Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri

The objective was to evaluate nutrient loss during the dehydration process of three tropical forage legumes.The legumes studied were Stylosanthes spp. (80% Stylosanthes capitata + 20% Stylosanthes macrocephala), Pueraria phaseoloides, and Macrotyloma axillare.The forage was cut at 6:45 am, chopped and spread on polyethylene tarps to be exposed to the sun.Dry matter (DM) content, neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap), crude protein (CP), non-protein nitrogen (NPN), ether extract (EE), soluble carbohydrates (SCH), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were analyzed.On the third day, Stylosanthes spp. and Pueraria phaseoloides exhibited the highest dehydration rates (3.47% and 3.81% water loss/h, resp.), followed by the first day (3.17% and 3.05% water loss/h).There was an interaction (P < 0.05) between dehydration times and legumes for DM, CP, NPN, EE, and SCH.Among the legumes, Stylosanthes spp. had the highest (P < 0.05) NDFap levels (512.5 g.kg-1 in hay), Pueraria phaseoloides presented the highest (P < 0.05) CP levels, and Macrotyloma axillare exhibited the highest (P < 0.05) levels of EE and SCH (197.4, 25.7, and 32.2 g.kg-1 in hay, resp.).During dehydration, the contents of NPN, EE, and SCH decreased linearly (P < 0.05).All legumes showed a decrease in NPN, EE, and SCH contents.

Abstract: Soil salinity imposes severe stress on plant growth and limits crop yield, while humic acids (HA) promote plant growth and mitigate different abiotic stresses.HA has auxin-like activity, but the involvement of ethylene signaling in their action is poorly investigated.Moreover, whether the mitigating action of HA in the salt stress responses depends on ethylene is unclear.Thus, this work aimed to investigate whether (i) the humic substances mitigate the effects of salt stress on cultivated tomatoes and (ii) the action of humic acids depends on ethylene perception.To do that we used a genetic approach through wild-type (WT) MICRO-TOM (Solanum lycopersicum) and the ethylene insensitive Never ripe (Nr) mutant.Our data showed that HA promotes root growth of WT and Nr plants.The number of lateral roots, the main morphol. marker of HA activity, decreased resp., 33% and 18%, in WT and Nr plants under NaCl alone, while HA alone stimulated them in 7% (in WT) and 12% (in Nr), both compared to control conditions.The inhibitory effect of salt stress on the number of lateral roots was not observed when WT and Nr plants were simultaneously treated with HA and NaCl (HA + NaCl) which was significantly equal to those under control conditions.HA activity also mitigates the inhibitory effects of salt stress on photosynthesis of WT and Nr plants.Specifically, compared to the control, the relative chlorophyll content increased about 1.77 and 2.44 times, resp., in WT and Nr plants in the HA + NaCl combination.Moreover, the increase in light absorption capacity was followed by increased photosystem II quantum yield and non-photochem. exciton quenching.Therefore, photochem. anal. demonstrated that HA promotes photosynthetic activity and reduces photodamage, in either unstressed or salt-stressed plants, and either WT or Nr plants.Overall, through a genetic approach, our data demonstrated that HA promotes plant growth independent of ethylene perception, as well as mitigates the inhibitory effects of salt stress.

To develop and evaluate a structural model of the pathways between dental caries, childhood stress, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in schoolchildren.

This cross-sectional study included a representative sample of 473 Brazilian schoolchildren aged 8 to 10 years. Data collection involved a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Child Stress Scale (CSS), and the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ_8-10). Clinical examinations were performed to assess untreated dental caries using the dmft index. Structural equation modeling was conducted using Mplus version 8.6, and the results were reported in terms of standardized beta coefficients and p-values (95% significance level).

Children with higher levels of stress experienced a negative impact on OHRQoL (β=0.458; P < 0.001). An indirect association was found, where childhood stress negatively affected OHRQoL through the presence of dental caries, with children who had more decayed teeth reporting worse OHRQoL (β=0.106; P = 0.003). Socioeconomic status was also associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL, both directly (β=-0.146; P = 0.002) and indirectly, through dental caries.

The structural model showed that childhood stress negatively affects OHRQoL, both directly and indirectly, through dental caries. These findings highlight the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to pediatric dental care that takes psychological factors into account.

Integrating psychological support into pediatric dental practice can improve overall patient outcomes, particularly for children with higher stress levels and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.