The “Critically Endangered” Cherry-throated Tanager Nemosia rourei is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of south-eastern Brazil, and extremely rare for reasons that are not yet fully understood. We monitored reproductive activities of the only known individuals of the species, at two sites, between October 2018 and November 2023. The birds foraged in social groups of 5–8 individuals. Ten nests, built in trees at heights of 12–26 m, were monitored through continuous direct observation. Most reproductive activity occurred between October and end of November, with one further nest found in March. Clutch size was 3–4 eggs, the incubation and nestling periods were 16 days, and the chicks were fed mainly on invertebrates. Up to six nest helpers, likely young from previous seasons, assisted with the collection of nest material, feeding the chicks, and defending the nest. Reproductive success was 50%, with losses due to climatic conditions (rain and cold) and predation, but may have been enhanced by the efforts of the researchers in scaring away potential predators including Spot-billed Toucanet Selenidera maculirostris and Black Capuchin Sapajus nigritus. These findings reinforce the value of detailed observation of social groups and their nests, and continuing efforts to deter predators. Further research could address how parental care and nest helpers affect reproductive success. The availability of large trees with abundant lichens may be a limiting factor for the reproductive success of species in the long term, and so protecting and restoring habitat with such features is crucial for the long-term conservation of this species.

Elephant grass [Cenchrus purpureus (Schum.) Morrone] is a tropical forage grass widely used in ruminant feeding in tropical and subtropical areas, mainly in cut-and-carry systems due to is high potential for herbage accumulation. However, most common genotypes (tall genotypes) generally show an early stem elongation, which contributes to a rapid decline in the forage nutritive value. Dwarf elephant grass types usually present less stem elongation and may be considered an option for the production of high nutritive value forage in cut-and-carry systems. The aims of this study were to evaluate and explain variations in herbage characteristics and kinetics of in vitro gas production of irrigated elephant grass genotypes (two tall-types – Elephant B and IRI-381 – and two dwarf-types genotypes – Mott and Taiwan A-146 2.37) under two harvest frequencies (60 and 90 days) in the dry and rainy seasons of two years. Herbage characteristics varied among genotypes, harvest frequency and seasons. Dwarf genotypes showed better in vitro fermentation parameters with the advancement of maturity compared to the tall size genotypes. Harvesting tall genotypes at a higher frequency (60-day) contributed to improving the fermentation, while dwarf elephant grass maintained greater fermentation when less frequent harvests were adopted (90-day).

Toxoplasma gondii non-archetypal strains have distinct virulence profiles and immunological activation in the host when compared with archetypal strains. The present work aims to perform an analysis of the inflammatory profile during acute and early chronic infection by T. gondii atypical strain in an experimental murine model. After euthanasia, blood was collected for the quantification of specific IgG antibodies and their subtypes (IgG1/IgG3) by ELISA; bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was realized and immunophenotyping of lymphocytes population was performed at 12- and 30-days post infection (dpi); the levels of IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-10, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, nitric oxide and total proteins were determined in the BAL supernatant. Tissue cyst burden was determined in the brain homogenate, and the parasite load in the lungs was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Infection with the CK4 strain induced a lower brain cyst load similar parasite burden in the lungs, and higher levels of IgG1 and IgG3, when compared to ME49. The group infected with the CK4 strain presented higher levels of systemic IFN-γ, and both infected groups displayed similarly elevated levels of systemic TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17 at 30 dpi, as well as higher numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the acute stage of infection, followed by higher numbers of central and effector CD4+ T cells. IFN-γ levels in the BAL fluid were significantly higher in animals infected with the CK4 strain in both the acute and early chronic stage of infection, highlighting the involvement of the lung environment.

Understanding the population structure and genetic diversity of green turtles is crucial for effective conservation. This study investigated the occurrence, genetic composition, and potential origins of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Potiguar Basin, northeastern Brazil, based on stranding data from 2010 to 2019. Analysis revealed that 87.36% of the population consisted of juveniles, primarily females with a curved carapace length (CCL) between 30 and 59.9 cm. Genetic analysis of the mtDNA control region (481 bp, n = 39) revealed eight haplotypes, with CM-A8 (48.7%) and CM-A5 (30.8%) being the most common. This may be related to the geographic position of the Potiguar Basin, located in the ‘corner’ of the South American continent. High haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity were observed, consistent with other Brazilian foraging grounds. Mixed stock analysis identified Ascension Island as the primary source population, followed by Guinea-Bissau and Surinam. The results highlight the importance of the Potiguar Basin as a foraging area for green turtles and emphasize the need for comprehensive conservation strategies to protect this vulnerable population.

Mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti, pose significant public health risks by transmitting diseases like dengue, zika and chikungunya. Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (BTI) is a crucial larvicide targeting mosquitoes while sparing other organisms and the environment. This study evaluated the effects of sublethal BTI doses on Ae. aegypti larvae regarding mortality, development, adult emergence and size, using a wide-area spray application in an urban neighbourhood. Laboratory experiments with four BTI concentrations (0, 0.008, 0.02 and 0.04 ppm) assessed compensatory and over compensatory responses. The spray achieved over 90% larval mortality within 48 h, but accumulating sublethal doses could trigger compensatory and over compensatory effects, enhancing the fitness of survivors. A dose–response relationship was evident, with higher BTI concentrations leading to increased mortality, reduced longevity and fewer pupae. BTI exposure also skewed the sex ratio towards males and altered adult sizes, potentially affecting population dynamics and vectorial capacity. These findings highlight the effectiveness of BTI in Ae. aegypti control and the importance of understanding compensation, overcompensation and density-dependent effects. While wide-area BTI applications can reach inaccessible breeding sites and offer potent mosquito control, careful consideration of ecological and evolutionary consequences is crucial.

Over the last few years, during the pandemic, the Brazilian population has suffered several problems, ranging from health to socioeconomic impacts. When we consider Brazilian science, there has been an undeniable scientific delay generated by the pandemic, especially in areas that are not related to the coronavirus. In this context, with the aim of fostering collaboration among researchers in the field of Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases (DOHaD) and enhancing the potential for implementing public health strategies to prevent noncommunicable chronic diseases, the Brazilian Association of Developmental Origins of Health and Diseases (DOHaD Brazil) was established in 2020. In this narrative, we explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, focusing on its impacts on scientific research conducted in universities. Additionally, we underscore the significance of the DOHaD Brazil Association, particularly from the perspective of young researchers engaged in DOHaD research in Brazil.

Haemogregarine (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) parasites are considered to be the most common and widespread haemoparasites in reptiles. The genus Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Hepatozoidae) can be found parasitizing a broad range of species and, in reptiles, they infect mainly peripheral blood erythrocytes. The present study detected and characterized a haemogregarine isolated from the lizard species, Ameiva ameiva, collected from the municipality of Capanema, Pará state, north Brazil. Blood smears and imprints from lungs, brain, heart, kidney, liver, bone marrow and spleen were observed using light microscopy and the parasite was genetically identified by molecular analysis. Morphological, morphometric and molecular data were obtained. Parasite gamonts were found in 49.5% (55/111) of the blood smears from A. ameiva, and were characterized as oval, averaging 12.0 ± 0.8 × 5.9 ± 0.6 μm2 in size, which displaced the nuclei of parasitized monocytes laterally. Parasite forms resembling immature gamonts were observed in the spleen and bone marrow of the lizards. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA sequences did not reveal gene similarity with other Hepatozoon spp. sequences from reptiles. Thus, morphological and molecular analyses have identified a new species of Hepatozoon parasite, Hepatozoon lainsoni sp. nov., which infects monocytes of the A. ameiva lizard.

Clay minerals are suitable matrices to anchor organic molecules such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) so that their bioactivity is maintained, enabling the formation of new materials with potential for new applications in biotechnology. The objective of the present study was to develop a nanostructured film where the properties of palygorskite (Plg) were combined at the molecular level with Dermaseptin 01 (DRS 01), in which the clay mineral also served as a substrate for the immobilization of this peptide. The films were prepared using the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) self-assembly technique. Crude palygorskite without purification (Plg IN) was subjected to physical and chemical procedures to increase its adsorptive properties. The structure, chemical composition, and morphology of Plg were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). LbL films were adsorbed onto ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) and characterized electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). For the ITO/DRS 01 and ITO/Plg/DRS 01 films, an oxidation process at +0.77 V was observed, confirming that the DRS 01 maintained its electroactive behavior and intrinsic properties. The results also showed that Plg served as excellent support for the immobilization of DRS 01, increasing its concentration and availability in the film form. This work reported immobilizing the DRS 01 peptide with Plg for the first time in an ultrathin film with bioactive properties. Thus, the film developed can be explored for applications such as biosensor devices and antimicrobial coating materials as well as other biotechnological applications.

Clays are abundant materials in the Amazon region and have been used historically by ancient Amazonian people to produce ceramic and cosmetics products. The current study aimed to evaluate the potential of four clays from the metropolitan area of Manaus, each with a different color, for cosmetics applications. Two clays were collected in the Ponta Negra region (red and gray in color) in Manaus, one in Careiro (white), and one in Itacoatiara (black). After drying in an oven for 24 h at 105°C, the four clays were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetry (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle-size analysis, and detection of microorganisms. The amounts of Al, Si, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Fe, Zn, P, and S in all samples were below the limits for use in cosmetics. The main phases identified were kaolinite 1A, quartz, gibbsite, and the rare kaolinite 2M. Approximately 40 wt.% of each sample was in the < 20 μm particle-size range. Analyses by SEM revealed pseudo-hexagonal kaolinite structures with nano-islands and nanocrystallites. The low toxicity, mineralogic compositions, and particle-size findings suggest that Amazonian clays are promising for cosmetics applications.

The egg parasitoid Cleruchoides noackae Lin & Huber, 2007 (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is originated from Australia and the main biological control agent of Thaumastocoris peregrinus Carpenter & Dellapé, 2006 (Hemiptera: Thaumastocoridae) on Eucalyptus L'Hér (Myrtaceae). Companies that grow Eucalyptus are in need of a mass rearing protocol to increase the number of individuals produced and improve the quality of this parasitoid. The aim of this study was to define a protocol for mass rearing C. noackae in T. peregrinus eggs, based in the evaluations of the key biological attributes of this parasitoid in the parental and F1 generations, after the cold storage of the parasitised host eggs. Two methods were tested as C. noackae rearing protocols. In the first, parasitised eggs of T. peregrinus by C. noackae were cold stored for 7 days after being left in a climatic chamber at 24 ± 2°C, 60 ± 10% RH and a photoperiod of 12:12 (light:dark) h (standard environmental conditions) for 3, 6, 9 or 12 days. In the second, T. peregrinus eggs parasitised by C. noackae were maintained in a climatic chamber under standard environmental conditions for 6 days, after which these eggs were cold-stored for 0 (control), 7, 14 or 21 days. Parasitism (%), and the development period (parasitism to adult) and female proportion (%) of C. noackae were evaluated. Based on the results (parental generation: parasitism, around 45%; F1 generation: parasitism, around 55%; development period, around 16 days; female proportion, around 60%), eggs should be stored at 5°C on the sixth day after parasitism by C. noackae and maintained at this temperature for 7 days. The cold storage of T. peregrinus eggs, after parasitism, can be included in the mass rearing protocols of the parasitoid C. noackae.

This work studies quantitative measures for ranking judicial decisions by the Brazilian Supreme Court [Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF)] and selecting leading cases, which are understood as those with broadness of influence on different legal fields. The measures are based on a network built over decisions whose cases were finalized in the Brazilian Supreme Court between 01/2001 and 12/2019, which were obtained by crawling publicly available STF records. Three ranking measures are proposed; two are adaptations of the PageRank algorithm, and one adapts Kleinberg’s algorithm. Such measures are compared with respect to agreement on top 100 rankings; we also analyze each robustness measure based on self-agreement under perturbation.

We examine whether the resulting quantitative ranking is congenial to a qualitative intuition of what the legal community usually considers as relevant precedents. We also discuss some possible criteria of relevance in the seek for patterns that suggest how quantitative and qualitative measures would better align. The ranking of leading cases and relevant decisions improved after building decision networks without irrelevant appeals and decisions that overflow the court offers a starting point to discuss the role of STF in the Brazilian judicial system.

In our last work, both versions of PageRank and Kleinberg algorithms produced different rankings and all of them were robust with respect to 10% and 20%-perturbation levels, but none of them retrieved leading cases at the top of these rankings. Then, we took a further step in the studies of the STF decision network and we introduced better filtering of network nodes guided by legal expertise on the works of the Supreme Court. We also introduced more fine-grained perturbance levels to understand the impact of such filters in the STF decision network. We concluded that after filtering low-relevance decision types, the STF decision network is still robust under 10%-perturbation, but it presents higher degradation by increasing perturbation levels. The two versions of PageRank still produce different rankings. Kleinberg’s algorithm provides a different ranking, with many relevant criminal cases. Although we improved algorithms rankings filtering decisions from the network, which represents an important methodological step, there is still room for improvement. Given that relevant decisions are well ranked after filtering out a large amount of irrelevant decisions, the results set a starting point to discuss the role of STF in the Brazilian judicial system.

The home-field advantage (HFA) hypothesis establishes that plant litter decomposes faster at ‘home’ sites than in ‘away’ sites due to more specialized decomposers acting at home sites. This hypothesis has predominantly been tested through ‘yes or no’ transplanting experiments, where the litter decomposition of a focal species is quantified near and away from their conspecifics. Herein, we evaluated the occurrence and magnitude of home-field effects on the leaf litter decomposition of Myrcia ramuliflora (O.Berg) N. Silveira (Myrtaceae) along a natural gradient of conspecific litterfall input and also if home-field effects are affected by litter and soil traits. Litter decomposition of M. ramuliflora was assessed through litterbags placed in 39 plots in a tropical heath vegetation over a period of 12 months. We also characterized abiotic factors, litter layer traits, and litter diversity. Our results indicated the occurrence of positive (i.e. Home-field advantage) and negative (i.e. Home-field disadvantage) effects in more than half of the plots. Positive and negative effects occurred in a similar frequency and magnitude. Among all predictors tested, only the community weighted mean C/N ratio of the litterfall input was associated with home-field effects. Our results reinforce the lack of generality for home-field effects found in the literature and thus challenge the understanding of litter-decomposer interaction in tropical ecosystems.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of adding β-mercaptoethanol (βME) to culture medium of bovine in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos prior to or after vitrification on embryo development and cryotolerance. In Experiment I, Day-7 IVP blastocysts were vitrified and, after warming, cultured in medium containing 0, 50 or 100 μM βME for 72 h. Embryos cultured in 100 μM βME attained higher hatching rates (66.7%) than those culture in 0 (47.7%) and 50 (52.4%) μM βME. In Experiment II, IVP embryos were in vitro-cultured (IVC) to the blastocyst stage in 0 (control) or 100 μM βME, followed by vitrification. After warming, embryos were cultured for 72 h (post-warming culture, PWC) in 0 (control) or 100 μM βME, in a 2 × 2 factorial design: (i) CTRL–CTRL, control IVC and control PWC; (ii) CTRL–βME, control IVC and βME-supplemented PWC; (iii) βME–CTRL, βME-supplemented IVC and control PWC; or (iv) βME–βME, βME-supplemented IVC and βME-supplemented PWC. βME during IVC reduced embryo development (28.0% vs. 43.8%) but, following vitrification, higher re-expansion rates were seen in βME–CTRL (84.0%) and βME–βME (87.5%) than in CTRL–CTRL (71.0%) and CTRL–βME (73.1%). Hatching rates were higher in CTRL–βME (58.1%) and βME–βME (63.8%) than in CTRL–CTRL (36.6%) and βME–CTRL (42.0%). Total cell number in hatched blastocysts was higher in βME–βME (181.2 ± 7.4 cells) than CTRL–CTRL (139.0 ± 9.9 cells). Adding βME to the IVC medium reduced development but increased cryotolerance, whereas adding βME to the PWC medium improved embryo survival, hatching rates, and total cell numbers.

Cruzia tentaculata is a helminth parasite of marsupials and has a wide geographic distribution from Mexico to Argentina. The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic population structure of this nematode along the Atlantic Forest biome. Cruzia tentaculata specimens were recovered from Didelphis aurita, Didelphis albiventris and Philander quica in 9 localities. Morphological and morphometric data were investigated for phenotypic diversity among localities and hosts using multivariate discriminant analysis of principal components. Phylogenetic relationships of C. tentaculata were determined using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The population structure was analysed by fixation indices, molecular variance analysis, Tajima's D and Fu's Fs neutrality tests, Mantel tests and Bayesian clustering analysis. A higher significant morphometric difference for males was observed between localities. In the haplogroup networks, 2 groups were recovered, separating locations from the north and from the south/southeast. The morphometric variation in C. tentaculata between different localities was compatible with this north and southeast/south pattern, suggesting adaptation to different ecological conditions. Population genetic analyses suggested a pattern of evolutionary processes driven by Pleistocene glacial refugia in the northeast and southeast of the Atlantic Forest based on the distribution of genetic diversity.