Nanometric carriers have great potential for promoting agrochemical target delivery and dose reduction while transforming agriculture into a more sustainable environment. Many nanoplatforms, such as metal, polymeric, clay, and carbon-based, are developed differently. However, new possibilities of a mixture between nanomaterials are explored by scientists called hybrid nanoparticles. The information about these nanosystems was focused on development and characterization, target and non-target effects, and uptake of nanoparticles applied to reach root or foliar pathways in plants. In this scenario, a lack of application possibilities exists and can be explored more in the future. Hybrid nanoparticles can be developed as smart carrier to deliver nanoparticles and agrochemicals in a two-way approach for uptake by root and foliar routes simultaneously in plants. The advance of nanocarrier strategies depends on the design of nanoparticles considering nanomaterial and agrochemical characteristics and target plants. The main gaps and recent reports are discussed here. Furthermore, platforms have been suggested to enable two-way delivery for agricultural applications in more sustainable farming systems.

Nanopesticides are an innovative tool for crop protection, demonstrating the potential to replace conventional pesticides used in agriculture worldwide. Before their commercialization and use, careful evaluation of nanopesticides (environmental fate, toxicity, efficacy, modes of action, and agroecosystem interactions) is required. To ensure the environmental safety of nanopesticides, the standardization of protocols in the evaluation of nanoformulation regulatory aspects is needed. In this sense, we consider that radiometric techniques may be applied in the same way as conventional pesticide regulatory tests. This method can be used to track active ingredients in a biological and environmental system, together with other techniques for characterizing nanomaterials. In this review (1) we share our point of view about the use of radiolabeled pesticides to track nanoformulations in biological and environmental scenarios; and (2) we offer a critical discussion about the advantages and challenges of using radiometric techniques to track these active ingredients associated with nanoformulations.

Introdução. A síndrome do pé caído é conhecida como um distúrbio que dificulta ou gera uma incapacidade na movimentação da articulação do tornozelo e nos dedos dos pés. Uma vez instalada esta dificuldade na realização de dorsiflexão nos músculos do pé afetado, caracteriza-se por ser um sinal de dano neuromuscular com manifestação clínica permanente ou transitória. Objetivo. Descrever e revisar os aspectos etiológicos da síndrome do pé caído. Método. Revisão narrativa, baseada nas bases de dados PUBMED/MEDLINE, LILACS e Scielo. Resultados. Foi confeccionado um referencial teórico sobre as principais doenças que desencadeiam a síndrome do pé caído, de acordo com o neurônio motor lesionado, apontando a fisiopatologia da síndrome do pé caído envolvida em cada etiologia descrita. Conclusão. Ressalta-se a importância do entendimento clínico sobre as patologias que podem desencadear a síndrome do pé caído e as alterações funcionais decorrentes deste processo, visto que o embasamento sobre as taxas de prevalência e incidências também ressaltam a importância inclusive da assistência em pacientes que desenvolvem pé caído. As discussões sobre o tema necessitam de pesquisas mais robustas em busca de evidências que permitam embasar e ressaltar as alterações funcionais mediante a evolução desta patologia.

Over the past decades, the atmospheric CO2 concentration and global average temperature have been increasing, and this trend is projected to soon become more severe. This scenario of climate change intensifies abiotic stress factors (such as drought, flooding, salinity, and ultraviolet radiation) that threaten forest and associated ecosystems as well as crop production. These factors can negatively affect plant growth and development with a consequent reduction in plant biomass accumulation and yield, in addition to increasing plant susceptibility to biotic stresses. Recently, biostimulants have become a hotspot as an effective and sustainable alternative to alleviate the negative effects of stresses on plants. However, the majority of biostimulants have poor stability under environmental conditions, which leads to premature degradation, shortening their biological activity. To solve these bottlenecks, micro- and nano-based formulations containing biostimulant molecules and/or microorganisms are gaining attention, as they demonstrate several advantages over their conventional formulations. In this review, we focus on the encapsulation of plant growth regulators and plant associative microorganisms as a strategy to boost their application for plant protection against abiotic stresses. We also address the potential limitations and challenges faced for the implementation of this technology, as well as possibilities regarding future research.

Abstract

Abstract In recent years the application of high strength carbon steel with 125ksi specified minimum yield strength as a production casing in deepwater and high-pressure reservoirs has increased. Sulfide stress cracking (SSC) can develop when high strength carbon steel is exposed to a sour environment. The H2S partial pressure in these sour reservoirs is above the 0.03 bar limit for this material at room temperature. Materials SSC performance evaluation requires an accurate simulation of field conditions in the laboratory. To evaluate the production casing SSC behavior, some fit for service (FFS) tests were carried out considering the well geothermic temperature profile for the materials selection. This paper presents a fit for service qualification carried out on Casing 125 ksi SMYS (Specified Minimum Yield Strength) materials. Two products with 125ksi SMYS were considered: one that has existed for several years and one developed more recently with a better SSC resistance – above the pH2S limit considered for the standard 125ksi SMYS material. The results obtained in this test program allowed casing 125 ksi SMYS materials selection for temperature above 65°C and environment more severe in terms of pH2S than the domain previously established for this grade. This allowed a new well production design, which saves one casing phase and avoids the necessity to use intermediate liners to prevent collapse.

Purpose: The prevalence of head lice in poor rural communities and urban slums is estimated to be between 28% and 43% in Brazil, respectively. Children are among the most affected, often in clusters within schools. We launched a program intending to tackle the social stigma associated with head lice using scientific information and a local traditional remedy as a way to lower the prevalence of head lice in a low-resource community.Methods: A program involving the entire school community and the teachers addressed how to treat head lice and avoid new infestations. An affordable solution widely used in traditional Brazilian medicine was provided for the ones infested. Evaluation of the outcome was based on direct observation and was designed as a satisfaction survey. The study complied with the criteria for Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).Results: Two hundred and eighty participants, including parents and siblings of the school children, took part in the program. Among them, 24% (N=67) had head lice, with girls representing 85% of cases; 74.7% of participants infested with head lice were between 4 and 10 years old; 55.2% (N=37) of participants infested showed no signs of nits or adult lice after the program.Conclusions: This experience suggests that the use of playful activities associated with a well-known and accessible local product to treat head lice in low-income families gathered a high degree of community adherence and may be an important tool in overcoming health inequalities.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of temperature on the development of two lines of Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), to determine the thermal requirements of this parasitoid wasp on Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) eggs. The experiment was carried out with two lines (“Ubajara” and “Guaraciaba”, Ceará State) of T. pretiosum collected naturally parasitizing eggs of N. elegantalis in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits. In this experiment, 40 eggs of the host N. elegantalis and 4 females of the parasitoids were used, with exposure to parasitism for 24 hours at 25 ± 1 °C, relative humidity of 70 ± 10 %, and 12-h photophase. At the end of this period, females were removed and the tubes were transferred to incubators (RH = 70 ± 10 %; 12-h photophase), exposed to 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 °C, until emergence of the following generation of the parasitoids. The percentage of emergence, sex ratio, the number of parasitoids that emerged per egg, and cycle duration were assessed. The experiments were set up in a completely randomized experimental design with 5 treatments (temperatures) and 12 replicates. ANOVA was conducted and the means were compared by Tukey test (P < 0.05). The base temperatures were 10.77 °C and 10.86 °C and the number of generations per year were 33.29 and 35.63 for “Ubajara” and “Guaraciaba”, respectively. The study showed that temperature changed the biological parameters, and cycle duration of the “Ubajara” and “Guaraciaba” lines decreased as temperature increased.

ABSTRACTPurposeTo develop and validate a chest cavity simulator for teaching video-assited thoracic surgery (VATS).MethodsThe first phase of the study consisted of developing a chest cavity simulator. A quasi-experimental study was performed in the second phase, and 25 surgeons and residents participated in a three-stage pulmonary suture experiment. The videos were recorded and timed. Generalized linear regression models for repeated measures were used to analyze the outcome change over time.ResultsThe chest cavity simulator consists of a console simulating the left hemithorax. Among the participants, 96% rated the design, visual aspect, positioning ergonomics, and triangulation of the portals as very good or excellent (face validity). There was a decrease in suturing time in step 1 from 435.7 ± 105 to 355.6 ± 76.8 seconds compared to step 3 (p = 0.001). The evaluation of the simulation effectiveness and performance (content validity) was rated as very good or excellent by 96% ofparticipants. The most experienced surgeon showed significant reduction in procedure time (p = 0.021) (construct validity).ConclusionsThe thoracic cavity simulator is realistic, showing content and construct validity, and can be used in VATS training. The simulation model allowed skill gain in the endoscopic suture.