De Souza

Non-destructive monitoring of fruit ripening is essential for optimising harvest time, yet its application to tropical viticulture remains largely unexplored. This study evaluated in situ chlorophyll a fluorescence as a non-invasive physiological marker to track berry development and metabolic maturation in two table grape cultivars (Vitis labrusca L. var. Niagara Rosada and var. Romana) under tropical field conditions, characterised by the latitude position, absence of chilling-induced dormancy, and variable rainfall during ripening. Berries’ fluorescence parameters (Fo, Fm, Fv and Fv/Fm) were monitored weekly from the pea-size stage to commercial harvest (67–123 days after pruning) using a portable modulated fluorometer, along with chlorophyll and quality trait measurements. A decline in fluorescence parameters during maturation coincided with chlorophyll degradation and the accumulation of glucose and fructose. The maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) remained stable (≈0.75) throughout development, indicating sustained photochemical efficiency despite chloroplast disassembly. Significant correlations (r > 0.80) were established between fluorescence parameters and key maturity indices, with distinct cultivar-specific patterns evident between the NR and RM cultivars. Therefore, chlorophyll a fluorescence provided a reliable, portable, non-destructive tool for monitoring ripening dynamics and estimating quality parameters in table grapes, offering practical advantages for tropical viticulture where environmental variability demands flexible monitoring.

This study evaluated cherry tomato seedling production using pirapitinga RAS wastewater as the sole nutrient source in four substrate formulations: T1 (sand, gravel and coconut fiber), T2 (sand and gravel), T3 (gravel and coconut fiber), and T4 (sand and coconut fiber). No differences were observed for germination quality, germination percentage, seedling vigor index, germination vigor index, moisture content, total wet biomass, total dry biomass, or mortality. For small plants, leaf number (LN) was higher in T2 and lower in T4, while root length was greater in T3. The number of medium plants was higher in T3 and lower in T4; LN was higher in T1 and T2 and lowest in T3. For large plants, LN was higher in T1 and T2 and lower in T3; total length was higher in T1 and lower in T3 and T4. Visual differences in substrate water retention were observed: T4 exhibited rapid surface drying, T1 and T2 showed moderate moisture persistence, and T3 maintained surface water. Leaf yellowing was observed after 25 days, suggesting possible nutrient limitation or reduced nutrient availability at the measured pH. These findings indicate that substrate physical characteristics influence early seedling growth performance, whereas pirapitinga RAS wastewater can serve as a viable nutrient source.

Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil

Forest fires release various chemical compounds that directly degrade air quality and endanger human health. This study examines the occurrence of forest fires in six Brazilian biomes over a 22-year period (1999–2021). The primary purpose is to identify significant meteorological predictors for the monthly number of hot spots using a standardized statistical framework. Fire hotspots were identified using satellite thermal sensors (AVHRR and MODIS), and we employed a standardized negative binomial regression modeling approach to analyze the relationship between meteorological variables and fire hotspots in all six Brazilian biomes simultaneously, providing a comprehensive comparative perspective often lacking in studies focused on isolated regions. The results show that the Amazon and Cerrado biomes have the highest absolute number of fires, which is consistent with their size and vegetation structure. To avoid bias associated with biome size, fire occurrence was additionally estimated using hotspot density normalized by biome area (hotspots per km2). Using these models, significant factors for fire occurrence were identified, namely the main meteorological variables—temperature, precipitation and wind speed. By comparing the performance of the models in different biomes, we aimed to better understand regional fire dynamics. The model’s ability to predict the expected number of fires based on these variables provides a key tool for preventive air quality monitoring. Such a predictive model serves as a basis for developing early warning systems, assessing potential health risks for the population, and adopting targeted fire management policies.

Glycation of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) has been shown to modulate the cytosolic levels of phosphorylated TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathology. In this study, we investigated the interaction between TDP-43 and SOD1 and assessed how methylglyoxal (MGO)-induced glycation and the ALS-associated G93A SOD1 mutation affect this interplay in H4 cells. MGO exposure reduced SOD1 activity and TDP-43 phosphorylation in cells expressing WT SOD1, but not in those expressing G93A SOD1. Both WT and mutant SOD1 interacted with TDP-43 in the nucleus and cytosol; however, cytosolic interactions were more prevalent in G93A-expressing cells. Although MGO did not significantly alter the overall interaction between TDP-43 and WT SOD1, it induced cytosolic inclusion formation at 0.4 mM, a concentration associated with reduced cell viability. These inclusions did not colocalize with stress granules, indicating alternative aggregation pathways. Treatment with cyclosporin A, which inhibits the phosphatase calcineurin, decreased both TDP-43–WT SOD1 inclusions and cytosolic interactions between TDP-43 and G93A SOD1. Together, these findings suggest that SOD1 damage, induced by glycation or ALS-linked mutation, may affect TDP-43 phosphorylation status and promote its cytosolic mislocalization and aggregation, providing new insights into ALS-associated proteinopathy.

by Rayssa Karla Silva Jamerson Domingos de França Walter de Paula Pinto Neto Luciana Leite de Andrade Lima Arruda

Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a disease widely distributed, is an intracellular parasite that invades host cells of different tissues using specialized endocytic activity. Recent studies suggest that tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), thin cell-surface projections, may participate in the parasite–host cell interaction. Here we report results that suggest the involvement of host-cell TNTs in the adhesion of T. gondii tachyzoites to epithelial LLC-MK2 cells. Microscopy analysis showed that incubating cells in a medium containing 0.45 M sucrose induces reversible assembly of TNTs without affecting cell viability. The presence of extended TNTs correlated with increased parasite adhesion and reduced parasite entry, thus suggesting a structural or signaling role in mediating adhesion. TNTs assembled following sucrose incubation contain both actin and tubulin components as determined by immunofluorescence microscopy. These results highlight a possible functional relevance of TNTs in T. gondii host cell interaction, especially in parasite adhesion, opening new perspectives for understanding T. gondii-host cell interaction.

Accurate estimation of river discharge is fundamental for water resources management, flood forecasting, and drought monitoring in the Amazon River Basin. Rating curves, which relate water level (stage) to discharge, are the primary tool for streamflow estimation. This study evaluates traditional curve-fitting methods and machine learning algorithms for modeling rating curves at the two largest gauging stations in the Amazon River: Itacoatiara and Óbidos. The analysis is based on 70 stage–discharge measurements at Itacoatiara (2008–2023) and 176 measurements at Óbidos (1968–2023). Five modeling approaches were compared: Power Law, Linear Regression, Decision Tree, Random Forest, XGBoost, and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP). Model performance was assessed against official baseline rating curves maintained by Brazil’s National Water Agency (ANA) and the Geological Survey of Brazil (SGB/CPRM) using Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (r2), Mean Bias Error (MBE), Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) and Kling–Gupta Efficiency (KGE). Results indicate that ensemble-based machine learning methods, particularly XGBoost (RMSE = 7463 m3/s, NSE = 0.973 at Itacoatiara; RMSE = 18,378 m3/s, NSE = 0.872 at Óbidos), outperformed traditional methods. However, the Decision Tree exhibited overfitting that could not be resolved through pruning, depth limitation, or other strategies given the sample size. Traditional methods such as the optimized Power Law remain practical and transparent alternatives for operational use. The findings suggest that machine learning can complement traditional approaches for improving rating curve accuracy in large tropical rivers, with K-fold cross-validation used to assess variability and performance.

Fluoroquinolones are known for their antibacterial properties, but recent research has revealed their potential to inhibit the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Thus, this study aimed to emphasize the repositioning and potential of fluoroquinolones as possible therapeutic tools in the fight against cancer, opening up new perspectives for the field of oncology. Thus, this paper consists of a descriptive literature review of recent studies published between 2013 and 2023 on the use of fluoroquinolones in anticancer therapy. The results indicate that fluoroquinolones can interfere with the cell cycle, induce apoptosis and oxidative stress, and impact factors associated with tumorigenesis, such as the transcription of ectopic expression of SNAI1 for epithelial–mesenchymal transition. In addition, studies show that combining fluoroquinolones with other antineoplastic agents can increase their efficacy, and the possibility of encapsulating these drugs in controlled-release systems is also emerging as a promising antitumor strategy. In conclusion, repositioning fluoroquinolones in antitumor therapy presents an expanding field of research, offering new perspectives for cancer treatment. However, more studies are needed to fully elucidate their potential and establish effective clinical use protocols.

Background: Diets composed of various components have been shown to influence inflammatory diseases such as asthma. While most studies have focused on fiber-rich diets to investigate their effects on the immune system and, consequently, on asthma, little is known about the impact of sugar-rich diets, particularly when such diets are consumed over short periods of time. Methods: To investigate the short-term effects of a sugar-rich diet on allergic airway inflammation, A/J mice were fed either a standard diet or a sugar-enriched diet and subsequently sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin or PBS. Airway inflammation was assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell analysis, including eosinophil counts and cytokine levels (IL-4, TNF-α, IL-33), and by lung histology (H&E for inflammatory infiltrate and PAS for mucus). Serum IgE levels were also measured. In addition, glucose tolerance, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue mass, and inflammatory markers in visceral adipose tissue were evaluated. Results: Short-term consumption of a sugar-rich diet induced glucose intolerance and expansion of adipose tissue, particularly visceral fat, independent of ovalbumin sensitization. Gonadal adipose tissue analysis revealed a shift toward M1 macrophage polarization, characterized by elevated TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, increased leptin levels, and reduced adiponectin. In OVA-sensitized mice, the sugar-rich diet significantly exacerbated eosinophil infiltration in BAL, increased IL-4, TNF-α, and IL-33, and enhanced PAS-positive mucus accumulation and inflammatory infiltrates in the lung. Moreover, total serum IgE was significantly higher in allergic mice fed the sugar-rich diet compared with allergic mice on the standard diet. Importantly, in non-sensitized mice fed the sugar-rich diet, no pulmonary inflammation was detected by BAL, demonstrating that HSD alone does not induce asthma but amplifies allergic responses when sensitization is present. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that short-term consumption of a sugar-rich diet is sufficient to exacerbate, but not initiate, allergic pulmonary inflammation. From a translational perspective, reducing dietary sugar intake may represent a valuable adjuvant strategy in the management of allergic asthma.