This study aimed to investigate whether n-3 PUFA supplementation enhances the anabolic signalling response, muscle hypertrophy and strength gains following resistance training program in healthy young men with habitual protein intake ≥1·6 g·kg⁻1·d⁻1. In a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, forty-six resistance-trained men (28·1 (sd 5·8) years, 24·8 (sd 3·1) kg/m2 and 1·8 (sd 0·5) g·kg–1·d–1 protein intake) were assigned to receive either n-3 PUFA (W3; 6·3 g/d n-3PUFA) or placebo during 14 weeks of supervised lower-limb resistance training 2×/week. Body composition, muscle cross-sectional area, maximal dynamic strength (1-RM), muscle tissue fatty acid composition and muscle fibre morphology were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Phosphorylation of mTOR, p70S6K and 4E-BP1 was evaluated at rest and 4-h after exercise, before and after the intervention. Adherence to supplementation and training was high in both groups (>94 % n-3 PUFA supplementation; >96 % training session attendance). A marked incorporation of n-3 PUFA into skeletal muscle (interaction P = 0·017) was observed in the W3 group. Both groups presented increases in lean mass, strength, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis CSA, vastus lateralis muscle fibre CSA and minimum Feret’s diameter (all main time effects P < 0·05), with no differences between groups. No effects were observed for anabolic signalling between groups or over time (all P > 0·05). Overall, despite substantial incorporation into muscle tissue, n-3 PUFA supplementation did not enhance muscle hypertrophy, strength gains or anabolic signalling in healthy adult men with adequate protein intake undergoing resistance training. Future studies should focus on populations with impaired anabolic responses, during periods of disuse or caloric restriction.

Malathion is an insecticide widely used in agriculture and, in Brazil, was heavily applied in the 2010s to control Aedes mosquitoes. Its use exposes the general population, including children and adolescents, to this pesticide. As puberty reflects the maturing of the reproductive system, this study investigated whether preconception exposure to low doses of malathion during juvenile and pubertal stages affects fertility and pregnancy outcomes in Wistar rats. Female rats received daily gavage doses of 10 or 50 mg/kg from postnatal day (PND) 22 to 60. Puberty onset was monitored starting on PND 27. Following exposure, females were mated at the first proestrus and euthanized on gestational day (GD) 18. Malathion advanced puberty onset (M50) but did not impair fertility or serum hormonal levels. Females exposed to the higher dose showed increased urea levels. Additionally, placental integrity was compromised, with reduced placental glycogen (M10) and increased oxidative stress and reduced offspring CRL. These findings indicate that preconception exposure to low doses of malathion negatively impacted placentation and offspring’s intrauterine development at GD 18.

We perform direct numerical simulations of elastoviscoplastic (EVP) duct flows at particle volume fractions up to $\phi = 15\,\%$. Unlike Newtonian suspensions, which exhibit pronounced drag increase with particle loading, EVP suspensions show only modest drag growth in dilute and semi-dilute conditions and achieve significant drag reduction relative to their Newtonian counterparts beyond a threshold $\phi$ that increases with the Bingham number. This behaviour results from two coupled mechanisms: viscoelasticity drives particles away from the walls towards the duct core, and the unyielded plug traps them with negligible slip, thereby minimising their stress contribution. As a consequence, the mean velocity profile remains largely independent of solid volume fraction, with viscous and elastic stresses nearly unchanged. In addition, we observe pronounced shear thinning in viscoelastic and EVP suspensions, in contrast to earlier predictions. These findings demonstrate that accurate drag prediction requires explicit modelling of the local solid fraction in EVP particle-laden flows.

Elastoviscoplastic (EVP) fluids, characterised by the coexistence of elastic, viscous and yield-stress properties, play a central role in diverse applications, including drug delivery, 3D printing and hydraulic fracturing. These fluids often transport non-spherical particles whose migration dynamics strongly influences flow behaviour. In this work, we employ interface-resolved direct numerical simulations to investigate the migration and orientation dynamics of finite-size spheroidal particles suspended in EVP duct flows across a wide range of governing parameters. Our results show that the equilibrium position and orientation of the particles are influenced significantly by both their aspect ratio and the carrier fluid rheology. In Saramito fluids, spheroidal particles migrate towards the duct centre and align along the duct diagonals in the presence of inertia. At sufficiently high elasticity, they penetrate the central plug and reach the duct core, irrespective of their initial position or shape. At lower elasticities, where larger plug regions persist, interactions with the plug alter the angular dynamics of the particles, leading to unsteady, quasi-periodic tumbling and spinning motions. In contrast, in Saramito–Giesekus fluids, the interplay between inertial forces, shear-thinning plastic viscosity and yield stress drives particles towards the duct corners, aligning them perpendicular to the duct diagonals. In semi-dilute suspensions, flattened particles maintain a greater distance from the walls, whereas their spherical counterparts tend to cluster directly at the corners. These findings reveal complex migration and orientation behaviours unique to EVP media and suggest new opportunities for geometry-based particle separation in microfluidic applications.

This systematic review evaluated studies published between 1980 and 2025 on the chemical control of smut grass [Sporobolus indicus (L.) R. Br.] in the Americas, with a focus on pastures. After 446 publications were screened, 13 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in the subtropical United States, particularly in Florida, on bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flueggé) pastures, with only one study carried out in Brazil. The most frequently reported herbicide was hexazinone, present in more than 80% of the studies, applied either alone or in combination with mechanical methods or fertilization. Consistent results indicated control efficacy above 85%, especially at doses ≥0.84 kg ha⁻1 and when applied during summer. Selectivity for use in bahiagrass was considered satisfactory despite temporary phytotoxic symptoms. Integrated strategies, such as herbicide applications combined with nitrogen fertilization, showed potential to restore forage dominance and reduce reinfestation. Other herbicides, such as glyphosate, indaziflam, imazapic, mesotrione, and triazines, were less frequently investigated. Indaziflam, applied preemergence, caused a significant reduction in the seedbank, showing promise for preventive management, given the high dormancy and longevity of S. indicus seeds. The integration of chemical and mechanical control produced variable outcomes: in some cases, mowing before application reduced efficacy, whereas in others, when associated with strategies to remove growing points and subsequent herbicide application, it enhanced control. The scarcity of studies under Brazilian and other tropical or subtropical conditions limits the understanding of this species’ adaptation and the efficiency of management methods across different edaphoclimatic contexts. Expanding research in these regions is crucial for developing effective and sustainable management strategies.

This paper develops scaling laws for wall-pressure root mean square and the streamwise turbulence intensity peak, accounting for both variable-property and intrinsic compressibility effects – those associated with changes in fluid volume due to pressure variations. To develop such scaling laws, we express the target quantities as an expansion series in powers of an appropriately defined Mach number. The leading-order term is represented using the scaling relations developed for incompressible flows, but with an effective Reynolds number. Higher-order terms capture intrinsic compressibility effects and are modelled as constant coefficients, calibrated using flow cases specifically designed to isolate these effects. The resulting scaling relations are shown to be accurate for a wide range of turbulent channel flows and boundary layers.

This research investigates the hydrodynamics of a physical boundary transition from free slip to no slip, which usually occurs in ice-jams, large wood and debris accumulation in free-surface flows. Using direct numerical simulation coupled with a volume penalisation method, a series of numerical simulations is performed for an open-channel flow covered with a layer of floating spherical particles, replicating the laboratory set-up of Yan Toe et al. (2025 J. Hydraul. Eng., vol. 151, 04025010). Flow transition from the open channel to the closed channel induces a new boundary-layer development at the top surface, accompanied by a flow separation and an increased bottom shear stress that enhances particle mobility at the bottom. Analysis of a fully developed flow in an asymmetric roughness channel (rough surface at the top boundary and smooth surface at the bottom boundary) also shows that the vertical position of maximum velocity is higher than the position of zero Reynolds shear stress, which supports the experimental observation of Hanjalić & Launder (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 51, 1972, pp. 301–335), demonstrating the shortcoming of traditional turbulence closure models such as the $k{-}\varepsilon$ model. Finally, the stagnation force acting on a particle at the leading edge of the accumulation layer is compared with the analytical prediction of Yan Toe et al. Understanding the flow transition improves the prediction of the stability threshold of the accumulation layer and design criteria for debris-collection devices.

‘Welfare chauvinism’ (or ‘welfare ethnocentrism,’ when directed against native‐born ethnic minorities) is a declination of nativism within the social policy domain and a common element of populist radical right discourse. Previous studies have shown that this rhetoric can influence how people perceive the deservingness and entitlement of certain groups to welfare rights. In this study, we propose it has additional effects by evoking a purported lack of reciprocity in what concerns benefits from, and contributions to, the welfare system, such rhetoric can also justify and legitimize discrimination against out‐groups in other domains that are unrelated to welfare. We use a pre‐registered experiment embedded in a survey of a nationally representative sample of the Portuguese population to examine whether individuals who are exposed to the issue of illegitimate ‘takers’ of the welfare system become more likely to express discriminatory intentions regarding an out‐group's freedom of movement and establishment. We find that in the Portuguese context, where the populist radical right frequently portrays the Roma minority as welfare abusers, highlighting the issue of reciprocity can trigger a sizeable increase in discriminatory intentions against the Romani even in domains unrelated to welfare rights.

This article introduces a discussion on defining, measuring, and assessing the quality of democracy. Providing a short overview of the papers of the Symposium, it places them within a broader context of current academic debate on various methodological, theoretical, and policy outreach dimensions of the topic.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been frequently associated with an increased risk of obesity and metabolic disorders, including dyslipidaemia. However, research on lipid profiles and dietary intake in this population remains scarce. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate dietary patterns and their association with serum lipid profile in children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD. The study included 233 individuals from 2 to under 19 years assisted by the public health system in Pelotas, Brazil. Fasting blood samples were collected and analysed for serum concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TAG. Dietary intake was assessed using three non-consecutive 24-h food recalls (two weekdays and one weekend day). Dietary patterns were derived through reduced rank regression, using food group intakes as predictors and fibre density, energy density, carbohydrate and saturated fat intakes as response variables. Standardised pattern scores were calculated to assess individual adherence, and linear regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were applied to examine the association between the dietary pattern scores and lipid profiles. Elevated TAG concentrations were observed in 48·9 % of the participants. Four dietary patterns were identified: Healthy, sugar and starches, mixed and dairy and biscuits. After adjustment, no significant associations were observed between dietary pattern scores and lipid profile. These findings underscore the complex nature of lipid metabolism in individuals with ASD and suggest that dietary patterns alone may not fully explain variations in lipid profiles. This reinforces the need for further research and development of appropriate nutritional interventions for this population.

The Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) is a cornerstone of atmospheric science for describing turbulence in stable boundary layers. Extending MOST to stably stratified turbulent channel flows, however, is non-trivial due to confinement by solid walls. In this study, we investigate the applicability of MOST in closed channels and identify where and to what extent the theory remains valid. A key finding is that the ratio of the half-channel height to the Obukhov length serves as a governing parameter for identifying distinct flow regions and determining their corresponding mean velocity scaling. Hence, we propose a relation to estimate this ratio directly from the governing input parameters: the friction Reynolds and friction Richardson numbers ($\textit{Re}_{\tau }$ and $Ri_{\tau }$). The framework is tested against a series of direct numerical simulations across a range of $\textit{Re}_{\tau }$ and $Ri_{\tau }$. The reconstructed velocity profiles enable accurate prediction of the skin-friction coefficient crucial for quantifying pressure losses in stratified flows in engineering applications.

Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOP) are critical in key stages of food production and processing. After manufacturing, slicing process can serve as a point of contamination, potentially compromising the quality and shelf life of mozzarella. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of SSOP on the quantification and diversity of psychrotrophic bacteria with proteolytic and lipolytic potential in mozzarella before and after industrial slicing. Psychrotrophic bacteria were isolated, phenotypically assessed for spoilage potential under mesophilic and psychrotrophic conditions, analysed for diversity using dendrograms of genetic similarity and identified by partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The mean psychrotrophic counts were 3.77 (±0.83) log CFU/mL before slicing and 3.58 (±0.51) log CFU/mL in the sliced product, indicating a non-significant reduction (p < 0.05). Regarding spoilage potential, none of the 233 isolates evaluated exhibited proteolytic activity under psychrotrophic conditions. However, psychrotrophic lipolytic activity was predominant both before and after slicing. The species Lactobacillus delbrueckii, which is part of the saccharolytic inoculum used to reduce the pH of the curd during cheese production, was the main proteolytic bacteria under mesophilic conditions (35°C) in both before and after sliced samples. Although the bacterial counts indicated the full efficiency of the slicer’s SSOP, the microbial diversity analysis revealed the inclusion of Staphylococcus succinus, Staphylococcus hominis, Enterococcus faecalis and Klebsiella pneumoniae during the slicing process, albeit at low levels. Therefore, relying solely on psychrotrophic quantification may not be sufficient to attest the efficiency of the slicer’s SSOP. Even under controlled industrial conditions, spoilage bacteria from handling and environmental sources may be introduced into sliced mozzarella. Methods for improving the microbiological quality of the mozzarella pieces prior to slicing, as well as the intensification of sanitary procedures, must be reviewed and implemented to improve the shelf life and commercial potential of sliced mozzarella.

The aim of the study was to evaluate calcium anacardate (CAn), associated or not with citric acid (CAc) in laying hen diets on performance, egg quality, serum biochemical profile, serum lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and catalase (CAT) in reproductive tissue. A total of 432 laying hens from 63 to 74 weeks of age, were distributed in nine diets: Control; 0.25% CAn; 0.25% of CAn associated with 0.25% CAc; 0.50% CAn; 0.50% CAn associated with 0.25% CAc; 0.50% CAn associated with 0.50% CAc; 0.75% of CAn; 0.75% CAn associated with 0.25% CAc; 0.75% CAn associated with 0.50% CAc. There was no effect of CAn or CAc on laying hen performance. Yolk colour showed greater pigmentation for 0.75% CAn and its associations with CAc (0.25% and 0.50%). Lower egg yolk oxidation was observed for an isolated dose of 0.75% CAn. Higher values of TBARs were observed in eggs from birds fed control diet; 0.25% CAn; 0.50% CAn associated with 25% CAc and 0.75% CAn associated with 0.25 and 0.50% CAc. Dietary inclusion of CAn (0.75%) and its association with CAc (0.50% CAn with 0.50 CAc) for late-phase laying hens reduce serum peroxidation. CAn from 0.50% associated with CAc increases catalase in magnum. The addition of 0.75% CAn increases yolk pigmentation, reduces lipid oxidation in the yolk and blood plasma and increases CAT activity in the magnum in late-stage laying hens. These benefits can also be obtained with the combination of 0.50% CAn and 0.50% CAc.

The impact of intrinsic compressibility effects – changes in fluid volume due to pressure variations – on high-speed wall-bounded turbulence has often been overlooked or incorrectly attributed to mean property variations. To quantify these intrinsic compressibility effects unambiguously, we perform direct numerical simulations of compressible turbulent channel flows with nearly uniform mean properties. Our simulations reveal that intrinsic compressibility effects yield a significant upward shift in the logarithmic mean velocity profile that can be attributed to the reduction in the turbulent shear stress. This reduction stems from the weakening of the near-wall quasi-streamwise vortices. In turn, we attribute this weakening to the spontaneous opposition of sweeps and ejections from the near-wall expansions and contractions of the fluid, and provide a theoretical explanation for this mechanism. Our results also demonstrate that intrinsic compressibility effects play a crucial role in the increase in inner-scaled streamwise turbulence intensity in compressible flows, as compared with incompressible flows, which was previously regarded to be an effect of mean property variations alone.

The ghost shrimp Audacallichirus mirim had been previously recorded along the Brazilian coast. However, this study marks its first report in southern Espírito Santo and northern Rio de Janeiro, in southeastern Brazil. Two male specimens were collected at Piúma Beach (Espírito Santo) and Guaxindiba Beach (Rio de Janeiro) in March 2023, using a steel suction pump in the intertidal zone. The individuals were identified in a laboratory based on taxonomic characteristics. Abiotic factors such as salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen were measured at the collection sites, revealing distinct environmental conditions between the two beaches. Granulometric analysis showed significant differences in sediment composition, with Piúma characterized by finer sands and Guaxindiba by a more poorly sorted sediment, with a higher contribution of coarser grains. This record contributes to understanding the biogeographical distribution of A. mirim, emphasizes its ecological role, and highlights the need for further research on its population dynamics and habitat preferences in southeastern Brazil.

This study hypothesized that the signal grass (Urochloa decumbens [Stapf] R. Webster) modifies its structural and productive characteristics under a silvopasture system with legume trees. The treatments were composed of (i) signal grass in monoculture and (ii) a silvopasture system intercropping signal grass + Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. a legume tree, over two consecutive years. The experiment was set in a completely randomized block design with three replications. Grazing was carried out by cattle with an average body weight (BW) of 186 ± 26 kg. The type of system had no significant effect on the structural and productive characteristics of signal grass. In the first grazing season, the greatest canopy height (54 cm) and total forage mass (6473 kg DM/ha) occurred in the dry period. The leaf:stem ratio was greater in the rainy season. Forage accumulation (515 kg DM/ha/28 days) and forage accumulation rate (18 kg DM/ha/day) were greater in the rainy season. Higher total forage production (4583 kg DM/ha) occurred in the first grazing season. The silvopasture with double rows spaced 25 m apart and with a tree density of 600 plants/ha did not compromise the structural and productivity characteristics of the signal grass pasture. The legume M. caesalpiniifolia has the potential for use as an arboreal component in silvopasture systems with signal grass.

The interest in the search for alternatives to antibiotics in poultry production has been increasing, especially with the focus on essential oils due to their remarkable bioactive properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation of essential oils on the performance and gut morphometry of broilers, by using an approach of systematic review and meta-analysis. In the conduction of the systematic review, three electronic databases (PubMed, Science Direct and Scielo) were consulted in January 2023. Out of an initial amount of 162 papers, only 27 met the requisites to be included in the database. Furthermore, after the use of established criteria for the meta-analysis, only 16 papers were qualified for the evaluation of the aimed parameters. In the meta-analysis, it was observed that the supplementation had significant impact (P < 0.05) of 2.88% in weight gain, in comparison to the basal diet. In addition, the supplementation of essential oils significantly improved (P < 0.05) gut morphometry parameters such as villus height in the ileum (15.66% higher), and 8.26% increase in the villus height to crypt depth ratio in jejunum compared to the basal diet. Dietary essential oils improve the growth performance and gut histomorphometry of broilers, even when combined with antibiotics as growth promoters.