Tuberculosis (TB) treatment is highly effective, but response to therapy varies by geography and population subgroups. We assessed differences in TB treatment response in a representative and heterogeneous Brazilian population. We estimated genetic ancestry according to major genetic ancestry groups (African, European, and Amerindian) in the Regional Prospective Observational Research in Tuberculosis (RePORT)-Brazil cohort usi...

While bats are known to harbor various viruses and bacteria, their role as hosts for hemoparasites has not been extensively studied. This research investigated the presence of ectoparasites and vector-borne pathogens—including Anaplasmataceae agents, hemoplasmas, apicomplexans, and kinetoplastids—in 74 Phyllostomidae bats sampled from an urban forest fragment in southeastern Brazil. Overall, 31.1% of the bats were infested wit...

Features of possible regional ionospheric memory manifested themselves at low-latitudes under solar eclipse conditions.

Aim We evaluated how native vegetation cover influences the diversity of arachnid assemblages across multiple spatial scales in major Brazilian ecosystems. Location Brazil (Amazon and Atlantic rainforests, Cerrado savanna and Caatinga dry forest). Taxon Arachnida (Opiliones, Pseudoscorpiones and Scorpiones). Methods We sampled arachnids at 120 sites using active search and litter sifting. Native vegetation cover was quantified...

Clepsammia gaia Chaul & Lopes-Andrade gen. et sp. n. is described herein, representing the first new taxon of Cephaloplectini (Ptiliidae) proposed in more than 80 years. The species is blind and flightless, as are all other known members of the tribe, but it exhibits a highly distinctive morphology, characterized by a conspicuous mid-body constriction bearing spongiform setae. The description is based on five specimens collect...

Membrane distillation (MD) is a promising technology for the sustainable treatment of textile industry wastewater. This study investigates the development and performance of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) incorporating varying concentrations of graphene (0.25–3.00 wt%) for direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). The membranes were characterized by SEM, AFM contact angle, porosity, and Zeta po...

Aim We investigate the distribution of dispersal modes — endozoochory (via animal ingestion), synzoochory (via animal seed accumulation) and anemochory (via wind)—and seed mass of woody plants across Brazilian ecosystems, testing whether their relative abundance in local plant communities could be predicted by climate, edaphic factors and dispersal agents (e.g., the main vectors moving seeds). We expected climate to be the mai...

Climate change, global warming, and natural resource depletion pose significant challenges to global beef cattle farming, with animal heat stress emerging as a widespread limitation. This is particularly critical in Brazil, a major global beef producer and exporter that supplies a substantial portion of the world's food. This study investigated the impact of seasonality changes on beef cattle welfare under various climate chan...

As reef-building coral cover has declined worldwide, coral restoration has become a widespread response towards repopulating degraded reefs. In-situ nurseries have provided refugia for the regrowth of several coral species, yet long-term success following outplanting remains highly variable, particularly when corals are introduced into novel or marginal environments. Additionally, while growth and survivorship are commonly use...

Background and aims Implementing sustainable crop management to improve soil health can bolster plant and soil resistance to drought stress. This study evaluated the long-term impact of sustainable soil management on soil health in tropical coffee agroecosystems, focusing on how these practices influenced plant yield and quality, as well as soil microbiome composition and function under drought treatment. Methods Plots were se...

As many tropical aquatic ecosystems worldwide, the Doce River estuary (DRE, southeastern Brazil) has increasingly faced multiple anthropogenic threats, including deforestation, mining, species introduction and water management. The 2015 collapse of the Fundão iron ore tailings dam severely changed water properties and increased heavy metal concentration in sediment. However, the potential synergistic effects of the observed th...