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Impact-generated hydrothermal systems are a potential habitat for life on Earth and other planetary bodies. The ubiquity of impact craters on Mars makes them of particular interest for the search for life on this planet although their viability as a habitat is not well understood. To better understand such systems, two analogue impact structures on Earth were investigated, as their dominantly basaltic target rock makes them similar to impact structures in the Martian crust: the Vista Alegre and Vargeão Dome impact structures in Brazil. The goals of this paper are to 1) better understand the Vista Alegre and Vargeão Dome impact structures, and 2) understand how impact-generated hydrothermal systems on Earth can be compared with similar systems on Mars. To enable comparison, the software HYDROTHERM is used to reconstruct the hydrothermal evolution of both impact systems on Earth. Permeability, porosity, thermal conductivity, and initial temperature distributions are varied to simulate slow--, medium-, and fast-cooling models. The medium cooling rate models are then adapted to Martian conditions and scaled to 1×, 2×, 4×, and 8× the size on Earth, also adapting the impact energy and initial heat distribution, to check the comparability using similar target rocks. Finally, target rocks are changed to a basaltic composition only, to check how a lower-permeability Martian surface composition would affect the hydrothermal system. The models indicate between 150 and 650 thousand years (ka) of hydrothermal activity for both the Vista Alegre and Vargeão Dome impact structures. Due to the limited availability of water in the initial, high-temperature situation in the crater centre, water flux first increases and then decreases, although after 650 kyr the water flux towards the crater centre remains active in Vargeão Dome only. This sustained water flux is likely related to the low relative pressure in the crater centre due to the lack of overlying rock in comparison to outside the crater, as well as the direct connection of an underlying sandstone aquifer with high-permeability, fractured basalt in the centre of the structure. The Martian models with the same lithologies as on Earth show overall lower water flux and contain permafrost, which prevents the water flux within the aquifer from outside the crater towards the crater centre as seen in Vargeão Dome. The cooling times increase with scaling from 1× to 8× the size to ∼0.2 and 5 Myr, respectively. With only basalts in the target, cooling times reach ∼0.2 to 9 Myr. However, in that case, the water flow only remains active for up to the first Myr, and a minimum crater diameter of approximately 40 km is needed to achieve surface water fluxes close to those in Vargeão Dome and Vista Alegre. Below the Martian surface, hydrothermal system activity can persist for millions of years, providing potential for supporting life. Unfortunately, these parts of the system are currently unreachable for both sampling and spectroscopic techniques, and the short lifetime and low water fluxes at the surface related to the permafrost layers do not favour impact-generated hydrothermal systems on present-day Mars as targets for the search for life. However, these systems are highly dependent on the rock types and related permeabilities and could have provided habitats before 3.5 Ga, when the planet was warmer and liquid water was present at the surface. • This is the first fluid-flow model of terrestrial impact craters in basaltic targets. • This is the first direct comparison of fluid-flow models for impact-generated hydrothermal systems on Earth and Mars. • This is the first time a (semi)quantitative limit is set for impact-generated hydrothermal systems on Mars. • The paper provides new insights into impact-generated hydrothermal systems on Mars and their potential as a habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis of a hitherto barely known conceptual problem in the foundations of arithmetic. An unknown type of number, so-called complex numbers, first emerged in 18th century France and became connected with the claim of non-commutativity of their multiplication. These first French practitioners are here analysed, along with examination of the impact of the introduction of the metric decimal system. International dissemination of the notion is then analysed, in particular in the case of Brazil. The paper concludes by looking at the mathematical foundations of multiplying (physical) quantities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indiscriminate use of antimicrobials has led to the emergence of resistant bacteria, especially pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli , which are associated with diseases in animals and humans. The aim of the present study was to characterize E. coli isolates in calves with regards to the presence of virulence genes and investigate the resistance of the isolates to different antimicrobials. Between 2021 and 2023, 456 fecal samples were collected from calves in the Pantanal and Cerrado biomes of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. All samples were subjected to microbiological analysis and disc diffusion antibiogram testing. The polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect virulence genes. Bacterial growth was found in 451 of the 456 samples and biochemically identified as Escherichia coli. All 451 isolates (100 %) exhibited some phenotypic resistance to antimicrobials and 67.62 % exhibited multidrug resistance. The frequency of multidrug-resistant isolates in the Cerrado biome was significantly higher than that in the Pantanal biome (p = 0.0001). In the Cerrado , the most common pathotype was Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) (28 %), followed by toxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (11 %), enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) (8 %) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) (2 %). In most cases, the concomitant occurrence of pathotypes was more common, the most frequent of which were ETEC + STEC (33 %), ETEC + EHEC (15 %) and ETEC + EPEC (3 %). The STEC pathotype (30 %) was also found more frequently in the Pantanal , followed by EHEC (12 %), ETEC (9 %) and EPEC (6 %). The STEC pathotype had a significantly higher frequency of multidrug resistance (p = 0.0486) compared to the other pathotypes identified. The frequency of resistance was lower in strains from the Pantanal biome compared to those from the Cerrado biome. Although some factors are discussed in this paper, it is necessary to clarify the reasons for this difference and the possible impacts of these findings on both animal and human health in the region. • Multi-resistant bacteria in cattle in the Cerrado and Pantanal biomes of Brazil. • Antimicrobial multiresistance of E. coli pathotypes isolated from calf feces. • Domestic animals and humans, exchange of pathogens between different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most soil databases present the mass fractions of sand, silt, and clay particles without detailed primary particle-size distribution (PSD). In the present paper two simple methods are introduced to estimate the PSD using the fractions of sand, silt, clay, and very coarse sand. A total of 504 soil samples with different texture classes from different regions, i.e., southern Iran (245), south-eastern Brazil (116), and UNSODA database (143) were used. PSD of the Iranian and Brazilian soil samples were determined using a combination of wet-sieving and sedimentation (hydrometer for Iranian and pipette for Brazilian soils) approaches and that of the others extracted from UNSODA database. We developed two new methods including very coarse sand-dependent (VCS-D) and very coarse sand-independent (VCS–I) to predict PSD of the soils. PSD were also predicted using the revised Skaggs method (R-Skaggs) and compared with the measured ones. Both VCS-D and VCS-I approaches with very simple equations accurately estimated full range of PSD in a wide range of the fine to medium textured soils)clay, clay loam, loam, silty clay, silty clay loam, silt loam, and silt texture classes). Accuracy of predictions was slightly lower in coarse textured soils (sandy clay, sandy clay loam, sandy loam, loamy sand, and sand textures) than that of the other texture classes. For these coarse textured soils, it is strongly recommended that the fraction of particles between 0.05 and 2 mm diameters be estimated using the VCS-D or VCS-I methods and the fraction of particles between 0.002 and 0.05 mm diameters be estimated using the R-Skaggs method. The R-Skaggs method could only predict the PSD in the soils with nearly 25–60% sand content, accurately. Whereas, the new proposed methods could predict full range of PSD with high accuracy (NRMSE <10%) in soils with sand content less than 53%. Overall, the proposed methods could accurately predict full range of PSD curve by using only the content of primary soil particles in nearly 73% of soil classes in texture triangle. • New methods (VCS-D and VCS-I) proposed to estimate particle-size distribution (PSD). • The methods are very simple and accurate to estimate PSD from limited texture data. • The methods are very accurate to estimate PSD in 73% of soil texture triangle. • The methods excellently estimate PSD in fine and medium textured soils. • The methods were more accurate than R-Skaggs in fine and medium textured soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anticarsia gemmatalis is one of the main defoliators of soybean in Brazil. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) transgenic crops are used for their management. In this paper we used RNA-seq to explore the response of A. gemmatalis to Bt HD73, as well as to detect transcriptional differences after Bt infection between resistant and susceptible strains. A total of 3853 and 6224 differentially expressed genes (DGEs) were identified in susceptible and resistant larvae after Bt exposure, respectively. We identified 2143 DEGs between susceptible and resistant larvae and 1991 between susceptible and resistant larvae Bt exposed. Immunity-related genes, Bt toxins receptors, proteases, genes involved in metabolic processes, transporters, cuticle proteins and mobile elements have been identified. qRT-PCR data demonstrated upregulation of five genes in susceptible strain after Bt exposure. These results provide insights to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of response to Bt that could be used in strategies to control agricultural pests. • The transcriptome of Anticarsia gemmatalis (resistant and susceptible) challenged and non-challenged with Bt HD73 was obtained; • Man differentially expressed genes, including immunity-related genes and potential Bt toxins receptors were identified; • Quantitative real-time PCR data demonstrated upregulation of five genes in susceptible strain after Bt exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing population worldwide, in recent years, an exponential increase in agricultural practices has occurred in order to attend to the growing demand for food. Unfortunately, this increase is not associated with the supply of foodstuffs free of environmental pollutants. In Brazil, agriculture is one of the most important economic pillars, making the country one of the largest consumers of pesticides around the world. The intense use of pesticides, mainly glyphosate, 2,4-D, and atrazine, constitutes an essential factor in the viability of this great agricultural productivity. Sugarcane, corn, soybean, and citrus crops consume around 66% of the total pesticides worldwide, representing 76% of the planted area. Pesticide residues have been frequently detected in food and the environment, becoming a significant concern for human health. Monitoring programs for pesticide use are essential to reduce the potential negative impacts on the environment and improve the overall efficiency and sustainability of their use. However, in Brazil, the approval status of pesticide-active ingredients is very discrepant compared to other agricultural countries. Moreover, the duality of benefits and risks of pesticide application creates an economic and toxicological conflict. In this paper, we have critically reviewed the duality of risks-benefits of the use of pesticides in agriculture and the current Brazilian legislation issues. We have also compared this flawed legislation with other countries with high economic potential. Due to the negative environmental impacts on soil and water by the high levels of pesticides, remediation techniques, sustainable agriculture, and the development of new technologies can be considered some viable alternatives to reduce the levels in these compartments. Besides, this paper includes some recommendations that can be included in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overexploitation of groundwater in urban karst aquifers can lead to negative consequences such as land subsidence, depletion of springs and lakes, and water pollution. It can also have indirect effects such as environmental, socio-economic, and political instability. In the municipality of Sete Lagoas, Brazil, the long-term effects of extensive groundwater extraction have been observed and studied over the years. This paper analyzes the response of the karst aquifer to urban, industrial, and climatological changes that may have contributed to changes in the aquifer over the last four decades. The results show that groundwater extraction has exceeded the average aquifer recharge since the year 2000. From the 1980s, the number of wells has steadily increased due to unplanned urban development, resulting in higher demand for groundwater. In the 2010s, pumping from tubular wells (7.39 × 107 m3/yr) exceeded the maximum recharge capacity of the aquifer (7.33 × 107 m3/yr). These wells are mainly concentrated in two areas: the central urban zone and the industrial sector. As a result, kilometer-long cones of depression have formed, changing the aquifer from confined to unconfined within these regions. According to the census data, about 67% of the wells remain unidentified. The average annual recharge to the aquifer is estimated to be 5.68 × 107 m3/yr, which accounts for 12% of the average annual rainfall in the region. Climatological trends indicate an incipient decrease in precipitation and an increase in temperature, suggesting a potential decrease in future aquifer recharge. In addition, only 17% of the area has high infiltration rates ranging from 35% to 75%. The current situation in Sete Lagoas is one of overexploitation of groundwater resources, which could be mitigated by localized reduction of groundwater consumption and implementation of effective management strategies to increase aquifer recharge. [Display omitted] • Central urban and industrial areas present kilometer-scale cones of depression. • Pumping from tubular wells has already exceeded the aquifer's maximum recharge. • Sete Lagoas is currently facing an overexploitation situation. • Reduction of consumption and effective management strategies shall increase recharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Paleogeological events that shaped the modern distribution of Trichomycterus. • Diversification of Trichomycterus subgenera occurs mainly in the Miocene. • Event based biogeographical methods applied to neotropical fish fauna. The catfish subfamily Trichomycterinae is widely distributed in South America inhabiting several habitats, but specially mountain streams. Trichomycterus is the most speciose trichomycterid genus and recently due to his paraphyletic condition has been restricted to a clade from eastern Brazil called Trichomycterus sensu stricto comprising around 80 valid species distributed in seven areas of endemism of eastern Brazil. This paper aims to analyse the biogeographical events responsible for the distribution of Trichomycterus s.s. , by reconstructing the ancestral data based on a time-calibrated multigene phylogeny. A multi-gene phylogeny was generated using 61 species of Trichomycterus s.s. and 30 outgroups, with divergence events calculated based on the estimated origin of Trichomycteridae. Two event-based analyses were applied to investigate the biogeographical events responsible the present distribution of Trichomycterus s.s. and suggest that the modern distribution of the group is a result of different vicariance and dispersal events. The diversification of Trichomycterus s.s. subgenera occurred in the Miocene, except for Megacambeva , with different biogeographical events shaping its distribution in eastern Brazil. An initial vicariant event split up the Fluminense ecoregion from the Northeastern Mata Atlantica + Paraíba do Sul + Fluminense + Ribeira do Iguape + Upper Paraná ecoregions. Dispersal events occurred mainly between Paraíba do Sul and neighboring river basins, with additional dispersal events from Northeastern Mata Atlantica to Paraíba do Sul, from São Francisco to Northeastern Mata Atlântica, and from Upper Paraná to São Francisco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years, copper-based fungicides have been used in viticulture and have contributed to increasing concentrations in soils. Today, it is not uncommon to find vineyard soils with total copper topsoil concentrations above 100 mg kg−1, which may have consequences for both the environment and human health. Phytoremediation, the use of plants to remove heavy metals from soils, is a promising and environmentally-friendly method to extract copper from soils. The objectives of this study were to review and synthesise the current knowledge on copper phytoremediation in vineyard soils and identify future applications. A systematic literature search in Web of Science was conducted on 19 July 2022 and resulted in twenty-seven papers meeting the inclusion criteria. Approximately one third of the papers were from Brazil and most of the experiments had been carried out in pots. In some studies, the addition of bacteria or chelators was also evaluated. Some species, such as Plantago lanceolata L. or Ricinus communis L., can accumulate copper in their tissues at concentrations above 1000 mg kg−1. Addition of bacteria and chelators to the soil can also increase the copper uptake capacity by plants. However, most of the species evaluated accumulate copper in the roots, rather than in the shoots, thus limiting the implementation of this method in practice. Further studies are thus needed to find other hyperaccumulator plants. Future research should focus primarily on the ability of plants to accumulate copper in their aerial parts, their ability to transfer copper from roots to shoots, and their biomass production under high soil copper concentrations. Longer-term experiments and more in situ testing are also needed to evaluate the potential for development and use of copper phytoremediation in vineyards. To conclude, species of the Poaceae and Lamiaceae families are the most promising so far for phytoremediation. Identifying plants able to translocate copper from the roots to the aerial parts will be an important factor in the success of this method. • Phytoremediation can target heavy metal build-up in agroecosystems. • We conducted the first systematic review on phytoremediation of copper in viticultural soils, using 27 eligible studies from nine countries. • Plantago lanceolata and Ricinus communis can accumulate copper at concentrations above 1000 mg kg−1 so are promising candidates. • Research should focus on species that can accumulate copper in shoots or are easy to uproot and produce high biomass in polluted soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ketchup is a popular tomato-based sauce also containing differing proportions of sugar and vinegar. While tomato is a plant with the C 3 photosynthetic metabolism, sugarcane is a tropical grass with C 4 photosynthesis, used in Brazil as feedstock for sugar and alcohol vinegar production. Sugarcane derivatives are often widely used in the Brazilian food industry. In this paper, we investigated the relative isotopic proportion of C 3 and C 4 -derived products in 25 ketchup brands commercialized in Brazil, through the carbon (C) isotopic ratio (δ13C). The aim was to identify the contribution of tomatoes to the final ketchup composition, as the manufacturers do not provide this information to the consumer. The overall δ13C mean in the analyzed ketchup was –16.2 ± 1.4 ‰, suggesting a predominance of C 4 - over C 3 -derived sources in these brands. Using a Bayesian isotopic dilution model, we estimated that approximately 75 % of the carbon source of ketchup comes from C 4 plants (p < 0.05). A low correlation between ketchup price and δ13C was found, probably because price reflects attributes such as brand and, not necessarily, product composition. In addition, our study also presents a robust regressive predictive model of the sugar percentages in the final ketchup composition. Combining these approaches, consistent tools can be incorporated to evaluate ketchup quality. [Display omitted] • The main carbon source in Brazilian ketchup is not tomatoes but derived from C 4 plants. • Increase in ketchup prices is not due to the increase of tomatoes in their compositions. • Models allowed identification and prediction of tomato/sugar ratio in Brazilian ketchup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use changes have contributed to an increased interest in understanding the drivers of forest regeneration in human-modified landscapes. This is particularly true for arid ecosystems, in which regeneration is relatively less known, but more sensitive to land-use intensification and climate change. This paper aims to identify the relative contribution of seed rain and soil seed banks for the regeneration of the Caatinga dry forest in northeastern Brazil as well as their drivers. We monitored seed rain and soil seed bank of woody plant species during a 14-month period across 15 regenerating (4–70 yr old) and 5 old-growth forest stands. Stand age, precipitation, chronic anthropogenic disturbance, and forest aboveground biomass were our explanatory variables. A total of 5081 seeds from 61 species were recorded in the seed rain across all forest stands (1.81 intact seeds per m2 per month). Regenerating and old-growth stands did not differ relative to average seed rain scores, with the proportion of zoochoric seeds positively associated with forest biomass. In the seed bank, we recorded a total of 5660 seeds from 64 species (5.05 intact seeds per m2 per month), with no differences among stands, except for species richness; with mean seed size positively associated with stand age. Collectively, seed rain and seed bank captured only 40% of the woody regional flora, mostly dry-fruited species (70% of all species). Moreover, assemblages were dominated by a few hyper-abundant species. Our results suggest that the Caatinga dry forest supports relatively low-density and impoverished seed rain and soil seed bank. Additionally, seed rain and soil seed bank do not exhibit directional changes through forest regeneration for most of the attributes, and deviate little from the scores of old-growth forest stands. Compared to resprouting, they may pose limited influence on woody plant recruitment and dry forest regeneration across human-modified landscapes. In this context, Caatinga restoration approaches based on natural seed rain and soil seed banks may be of limited effectiveness. • Seed assemblages in the Caatinga regenerating forests are impoverished and low dense. • Impoverished seed assemblages are linked to low productivity and human disturbances. • Seed assemblages are not affected by forest age, exhibiting little successional trends. • Seed rain and seed bank may play a minor role in the Caatinga forest regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanol production has increased over the years, and Brazil ranking second in the world using sugarcane as the main raw material. However, 10–15 L of vinasse are generated per liter of ethanol produced. Besides large volumes, this wastewater has high polluting potential due to its low pH and high concentrations of organic matter and nutrients. Given the high biodegradability of the organic matter, the treatment of this effluent by anaerobic digestion and membrane separation processes results in the generation of high value-added byproducts such as volatile fatty acids (VFAs), biohydrogen and biogas. Membrane bioreactors have been widely evaluated due to the high efficiency achieved in vinasse treatment. In recent years, high retention membrane bioreactors, in which high retention membranes (nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, forward osmosis and membrane distillation) are combined with biological processes, have gained increasing attention. This paper presents a critical review focused on high retention membrane bioreactors and the challenges associated with the proposed configurations. For nanofiltration membrane bioreactor (NF-MBR), the main drawback is the higher fouling propensity due to the hydraulic driving force. Nonetheless, the development of membranes with high permeability and anti-fouling properties is uprising. Regarding osmotic membrane bioreactor (OMBR), special attention is needed for the selection of a proper draw solution, which desirably should be low cost, have high osmolality, reduce reverse salt flux, and can be easily reconcentrated. Membrane distillation bioreactor (MDBR) also exhibit some shortcomings, with emphasis on energy demand, that can be solved with the use of low-grade and residual heat, or renewable energies. Among the configurations, MDBR seems to be more advantageous for sugarcane vinasse treatment due to the lower energy consumption provided by the use of waste heat from the effluent, and due to the VFAs recovery, which has high added value. [Display omitted] • Sugarcane vinasse treatment reduces the environmental impact of ethanol production. • Wastewater treatment by HR-MBR enables water reuse and resources recovery. • Residual heat from vinasse can be used to reduce the energy demand in MD-MBRs. • Full-scale HR-MBR needs future research to make it economically viable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Histopathologic and stereomicroscopic analyses are complementary methods to better confirm the parasitism by sporocysts and cercariae in mussels. • The absence of gonads in the mussel mantle may be associated with parasitism. • New sequences of Perna perna and Prosorhynchoides sp. from the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil are provided. Mussel production is expanding worldwide, and in Brazil the main species currently produced is the mussel Perna perna. Bucephalid trematodes have been recorded in P. perna but their larval identification is problematic. In this context, the aims of this paper were to evaluate the prevalence of bucephalids in P. perna , perform taxonomic and phylogenetic trematode studies, and analyze potential histopathological alterations in the infected host. Mussels obtained by fishers from Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were weighed and measured, and internal organ tissues and parasites were collected. Of the 69 analyzed mussels, 24.6 % (17/69) were parasitized by bucephalid larvae. Sporocysts were located mainly in host mantle. Mussels presented sporocysts and cercaria within the connective tissue of mantle, all without associated inflammatory reactions. Parasite loads varied from less than 5 % to > 50 % of parasitized tissue. Histopathological examinations indicated that male or female gonads were not observed in 77 % (10/13) of parasitized mussels and in 4 % (2/56) identified as non-parasitized in the histology but previously classified as parasitized in the stereomicroscopic analysis. Thus, the absence of gonads may be associated with parasitism. Prosorhynchoides sp. is reported herein for the first time in mussels sampled on the coast of Rio de Janeiro, with genetic and histological data reported for the intermediate host, sporocysts and cercariae. New 28S rDNA, 18S rDNA and ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2 sequences are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Initiatives of artisanal fisheries co-management and the construction of differentiated markets for seafood products have been emerging in different parts of the world, as an institutionalized way of coping with a global fishery crisis. This paper analyses some institutionalization processes of artisanal mollusc fisheries, considering the role of co-management in two Brazilian and Italian protected areas (Resex Pirajubaé and Conero Regional Park). Within a theoretical framework aiming at moving beyond the dualism between nature and society, the methodology of multiple-case-study has been used to carry on research about mollusc artisanal fisheries co-management networks in their constitution and development. The paper analyses how these networks are organised in the two contexts and the relations social actors have been developing for a sustainable fishery as a possible way to influence and increase their capacity to address environmental crisis. In the artisanal mollusc fishery co-management experiences, fishers' participation may favour institutional innovations and the co-management networks stability may be generated by the institutions legitimacy. Furthermore, the case studies offer complementary insights to better understand the linkage between artisanal fishery institutionalization processes, common natural resources co-management and value aggregation for traditional seafood. Artisanal mollusc fishery co-management experiences should be stimulated and investigated since they can help in diagnosing early climate and environmental changes in the oceans. • Artisanal mollusc fishery co-management helps to diagnose early oceans changes. • Fishers' participation favours institutional innovations in co-management. • Co-management networks stability is closely related to the institutions legitimacy. • Co-management can integrate environmental regulation and seafood value aggregation. • Sustainable co-management offers opportunities to address environmental crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the relative contribution of Land Use and Cover Changes (LUCC) and climate changes on runoff still represents a great challenge for water resources management. This issue is particularly critical for the Upper Paraná River Basin (UPRB), one of the most important basins in South America and responsible for most of the production of food, ethanol, and electricity generation in Brazil. In this paper, we used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to quantitatively assess the relative contribution of both forcings. The simulation period included a time of great importance for climate studies, known as the 1970s global climate shift, and of great impact on river discharge within the UPRB. Three land use and cover scenarios were assigned to the 1961–1990 period of simulations, representing land use and cover during a pristine period (around the Year 1500), 1960, and 1985. Thirteen years of precipitation before and after the climate shift (considered to be the period 1974–1977) were analyzed and compared. Results showed a precipitation increase for the basin in general after the climate shift. The increase in rainfall reached up to 15% in many northern areas and more than 20% in the southern parts of the basin. By comparing all simulations, results indicate that both LUCC and precipitation increase due to the climate shift had a significant effect on the changes in annual discharge of the largest rivers of the UPRB. However, the results suggest that the impact of the precipitation increase on the discharge exceeded that of the LUCC. Between 1960 and 1985 the LUCC accounts for about 16% of the increase of the median annual discharge, whereas climate shift accounts for an increase of about 32%. These findings, suggesting a more relevant role for the climate, are consistent with two recent water crisis experienced by the country in the last decades, caused by prolonged below-normal rainfall throughout 2001/2002 and again in 2014/2015. [Display omitted] • We simulated land use and cover from a pristine period (Year 1500), 1960, and 1985. • We evaluated the effects of precipitation change on discharge from 1961 to 1990. • Natural vegetation fell by more than half of the original area up to 1985. • Precipitation increased by more than 20% after the 1970s global climate shift. • Results suggest that climate shift is the main driver in increasing annual discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-occurrence of two or more diseases is called multimorbidity, and the occurrence of two or more risk factors is called simultaneity of risk factors. Multimorbidity and simultaneity of risk factors are not widely understood in adolescence and early adulthood. This paper aims to describe how multimorbidity and simultaneity of risk factors are distributed throughout adolescence and early adulthood, considering demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, among the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort members. This study was carried out using data from the 11, 15, 18, and 22y of the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort, Brazil (n = 5249). A self-reported questionnaire assessed allergies, asthma/bronchitis/wheezing, diabetes, vision problems, hypertension, common mental disorders, other mental disorders, physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, insufficient sleep time, smoking, alcohol abuse behaviour, and illicit drugs. Glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, and height were objectively collected. The prevalence of multimorbidity was 26.3%, 31.3%, 37.9%, and 44.4% at 11, 15, 18, and 22y, respectively. Around 70% of all ages presented simultaneity of risk factors. Women presented a higher prevalence of simultaneity of risk factors, and the multimorbidity gradually increased from 11 to 22y. The presence of both multimorbidity and simultaneity of risk factors was 19.7% at 11 and 35.4% at 22y. Less than 2% have no morbidity and no risk factors at each age assessed. This study highlighted the early emergence and accelerated growth of diseases and risk factors in a young population, especially their co-occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for plastics, for packaging and consumption, is a current environmental issue. Although there are many scientific developments concerning material science, knowledge about the public's perception is low, which can delay society's efforts to face this challenge. This study aimed to understand if Brazilians who practice different sustainable actions perceive differently biodegradable, recycled, and common plastics and have different purchase intentions for each specific type of packaging. A total of 1080 Brazilian adults were first classified by their day-to-day attitudes regarding sustainability efforts. Then, their purchase intention and perception about different plastics were assessed. Regardless of sustainability practices, people associate common plastic bags with negative attributes and biodegradable plastic bags with positive attributes. This shows that there is a well-established concept about these types of bags, even if there are some misconceptions (e.g. recyclable) or controversies (e.g. non-polluting). On the other hand, results showed that consumers who adopted more sustainable practices were 3.5 times more willing to pay for biodegradable packages, even though no differences were observed in the accepted price for biodegradable bags between consumer's groups. Finally, the purchase intention comparisons for products packaged in recycled and biodegradable plastics showed the consumers were more interested in those biodegradable plastics and the purchase intention was lower for perishable food (e.g. products that can have higher safety risks). The results are important for understanding environmental policy management in Brazil, highlighting the importance to improve the population's knowledge about different types of plastic, leading to more conscious choices. • Aimed to understand if Brazilians with different sustainable practices. • Importance to improve population's knowledge about different type of plastics. • Understand the management of environmental policy in Brazil. • Consumers are more interested in purchasing products in biodegradable plastics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conditional incentives are a promising complementary approach to conserve tropical forests, for example, in multiple-use protected areas. In this paper we analyze the environmental impacts of Bolsa Floresta , a forest conservation program that combines direct conditional payments with livelihood-focused investments in 15 multiple-use reserves in the Brazilian state of Amazonas. We use grid-based data, nearest-neighbor matching, and panel data econometrics to compare three forest-related program outcomes – deforestation, degradation, and fires – of participating and non-participating reserve areas. Forest threats were low before and after treatment, because the program prioritized low-pressure sites. Thus, we find significant but small additional conservation effects from the implementation of the program. Notwithstanding, treatment effects are relatively larger in areas with higher deforestation pressure and higher potential agricultural income. Our findings add to the growing body of evidence showing that adverse spatial targeting of conservation incentives, i.e. disproportionally enrolling low–pressure sites, is a prime cause for the low additionality found in rigorous impact evaluations of many existing initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the emergence of the epibiotic barnacle Xenobalanus globicipitis in Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from Sepetiba Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in September 2018, six months after a lethal morbillivirus epidemic. Small boat surveys were conducted at the entrance and in the interior of the bay from January 2018 to February 2021. Dolphins were photo-identified and classified according to overall spatial use of the Bay. We examined the potential influence of the period and habitat on the prevalence of X. globicipitis. The overall prevalence of the barnacle was 38.7% in 214 dolphins. X. globicipitis was not observed in 99 individually identified dolphins from January to August 2018 (first period) but was seen on 83 of the 194 (42.8%) dolphins photographed from September 2018 to February 2021 (second period). Moreover, in 22 individuals repeatedly photographed during both periods, prevalence was 0% and 91% during the first and second period, respectively. Prevalence was the highest in the dolphins using the entrance of the Bay (55.0%, N = 140), intermediate in animals using equally both the entrance and interior area (42.9%, N = 47), and the lowest (6.4%, N = 7) in those using the interior area only. The calves of five females infested with X. globicipitis were free of barnacles. Based on repeated photographs of barnacles at different growth stage on six dolphins, the periods between first and last sight with the epibiont were (in increasing order) 29, 32, 40, 51, 68 and 78 days. A conservative estimation from the initial settlement to sexual maturity was around 40–45 days. Three individuals of X. globicipitis collected on a stranded dolphin measured 65 mm, 61 mm and 35 mm, the largest recorded size to date. The two large individuals had incubated embryos while the smaller one presented developing gonads. Poor health and an impaired immune response in the dolphins that had survived the morbillivirus epidemic may have favored the introduction of the barnacle, but biotic and abiotic factors could also had played an important role. This paper documents the colonization of an estuarine area by X. globicipitis following ecological changes. • Xenobalanus globicipitis prevalence was the highest in dolphins using areas directly influenced by coastal waters. • None of the twelve calves were infested by X. globicipitis , though, in five cases, their mothers were. • The infestation period of X. globicipitis ranged from 29 to 78 days, and none of the infested dolphins had barnacles after c. 9.5 months. • The barnacle growth curve flattened at c. 30 days, with a conservative estimation, from the initial settlement to sexual maturity of 40–45 days. • Poor health, impaired immune response, biotic and abiotic factors might have favored the emergence of X. globicipitis at Sepetiba Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]