A dataset on Nelore Cattle supplementation in the midwest region of brazil for integrated analysis of supplementation, satellite remote sensing, and weather variables.

Monitoring the herd during supplementation is essential to understanding animals' ingestive activities, making decisions when choosing the supplement parameters, and correctly managing the livestock and agriculture processes. Programmable Automatic Feeders (PAFs) are important tools that support stakeholders in the treatment process, decreasing the time and cost compared to traditional supplementation methods. This paper presents a dataset that consists of data acquired from a supplementation experiment using a PAF with a Nelore herd in a paddock of 16 ha with brachiaria Decumbens forage. The experiment was performed in the Midwest region of Brazil (20°26'37.7″S 54°50'58.5″W) and according to the Köppen climate classification system, the region has a tropical wet and dry climate (Aw). This climate type is typically associated with high temperatures throughout the year. The herd had free access to water and the forage. The PAF supplemented the herd three times a day and collected data such as the frequency and time spent in the feeder of each animal. The experiment data started in December 2022 up to October 2023. The animals were weighed every 13-28 days, and the animals' Average Daily Gain (ADG) was registered. In addition, spectral and weather parameters were acquired via geoprocessing and meteorological (Application Programming Interfaces - APIs). This dataset can support stakeholders in understanding the bovines' collective behaviour at the supplementation process and designing and developing machine-learning models to estimate the quantity of supplementation ingested by the herd.

Quantum Simulations and Experimental Insights into Glyphosate Adsorption Using Graphene-Based Nanomaterials.

The increasing global demand for food and agrarian development brings to light a dual issue concerning the use of substances that are crucial for increasing productivity yet can be harmful to human health and the environment when misused. Herein, we combine insights from high-level quantum simulations and experimental findings to elucidate the fundamental physicochemical mechanisms behind developing graphene-based nanomaterials for the adsorption of emerging contaminants, with a specific focus on pesticide glyphosate (GLY). We conducted a comprehensive theoretical and experimental investigation of graphene-based supports as promising candidates for detecting, sensing, capturing, and removing GLY applications. By combining ab initio molecular dynamics and density functional theory calculations, we explored several chemical environments encountered by GLY during its interaction with graphene-based substrates, including pristine and punctual defect regions. Our results unveiled distinct interaction behaviors: physisorption in pristine and doped graphene regions, chemisorption leading to molecular dissociation in vacancy-type defect regions, and complex transformations involving the capture of N and O atoms from impurity-adsorbed graphene, resulting in the formation of new GLY-derived compounds. The theoretical findings were substantiated by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, which proposed a mechanism explaining GLY adsorption in graphene-based nanomaterials. The comprehensive evaluation of adsorption energies and associated properties provides valuable insights into the intricate nature of these interactions, shedding light on potential applications and guiding future experimental investigations of graphene-based nanofilters for water decontamination.

The contribution of Paulo Freire's thought to Popular Health Surveillance. / A contribuição do pensamento de Paulo Freire para a Vigilância Popular em Saúde.

Paulo Freire considered Popular Education (PE) as an emancipatory process, through debate and critical action, as a dimension of human existence. This text aims to conduct a narrative literature review on the articulations of Paulo Freire's ideas with Popular Health Surveillance (PHS) actions based on his contributions to Education and Health. The text presents how the contributions of Paulo Freire and Popular Health Education inspired the construction of Popular Health Surveillance, which seeks to promote the transformation of local reality in the face of rights violations and advocate for life. Thus, experiences from vulnerable territories and populations often use Popular Education pedagogical strategies to establish PHS practices. Popular Health Education becomes crucial in the territory to stimulate the transformation of individual perception and discuss their reality. Promoting a praxis about the "critical situation" in the daily lives of social stakeholders allows diagnosing reality based on scientific information in dialogue with culture and popular organization as a possibility of building the "viable unprecedented".

Paulo Freire pensava a Educação Popular (EP) como um processo emancipatório, por meio da problematização e agir crítico como dimensões da existência humana. A partir de suas contribuições aos campos da Educação e da Saúde, este texto tem como objetivo realizar uma revisão narrativa de literatura sobre as articulações das ideias de Paulo Freire com as ações de Vigilância Popular em Saúde (VPS). O texto apresenta como a contribuição de Paulo Freire e da Educação Popular em Saúde inspirou a construção de uma Vigilância Popular em Saúde, que busca promover a transformação da realidade local frente às situações de violações de direitos e na defesa da vida. Dessa maneira, experiências dos territórios e das populações em situação de vulnerabilidade, na maioria das vezes, lançam mão de estratégias pedagógicas da Educação Popular para se constituírem como práticas de VPS. É no território que a Educação Popular em Saúde se torna fundamental para o estímulo à transformação da percepção dos indivíduos, problematizando sua realidade. A promoção de uma práxis acerca da "situação limite" no cotidiano dos atores sociais permite um diagnóstico da realidade, baseado na informação científica em diálogo com a cultura e a organização popular, como possibilidade de construção de "inéditos viáveis".

Low and High-Normal FMR1 Triplet Cytosine, Guanine Guanine Repeats Affect Ovarian Reserve and Fertility in Women Who Underwent In Vitro Fertilization Treatment? Results from a Cross-Sectional Study.

Dynamic mutations in the 5' untranslated region of FMR1 are associated with infertility. Premutation alleles interfere with prenatal development and increase infertility risks. The number of CGG repeats that causes the highest decrease in ovarian reserves remains unclear. We evaluated the effect of FMR1 CGG repeat lengths on ovarian reserves and in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment outcomes in 272 women with alleles within the normal range. FMR1 CGG repeat length was investigated via PCR and capillary electrophoresis. Alleles were classified as low-normal, normal, and high-normal. Serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle were measured, and antral follicles (AFC) were counted. IVF outcomes were collected from medical records. Regarding FMR1 CGG repeat length alleles, 63.2% of women presented at least one low-normal allele. Those carrying low-normal alleles had significantly lower AMH levels than women carrying normal or high-normal alleles. Low-normal/low-normal genotype was the most frequent, followed by low-normal/normal and normal/normal. A comparison of ovarian reserve markers and reproductive outcomes of the three most frequent genotypes revealed that AFC in the low-normal/normal genotype was significantly lower than the low-normal/low-normal genotype. The low number of FMR1 CGG repeats affected AMH levels and AFC but not IVF outcomes per cycle of treatment.

A contribuição do pensamento de Paulo Freire para a Vigilância Popular em Saúde / The contribution of Paulo Freire's thought to Popular Health Surveillance

Resumo Paulo Freire pensava a Educação Popular (EP) como um processo emancipatório, por meio da problematização e agir crítico como dimensões da existência humana. A partir de suas contribuições aos campos da Educação e da Saúde, este texto tem como objetivo realizar uma revisão narrativa de literatura sobre as articulações das ideias de Paulo Freire com as ações de Vigilância Popular em Saúde (VPS). O texto apresenta como a contribuição de Paulo Freire e da Educação Popular em Saúde inspirou a construção de uma Vigilância Popular em Saúde, que busca promover a transformação da realidade local frente às situações de violações de direitos e na defesa da vida. Dessa maneira, experiências dos territórios e das populações em situação de vulnerabilidade, na maioria das vezes, lançam mão de estratégias pedagógicas da Educação Popular para se constituírem como práticas de VPS. É no território que a Educação Popular em Saúde se torna fundamental para o estímulo à transformação da percepção dos indivíduos, problematizando sua realidade. A promoção de uma práxis acerca da "situação limite" no cotidiano dos atores sociais permite um diagnóstico da realidade, baseado na informação científica em diálogo com a cultura e a organização popular, como possibilidade de construção de "inéditos viáveis".

Abstract Paulo Freire considered Popular Education (PE) as an emancipatory process, through debate and critical action, as a dimension of human existence. This text aims to conduct a narrative literature review on the articulations of Paulo Freire's ideas with Popular Health Surveillance (PHS) actions based on his contributions to Education and Health. The text presents how the contributions of Paulo Freire and Popular Health Education inspired the construction of Popular Health Surveillance, which seeks to promote the transformation of local reality in the face of rights violations and advocate for life. Thus, experiences from vulnerable territories and populations often use Popular Education pedagogical strategies to establish PHS practices. Popular Health Education becomes crucial in the territory to stimulate the transformation of individual perception and discuss their reality. Promoting a praxis about the "critical situation" in the daily lives of social stakeholders allows diagnosing reality based on scientific information in dialogue with culture and popular organization as a possibility of building the "viable unprecedented".

Signature of excitonic insulators in phosphorene nanoribbons.

Phosphorene is a recently developed two-dimensional (2D) material that has attracted tremendous attention because of its unique anisotropic optical properties and quasi-one-dimensional (1D) excitons. We use first-principles calculations combined with the maximally localized Wannier function tight binding Hamiltonian and Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) formalism to investigate quasiparticle effects of 2D and quasi-1D blue and black phosphorene nanoribbons. Our electronic structure calculations shows that both blue and black monolayered phases are semiconductors. On the other hand black phosphorene zigzag nanoribbons are metallic. Similar behavior is found for very thin blue phosphorene zig-zag and armchair nanoribbon. As a general behavior, the exciton binding energy decreases as the ribbon width increases, which highlights the importance of quantum confinement effects. The solution of the BSE shows that the blue phosphorene monolayer has an exciton binding energy four times higher than that of the black phosphorene counterpart. Furthermore, both monolayers show a different linear optical response with respect to light polarization, as black phosphorene is highly anisotropic. We find a similar, but less pronounced, optical anisotropy for blue phosphorene monolayer, caused exclusively by the quasi-particle effects. Finally, we show that some of the investigated nanoribbons show a spin-triplet excitonic insulator behavior, thus revealing exciting features of these nanoribbons and therefore provides important advances in the understanding of quasi-one dimensional phosphorus-based materials.

Unveiling excitons in two-dimensional ß -pnictogens.

In this paper, we investigate the optical, electronic, vibrational, and excitonic properties of four two-dimensional ß -pnictogen materials-nitrogenene, phosphorene, arsenene, and antimonene-via density functional theory calculations and the Bethe-Salpeter equation. These materials possess indirect gaps with significant exciton binding energies, demonstrating isotropic behavior under circular light polarization and anisotropic behavior under linear polarization by absorbing light within the visible solar spectrum (except for nitrogenene). Furthermore, we observed that Raman frequencies red-shift in heavier pnictogen atoms aligning with experimental observations; simultaneously, quasi-particle effects notably influence the linear optical response intensively. These monolayers' excitonic effects lead to optical band gaps optimized for solar energy harvesting, positioning them as promising candidates for advanced optoelectronic device applications.

Cytogenetics investigation in 151 Brazilian infertile male patients and genomic analysis in selected cases: experience of 14 years in a public genetic service.

OBJECTIVES: Male infertility accounts for approximately 30% of cases of reproductive failure. The characterization of genetic variants using cytogenomic techniques is essential for the adequate clinical management of these patients. We aimed to conduct a cytogenetic investigation of numerical and structural rearrangements and a genomic study of Y chromosome microdeletions/microduplications in infertile men derived from a single centre with over 14 years of experience. RESULTS: We evaluated 151 infertile men in a transversal study using peripheral blood karyotypes and 15 patients with normal karyotypes through genomic investigation by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) or polymerase chain reaction of sequence-tagged sites (PCR-STS) techniques. Out of the 151 patients evaluated by karyotype, 13 presented chromosomal abnormalities: two had numerical alterations, and 11 had structural chromosomal rearrangements. PCR-STS detected a BPY2 gene region and RBMY2DP pseudogene region microdeletion in one patient. MLPA analysis allowed the identification of one patient with CDY2B_1 and CDY2B_2 probe duplications (CDY2B and NLGN4Y genes) and one patient with BPY2_1, BPY2_2, and BPY2_4 probe duplications (PRY and RBMY1J genes).

Contrasting the stability, octahedral distortions, and optoelectronic properties of 3D MABX3 and 2D (BA)2(MA)B2X7 (B = Ge, Sn, Pb; X = Cl, Br, I) perovskites.

Efficient surface passivation and toxic lead (Pb) are known obstacles to the photovoltaic application of perovskite-based solar cells. A possible solution for these problems is to use thin-films of two-dimensional (2D) perovskite-based materials and the replacement of Pb with alternative divalent cations (B); however, our atomistic understanding of the differences between (3D) three-dimensional and 2D perovskite-based materials is far from satisfactory. Herein, we report a systematic theoretical investigation based on ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations for both 3D MABX3 and the Ruddlesden-Popper 2D (BA)2(MA)B2X7 (B = Ge, Sn, Pb, and X = Cl, Br, I) compounds to investigate the differences (contrasts) in selected physical-chemical properties, i.e., structural parameters, energetic stability, electronic, and optical properties. We found an increased cation/anion charge separation because of the presence of organic spacers, which results in stronger Coulomb interactions in the inorganic framework, and hence, it enhances the cohesive energy (stability) within the inorganic layer. The inorganic layer constitutes the optically active region that contributes to the superior performance of perovskite-based solar cells. We quantified this effect by comparing the average electronic charges at the X sites in both 2D and 3D perovskites. This comparison is then correlated with variations in BX6-octahedron volumes, resulting in a monotonic relation. Moreover, the electronic structure characterization demonstrates that Ge-based systems present weakly sensitive band gaps to dimensionality due to a compensatory effect between Jahn-Teller distortions and quantum confinement. Lead-free GeI-, SnBr-, and SnI-based perovskites have DFT band gaps closer to the optimal value used in photovoltaic applications. Finally, as expected, the 2D systems absorption coefficients show pronounced anisotropy.

Mathematical models for predicting protodioscin in tropical forage grasses.

Protodioscin is a saponin present in grasses that can lead to losses in animal production. Our hypothesis was that mathematical models can accurately and precisely predict the protodioscin concentration in tropical grasses. We evaluated the ability of four mathematical models to describe the protodioscin concentration in Brachiaria and Panicum cultivars with different regrowth periods. Six cultivars of Panicum: Aruana, Massai, Mombaça, Tanzânia, Tamani, and Zuri; and five of Brachiaria-grass: Marandu, Paiaguás, Piatã, Xaraés and Basilisk. Protodioscin concentration evaluations were carried out at 51, 84, 110, and 111 days of age. Linear, Quadratic, Exponential, and Logarithmic models were evaluated, and the adequacy of the models was verified. The models were compared for accuracy and precision by pairwise mean squared error analysis and the delta Akaike information criterion. The models did not differ from each other in terms of accuracy and precision. The exponential model showed a high ability to explain the observed variability between protodioscin concentration and plant age for Brachiaria grasses. Panicum grasses have constant protodioscin concentration. Mathematical models are capable of predicting the protodioscin concentration in grasses of the genus Brachiaria based on plant age. We recommend Exponential model to predict the concentration of protodioscin in Brachiaria grasses.

Nutrient intake, productive and metabolic parameters of Nellore bulls feed a forage free diet using cottonseed cake as a fiber source.

We hypothesized that cottonseed cake in confined Nellore young bulls' diet as fiber source, could maintain or improve the nutrient intake, and productive and metabolic parameters. It was evaluated the total replacement of whole plant corn silage (WPCS) by cottonseed cake (CSC) as a source of fiber in the diet. A completely randomized design with two treatments and 12 replications was used. The treatments were two experimental diets containing 300 g/kg of WPCS or CSC as roughage. All animals at 0, 15, 30, 60 and 112 days were weighed to monitor productive performance and nutrient intake. Dry matter intakes, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, physically effective neutral detergent fiber, crude protein and non-fiber carbohydrates of the WPCS treatment cattle were higher (p < 0.05), and the ethereal extract intake of cattle fed CSC diet was higher. The BW of cattle fed WPCS was higher in the two initial periods of confinement (p < 0.05). Animals from both treatments showed linear growth during the confinement period. There was a fiber source × period interaction for total weight gain (TWG), average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (FE) (p < 0.05), with the lowest in the first 15 days and the highest at 30 days, reflecting a compensatory gain in animals fed with CSC. Bulls fed with CSC showed negative TWG and ADG in the first period (p < 0.05), but recovered in the following periods, surpassing that of the SC treatment in the last two periods. There was negative EF of bulls fed with CSC in the first period (P < 0.05), but in the following periods the CSC diet did not differ from the WPCS diet. The animals fed CSC diet showed a higher concentration of cholesterol and glucose in the blood plasma (p < 0.05). The forage-free diet containing cottonseed cake as a source of fiber replacing corn silage promoted better animal performance.

Ventilator hyperinflation associated with flow bias optimization in the bronchial hygiene of mechanically ventilated patients.

BACKGROUND: Ventilation configurations are of great clinical importance for adequate outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients, and they may even be used as specific physical therapy techniques. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness of lung hyperinflation through mechanical ventilation (HMV) with HMV plus flow bias optimization regarding respiratory mechanics, hemodynamics, and volume of secretion. METHODS: Patients mechanically ventilated > 24 h were included in this randomized crossover clinical trial. The following techniques were applied: HMV alone (control group) and HMV plus flow bias optimization (intervention group). RESULTS: The 20 included patients underwent both techniques, totaling 40 collections. A total of 52 % were women, the mean age was 60.8 (SD, 15.7) years, and the mean mechanical ventilation time was 4.3 (SD, 3.0) days. The main cause of mechanical ventilation was sepsis (44 %). Expiratory flow bias in optimized HMV was higher. than conventional HMV (p < 0.001). The volume of tracheal secretions collected was higher during optimized than conventional HMV. (p = 0.012). Significant differences in peak flow occurred at the beginning of the technique and a there was a significant decrease in respiratory system resistance immediately and 30 min after applying the technique in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: The volume of tracheal secretions collected was higher during optimized HMV, and, HMV with flow bias optimization resulted in lower respiratory system resistance and flow peaks and produced expiratory flow bias.

Promising TMDC-like optical and excitonic properties of the TiBr2 2H monolayer.

The presented simulation protocol provides a solid foundation for exploring two-dimensional materials. Taking the TiBr2 2H monolayer as an example, this material displays promising TMDC-like optical and excitonic properties, making it an excellent candidate for optoelectronic and valleytronic applications. The direct band gap semiconductor (1.19 eV) is both structurally and thermodynamically stable, with spin-orbit coupling effects revealing a broken mirror symmetry in the K and K' valleys of the band structure, as confirmed by opposite values of the Berry curvature. A direct and bright exciton ground state was found, with an exciton binding energy of 0.56 eV. The study also revealed an optical helicity selection rule, suggesting selectivity in the valley excitation by specific circular light polarizations.

Prediction models of carcass characteristics from non­castrated Nellore cattle finished in the feedlot system under tropical conditions.

Our objective was to use measures of intake and productive performance to adjust prediction models for the carcass traits of non-castrated Nellore cattle finished in a feedlot. Individual data from 168 non-castrated male Nellore steers finished in feedlot between the years 2016-2021 were used. Descriptive statistical analyzes and Pearson correlation coefficients were performed. The outliers were tested by evaluating the studentized residuals in relation to the values predicted by the equations. Residues that were outside the range of -2.5 to 2.5 were removed. The goodness of fit of the developed equations was evaluated by the coefficients of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE). Models for carcass yield, subcutaneous fat thickness, ribeye area, and shear force were adjusted. Means of 53.5% carcass yield, 4.8 mm subcutaneous fat thickness, 73 cm2 loin eye area, and 8.1 kg shear force were observed. The observed average intakes were 9.9 kg/day of dry matter, 3.3 kg/day of neutral detergent fiber content, 1.5 kg/day of crude protein, and 7.1 kg/day of total digestible nutrients. The average confinement time was 113 days, the average total weight gain was 152.2 kg and the average daily gain was 1.35 kg/day. Intake measures significantly correlated with shear force and subcutaneous fat thickness and ribeye area. Carcass yield was significantly correlated with total weight gain, feedlot time, and hot carcass weight. Measures of nutrient intake, performance, and confinement time can be used as predictors of carcass yield, ribeye area, fat thickness, and shear force of non-castrated Nellore cattle finished in a feedlot. The prediction equations for ribeye area, carcass yield, subcutaneous fat thickness, and shear force showed sufficient precision and accuracy for non-castrated Nellore cattle finished in confinement systems under tropical conditions. All equations can be used with caution to estimate carcass traits of cattle finished in a feedlot using measures of intake and productive performance.

Changes in the skin characteristics of Nellore steers during the rearing phase in hot climate pasture supplemented with protein sources.

We hypothesized that the protein source in supplements and the insolation and ambient temperature changes in different seasons could cause changes in the skin of Nellore steers during the rearing phase on warm-climate pasture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing true protein (soybean meal) with NPN (extruded urea) in the supplement on the skin characteristics of steers grazing on Marandu grass pastures. Thirty-six Nellore steers with an average initial weight of 250.0 kg and 15 months of age were used. Skin biopsies were performed at three different times: summer, autumn, and winter. The protein source has effects on the length of the glandular portion, number of follicles, and gland area in steers during the rearing phase at different seasons of the year. In the summer, the skin presented a higher compact structure, while in the autumn and winter, the skin presented a sparser arrangement. Skin from steers that received soybean meal in supplement had a more significant number of follicles in the summer and a smaller area and length of sweat glands. The dermis thickness of steers supplemented with soybean meal was greater than that of urea supplemented. The epidermis thickness and dermis of the steers' skin were greater at the autumn (April). Sweat gland depth was greater in autumn (April) and winter (July) than in summer (December). The protein source in the supplement alters the skin characteristics by increasing of dermis thickness of Nellore steers during the growth phase. The insolation and ambient temperature changes in different seasons alter the skin structure by increasing the epidermis and dermis thickness, sweat glands depth, and glands area of the skin of steers during the growth phase.

In Vitro Digestibility and Models of Cumulative Gas Production of Forage-Free Diet.

Our objectives were to evaluate the use of cottonseed cake in replacing corn silage in a diet without forage and to identify the model with higher precision and accuracy of adjustment of parameters of ruminal degradation kinetics. A diet containing corn silage and another with cottonseed cake as a fiber source were formulated. Gompertz, Dual-pool Logistic, Brody, and Ørskov models were evaluated for goodness of fit to gas production. There were significant differences in dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in the in vitro digestibility for diets and fiber sources. The estimated values of the Gompertz (6.77), Brody (6.72), and Ørskov (6.73) models were similar to the observed mean of gas production in the corn silage diet (6.73 mL/100 mg DM). Similarly, the estimated values of the Brody (5.87) and Ørskov (5.89) models were similar to the observed mean of gas production in the cottonseed cake diet (5.87 mL/100 mg DM). The roughage-free diet containing cottonseed cake as a fiber source stimulated higher gas production. Brody and Ørskov models presented higher precision and accuracy in the fitting of kinetics of degradation independent of the fiber source in the diet.

Unveiling oxygen vacancy impact on lizardite thermo and mechanical properties.

Here, we performed a systematic DFT study assisted by the workflow framework SimStack for the mechanical and thermodynamic properties of the clay mineral lizardite in pristine and six different types of O vacancies configurations. In most cases, the defect caused a structural phase transition in the lizardite from the trigonal (pristine) to the triclinic phase. The results show that oxygen vacancies in lizardite significantly reduce the lattice thermal conductivity, accompanied by an elastic moduli reduction and an anisotropy index increase. Through the P-V relation, an increase in compressibility was evidenced for vacancy configurations. Except for the vacancy with the same crystalline structure as pristine lizardite, the sound velocities of the other vacancy configurations produce a decrease in these velocities, and it is essential to highlight high values for the Grüneisen parameter. We emphasize the great relevance of the punctual-defects introduction, such as O vacancies, in lizardite, since this microstructural design is responsible for the decrease of the lattice thermal conductivity in comparison with the pristine system by decreasing the heat transfer ability, turning lizardite into a promising candidate for thermoelectric materials.

Urban sewage sludge stabilization by alkalization-composting-vermicomposting process: Crop-livestock residue use.

Waste management practices are vital for human health and the environment in a world where natural resources stress is expected to increase with the growth of population. Our study aimed to evaluate the potential use of crop-livestock residue as a bulking agent associated with the ideal level of hydrated lime for the stabilization and sanitization of urban sewage sludge through the alkalization-composting process. Therefore, we determined the alkalization efficiency on the heavy metal concentration in urban sewage sludge, quantified the viable eggs of helminths in pure and alkalized sludge, and measured the rate of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) surviving in the vermicomposting process using different levels of alkalized urban sewage sludge associated with crop-livestock residue. Four sequential trials were carried out in a completely randomized design with three replicates. The lime alkalization reduced the levels of Ba, As, Pb, Cu, Cr, Mo, Ni, and Zn compared to the pure urban sewage sludge. Using 30% w/w of lime in the urban sewage sludge (SS-30) for composting process reduced the viable helminth eggs by 71, 72, and 69% for sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum; SB), fresh chopped Napier-grass (Pennisetum purpureum; NG), and bovine ruminal content (BR), respectively. The ideal level of hydrated lime for stabilization and sanitization of urban sewage sludge was found to be 30%, which was able to reduce the heavy metals. The residues have the potential as a bulking agent for the composting of urban sewage sludge when associated with alkalization. The lime alkalization decreases the total number of helminth eggs and the number of viable eggs. The possibility of starting a vermicomposting using the mixtures is promising, evidenced by the earthworm survival in composting urban sewage sludge mixed with crop-livestock residues after 45 days of composting. The earthworm survival is maintained by an association of at least 80% of the crop-livestock residues.

Tolerability of endometriosis medical treatment: a comparison between combined hormonal contraceptives and progestins.

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs in women of reproductive age. Much of the treatment involves hormone therapy that suppresses the proliferation of endometriosis lesions.Objective To compare discontinuation rates of pharmacological treatment with estrogen-progestins and progestins medications. The secondary objective is to evaluate the main side effects of these drugs in patients with endometriosis.Methods This retrospective study analyzed data from 330 patients who attended the Hospital of the State Public Servant of São Paulo from August 1999 to September 2020 and received pharmacological treatment for endometriosis. The data were obtained by review of the files of medical appointments with specialized staff.Results The median treatment time was 18 months, ranging from 1 to 168 months, and 177 patients interrupted the proposed treatment. The combined contraceptives with estrogens and progestins were significantly linked to treatment interruption, with a relative risk of 1,99 (p = 0,005). The most important side effects that resulted in treatment interruption were pain persistence (p = 0,043), weight gain (p = 0,017) and spotting (p < 0,001).

Mathematical models to predict the lamb weight at birth and at weaning reared in the tropical warm-climate pasture.

Our objective was to evaluate the productive parameters of ewes and their lambs in relation to ewe age and to develop models for predicting lamb weight at birth and weaning in a tropical warm-climate pasture. Individual data were collected from 273 ewes and 273 lambs, between 2013 and 2021. During this period all animals were kept on pastures of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu All lambs in the experiments were supplemented in creep-feeding. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed using the PROC SUMMARY procedure in SAS (SAS University Edition, SAS Institute Inc. Cary, CA, USA). Pearson correlation coefficients between variables were estimated using the PROC CORR procedure in SAS (SAS University Edition, SAS Institute Inc. Cary, CA, USA). Model adjustments and variable selection were performed using PROC REG in SAS (SAS University Edition, SAS Institute Inc. Cary, CA, USA). The STEPWISE option and Mallow's C(p) were used to select the variables included in the equations. Outliers were identified by evaluating the studentized residuals based on the predicted values from the equations. Residual analysis was predicted by regression minus observed values and those that fell outside the range of -2.5 to 2.5 were removed. Several statistics were used to assess the predictability of the equations, including the coefficients of determination (r2) and mean standard error (RMSE). The average ewe age at lambing was 3.4 ± 1.7 years, with an average weight of 56.9 ± 8,9 kg and average body condition score (BCS) of 2,4 ± 0.8 points. The average ewe age at weaning was 51.1 ± 7.9, with average BCS of 1.8 ± 0.8 points. The average lamb at birthing was 3.9 ± 0.9 kg. The average lamb at weaning was 21.0 ± 4.9, with daily gain of 0.2 ± 0.1 kg/day and total gain of 17.1 ± 4.7 kg birth to weaning. The lamb produced by ewe at lambing was 5.3 ± 1.7 kg/ewe. The lamb weaned by ewe at weaning was 28.7 ± 10.8 kg/ewe. The ratios of lamb produced per ewe at birth and at weaning were 0.1 ± 0.03 and 0.6 ± 0.2, respectively. The lamb's birth weight showed a positive linear relationship with the age of the ewe, increasing by 115 g per year of age. The regression equations adjusted for ewe age had maximum points ranging from 4.2 to 5.2, occurring at average age of 4,7 years. The other characteristics showed a quadratic tendency. The results suggest the culling of ewes at five years of age to generate lambs with ideal weight at birth and at weaning raised in warm tropical pastures.