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Bigão VLCP, da Silva JJM, Cassiano MHA, da Costa BRB, Gomes NC, Marinho PA, Rodrigues CHP, Aguilar GJ, Bruni AT, Tapia-Blácido DR, De Martinis BS. Uncovering the Counterfeit: A study of whiskey authenticity through volatile organic compound fingerprinting, aroma and color sensory analysis. Food Chem 2024; 447:139023. [PMID: 38507949 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
This study presents a method employing gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME-GC-MS), supplemented with chemometrics (Soft independent modelling of class analogies - SIMCA), to analyze volatile organic compound (VOCs) profiles in suspect whiskey samples. Furthermore, a sensory analysis of aroma and color was conducted with a panel of 52 non-trained volunteers to evaluate their ability to discriminate and preference for counterfeit whiskeys. The HS-SPME-GC-MS method successfully distinguished 41 seized samples from authentic beverages. Interestingly, sensory analysis revealed that panelists could differentiate between counterfeit and authentic samples with a reference standard but did not consistently show a preference for aroma. In some cases, there was even a preference for the color of counterfeit whiskeys. The findings suggest that sensorial tests alone may not effectively distinguish counterfeit from authentic whiskeys, especially for non-expert consumers, highlighting the need for analytical instrumentation methods in fraud detection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Murilo Henrique Anzolini Cassiano
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology and Pathogenic Bioagents, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14049-900, Brazil
| | | | - Nayna Cândida Gomes
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-093, Brazil
| | - Pablo Alves Marinho
- Instituto de Criminalística, Polícia Civil do Estado de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 30190-002, Brazil
| | - Caio Henrique Pinke Rodrigues
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-091, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology - Forensic Sciences (INCT - Ciências Forenses), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-091, Brazil
| | - Guilherme José Aguilar
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-091, Brazil
| | - Aline Thaís Bruni
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-091, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology - Forensic Sciences (INCT - Ciências Forenses), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-091, Brazil; Programa de Cooperação Acadêmica-Segurança Pública e Ciências Forenses (PROCAD-SPCF), Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Delia Rita Tapia-Blácido
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-091, Brazil
| | - Bruno Spinosa De Martinis
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo 14040-091, Brazil
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Souza LRR, Corrêa TZ, Bruni AT, da Veiga MAMS. The effects of solubility of silver nanoparticles, accumulation, and toxicity to the aquatic plant Lemna minor. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021; 28:16720-16733. [PMID: 33398747 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11862-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in commercial products has increased due to their antibacterial properties and their impacts on the environment must be investigated. This scenario has motivated the conduction of this study, which relates different factors that affect the toxicity of AgNPs to the aquatic plant Lemna minor such as size, accumulation, concentration, and dissolution of AgNPs. To this end, synthesized AgNPs measuring 30, 85, and 110 nm were added into the culture medium to observe toxicity for 30 days. The mapping by SEM showed that the smallest AgNPs can translocate from roots to leaves due to its mobility and internalization. As predicted by the Ostwald equation, the solubility for 30-nm AgNPs increased almost 3 times at the end of 30 days, while for 85 and 110 nm size nanoparticles, after 7 days, the solubility decreased due to "Ostwald ripening" process. Plant mortality was assessed and, after 1 month, the size of 30 nm was the most toxic with negative growth in all studied concentrations, with 60% mortality in the worst case. The concentration of 50 μg mL-1 was toxic in all sizes with negative growth in the period. Therefore, the investigation of AgNPs' toxicity needs to consider a different factor to better understand their effects on aquatic plants and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian R R Souza
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-900, Brazil.
| | - Tuany Z Corrêa
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-900, Brazil
| | - Aline Thaís Bruni
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-900, Brazil
| | - Márcia A M S da Veiga
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-900, Brazil
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de Castro JS, Rodrigues CHP, Bruni AT. In Silico Infrared Characterization of Synthetic Cannabinoids by Quantum Chemistry and Chemometrics. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:2100-2114. [PMID: 32118417 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b00871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The concept of forensic sciences as mere trace analysis has been modified by the idea of forensic intelligence, which entails applying data to make decisions within the investigative process. Many countries are engaged in combating drug trafficking and drug use because they are related to public health and safety issues. Prohibiting the consumption of traditional drugs has led new psychoactive substances (NPSs) to emerge. NPSs consist of compounds that resemble the initially banned substance and which aim to mimic the traditional drug recreational effects while circumventing drug legislation. For example, synthetic cannabinoids are sprayed on herbal products to reproduce the cannabis recreational effects. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the toxic effects of synthetic cannabis types are unknown, and harm and fatalities associated with the use of these drugs have been reported. Information on the characterization related to these species is lacking. The rate at which NPSs appear poses a significant challenge because employing conventional methods to understand the characteristics of these compounds may require time and be costly. This work uses in silico practices as an alternative to understand how NPSs related to cannabis behave. We apply quantum chemistry methods to evaluate several synthetic cannabinoids recognized in forensic samples. More specifically, we generate infrared spectra that can be employed as a benchmark for NPSs. We apply a multivariate classification to evaluate the results. We conclude that in silico methods are an alternative that provide information about the spectra of undetected substances. This information can help to identify new drugs, to increase knowledge about them, and to feed information procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade Simões de Castro
- Departamento de Quı́mica, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo. Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, 14040-901.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Forense (INCT Forense). Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, 14040-901
| | - Caio Henrique Pinke Rodrigues
- Departamento de Quı́mica, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo. Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, 14040-901.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Forense (INCT Forense). Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, 14040-901
| | - Aline Thaís Bruni
- Departamento de Quı́mica, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo. Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, 14040-901.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Forense (INCT Forense). Avenida Bandeirantes, 3900, Vila Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, 14040-901
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Rodrigues CHP, Bruni AT. In silico toxicity as a tool for harm reduction: A study of new psychoactive amphetamines and cathinones in the context of criminal science. Sci Justice 2019; 59:234-247. [PMID: 31054814 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has raised many issues in the context of law enforcement and public drug policies. In this scenario, interdisciplinary studies are crucial to the decision-making process in the field of criminal science. Unfortunately, information about how NPS affect people's health is lacking even though knowledge about the toxic potential of these substances is essential: the more information about these drugs, the greater the possibility of avoiding damage within the scope of a harm reduction policy. Traditional analytical methods may be inaccessible in the field of forensic science because they are relatively expensive and time-consuming. In this sense, less costly and faster in silico methodologies can be useful strategies. In this work, we submitted computer-calculated toxicity values of various amphetamines and cathinones to an unsupervised multivariate analysis, namely Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and to the supervised techniques Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy and Partial Least Square-Discriminant Analysis (SIMCA and PLS-DA) to evaluate how these two NPS groups behave. We studied how theoretical and experimental values are correlated by PLS regression. Although experimental data was available for a small amount of molecules, correlation values reproduced literature values. The in silico method efficiently provided information about the drugs. On the basis of our findings, the technical information presented here can be used in decision-making regarding harm reduction policies and help to fulfill the objectives of criminal science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caio Henrique Pinke Rodrigues
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline Thaís Bruni
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Forense (INCT Forense), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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Bruni AT, de Carvalho POM, Rodrigues CHP, Leite VBP. In silico methods in forensic science: Quantum chemistry and multivariate analysis applied to infrared spectra of new amphetamine- and cathinone-derived psychoactive substances. Forensic Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Rezende Machado AL, Dezem TU, Bruni AT, Alves da Silva RH. Age estimation by facial analysis based on applications available for smartphones. J Forensic Odontostomatol 2017; 35:55-65. [PMID: 29384737 PMCID: PMC6100234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Forensic Dentistry has an important role in the human identification cases and, among the analyses that can be performed, age estimation has an important value in establishing an anthropological profile. Modern technology invests for new mechanisms of age estimation: software apps, based on special algorithms, because there is not interference based on personal knowledge, cultural and personal experiences for facial recognition. MATERIALS AND METHODS This research evaluated the use of two different apps: "How Old Do I Look? - Age Camera" and "How Old Am I? - Age Camera, Do You Look Like in Selfie Face Pic?", for age estimation analysis in a sample of 100 people (50 females and 50 males). Univariate and multivariate statistical methods were used to evaluate data. RESULTS A great reliability was seen when used for the male volunteers. However, for females, no equivalence was found between the real age and the estimated age. CONCLUSION These applications presented satisfactory results as an auxiliary method, in male images.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Rezende Machado
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Curso de Graduação em Odontologia (Iniciação Científica), Brasil
| | - T U Dezem
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Buco-Dental. Aluna de Doutorado (Odontologia Legal), Brasil
| | - A T Bruni
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Brasil
| | - R H Alves da Silva
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Brasil
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Ferraz FM, Bruni AT, Povinelli J, Vieira EM. Leachate/domestic wastewater aerobic co-treatment: A pilot-scale study using multivariate analysis. J Environ Manage 2016; 166:414-9. [PMID: 26551262 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Multivariate analysis was used to identify the variables affecting the performance of pilot-scale activated sludge (AS) reactors treating old leachate from a landfill and from domestic wastewater. Raw leachate was pre-treated using air stripping to partially remove the total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN). The control AS reactor (AS-0%) was loaded only with domestic wastewater, whereas the other reactor was loaded with mixtures containing leachate at volumetric ratios of 2 and 5%. The best removal efficiencies were obtained for a ratio of 2%, as follows: 70 ± 4% for total suspended solids (TSS), 70 ± 3% for soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), 70 ± 4% for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and 51 ± 9% for the leachate slowly biodegradable organic matter (SBOM). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis confirmed that most of the SBOM was removed by partial biodegradation rather than dilution or adsorption of organics in the sludge. Nitrification was approximately 80% in the AS-0% and AS-2% reactors. No significant accumulation of heavy metals was observed for any of the tested volumetric ratios. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) indicated that the data dimension could be reduced and that TAN, SCOD, DOC and nitrification efficiency were the main variables that affected the performance of the AS reactors.
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Affiliation(s)
- F M Ferraz
- Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - Av. Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, CEP 13566-590, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - A T Bruni
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - J Povinelli
- Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento, Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - Av. Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, CEP 13566-590, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - E M Vieira
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - Av.Trabalhador São Carlense, 400, CEP 13566-590, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
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Bruni AT, Velho JA, Ferreira ASL, Tasso MJ, Ferrari RS, Yoshida RL, Dias MS, Leite VBP. Analysis of the procedures used to evaluate suicide crime scenes in Brazil: a statistical approach to interpret reports. J Forensic Leg Med 2014; 26:29-38. [PMID: 25066170 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2014.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2014] [Revised: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
This study uses statistical techniques to evaluate reports on suicide scenes; it utilizes 80 reports from different locations in Brazil, randomly collected from both federal and state jurisdictions. We aimed to assess a heterogeneous group of cases in order to obtain an overall perspective of the problem. We evaluated variables regarding the characteristics of the crime scene, such as the detected traces (blood, instruments and clothes) that were found and we addressed the methodology employed by the experts. A qualitative approach using basic statistics revealed a wide distribution as to how the issue was addressed in the documents. We examined a quantitative approach involving an empirical equation and we used multivariate procedures to validate the quantitative methodology proposed for this empirical equation. The methodology successfully identified the main differences in the information presented in the reports, showing that there is no standardized method of analyzing evidences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Thaís Bruni
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, USP, Brazil.
| | - Jesus Antonio Velho
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, USP, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Júlia Tasso
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, USP, Brazil
| | - Raíssa Santos Ferrari
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, USP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Luís Yoshida
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Toxicológicas e Bromatológicas, FCFRP, USP, Brazil
| | - Marcos Salvador Dias
- Superintendência de Polícia Técnico Científica 18° DPC - 4ª DRPC, Seção Técnica Regional de Criminalística, São Sebastião do Paraíso, MG, Brazil
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Molfetta FA, Bruni AT, Honório KM, da Silva ABF. A structure–activity relationship study of quinone compounds with trypanocidal activity. Eur J Med Chem 2005; 40:329-38. [PMID: 15804532 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2004.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2004] [Revised: 10/26/2004] [Accepted: 10/27/2004] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A set of 25 quinone compounds with anti-trypanocidal activity was studied by using the density functional theory (DFT) method in order to calculate atomic and molecular properties to be correlated with the biological activity. The chemometric methods principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA), Kth nearest neighbor (KNN) and soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) were used to obtain possible relationships between the calculated descriptors and the biological activity studied and to predict the anti-trypanocidal activity of new quinone compounds from a prediction set. Four descriptors were responsible for the separation between the active and inactive compounds: T5 (torsion angle), QTS1 (sum of absolute values of the atomic charges), VOLS2 (volume of the substituent at region B) and HOMO-1 (energy of the molecular orbital below HOMO). These descriptors give information on the kind of interaction that occurs between the compounds and the biological receptor. The prediction study was done with a set of three new compounds by using the PCA, HCA, SDA, KNN and SIMCA methods and two of them were predicted as active against the Trypanosoma cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- F A Molfetta
- Departamento de Química e Física Molecular, Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 780, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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Abstract
In conformational analysis, the systematic search method completely maps the space but suffers from the combinatorial explosion problem because the number of conformations increases exponentially with the number of free rotation angles. This study introduces a new methodology of conformational analysis that controls the combinatorial explosion. It is based on a dimensional reduction of the system through the use of principal component analysis. The results are exactly the same as those obtained for the complete search but, in this case, the number of conformations increases only quadratically with the number of free rotation angles. The method is applied to a series of three drugs: omeprazole, pantoprazole, lansoprazole-benzimidazoles that suppress gastric-acid secretion by means of H+, K+-ATPase enzyme inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Thaís Bruni
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas UNICAMP, SP, Brazil
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