Brazilian Journal of Science

Visual dataset of shrimp for support in classification and comparative studies using convolutional neural networks (CNNs)

Rafael Pereira Frota — 2026-04-30

This study presents a dataset for the construction of a neural network from images of refrigerated shrimp. The images were collected at different times, during which the shrimp went from capture to the final degradation stages. After collection, the images were organized chronologically and subjected to a selection process. The Python program was applied for lighting and blur corrections, preparing the data for the modeling phase. The neural network was developed in the Keras program, with diversified learning methods to form a model capable of evaluating shrimp quality in different periods. Therefore, this study resulted in a dataset that is essential for training the CNN, and as the image quality and the processing methodology adopted were crucial to identify the defects and colorimetric modifications of the shrimp, offering an accuracy above 95%, it can therefore be considered a suitable and innovative tool for quality control in the shrimp farming industry.

Public higher education as the knowledge industry: An activity-theoretical proposal for veterinary, animal, and health sciences

Federico de la Colina Flores — 2026-04-30

This article proposes public higher education as an “industry of knowledge” understood not as a market analogue but as a socially organized, democratically accountable form of collective work that produces knowledge objects and develops the human capacities required to satisfy shared needs. Using cultural-historical activity theory, the university is modeled as an activity system oriented to transforming modes of life through the satisfaction chain of mode of life, need, object, want, motive, and activity. The proposal emphasizes the development of activity-system elements rather than the exclusive optimization of products: the collective subject, the object, and the community, mediated by tools, a persuasion tool, and a cooperative division of labor. In veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, and health sciences, this model reframes professional and research formation as a developmental project that strengthens communicative, transformative, and evaluative competence while cultivating socialization, individuation, and personhood. The paper articulates ethical constraints on persuasion, foregrounds instrumental genesis and catachresis in tool development, and specifies how knowledge objects such as definitions, descriptions, explanations, justifications, and narratives become actionable contributions to material, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of need. Implications are offered for curriculum design, internships, research training, and community-engaged knowledge governance.

Active gelatin-based films incorporated with juçara (Euterpe edulis M.) extract: Mechanical, thermal, and antioxidant properties

Joelmir Grassi Presente — 2026-04-30

The replacement of conventional plastic packaging with biodegradable materials derived from natural sources has driven research toward functional biopolymeric systems. Gelatin is a promising matrix for film formation, and juçara (Euterpe edulis) extract, rich in phenolic compounds, represents a potential bioactive additive. This study aimed to develop gelatin-based films incorporating juçara extract at concentrations of 0.1 g extract g⁻¹ gelatin (S1) and 0.25 g extract g⁻¹ gelatin (S2), in comparison with a control film without extract. The films were characterized in terms of water solubility, mechanical properties, water vapor permeability (WVP), color attributes, morphology, thermal behavior, and antioxidant activity. Data were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s test (p ≤ 0.05). Extract incorporation significantly affected film properties. S2 exhibited the highest elongation at break (24.24%) and the lowest WVP (1.57 g mm m⁻² day⁻¹ kPa⁻¹), although tensile strength decreased compared to the control (22.81 MPa). Films containing juçara extract showed reduced solubility relative to the control. Colorimetric analysis indicated similarity to fresh fruit, with increased opacity upon extract addition. Scanning electron microscopy revealed uniform and homogeneous surfaces, with greater particle dispersion observed in S2. Thermal analysis demonstrated a glass transition temperature of 36.9 °C for all samples, while melting temperatures increased with extract concentration, reaching 142.3 °C in S2. Antioxidant activity increased markedly after extract incorporation, with inhibition percentages of 1.97%, 38.68%, and 55.91% for control, S1, and S2, respectively. The results indicate that Euterpe edulis extract enhances both functional and bioactive properties of gelatin-based films, particularly at 0.25 g extract g⁻¹ gelatin, supporting its potential application in active biodegradable food packaging.

Common First-Trimester Minor Discomfort: Impact of an Educational Program on Women’s Self-Care Practices

Heba Ahmed Mohamed — 2026-04-30

Minor discomforts, although not life-threatening, can affect the mother’s comfort and well-being, and their neglect may result in more serious problems. These discomforts can often be relieved through self-care measures or healthy practices. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of an educational program on women’s self-care practices regarding common minor discomforts during the first trimester of pregnancy. A quasi-experimental design was used, with a convenience sample consisting of 358 pregnant women who were evaluated in outpatient clinics at Beba Hospital, affiliated with the Ministry of Health in the Beni-Suef Governorate, Egypt. Four data collection instruments were used: (I) a structured interviewing questionnaire; (II) a self-reported practices questionnaire related to morning sickness (nausea and vomiting); (III) a self-reported practices questionnaire related to frequency of micturition; and (IV) a self-reported practices questionnaire related to fatigue. Regarding participants’ characteristics, 41.6% had technical secondary education and 24% had postgraduate education. In the pretest, 16.5% of the pregnant women always avoided spicy food, which increased to 81.6% in the posttest. Additionally, 25.1% of the participants always or frequently emptied their bladder during the day and took medication as prescribed by doctors, which improved to 55% in the posttest. Regarding activity reduction, 16.8% of the pregnant women reported always reducing activities in the pretest, increasing to 64.5% in the posttest. Based on the results, there was a statistically significant improvement in the pregnant women’s practices in the posttest regarding nausea and vomiting, frequent urination, and fatigue compared to the pretest. The study highlights the importance of collaboration with public health organizations to implement national awareness programs aimed at educating pregnant women about minor discomforts during the first trimester and providing resources that promote safer self-care during pregnancy.