Meaningful Connections: Exploring the Relationship Between Empathy and Professional Identity Formation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the literature on the connections between empathy and professional identity formation (PIF) in pharmacy and other health professions education. A PRISMA-Scoping Review methodology was used for this study. Searches were conducted in PubMed and CINAHL from 2010 to January 12, 2023, with English added as a limiter. Articles had to address empathy and PIF, whether implicitly or explicitly. "Theory talk" was modified and utilized with 6 levels of connectedness to assess article quality. FINDINGS: A total of 419 articles were reviewed for inclusion into the study with a total of 45 articles being included. Seventeen (37.8 %) and 12 articles (26.7 %) included a definition for empathy and PIF, respectively. Thirty-eight articles (84.4 %) implicitly discussed a connection between PIF and empathy. Educational initiatives that fostered connections between empathy and PIF focused on classroom activities, clinical rotation activities, and assessments. Key elements to enhance empathy and PIF development across articles focused on mentorship, role models, and reflective practice, alongside intentional curricular integration. Similarly, barriers to empathy and PIF are multifaceted. SUMMARY: Despite educational initiatives in the literature that attempt to foster connections between empathy and PIF in classroom activities, clinical rotation activities, and assessments, most connections are implicit, as opposed to explicit. This may be due to the multiple barriers, such as the hidden curriculum, which make the connection between empathy and PIF difficult. This area needs further research and development given the importance of empathy in all health care provider interactions.

Beach wrack: Discussing ecological roles, risks, and sustainable bioenergy and agricultural applications.

The equilibrium of the marine ecosystem is currently threatened by several constraints, among which climate change and anthropogenic activities stand out. Indeed, these factors favour the growth of macroalgae, which sometimes end up stranded on the beaches at the end of their life cycle, forming what is known as beach wrack. Despite its undeniable important ecological role on beaches, as it is an important source of organic matter (OM), and provides food and habitat for several invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals, and shorebirds, the overaccumulation of beach wrack is often associated with the release of greenhouse gases, negatively impacting tourist activities, and generating economic expenses for its removal. Although currently beach wrack is mainly treated as a waste, it can be used for numerous potential applications in distinct areas. This review aimed at providing a solid point of view regarding the process of wrack formation, its spatiotemporal location, as well as its importance and risks. It also contains the current advances of the research regarding sustainable alternatives to valorise this organic biomass, that range from bioenergy production to the incorporation of wrack in agricultural soils, considering a circular economy concept. Although there are some concerns regarding wrack utilisation, from its variable availability to a possible soil contamination with salts and other contaminants, this review comprises the overall beneficial effects of the incorporation of this residue particularly in the organic agricultural model, strengthening the conversion of this wasted biomass into a valuable resource.

Unravelling the combined impacts of drought and Cu in barley plants - double trouble?

The occurrence of drought in soils, particularly in those contaminated by metals, poses a current threat to crops, as these factors can interact and induce unique stress responses. Therefore, this study mainly focused on understanding the crosstalk between drought and copper (Cu) stress in the physiology of the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plant. Using a bifactorial experimental design, seedlings were grown in a natural soil under the following treatments: plants continuously irrigated in uncontaminated soil for 14 days (control); plants continuously irrigated in Cu-contaminated soil (115 mg Cu kg-1) for 14 days (Cu); plants only irrigated during the initials 7 days of growth in uncontaminated soil (drought); plants co-exposed to Cu and drought (combined). After 14 days of growth, the results revealed that drought prevented Cu bioaccumulation in barley roots, which were still severely affected by the metal, both individually and in combination with the water deficit. Furthermore, individual and combined exposure to these stressors resulted in impaired photosynthetic performance in barley plants. Despite the increased activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defence mechanisms, particularly in the green organs, the plants co-exposed to both stress factors still showed higher oxidative damage, severely impacting biomass production.

Nanobiopesticides: Are they the future of phytosanitary treatments in modern agriculture?

The world's population is continuously increasing; therefore, food availability will be one of the major concerns of our future. In addition to that, many practices and products used, such as pesticides and fertilizers have been shown harmful to the environment and human health and are assumed as being one of the main factors responsible for the loss of biodiversity. Also, climate change could agravate the problem since it causes unpredictable variation of local and regional climate conditions,which frequently favor the growth of diseases, pathogens and pest growth. The use of natural products, like essential oils, plant extracts, or substances of microbial-origin in combination with nanotechnology is one suitable way to outgrow this problem. The most often employed natural products in research studies to date include pyrethrum extract, neem oil, and various essential oils, which when enclosed shown increased resistance to environmental factors. They also demonstrated insecticidal, antibacterial, and fungicidal properties. However, in order to truly determine if these products, despite being natural, would be hazardous or not, testing in non-target organisms, which are rare, must start to become a common practice. Therefore, this review aims to present the existing literature concerning nanoformulations of biopesticides and a standard definition for nanobiopesticides, their synthesis methods and their possible ecotoxicological impacts, while discussing the regulatory aspects regarding their authorization and commercialization. As a result of this, you will find a critical analysis in this reading. The most obvious findings are that i) there are insufficient reliable ecotoxicological data for risk assessment purposes and to establish safety doses; and ii) the requirements for registration and authorization of these new products are not as straightforward as those for synthetic chemicals and take a lot of time, which is a major challenge/limitation in terms of the goals set by the Farm to Fork initiative.

Tools for harmonized data collection at exposure situations with naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM).

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) contribute to the dose arising from radiation exposure for workers, public and non-human biota in different working and environmental conditions. Within the EURATOM Horizon 2020 RadoNorm project, work is ongoing to identify NORM exposure situations and scenarios in European countries and to collect qualitative and quantitative data of relevance for radiation protection. The data obtained will contribute to improved understanding of the extent of activities involving NORM, radionuclide behaviours and the associated radiation exposure, and will provide an insight into related scientific, practical and regulatory challenges. The development of a tiered methodology for identification of NORM exposure situations and complementary tools to support uniform data collection were the first activities in the mentioned project NORM work. While NORM identification methodology is given in Michalik et al., 2023, in this paper, the main details of tools for NORM data collection are presented and they are made publicly available. The tools are a series of NORM registers in Microsoft Excel form, that have been comprehensively designed to help (a) identify the main NORM issues of radiation protection concern at given exposure situations, (b) gain an overview of materials involved (i.e., raw materials, products, by-products, residues, effluents), c) collect qualitative and quantitative data on NORM, and (d) characterise multiple hazards exposure scenarios and make further steps towards development of an integrated risk and exposure dose assessment for workers, public and non-human biota. Furthermore, the NORM registers ensure standardised and unified characterisation of NORM situations in a manner that supports and complements the effective management and regulatory control of NORM processes, products and wastes, and related exposures to natural radiation worldwide.

A methodology for the systematic identification of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM).

Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) are present worldwide and under certain circumstances (e.g., human activities) may give radiation exposure to workers, local public or occasional visitors and non-human biota (NHB) of the surrounding ecosystems. This may occur during planned or existing exposure situations which, under current radiation protection standards, require identification, management, and regulatory control as for other practices associated with man-made radionuclides that may result in the exposure of people and NHB. However, knowledge gaps exist with respect to the extent of global and European NORM exposure situations and their exposure scenario characteristics, including information on the presence of other physical hazards, such as chemical and biological ones. One of the main reasons for this is the wide variety of industries, practices and situations that may utilise NORM. Additionally, the lack of a comprehensive methodology for identification of NORM exposure situations and the absence of tools to support a systematic characterisation and data collection at identified sites may also lead to a gap in knowledge. Within the EURATOM Horizon 2020 RadoNorm project, a methodology for systematic NORM exposure identification has been developed. The methodology, containing consecutive tiers, comprehensively covers situations where NORM may occur (i.e., minerals and raw materials deposits, industrial activities, industrial products and residues and their applications, waste, legacies), and thus, allows detailed investigation and complete identification of situations where NORM may present a radiation protection concern in a country. Details of the tiered methodology, with practical examples on harmonised data collection using a variety of existing sources of information to establish NORM inventories, are presented in this paper. This methodology is flexible and thus applicable to a diversity of situations. It is intended to be used to make NORM inventory starting from the scratch, however it can be used also to systematise and complete existing data.

Preparation, Characterization, and Environmental Safety Assessment of Dithiocarbazate Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.

Dithiocarbazates comprise an important class of Schiff bases with remarkable biological applications due to the imine group present in their structure. However, full exploitation of the biological activity of 3-methyl-5-phenyl-pyrazoline-1-(S-benzyldithiocarbazate) (DTC) is limited due to its easy degradation and poor solubility in aqueous solutions. The loading of DTC into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSiNPs) can be an excellent strategy to improve the solubility of DTC in the aqueous medium. Therefore, the main goal of the present work was to design MSiNP-DTC and to evaluate the success of the loading process by measuring its physicochemical properties and evaluating the environmental safety of the new DTC formulation using different aquatic organisms, such as the microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata, the macrophyte Lemna minor, and the marine bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri. DTC, MSiNP, and MSiNP-DTC concentrations ranging from 8.8 to 150 mg L-1 were tested for all the species, showing low toxicity against aquatic organisms. Loading DTC into MSiNPs caused a slight increase in the toxicity at the concentrations tested, only allowing for the estimation of the effect concentration causing a 20% reduction in bioluminescence or growth rate (EC20). Therefore, despite the potential of MSiNPs as a drug delivery system (DDS), it is of utmost importance to assess its impact on the safety of the new formulations.

Biofeedback interventions for short term upper limb function following stroke: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Biofeedback has been used by rehabilitation professionals in the treatment of poststroke function impairments. PURPOSE: Investigate the efficacy of any type of biofeedback intervention for the treatment of upper limb function in individuals following stroke. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of literature with meta-analysis. METHODS: Literature searches were conducted using MESH terms and text words in PubMed, Lilacs, Scielo, Scopus, PEDro, and Web of Science databases. The main outcome was improvement in upper limb's motor function and motor function in activities of daily living. We calculated the Mean Difference and Standardized Mean Difference for the assessment scales reported as primary outcome. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using PEDro scale. The overall quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE system. RESULTS: From 1360 articles identified, 16 were included in the review (09 in the meta-analysis). Three forest plots of hemiparesis and one of hemiplegia showed that biofeedback therapy associated with conventional therapy has a greater improvement in participants upper limb motor function when compared to isolated conventional therapy. Two forest plots of hemiparesis and one of hemiplegia showed no superiority in participants improvement for biofeedback associated with conventional therapy when compared to isolated conventional therapy. CONCLUSION: Biofeedback therapy associated with conventional therapy showed a small clinical effect when associated to conventional therapy and very low quality of evidence. Although further research with higher quality evidence is needed.

Ecotoxicological relevance of glyphosate and flazasulfuron to soil habitat and retention functions - Single vs combined exposures.

Glyphosate (GLY) and flazasulfuron (FLA) are two non-selective herbicides commonly applied together. However, research focused on their single and combined ecotoxicological impacts towards non-target organisms is still inconclusive. Therefore, this study aimed to test their single effects on soil's habitat and retention functions, and to unravel their combined impacts to earthworms and terrestrial plants. For this, ecotoxicological assays were performed with plants (Medicago sativa), oligochaetes (Eisenia fetida) and collembola (Folsomia candida). Soil elutriates were also prepared and tested in macrophytes (Lemna minor) and microalgae (Raphidocelis subcapitata). FLA (82-413 µg kg-1) reduced earthworms' and collembola's reproduction and severely impaired M. sativa growth, being much more toxic than GLY (up to 30 mg kg-1). In fact, the latter only affected plant growth (≥ 9 mg kg-1) and earthworms (≥ 13 mg kg-1), especially at high concentrations, with no effects on collembola. Moreover, only elutriates from FLA-contaminated soils significantly impacted L. minor and R. sucapitata. The experiments revealed that the co-exposure to GLY and FLA enhanced the toxic effects of contaminated soils not only on plants but also on earthworms'. However, such increase in toxicity was dependent on GLY residual concentrations in soils. Overall, this work underpins that herbicides risk assessment should consider herbicides co-exposures, since the evaluation of single exposures is not representative of current phytosanitary practices and of the potential effects under field conditions, where residues of different compounds may persist in soils.

Fatores que implicam na sexualidade dos pacientes com lesão medular / Factors that imply on the sexuality of patients with spindle injury

A Lesão Medular acomete as funções sexuais devido à interrupção dos estímulos neurais, determinando as disfunções sexuais que dependem do nível, tipo da lesão, fatores físicos, psíquicos e sociais. Surge, assim, o processo de reabilitação sexual no sentido de promover a reinserção desses indivíduos. Objetivo: Identificar as alterações fisiológicas, fatores psicológicos e sociais intrínsecos, dentro do contexto da sexualidade em indivíduos com Lesão Medular. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo exploratório, descritivo, de abordagem quantitativa, nos quais foram incluídos 50 participantes com Lesão Medular em um Centro de Reabilitação. O instrumento de coleta utilizado foi o Questionário de Sexualidade Humana na Lesão Medular, abordando aspectos da sexualidade nos períodos antes e após a lesão. Resultados: A sexualidade foi afetada negativamente, sendo que a vida sexual ativa, após a lesão, teve em média de frequência 2,02 (±1,80), vontade 7,15 (±2,66) e satisfação sexual 4,80 (±3,08), mostrando que esta reduziu significativamente. Quanto às respostas sexuais, a ejaculação é a mais afetada: média 0,61 (±2,08), seguida da ereção 3,02 (±3,20), orgasmo masculino 2,95 (±3,49) e orgasmo feminino 0,22 (±0,67). Além disso, foi possível constatar uma lacuna existente na abordagem da temática pelos profissionais de saúde, onde apenas 21(42%) dos indivíduos receberam algum tipo de aconselhamento sexual após a lesão. Conclusão: Tornaram-se claros os impactos negativos das alterações enfrentadas após a Lesão Medular quanto aos ajustes físicos, psicológicos e sociais ressaltando a necessidade de capacitação dos profissionais para que estejam aptos a realizarem a reabilitação sexual desses indivíduos

Spinal cord injury affects sexual functions due to interruption of neural stimuli, determining sexual dysfunctions that will depend on the level, type of injury, physical, psychological and social factors. Thus arises the process of sexual rehabilitation, in the sense of promoting the reintegration of these individuals. Objective: Identify the physiological alterations, intrinsic psychological and social factors, within the context of sexuality in individuals with Spinal Cord Injury. Methods: This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a quantitative approach, in which 50 participants with Spinal Cord Injury in a Rehabilitation Center were included. The collection instrument used was the Questionnaire of Human Sexuality in Spinal Cord Injury, addressing aspects of sexuality in the periods before and after the injury. Results: Sexuality was negatively affected, in which active sex life after the injury had an average frequency of 2.02 (±1.80), desire 7.15 (±2.66) and sexual satisfaction 4.80 (±3 .08), showing that it reduced significantly. As for sexual responses, ejaculation is the most affected, mean 0.61 (±2.08), followed by erection 3.02 (±3.20), male orgasm 2.95 (±3.49) and female orgasm 0.22 (±0.67). In addition, it was possible to verify an existing gap in the approach of the theme by health professionals, where only 21 (42%) of the individuals received some type of sexual counseling after the injury. Conclusion: It became clear the negative impacts of the alterations faced after the Spinal Cord Injury regarding the physical, psychological and social adjustments, emphasizing the need for professional training so that they are able to carry out the sexual rehabilitation of these individuals

As percepções das perdas ocupacionais de mulheres cuidadoras dos parceiros tetraplégicos / Perceptions of occupational losses of women caring for partners with tetriplegic

A tetraplegia caracteriza-se por uma desordem na estrutura da medula espinhal na altura cervical e exige cuidados que vão de aspectos físicos a cuidados mentais e sociais. Estudos comprovam que cuidadores são, na maioria, familiares do sexo feminino. A mulher cuidadora de seu cônjuge passa a sofrer com sobrecargas e perda de atividades matrimoniais. Objetivo: Compreender a percepção das mulheres principais cuidadoras de seus parceiros, que possuem tetraplegia decorrente de uma lesão medular, sobre as perdas ocupacionais. Metodologia: Estudo descritivo exploratório qualitativo, realizado através de questionário sociodemográfico e entrevistas semi-estruturadas, com amostra por saturação dos dados Foram entrevistadas oito cuidadoras que aceitaram participar da pesquisa e assinaram o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido (TCLE). As entrevistas foram gravadas, transcritas e os dados analisados utilizando-se a análise temática de Bardin. Resultados: As entrevistadas informaram possuir idade entre 28 e 55 anos, sendo a maioria de religião evangélica e baixa renda. Relataram sobrecarga devido à rotina de trabalho integral e desvalorização do seu serviço, apresentando prejuízo no papel de esposa e realização do autocuidado. Considerações finais: As cuidadoras entrevistadas perceberam perdas nos papeis de esposa e no autocuidado, apresentando uma rede de apoio insuficiente, demandando maior participação do sistema de saúde, necessitando de implementação de novas políticas públicas

Tetraplegia is characterized by a disorder in the structure of the spinal cord at the cervical level and requires care ranging from physical aspects to mental and social care. Studies show that caregivers are mostly female family members. The woman who cares for her spouse starts to suffer from overloads and loss of marital activities. Objective: To understand the perception of women who are the main caregivers of their partners who have tetraplegia due to a Spinal Cord Injury, about occupational losses. Methodology: Descriptive and qualitative exploratory study, carried out using a socio-demographic questionnaire and semi-structured interviews, with a sample based on data saturation. Eight caregivers who agreed to participate in the research and signed the Free and Informed Consent Term were interviewed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and Bardin's thematic analysis was used for data analysis. Results: The interviewees were between 28 and 55 years old, most of whom were evangelical and had a low income. They reported overload due to the full-time work routine and devaluation of their service, showing impairment in the role of wife and self-care. Final considerations: The interviewed caregivers noticed losses in the roles of wife and in self-care, presenting an insufficient support network, demanding greater participation of the health system, requiring the implementation of new public policies

Impacto e sobrecarga familiar em cuidadores de crianças e adolescentes com deficiência intelectual / Family mpact and burden on caregivers of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities

A Deficiência Intelectual (DI) se caracteriza por déficits funcionais, intelectuais, funções adaptativas, ou seja, os padrões de desenvolvimento e socioculturais relacionados à independência pessoal e responsabilidade social não são atingidos adequadamente. Objetivo: Avaliar o impacto familiar e a sobrecarga em cuidadores familiares de crianças e adolescentes com DI. Métodos: Estudo transversal de caráter analítico. Os dados foram coletados na Clínica Intelectual, de um Centro de Reabilitação e Readaptação. Foram aplicadas a Escala de Impacto Familiar, Escala de Burden Interview e dois questionários, um sobre o perfil sociodemográfico de cuidadores familiares e outro de perfil demográfico e clínico de crianças e adolescentes com DI. Resultados: Foram entrevistados 50 participantes, a maioria do gênero feminino, com baixa renda mensal e que dedicam maior parte do tempo aos seus filhos. O estudo evidenciou que o diagnóstico da DI pode gerar impactos moderados e em partes, baixa sobrecarga, na vida destes cuidadores. A baixa escolaridade, baixa renda mensal e as rupturas de papéis ocupacionais influenciaram os resultados encontrados. Conclusões: O acesso aos estudos, mercado de trabalho e suporte financeiro, podem repercutir de forma positiva na vida dos cuidadores familiares, diminuindo o impacto e a sobrecarga que o diagnóstico da DI pode causar

Intellectual Disability (ID) is characterized by functional, intellectual and adaptive function deficits, that is, developmental and socioculturais standards related to personal independence and social responsibility are not adequately achieved. Objective: To assess the family impact and burden on family caregivers of children and adolescents with ID. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study. Data were collected at Clínica Intelectual, from a Rehabilitation and Readaptation Center. The Family Impact Scale, the Burden Interview Scale and two questionnaires were applied, one on the sociodemographic profile of family caregivers and the other on the demographic and clinical profile of children and adolescents with ID. Results: 50 participants were interviewed, mostly female, with low monthly income and who dedicate most of their time to their children. The study showed that the diagnosis of ID can generate moderate impacts and in parts, low burden, in the lives of these caregivers. Low schooling, low monthly income and ruptures in occupational roles influenced the results found. Conclusions: Access to studies, the job market and financial support can have a positive impact on the lives of family caregivers, reducing the impact and burden that the diagnosis of ID can cause

Experiência de pacientes com lesão medular em reabilitação: um estudo misto acerca dos cuidados de enfermagem / Experience of patients with spindle injury in rehabilitation: a mixed study about nursing care

: A obtenção da satisfação do paciente é uma das ferramentas de investigação de indicadores de qualidade, sendo fonte de informação relevantes para o desenvolvimento de melhorias na qualidade da assistência. Objetivo: O estudo teve por intuito compreender a visão e a satisfação de pacientes com lesão medular internados em um centro de referência em reabilitação, quanto aos cuidados de enfermagem, de forma a evidenciar o papel do profissional enfermeiro na adesão durante o processo de reabilitação e readaptação. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma pesquisa de campo de caráter misto com abordagem exploratória observacional, realizada em um centro de reabilitação, com 22 participantes, sendo que 21 destes corresponderam à pesquisa qualitativa. Para a coleta de dados, foram aplicados o Instrumento de Satisfação do Paciente (ISP) e um questionário com 4 questões norteadoras. Resultados: A satisfação dos participantes em relação aos cuidados de enfermagem foi positiva nos três domínios, sendo o domínio educacional o mais bem avaliado (4,39), seguido da área técnica profissional (4,06) e por último confiança (4,04). Os resultados qualitativos foram divididos em duas categorias "Relação enfermeiro-paciente" e "A percepção do cuidado". Conclusão:Tornou-se claro o papel do enfermeiro na adesão à reabilitação, sendo possível constatar a relação da satisfação com os aspectos de humanização em saúde

Obtaining patient satisfaction is one of the research tools for quality indicators, being a source of relevant information for the development of improvements in the quality of care. Objective: The study aimed to understand the vision and satisfaction of patients with spinal cord injury hospitalized in a Rehabilitation Reference Center, regarding nursing care, in order to highlight the role of nurses in adherence during the rehabilitation and readaptation process. Methodology: This is a mixed field research with an exploratory observational approach, carried out in a Rehabilitation Center, with 22 participants, 21 of which corresponded to qualitative research. For data collection, the Patient Satisfaction Instrument (PSI) and a questionnaire with 4 guiding questions were applied. Results: The classification of participants in relation to nursing care was positive in the three domains, with the educational domain being the best evaluated (4.39), followed by the technical-professional area (4.06) and finally trust (4.04). Qualitative results were divided into two categories "Nurse-patient relationship" and "Perception of care". Conclusion: In addition, the role of nurses in adherence to rehabilitation became clear, and it was possible to verify the relationship between satisfaction and aspects of humanization in health

Untargeted metabolomic profiling of fresh and dried leaf extracts of young and mature Eucalyptus globulus trees indicates differences in the presence of specialized metabolites.

Aqueous extracts from Eucalyptus globulus leaves contain a wide variety of specialized metabolites, mainly polyphenols and appreciable amounts of volatile compounds, which are responsible for their diverse biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and allelopathic features. For this reason, several studies have been conducted to explore the composition of E. globulus leaf extracts for multiple therapeutic and commercial applications. However, so far, the available bibliographic reports only refer to the chemical composition of extracts prepared with leaves from mature trees, leaving much to clarify about the composition of juvenile eucalyptus leaf extracts. Furthermore, there is no consensus regarding the type of leaves, fresh or dried ones, to be used in the extraction procedure, considering the highest recovery of biologically active compounds. In this sense, this study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of aqueous extracts prepared with fresh and dried leaves from young and mature E. globulus trees. For this, leaf biomass from young and mature E. globulus trees was collected in three distinct places from a forest area, and after oven-drying a portion of the leaves, an extraction in hot water was carried out, followed by GC-MS and HPLC-MS/MS analyses. The results revealed that the maturity of eucalyptus trees and biomass drying significantly influenced the volatile and non-volatile composition of the aqueous extracts. Accordingly, while fresh leaf extracts of young trees had great levels of hydrolysable tannins, extracts prepared with fresh leaves from mature trees presented a wide range of terpenes. When dried leaf material was used, extracts had notorious contents of amino acids derivatives, C13 norisoprenoids, fatty and other organic acids. Overall, this study showed, for the first time, that plant maturity (young vs mature) and pre-processing (fresh vs dried) of foliar biomass of E. globulus trees need to be considered in the preparation of leaf aqueous extracts depending on the desired purposes, since major changes in what regards biologically active compounds were found.

Environmental Safety Assessments of Lipid Nanoparticles Loaded with Lambda-Cyhalothrin.

Lipid nanoparticles (LN) composed of biodegradable lipids and produced by green methods are candidates for the encapsulation of pesticides, potentially contributing to decreasing their release in the environment. From a safety-by-design concept, this work proposes LN for the encapsulation of insecticide active ingredients (AI). However, given the complexity of nanoparticles, ecotoxicological studies are often controversial, and a detailed investigation of their effects on the environment is required. Accordingly, this work aimed to produce and characterize LN containing the insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin (LC) and evaluate their safety to crops (Solanum lycopersicum and Zea mays), soil invertebrates (Folsomia candida and Eisenia fetida), and soil microbial parameters. The average particle size for LN-loaded with LC (LN-LC) was 165.4 ± 2.34 nm, with narrow size distribution and negative charge (-38.7 ± 0.954 mV). LN were able to encapsulate LC with an entrapment efficacy of 98.44 ± 0.04%, maintaining the stability for at least 4 months. The LN-LC showed no risk to the growth of crops and reproduction of the invertebrates. The effect on microbial parameters showed that the activity of certain soil microbial parameters can be inhibited or stimulated by the presence of LN at highest concentrations, probably by changing the pH of soil or by the intrinsic properties of LN.

Nano-Fe2O3 as a tool to restore plant growth in contaminated soils - Assessment of potentially toxic elements (bio)availability and redox homeostasis in Hordeum vulgare L.

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of Fe2O3 nanoparticles (nano-Fe2O3) to alleviate potentially toxic elements (PTEs) - induced stress in barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L.), focusing on bioaccumulation patterns and on plant growth and redox homeostasis. To achieve this goal, plants grew in two agricultural soils, contaminated by different levels of PTEs, collected from an industrial area, previously amended, or not, with 1% (w/w) nano-Fe2O3. After 14 d of growth, biometric parameters were evaluated, along with the analysis of PTEs bioaccumulation and biochemical endpoints. After exposure to contaminated soils, plant development was greatly affected, as evidenced by significant decreases in root length and biomass production. However, upon co-treatment with nano-Fe2O3, lower inhibitory effects on biometric parameters were observed. Regarding the oxidative damage, both soils led to increases in lipid peroxidation and superoxide anion concentration, though hydrogen peroxide levels were only increased in the most contaminated soil. In general, these changes in the oxidative stress markers were accompanied by an upregulation of different antioxidant mechanisms, whose efficiency was even more powerful upon soil amendment with nano-Fe2O3, thus lowering PTEs-induced oxidative damage. Altogether, the present study revealed that nano-Fe2O3 can protect the growth of barley plants under contaminated soils.

Collaborative competencies in gerontology: perspective of health undergraduate students / Competências colaborativas em gerontologia: perspectivas de graduandos da saúde

Abstract: Introduction: The discussion about the curriculum of health area courses becomes relevant for the proposal of educational strategies that promote the development of collaborative skills. This situation will enable a change in the culture of health care, especially for the demands of the older adults. Objective: To assess the collaborative skills acquired by undergraduate students attending the Gerontology discipline. Method: This is a qualitative study, carried out with students from the Nursing, Medicine, and Nutrition courses of a public university, who took an optional course with an interprofessional focus in 2019. Data collection included the conduction of a focus group and the application of a semi structured interview. The data were analyzed using the Content Analysis technique. Results: Nine students were evaluated, and they reported the development of collaborative skills, such as teamwork, effective communication, and the planning of comprehensive care for the older adults. Conclusion: The individualized expressions of the students participating in this study make us believe that interprofessional learning qualifies as an opportunity to develop collaborative skills.

Resumo: Introdução: A discussão sobre a grade curricular dos cursos da área da saúde torna-se relevante para a proposição de estratégias de ensino que promovam o desenvolvimento de habilidades colaborativas. Tal condição possibilitará uma mudança na cultura de atenção à saúde, principalmente, para as demandas da pessoa idosa. Objetivo: Avaliar as competências colaborativas adquiridas por graduandos em uma disciplina de gerontologia. Método: Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo, realizado com estudantes dos cursos de Enfermagem, Medicina e Nutrição de uma universidade pública, que cursaram uma disciplina optativa com enfoque interprofissional, em 2019. A coleta de dados incluiu a realização de um grupo focal e a aplicação de uma entrevista semiestruturada. Os dados foram analisados por meio da Análise de Conteúdo. Resultados: Nove alunos avaliados relataram o desenvolvimento de competências colaborativas, como trabalho em equipe, comunicação eficiente e planejamento de cuidado integral à pessoa idosa. Conclusão: As expressões individualizadas dos alunos participantes deste estudo nos fazem acreditar que a aprendizagem interprofissional se qualifica como uma oportunidade para desenvolver as competências colaborativas.

Foliar Application of Sodium Nitroprusside Boosts Solanum lycopersicum L. Tolerance to Glyphosate by Preventing Redox Disorders and Stimulating Herbicide Detoxification Pathways.

Strategies to minimize the effects of glyphosate (GLY), the most used herbicide worldwide, on non-target plants need to be developed. In this context, the current study was designed to evaluate the potential of nitric oxide (NO), provided as 200 µM sodium nitroprusside (SNP), to ameliorate GLY (10 mg kg-1 soil) phytotoxicity in tomato plants. Upon herbicide exposure, plant development was majorly inhibited in shoots and roots, followed by a decrease in flowering and fruit set; however, the co-application of NO partially prevented these symptoms, improving plant growth. Concerning redox homeostasis, lipid peroxidation (LP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels rose in response to GLY in shoots of tomato plants, but not in roots. Additionally, GLY induced the overaccumulation of proline and glutathione, and altered ascorbate redox state, but resulted in the inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes. Upon co-treatment with NO, the non-enzymatic antioxidants were not particularly changed, but an upregulation of all antioxidant enzymes was found, which helped to keep ROS and LP under control. Overall, data point towards the benefits of NO against GLY in tomato plants by reducing the oxidative damage and stimulating detoxification pathways, while also preventing GLY-induced impairment of flowering and fruit fresh mass.

Silicon Improves the Redox Homeostasis to Alleviate Glyphosate Toxicity in Tomato Plants-Are Nanomaterials Relevant?

Given the widespread use of glyphosate (GLY), this agrochemical is becoming a source of contamination in agricultural soils, affecting non-target plants. Therefore, sustainable strategies to increase crop tolerance to GLY are needed. From this perspective and recalling silicon (Si)'s role in alleviating different abiotic stresses, the main goal of this study was to assess if the foliar application of Si, either as bulk or nano forms, is capable of enhancing Solanum lycopersicum L. tolerance to GLY (10 mg kg-1). After 28 day(s), GLY-treated plants exhibited growth-related disorders in both shoots and roots, accompanied by an overproduction of superoxide anion (O2•-) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in shoots. Although plants solely exposed to GLY have activated non-enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms (proline, ascorbate and glutathione), a generalized inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes was found, suggesting the occurrence of great redox disturbances. In response to Si or nano-SiO2 co-application, most of GLY phytotoxic effects on growth were prevented, accompanied with a better ROS removal, especially by an upregulation of the main antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Overall, results pointed towards the potential of both sources of Si to reduce GLY-induced oxidative stress, without major differences between their efficacy.

Herbicidal Effects and Cellular Targets of Aqueous Extracts from Young Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Leaves.

Eucalyptus globulus Labill. is a widespread exotic species that contributes to the formation of fire-prone environments, a great concern under climate change conditions. Therefore, sustainable practices to help locals managing eucalyptus stands are needed. In this perspective, harnessing eucalyptus' specialized metabolism as a source of allelochemicals can be a promising approach for weed control. Thus, the main goals of this work were to evaluate the herbicidal potential of post-fire regenerated E. globulus leaves against Portulaca oleracea L. and to unravel the physiological mechanisms behind this phytotoxic action. For this, aqueous extracts of fresh (FLE; 617 g FW L-1) or oven-dried leaves (DLE; 250 g DW L-1) were foliar-sprayed at different dilutions in purslane seedlings. After five weeks, results revealed that DLE at the highest dose detained the greatest herbicidal activity, affecting purslane growth and cellular viability. Moreover, biochemical data pointed towards an overproduction of reactive oxygen species, causing harsh oxidative damage in roots, where the upregulation of important cellular players, like sugars, amino acids, and proline, was not able to reestablish redox homeostasis. Overall, this study proved that dried leaves from young E. globulus had potent herbicidal properties against P. oleracea and can represent a feasible strategy for weed management.