Abstract A novel method to classify the aggressiveness of soil considering its physicochemical content and the development of new synthetic solutions for lab uses is proposed. The results showed that the main criteria existing in the literature for soil corrosivity classification might cause misunderstandings about the real aggressiveness. The synthetic solutions proposed aim to cover a wide range of soil found worldwide in order to refine the assessment of their characteristics hence their corrosivity. For the lab experiments, an API 5L X65 pipeline carbon steel was used. The solutions presented great reliability, and they seemed to be adequate to simulate soils with the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), chloride, and high pH.

Pesticides offer a simple, cost-effective solution to ensure food supplies for a growing world population. However, their environmental performance needs improvement if pesticides are to continue contributing importantly. This study explores the insecticidal potential of a magnesium (II) metal complex containing 1,10-phenanthroline and isovanillic acid (MgPhenIso) against leaf-cutting ant (Atta sexdens rubropilosa) and its symbiotic fungus (Leucoagaricus gongylophorus). The MgPhenIso complex is easy-to-prepare, stable in solid state and in aqueous solution, and resistant to sunlight irradiation. The insecticidal activity of MgPhenIso-containing bait against A. sexdens rubropilosa and L. gongylophorus showed a delayed action mode at 2 mg g-1 (100% kill, 6th day, S50=2b) and suppressed fungus development and growth. These results, together with earlier investigations on MgPhenIso regarding its absence of toxicity to Zebrafish and Wistar male rats, emphasize the potential of this complex as an environmentally friendly insecticide candidate.

RESUMO O conhecimento acerca da dieta de uma determinada espécie é essencial para fornecer informações sobre o crescimento e manutenção das populações em ambiente natural. Macrobrachium brasiliense (Heller, 1862) é uma espécie de camarão de água doce com ampla distribuição no Brasil, ocorrendo frequentemente em ambientes aquáticos inseridos no bioma Cerrado. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a dieta natural de uma população de M. brasiliense, comparando os itens alimentares consumidos em função do sexo, sazonalidade e tamanho corporal dos indivíduos. Foram realizadas coletas mensais entre setembro de 2018 a agosto de 2019. Os indivíduos coletados tiveram seu sexo identificado e o comprimento do cefalotórax mensurado. O conteúdo estomacal foi avaliado a partir do grau de repleção, método de pontos e de frequência de ocorrência. Verificou-se elevada frequência de detrito vegetal no conteúdo estomacal e uma frequência menor de insetos aquáticos, porém significativa. Não houve diferenças significativas quanto à dieta de machos e fêmeas e entre as estações seca e chuvosa. Foi observado um aumento do consumo total de insetos com aumento de tamanho de machos e fêmeas de M. brasiliense. Uma preferência de dieta por Trichoptera foi registrada em ambos os períodos de amostragem para machos e fêmeas.Os resultados obtidos confirmam uma dieta onívora para a espécie e sugerem que a composição e a proporção de itens podem variar em função do tamanho dos indivíduos e da disponibilidade dos itens no ambiente.

ABSTRACT Knowledge about the diet of a given species is essential to provide information on the growth and maintenance of populations in a natural environment. Macrobrachium brasiliense (Heller, 1862) is a species of freshwater prawn widely distributed in Brazil, being frequent in aquatic environments inserted in the Cerrado biome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural diet of a population of M. brasiliense, comparing the consumed food items according to sex, seasonality and body size of individuals. Monthly collections were carried out between September 2018 and August 2019. The individuals collected had their sex identified and the length of the cephalothorax measured. Stomach content was assessed based on the degree of repletion, the method of points and the frequency of occurrence. There was a high frequency of plant material in the stomach contents and a smaller but significant frequency of aquatic insects. There were no significant differences regarding the diet of males and females and between the dry and rainy seasons. It was observed an increase in total insect consumption with the increase in size of males and females of M. brasiliense. A diet preference for Trichoptera was recorded in both sampling periods for males and females. The results obtained confirm an omnivorous diet for the species and suggest that the composition and proportion of items may vary depending on the size of the individuals and the availability of the items in the environment.

Chitin synthase (CHS) is the enzyme specifically associated with chitin synthesis, an important component of diverse organisms including insects. Two alternative spliced transcripts of the CHS gene (AsCHS-A1 and AsCHS-A2) were identified by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) during the development of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens. Expression profiles of AsCHS-A transcripts increased from larva to pupae and decay in workers. Phylogenetic analysis showed both transcripts are classified within class A insect CHSs. AsCHS-A1 showed the highest expression level in larvae and pupae, while AsCHS-A2 is the main CHS transcript in workers. Our results suggest that these variants should be under regulation of different promoters. AsCHS-A1 has topology expected for insect CHSs, while the predicted AsCHS-A2 topology, with a missing A domain, is similar to some fungal CHSs. CHS-B (class B) was not identified in A. sexdens transcriptome. Ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing in pupae revealed that low reduction in CHS transcript levels (18%) was enough to cause morphological changes in the pupa exoskeleton impairing the process of cuticle sclerotization. To our knowledge, this work was the first to use and to show the feasibility of using RNA interference techniques on leaf-cutting ants.

Abstract Duplex stainless steels (DSS) are used in off-shore platforms due to their good properties resulting from the combination of two phases, namely austenite and ferrite. Secondary intermetallic phases, such as alpha prime (α´) and sigma (σ), which are harmful, can be formed at temperatures above 400 °C, or by a casting process. This study investigates the formation of sigma phase by thermal cycles running in a dilatometer (800 °C, 850 °C, 900 °C and 1,000 °C) for 1h, and at 850 °C for 3h and 7h. The optical microscopy of the DSS microstructure subjected to 800, 850 and 900 °C for one hour revealed a small fraction of σ phase with nucleation in the contour of ferrite/austenite phases, and tests by ferritoscope indicated a decrease (~4%) in a magnetic fraction (ferrite). However, samples subjected to dilatometric cycles at 850 °C for 3 hours showed an 18% decrease in the magnetic phase and quantitative metallography revealed a 33% fraction of σ phase precipitated in the ferrite phase. Tests conducted at 850 ºC for 7 hours indicated a high fraction of σ phase precipitated (approximately 50%), starting in the grain boundary, austenite/ferrite, and advancing in ferrite grain.

A soja é a principal cultura de verão do Brasil, atualmente a implantação de segunda safra vem sendo crescente. Neste sentido, o conhecimento da contribuição dos caracteres ao rendimento de grãos nestas condições é necessário. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 2 x 8, sendo dois locais de cultivo (Salvador das Missões - RS e Tenente Portela - RS) e oito genótipos de soja com hábito de crescimento indeterminado (BMX Elite, NS 5959, NS 5909, BMX Alvo, BMX Potência, BMX Tornado, BMX Turbo, BMX Garra). Os dados foram submetidos a análise de variância pelo teste F (p<0,05), posteriormente, a análise de trilha foi realizada a partir da matriz de correlações, considerando massa total de grãos como variável dependente, e os demais caracteres agronômicos como explicativos. Os componentes de rendimento, o número de legumes com três grãos, o peso de mil grãos dos legumes com três grãos apresentou tendências lineares mais fortes e positivas com o rendimento dos grãos. Os genótipos NS5959, BMX Potência e BMX Turbo obtiveram a maior massa total de grãos, com a maior contribuição do peso de mil grãos dos legumes com dois e três grãos.

The soybean is the main summer crop in Brazil, currently the cultivation of the second crop has been growing. In this sense, the acknowledgement of traits contribution to grain yield in front of these conditions is necessary. The experimental design was in a randomized block, in 2 x 8 factorial scheme, two locals (Salvador das Missões - RS and Tenente Portela - RS) and eight soybean genotypes with indeterminate habit (BMX Elite, NS 5959, NS 5909, BMX Alvo, BMX Potência, BMX Tornado, BMX Turbo, BMX Garra). Data were submited to analysis of variance by the F test (p <0.05), and after the path analysis was performed from the correlation matrix, considering total grain mass as the dependent variable, and the other agronomic traits as explanatory variables. The grain yield components, number of pods with three grains, thousand grain weight of pods with three grains showed stronger and more positive linear trends with grain yield. The genotypes NS5959, BMX Potência and BMX Turbo obtained the highest total grain mass, and that had more contribution of the thousand grain weight of pods with two and three grains.

Resumen: Objetivos: analizar comparativamente la prevalencia de ciertos patógenos periodontales en cuadros de periodontitis agresiva y crónica según la clasificación vigente al momento de los estudios, en 101 pacientes uruguayos. Métodos: Este análisis se basa en los trabajos de detección de patógenos periodontales en pacientes con periodontitis crónica y agresiva en Uruguay mediante metodología convencional y molecular 1,2. Ambos trabajos analizaron los mismos microorganismos y utilizaron las mismas técnicas de recuperación y análisis. Se estudiaron Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia y Fusobacterium nucleatum. Resultados: En los cuadros crónicos destacó F. nucleatum, T. forsythia y P.gingivalis. En los agresivos F. nucleatum y P. intermedia, y dentro de éstos en los generalizados una mayor proporción de P. gingivalis y T. forsythia y de A. actinomycetemcomitans en los localizados. Conclusiones: Se pudo constatar que se mantienen los patrones documentados en la bibliografía en Uruguay.3,4

Abstract: Objectives: To compare the prevalence of certain periodontal pathogens in aggressive and chronic periodontitis in 101 Uruguayan patients according to the valid classification at the time the studies were conducted. Methods: This analysis is based on studies conducted to detect periodontal pathogens in patients with chronic and aggressive periodontitis in Uruguay using conventional and molecular methods. Both studies analyzed the same microorganisms and used the same recovery and analysis techniques. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum were studied. Results: A higher prevalence of F. nucleatum, T. forsythia and P. gingivalis was detected in chronic cases, whereas higher rates of F. nucleatum and P. intermedia were observed in aggressive ones. Within the last one, a higher proportion of P. gingivalis and T. forsythia was detected in the generalized cases and A. actinomycetemcomitans in the localized ones. Conclusions: The patterns detected are in line with those included in the literature for our country

Heterostructured semiconductors are materials with unique features formed by combination of two or more semiconductors with suitable interface between them. The study of the heterostructures aim the development of physico-chemical and photocatalytic properties higher than their isolated phases, which makes it possible to obtain higher efficiency and lower cost in several technological processes. Recently the heterostructured materials have been extensively used in the development of alternative technologies either for environmental pollution control or for renewable energy production, among other applications. However, the obtaining of a heterostructure with suitable features is not trivial. In this way, this review article presents a broad discussion about methods of obtaining heterostructures formed by semiconductors and their applications in the photochemical processes, mainly in the environmental field. It will be addressed the use of the heterostructures in photocatalytic application for the organic pollutants degradation, heavy metals removal, the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms, beyond of the volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) photooxidation and the photocatalytic abatement of nitrogen oxide (NOx) in gaseous phase. Finally, a discussion about the carbon dioxide (CO2) photoreduction and hydrogen (H2) production focusing mainly in the chemical energy production will be presented.

The objective of this study was to explore the extraction and identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in cagaita fruit (Eugenia dysenterica). Parameters such as type of extraction fiber, agitation, extraction time and extraction temperature were investigated. Initially, the VOCs were extracted using headspace solid-phase microextraction. Then, the compounds were identified using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Results revealed the presence of at least 26 different compounds and the polyacrylate (PA) fiber promoted the extraction of a larger number of VOCs. Regarding the PA fiber, the most efficient extraction was achieved using a 50 rpm agitation at 45 ºC for 30 min. The majority were monoterpenes (34.64%) and esters (36.28%). An increase in the extraction temperature promoted the isolation of more VOCs when using carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (CAR/PDMS) and divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS) fibers. However, these fibers allowed the isolation of a smaller number of VOCs. The extraction time and agitation had no significant influence.

Abstract Background: The successful performance of ostomies for the treatment of different diseases has been described since 1706. We report herein the first case of successful ostomy utilizing a synthetic stoma created in a patient with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Clinical case: A 40-year-old woman presented with abdominal carcinomatosis due to psammomatous papillotubular adenocarcinoma consistent with primary ovarian carcinoma. The patient had negative estrogen and progesterone receptors and Ki-67 proliferative activity was 83%. She was initially treated with cytoreduction therapy, chemotherapy, and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Because the patient presented with enteric perforations and the extensive tumor invasion and adhesions in all the intestinal segments made it impossible to create autologous decompression stomas, a synthetic stoma was constructed. Conclusions: Synthetic stomas can be a good treatment option when autologous stomas can not be created.

Resumen Introducción: Desde el año 1706 se han descrito ostomías realizadas con éxito para el tratamiento de diferentes enfermedades; los autores describen el primer caso de éxito en una ostomía sintética en la carcinomatosis peritoneal. Caso clínico: Mujer de 40 años de edad con carcinomatosis abdominal por adenocarcinoma papilar tubulopapilar psamomatoso más consistente con cáncer primario de ovario, negativo a receptores de estrógenos y progesterona, con marcador Ki-67 al 83% de actividad. De modo inicial se trató con cirugía de citorreducción, quimioterapia, quimioterapia intraperitoneal hipertérmica y por último realización de estomas sintéticos debido a perforaciones entéricas e imposibilidad de realizar estomas descompresivos autólogos por la invasión tumoral extensa y adherencias de todas las asas intestinales. Conclusiones: Los estomas sintéticos pueden ser una buena opción terapéutica cuando es imposible realizar estomas autólogos.

Resumen:Las enfermedades periodontales representan un importante problema de salud que afecta los tejidos de soporte de las piezas dentarias. Dentro de ellas, las Periodontitis Agresivas se caracterizan por su rápida progresión, agregación familiar, pacientes sistémicamente sanos1 subdividiéndose en localizadas y generalizadas según la extensión del cuadro. Los microorganismos juegan un papel importante en su etiopatogenia, entre los cuales se encuentran Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium nucleatum. El propósito de este trabajo fue estudiar cuáles de estos microorganismos estaba presente en 50 pacientes uruguayos con Periodontitis Agresiva. La detección se realizó con técnica convencional bacteriológica y PCR. En los cuadros generalizados se observó mayor prevalencia de F. nucleatum y P. intermedia seguido de P. gingivalis y T. forsythia. En los cuadros localizados destacaron P. intermedia, F. nucleatum y A. actinomycetemcomitans. En nuestro país se presentó una flora similar a los que figuran en otras localizaciones geográficas.

Abstract:Periodontal diseases are a major health problem affecting tooth-supporting tissues. Among them, aggressive periodontitis is characterized by rapid progression, family aggregation, systemically healthy patients, and is subdivided into localized and generalized according to the extent of the disease. Microbiota plays a major role in the etiopathogenesis of these diseases, including Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia and Fusobacterium nucleatum. The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of these microorganisms in 50 Uruguayan patients with aggressive periodontitis. Detection was conducted with conventional bacteriological techniques and PCR. In the generalized disorders, a higher prevalence of F. nucleatum and P. intermedia was observed, although P. gingivalis and T. forsythia were also important. In the localized disorders, P. intermedia, F. nucleatum and A. actinomycetemcomitans were the main ones. A similar flora to other geographical locations was present in our country

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a frequência de espécies de Candida entre uma população de indivíduos não-hospitalizados e hospitalizados. Para isto, amostras de saliva foram coletadas através de swabs estéreis, umedecidas em água de peptona e friccionadas na cavidade bucal de 140 indivíduos, dos quais 70 eram pacientes internados em uma Clínica Médica de um Hospital Escola e os outros 70 eram indivíduos não hospitalizados sem contato com ambiente hospitalar. Todas as amostras de saliva foram plaqueadas em ágar Sabouraud dextrose adicionadas de cloranfenicol e incubadas a 36 °C durante 48 horas. A identificação morfológica foi realizada através da caracterização macroscópica e microscópica, com o meio CHROMagar Candida e do sistema VITEK® Biochemical Card (bio Mérieux SA, França). Os resultados mostraram uma colonização de Candida spp. em 85,7% dos indivíduos hospitalizados, onde as espécies encontradas foram: C.albicans (60%), C. tropicalis (23,4%), C. krusei (3,3%) e Candida spp. (13,3%). Nos indivíduos não-hospitalizados a colonização por Candida spp foi de 47,1%, e as espécies encontradas foram: C. albicans (45,5%), C. krusei (9,1%), C. guilliermondii (9,1%), C. tropicalis (3,0%), C. famata (3,0%) e Candida spp. (30,3%). Apesar de sua presença na cavidade oral em ambos os grupos, Candida spp. foi mais freqüentemente isolada em indivíduos hospitalizados, que foram 6,73 vezes mais propensos a ter este fungo na cavidade oral e foram 3,88 vezes mais propensos a ter Candida albicans.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of Candida species between a non-hospitalized and a hospitalized population. For this purpose, samples of saliva were sampled through sterile swabs, moistened in peptone water and rubbed in the oral cavity of 140 individuals, from which, 70 were hospitalized patients from the Medical Clinic of a Teaching Hospital and the other 70 were non-hospitalized subjects. All saliva samples were plated in Sabouraud Dextrose agar added with Chloramphenicol and incubated at 36 °C for 48 hours. The morphology identification was performed through macroscopic and microscopic characterization, the CHROMagar Candida medium and the VITEK® system Yeast Biochemical Card (bio Mérieux SA, France). The results showed a colonization of Candida spp. in 85.7% the hospitalized individuals, where the species found were C. albicans (60%), C. tropicalis (23.4%), C. krusei (3.3%) and Candida spp. (13.3%). In the non-hospitalized individuals the colonization by Candida spp was 47.1%, and the species found were: C. albicans (45.5%), C.krusei (9.1%), C. guilliermondii (9.1% %), C. tropicalis (3.0%), C. famata (3.0%) and Candida spp. (30.3%). In spite of their presence in oral cavity in both groups, Candida spp. was more frequently isolated in hospitalized individuals, who were 6.73 times more likely to have this fungus in the oral cavity and were 3.88 times more likely to have Candida albicans.

ABSTRACT Distant metastases occur in around 10% of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), and half of these cases will become refractory to radioiodine therapy (RAIR). Sorafenib was the first multikinase inhibitor (MKI) approved by the FDA for patients with differentiated advanced and progressive RAIR thyroid cancer, and it is the only one approved by ANMAT in our country for this indication. Lenvatinib is the second MKI approved by the FDA for this group of patients, and is a therapeutic alternative that should be considered, due to its availability as a compassive use drug in our country. We present our experience with the use of lenvatinib as a second line of treatment in a patient with DTC with advanced and progressive disease under treatment with sorafenib.

RESUMEN Las metástasis a distancia ocurren en alrededor del 10% de los pacientes con cáncer diferenciado de tiroides (CDT), y cerca de la mitad de estos casos serán refractarios al radioyodo (RAIR). Sorafenib fue el primer inhibidor multicinasa (IMK) aprobado por la FDA para su uso en cáncer diferenciado de tiroides RAIR avanzado y progresivo, y hasta el momento es el único aprobado por la ANMAT en nuestro país para esta indicación. Lenvatinib es el segundo IMK aprobado por la FDA para este grupo de pacientes, y es una alternativa terapéutica que debe ser considerada, debido a su disponibilidad como fármaco de uso compasivo en nuestro país. Presentamos nuestra experiencia con el uso de lenvatinib como segunda línea de tratamiento en una paciente con CDT progresivo previamente tratado con sorafenib.

Abstract Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) has a high concentration of omega-3 (Ω-3) fatty acids (FA) which -when they are incorporated into pig fattening diets- can improve the lipid composition of meat. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ground flaxseeds concentration on productive performance, FA profiles, carcass characteristics, and physicochemical properties of meat of finishing pigs. Treatments were six ground flaxseeds concentrations (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 % DM). The experimental units were 48 hybrid (LandraceXYorkshireXPietrain) barrows, with 50.00+/-5.00 kg initial body weight, used for eight weeks, divided in two stages: from 50 to 75 and from 75 to 100 kg body weight (BW). The experimental design was completely randomized, with eight replicates per treatment. An ANOVA analysis was carried out using GLM procedure of SAS and the Tukey test (p≤0.05) was used to compare treatment means (p≤0.05). Regarding productive performance and carcass characteristics variables, including 2 % of flaxseeds on the pigs’ diet did not have a negative effect (p≤0.05). Physicochemical characteristics, saturated and mono unsaturated fatty acids of meat were not changed by flaxseeds concentration (p>0.05). The Ω-3 polyunsaturated FA content increased in pork ham and loin as the amount of flaxseeds increased in the diet (p≤0.05). Adding 2 % of flaxseeds on pig diets increases Ω-3 FA content in meat without affecting productive performance, carcass characteristics and physicochemical properties of meat.

Resumen La semilla de linaza (Linum usitatissimum) tiene alta concentración de ácidos grasos (AG) omega 3, los cuales, al ser incorporados a las dietas de cerdos en engorda pueden mejorar la composición lípidica de la carne. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la concentración de semillas de linaza en la respuesta productiva de cerdos en finalización, perfil de AG, características de la canal y propiedades fisicoquímicas de la carne. Los tratamientos fueron seis concentraciones (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 y 10 % BS) de linaza molida. Las unidades experimentales fueron 48 cerdos machos castrados, híbridos (LandraceXYorkshireXPietrain) con peso inicial de 50.00±5.00 kg, evaluados durante ocho semanas y en dos etapas: de 50-75 y 75-100 kg de PV. El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar con ocho repeticiones por tratamiento. Con los datos obtenidos se realizó un ANDEVA mediante el procedimiento GLM de SAS y las medias se compararon con la prueba de Tukey (p≤0.05). La inclusión de 2 % de semillas de linaza en la dieta de cerdos no tuvo un efecto adverso (p>0.05) en las variables productivas y en las características de la canal. Las características fisicoquímicas, el perfil de AG saturados y monoinsaturados en la carne no fueron afectados (p>0.05) por la concentración de linaza. El contenido de AG poliinsaturados omega-3 (Ω-3) aumentó en la pierna y lomo al incrementar la cantidad de linaza en la dieta (p≤0.05). El uso de 2 % de semillas de linaza en dietas para cerdos incrementa el contenido de AG Ω-3 en la carne, sin afectar las variables productivas, las características de la canal y propiedades fisicoquímicas de la carne.