Fatty Acid Amides Suppress Proliferation via Cannabinoid Receptors and Promote the Apoptosis of C6 Glioma Cells in Association with Akt Signaling Pathway Inhibition.

A glioma is a type of tumor that acts on the Central Nervous System (CNS) in a highly aggressive manner. Gliomas can occasionally be inaccurately diagnosed and treatments have low efficacy, meaning that patients exhibit a survival of less than one year after diagnosis. Due to factors such as intratumoral cell variability, inefficient chemotherapy drugs, adaptive resistance development to drugs and tumor recurrence after resection, the search continues for new drugs that can inhibit glioma cell growth. As such, analogues of endocannabinoids, such as fatty acid amides (FAAs), represent interesting alternatives for inhibiting tumor growth, since FAAs can modulate several metabolic pathways linked to cancer and, thus, may hold potential for managing glioblastoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of two fatty ethanolamides (FAA1 and FAA2), synthetized via direct amidation from andiroba oil (Carapa guianensis Aublet), on C6 glioma cells. FAA1 and FAA2 reduced C6 cell viability, proliferation and migratory potential in a dose-dependent manner and were not toxic to normal retina glial cells. Both FAAs caused apoptotic cell death through the loss of mitochondrial integrity (ΔΨm), probably by activating cannabinoid receptors, and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway. In conclusion, FAAs derived from natural products may have the potential to treat glioma-type brain cancer.

FeCo@hydrochar nanocomposites as efficient peroxymonosulfate activator for organic pollutant degradation.

Sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) are renowned for their exceptional capacity to degrade refractory organic pollutants due to their wide applicability, cost-effectiveness, and swift mineralization and oxidation rates. The primary sources of radicals in AOPs are persulfate (PS) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) ions, sparking significant interest in their mechanistic and catalytic aspects. To develop a novel nanocatalyst for SR-AOPs, particularly for PMS activation, we synthesized carbon-coated FeCo nanoparticles (NPs) using solvothermal methods based on the polyol approach. Various synthesis conditions were investigated, and the NPs were thoroughly characterized regarding their structure, morphology, magnetic properties, and catalytic efficiency. The FeCo phase was primarily obtained at [OH-] / [Metal] = 26 and [Fe] / [Co] = 2 ratios. Moreover, as the [Fe]/[Co] ratio increased, the degree of xylose carbonization to form a carbon coating (hydrochar) on the NPs also increased. The NPs exhibited a spherical morphology with agglomerates of varying sizes. Vibrating-sample magnetometer analysis (VSM) indicated that a higher proportion of iron resulted in NPs with higher saturation magnetization (up to 167.8 emu g-1), attributed to a larger proportion of FeCo bcc phase in the nanocomposite. The best catalytic conditions for degrading 100 ppm Rhodamine B (RhB) included 0.05 g L-1 of NPs, 2 mM PMS, pH 7.0, and a 20-min reaction at 25 °C. Notably, singlet oxygen was the predominant specie formed in the experiments in the SR-AOP, followed by sulfate and hydroxyl radicals. The catalyst could be reused for up to five cycles, retaining over 98% RhB degradation, albeit with increased metal leaching. Even in the first use, dissolved Fe and Co concentrations were 0.8 ± 0.3 and 4.0 ± 0.5 mg L-1, respectively. The FeCo catalyst proved to be effective in dye degradation and offers the potential for further refinement to minimize Co2+ leaching.

Revisiting Genetic Influence on Mercury Exposure and Intoxication in Humans: A Scoping Review.

Human intoxication to mercury is a worldwide health problem. In addition to the type and length of exposure, the genetic background plays an important role in mercury poisoning. However, reviews on the genetic influence in mercury toxicity are scarce and not systematic. Therefore, this review aimed to systematically overview the most recent evidence on the genetic influence (using single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) on human mercury poisoning. Three different databases (PubMed/Medline, Web of Science and Scopus) were searched, and 380 studies were found that were published from 2015 to 2022. After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, 29 studies were selected and data on characteristics (year, country, profile of participants) and results (mercury biomarkers and quantitation, SNPs, main findings) were extracted and analyzed. The largest number of studies was performed in Brazil, mainly involving traditional populations of the Tapajós River basin. Most studies evaluated the influence of the SNPs related to genes of the glutathione system (GST, GPx, etc.), the ATP-binding cassette transporters and the metallothionein proteins. The recent findings regarding other SNPs, such as those of apolipoprotein E and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes, are also highlighted. The importance of the exposure level is discussed considering the possible biphasic behavior of the genetic modulation phenomena that could explain some SNP associations. Overall, recommendations are provided for future studies based on the analysis obtained in this scoping review.

Agarose fibers with glycerol and graphene oxide and functional properties for potential application in biomaterials.

Agarose has numerous applications in biochemistry and medical textiles. This study aimed to produce agarose-graphene oxide-glycerol fibers and analyze their properties. The agarose gel was prepared by dissolving the polymer in 9:1 (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO): H2O, followed by spinning in an ethanol bath (1:1 (v/v) ethanol: H2O) at 20 °C. Fibers were obtained using 8 % (m/v) agarose, 2 % (m/v) glycerol, and 0.5 % and 1 % (m/v) graphene oxide (GO). The fibers had a titer of 18.32-32.49 tex and, a tenacity of 1.40-3.35 cN/tex. GO increased the thermal resistance by 79 %. The presence of glycerol and GO was confirmed and analyzed by FTIR and XPS. Fiber water absorption was decreased by 30 % with the GO addition. The weight loss increased by 55 % after glycerol addition, 51 % with GO addition, and 36 % with glycerol and GO simultaneous addition. Furthermore, GO exhibited 100 % inhibition for both S. aureus (gram-positive) and E. coli bacteria (gram-negative). Fiber F1, with only agarose, inhibited S. aureus by 34.93 %, F2 with 2 % glycerol by 48.72 %, F3 with 0.5 % GO by 63.42 %, and F4 with 2 % glycerol and 0.5 % GO by 30.65 %. However, the inhibition increased to 49.43 % with 1 % GO. The agarose fibers showed low inhibition for E. coli, ranging from 3.35 to 12.12 %.

Development of recycled and miniaturized electroanalytical sensor: Probing isoniazid determination in environmental water matrices.

Surface water pollution has become relevant because growing population and intense industrial activities. Thus, to protect the environment from contamination, recently the electroanalytical sensors that require small sample volume and easy preparation have shown a prominent performance for pharmaceuticals monitoring. For this purpose, a miniaturized electrochemical platform was developed based on recycling obsolete computer integrated circuits (microchips), fitting with the ideals of green chemistry and circular economy. The gold microelectrodes array (Au-µEA) was easily exposed by polishing the device surface and then characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. To enhance the analytical performance for isoniazid detection, the Au-µEA was modified with electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO). The developed sensor presented a linear range between 5 and 100 µmol L-1 and a limit of detection of 1.38 µmol L-1 demonstrating a reliable performance. Looking to its environmental application, the ERGO/Au-µEA sensor was used for isoniazid quantification in lagoon, river, tap water and synthetic effluent spiked samples with recovery values between 92.5 and 108.4%. Thus, this research field opens up new possibilities in global water-related issues contributing with innovative sustainable solutions.

Development, Validation, and Usability of the Chatbot ESTOMABOT to Promote Self-care of People With Intestinal Ostomy.

This study aimed to describe the process of construction, validation, and usability of the chatbot ESTOMABOT to assist in the self-care of patients with intestinal ostomies. Methodological research was conducted in three phases: construction, validation, and usability. The first stage corresponded to the elaboration of a script through a literature review, and the second stage corresponded to face and content validation through a panel of enterostomal therapy nurses. In the third phase, the usability of ESTOMABOT was assessed with the participation of surgical clinic nurses, patients with intestinal elimination ostomies, and information technology professionals, using the System Usability Scale. The ESTOMABOT content reached excellent criteria of adequacy, with percentages of agreement equal to or greater than 90%, which were considered adequate, relevant, and representative. The evaluation of the content validity of the script using the scale content validity index/average proportion method reached a result above 0.90, and the Fleiss κ was excellent ( P < .05). The overall usability score of the chatbot was 81.5, demonstrating excellent usability. The script, developed and incorporated into the ESTOMABOT prototype, achieved satisfactory content validity. The usability of the chatbot was considered to be good, thereby increasing the credibility of the instrument.

Anatomical Implications of Chiari I and Basilar Invagination (Type B) in the IV Ventricle and Cisterna Magna.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the anatomical changes of the IV ventricle and cisterna magna in the Chiari malformation I (CMI) and basilar invagination (type B). METHODS: This is a controlled study with 161 exams of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of adults grouped into control (n = 37), basilar invagination (BI; n = 31), Chiari malformation I (CMI; n = 37), and CMI+BI (n = 56). The MRIs were analyzed using the visualization software Osirix (Pixmeo, Bernex, Geneva, version 3.8.2). The morphometric variables were: distance from the obex to the McRae line; length of the IV ventricle floor; and the area and volume of the cisterna magna. The univariate ANOVA followed by Tukey's post-hoc test was applied to evaluate the difference between the groups. The difference between sexes was evaluated by the t test for each group. RESULTS: Alterations in the cisterna magna and IV ventricle were more evident only in the CMI and CMI+BI groups. For both sexes, the CMI and CMI+BI groups showed: a reduction in the CSF space (P < 0.001), cisterna magna with volume reduction (P < 0.001), low position of the obex (P < 0.001), and IV ventricle more elongated (male P = 0.007 and female P < 0.001). The BI group had no significant change in the analysis by sex. CONCLUSIONS: The CMI (isolated and associated with BI) showed a low obex position and elongation of the IV ventricle due to traction towards the spinal canal. The reduction of cisterna magna volume added to the occupation of the cerebellar tonsils can impact in the cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. The BI when isolated was not related to alterations in the parameters of cerebrospinal fluid spaces studied.

Evaluating the catalytic effect of Fe@Fe2O3-modified granulated cork as an innovative heterogeneous catalyst in electro-fenton degradation of benzoquinone in different aqueous matrices.

This study investigated the potential of a novel biomass-derived cork as a suitable catalyst after its modification with Fe@Fe2O3 for in-situ application in heterogeneous electro-Fenton (HEF) process for benzoquinone (BQ) elimination from water. No attempts on the application of modified granulated cork (GC) as a suspended heterogeneous catalyst in the HEF process for water treatment have been published yet. GC was modified by sonification approach in a FeCl3 + NaBH4 solution to reduce the ferric ions to metallic iron in order to obtain Fe@Fe2O3-modified GC (Fe@Fe2O3/GC). Results clearly demonstrated that this catalyst exhibited excellent electrocatalytic properties, such as a high conductivity as well as relatively high redox current and possessed several active sites for water depollution applications. Using Fe@Fe2O3/GC as catalyst in HEF, 100% of BQ removal was achieved in synthetic solutions by applying 33.3 mA cm-2 after 120 min. Different experimental conditions were tested to determine that best possible conditions can be as follow: 50 mmol L-1 Na2SO4 and 10 mg L-1 of Fe@Fe2O3/GC catalyst using Pt/carbon-PTFE air diffusion cell by applying 33.3 mA cm-2. Nevertheless, when Fe@Fe2O3/GC was used in the HEF approach to depollute real water matrices, no complete BQ concentration was removal achieved after 300 min of treatment, achieving between 80 and 95% of effectiveness.

Mercury in the Amazon: The danger of a single story.

Amazon conservation is essential for the global future. Mercury is currently among the worst global pollutants and most (78.5%) of the South-American emissions are from the Amazon. Current Brazilian legislation on mining activities and trade of gold, and economic interests in soy, beef and large-scale projects such as dams, are key influences in mercury mobilization and emissions in the Amazon with the potential to affect the global environment. However, banning mercury in mining, while desirable, is not an efficient strategy if no other action is taken. The interconnected issues, such as exports (soy, beef and gold) and energy generation, must be addressed together to provide effective protection for human health and the environment. Realistically, to improve mercury emissions in the Amazon, we must stop looking solely at "the single story" (a limited view of reality) of supposedly "artisanal and small-scale gold mining" in the region and understand the complex economic, social, political, and international aspects of this problem. We propose some recommendations for international agencies, governments, communities and the private sector.

A Virtual Assistant in Vaccine Pharmacovigilance: Content and Usability Validation.

This article describes the process of developing and validating a virtual assistant to perform vaccine pharmacovigilance. We performed a pilot study with a panel of 22 healthcare professionals who performed content validation of the virtual assistant prototype. Usability was tested with 126 users, using the System Usability Scale. The data analysis was performed by the agreement rate and content validity index, and the κ test was used to verify the agreement between the evaluators. The content domains of the virtual assistant achieved excellent suitability, relevance, and representativeness criteria, all greater than 86%; the content validity index ranged from 0.81 to 0.98, with an average of 0.90 and an interrater reliability index of 1.00. There was excellent interrater agreement (average κ value, 0.76). The total usability score among users was 80.1, ranging from 78.2 in group 1 (users without reactions to vaccines) to 82.1 in group 2 (users with reactions) ( P = .002). The virtual assistant for vaccine pharmacovigilance obtained a satisfactory level of content validity and usability, giving greater credibility to the claim that this device provides greater surveillance and safety for patients.

Chicken bed reuse.

Aviculture is a developed and important industry worldwide. However, it is an industry that produces solid waste such as bedding. As an attempt to reduce environmental impact and productive activity costs, beds are reused by several consecutive lots which can increase microorganism concentration and lead to unsanitary conditions. In this regard, it is essential to adopt a litter pre-treatment during the gap sanitary period between lots to avoid passing problems to the birds from the current flock to the subsequent flock and to guarantee the litter quality. Several factors must be considered to guarantee that there is minimal damage to chicken production. Therefore, this literature review aims to approach the main factors that affect the thermal comfort and chicken litter quality, as well as alternatives used as an alternative biological treatment to guarantee its reuse quality.

Anthocyanins-rich interventions on oxidative stress, inflammation and lipid profile in patients undergoing hemodialysis: meta-analysis and meta-regression.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of anthocyanins-interventions on oxidative stress, inflammation, and lipid profile in patients undergoing hemodialysis. This systematic review and meta-analysis were registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO CRD42020209742). The primary outcome was anthocyanins-rich intervention on OS parameters and secondary outcome was anthocyanins-rich intervention on inflammation and dyslipidemia. RevMan 5.4 software was used to analyze the effect size of anthocyanins-rich intervention on OS, inflammation and dyslipidemia. Meta-analysis effect size calculations incorporated random-effects model for both outcomes 1 and 2. Eight studies were included in the systematic review (trials enrolling 715 patients; 165 men and 195 women; age range between 30 and 79 years). Anthocyanin intervention in patients undergoing hemodialysis decrease the oxidant parameters (std. mean: -2.64, 95% CI: [-3.77, -1.50], P ≤ 0.0001, I2 = 97%). Specially by reduction of malondialdehyde products in favor of anthocyanins-rich intervention (std. mean: -14.58 µmol.L, 95% CI: [-26.20, -2.96], P ≤ 0.0001, I2 = 99%) and myeloperoxidase (std. mean: -1.28 ηg.mL, 95% CI: [-2.11, -0.45], P = 0.003, I2 = 77%) against placebo group. Decrease inflammatory parameters (std. mean: -0.57, 95% CI: [-0.98, -0.16], P = 0.007, I2 = 79%), increase HDL cholesterol levels (std. mean: 0.58 mg.dL, 95% CI: [0.23, 0.94], P = 0.001, I2 = 12%) against placebo group. Anthocyanins-rich intervention seems to reduce oxidative stress, inflammatory parameters and improve lipid profile by increasing HDL cholesterol levels in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis.

In Vitro Cytotoxic Effects and Mechanisms of Action of Eleutherine Isolated from Eleutherine plicata Bulb in Rat Glioma C6 Cells.

Gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumors in adults, and have a poor prognosis, despite the different types of treatment available. There is growing demand for new therapies to treat this life-threatening tumor. Quinone derivatives from plants have received increased interest as potential anti-glioma drugs, due to their diverse pharmacologic activities, such as inhibiting cell growth, inflammation, tumor invasion, and promoting tumor regression. Previous studies have demonstrated the anti-glioma activity of Eleutherine plicata, which is related to three main naphthoquinone compounds-eleutherine, isoeleutherine, and eleutherol-but their mechanism of action remains elusive. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of eleutherine on rat C6 glioma. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay; morphological changes were evaluated by phase-contrast microscopy. Apoptosis was determined by annexin V-FITC-propidium iodide staining, and antiproliferative effects were assessed by wound migration and colony formation assays. Protein kinase B (AKT/pAKT) expression was measured by western blot, and telomerase reverse transcriptase mRNA was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Eleutherine reduced C6 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, suppressed migration and invasion, induced apoptosis, and reduced AKT phosphorylation and telomerase expression. In summary, our results suggest that eleutherine has potential clinical use in treating glioma.

Quantifying political influence on COVID-19 fatality in Brazil.

The COVID-19 pandemic was severely aggravated in Brazil due to its politicization by the country's federal government. However, the impact of diffuse political forces on the fatality of an epidemic is notoriously difficult to quantify. Here we introduce a method to measure this effect in the Brazilian case, based on the inhomogeneous distribution throughout the national territory of political support for the federal government. This political support is quantified by the voting rates in the last general election in Brazil. This data is correlated with the fatality rates by COVID-19 in each Brazilian state as the number of deaths grows over time. We show that the correlation between fatality rate and political support grows as the government's misinformation campaign is developed. This led to the dominance of such political factor for the pandemic impact in Brazil in 2021. Once this dominance is established, this correlation allows for an estimation of the total number of deaths due to political influence as 350±70 thousand up to the end of 2021, corresponding to (57±11)% of the total number of deaths.

The repellency effect of icaridin nanostructural solution applied on cotton knitting fabric against Lutzomyia longipalpis.

The use of repellents is considered an alternative against biting insects, including Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae), the main vector of the protozoan Leishmania infantum, visceral leishmaniasis's (VL) etiologic agent in the Americas. This study aimed to evaluate the repellent efficacy of icaridin nanostructured solution applied on cotton knitting fabric against L. longipalpis. Arm-in-cage tests were performed in eight volunteers at different concentrations (5%, 10%, 25%, and 50%), using L. longipalpis (n = 30). The bioassay was performed in 1, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 h after impregnation and one test after washing the fabrics with icaridin. The total repellency rate (%R) > 95% was used as a reference to define a minimum effective concentration (MEC). The results revealed that the insects' landing mean decreased significantly in different icaridin concentrations, compared with the control tests (p < 0.05) and the 25% and 50% concentrations compared to lower concentration (5%) (p < 0.05). The higher concentrations (25% and 50%) provided longer complete protection times (CPTs) with 120 and 144 h of protection, respectively and the %R of 100% for 72 and 96 h after impregnation, respectively. The 25% was the MEC (%R Total = 98.18%). Our results indicate, for the first time, that icaridin nanostructured solution applied on cotton knitting fabric proved to be an efficient repellent against L. longipalpis with the presence of repellent action even after washing. The concentration of 25% showed better efficiency and may become an efficient method for L. longipalpis biting control.

The GABAergic System and Endocannabinoids in Epilepsy and Seizures: What Can We Expect from Plant Oils?

Seizures and epilepsy are some of the most common serious neurological disorders, with approximately 80% of patients living in developing/underdeveloped countries. However, about one in three patients do not respond to currently available pharmacological treatments, indicating the need for research into new anticonvulsant drugs (ACDs). The GABAergic system is the main inhibitory system of the brain and has a central role in seizures and the screening of new ACD candidates. It has been demonstrated that the action of agents on endocannabinoid receptors modulates the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters; however, studies on the anticonvulsant properties of endocannabinoids from plant oils are relatively scarce. The Amazon region is an important source of plant oils that can be used for the synthesis of new fatty acid amides, which are compounds analogous to endocannabinoids. The synthesis of such compounds represents an important approach for the development of new anticonvulsant therapies.

Content and Usability Validation of an Intelligent Virtual Conversation Assistant Used for Virtual Triage During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil.

This study aimed to describe the development process, content validation, and usability of a COVID-19 screening system incorporated into a chatbot-type intelligent virtual assistant (CoronaBot). This is a methodological research carried out in three phases. The first corresponded to the development of the flowchart and content of the virtual assistant, the second phase consisted of the implementation of the content in chatbot, and the third phase consisted of content validation. Data analysis was performed by agreement rate, content validity index, and kappa statistical test. Finally, in the third phase, the chatbot's usability was analyzed using the System Usability Scale, by 10 users. The CoronaBot content presented domains with agreement rate above 87.5%, and its items referring to symptomatological scores and interface screens had values of content validity index with a mean of 0.96, kappa test with values from 0.70 to 0.76, and interspecialist agreement of 1.00, demonstrating excellence of prototype content. The global usability score was 80.1. The script developed and incorporated into the chatbot prototype achieved a satisfactory level of content validity. The usability of the chatbot was considered good, adding to the credibility of the device.

Piper tectoniifolium Kunth: A New Natural Source of the Bioactive Neolignan (-)-Grandisin.

The Piper species are a recognized botanical source of a broad structural diversity of lignans and its derivatives. For the first time, Piper tectoniifolium Kunth is presented as a promising natural source of the bioactive (-)-grandisin. Phytochemical analyses of extracts from its leaves, branches and inflorescences showed the presence of the target compound in large amounts, with leaf extracts found to contain up to 52.78% in its composition. A new HPLC-DAD-UV method was developed and validated to be selective for the identification of (-)-grandisin being sensitive, linear, precise, exact, robust and with a recovery above 90%. The absolute configuration of the molecule was determined by X-ray diffraction. Despite the identification of several enantiomers in plant extracts, the major isolated substance was characterized to be the (-)-grandisin enantiomer. In vascular reactivity tests, it was shown that the grandisin purified from botanical extracts presented an endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effect with an IC50 of 9.8 ± 1.22 µM and around 80% relaxation at 30 µM. These results suggest that P. tectoniifolium has the potential to serve as a renewable source of grandisin on a large scale and the potential to serve as template for development of new drugs for vascular diseases with emphasis on disorders related to endothelial disfunction.

Postharvest quality of yellow passion fruit produced in soil with bovine biofertilizer and nitrogen.

The use of soil conditioners as bovine biofertilizer associated with mineral fertilization affect the physical and physicochemical quality of passion fruit. For fruit growth, post-harvest quality is crucial for production chain development, as it is the characteristic most used by the fresh consumption market for this fruit. In this sense, an experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of doses of bovine biofertilizer in the soil with and without nitrogen fertilization in the cultivation of yellow passion fruit. A randomized block design was adopted, with three replications in a 5×2 factorial scheme, referring to five doses of liquid bovine biofertilizer (B) diluted in water (A): 0% - control (0B + 4A); 25% (1B + 3A); 50% (2B + 2A); 75% (3B + 1A); and 100% (4B + 0A) with and without nitrogen fertilization applied to the soil. Urea was the nitrogen source used in this study. A total of 10 g plant-1 of N was applied monthly at 30 and 60 days after transplanting, and after that age, 20 g plant-1 was applied until the end of harvest. During the final phase of production and ripening, twelve fruits were harvested from each treatment in physiological maturation for physical and physicochemical characterization. The following analyses were performed: longitudinal diameter, transversal diameter, number of seeds per fruit, peel firmness, pulp yield, fruit peel percentage, pulp pH, soluble solids content; titratable acidity and soluble solids content/titratable acidity ratio. Data underwent analysis of variance by the F test means for nitrogen were compared by Tukey's test and means for bovine biofertilizer, by regression. Nitrogen enhances the positive effect of bovine biofertilizer on the postharvest quality of yellow passion fruit. The association of biofertilizer and nitrogen improves fruit quality in comparison to plants without these inputs, except for pulp yield and fruit peel percentage, which suffered isolated effects from the factors. High doses of biofertilizer, above 75 and 100%, reduce soluble solids content and increase titratable acidity. The bovine biofertilizer has promising effects, but it does not replace nitrogen fertilization on the postharvest quality of yellow passion fruit.

Measuring the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic at a city level: An agent-based computational modelling study of the City of Natal.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic hit almost all cities in Brazil in early 2020 and lasted for several months. Despite the effort of local state and municipal governments, an inhomogeneous nationwide response resulted in a death toll amongst the highest recorded globally. To evaluate the impact of the nonpharmaceutical governmental interventions applied by different cities-such as the closure of schools and businesses in general-in the evolution and epidemic spread of SARS-CoV-2, we constructed a full-sized agent-based epidemiological model adjusted to the singularities of particular cities. The model incorporates detailed demographic information, mobility networks segregated by economic segments, and restricting bills enacted during the pandemic period. As a case study, we analyzed the early response of the City of Natal-a midsized state capital-to the pandemic. Although our results indicate that the government response could be improved, the restrictive mobility acts saved many lives. The simulations show that a detailed analysis of alternative scenarios can inform policymakers about the most relevant measures for similar pandemic surges and help develop future response protocols.