Universidade Federal Research Articles

NITROGEN IMPROVES BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND CHLOROPHYLL SYNTHESIS IN BASIL PLANTS GROWN UNDER SALT STRESS

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), a medicinal and aromatic plant extensively cultivated in the Northeast region of Brazil, encounters growth challenges attributed to the salinity of irrigation water and soil. Nitrogen (N) is a crucial macronutrient employed to mitigate salt stress in plants. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the production of phytomass and chlorophyll synthesis in purple basil plants grown under salinity stress and nitrogen fertilization. The experiment was conducted in 2021 under protected environmental conditions at the Center for Agricultural Sciences, Universidade Federal Paraíba, Areia-PB, Brazil. Five levels of salt stress (0.0, 0.80, 2.75, 4.70, and 5.50 dS m-1) and five doses of N (0.00, 58.58, 200.00, 341.42, and 400.00 mg L-1) applied via foliar were studied. The results revealed that foliar fertilization with N increases plant tolerance to salt stress, promoting root fresh and dry mass accumulation at 294.96 and 205.36 mg L-1 and under ECw of 1.14 and 0.5 dS m-1, respectively. Applying 217.39 and 231.30 mg L-1 of N improves the production of stem dry biomass and the shoot/root ratio of basil plants subjected to salinity of 0.5 dS m-1. The electrical conductivity of irrigation water above 0.8 dS m-1 adversely affects biomass production. The salinity at 3.8 to 4.0 dS m-1 stimulated chlorophyll synthesis in purple basil plants. However, the foliar application of N proves to be a strategic approach to counteract these effects, resulting in increased total dry mass production and chlorophyll contents.

Physicochemical characterization of seeds and aril of Renealmia aromatica (Aubl.) Griseb

The Amazon has great biodiversity, being inhabited by indigenous peoples since time immemorial, as well as being home to traditional farmers, settlers, riverine dwellers, people responsible, in large part, for the conservation of biodiversity through the cultivation and storage of grains, tubers, roots and seeds. Among the numerous species cultivated and managed by the Amazonian peoples, we approach, in this work, the species Renealmia aromatica (Aubl.) Griseb., belonging to the Zingiberaceae family. The objective of this article is to present physicochemical aspects of the fruits of Renealmia aromatica (Aubl.) Griseb. aiming to emphasize its alimentary potential and nutritional value.This work consisted of harvesting the fruits of mother plants located in the experimental garden of the Universidade Federal do Acre – UFAC. The analyzes were carried out at the Unidade de Tecnologia de Alimentos – Utal of UFAC – Campus Rio Branco. The variables analyzed were protein, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), titratable acidity, moisture and ash (fixed mineral residue) according to the methods for physicochemical analysis of foods from the Instituto Adolfo Lutz. In the aril and in the seed, protein contents of 7.97% and 6.67% were found, respectively. As for lipids, the highest concentration was observed in the seeds, with a content of 6.76%. The aril showed a satisfactory level of vitamin C (182,81 mg/100g). With a high concentration of lipid, the seeds had a total caloric value of 335,56 kcal/100g. Thus, the seeds and arils of R. aromatica have alimentary and nutritional potential, being the seeds used for the production of edible oil or condiment, and the aril, rich in vitamin C, used in alimentation. This, although already used in food, is still restricted to indigenous peoples and traditional communities.

Study protocol: improving response to malaria in the Amazon through identification of inter-community networks and human mobility in border regions of Ecuador, Peru and Brazil

IntroductionUnderstanding human mobility’s role in malaria transmission is critical to successful control and elimination. However, common approaches to measuring mobility are ill-equipped for remote regions such as the Amazon. This...

Economic analysis of banana peel and sweet potato vines in diets for rabbits.

This study aimed to evaluate the costs of using banana peel (BP) and sweet potato vine (SPV) in rabbit diets. BP and SPV were chosen to replace maize and alfalfa hay, because, in addition to the ingredients having similar nutritional characteristics, they are among the most expensive ingredients in rabbit diets. Data were obtained through a biological assay carried out in the Cuniculture Laboratory of the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Fifty New Zealand white rabbits, weaned at 35days of age, were fed during the growth phase (35 to 84days) with increasing levels of BP and SPV, replacing maize and alfalfa hay (T0, T25, T50, T75 and T100% replacement). A diet containing 100% replacement (T100) had the lowest cost per kilogram, which was R$ 1.18/kg, while the controlled diet was 57% more expensive, costing R$ 2.08/kg. The total operating cost to produce a rabbit with control treatment was R$10.93/head and at T100, it was R$6.51/head. The animal income for a live rabbit was R$ 24.08 and R$ 23.95 in treatments T0 and T100, respectively. Regarding the gain margin per animal (GMA), in TO it was R$ 13.16 while in T100 it was R$ 17.44, therefore the GMA was 32.55% higher when using the T100 diet. In conclusion, it is more economical and feasible to feed rabbits with diets containing 100% BP and SPV, replacing maize and alfalfa hay.

Aspectos bioecológicos de Cynea (Cynea) diluta (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae)

In Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera), many species build shelters during their ontogeny which may be serve as a scape strategy to reduce attacks from natural enemies and dislodgment from the host plant. This paper provides bioecological information regarding host plant, natural parasitism, and distribution of Cynea (Cynea) diluta (Herrich-Schäffer) (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae) collected near remnants of the Atlantic Forest “Centro de Endemismo Pernambuco” (CEPE), Northeast Region of Brazil. Larvae and pupae, the later showing signs of parasitism, were collected from a garden at the Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, State of Alagoas, Brazil. They were brought to the laboratory to record emergences and possible parasitoids. Data from distribution were obtained from labels of hesperiid deposited from the Coleção Entomológica Padre Jesus Santiago Moure,Curitiba, State of Paraná. The host plant was identified as Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum. (Zingiberaceae). From the 13 larvae and two pupae collected in the environment, 20 specimens of Brachymeria sp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) emerged from the pupae. This is the first report of parasitism on pupae of Cynea (C.) diluta.

Azospirilla and Nitrogen Fertilization to Promote Maize Seed Development and Yield

Aims: This study evaluated the interaction of Azospirillum brasilense (Ab) strains and nitrogen fertilizer doses on maize.
 Study Design: Laboratory experiment evaluated Ab strains (PCR and PTF) on maize seed germination and vigor (completely randomized design). Field experiment evaluated Ab strains and nitrogen fertilization on maize yield parameters (randomized block design).
 Place and Duration of Study: The germination and vigor experiment (10 days in April 2019) was implemented in a controlled environment at the Seed Analysis Laboratory of the Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Brazil. The field experiment (137 days in winter 2019) was implemented at the Fisioplant Research Station (Uberlândia, Brazil) under commercial maize crop management.
 Methodology: In controlled conditions (laboratory), 200 seeds of maize (K9105VIP3, Riber KWS Seeds) were incubated (25 °C) with the Ab strain solutions for germination and vigor evaluations. In the field, 60,000 plants ha-1 (0.5 m space between sowing lines) of maize were cropped under combinations of nitrogen fertilizer and volumes of Ab strains (treatments) for leaf nitrogen, SPAD index, leaf count, fresh and dry maize shoot biomass, one-thousand grains weight, grain rows per maize ear, productivity (kg ha-1).
 Results: Treatment with 100 mL ha-1 of Ab PFT strain increased maize seed germination and vigor more than Ab PCR strain and control (no-inoculation or fertilizer). The number of grain rows of the 100% N + 150 mL ha-1 of Ab PFT strain and the maize shoot dry mass of the 100% N (no-inoculation) were higher than the control. The treatments did not affect the SPAD index, weight of one thousand grains, fresh maize shoot biomass, or productivity.
 Conclusion: Using Ab with nitrogen fertilizer is a promising strategy to improve maize crop responses; however, more studies are needed to detail the ideal management of Ab strains for maize crops and yield construction.

Overview of Fourth Generation Reactors Studied at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Brazil)

This paper presents the results of the studies about the Fourth Generation Reactors developed at DENU-UFMG, such as the Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR), Molten Salt Breeder Reactor (MSBR), Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) and Gas-cooled Fast Reactor (GFR). These studies evaluate neutronic parameters of the nuclear system at steady state and during the burnup using computer models developed at DENU-UFMG using SCALE 6.0 (KENO-VI/ORIGENS), MCNPX 2.6.0 and MCNP5. The results show that the adopted methodologies confirm the capabilities of the codes to simulate specific situations in steady state or transient operating conditions.

Metabolic alterations in cowpea submitted to water stress

Cowpea is a leguminous plant belonging to the fabaceae family cultivated in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, with productive potential. Among the abiotic factors, water deficiency is one of the main environmental limitations that influence agricultural production in the world. The objective was to evaluate changes in carbon and nitrogen metabolism in cowpea plants exposed to water deficit. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia (UFRA, Belém, PA), cowpea plants BR-17 Gurguéia Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp were used. The experimental design was completely randomized (DIC) in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme, two water conditions (control and water deficit) and two times of stress (four and six days of water suspension), with 7 replications, totaling 28 experimental units. Changes in the metabolism of cowpea plants were evident, with alterations in the activity of the nitrate reductase enzyme, concentrations of total soluble proteins, soluble amino acids, free ammonium and nitrate in the leaf tissue and roots.

OSMOPRIMING AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE QUALITY OF Urochloa decumbens SEEDS UNDER WATER DEFICIT

The use of high-quality Urochloa decumbens seeds is an essential factor for the establishment of pastures, and osmopriming under stress conditions may improve seed performance. This study was conducted at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa in a completely randomized design and aimed to evaluate the effects of osmopriming and its relationship with physical and physiological attributes of U. decumbens seeds subjected to water deficit. Seeds from ten lots were primed in H2O (0 MPa) and PEG (−0.8 MPa), KNO3 (0.2%), and SNP (0.10 mmol L−1) solutions for 24 hours. Unprimed seeds were used as control. The seeds were evaluated in two trials after osmopriming. Trial I consisted of the X-ray test to evaluate physical attributes and germination and vigor tests. In Trial II, the seeds were placed to germinate under favorable (0 MPa) and water deficit conditions (−0.2 MPa) to evaluate physiological attributes. In general, osmopriming of U. decumbens seeds assisted in increasing physical attributes such as area, gray scale, perimeter, and tissue density. Osmopriming does not contribute to the best physiological performance of U. decumbens seeds under ideal germination conditions (0 MPa). However, osmopriming with SNP (0.10 mmol L−1) and PEG (−0.8 MPa) for 24 hours contributes to the better physiological performance of seeds under water deficit.

A retrospective cohort study of pulp prognosis in luxated permanent teeth: a competing risk analysis.

The present retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate luxated permanent teeth for pulp prognosis and risk factors. Case records and radiographs of 224 patients, involving 427 luxated permanent teeth, referred for treatment at the Dental Trauma Center-School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, (DTC-SD-UFMG) from 2014 to 2022, were assessed for pulp prognosis classified as vitality, necrosis and pulp canal obliteration (PCO). A competing risk survival analysis estimated the hazards of the three outcomes, and the effect of demographic, clinical and treatment variables was tested using a cause specific Cox regression model. Pulp vitality was found in163 teeth (38.2%), pulp necrosis in 120 teeth (28.1%) and 55 teeth (12.9%) developed PCO. Pulp vitality decreased in the presence of concomitant crown fractures (HR 0.38 95% CI [0.2-0.8] p = 0.006). The risk of pulp necrosis (HR 0.62 95% CI [0.4-0.96] p = 0.03) was lower in cases with open apices but increased with concomitant crown fractures (HR 4.0 95% CI [2.6-6.1] p = 0.001) and intrusions (HR 2.3 95% CI [1.2-4.1] p = 0.007). Lateral or extrusive luxations (HR 3.0 95% CI [1.3-6.9] p = 0.001) and open apices (HR 2.4 95% CI [1.2-4.7] p = 0.01) showed higher rates of PCO. Type of luxation, the diameter of the apical foramen, and the presence of concomitant crown fractures were main determinants of pulp prognosis after luxation injuries in permanent teeth. Pulp prognosis after tooth luxation is dependent on the presence and direction of tooth displacement together with infection control. Not applicable.

UFPEL’S INTERNATIONALIZATION AT HOME

This paper builds on the concept of Internationalization at Home (IaH) to describe five initiatives implemented at the Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel) from 2021 to 2022. Aligned with UFPel’s Strategic Plan for Internationalization (2018) and the institutional Language Policy (2020), these initiatives were conceived and implemented by the International Office’s Language Policy Team seeking to create an academic environment that promotes international and intercultural understanding. The work offers an analysis of the challenges and outcomes of these initiatives, drawing on both qualitative and quantitative data. The results highlight the impact of these initiatives in terms of improved language skills, enhanced academic literacy, and the integration of languages into curricula.Keywords: Linguistic Policy, Initiatives, Academic Practices

LoRa Technology Propagation Models for IoT Network Planning in the Amazon Regions.

Designing and deploying telecommunications and broadcasting networks in the challenging terrain of the Amazon region pose significant obstacles due to its unique morphological characteristics. Within low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs), this research study introduces a comprehensive approach to modeling large-scale propagation loss channels specific to the LoRaWAN protocol operating at 915 MHz. The objective of this study is to facilitate the planning of Internet of Things (IoT) networks in riverside communities while accounting for the mobility of end nodes. We conducted extensive measurement campaigns along the banks of Universidade Federal do Pará, capturing received signal strength indication (RSSI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and geolocated point data across various spreading factors. We fitted the empirical close-in (CI) and floating intercept (FI) propagation models for uplink path loss prediction and compared them with the Okumura-Hata model. We also present a new model for path loss with dense vegetation. Furthermore, we calculated received packet rate statistics between communication links to assess channel quality for the LoRa physical layer (PHY). Remarkably, both CI and FI models exhibited similar behaviors, with the newly proposed model demonstrating enhanced accuracy in estimating radio loss within densely vegetated scenarios, boasting lower root mean square error (RMSE) values than the Okumura-Hata model, particularly for spreading factor 9 (SF9). The radius coverage threshold, accounting for node mobility, was 945 m. This comprehensive analysis contributes valuable insights for the effective deployment and optimization of LoRa-based IoT networks in the intricate environmental conditions of the Amazon region.

Production and quality of ornamental peppers cultivated under colored shade nets

The cultivation of ornamental peppers in places with high temperature and incidence of solar radiation limits the production and quality of plants and fruits. The colored shade nets were introduced and adopted, because they reduce the temperature and intensity of solar radiation, as well as, low cost and simple to handle. The aimed was to evaluate the production and quality of C. chinense and C. frutescens cultivated under colored shade nets. The experiment was developed in the Floriculture Sector of the Agronomy Department of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil from February to August 2021 in entirely randomized design.  C. chinense and C. frutescens were cultivated under red, pearl and aluminet nets with 35% shading and without net. At 150 days, production variables were quantified. The red net reduced the maximum temperature by at 4.1ºC and the pearl and aluminet nets reduced the minimum temperature by 3ºC. The maximum and minimum relative humidity was increased by 2.6 and 8.5%, respectively, by the red net. The pearl net obtained the lowest percentage of solar radiation incidence. Plant height was greater in the red and pearl nets, and C. frutescens. The diameter and stem fresh matter did not differ statistically between treatments. Root length was greater in the red and aluminet nets. The longitudinal and transverse canopy ratio was higher in C. chinense cultivated under the aluminet net. The number of leaves and leaves fresh matter was higher in pearl and aluminet net, and in C. frutescens, but leaves dry matter was higher in C. chinense. The number of flower buds and flowers, and flower buds dry matter was higher in C. chinense. The root fresh matter and dry matter was greater in C. chinese. The use of colored shade nets during the cultivation period effectively reduced temperature and light intensity. The aluminet net in association with C. chinense are recommended considering the compactness of height, pot coverage, greater number, shape and arrangement of fruits.

Monitoring and evaluation of a compact system for gray water treatment and agricultural use

Water reuse is necessary for industrial, commercial and domestic activities, being a reality in several countries, but not yet widespread in Brazil, an efficient instrument for managing water resources and minimizing water scarcity in the semi-arid region. The aim is to monitor a compact gray water treatment and agricultural use station, consisting of a septic tank, anaerobic filter and artificial ultraviolet reactor, which was installed in an experimental area of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Mossoró/RN. From October to December 2017, the system's treatment performance was evaluated through physical-chemical analyses: Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, pH, electrical conductivity and turbidity, microbiological: Total coliforms and Escherichia coli of gray water with and without treatment, in order to meet the standards established for water reuse for agricultural and forestry purposes. The results indicated that the system showed efficiency in removing the studied variables and, consequently, meeting the maximum permissible standards, with the exception of turbidity and Escherichia coli.

The training of pedagogues at the Universidade Federal de Rondônia and their preparation to work from the perspective of rural and in-clusive education

In this article, we present an analysis of the Pedagogical Political Projects of the Pedagogy Degree Courses (PPCs) offered on the campuses of the Federal University of Rondônia (UNIR), focusing on the teacher training of the pedagogue from the perspective of Rural Education. The research is based on the assumption that, according to the 1988 Federal Constitution, everyone has the right to education, which implies the need for adequate teacher training to meet this demand, considering their socio-historical, economic, geographic and cultural singularities. Therefore, the general objective of this article is to analyze the offer of subjects that contribute to the training of professional Pedagogues, within the perspective of Rural Education that includes rural populations. The research uses bibliographic and documentary methods, with a qualitative approach, following the guidelines of Gil (2008) and Stake (2001). The PPCs of the six UNIR campuses were analyzed: Ariquemes, Guajará-Mirim, Ji-Paraná, Porto Velho, Rolim de Moura and Vilhena, which offer the degree course in Pedagogy, using the data available on the page of each course/campus. The results obtained in general, the UNIR campuses include in their curricula subjects referring to one or more groups that make up the rural populations, but they do not offer pedagogical practice subjects with an emphasis on Rural Education.

Toxicological Assessments of Agrochemicals in Stingless Bees in Brazil: a Systematic Review.

The growing concern with the decline of pollinators worldwide is centered on honey bees, due to their wide distribution, economic, and ecological importance. This type of concern remained less evident for stingless bees, which are widely distributed in the Neotropics, until recently. Since exposure to agrochemicals has been identified as one of the potential threats to bees, the present systematic review compiled information from toxicological evaluations in stingless bees in Brazil, home to a considerable portion of the existing species. This systematic review was performed considering species, research institutions, scientific journals, metrics, experimental set ups, and agrochemicals. The first article in this topic was published in 2010. Since then, 93 scientific papers were published, which showed that there are few species of stingless bees used for toxicological evaluations and Brazilian institutions lead these evaluations. Only 1.5% of the stingless bees' species that occur in Brazil were assessed through chronic exposure in the larval stage. The Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) is responsible for 37% of the total publications. The main route of exposure was acute, using adults in laboratory conditions. The main group of agrochemicals studied were insecticides, in particular the neonicotinoids. The current results reveal the advances achieved and point out the gaps that still need to be filled considering toxicological evaluations in stingless bees.

Patient activation levels and socioeconomic factors among the Amazonas population with diabetes: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe presence of chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) requires behavioral lifestyle changes mediated by individuals’ motivation for change and adherence to treatment. This study aims to explore activation levels in individuals with T2DM treated in primary care facilities and to identify the association between demographic, clinical, psychosocial factors, and patient activation amongst populations in the Brazilian state of Amazonas.MethodsSAPPA is a cross-sectional study conducted in Amazonas, approved by the Universidade Federal do Amazona’s IRB in Brazil. Individuals with T2DM were evaluated in their homes (n = 4,318,325). The variables were sex, age, skin color, education level; health-related variables such as body mass index, nutritional behavior, and frequency of physical activity. Measures related to patient self-management behaviors over the past 6 months (Patient Activation Measure – PAM-13) were included in the survey. Descriptive and frequency data are presented as mean (standard deviation (SD)) or numeric percentage). Statistical testing was performed using IBM SPSS V.26, and a p-value of < 0.050 showed significance. Activation levels were dichotomized into low activation (Levels 1 and 2) and high activation (Levels 3 and 4). A multivariate linear model assessed the association between the PAM-13 score and the following variables: age, sex, BMI, skin color, number of comorbidities, burden of symptoms, and number of medications.ResultsLogistic regression analyses indicated a statistically significant association between sex, age, education, self-rated health, and general satisfaction with life. men were 43% more likely to score lower levels (p < 0.001). The results also indicated that advanced age had lower PAM levels (p < 0.001). Participants with fewer years of education were 44% more likely to have lower levels of PAM (p = 0.03). Worse self-rated health (p < 0.001) and lower general life satisfaction (p = 0.014) were associated with lower PAM levels.ConclusionsLow patient activation was associated with worse sociodemographic, health, and psychological conditions in the Amazon population. The low level of patient activation observed in this sample highlights an important impediment to diabetes disease management/self-management in disadvantaged populations.

Developing a Rural Tourism Route Through the Integration of Local Stakeholders: Challenges and Opportunities for Family Farmers in Porto Seguro – Bahia (Brazil)

Summary Family farming plays a key role in global food production and economic development. Rural areas in Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil, possess a rich cultural heritage, sustainable agricultural practices, and traditional communities that have been overlooked by mainstream tourism. To unlock economic opportunities for small farmers and attract diverse tourists, the local government and university (Universidade Federal Fluminense) collaborated to enhance a rural tourism route. This case study explores the synergy among local government, the university, and residents, showcasing how it can lead to creative placemaking practices in rural tourism. The study focuses on the “Motherland of Brazil” route, a sustainable tourism option, and emphasises the importance of residents’ involvement in destination planning through family farmers’ participation. Information © The Authors 2024

Racial disparities in breast cancer survival after treatment initiation in Brazil: a nationwide cohort study

Breast cancer is a public health priority in Brazil and ensuring equity in health care is one of the cancer control plan goals. Our aim was to present the first assessment on the influence of race or skin colour on breast cancer survival at the national level. In this nationwide cohort study, data on women who initiated treatment for breast cancer in the public health-care system (Sistema Unico de Saúde), Brazil, were assembled through record linkage of administrative and mortality information systems. The administrative information systems were the Outpatient Information System (data from high complexity procedure authorisations) and the Hospital Information System (data from hospitalisation authorisations). We included women aged 19 years or older who started treatment between Jan 1, 2008, and Nov 30, 2010; self-identified as having White, Black, or Brown race or skin colour; had tumour stage I-IV; and were treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or both. Patients were followed up until Dec 31, 2015. Patients with only hormone therapy records or who underwent only surgery were excluded. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate crude overall survival for race or skin colour by time since treatment initiation, and Cox regression to estimate all-cause mortality hazard ratios (HRs) before and after adjustment for other covariates. We identified 59 811 women treated for stage I-IV breast cancer. 37 318 (62·4%) women identified themselves as White, 18 779 (31·4%) as Brown, and 3714 (6·2%) as Black. 5-year overall survival probability was higher for White women (74% [95% CI 73-74]) than Black women (64% [62-65]; p<0·0001). In adjusted regression models stratified by the absence of hormone therapy, Black women had a 24% (HR 1·24 [95% CI 1·16-1·34]; p<0·0001) higher risk of all-cause death than White women, and in the presence of hormone therapy Black women had a 25% (1·25 [1·14-1·38]; p<0·0001) higher risk of all-cause death than White women. Black skin colour was identified as a statistically significant risk marker for lower 5-year survival probability and higher risk of all-cause death among women treated for breast cancer by the Sistema Unico de Saúde. Actions to understand and mitigate this unfair difference in health results are urgently needed. Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior and Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

Electrochemical Diselenation of BODIPY Fluorophores for Bioimaging Applications and Sensitization of 1 O2.

Invited for the cover of this issue are the groups of Holger Braunschweig at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany and Eufrânio N. da Silva Júnior at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, UFMG, Brazil. The image depicts the electrochemical synthesis of selenium-containing BODIPY molecules with lightning symbolizing the electrifying synthetic process, while the surrounding elemental chaos hints at the red-shifted absorption and emission and the transformative photophysical properties of these new compounds. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202303883.