The State University of Minas Gerais. (Portuguese: Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, UEMG) is a Brazilian public university. It is the third largest university in the state of Minas Gerais, second only to the Federal University of Minas Gerais and the Federal University of Uberlândia. It was founded in 1989 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Besides Belo Horizonte, its campuses are distributed across several cities in the Minas Gerais states..
Environmental disturbances may cause physiological, behavioral and demographic changes in wildlife populations, which may translate into changes in community structure and ecosystem functioning. Little is known about fire effects on physiological parameters, and their consequences for population dynamics and persistence. Due to ongoing climate change and anthropogenic pressures, fire has become more intense and frequent in several Brazilian biomes, including the Cerrado. This suggests an urgent need to assess fire’s impact on organism physiology, especially nutritional indicators. We used a longitudinal database (9 years) to test the effects of fire on the body condition of the long-tailed climbing mouse Rhipidomys macrurus at the Panga Ecological Station (Uberlândia/Brazil). The effects of sex and climatic season were also tested. Overall, we failed to corroborate our hypothesis, as body condition was not significantly affected by repeated fires. Several mechanisms may account for this result: (1) reduced intraspecific competition after repeated fire events, due to abrupt density changes, (2) fire acting as a selective agent, increasing mortality of individuals with lower body condition and nutritional reserves, and (3) behavioral strategies that may compensate for energy loss and reduce negative fire impacts on body condition. Furthermore, we cannot discard the possibility of a false negative, due to reduced statistical power resulting from low sample size after fire events. Finally, other fitness metrics may be more affected by fire than body condition. Our results support the theory that body condition may be an unreliable indicator of habitat quality, disturbance, and individual or population health.
Bovine mastitis is one of the major challenges in dairy production, causing significant economic losses and emphasizing the need for alternatives to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) essential oil (BEO) presents recognized biological properties that can be enhanced through nanoengineered delivery systems. This study aimed to chemically characterize the BEO of B. graveolens, develop a nanoemulsion containing the essential oil (BEO-NE), and evaluate its toxicological, antinociceptive, and antimicrobial activities against bovine mastitis–associated pathogens. The chemical composition of the BEO was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), identifying D-limonene (38.70
Brazil is structuring a biochar value chain at the intersection of climate policy and industrial innovation. Although the deployment of this value chain remains at an early stage, recent regulatory advances, particularly the Brazilian Emissions Trading System (SBCE) and emerging technical standards, create new opportunities for biochar to be recognized as a carbon removal strategy. This Comment argues that Brazil’s current momentum represents a critical inflection point, but its success depends on resolving three key challenges: (i) scientific uncertainties and limitations in monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV); (ii) regulatory gaps in standardization and certification; and (iii) the economic mechanisms required to transform biochar into a credible climate asset. By examining recent technological developments, pilot-scale evidence, and institutional arrangements, we highlight both the potential and the constraints that will determine whether biochar can scale as a robust carbon removal solution and a multifunctional technological platform in tropical systems.
Antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcaceae poses a serious threat to human and animal health, driving the search for alternative strategies such as bacteriophage therapy. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of pTJK, one of the first bacteriophages reported to infect Mammaliicoccus lentus, recovered together with its host strain TJK24 from sewage-contaminated stream water. pTJK is a novel lytic phage with a broad host range, capable of infecting multiple Mammaliicoccus and Staphylococcus species. It significantly reduced biofilm formation and disrupted preformed biofilms, including in non-host strains, and displayed synergistic activity with gentamicin and erythromycin. The phage remained viable under moderate temperature and pH variations, UV exposure, and chloroform treatment. Genome analysis revealed a 135.8 kb double-stranded DNA genome with 231 ORFs, including multiple endolysins and depolymerases potentially involved in antibiofilm activity, and no detected resistance or host virulence genes. Comparative genomics placed pTJK within the genus Sciuriunavirus, representing a novel yet-to-be-defined species. These findings highlight the rarity, genomic distinctiveness, and biotechnological potential of pTJK, reinforcing the relevance of Staphylococcaceae phages as promising tools to combat antimicrobial resistance.
This study presents an Italian adaptation of the Teachers' Reporting Attitude Scale for Child Sexual Abuse (TRAS-CSA), aiming to assess teachers' attitudes towards reporting suspected cases of child sexual abuse (CSA) and to explore the scale's psychometric properties in the Italian context. Given the critical role schools play in identifying and addressing CSA, understanding teachers' attitudes is vital for improving reporting rates and protecting victims. A sample of 1318 Italian teachers (12.8% male; age: 25-65; M = 46.71; SD = 10.25) from various educational levels participated in the study. Exploratory factor analysis identified two primary factors: Awareness of Role and Commitment to Reporting (Factor 1) and Concern and Distrust Towards Reporting (Factor 2). Results indicated that male teachers demonstrated significantly higher scores on the concern factor, while teachers from secondary schools exhibited higher commitment to reporting compared to those from preschool and primary levels. The adapted TRAS-CSA demonstrates solid psychometric properties, providing a valuable tool for future research and intervention strategies in Italy to enhance awareness and action against child sexual abuse within educational settings. Implications for educational policies and teacher training frameworks are discussed to bolster the preventive efforts against CSA.
