Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias最新文献

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC. is a dioecious shrub native to South America and the main botanical source of green propolis, an important commercial and medicinal product produced by Apis mellifera L. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of hydroethanolic extracts and essential oils from male and female plants collected from different populations. This is the first comparative analysis of genders from different populations, focusing on artepillin C, the main compound of industrial interest. Leaf extracts were analyzed by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS, while hydrodistilled essential oils were assessed using GC-FID and GC-MS. Antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH and ABTS assays. A total of 31 compounds were detected in the extracts, with 17 identified. Major constituents included 3,5-di-Ocaffeoylquinic acid , 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and artepillin C. Essential oils were rich in oxygenated sesquiterpenes, monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, with (E)- nerolidol, β-pinene, and limonene as the main volatiles. Male plants exhibited higher levels of non-volatile compounds, greater essential oil content, and stronger antioxidant activity in both extracts and oils. The highest artepillin C concentration was found in male leaves from both studied populations. These findings highlight the influence of gender and environment on the phytochemical profile, reinforcing its potential for highquality natural products.

Actinostemon (Euphorbiaceae, Hippomaneae) is a Neotropical genus, with a total of 16 species. Brazil stands out as its center of diversity with nine species, most from seasonal dry forests of the Atlantic Forest. Through the analysis of herbarium specimens, protologue and field collections, we present here a new species, Actinostemon sessilantherus, from southern Bahia. Actinostemon sessilantherus resembles A. concolor in its alternate, non pseudoverticillate leaves, coriaceous blades and cataphylls, and one pistillate flower per inflorescence, glabrous, without appendages on the carpels. However, the new species presents divergent characters, such sessile stamens (vs stamens with filaments), pistillate flower with subglobose (vs ellipsoid) ovary and short-pedicellated fruit, less than 1 cm (long vs long-pedicellated fruit, 2-3 cm long). We provide a diagnosis, morphological description, distribution map, illustrations, and notes on phenology, preliminary conservation status, taxonomic comments and identification key for Atlantic Forest species.

Marine pollution by plastics is a major environmental issue that is expected to increase worldwide. Thousands of chemical substances can be used as plastic additives in industrial processes for various purposes, turning plastics into chemical carriers of such substances. If plastics are discarded in the marine environment, these chemicals can be released into the environment and cause toxicity to marine species. In this review, we analyze the toxicity of chemical groups that are commonly used as plastic additives (bisphenol-A, alkylphenols, tetrabromobisphenol, phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in marine organisms. Little information has been obtained because only a small number of studies have been conducted on marine species. However, the existing information indicates high toxicity of most chemical groups, with the Lowest Observed Effect Concentrations (LOECs) on the order of micrograms per liter (e.g. bisphenol-A, para-nonylphenol, nonylphenol, octylphenol, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, BDE-47). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were toxic at milligrams per liter. These results provide evidence that chemicals added to plastics may represent a threat to marine organisms, and further research on the toxicity of these substances is urgently needed.

Understanding hydrological dynamics in semi-arid regions is challenging due to high climate variability and limited data availability. Studies have been conducted using hydrological modelling as a tool to overcome such limitations. This challenge intensifies when considering future scenarios, particularly the effects of climate change on hydrometeorological variables. In this context, this study aimed to: (i) assess the accuracy of a hydrological model in simulating discharge in a mesoscale watershed located in the Brazilian semi-arid region for different time steps and (ii) evaluate the impact of changes in the reference evapotranspiration (ET0) pattern of the watershed on local water availability. The results showed that the hydrological model can represents the watershed's streamflow very well over an annual time step with Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) = 0.83, Coefficient of Determination (R²) = 0.9 and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) = 0.16 m3.s-1. It was also found that changes in ET0 have a non-linear effect on the watershed's streamflow, and a 15% increase in the ET0 trend resulted in a 23% reduction in local water availability.

The Neotropical peripheral mountain systems in Colombia, including the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Montes de María, and Serranía de Piojó, have remained underexplored due mainly to historical armed conflicts. This study focuses on tardigrade diversity, particularly the Macrobiotidae family, in these regions. By reviewing specimens (in collections and newly sampled) from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and new samples from Montes de María and Serranía de Piojó, this research expands the known geographic distribution of certain species and provides new data and amendments to species descriptions. Four potentially new species are reported: Calcarobiotus (Calcarobiotus) aff. gildae, Macrobiotus aff. ragonesei, Paramacrobiotus aff. centesimus, and Paramacrobiotus aff. gerlachae. Additionally, three new records for Colombia (Macrobiotus ocotensis, Mesobiotus coronatus, and Minibiotus continuus) are documented, increasing the known species for the country from 26 to 29. In addition, some specimens of the type series were reanalyzed, and new characters were found, leading to the addition of taxonomic comments on some Macrobiotidae species and an amendment of the description of Pam. centesimus. This research underscores the need for further studies (e.g. including molecular techniques), but it already contributes to the broader understanding of the unique and high biodiversity rich tropical ecosystems.

Analogous meat should possess physical and sensory characteristics similar to or better than beef. Patties made from analog meat present challenges in texture properties and consumer acceptability. When making analog meat from Javanese grasshopper and kidney bean tempeh, a binder may be necessary to improve the texture. This study aimed to determine the effect of different levels of glucomannan on the physicochemical and sensory properties of Javanese grasshopper patties with kidney bean tempeh and its correlation. A completely randomized design (CRD) was used, with glucomannan levels as a factor. Physicochemical properties such as color, pH, WHC, OHC, texture, microstructure, and proximate were analyzed, along with sensory characteristics. The addition of glucomannan significantly affected the physicochemical properties and sensory characteristics of Javanese grasshopper patties (p<0.05), except color (L*and b*), carbohydrate content, and sensory attributes of compactness, and aftertaste. Javanese grasshopper patties with kidney bean tempeh and 4% giant foot yam glucomannan (F2) offer the best balance between product quality and sensory acceptability. The giant foot yam glucomannan can be used as a binder and food additive to produce meat analogs in the food industry.

Synthetic dyes are widely used in the textile industry and constitute one of the main environmental pollutants worldwide. In the present study, 60 bacterial isolates were analyzed for decolorization capabilities against reactive azo dye. In this screening, one has emerged as the most promising strain to degrade the selected dye, which was identified as Brevibacillus laterosporus. The effect of different physical-chemical and temporal parameters (dye concentration, temperature, pH, shaking, and kinetics) on its decolorizing potential was assessed. B. laterosporus showed decolorization efficiency higher than 90% for high concentrations of dye mixture. The best decolorizing potential was found in the range of 30-40°C and 8-9.5 pH. Agitation had negative effects on decolorization performance, with decrease in bacterial dye degradation. Decolorization higher than 90% was found in the first 12 hours of culture. UV-Vis analyses suggested the cleavage of azo bonds, since the peaks observed in untreated dye mixture reached close to zero after 12 hours of treatment. The toxicity test showed that the treatment with the bacterium was efficient in removing the toxicity of the dye mixture. These findings suggest that B. laterosporus L77 is a promising strain to be used in bioremediation of textile effluents containing azo dyes.

This application allows the processing and interpretation of single-channel seismic files (Sub-Bottom, Boomer and Sparker) in SEG-Y format. Its interface allows the application of different types of filters and corrections to the raw data, as well as images of the seismic section in order to improve geological visualization of the interpreter. The configurations of these filters can be manipulated, and the results after each filtering can be compared with the original data to determine the best parameters of the applied filter. The best results are stored so that additional filters can be applied over previous filterings in order to reinforce geophysical/geological features of interest. At the end, the images resulting from these various filterings can be alternately selected during horizon mapping in order to complement the interpretation of the seismic section. Finally, the mapped seismic reflectors, the images generated by the various filters and the position of the seismic sections can be exported in CSV, PNG and DXF files, respectively, for use in other software. This program, written in Python language, is available in the public domain through a GPL license.

Mead, a traditional alcoholic beverage produced through the fermentation of diluted honey by yeasts, remains underexplored in terms of its quality and characteristics. To establish quality standards for this artisanal beverage, it is essential to evaluate the physicochemical properties and sensory attributes of different mead types. This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties and volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles of meads produced in diverse regions of Brazil. Mead samples with varying production times and characteristics, such as smooth, aged with French oak chips, special reserve, were analyzed. The parameters examined included ash content, pH, total acidity, dry extract, total soluble solids, and VOCs. The VOC profile was determined using the HS-SPME-GC-MS technique. The physicochemical parameters were determined as follows: pH (2.80-3.60), total acidity (47.33-115.33 meq L⁻¹), ash content (0.59-1.47 %), dry extract (35.12-104.60 g L⁻¹), and total soluble solids (6.00-13.73 °Brix). A total of 28 VOCs were identified, classified into volatile acids (5), alcohols (3), esters (15), and terpenes (5). The variation in physicochemical properties and VOC profiles was primarily influenced by the raw materials used and the aging period of the meads. This study provides valuable insights into mead quality, offering a comprehensive characterization of its physicochemical and aromatic attributes, and contributes to the establishment of quality standards for mead production.

Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a rare and severe genetic disorder caused by the deficiency of C1 Esterase Inhibitor (C1-INH), leading to unexpected and potentially fatal episodes of edema. This study assessed the quality of life (QoL) of adults with HAE in a Brazilian cohort, which comprised 29 adult patients with a confirmed HAE diagnosis, recruited from a public referral hospital. Participants completed the international HAE-specific quality of life questionnaire (IHAE-QoL v.1.1) at three time intervals: baseline, 6 months, and 1 year. This instrument assesses multiple QoL domains, including physical, emotional, social, and treatment-related aspects. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.29.0. and descriptive statistics. Group comparisons were conducted using chi-square, Student's t-test, and Mann-Whitney U tests. The results showed statistically significant differences in the impact of HAE on QoL between sexes. While 42.9% of males reported work/study limitations, 90.9% of females expressed concern over treatment availability. Additionally, 57.1% of men reported a moderate impact on social life. The findings highlight the substantial impact of HAE on patients' quality of life and highlight sex-specific challenges, reinforcing the need for targeted interventions to enhance disease management and QoL.