The Federal University of Rondônia (Portuguese: Universidade Federal de Rondônia, UNIR) is located in the state of Rondônia, in Brazil. It is the only public university in Rondônia..
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of preterm birth and neonatal infection. The COVID-19 pandemic substantially altered healthcare access, antibiotic use, and pathogen circulation. However, its influence on GBS remains poorly understood. This study evaluated temporal changes in GBS colonization, serotypes, and antimicrobial susceptibility among pregnant women in the Brazilian Amazon before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 1,449 pregnant women at 35–37 weeks of gestation attending public health units in Porto Velho, Brazil, between February 2018 and November 2023 were included. Rectovaginal samples were cultured for GBS detection. Capsular serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed using standardized methods. Colonization prevalence, serotype distribution, and resistance profiles were compared across pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. Overall GBS colonization was detected in 20.7
The γ-Method, devised to estimate the flexural stiffness of structural elements composed of two or more timber species, has been frequently applied in evaluating timber-concrete composite structures (TCC) and, more recently, of glued laminated bamboo (glubam) and concrete. However, as it was formulated for timber-timber composite elements, using the γ-Method may result in significant errors in estimating the flexural stiffness of glubam-concrete elements. This study proposes a modified γ-Method to predict the effective stiffness of glubam-concrete composite beams. To this, a parametric study was performed based on the finite element method (FEM), including 48 non-linear numerical models. A correction factor β was derived based on non-linear regression analyses with multiple variables to include the influence of physical and geometrical properties of the beams on the γ-Method. The proposed approach using the β-coefficient allowed us to predict the effective bending stiffness of glubam-concrete composite structures with a determination coefficient R2 of 98.71
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of phytase superdosing in the diet of Japanese quails subjected to different thermal conditions on productive performance, egg characteristics, intestinal morphometry, and physiological parameters. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a 5 × 3 factorial arrangement, consisting of five phytase levels (0, 500, 1000, 1500, and 3000 FTU/kg) and three temperatures (24, 30, and 36°C), with six replicates of eight birds each. The performance variables evaluated included feed intake, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion per egg mass, and feed conversion per dozen eggs. Egg quality was assessed by yolk color, shell thickness, specific gravity, Haugh units, and proportions of yolk, albumen, and shell. Spleen, liver, heart, and abdominal fat weights were also measured, along with duodenum and jejunum morphometry. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, Tukey’s test, and regression analysis. Birds kept at 36°C showed lower feed intake compared with those maintained at 24 and 30°C (P < 0.001), with no significant effect of phytase on performance. Supplementation with 1500 FTU increased eggshell thickness at 36°C (P < 0.001). A temperature × phytase interaction was observed for liver weight (p = 0.010), whereas heart weight was higher at 24°C compared with 36°C (P = 0.005). The effects of phytase on duodenal morphometry were temperature-dependent, with the greatest absorptive area observed with 3000 FTU at 30°C (P < 0.001). The temperature of 24°C resulted in the best morphological parameters and the lowest hepatic glycogen index. It is concluded that although quails tolerate temperatures of 36°C, the best productive responses occur at 30°C. Therefore, the use of 1000 to 1500 FTU is recommended, as these levels provided benefits to intestinal morphometry and egg quality.
We compared fish assemblage structure and total mercury (THg) bioaccumulation between a natural floodplain lake and a constructed irrigation canal in central Brazil. A total of 473 individuals representing 34 species were recorded, and dorsal muscle samples from 62 specimens representing shared species or species occupying comparable trophic positions were analyzed for THg (Curimatella immaculata, Hemiodus microlepis, Astyanax aff. bimaculatus, Triportheus albus, Geophagus sveni, Pimelodus blochii, Pygocentrus nattereri, Lycengraulis batesii, and Cichla kelberi). The floodplain lake exhibited higher species richness, diversity, and evenness, whereas the irrigation canal supported a simplified assemblage dominated by fewer species. Total Hg concentrations were significantly higher in the lake than in the irrigation canal; however, this pattern was observed only for the carnivorous guild (t = 5.384, p < 0.0001) and the detritivorous guild (t = 4.183, p = 0.0001). THg increased significantly with trophic level in both systems, from detritivores to carnivores (F2,4 = 15.127, p = 0.009), yielding comparable trophic magnification slopes (lake: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.11-1.81; canal: 1.36, 95% CI: 0.94-1.77). Despite lower diversity and THg concentrations in the irrigation canal, Hg transfer efficiency across trophic levels was conserved between systems.
The use of hardwood species in glued laminated timber (glulam) production enables the utilization of native resources, with Parica (Schizolobium amazonicum) showing promising properties comparable to commonly used species in Brazil. The structural performance of glulam beams is strongly influenced by the quality of the interface, which is often assessed through macroscale tests. However, microscopic evaluation of the glue line is essential to fully understand bonding characteristics affecting performance. Despite the availability of several microscopy techniques, including polarized light microscopy (LM), fluorescence microscopy (FM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CSLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray microtomography (microCT), comparative studies on their effectiveness for glulam characterization are rare. This study compares five microscopy techniques for evaluating adhesive penetration in Parica glulam, analyzing three different adhesives. Results indicate that the microscopy methods are complementary, with each offering distinct advantages and limitations. Notably, microCT and CSLM provided the most comprehensive details about the glue line. The research presents a comparative overview and suggests a protocol for microscopy-based characterization of glued interfaces. To enhance assessment of bonding quality, it is recommended that, beyond conventional macroscale tests, at least two complementary microscopy analyses be carried out for a more complete structural evaluation of glulam beams.
