruvic acid, 1:1:1 M ratio) were prepared and their physicochemical properties (density and viscosity) were determined. The materials were characterized using FTIR, TG, DSC, and cadmium determination was made by ICP-MS using the KED mode. The greenness of the methods for preparing the mixtures was assessed using the analytical Eco-Scale metric, with high scores obtained for both procedures. The parameters sample mass, HDES volume, and ultrasonication time were optimized using a 33 Box-Behnken experimental design and the solvents were tested in the extraction of cadmium from a sewage sludge certified reference material, obtaining recoveries of 101 and 104 % using HDES 1 and HDES 2, respectively. The LOD and LOQ values were 0.271 and 0.905 μg L􀀀 1 (HDES 1), and 0.280 and 0.933 μg L􀀀 1 (HDES 2), respectively. The two mixtures provided similar results when applied in the extraction of cadmium from three different sewage samples. For sewage sludge A, the cadmium values obtained were 2.073 ± 0.10 μg g􀀀 1 (HDES 1) and 2.103 ± 0.11 μg g􀀀 1 (HDES 2). For sewage sludge B, the cadmium values were 2.707 ± 0.20 μg g􀀀 1 (HDES 1) and 2.067 ± 0.23 μg g􀀀 1 (HDES 2). For a poultry sewage sludge sample, the cadmium values were 6.023 ± 0.84 μg g􀀀 1 (HDES 1) and 5.319 ± 0.14 μg g􀀀 1 (HDES 2). The sample extraction process was evaluated using AGREE software, obtaining a score of 0.7 (out of a possible maximum score of 1.0). Use of the prepared solvents and extraction using an ultrasound-assisted method proved to be a good and sustainable strategy for the extraction of Cd from sewage sludge.
Integration of diffusive gradient thin‑film devices and functionalized electrode sensing matrix for discriminative detection of heavy metals in water environments
(Materials Research Society, 2024-04-19) Cantuária, José Bruno ; Mendes, João Vitor ; Fugikawa-Santos, Lucas ; Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas - Câmpus de São José do Rio Preto
This study presents a novel approach combining diffusive gradient thin-film devices and a sensing matrix of functionalized electrodes for discrimination and quantification of heavy-metals in water environments. The experimental setup uses four sensing units with interdigitated gold-plated electrodes and an ionic conductive hydrogel. Impedance measurements were conducted using a gain/phase analyzer in the frequency range from 10 MHz to 0.1 Hz. Principal component analysis was applied to enhance data interpretation. The results showed distinct clusters for cobalt (Co2+) and manganese (Mn2+) ions at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 ppm, indicating the potential for discrimination between water samples contaminated with these analytes. The integration of IoT and low-cost instruments enables real-time monitoring, wireless transmission of data, and cloud storage. This research contributes to the development of cost-effective methods for heavy metal detection and environmental monitoring, facilitating improved water quality assessment and prompt risk mitigation.
Proposta de uma base léxico-cultural bilíngue (FF-PB) online: Expressões Idiomáticas relacionadas a gastronomismos
(Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), 2024-03-22) Seco, Mariele ; Silva, Maria Cristina Parreira da ; IBILCE - Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas - Câmpus de São José do Rio Preto
Este trabalho dedica-se ao estudo contrastivo das expressões idiomáticas relacionadas a gastronomismos (EIG) em português do Brasil (PB) e francês da França (FF) e apresenta-se como continuidade de trabalho anterior (Seco, 2017), no qual foram selecionadas, analisadas e organizadas no banco de dados BD-CULTEIG, 111 EIG em PB e 100 expressões idiomáticas (EI) correspondentes em FF. As EI, enquanto depositárias da carga cultural partilhada (CCP – Galisson, 1988), requerem estudos apropriados e ampla divulgação em dicionários especiais para aprendizes de língua estrangeira e demais possíveis consulentes. De modo a aprofundar esses estudos, com o suporte da Fraseologia (Zuluaga, 1980; Corpas Pastor, 1996; Xatara, 1994, 1995, 1998a, 1998b, 1998c; Ortíz Alvarez, 2000; Monteiro-Plantin, 2012), Lexicografia e Fraseografia (Rey-Debove, 1971; Biderman, 1984; Porto Dapena, 2002; Carballo, 2003; Garriga Escribano, 2003; Welker, 2004; Olímpio de Oliveira Silva, 2007; Bugueño Miranda, 2009), e Lexicultura (Galisson, 1987, 1988; Barbosa 2009, 2015), esta pesquisa tece reflexões acerca das dificuldades encontradas pelos falantes de língua estrangeira ao se depararem com o uso dos idiomatismos e reforça a importância da evidenciação e difusão não só das cargas culturais neles implícitas, bem como de informações de cunho semântico e pragmático, por exemplo, para sua melhor compreensão e uso. O objetivo geral deste estudo é delinear as diferenças e similaridades em uma descrição contrastiva de EIG, evidenciando as CCP incorporadas nelas, a fim de propor uma obra fraseográfica e fraseodidática que contemple o diálogo intercultural entre o PB e o FF, e como objetivos específicos: coletar as EIG em FF; elaborar a árvore de domínio “Alimentos FF”; identificar as EI correspondentes em PB; analisar de maneira reflexiva e contrastiva a CCP em FF e PB; atualizar lexicalmente o BD-CULTEIG na versão FF-PB; revisar e aperfeiçoar a versão PB-FF. Após a atualização, o BD-CULTEIG conta com 251 EIG em FF, para as quais apresentamos 232 correspondentes em PB que se apresentam da seguinte forma: 64 EIG com correspondente idiomático com gastronomismo; 168 com correspondente idiomático sem gastronomismo e, portanto, 19 EIG para as quais não foram identificados correspondentes idiomáticos. Por fim, o produto dessa pesquisa é uma base léxico-cultural bilíngue de EIG, nas direções PB-FF e FF-PB, a ser futuramente disponibilizada gratuitamente, com a possibilidade de se constituir como ferramenta para melhor compreensão e uso adequado das EI, podendo contribuir como parâmetro para outros tipos de idiomatismos.
Otimização de aplicações de processamento de linguagem natural para análise de sentimentos
(Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), 2024-03-05) Lopes, Anderson Claiton ; Zafalon, Geraldo Francisco Donegá
Os recentes avanços tecnológicos proporcionaram um aumento no volume de dados disponíveis nas redes sociais. Nesse tipo de ambiente as pessoas, na sua grande maioria, procuram desenvolver diálogos, expressar opiniões e sentimentos. Esse comportamento ganha cada vez mais a atenção de empresas e organizações, influenciando na tomada de decisões das mesmas. Cada rede social possui uma característica, o que influencia no comportamento do usuário. O Twitter, por exemplo, é uma plataforma na qual os usuários expressam suas opiniões por meio de pequenas mensagens e recebem comentários de outros usuários, que podem ser por meio de texto, áudio, imagens e vídeos. Analisar essas informações em tempo real com técnicas manuais, prova-se impraticável e, com isso, ferramentas computacionais tornaram-se relevantes nesse tipo de análise. O Processamento de Linguagem Natural (PLN) é uma área da Inteligência Artificial e da Linguística, dedicada a fazer os computadores entenderem as declarações ou palavras escritas em línguas humanas. A PLN surgiu para facilitar o trabalho do usuário e para satisfazer o desejo de se comunicar com o computador em linguagem natural. Nos últimos anos, surgiram diversos estudos com diferentes heurísticas, afim de resolver o problema. Uma destas é o uso de algoritmos combinados com o uso de aprendizado de máquina. Diversos estudos destacam a importância da combinanção de algoritmos e técnicas computacionais, sempre com o objetivo de chegar aos melhores resultados. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo combinar algoritmos de processamento de linguagem natural e ferramentas computacionais, com a obtenção de melhores resultados de acurácia, precisão, revocação e F1-score, quando comparado a outras propostas, no desafio de analisar sentimentos.
Análise do uso da metodologia da mediação dialética e metodologias ativas durante a pandemia da COVID-19
(Cadernos de Pós-graduação - UNINOVE, 2023-12-26) Passarini, Giuseppe Ricardo ; Oliveira, Edilson Moreira de ; Izola, Dawson Tadeu ; UNINOVE
Com a pandemia do COVID-19, ocorreram mudanças radicais na dinâmica social, com a restrição de acesso às instituições de ensino. As atividades passaram a ser remotas, surgindo oportunidades para ampliação de novas formas de trabalho, com características da Metodologia da Mediação Dialética (MMD), bem como das Metodologias Ativas de Ensino-Aprendizagem (MAEs). Buscando entender melhor o impacto deste cenário durante o primeiro semestre de 2021, realizou-se um estudo quanti-qualitativo para verificar como a forma de organização e desenvolvimento do plano de ensino influenciou o trabalho do professor e a aprendizagem dos alunos. Os resultados mostraram que o docente procurou adequar suas atividades à nova realidade, introduzindo muitas das características das MAEs e das fases da MMD em seu planejamento e práticas. Os alunos surpreenderam quando o assunto foi o desenvolvimento de atividades diferenciadas para a prática de projetos longe dos laboratórios.
An Experimental Analysis on Multicepstral Projection Representation Strategies for Dysphonia Detection
(2023-06-01) Contreras, Rodrigo Colnago ; Viana, Monique Simplicio ; Fonseca, Everthon Silva ; dos Santos, Francisco Lledo ; Zanin, Rodrigo Bruno ; Guido, Rodrigo Capobianco ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) ; Federal Institute of São Paulo ; Mato Grosso State University
Biometrics-based authentication has become the most well-established form of user recognition in systems that demand a certain level of security. For example, the most commonplace social activities stand out, such as access to the work environment or to one’s own bank account. Among all biometrics, voice receives special attention due to factors such as ease of collection, the low cost of reading devices, and the high quantity of literature and software packages available for use. However, these biometrics may have the ability to represent the individual impaired by the phenomenon known as dysphonia, which consists of a change in the sound signal due to some disease that acts on the vocal apparatus. As a consequence, for example, a user with the flu may not be properly authenticated by the recognition system. Therefore, it is important that automatic voice dysphonia detection techniques be developed. In this work, we propose a new framework based on the representation of the voice signal by the multiple projection of cepstral coefficients to promote the detection of dysphonic alterations in the voice through machine learning techniques. Most of the best-known cepstral coefficient extraction techniques in the literature are mapped and analyzed separately and together with measures related to the fundamental frequency of the voice signal, and its representation capacity is evaluated on three classifiers. Finally, the experiments on a subset of the Saarbruecken Voice Database prove the effectiveness of the proposed material in detecting the presence of dysphonia in the voice.
The case for studying tadpole autecology, with comments on strategies to study other small, fast-moving animals in nature
(2023-01-01) Annibale, Fabiane S. ; Wassersug, Richard J. ; Rossa-Feres, Denise de C. ; Nomura, Fausto ; Brasileiro, Cinthia A. ; Sabbag, Ariadne F. ; Zeng, Yu ; Phillips, Jackson R. ; Universidade Virtual do Estado de São Paulo ; University of British Columbia ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) ; Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG) ; Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) ; Chapman University ; Berkeley ; Utah State University
Two of the most fundamental questions in tadpole biology, also applicable to most small, under-studied organisms are: (1) ‘Why are they built the way they are?’ and (2) ‘Why do they live where they do?’ Regrettably, despite significant progress in most aspects of tadpole biology, the answers to these questions are not much better now than they were in the last century. We propose that an autecological approach, that is the careful observation of individuals and how they interact with the environment, is a potential path towards a fuller understanding of tadpole ecomorphology and evolution. We also discuss why more attention should be given to studying atypical tadpoles from atypical environments, such as torrential streams, water-filled cavities of terrestrial plants and wet rock surfaces neighbouring streams. Granted, tadpoles are rare in these settings, but in those unusual habitats the physical environments can be well described and characterized. In contrast, the more common ponds where tadpoles are found are typically too structurally complex to be easily delineated. This makes it difficult to know exactly what individual tadpoles are doing and what environmental parameters they are responding to. Our overall thesis is that to understand tadpoles we must see exactly what they are doing, where they are doing it, and how they are doing it. This takes work, but we suggest it is feasible and could greatly advance our understanding of how anuran larvae have evolved. The same strategies for studying tadpoles that we encourage here can be applied to the study of many other small and fast-moving animals.
Optimization of SNP Search Based on Masks Using Graphics Processing Unit
(2023-01-01) da Cruz, Álvaro Magri Nogueira ; Gomes, Vitoria Zanon ; Andrade, Matheus Carreira ; Rici Amorim, Anderson ; Valêncio, Carlos Roberto ; Vaughan, Gilberto ; Donegá Zafalon, Geraldo Francisco ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) ; Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention
In the context of bioinformatics one of the most important problems to be solved is the search for simple nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). When we perform the analysis of the files from the next generation sequencing (NGS) the search task for SNPs becomes more prohibitive due to the millions of sequences present on them. CPU multithreaded approaches are not enough when millions of sequences as considered. Then, the use of graphics processing units (GPUs) is a better alternative, because it can operate with hundreds of arithmetic logic units while CPU with no more than tens. Thus, in this work we developed a method to detect SNPs using a mask approach under GPU architecture. In the tests, a speedup of up to 5175.86 was obtained when compared to the multithreaded CPU approach, evaluating from 100,000 to 800,000 sequences using five masks to detect the occurrence of SNPs.
The Dimeric Peptide (KKYRYHLKPF)2K Shows Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Activity by Inhibiting Different Steps of Chikungunya and Zika Virus Infection
(2023-05-01) Ayusso, Gabriela Miranda ; Lima, Maria Letícia Duarte ; da Silva Sanches, Paulo Ricardo ; Santos, Igor Andrade ; Martins, Daniel Oliveira Silva ; da Conceição, Pâmela Jóyce Previdelli ; Carvalho, Tamara ; da Costa, Vivaldo Gomes ; Bittar, Cíntia ; Merits, Andres ; Santos-Filho, Norival Alves ; Cilli, Eduardo Maffud ; Jardim, Ana Carolina Gomes ; de Freitas Calmon, Marilia ; Rahal, Paula ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) ; Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU) ; The Rockefeller University ; University of Tartu
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are important disease-causing agents worldwide. Currently, there are no antiviral drugs or vaccines approved to treat these viruses. However, peptides have shown great potential for new drug development. A recent study described (p-BthTX-I)2K [(KKYRYHLKPF)2K], a peptide derived from the Bothropstoxin-I toxin in the venom of the Bothrops jararacussu snake, showed antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we assessed the activity of this peptide against CHIKV and ZIKV and its antiviral action in the different stages of the viral replication cycle in vitro. We observed that (p-BthTX-I)2K impaired CHIKV infection by interfering with the early steps of the viral replication cycle, reducing CHIKV entry into BHK-21 cells specifically by reducing both the attachment and internalization steps. (p-BthTX-I)2K also inhibited the ZIKV replicative cycle in Vero cells. The peptide protected the cells against ZIKV infection and decreased the levels of the viral RNA and the NS3 protein of this virus at viral post-entry steps. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential of the (p-BthTX-I)2K peptide to be a novel broad-spectrum antiviral candidate that targets different steps of the replication cycle of both CHIKV and ZIKV.
Tropical headwater streams and the role of non-native species on fish assemblage’s diversity
(2023-01-01) Santos, Bruno R. B. ; Teresa, Fabrício B. ; Borges, Pedro P. ; Casatti, Lilian ; Tejerina-Garro, Francisco L. ; Pompeu, Paulo S. ; Benedito, Evanilde ; Carvalho, Fernando R. ; Cetra, Mauricio ; Dias, Murilo S. ; Súarez, Yzel R. ; Santos, Thiago ; Brejão, Gabriel ; Carvalho, Rodrigo A. ; Universidade Estadual de Goiás ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) ; Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás ; UniEVANGÉLICA ; Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA) ; Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM) ; Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) ; Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) ; Universidade de Brasília (UnB) ; Universidade Estadual do Mato Grosso do Sul ; Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri ; Lancaster University
Non-native species cause several impacts on freshwater biodiversity, but studies focusing on the Neotropical stream’s biota are still incipient. We used a data set of 586 headwater stream’s fish assemblages from the Brazilian Upper Paraná ecoregion to test whether the presence/absence of non-native species affect: species richness (S), functional diversity (MPD) and taxonomic diversity (Δ+). We compared diversity patterns of fish assemblages formed only by native species against those of assemblages formed by native and non-native species (Scenario 1); then, we removed non-native species from their original assemblages and recalculated their diversity values to compare them with those of fish assemblages formed only by native species again (Scenario 2). We also investigated: (1) whether non-native’s fish assemblages are associated with land use, topographic and watercourse connectivity variables; (2) fish ecological traits-environment relationship. In Scenario 1, S was higher in assemblages with the presence of non-native species, while in Scenario 2, both S and MPD were higher in assemblages where non-native species were removed. Non-native species were not directly related to land use, topographic or connectivity variables and most of them had a similar response to the environment when compared with native species. Findings show that non-native fish species are related to high-rich assemblages in headwaters, and they increase species richness and the functional redundancy of assemblages, decreasing functional diversity. Moreover, in most cases, native and non-native species seem to respond similarly to the environmental influence on their occurrence.
The degradation of chicken feathers by Ochrobactrum intermedium results in antioxidant and metal chelating hydrolysates and proteolytic enzymes for staphylococcal biofilm dispersion
(2023-06-01) de Menezes, Cíntia Lionela Ambrosio ; Boscolo, Maurício ; da Silva, Roberto ; Gomes, Eleni ; da Silva, Ronivaldo Rodrigues ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
The increase in the generation of chicken feathers, due to the large production of the poultry industry, has created the need to search for ecologically safer ways to manage these residues. As a sustainable alternative for recycling keratin waste, we investigated the ability of the bacterium Ochrobactrum intermedium to hydrolyze chicken feathers and the valorization of the resulting enzymes and protein hydrolysate. In submerged fermentation with three different inoculum sizes (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg of bacterial cells per 50 mL of medium), the fastest degradation of feathers was achieved with 5.0 mg cells, in which a complete decomposition of the substrate (96 h) and earlier peaks of keratinolytic and caseinolytic activities were detected. In the resulting protein hydrolysate, we noticed antioxidant and Fe2+ and Cu2+ chelating activities. ABTS scavenging, Fe3+-reducing ability and metal chelating activities of the fermentative samples followed the same trend of feather degradation; as feather mass decreased in the media, these activities increased. Furthermore, we noticed about 47% and 60% dispersion of established 7-day biofilms formed by S. aureus after enzymatic treatment for 5 h and 24 h, respectively. These findings highlight the potential use of this bacterium as an environmentally friendly alternative to treat this poultry waste and offer valuable products.
The impacts of exposure to bisphenol A in the adult female prostate Meriones unguiculatus
(2023-08-01) Bedolo, Carolina Marques ; Ruiz, Thalles Fernando Rocha ; Amaro, Gustavo Matheus ; Vilamaior, Patricia Simone Leite ; Leonel, Ellen Cristina Rivas ; Taboga, Sebastião Roberto ; Campos, Silvana Gisele Pegorin de ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) ; Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) ; Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG)
The female prostate is associated with the urogenital system and presents homology in morphological terms with the male prostate. Due to its responsiveness to endogenous hormones, this gland is under a constant risk of developing prostatic pathologies and neoplasia when exposed to certain exogenous compounds. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor found in different plastic and resin products. Studies have emphasized the effects of perinatal exposure to this compound on different hormone-responsive organs. However, there have been few studies highlighting the influence on female prostate morphology of perinatal exposure to BPA. The objective of this study was to describe the histopathological alterations caused by perinatal exposure to BPA (50 µg/kg) and 17-β estradiol (E2) (35 µg/kg) in the prostate of adult female gerbils. The results showed that E2 and BPA induced proliferative lesions in the female prostate and acted along similar pathways by modulating steroid receptors in the epithelium. BPA was also found to be a pro-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic agent. The impacts of both agents were marked in the prostatic stroma. An increase in the thickness of the smooth muscle layer and a decrease in AR expression were observed, but no alterations in the expression of ERα and ERβ, leading to estrogenic sensitivity of the prostate. However, a peculiar response of the female prostate was to diminish the collagen frequency under BPA exposure correlated to smooth muscle layer. These data therefore indicate the development of features related to estrogenic and non-estrogenic tissue repercussions by BPA perinatally exposure in gerbil female prostate.
Storage Stability of Spray- and Freeze-Dried Chitosan-Based Pickering Emulsions Containing Roasted Coffee Oil: Color Evaluation, Lipid Oxidation, and Volatile Compounds
(2023-04-01) Ribeiro, Elisa Franco ; Polachini, Tiago Carregari ; Locali-Pereira, Adilson Roberto ; Janzantti, Natália Soares ; Quiles, Amparo ; Hernando, Isabel ; Nicoletti, Vânia Regina ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) ; Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)
Drying Pickering o/w emulsions has been considered as a promising strategy to produce oil microcapsules, as long as their quality parameters can be preserved over storage. In this sense, it is shown as an interesting alternative to preserve the quality of roasted coffee oil, a valuable agroindustrial byproduct. Thus, freeze- and spray-dried chitosan-based Pickering emulsions of roasted coffee oil were evaluated over 30 days of storage at 25 °C together with the non-encapsulated oil as a control. Water sorption isotherms were determined, whereas color, oxidative stability (peroxide value and conjugated dienes) and volatile compounds were assessed over the storage period. Type II isotherms and Guggenheim–Anderson–Boer (GAB) model parameters showed that water binding was impaired by the surface oil in freeze-dried samples. Oxidation was maintained under acceptable values over the storage for all samples, with slightly higher protection also observed for volatile compounds in the spray-dried particles. The powdered emulsions were able to suitably preserve the oil’s quality over 30 days of storage, enabling its commercialization and application as a food ingredient and potential flavoring.
Functional characteristics of an α-L-arabinofuranosidase secreted by the basidiomycete Coriolopsis byrsina
(2023-01-01) de Oliveira Nascimento, Carlos Eduardo ; de Menezes, Cíntia Lionela Ambrosio ; Boscolo, Maurício ; da Silva, Roberto ; Gomes, Eleni ; da Silva, Ronivaldo Rodrigues ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
α-L-arabinofuranosidases can be produced by fungi, bacteria, and plants and are responsible for the cleavage of α-1,2, α-1,3, and α-1,5 glycosidic bonds in arabinose residues. Few recent studies have focused on the production of these enzymes by species of basidiomycetes. In the present study, we purified an α-L-arabinofuranosidase from the fungus Coriolopsis byrsina and evaluated its functional biochemical properties. The purified enzyme had an estimated molecular mass of 55 kDa with maximum activity at pH 3.5–4.5 and 50 °C, stability in the range of pH 3–8 at 4 °C for 24 h, and from 10 to 60 °C for 1 h. The enzyme was also stable in 5–10% ethanol after 24 h at 28 °C, retaining more than 60% activity. A negative effect on catalysis was noted for all evaluated ions, especially Fe3+ and Hg2+, retaining 25% and 33% activity, respectively, at 10 mmol L−1, and L-arabinose, with 50% activity at 0.2 mol L−1 and 30% at 0.9 mol L−1. The enzyme was active on p-nitrophenyl-α-L-arabinofuranoside (pNPA), p-nitrophenyl-β-D-xylopyranoside, linear 1,5 α-L-arabinan and xylan from beechwood. Kinetic assays under pNPA substrate indicated a KM of 3.45 ± 0.9 mmol L−1 and Vmax of 198.2 ± 24 μmol min−1 mg−1. These findings can serve as a reference for further tests of this enzyme aimed at improving the aroma of beverages and formulating enzyme cocktails for plant biomass degradation.
Fish functional trophic groups in headwater karst streams from the Upper Paraguay River basin
(2023-01-01) Severo-Neto, Francisco ; Brejão, Gabriel L. ; Casatti, Lilian ; Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) ; Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Data obtained by direct observation of organisms in their natural habitats can provide valuable contributions regarding intra-and inter-specific interactions, as well as spatial distribution and trophic relationships. However, relatively few such data are available for the Neotropical ichthyofauna relative to the great species diversity of this region. We present data on the ichthyofauna in karst environments of the Serra da Bodoquena, Upper Paraguay River basin regarding their categorization into functional trophic groups. We used direct observations that focused on the most frequent feeding tactics and their spatial (vertical and horizontal) distribution in the channel. We observed 83 fish species in 17 functional trophic groups. The greatest species richness was concentrated in the Characidae and Loricariidae in the categories Diurnal Backwater Drift Feeders and Grazers, respectively. Regarding horizontal depth stratification, we found a positive relationship between the association of small fish with the shallow marginal habitats. This work represents a contribution to a region known for its high tourist potential and to the important diversity of the entire ichthyofauna of the Upper Paraguay basin region that requires proper conservation strategies for sustaining these species.
Factors affecting the transferability of bioindicators based on stream fish assemblages
(2023-07-10) Sousa, Victoria ; Dala-Corte, Renato Bolson ; Benedito, Evanilde ; Brejão, Gabriel Lourenço ; Carvalho, Fernando Rogério ; Casatti, Lilian ; Cetra, Mauricio ; Pompeu, Paulo Santos ; Súarez, Yzel Rondon ; Tejerina-Garro, Francisco Leonardo ; Borges, Pedro Paulino ; Teresa, Fabrício Barreto ; Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG) ; Universidade Estadual de Goiás ; Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM) ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) ; Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) ; Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar) ; Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA) ; Universidade Estadual do Mato Grosso do Sul ; Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás ; UniEVANGÉLICA
The development of multimetric indices (MMIs) to measure the biotic condition of aquatic habitats is based on metrics derived from biological assemblages. Considering fish assemblages, the inconsistencies in metrics responses outside of the places where they were developed limit MMI transferability and applicability to other locations, requiring local calibration. The factors behind the low transferability of these MMIs are still poorly understood. We investigated how environmental dissimilarity and spatial distance influence the transferability of metrics generated from local stream fish assemblages to other regions. We also tested whether functional and taxonomic metrics respond differently to the spatial distance. We used data from 239 fish assemblages from streams distributed across a Brazilian, the upper Parana basin and characterized each site according to the level of anthropogenic disturbance at the landscape scale using an Anthropogenic Pressure Index (API). We divided the upper Parana basin into sub-basins and used two of them to create template response models of the metrics in relation to the API. We used these response models to predict the responses outside the template sub-basins. Our response variable representing a metric of transferability was the absolute difference between metric's predicted and observed value for each site (prediction error). We thus modeled the prediction error in relation to the predictor variables that were i) the environmental dissimilarity between each site with the average of the sites from template sub-basins (climatic, topographic and soil type variables) and ii) the spatial distance (overland and watercourse distance) between each site and the center of the template sub-basin. We found that errors in metric predictions were associated with both environmental dissimilarity and spatial distance. Furthermore, functional and taxonomic metrics responded equally to spatial distance. These results indicate the need for local calibration of metrics when developing MMIs, especially if the protocols already available come from distant and environmentally dissimilar places.
Identification of Zika Virus NS1-Derived Peptides with Potential Applications in Serological Tests
(2023-03-01) Prudencio, Carlos Roberto ; Gomes da Costa, Vivaldo ; Rocha, Leticia Barboza ; da Costa, Hernan Hermes Monteiro ; Orts, Diego José Belato ; da Silva Santos, Felipe Rocha ; Rahal, Paula ; Lino, Nikolas Alexander Borsato ; da Conceição, Pâmela Jóyce Previdelli ; Bittar, Cintia ; Machado, Rafael Rahal Guaragna ; Durigon, Edison Luiz ; Araujo, João Pessoa ; Polatto, Juliana Moutinho ; da Silva, Miriam Aparecida ; de Oliveira, Joyce Araújo ; Mitsunari, Thais ; Pereira, Lennon Ramos ; Andreata-Santos, Robert ; de Souza Ferreira, Luís Carlos ; Luz, Daniela ; Piazza, Roxane Maria Fontes ; Instituto Adolfo Lutz ; Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) ; Instituto Butantan ; Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne pathogen, is an emerging arbovirus associated with sporadic symptomatic cases of great medical concern, particularly among pregnant women and newborns affected with neurological disorders. Serological diagnosis of ZIKV infection is still an unmet challenge due to the co-circulation of the dengue virus, which shares extensive sequence conservation of structural proteins leading to the generation of cross-reactive antibodies. In this study, we aimed to obtain tools for the development of improved serological tests for the detection of ZIKV infection. Polyclonal sera (pAb) and a monoclonal antibody (mAb 2F2) against a recombinant form of the ZIKV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) allowed the identification of linear peptide epitopes of the NS1 protein. Based on these findings, six chemically synthesized peptides were tested both in dot blot and ELISA assays using convalescent sera collected from ZIKV-infected patients. Two of these peptides specifically detected the presence of ZIKV antibodies and proved to be candidates for the detection of ZIKV-infected subjects. The availability of these tools opens perspectives for the development of NS1-based serological tests with enhanced sensitivity regarding other flaviviruses.

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