Denismar Alves Nogueira

Macadamia oil (as with other vegetable oils) can be obtained via solvent extraction, aqueous extraction or by cold pressing. The latter technique avoids the use of solvents and high temperatures which maintains the physical and chemical properties of the extracted oil. In this study, four different varieties of Macadamia integrifolia were grown at two separate farms in the southeastern region of Brazil. Harvested nuts were processed, dried and then cold-pressed (resulting in a ~ 33% yield). Analysis highlighted significant differences across the four varieties. The fatty acid composition demonstrated a predominance of oleic and palmitoleic acids, and the triacylglycerol composition showed mostly unsaturated triacylglycerides. Despite having highly similar overall unsaturation, substantial differences in oxidative stability were observed, with induction times ranging from 11.87 to 22.73 h with the São Miguel Farm oils (412-B and 920) exhibiting greater stability than the Santa Helena Farm oils (344 and 816). This nearly two-fold variation cannot be explained by iodine values (73.8–74.4 g I₂/100 g), total monounsaturated fatty acids (approximately 80%) or polyunsaturated fatty acids (1.55–2.12%). Notably, variety 412-B combined the highest palmitoleic acid content (21.47%) with the longest induction time (22.73 h) and lowest acidity (0.448 mg KOH/g), demonstrating that within the narrow, highly monounsaturated compositional range of these Brazilian macadamia oils, overall unsaturation levels are a poor predictor of oxidative stability.

To increase grazing efficiency, it is necessary to understand morphogenetic responses and how they drive forage harvest. Our objective was to evaluate defoliation frequency (time between defoliations required for the expansion of 2, 3 and 4 leaves) and intensity (low: maintenance of 50% stubble height; intermediate: maintenance of 25% stubble height immediately after defoliation; and high: maintenance of 3‐cm stubble height immediately after defoliation) to determine the best forage management of three annual ryegrass cultivars ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.) with different flowering moments (early, medium and late flowering). Frequent defoliation, particularly with the expansion of two leaves (28 days or 308 growing degree days), proved to be a key management strategy for improving sward morphogenesis, enhancing structural characteristics and increasing the amount of forage harvested. The two‐leaf defoliation resulted in a 34% and 73% greater proportion of live leaf blades than the three‐ and four‐leaf treatments, respectively. Intermediate defoliation intensity promoted greater harvest of live leaf blades, improved tiller balance and reduced pseudostem elongation. Among the cultivars tested, the late‐flowering genotype demonstrated superior performance in terms of live leaf harvest and forage crude protein content, while the early‐flowering cultivar showed greater sensitivity to defoliation frequency, with a stronger expression of unfavourable traits under longer regrowth intervals. Overall, frequent defoliation combined with intermediate defoliation intensity increased the amount of forage harvested and maintained forage quality across ryegrass cultivars. These findings reinforce the relevance of using leaf‐based defoliation criteria as a reliable and biologically meaningful tool for pasture management in annual ryegrass.

This study evaluates the BioQueer guidebook, an educational intervention developed to improve undergraduate understanding of differences of sex development (DSD) and sex and gender concepts. With a one-group pretest-posttest design with ordinal analysis [cumulative link model (CLM)], results showed consistent increases in participant scores. Despite design limitations, findings support the guidebook’s clarity and pedagogical potential. This exploratory study informs future research, including a planned randomized controlled trial to assess causal effects in physiology education.

This study aimed to evaluate silage production and utilisation practices on dairy farms in southeastern Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. A structured 39‐question survey was developed using Google Forms to characterise farm profiles, dairy herds and silage production and utilisation practices. The questionnaire was applied by technicians across 97 dairy farms, representing 8.6% of the farms in the region. Corn silage samples were also collected from the silo face on each farm for chemical analysis. Based on average daily milk yield, farms were classified into four groups: < 100, 100–250, 250–500 and > 500 L/d. No‐tillage planting was not adopted by farms producing < 100 L/d ( p = 0.046), whereas 36.4% of those producing > 500 L/d used this system. Higher‐producing farms used more winter forages for silage production ( p < 0.001). Most forage harvesters (77.7%) lacked a grain processor. Pile silos were more common on farms with greater milk yield ( p = 0.032) and the use of black‐and‐white plastic film increased with production level ( p < 0.01). The use of bacterial inoculants was also more frequent among higher‐yield farms ( p = 0.006). Farms producing more milk had corn silages with lower NDF concentrations ( p = 0.043). The proportion of farms harvesting corn for silage within the ideal maturity range was low (< 37%) in all groups. This survey identified limitations in silage practices on regional dairy farms, highlighting the need to strengthen extension services to improve silage production and utilisation efficiency and financial/cooperative support to reinforce the dairy sector.

Introduction. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women, with biopsychosocial impacts that can significantly affect self-esteem. Objective. To analyze the self-esteem of women with breast cancer undergoing oncological treatment and its association with sociodemographic, clinical, behavioral, and treatment-related variables. Method. This is a cross-sectional, quantitative, and descriptive-analytical study conducted with 210 women at a High-Complexity Oncology Center. Data were collected through interviews using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and analyzed with statistical tests and logistic regression. Results. Most participants reported high self-esteem (86.2%), while 11.4% presented average self-esteem and 2.4% exhibited low self-esteem. Religious beliefs, religious habits, symptoms/side effects, and significant life events were associated with self-esteem. In some cases, religious habits, the presence of side effects, and the occurrence of significant events contributed to reducing self-esteem. Discussion and conclusion. Despite the predominance of high self-esteem, factors such as religiosity, physical symptoms, and significant life events negatively influence self-esteem. The healthcare team plays an essential role in providing comprehensive care, and future studies should explore interventions designed to promote emotional well-being and self-esteem in women with breast cancer undergoing oncological treatment.

Objective: to analyze factors associated with treatment adherence among individuals with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: a cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study conducted with 142 hemodialysis patients at a philanthropic general hospital. A validated instrument was used to assess treatment adherence and a questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical variables. Associations were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test, with a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). Results: most participants were male, aged 60 to 69 years, Catholic, with incomes up to R$1,500.00, married or in a stable union, with diabetes mellitus as the cause of the disease, and up to one year of treatment. An association was observed between the hemodialysis adherence domain and four independent variables; medication, with three; fluid restriction, with nine; dietary adherence, with eleven. Conclusion: the associations identified between adherence domains and independent variables such as marital status, monthly family income, and hemodialysis duration, among others, expand the understanding of factors influencing adherence to hemodialysis treatment, contributing to the strengthening, knowledge, and interaction of healthcare professionals in health education. Contributions to practice: the study provides support for improving nursing practice, reinforcing professionals’ engagement in promoting adherence among patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Background/Objectives: Nutrition labeling and food advertising are population-level strategies that may influence food choices. Excess weight is a recognized public health concern and a risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases; however, evidence regarding the association between label use, food advertising, and excess weight remains inconsistent. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between nutrition label reading and understanding, exposure to food advertising, food-related behaviors, and excess weight among Brazilian adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 580 adults living in the southern region of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire addressing sociodemographic characteristics, food purchasing behaviors, exposure to food advertising, and habits related to reading and understanding nutrition labels. Excess weight was assessed using body mass index (BMI), calculated from self-reported weight and height. Logistic regression models and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed, adopting a significance level of 5%. Results: Excess weight was observed in 59.0% of participants. Regular use of nutrition labels was reported by 38.6% of respondents; among these individuals, 70.4% reported discontinuing the purchase of a food product after reading its nutritional information. In adjusted analyses, age over 30 years (p < 0.001), female sex (p = 0.006), higher number of dependents (p = 0.007), and type of media used (p = 0.005) were significantly associated with excess weight. The habit of reading nutrition labels was not independently associated with excess weight; however, better label understanding was associated with changes in food purchasing decisions. Considering the nutritional quality of foods as an important factor in food choices was associated with lower odds of having excess weight, although this association did not reach conventional levels of statistical significance (OR = 0.403; 95% CI: 0.15–1.00; p = 0.056). Conclusions: Excess weight among Brazilian adults was more strongly associated with sociodemographic and behavioral factors than with the habit of reading nutrition labels. Although nutrition labeling was not directly associated with excess weight, label understanding and perceived nutritional quality influenced food purchasing behaviors. These findings highlight the role of nutrition labeling and food advertising in shaping food choices and underscore the need for longitudinal studies to clarify their relationship with excess weight and related health outcomes.

Background: Changes that occur in the aging process may impact the nutritional status of older adults. This study aimed to design and implement a supplementation protocol for older adults in a private hospital in southern Minas Gerais, using a non-controlled clinical intervention trial with convenience samples and approved by the Ethics Committee on Human Research of UNIFAL-MG. Methods: Fifty-one patients participated in the study, divided into two groups: supplemented (38 participants - 18 women and 20 men, + 80 years (SD=7.57)) and non-supplemented (13 participants - 11 women and 02 men, + 73 years (SD=8.13)). They were screened using the NRS 2002 and classified by GLIM. Anthropometric, dietary, hand grip strength and biochemical tests were monitored on admission and discharge. Results: Statistical analysis showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the serum creatinine and dietary zinc variables in the supplemented group, with the dietary supplement displaying positive impacts on these markers. Conclusion: It is concluded that the supplementation increased the average protein and calorie intake of the participants in the supplemented group.

Objective To identify the prevalence and factors associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among university students in Minas Gerais after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with students from four federal universities in Minas Gerais. Data collection was carried out online. To identify associated factors, a structured questionnaire was administered, encompassing sociodemographic, clinical, and academic variables, as well as the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). To determine the risk and protective factors associated with the investigated symptoms, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, with a 5% significance level. Results A total of 2,333 students participated in the study, comprising 75.6% (n=1,764) females and 24.4% (n=569) males, aged 18 to 62 years. The prevalence of symptoms was 77.2% (n=1,802) for depression, 76.8% (n=1,790) for anxiety, and 77.3% (n=1,803) for stress. Identified risk factors for all three outcomes were female sex (p-value<0.050), overload with academic routine after the pandemic (p-value<0.001), and the impact of the pandemic on academic performance (p-value<0.001) and future professional outlook (p-value<0.001). Family income equal to or above four minimum wages was a protective factor against symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (p-value<0.001). Receiving a student scholarship was specifically a protective factor for symptoms of anxiety (p-value 0.046). Conclusion A large proportion of university students in Minas Gerais presented symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress after the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation of psychosocial policies and interventions grounded in the identified protective factors is necessary.

Resumo Objetivo Identificar a prevalência e os fatores associados aos sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse em universitários de Minas Gerais após a pandemia da covid-19. Métodos Estudo transversal realizado com estudantes de quatro universidades federais de Minas Gerais. A coleta de dados foi conduzida de forma online. Para identificar os fatores associados, utilizou-se um questionário estruturado contendo variáveis sociodemográficas, clínicas e acadêmicas, além da Escala de Depressão, Ansiedade e Estresse (DASS-21). A fim de determinar os fatores de risco e proteção para os sintomas investigados, foi realizada regressão logística multivariada, considerando nível de significância de 5%. Resultados Participaram do estudo 2.333 universitários, sendo 75,6% (n=1.764) do sexo feminino e 24,4% (n=569) do sexo masculino, com faixa etária entre 18 e 62 anos. A prevalência de sintomas de depressão foi 77,2% (n=1.802); ansiedade, 76,8% (n=1.790); e estresse, 77,3% (n=1.803). Identificaram-se como fatores de risco para os três desfechos: sexo feminino (p-valor<0,050), sobrecarga com a rotina universitária após a pandemia (p-valor<0,001) e influência da pandemia no desempenho acadêmico (p-valor<0,001) e na perspectiva de futuro profissional (p-valor<0,001). A renda familiar igual ou superior a quatro salários mínimos configurou-se como fator de proteção para sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse (p-valor<0,001). O recebimento de bolsa estudantil foi fator de proteção especificamente para sintomas de ansiedade (p-valor 0,046). Conclusão Grande parte dos universitários de Minas Gerais pesquisados apresentou sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse após a pandemia da covid-19. São necessárias implementação de políticas psicossociais e intervenções fundamentadas nos fatores de proteção identificados.