Brazilian Journal of Science

Sustainable management of native flora at a Higher Education Institution

Catalina del Socorro Vidal-Cornelio — 2025-01-24

The promotion of environmental care is essential in the education of higher education students. Globally, the United Nations guarantees the right to a healthy environment, which promotes environmental education and sustainability. This project is aligned with SDG 15 of the 2030 Agenda, which seeks the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity protection and sustainable management of natural resources. The main objective is to promote and conserve green areas within the TecNM Campus Comalcalco, involving the technological community in creating a plant nursery. The study was carried out at the Institute, where a botanical garden was implemented and dasometric measurements were taken of 144 trees in the green areas of the institution. Students from different careers were involved in the installation of the botanical garden and the propagation of 89 plant species, using techniques such as cuttings, seeds, and seedlings. The creation of the botanical garden involved the entire community of the Institute, and its impact transcended the institution with workshops and plant donations to the local community. Plants were donated to the community at academic events and fairs, promoting environmental awareness beyond the Institute. In terms of the trees sampled, five species of major ecological importance were identified: Tabebuia rosea, Samanea samán, Ceiba pentandra, Persea americana, and Cedrela odorata. The largest trees, such as Samanea samán and Ceiba pentandra, showed the highest amount of biomass and carbon stored, with an average of 12,565.23 Mg. ha^-1 of biomass and 6,282.61 MgC.ha^-1 of carbon for Samanea samán. The botanical garden is projected as an educational and conservation resource that can be replicated in other educational settings and homes, extending its impact in time and space.

Root and aerial growth of corn subjected to different biological managements in seed treatment with Bacillus aryabhattai

Diego França Mendes — 2025-01-30

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can be an option to mitigate the impact of abiotic constraints in different cropping systems in the tropical semi-arid region. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the biometric growth parameters and root system of corn plants subjected to the use of Bacillus aryabhattai via seed treatment and furrow application. The trial was conducted in a commercial area in the southwestern region of Goiás, Brazil. The experiment was set up in a randomized block design with four treatments (T1 – Control; T2 – B. aryabhattai (4 mL kg^-1 of seed) via seed treatment; T3 – B. aryabhattai (200 mL ha^-1) via furrow application; T4 – B. aryabhattai (300 mL ha^-1) via furrow application) and five replications, totaling 20 experimental plots. Root parameters (maximum root length (cm); root dry mass (g); root volume (cm³)) and biometric parameters (plant height (cm); ear insertion height (cm); stem diameter (mm); prolificacy (number of ears per plant); number of leaves) were evaluated. The application of Bacillus aryabhattai led to increases in root system volume and stem diameter in corn plants.

Interoception and emotional regulation in autistic children through an occupational therapy perspective: A literature review

Panagiotis Barmpagiannis — 2025-01-23

Understanding the interplay between interoception and emotional regulation is critical for advancing occupational therapy practices for autistic children and adolescents. These individuals often experience interoceptive processing difficulties, hindering emotional management, daily functioning, and societal participation. This review examines the relationship between interoception and emotional regulation and addresses relevant interventions to support these skills. To explore the relationship between interoception and emotional regulation and identify effective interventions that can inform occupational therapy practices for autistic individuals. A comprehensive search was conducted across three central electronic databases— PubMed, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar to identify studies that examined the relationship between interoception and emotional regulation in individuals with autism. Studies were conducted from 2013 to 2024. The search combined database-specific controlled language with keywords related to interoception, emotional regulation, occupational therapy, and autism spectrum disorder. A total of 49 studies meeting inclusion criteria were included. The review highlights the intricate connections between interoception and emotional regulation in autistic children, emphasizing challenges such as alexithymia and reduced interoceptive awareness. Interventions include cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and specialized programs like the Aligning Dimensions of Interoceptive Experience and the Interoception Curriculum. These strategies can potentially enhance emotional well-being, self-regulation, and occupational engagement. Interoception and emotional regulation are foundational elements in the clinical reasoning of occupational therapists. Tailored, neurodiversity-affirmative interventions can promote emotional resilience and improve participation in daily activities for autistic individuals. Further research is necessary to develop inclusive and ethically aligned interventions that meet the needs of both clinicians and autistic people. This study underscores the significance of integrating interoceptive-based interventions into therapeutic practices to address emotional regulation challenges in autistic children, fostering their holistic development and societal inclusion.

Effect of whole plant extract of Evolvulus alsinoides on thermal stress resistance and longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Shital Hemal Doshi — 2025-01-24

The popular Ayurvedic plant Evolvulus alsinoides is known to have adaptogenic properties. Adaptogens reduce stress and anxiety and thereby promote the overall well-being of the individual. Since chronic stress is associated with lower than normal lifespan expectance, any herbs known to reduce the stress should have the reverse impact. Therefore, this research aimed to study the anti-ageing activity of Evolvulus alsinoides in the well-established aging model Caenorhabditis elegans. The longevity-enhancing impact was assessed under the optimum growth and survival conditions for the C. elegans. Oxidative stress was induced by the use of Paraquat in N2 wild-type C. elegans, and the thermal stress was induced in transgenic C. elegans TJ 356, which expressed Green fluorescence Protein (GFP) under the control of heat shock protein promoters for the visualization of induction of anti-stress genes. The impact of the stress was analyzed by the lifespan analysis, and data were analyzed by the Kaplein Meyer statistical analysis. The results indicated that E. alsinoides extracts dose-dependently increased the mean lifespan of C. elegans by 18.0% and 26.2% at the concentrations of 0.1 mg/mL^-1 and 1 mg/mL^-1 under optimum growth and survival conditions, respectively. The survival rates of E. alsinoides extract-fed C. elegans have been greater than those of untreated C. elegans against thermal-induced stress. For Oxidative stress, the E. alsinoides treatment was non-significant. It was found that Evolvulus alsinoides extract promotes longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans by promoting stress tolerance and by tinkering with the insulin/IGF signaling pathway.