Asian soybean rust (ASR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi , is among the most destructive fungal diseases of soybean worldwide, making accurate severity quantification essential for breeding programs and disease management. In this study, we developed and validated an automated image segmentation pipeline, implemented in Python, to quantify ASR severity from images of soybean leaflets. The method operates in two stages: the fi...

Background and objectives Silicon (Si) has been widely reported to enhance tolerance to abiotic stresses, including drought, in several crops. However, the long-term effects of soil-applied Si remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess dry matter production, plant nutritional status, C:N:P:Si stoichiometry, and soil Si availability in ratoon sugarcane under water deficit and the residual effect of an amorphous...

In its early years, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration has mobilized unprecedented global commitments. Yet, measuring restoration success remains contested, particularly in megadiverse countries where the absence of standardized indicators and assessment protocols often leads to subjective decisions by environmental agencies. Here, we present a core set of leading indicators developed through a pioneering Brazil-led scienc...

Microalgae are recognized as promising sources of high-value bioactive compounds with applications in agricultural and pharmacological industries; however, conventional biomass harvesting methods may reduce yield, compromise bioactivity, and increase processing costs. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of electroflocculation on biomass recovery and the preservation of antimicrobial activity of microalgal extracts, in comp...

Oropouche fever is an emerging arboviral disease in South America, for which reliable molecular diagnostic specimens throughout the course of infection are essential for surveillance and clinical management. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of RT-qPCR in paired urine and serum samples and to evaluate temporal trends in cycle threshold (Ct) values according to time since symptom onset. A retrospective anal...

Introduction Invasive fusariosis (IF) is one of the most aggressive mold infections in patients with acute leukemia, characterized by rapid dissemination, high rates of fungemia, and limited antifungal susceptibility. Its impact is particularly severe in middle-income countries, yet single-center data from these settings remain scarce. Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective study of all patients with acute leukemia...

The Cerrado biome, spanning ~2 million km 2 , is one of the most extensive and biodiverse tropical savannas, yet it is paradoxically dominated by only 30 hyperdominant tree species (~2% of all species, > 50% of all stems). However, their vulnerability to climate change and the effectiveness of current conservation efforts remain uncertain. By combining (i) species distribution models calibrated with edaphic‐climatic predictors...