Search

[Display omitted] • Five Brazilian coats of arms paintings are characterized in a microanalytical approach • Artist's palette comprises traditional pigments such as ultramarine blue, indigo, Prussian blue, lead chromate and vermillion • Aluminium and brass are found in silvering and gilding instead of silver and gold, contradicting heraldic guidelines • Differences in the colorant palette and signature raise questions about the authorship of a painting • Crystalline efflorescences in one painting may indicate paint extender migration or past microbiological activity Heraldry in Latin American art of the twentieth century can be considered rare. In this context, the material composition of coat of arms paintings on paper attributed to the Brazilian painter José Wasth Rodrigues is investigated for the first time using a microanalytical approach. Microsamples from 5 municipal coats of arms dated 1932 were analysed using Raman microscopy, Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). SEM-EDS results revealed the artist's choice of using metallic aluminium and brass in the representation of silver and gold colours, respectively. Raman microscopy analyses showed the use of traditional inorganic pigments, such as ultramarine blue, indigo, Prussian blue, yellow chromates and vermillion. In contrast, the results showed that the painting with an unusual signature attributed to the artist (W. instead of J.W.R, commonly found) contains synthetic organic dyes Orange 5, Red 53, and Yellow 1 (introduced in the 1900s). This discovery raised hypothesis of questioning authorship for this particular painting. ATR-FTIR analysis of a paint fragment from one painting confirmed the use of gum arabic as a binder. ATR-FTIR analyses of efflorescences collected from a blue paint layer of a particular coat of arms suggest protein and lipid content, raising suspicion of either the use of the tempera technique in this particular paint or remains of a past microorganism activity. Robust information was obtained on the chemical characterization of the coat of arms, enhancing comprehension of the painting techniques employed by the artist and providing insight into the production of heraldic art in Brazil at the beginning of the 20th-century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for determining thallium in water samples via solid sampling high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (SS HR-CS GF AAS) after preconcentration using chromatographic filter paper as a solid support was proposed. The effects of pH, stirring time, and sample volume in the analyte preconcentration step were studied. The presence of potential interferences in the sample and the type of masking agent were also examined. In the proposed procedure, the sample was placed in contact with the solid phase in a polypropylene tube, and after stirring for 3 min, thallium determination was performed via HR-CS GF AAS directly on chromatographic filter paper. A preconcentration factor of 55, a precision of 9.4% (n = 10; 10 μg L−1), a limit of detection of 0.018 μg L−1, and a limit of quantification of 0.059 μg L−1 were achieved. Analyte addition and recovery tests were performed, and the results ranged from 91% to 110%. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing a water reference material. The procedure was used to determine thallium in water samples collected in Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil. The results were compared with those obtained using inductively coupled plasma‒mass spectrometry (ICP‒MS). Thallium concentrations in the analyzed samples ranged from <0.059 to 0.80 μg L−1. [Display omitted] • A method for Tl determination in water samples using SS HR-CS GF AAS is presented. • Thallium preconcentration using chromatographic filter paper as a solid phase was performed. • Thallium determination was carried out via HR-CS GF AAS directly on chromatographic paper. • This method was used to analyze river water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, a cutin-like, highly chemically resistant macropolymer has been isolated from rachises of Karinopteris sp. (lyginopteridalean pteridosperm, Middle Pennsylvanian). Samples are obtained from a cuticular or "paper" coal-shale, i.e., an organic-rich and highly clastic rock associated with the Upper Block Coal Member of the Brazil Formation, Parke County, west-central Indiana, U.S.A. Karinopteris specimens are preserved as naturally oxidized compressions, termed "fossilized cuticles", and possibly represent vegetation of mineral substrate environments. Employing laboratory oxidation reactions, the fossilized cuticle of Karinopteris rachises is used to obtain the cuticle. After additional and long-term oxidation treatment, the cuticle yields the cutin-like macropolymer, here referred to as "cutin" for simplicity. The fossilized cuticle, cuticle, and cutin samples of Karinopteris sp. are chemically analyzed using semi-quantitative Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Cutin IR spectra of Karinopteris rachises are characterized by (a) a predominantly aliphatic composition as indicated by intense aliphatic (CH al) C H stretching peaks at 3000–2700 cm−1, which are assigned to methylene (CH 2) and methyl (CH 3) groups; (b) carbonyl (C=O) groups at 1730–1640 cm−1, and aromatic carbon (C=C) absorption bands at 1600–1500 cm−1. A comparison with the cuticle, the cutin stands out due to relatively higher values of CH 2 /CH 3 and C=O/C=C, while displaying notably low values of CH al /C=O and C C contribution. Specifically, the relatively low value of CH al /C=O ratio obtained for the cutin of Karinopteris rachises is consistent with those found in the cutin of extant and fossil leaves. This lower CH al /C=O ratio indicates the important role likely played by C O groups in creating a deformable and flexible structure in both the cutin and the cuticle. Such a reduced rigidity suggests a high level of rachis flexibility of the once-living Karinopteris plant, supporting the interpretation of a climbing or liana habit. Cutin isolation and its chemical characterization shed light on the probable biomechanical (flexibility) properties of Karinopteris rachises, thereby enhancing our understanding of the plant growth habit. [Display omitted] • First-time spectroscopic study of Indiana "paper" coal (Pennsylvanian, U.S.A.). • Cutin polymer is obtained from fossilized cuticles of Karinopteris rachises. • Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy supplies chemical data. • Cutin is mainly aliphatic with highly crossed-linked ester carbonyl (C=O) bonds. • High C O contents suggest a liana-like Karinopteris plant with flexible rachises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The study of plant–plant parasitism has experienced remarkable growth in the scientific literature. • Research on plant parasites has predominantly focused on ecological and physiological aspects in the last 20 yeras. • Aspects of evolution and host-parasite interactions needs further and deeper investigations. • We hope this special issue will serve as a catalyst for further advancements in the investigation of plant-plant parasitism. The study of plant–plant parasitism has experienced remarkable growth in the scientific literature, particularly over the past two decades. Hemi- and holoparasites, in particular, have been recognized as pivotal components within plant communities, capable of upscale effects to the ecosystem. Research on plant parasites has predominantly focused on ecological and physiological aspects of parasites and hosts, with a global distribution pattern. However, some fields remain relatively unexplored, and specific regions of Asia and the Global South (with exception of Australia and Brazil) have yet to receive comprehensive attention. Here, we introduce the theme on plant hemi- and holoparasites and explore publication trends on plant–plant parasitism over the past half-century, with a particular emphasis on papers published within the last two decades. We explore our findings to extend an invitation to researchers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to contribute their expertise to a forthcoming Virtual Special Issue of Flora – Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants on "Plant Parasitism: Ecology, Evolution and Functional Aspects", with contributions expected from a wide range of topics related to ecology, physiology, morphology, systematics, and reproductive biology. We believe that this special issue will help in advancing our knowledge in plant-plant parasitism, fostering collaboration and facilitating the growth of this exciting area of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity markets offer considerable promise but are accompanied by controversies. Here, we map the utilization of native species (NS) from Brazil's biodiversity across eleven industrial sectors: foodstuffs, beverages, textiles, clothing, leather, wood, pulp and paper, biofuels, pharmochemicals, rubber and furniture. We show that there exists a diverse range of NS use in industrial products (48%) and activities (73%). These economic activities represent potential annual exports of approximately USD $50 billion. However, we found that only 1% of the potential business, USD $500 million of annual exports, is consolidated and can be traced to such products. We show that biodiversity markets and larger annual revenues locate in municipalities away from places in which biodiversity products originate. Therefore, the biodiversity business in Brazil remains largely untapped. This prompts a critical examination of the role of biodiversity within the Brazilian industry and its alignment with the Brazilian Biodiversity Law and the Nagoya Protocol. Our study is a pioneering effort that provides strategic recommendations. We suggest that the responsibility for sustainable NS utilization predominantly falls on sectors dominated by major corporations, most notably pharmochemicals and biofuels. These industry sectors possess the potential to lead the transition towards responsible and sustainable biodiversity practices within Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing global waste generated by industrial activities poses significant environmental challenges. Eco-waste management emerges as an economically viable solution for converting, valorizing, and repurposing these byproducts, aligning with circular economy principles, and aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Construction, known for its unsustainability due to high energy consumption, non-renewable resource utilization, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from cement production, has led to the exploration of alternative materials. Magnesium oxide (MgO)-based cement, an alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), has gained attention, leveraging Brazil's prominence as a major magnesite producer. This study explores the valorization of waste from kraft pulp mills of the paper industry, specifically lime sludge (LS) and lime slaker grits (grits), to produce magnesium oxysulfate (MOS)-based fiber cement boards. The effect of accelerated carbonation on cementitious composites produced with formulations containing grits and LS was investigated. Replacing 25% of the limestone with grits showed no noticeable differences in the properties of the boards, and MOR values close to 11.17 MPa were obtained. However, the physical-mechanical performance showed a decrease with the use of LS and higher concentrations of grits, associated with Na 2 SO 4.XH 2 O formation in the system and ITZ structure formed around the aggregated particle, respectively. Carbonation in a saturated atmosphere led to the carbonation of the 5–1–7 phase, which was related to the decrease in mechanical strength of the boards after the curing process. The thermal decomposition of the Hydrated Magnesium Carbonates (HMCs) formed during accelerated carbonation corroborated with the changes in the physical properties of the composites, demonstrating that the carbonation products are formed within the voids and pores of the material and contribute to the reduction in water absorption of the boards. • Global waste requires innovative environmental solutions for sustainability. • Investigation on eco-waste management aligns with circular economy principles, reducing environmental impact. • Article focuses on MgO-based cements as an alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement, highlighting global magnesite production. • Research emphasizes valorization by utilizing waste from kraft pulp mills (such as LS and grits) for MOS-based fiber cement production. • Exploration of accelerated carbonation impact on cementitious composites with LS and grits unveils shifts in physical-mechanical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite ample evidence on the labor productivity impact of heat shocks, little is known about how heat shocks affect labor adjustment over time. This paper uses administrative employer–employee linked data from Brazil to examine margins of labor market adjustment to extreme heat. Tracking workers over time and across job spells, I find that quarterly heat shocks increase the probability of formal manufacturing layoffs. In the medium run, there is limited intersectoral and interregional reallocation, as well as a significant failure rate to reallocate back to formal sectors, indicating job transitional costs. Finally, the employment impact of heat shocks is larger for workers in more routine manual task intensive, less abstract occupations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal venoms are a rich and complex source of components, including peptides (such as neurotoxins, anionic peptides and hypotensins), lipids, proteins (such as proteases, hyaluronidases and phospholipases) and inorganic compounds, which affect all biological systems of the envenoming victim. Their action may result in a wide range of clinical manifestations, including tachy/bradycardia, hyper/hypotension, disorders in blood coagulation, pain, edema, inflammation, fever, muscle paralysis, coma and even death. Scorpions are one of the most studied venomous animals in the world and interesting bioactive molecules have been isolated and identified from their venoms over the years. Tityus spp. are among the scorpions with high number of accidents reported in the Americas, especially in Brazil. Their venoms have demonstrated interesting results in the search for novel agents with antimicrobial, anti-viral, anti-parasitic, hypotensive, immunomodulation, anti-insect, antitumor and/or antinociceptive activities. Furthermore, other recent activities still under investigation include drug delivery action, design of anti-epileptic drugs, investigation of sodium channel function, treatment of erectile disfunction and priapism, improvement of scorpion antivenom and chelating molecules activity. In this scenario, this paper focuses on reviewing advances on Tityus venom components mainly through the modern omics technologies as well as addressing potential therapeutic agents from their venoms and highlighting this abundant source of pharmacologically active molecules with biotechnological application. [Display omitted] • Tityus venoms are still underexploited sources of pharmacological agents. • Only few Tityus venom sequences (of ∼3000 available at databases) have been studied in depth. • T. serrulatus venom is the most studied venom among the Tityus venoms. • Many Tityus toxins are versatile toxins presenting a broad spectrum potential. • Some Tityus venom components whose function is still unknown include the PAPE and anionic peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indirect evaporative cooling is a technology that can be used sustainably to replace traditional cooling systems using thermodynamic compression cycles, especially in tropical countries like Brazil, which have many regions with hot climates and low relative humidity. These meteorological aspects favor the simultaneous transfer of heat and mass, allowing the thermal cooling effect characteristic of evaporative cooling processes. Thus, this paper investigates the performance of a sustainable air cooling system by combining the psychrometric effects of warm, dry air with the flow features inside a cyclone covered by a layer of a fabric moistened with water. Fluid dynamic simulations previously indicated temperature decreases of up to 12.2 K between the feed and overflow streams of the cyclone. In addition, temperature contours showed that the fluid dynamics of the cyclone provide instantaneous thermal exchange between the walls and the internal fluid. These results directed the study to execute an experimental design using the response surface methodology to evaluate the influence of some variables in the process. The decrease in air stream temperature ranged from 3.9 to 13.1 K, with relative humidity and ambient temperature being the most significant variables. The results also indicated that water consumption to maintain the fabric wet is relatively low since 16·10-3 kg of liquid is required to cool 1 m³ of air flowing through the cyclone. [Display omitted] • High inlet temperature and low relative humidity provided maximum thermal gradients. • Within 0.75 s, in average, the system provided a thermal reduction of up to 13 K. • The thermal efficiency of the wet-bulb for the new system varied from 54.8 to 67.8 %. • Dimensionless numbers for psychrometric cooling system showed a linear behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a new approach to calculating the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) using a stochastic model under an uncertainty and risk perspective. The research problem is associated with how to integrate the concept of financial risk to assess investments in small-scale green hydrogen production for more robust results, resolving issues related to underlying economic and technical factors, often overlooked, that may impact the production of green hydrogen in Brazil and Germany. The approach is applied to an investment project at two localities: Itajubá, Brazil, and Cologne, Germany, to investigate the underlying economic and technical factors that may impact the production of green hydrogen. In this stochastic approach, the Value at Risk (VaR) is calculated with a confidence level of 95% for 5000 LCOH values for each city, generated by the Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS). MCS results show that a correlation between assumptions (uncertainties) significantly affects LCOH with more favorable conditions to produce green hydrogen in Cologne. The risk analysis results show a significant difference concerning the deterministic approach when implementing the risk measure with VaR-LCOH of US$8.39 for Itajubá and VaR-LCOH of US$8.21 for Cologne. • Green hydrogen Investments are evaluated techno-economically in Brazil and Germany. • A Monte Carlo approach under uncertainty and risk conditions is implemented. • A stochastic LCOH based on VaR-LCOH metric is proposed to evaluate the risk. • The different nuances that the assumptions assume in calculating LCOH are discussed. • The risk analysis shows a difference regarding the deterministic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to examine the effects of fiscal policy on economic growth in Brazil between 1999 and 2017. For this purpose, a novel methodology is applied, using a Vector Autoregressive with Mixed Frequency (MIDAS-VAR) model, proposed by Ghysels (2016), which allows for the estimation of the spending multiplier by measuring the impact of high-frequency data at low-frequency and vice versa. The impact of various types of spending on the gross domestic product (GDP) is analyzed, including primary expenditure, personnel, social benefits, subsidies, investment, and costing, while the central government's primary revenue is used as the revenue variable. The expenditure and tax revenue are the high-frequency variables (monthly observations), whereas GDP is a low-frequency series (quarterly). The estimated fiscal multipliers for primary spending are less than one, suggesting no significant Keynesian effect on output, with particular attention given to the investment multiplier, which is estimated to be close to zero. Our results suggest that the frequency of data matters, and government expenditure has no significant impact on real GDP growth in Brazil. Therefore, the ability of Brazilian fiscal policy to influence economic growth may be limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent years, and as a result of the recent global health pandemic, resilience has become increasingly central to contemporary policy discourses in urban planning and development in both the Global North and Global South. Drawing from ongoing empirical studies of community resilience and everyday practices that have been co-designed and co-produced alongside Brazilian marginalised communities which are highly vulnerable to a range of natural hazards, this paper highlights the growing importance of dialogical stakeholder engagement methodologies in designing alternative urban visions – so-called resilience imaginaries or counter-cities - across the Global South based on social diversity, equity and spatial justice. More specifically, the dialogical participatory mapping approach outlined in this paper utilises citizen science approaches to develop local resilience imaginaries, building on the pedagogical work of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire and the conceptualisation of dialogue as a comprehensive and progressively unfolding methodological approach. Practically, we adopted a range of community engagement approaches that allowed local citizens to become more aware of their own risk context and embed this tacit knowledge into the operation of civil protection programmes. Our empirical results highlight the potential of such dialogical participatory approaches to capture lay knowledge from local citizens and contribute to the development of enhanced resilience approaches. The paper concludes by reflecting on the role of formerly marginalised voices in the advancement of local urban policy and on the novelty and promise of critical pedagogical approaches to co-production within existing regimes of urban governance and the imagining of radically independent counter-cities. • Novel community engagement approaches based on dialogue allow local citizens to become more aware of their own risk context. • The process of geospatial data production can be a transformative moment capable of nurturing enhanced community resilience. • Dialogical participatory mapping is a method for re-imagining future city-visions. • Western resilience scholarship needs learn from emerging resilience building grounded practices in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The May 2023 version of Brazil's Fake News Bill (FNB), a proposed new statutory framework for social media regulation, heavily referenced the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). The literature on regulatory convergence points to the Brussels Effect , praising the EU for wielding unilateral soft power in shaping global regulations. Therefore, based on interviews with Brazilian experts who played a significant role in the regulatory discussion, this study applies Thematic Analysis to assess the DSA's impact on the FNB draft. The article finds limited Brussels Effect due to criticism of its incapacity to address local platform liability concerns and the absence of economic and legal drivers for convergence with EU regulation. Despite this, the study highlights the DSA's positive influence on the local debate in promoting democratic and human rights principles, leveraging the European legislative process to enrich local discussions. Finally, local political factors contributed to a narrative that differed from the DSA, framing the FNB not only as a tool against disinformation, but also as a means to protect democracy. This paper offers an unprecedented case study of the Brussels Effect reach on the global-south, presenting limitations of the EU benchmark when transposed to other regulatory and political contexts. • Two key political factors influenced the FNB's draft. • The DSA serves as a symbolic reference in Brazil's Fake News Bill debate. • The Brussels Effect is limited due to the DSA's incapacity to address local issues. • We identified the lack of economic drivers imposing convergence with the DSA. • The paper offers a case study of the Brussels Effect from a global-south perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to introduce a new sustainable business excellence model, called Knowledge Management Excellence Model 21 (KMEM21), a theoretical framework that combines Knowledge Management and Business Excellence Models (BEMs), proposing an approach applicable to organizations to directly contribute towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The paper through a qualitative-exploratory methodology makes an analysis and benchmarking, emphasizes the integration of Knowledge Management and three specific Business Excellence Models (Management Excellence Model (MEG) from Brazil, Baldrige Excellence Framework, and EFQM). This integration uncovers relationships between organizational concepts associated with Knowledge Management and BEMs, which contributes to new insights in the literature regarding these concepts' interplay. BEMs are presented as tools that can catalyze the power of Knowledge Management towards achieving SDGs. However, it's noted that the existing BEMs might not be adequate, as the goal extends beyond organizational improvement and excellence to encompass sustainable development aligned with SDGs. The article suggests that specific organizational concepts, identified through a literature review and aligned with Knowledge Management and BEMs, can be selected as indicators associated with the constructed KMEM21 and the SDGs. These indicators are intended to form a bridge between the new model and the SDGs. However, given the comprehensive nature of the theory, model development, application, result acquisition, and analysis, the article's primary contribution will be in its focus on elaborating the instrument and technique, demonstrating the creation of a theoretical framework for the SDGs. Future works will showcase the application of the proposed KMEM21 method in five Brazilian organizations, members of Global Compact, to compare the achieved objectives and the results obtained with the organizations' performance and their sustainability reports. [Display omitted] • There is a visible relationship between knowledge management and business excellence models, aided by shared organizational concepts. • Achieving the SDGs in organizations can be done by using the traits incorporated into knowledge management and business excellence models. • The Knowledge Management Excellence Model 21 represents an original approach, acting as a new sustainable business excellence model. • A comprehensive model can be constructed using a methodology that incorporates an instrument, a technique, and a method. • KMEM21 presents a strategic path that aligns with business excellence principles and the sustainable development objectives, offering a framework for organizational success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trade of elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) in Brazil threatens the country's rich endemic biodiversity. The present study explored the use of DNA-based tools to monitor the Brazilian elasmobranch trade, focusing on their role in identifying processed products and supporting conservation efforts. A systematic search of literature was conducted and included 35 peer-reviewed papers published between 2008 and 2023. A shift from the development of DNA-based tools to direct trade applications has been observed since 2015. Molecular identification challenges, including costly sequencing and limited resources in national databases, were identified along with proposed solutions, such as protocol optimization and exploration of cost-effective alternatives. Biases in trade analysis papers, particularly the lack of research in the Northeast Region of Brazil, and issues with sample sizes were evident. Species identified using DNA-based tools included the critically endangered Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini), which appeared in 46 % of the evaluated papers, followed by the Blue Shark (Prionace glauca), and several others threatened species, such as the critically endangered and endemic Brazilian Guitarfish (Pseudobatos horkelii) and the recently categorized as vulnerable Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon porosus). Other species were reassessed by IUCN, including previously non-threatened species that are now at risk, emphasizing the need for fisheries management, trade monitoring and conservation measures. Our findings highlight the importance of continued genetic monitoring to analyze market trends and adjust legislation, encouraging compliance with frequent inspections to enhance wildlife conservation. We also identified gaps in research and recommended strategies for accurate species identification, broader investigation, and effective management. • Meta-analysis of DNA-based tools for monitoring trade, focusing on Brazil's elasmobranchs • Challenges in molecular identification were identified (e.g., limited database resources). • Brazil comprises 203 elasmobranch species, and 64 were molecularly detected in trade. • 83 % of species detected are threatened (IUCN), including recently updated assessments. • Ten research gaps were outlined, along with recommended practical solutions for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the potential implications of the proposed European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the recently adopted United Kingdom (UK) legislation on deforestation-free supply chains (henceforth 'the legislation') for different stakeholders in Brazil. These regulations intend to address global commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation by ensuring that targeted commodities and products placed on (or exported from) markets are of minimal risk of being associated with - in the EU - deforestation and forest degradation or - in the UK - illegal deforestation. The paper examines potential compliance readiness in cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soybean and tropical timber supply chains in Brazil, indicating specific challenges that may arise. Through the construction of a "Compliance Likelihood Index", our research provides comparable indications to policymakers on sectors and stakeholders that may need stronger support to meet the requirements, in order to maintain Brazil's access to EU and UK markets. The paper indicates that coffee is the sector with the highest level of incentivization and smallest hurdles for compliance, while the cattle sector may face stronger challenges to rapidly adjust its production system towards a deforestation-free value chain and prove compliance. Results of our analysis also highlight the need for collaboration between the EU/UK and Brazil in order to promote alignment between domestic and demand-side legislations so that they are mutually reinforcing. Results of this exercise, which has a focus on the producer-country view of demand-side legislation, will contribute to discussions on the merits of different approaches to strengthen the governance of deforestation-risk commodity trade. [Display omitted] • Brazil's coffee sector may currently have the greatest likelihood of ready compliance. • Cattle may be the sector to which the regulations may pose the greatest challenges. • The EU and UK should focus on providing financial means and technical assistance for smallholders. • The EU and UK legislation will need to be accompanied by domestic policies and regulations in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical climate-smart agriculture could be a cost-effective and scalable nature-based solution toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the coming decades. Nevertheless, the lack of integrated on-farm CO 2 , CH 4 , and N 2 O flux measurements remains a barrier to including these systems in certification programs and the carbon (C) market. This systematic literature review critically examines field-measured GHG emission studies within climate-smart agri-systems in Brazil, aiming to: (i) integrate GHG-measured data, (ii) explore geographical representativeness and connections between organizations and authors, (iii) analyze distributions of studied GHG molecules, climate-smart system types, and productive components, (iv) conduct a meta-analysis on the adoption of climate-smart agriculture, and (v) identify methodological and scope gaps, providing insights for future research directions. The systems considered include no-till, well-managed pasture, integrated crop-livestock, and integration with trees (i.e., crop-forestry, livestock-forestry, crop-livestock-forestry, and multistrata agroforestry). Out of 1200 papers mentioning GHGs and climate-smart systems, 74 contained reliable on-farm flux measurements. Most authors were Brazilians affiliated with Embrapa and public Universities. Studies concentrated on the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, with scarce data for other biomes. Over half of the trials assessed individual GHG molecules and only one climate-smart system. Urochloa spp. and Avena spp. were the most studied forage genera, while soybeans and corn dominated annual crops. Eucalyptus spp. and beef cattle were common trees and animals. No-till, integrated crop-livestock, and agricultural integrations involving trees showed soil C–CH 4 influx from 0.8 to 1.0 kg ha−1 y−1. Transitioning from pasture monoculture to integrated systems decreased N–N 2 O emissions by up to 1.63 kg ha−1 y−1. Converting extensive grazed land to intensified-integrated systems reduced animal CH 4 intensity, with cuts of up to 122 g CH 4 per kg of average daily weight gain. Future research must urgently address methodological issues, such as de-standardization (e.g., 8–10 flux units found per GHG molecule) and the absence of crucial ancillary variables. In conclusion, adopting diversified climate-smart agri-systems shows potential to mitigate GHG emissions, but caution is advised when extrapolating our numerical findings due to limited data across Brazilian edaphoclimatic conditions. We urge scientists to prioritize frequent on-farm measurements of all three GHGs (CO 2 , N 2 O, and CH 4) along with agroecosystem C sequestration across multiple climate-smart systems, enabling reliable and comparable net GHG flux calculations to identify the most sustainable option. Advancing and standardizing GHG measurements in Brazil offer an opportunity to enhance GHGs inventory accuracy, calibrate models, and promote policies and investments that expand refined tropical climate-smart agriculture. [Display omitted] • We systematically reviewed GHG measurements in Brazilian climate-smart agri-systems. • Well-managed pastures, no-till, and integration-based systems mitigate GHG emissions. • Brazilian GHG dataset incompletely represents systems and environmental complexities. • Producing agri-GHG field data is still vital for policies, investments, and C market. • Future GHG research should standardize flux units and include ancillary variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossils from natural tanks can contribute to the paleoenvironmental interpretation of the Brazilian Intertropical Region (BIR), an important study area for the Quaternary in South America. In this paper we present results of δ13C and δ18O for Eremotherium laurillardi (δ13C = −4.6 ‰, δ18O = 33.0 ‰), Toxodon platensis (δ13C = −3.8 ‰, δ18O = 35.5 ‰), and Notiomastodon platensis (δ13C = −2.9 ‰, δ18O = 31.6 ‰) from Zabelê tank, compared to other localities, suggesting that these taxa had a mixed-feeder diet with a higher consumption of C 4 plants (p i > 60%), living in a transition zone between woodland savannah and open savannah. The Zabelê tank, northeastern Brazil, presents Optically Stimulated Luminescence ages ranging from 41.2 to 30.4 ky (Lujanian Stage/Age; Late Pleistocene). The origin of the fossiliferous layer through debris flow suggests short periods of intense rainfall under drier climatic conditions. Compared to other locations in the BIR, Zabelê documented a drier climate (δ18O = 31.6–33.4 ‰), which preceded the last glacial maximum. These new isotopic data to OSL ages associated with previous data from the BIR contribute to the understanding of the paleoecology and paleoenvironment dynamics of South America. • New δ13C and δ18O for the three most studied taxa from the Quaternary of the BIR. • These taxa had a mixed-feeder diet with higher consumption of C 4 grasses. • These taxa inhabited a transition zone between arboreal to open savanna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban inequality is a highly complex and multidimensional phenomenon that involves several aspects, such as education, urban mobility, environment, technological or digital exclusion, food deserts, and inequalities in the distribution of urban facilities. Due to its impact on the living conditions of populations residing in the most deprived and unhealthy areas of cities, inequality in the distribution of urban public services is a particularly relevant issue. The measurement of urban inequality to discuss possible policy implications requires the synthesis of its sub-dimensions. Therefore, this paper applies the multicriteria method called ordered weighted averaging to evaluate the distribution of public goods in census tracts of the city of São Sebastião do Paraíso in Brazil. In particular, ordered weighted averaging, which allows the calibration of different degrees of non-compensability between sub-indicators and considers the heterogeneity of the census tracts, permits the evaluation of both positive and negative aspects of the studied phenomena. Two different composite indicators are calculated: the "Tax Index," which analyses the presence of public goods and the benefits in terms of property value and well-being that their presence generates, and the "Infrastructure Index," which examines the areas with the greatest lack of infrastructure. • Two composite indicators are constructed through ordered weighted averaging • The Infrastructure Index reveals priority areas for investment in public goods • The Tax Index shows which areas of the city benefit most from public goods • The indices form a mechanism for equitable allocation of public goods in the city • Taxes from the Fiscal Index fund public goods allocated by the Infrastructure Index [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Out-of-sample prediction of extreme precipitation using nonstationary models. • Significant trends in data of extreme precipitation are insufficient to warrant the selection of a nonstationary model. • Large prediction uncertainty reduces the support for nonstationary models of extreme precipitation. • (Non)stationary model selection should explicitly account for model complexity. Knowledge of the recurrence intervals of precipitation extremes is vital for infrastructure design, risk assessment, and insurance planning. However, trends and shifts in rainfall patterns globally pose challenges to the application of extreme value analysis (EVA) which relies critically on the assumption of stationarity. In this paper, we explore: (1) the suitability of nonstationary (NS) models in the presence of statistically significant trends, and (2) their potential in modeling out-of-sample data to improve frequency analysis of extreme precipitation. We analyze the benefits of using a nonstationary Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) model for annual extreme precipitation records from Southern Brazil. The location of the GEV distribution is allowed to change with time. The unknown GEV model parameters are estimated using Bayesian techniques coupled with Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation. Next, we use GAME sampling to compute the evidence (and their ratios, the so-called Bayes factors) for stationary and nonstationary models of annual maximum precipitation. Our results show that the presence of a statistically significant trend in annual maximum precipitation alone does not justify the use of a NS model. The location parameter of the GEV distribution must also be well defined, otherwise, stationary models of annual maximum precipitation receive more support by the data. These findings reiterate the importance of accounting for GEV model parameters and predictive uncertainty in frequency analysis and hypothesis testing of annual maximum precipitation data records. Furthermore, a meaningful EVA demands detailed knowledge about the origin and persistence of observed changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Business models under net metering for PV plus battery systems. • Value proposition and value creation under net metering for PV plus battery systems. • Economic assessment of battery revenue stacking in PV plus battery systems. • PV plus battery systems in Brazil may find a development niche in some circumstances. • In general, PV plus battery systems should be justified by technical reasons. This paper contributes with an analysis of the development of photovoltaic plus battery systems under net-metering using elements of business models, from the perspective of value proposition and value capture features. The Brazilian regulatory framework for distributed generation is taken as example. Five photovoltaic plus battery schemes are envisaged and value creation is analyzed regarding two aspects: batteries can improve photovoltaic generation and load mismatch and batteries can cooperate with the distribution system. Policy implications and barriers to the implementation of these schemes are indicated. A techno-economic feasibility analysis for residential prosumers is conducted to gain insight about the viability gap in three realistic scenarios. Behind-the-meter photovoltaic plus battery systems for arbitrage under Time-of-use energy tariffs and a scenario that includes the sale of stored energy to the grid are analyzed in relation to an only-photovoltaic system scenario. Three cities with different photovoltaic generation potential, tariffs and human development index provide good diversity for the comparisons. We find that in favorable locations in terms of high TOU tariffs and good solar radiation, Behind-the-meter photovoltaic plus battery systems could be spontaneously adopted if stacking revenues are allowed, but a case-by-case study is necessary. Moreover, in other cases net present value and payback signal economic viability, then, when specific technical conditions indicate the use of batteries integrated with photovoltaic systems to mitigate negative local effects of photovoltaic generation, in many regions of the country they are viable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looking at Brazilian privatisations between 1991 and 2018, we investigate how net privatisation prices react to restructuring policies that are implemented before the sale as well as to private ownership structures that emerge at the sale. We innovate by accounting for restructuring and ownership at the same time and also by exploring a unique dataset that covers 139 transactions, mainly built through fieldwork. The paper provides policymakers with a "do's and don'ts" checklist to extract higher value from the sale. The checklist can be used as a policy guideline for new privatisations in Brazil and potentially in other emerging economies. • An empirical study on net privatisation prices arising from auctions is conducted. • A unique dataset of Brazilian privatisations between 1991 and 2018 is explored. • Bidding strategies are sensitive to restructuring policies implemented before the sale. • Revenues react to private ownership structures that emerge at the sale. • Policy prescriptions for privatisations in emerging markets are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an optimization model accounting for voyage costs, charter costs, and the cost of lost production for scheduling the operation of shuttle tankers that are used to transport the oil from the oil production units in deep water, to onshore terminals. This model introduces the effect of the costs from lost production, which can vastly surpass both voyage and charter costs, improving on previous research on the scheduling of such operations, which has focused solely on the optimization of voyage and charter costs, with the cost of lost production in case of failure of the logistics system being ignored. A simulation-optimization method is proposed, allowing for uncertainty in weather condition and oil production. Given the highly structured nature of the policies governing the underlying inventory routing problem, the problem can be recast as a routing problem, to great computational advantage. A novel efficient voyage-based optimization formulation is proposed, and optimality is achieved for instances with a size much larger than those of previous research. The application of the method is illustrated for Brazil, where problem instance sizes faced in practice are considerably large. Sensitivity analysis shows the considerable impact of costs from lost production on the obtained schedules. • An optimization model is proposed for scheduling the operation of shuttle tankers to transport oil from oil fields offshore. • The model accounts for voyage and charter costs, and the lost production, which can vastly surpass the other two costs. • The problem can be recast as a routing problem, to great computational advantage. • A novel efficient voyage-based formulation is proposed, and optimality is achieved. • The application of the method is illustrated for Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is a case of the achievement of a high share of wind energy integration to an interconnected power system in an emerging market. A series of successful energy supply programmes and a strong renewable-oriented finance framework implemented since 2002, have promoted alternative renewables – wind installed capacity increased over 22-fold from 927 MW in 2011 to 21 GW in 2022, reaching 11.77% of total procured power. From this, about 90% are concentrated in Brazil's least developed region, the Northeast, where wind investment should create jobs and propel socioeconomic development. Despite that, there is no studies specific assessing the regional and economy-wide effects of those programmes, gap that this paper aims to fill by applying the regional Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model TERM-BR10. We assess that by modelling an alternative scenario for the period 2010-19 based on an official electricity matrix built in 2010, that projected 3.4 additional GW of wind power while not considering all the success of renewable policies, against the observed installed capacity expansion, where wind power was 3.7 times higher than what had been planned. Our results show that in the absence of renewable policies, Brazil would have faced economic losses such as GDP (−0.27%) and investment (−4.76%). The Northeast region would have been the most impacted in terms of GDP (−1.3%), real wage (−2.99%) and employment creation (−0.1%). We propose that such socioeconomic co-benefits are incorporated in energy planning, which could promote regional equality through renewable energy expansion. • Wind power capacity increased over 20-fold from 2011 to 2022. • 90% are in the poorest region where policies propel development and job creation. • Policy absence would entail a GDP loss of 0.27% nationally and of 1.3% in the region. • Negative impacts to labour market are mostly over skilled jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Recurrent fire leads to degraded rainforest (DRf) and herbaceous-shrubby (HS). • Ksat and 6 years of rainfall-soil suction interactions are analyzed. • HS provide shallow soil saturation even during long dry periods. • Fire decreases Ksat in topsoil and it increases soil suction in depth at HS. • Post-fire soil changes tend to favor rapid suction loss in the unsatured zone. The role of fire in vegetation-soil–water interactions and its implications for soil stability and slope failures is poorly documented in humid tropical regions. This paper focuses on the relationships between vegetation change through recurrent fire and its effects on hydraulic conductivity and soil suction. Two monitoring sites were chosen on steep slopes in the mountainous domain of the Atlantic rainforest: the first is representative of degraded secondary rainforest (DRf) 25–30 years after slash and burn agriculture; the other represents herbaceous-shrubby vegetation (HS) resulting from wildfires in short-time intervals (<5 years). Two fires had previously occurred on the HS slope, one in December 2014 and the other in September 2019. Continuous records of rainfall and soil suction at depths of 10, 20, 50, 100, 150, and 220 cm provided a 6-year data collection from January 2015 to December 2020. Hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) field tests were conducted around the two monitoring sites before and after the September 2019 fire. The main results include: a) soil suction in the topsoil of both vegetation covers follow the rainfall inputs with high values of Ksat (DRf = 195 mm/h; HS = 203 mm/h); b) while quick rainfall-suction responses prevail within the DRf soil profile, soil suction at HS maintains a mean suction value around -27 kPa below 100 cm deep; c) field observations attest to the occurrence of hydrophobicity after the 2019 fire; d) Ksat tests just after this fire indicated a decreasing mean value from 203 mm/h to 46 mm/h; and e) by the end of the dry season after fire, there is a delayed increase in soil suction reaching -143 kPa at a depth of 100 cm and in smaller proportions at 220 cm deep. These results indicate that post-fire soil changes tend to favor the sudden loss of soil stability and slope failure during extreme rainfall events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Bolsonaro administration and its class allies used the pandemic as a political opportunity and the state as a tool to advance dispossessions. • Dispossessions such as debt interest payments or privatizations simply redistribute surpluses or means of production, with no impact on capital expansion. • Dispossessions of peasants or indigenous people from lands and forests expand capital by turning their means of subsistence into means of capitalist production. • The transfer to for-profit companies of public services, facilities, or spaces turns means of subsistence into commodities and thus expands capital. • Capitalization, commodification, or the termination of contemporary commons reduce means of subsistence and thus increase the availability of exploitable labor-power. In 2020–2021 Brazil simultaneously experienced the far-right presidency of Jair Bolsonaro and the world's largest health crisis in a century. The Covid-19 pandemic struck the country deeply, killing about 690 thousand people by late 2022. They were also years of increased pressure by capital on peasants and indigenous people, targets of the violence with which capital, ever since its dawn, has wielded to advance over spaces that serve the subsistence of immediate producers. In this period, the Brazilian state continued to comply with decades-old demands from neoliberal ideology for privatizations and the dismantling of protections for workers and the poor in general. These phenomena, when articulated by theory inspired by the Marxian concept of primitive accumulation, suggest that the Bolsonaro administration and its class allies used the pandemic as a political opportunity for dispossessing policies. The article discusses this based on concepts that distinguish dispossessions that serve capital expansion from those that do not. The first group includes processes that lead to proletarianization of immediate producers in addition to the capitalization or commodification of hitherto means of subsistence. Among dispossessions that do not expand capital are those that involve the simple redistribution of surpluses or means of production. The paper contributes to the literature on dispossession by analyzing concrete manifestations of it, drawing on a conceptual framework that distinguishes dispossession types that have been conflated in much current research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity generation in Brazil heavily depends on hydroelectric power, making it vulnerable to fluctuations due to its reliance on weather patterns. Accurately forecasting water inflow into hydroelectric plants is vital for the National Electric System Operator to make decisions regarding the monthly scheduling and operation of the power system. In this paper, an evaluation of predicted flows for a 14-day horizon are evaluated for the Tucuruíhydroelectric plant, located in the Tocantins river in the North of Brazil. The temporal fusion transformer (TFT), long short-term memory (LSTM), and temporal convolutional networks (TCN) are compared. The findings demonstrate that the TFT is a more suitable alternative than LSTM and TCN models for predicting inflows for the next 14 days. The TFT model is hypertuned by Optuna to achieve an optimized structure (h-TFT). The h-TFT had a mean absolute percentage error of 13.1 and a Nash–Sutcliffe of 0.96, outperforming its initial version and even the bidirectional LSTM model in benchmarking. Based on the error results, h-TFT showed promise for flow forecasting and provides insights into decision-making processes in the Brazilian electricity sector. • Hypertuning the TFT improves its performance in median-term forecasting. • The h-TFT outperforms LSTM, and TCN models for time series forecasting. • Deep learning applied for scheduling operation of the electrical power system. • Energy planning based on the inflow forecasting of hydroelectric power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An approach involving data on wave-induced sediment transport estimates is essential for managing coastal environments. Numerical models are powerful tools to understand and investigate many processes responsible for longshore sediment transport (LST) in a systematic way, since direct measurement of LST is a difficult task. This paper presents estimates of longshore sediment transport through numerical modeling of wave-induced sediment dispersion patterns in the Formosa Bay, State of Rio de Janeiro - Southeast Brazil. The analysis was conducted using the computational package Coastal Modeling System/SMC-Brazil and mathematical formulations proposed by Cerc (1984). The results suggest average residual solid discharge (Qsr avg) in the order of 131,442.745 m3/yr in northern sector, −151,908.32 m3/yr in central sector, and 71,987.69 m3/yr in southern sector of investigated area. In addition, it is important to highlight that minor variations in the wave incidence angle may cause changes in the longshore sediment drift, promoting the convergence and divergence zones throughout the investigated area. The results presented contribute to the advancement of knowledge on the topic addressed here and will be useful in future engineering projects related to beach nourishment and the management of coastal areas subject to erosion processes. • Data are presented on simulations of wave-induced longshore sediment transport rates in Baia Formosa Bay, southeastern Brazil. • The Coastal Modeling System SMC/Brazil were used. • Results suggest different solid outflow rates for each sector of investigated area. • The model may provide a basis for planning actions and environmental management in coastal zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents facies analysis of pyroclastic and effusive deposits present in areas of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (FNA), South Atlantic Ocean. A detailed stratigraphic study was carried out for the Remédios Formation at the Caieira beach and the Quixaba Formation at the Capim-Açu Edge, Americano, and Bode beaches. The lithofacies association for the deposits of the Remédios Formation characterizes non-welded ignimbrites of phonolitic composition generated by concentrated ground-hugging density currents originated from collapses of a buoyant eruption column. Possibly, this phase was followed by a caldera collapse and the exposition of a complex system of dikes at Caieira Beach. For the deposits of the Quixaba Formation, the lithofacies association characterizes scoria and ash flow/grain avalanching deposits, proximal fallout deposits, and Pahoehoe lava flows. The Quixaba volcanism shows evidence of pulses of Strombolian and possibly Violent Strombolian activity alternated with effusive Hawaiian activity. A later stage of magma-water interaction during the Quixaba volcanism led to the formation of a sustained eruption column and fallout deposits with ash aggregates formed through wet aggregation. This paper is the first ever written about aspects of the Physical volcanology of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil. It contributes to the understanding of the evolution of the volcanism that occurred in the Archipelago between ∼12 and ∼1.2 Ma, and of the South Atlantic Ocean. The conclusions of our study are: The stratigraphic study of specific areas of the Archipelago through field observations complemented with laboratory-based pyroclastic and lava flow descriptions allowed us to propose the following evolutionary model: • Explosive magmatic eruptions formed buoyant eruption columns that collapsed and originated ground-hugging concentrated density currents represented by the lithic-rich non-welded ignimbrites. • Volcanic and subvolcanic manifestations generated domes of phonolitic and trachytic composition; i) and ii) might be concurrent. Possibly this phase was followed by a caldera collapse with the exposition of a complex system of dikes at Caieira Beach. • A hiatus in the geological record of about 3 Ma, characterized as a period of quiescence and erosion. • Effusive Hawaiian eruptions with the emplacement of olivine nephelinitic pahoehoe lava flows. Alternated to the effusive eruptions, Strombolian and possibly Violent Strombolian pulses led to mass ejections of juvenile ash, lapilli, bombs, and cognate lithic fragments, forming grain-avalanching scoria deposits, and scoria-and-ash flow deposits. • Stage of dominant water-magma interaction and the formation of a water-rich volcanic cloud, which led to the formation of planar-stratified bedforms, fall-dominated with mixed deposition of ash aggregates in the shape of massive ash pellets, layered and complexly layered accretionary ash pellets, armored and complexly layered armored ash pellets, formed through wet aggregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rich insect fauna is found in the Cretaceous (Aptian) Nova Olinda Member of the Crato Formation in the Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil. The Crato Formation was deposited close to the centre of the supercontinent Gondwana, prior to significant rifting. In this paper, we analyzed remains of 1135 insect specimens, representing 55 families, within two limestone facies of the Nova Olinda Member: pale yellow and dark gray limestones. We collected taphonomical data and assessed the paleoecological significance of insect faunas in terms of their distribution and interaction with the paleoenvironment. The insect fauna is dominanted by fully terrestrial taxa despite preservation in an aquatic paleoenvironment. Considering both facies, the distribution of insect families is similar throughout the Nova Olinda Member, which excludes possible overlapping of one entomofauna over another. The pale yellow limestones near the top of the section are richer in fossil insect content and show a higher incidence of aquatic and semiaquatic insects preserved in dorsoventral view compared to the dark gray limestones. This suggests that the Crato insects preserved in the pale yellow limestones experienced short transport distances or prolonged decay or both. In contrast, insects preserved in the dark gray limestones appear proportionally with higher degrees of disarticulation than those preserved in the pale yellow limestones, indicating that these insects underwent a higher degree of postmortem transport in the biostratinomic stage. Compared to descriptions of other Early Cretaceous assemblages, the taxonomic literature of Crato Paleoentomofauna shows distinct differences. The Yixian and Zaza formations are described as being dominated by beetles and wasps. The Crato Formation, however, is relatively richer in Paleoptera species. Both the sedimentary facies studied and the paleoentomological content reveal a complex ecosystem inserted in a depositional setting, similar to modern long-standing wetlands, and where periodically flooded zones were surrounded by dry lands with xeromorphic vegetation. • Crato insects preserved in the dark gray limestones appear proportionally with higher degrees of disarticulation. • The paleoentomological content reveals an ecosystem inserted in a setting similar to modern long-standing wetlands. • Compared to other Early Cretaceous assemblages, the Crato Paleoentomofauna is relatively richer in Paleoptera species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration of late Quaternary continental and marine proxies allows improved reconstruction of palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimates models for the south-eastern coast of Brazil. In this paper, we analyse pollen, fern spores, and dinoflagellate cysts in a marine sediment core (GL74) over the last ∼109 kyr. Results showed that, between 109 and 89.5 kyr, low sea levels promoted the expansion of herbaceous taxa across open areas while climatic conditions were relatively warm and humid, as indicated by the high frequency of Atlantic rainforest Ombrophilous forest pollen types and abundant of fern spores. Between ∼79–49 kyr, higher concentrations of palynomorphs were recorded, which were likely related to the low relative sea level during the last glacial period. During this interval, there was a decrease in tree pollen grains and an increase in shrub and herbaceous pollen grains, indicating cold and relatively dry weather conditions. In the Holocene period, the low deposition of palynomorphs may have been influenced by the gradual submergence of the central part of the Brazilian coast. This process was associated with warm and humid climatic conditions, as suggested by the expansion of rainforests and the presence of hygrophyte/aquatic taxa and fern spores, as well as the retraction of grassland pollen types. Dinocyst assemblages suggest that nutrient-rich waters and/or the presence of upwelling cells were dominant between ∼109–88 kyr, but gradually reduced between 88 and 65 kyr (and/or ∼ 88–20 kyr) under the influence of subtropical fronts. The study culminated in the dominance of unproductive warm water in the upper column between 65 and 0.5 kyr. • Correlation of continental and marine proxies in south-eastern Brazil during the late Quaternary Late • Quaternary dynamics of the South Atlantic Ocean based on dinocysts • Reconstruction of palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate for the last ∼109 kyr along the southeast coast of Brazil [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a method to assess the financial attractiveness provided by adding a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in distributed photovoltaic (PV) generation on public buildings in Brazil. The method is applicable to prosumer units (PU) connected on the medium voltage grid operating under time-based electricity tariffs. The BESS primary objective was to achieve optimal reductions in electric energy expenses through effective energy arbitrage mechanisms. The procedural steps of the methodology begin with an analysis encompassing assessment of solar resource, PU consumption profile, and BESS sizing and operation. Subsequently, steps entail contracted power optimization, PU net-metering analysis, and evaluation of BESS impacts on electric energy expenses. Lastly, a regulatory and economic analysis is conducted incorporation considerations on BESS taxation, behind-the-meter regulations, and a sensitivity assessment extending to the 2030 outlook. By 2050, it is anticipated that PV generation will surpass hydropower, becoming the predominant component of Brazil's energy mix. This shift is expected to create an increased need for solutions, notably storage systems, capable of meeting flexibility requirements and maintaining grid resilience. The results suggest that the financial viability of incorporating BESS becomes favourable when the battery cost is below 365 $/kWh. In approximately 50% of the Brazilian territory, prevailing economic conditions support the adoption of BESS. Nationwide feasibility of integration is anticipated for the year 2027. It was observed that government policies to exempt BESS taxation, even if temporary, would be extremely interesting to promote the widespread adoption of this technology. The 2030 outlook of the transition to these benign renewable energy technologies is already in place, and will dominate the energy mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding igneous rock emplacement is crucial for deciphering any sedimentary basin's evolution. Its occurrence can be a determining factor for elements of the petroleum system, such as hydrocarbon generation, migration, trap formation, and reservoir quality. The high-impedance nature of igneous rocks in relation to their surrounding host rocks renders amplitude anomaly-based attributes sufficient for the identification of igneous bodies within siliciclastic sequences. However, this is not necessarily valid in pre-salt settings because of the high-impedance carbonates that make the impedance contrast subtle. Furthermore, if the emplacement characterization of the various magmatic pulses that occur in a given area over geological time were better evaluated, it would be possible to assess the gases (such as CO 2) they produce with higher reliability. In this paper, the principal geometric and petroelastic characteristics of the igneous rocks of the Mero Field are described in detail in order to estimate the thermogenic production of CO 2. Both manual and semi-automatic seismic interpretation were carried out to quantitatively and properly reduce the uncertainties inherent to the seismic mapping of these rocks. Thus, a 3D probabilistic igneous facies classification was performed based on a Bayesian inference using the P- and S-impedance well log data available and seismic elastic inversion volumes. These volumes of occurrence probability were useful for semi-automatically extracting maps and geobodies, which, along with conventional manual seismic interpretation, provided hypothetical volumetric scenarios for Mero igneous rocks and also for CO 2 production. Five main intrusive features were recognized based on mainly in seismic geometries found in the Mero Field, two of them being Lower Cretaceous rift-related magmatism synchronous with the pre-salt reservoir deposition and the other three being related to the Santonian/Campanian magmatism. The analyzed data suggests that deep intrusions were responsible for the installation of a multiple hydrothermal vent system in the Santos Basin. During pre-salt sedimentation in the Lower Cretaceous, the emplacement of tholeiitic sills, primarily in low-energy facies at structural depressions, may have played a significant role in the thermal alteration of the sedimentary framework and would have released a significant amount of CO 2 into the atmosphere. It's possible that the reactivation and reuse of these older structures (i.e., sill-related hydrothermal vent complexes generated by tholeiitic intrusions) during alkaline Santonian/Campanian magmatism might have contributed further to the production of additional carbon dioxide, which would be trapped in pre-salt reservoirs in this instance. • Petroelastic and seismic characterization of Santos Basin pre-salt igneous rocks of different ages and compositions. • Characterization of Pre-Salt hydrothermal vents. • Hydrothermal vents as triggers for Pre-Salt CO 2. • CO 2 generation estimates related to intrusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnostic and therapeutic interventional cardiology procedures are essential tools for evaluating congenital pathologies in paediatric patients. However, these procedures may expose patients to high levels of ionizing radiation. In this paper, we present the results of the radiation doses received by patients undergoing interventional cardiac procedures at a paediatric hospital in Brazil, aiming to establish local Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRL). The data were collected over a period of three years (2019–2022), and 148 procedures were analyzed, comprising 53% male (78) and 47% female (70) patients. These procedures included both diagnostic (59%) and therapeutic (41%) cardiac catheterization interventions. The average patient weight was 21.4 ± 1.7 kg (2.0–112.0 kg), with an average age of 5.3 ± 0.4 years (0.0–17.1 years). Comprehensive data for each procedure were extracted from Radiation Dose Structure Reports generated by the equipment. The results showed significant differences between diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and the DRL values were estimated considering the age and weight of the patients. The DRL values correspond to the 3rd quartile of the dose distribution for each group. The following local DRL values were estimated, considering the patient's ages. For diagnostic procedures, the P KA defined according to the age groups <1, 1–5, 5–10, 10–15, and >15 years were respectively: 1.4, 2.8, 3.1, 4.3 and 12.0 Gy cm2. For therapeutic procedures, the DRL values for patients with the same ages were: 2.0, 3.7, 5.4, 7.4, and 30.9 Gy cm2. For the total procedures, the P KA values were 1.7, 3.2, 4.9, 6.6, and 24.5 Gy cm2, respectively. The suggested local DRL values for weight groups (<5, 5–15, 15–30, 30–50, and 50–80 kg) for P KA in diagnostic procedures were: 1.3, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, and 7.9 Gy cm2, respectively. For therapeutic procedures, the P KA values were 1.1, 2.7, 5.4, 5.5, and 30.9 Gy cm2, respectively. For the total procedures, the P KA values were 1.25, 2.5, 4.6, 4.2, and 18.3 Gy cm2, respectively. For establishing P KA DRL, patient weight was found to be preferable over age, whereas for K a,r , both approaches yielded nearly identical results. • Local DRL values are proposed for standard age and weight ranges for cardiac interventional procedures. • P KA and K a,r values are determined according to the age and weight of patients. • The correlation between patient weight and age are determined. • To determine the P KA DRL, patient weight is preferable. • Statistically significant differences between diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the early 2000 s, average standardized test scores of Brazilian public primary and middle school students in both reading and mathematics on the national test, the SAEB, have risen substantially. Although the increases cut across all race and socioeconomic groups, the increases were unequal across groups and varied greatly across states and municipalities/school districts. In this paper, we describe student achievement gains in Brazil among municipalities in 2007–2017, with the goal of understanding the variation in these gains and the socioeconomic, race, and school resource correlates of that variation. Our results suggest that student social class and race were highly correlated with municipal test score gains: those municipalities with higher social class and proportionately more White students made significantly larger gains. However, municipalities with greater social class inequality made smaller gains. Certain average characteristics of teachers in a municipality and the incidence of school violence were also significantly related to student performance gains. Thus, our estimates suggest that it may be possible to soften the effects of social structural inequality among and within districts by increasing the quality of teacher resources and reducing school violence in lower academically gaining districts. • Student test score gains in 2007–2017 were large but varied greatly across districts. • Districts with higher average SES and lower proportions of Blacks made larger gains. • Controlling for SES and race, districts with lower SES inequality made larger gains. • Better-educated teachers and less school violence were also related to higher gains. • SES and race are closely related to school learning gains in an unequal society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The violent behavior of football fans is constantly associated with their drinking habits. Aiming to reduce its impact, policy makers often ban the sales and consumption of alcohol beverages during matches. Nonetheless, there are few papers that empirically analyzed such relationship, and our paper aims to shed light on this question. Methods: Out dataset comprises 4,560 matches from the first and second tiers of the Brazilian League, where 245 exhibited at least one antisocial behavior from fans. Ordered logistic regressions are used as method. Results: Our empirical findings evidence that the sales of alcoholic drinks do increase the likelihood of severe antisocial behavior. We also observed a higher likelihood of violent cases when the home club loses its match as well as during crowded matches. Conclusions: We conclude that the change in the alcohol police in Brazil did show a significant association with the likelihood of antisocial behavior among football fans. However, since the magnitude of such effect is small, further research is needed to examine the potential benefits of this policy change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy simulations are extensively employed by researchers and designers to assess strategies aimed at enhancing the thermal performance or energy efficiency of buildings. However, the methodologies for conducting these simulations and analyzing their outcomes vary according to regional standards and among research groups. This work aims to investigate the methods for evaluating the thermal performance of buildings through energy simulations, through a systematic literature review. Initially, the authors surveyed articles published between 2011 and 2022 on Scopus and Web of Science. From an initial pool of 1463 articles that met the research criteria, a refined list of 158 papers were read completely. The authors examined prevalent trends in the methods and identified future research directions. Most publications originated from authors in Northern Hemisphere, with only Brazil showing expressive numbers in the Southern Hemisphere. The results revealed the three most employed methods: Thermal Load (94 %), Degree-Hour (or Degree-Day) (9 %), and Design Days (5 %). EnergyPlus stands out as the widely preferred software (65 % of studies), and 62 % of them incorporate some form of validation or calibration. Articles often lack complete simulations parameters and/or clarity in their presentation. In response to the identified gaps, this study introduces a checklist of best practices for presenting the simulation steps. As such, this work serves as a valuable theoretical framework for future assessments of building thermal performance through computer simulation. • We reviewed 185 papers on methods to evaluate therm. Perform. Via energy simulations. • Thermal Load (94 %), Degree-Hour (9 %) and Design Days (5 %) are the most used methods. • EnergyPlus and ASHRAE are the most used software and standard, respectively. • Literature gaps include comparative studies and conversion strategies among methods. • Standardized protocols for model calibration and validation are still limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two economic activities have been integrated in southern Brazil: olive cultivation and sheep farming. The favorable edaphoclimatic conditions in the southern region for cultivating olive trees and cultural preferences for the consumption of sheep meat make this integration a valuable strategy. Considering that every activity causes environmental impact and the exploitation of natural resources, new systems that promote sustainable development and the efficient use of these resources become necessary. This paper presents the first study of the carbon footprint of the life cycle of integrating of sheep and olive farming, with the objective to build an inventory based on primary data collected on olive and sheep farms in Brazil, determine the carbon footprint of the conventional and integrated system and estimate the potential for mitigating GHG emissions. The evaluation was performed using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The study focuses on the detailed analysis of the processes and activities that are responsible for GHG emissions, including enteric methane emissions, methane emissions from manure management, emissions from nitrogen fertilizer use and limestone application and energy consumption. For this, two major scenarios were considered, the first centered around on the traditional olive cultivation and sheep farming systems individually, and the second involved their synergistic integration. The findings indicate that the conventional system is associated with a global warming impact of 6.8 kg CO 2 eq per liter olive oil and kg live weight. In contrast, the integrated system demonstrates a significant mitigation potential of 27.7%, resulting in a reduced global warming impact of 4.92 kg CO 2 eq. This advantage is a consequence of the synergy between the systems, as they now occupy the same area, which allows the sharing of agricultural activities and agrochemical inputs, in addition to optimizing nutrient recycling and complementing each other. Additionally, the results of a sensitivity analysis showed that enteric methane from sheep and the application of limestone to the soil are the most influential parameters on the carbon footprint, indicating that they are key parameters for the development of GHG mitigation strategies, some of which were discussed in the article. • First life cycle assessment of integration between olive and sheep farming in Brazil. • The inventory was constructed with primary data collected in situ. • The study assesses the carbon footprint of the olive and sheep farming system. • The results show environmental advantages of the integration of olive and sheep farming systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we developed and evaluated the potential synergistic effect of a hybrid two-step sequential modification of a coconut shell activated carbon (AC) by oxidative treatment with HNO 3 (ACO), followed by aluminum impregnation (ACO-Al) by incipient wetness method (Al(NO 3) 3.9 H 2 O - 2% of Al) aiming to improve the adsorbent properties (i.e diffusivity, adsorption capacity and adsorbent-adsorbate affinity) for desulfurization of tiophenic compounds. Characterization of the adsorbent (TPD, FTIR, XPS) confirmed acidic oxygenated functional groups (carboxylic acids, anhydrides, lactones, phenols, and quinones) and aluminum compounds (AlO(OH) and Al 2 O 3) on the adsorbent's surface, which promoted enhanced interactions between adsorptive and adsorbent (i.e., sulfur-metal (S-M) interactions) that improved the performance of the adsorbent on dibenzothiophene (DBT) adsorption, besides π-π stacking interactions with the aromatic structures of the DBT molecule. Textural properties were slightly affected, indicating that the modifications provided surface modifications Aiming to support the understanding of the phenomena involved in the process, a phenomenological modeling approach was used, wherein adsorption equilibrium data was described by Langmuir isotherm and kinetic data by applying mass transfer kinetic models. The equilibrium and kinetic experiments showed an increment of 59% in the maximum adsorption capacity and 23% in the adsorption rate (controlled by the internal diffusion), respectively, for ACO-Al compared with the ACO adsorbent. Furthermore, the ACO-Al adsorbent showed a remarkable potential to remove different thiophenic compounds in binary systems (for benzothiophene (BT), dimethyldibenzothiophene (DMDBT), besides the DBT), and also to operate in adsorption-desorption cycles. Overall, the proposed hybrid adsorbent modification proved to be efficient in boosting the performance of activated carbon performance towards desulfurization given the specific oxygen groups and sulfur-metal interactions provided. [Display omitted] • Activated carbon (AC) derived from a coconut shell (abundant residue in the Brazil). • Efficient functionalization of AC with oxygenated groups and aluminum species. • Improvement of the adsorption capacity and kinetics of the functionalized AC. • Functionalized AC exhibited potential of adsorption in multicomponent systems. • Functionalized AC showed ability of regeneration and reuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pastureland maintenance is seen as a land-based measure to reduce dependency on feed concentrates and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from livestock production in the EU, while providing other ecosystems services. This paper assesses potential market-mediated impacts, including global Land Use Change (LUC) and GHG emissions, from increased subsidies to pasture-based livestock production in the EU. A tax recycling strategy (TRS) is simulated against a baseline up to 2030 under the shared socioeconomic pathway 2 (SSP2). This implies a budget-neutral increase in the level of pasture subsidies in individual Member States, as land subsidies for other cropping activities decrease. We employ the computable general equilibrium (CGE) model GTAP in its recursive-dynamic version, GTAP-RDEM, extended with the Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) database FABIO to disaggregate agri-food sectors from 21 to 31. This approach allows considering price- and income-dependent feedbacks when assessing long-run changes in the global economy, improving the sectoral resolution relative to GTAP v10. The policy increases pastureland areas and cattle production in almost all EU Member States, whereas cropland and crop production decrease, causing significant changes across EU agri-food markets. Crop prices increase, leading to the reduced output of intensive animal production sectors, mainly pig and poultry. Cropland areas decrease and most EU countries increase imports of grain, oilseeds, and cakes, essentially soybean cake from Brazil and North America. While GHG emissions decrease in those EU countries where pasturelands expand mainly at the cost of croplands, GHG emissions increase in those countries where pastureland expansion comes with forest loss. As a result, net GHG emissions increase in the EU-27 in 2030 (+2.49 Mt CO 2 -eq). Emissions from LUC in major non-EU grain- and oilseed-exporting countries increase, e.g., by 102.52 Mt CO 2 -eq in Brazil and by 129.17 Mt CO 2 -eq in North America. The simulated policy shows that promoting extensive livestock per se does not meet the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy and the EU Green Deal. The TRS should be complemented with policies to foster crop diversification and promote the use of domestic feed sources (e.g., legumes) to effectively ensure feed self-sufficiency and that extensive cattle production in the EU does not lead to deforestation in carbon-rich countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the geomorphological features of four areas of subtropical, southernmost Brazil displaying striking landforms developed upon Precambrian Camaquã Basin conglomerates in the southern Brazilian shield areas. The distinctive and unique features of the Serra do Segredo cuesta, the Rincão do Inferno canyon, the Casa de Pedra inselberg, and the Pedra da Cruz cap-shaped hills are important examples of such conglomerate geomorphology in South America and in Brazil, where few occurrences were available so far. They are the first documented conglomerate landforms in southernmost Brazil, widening the distribution of such terrains in South America and in the subtropical, southern hemisphere areas, considering recent global reviews. Besides the high scientific relevance for geomorphology as a whole, such features are important also for (1) evidencing the decisive role of lithology, structure, and water flows in the formation of such landforms; as well as (2) ecology and tourism, being distributed within and in the vicinity of the Caçapava UNESCO Global Geopark of southernmost Brazil. • Novel description of conglomerate geomorphology developed upon Ediacaran alluvial/fluvial deposits of the Camaquã Basin in subtropical, southernmost Brazil. • Different landforms developed according to bed tilting and arrangement, as well as to tectonic structures "pre-design". • Decisive role of lithology and water in shaping ranges and hills. • Contribution to a global distribution of conglomerate landforms, especially in humid, subtropical areas. • Geological heritage potential, features within and in the surroundings of the Caçapava UNESCO Global Geopark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Thermal stresses produced on TCABR tokamak during baking analyzed for the first time. • Maximum equivalent stress on vacuum vessel below limit calculated by ASME BPVC. • Stress on other components below ASME limit, but above material yield strength. • Stress on vacuum vessel below ASME limit, despite high rigidity support structure. TCABR is a small-sized tokamak located at the University of São Paulo, in Brazil. It is planned to undergo an extensive upgrade, which includes a baking system. However, this tokamak wasn't designed considering baking as a possible wall conditioning technique. This paper analyzes whether a baking system with ohmic heating could in principle be installed on TCABR, considering the thermal stresses that it might produce on the vacuum vessel. An analytical steady-state heat transfer model was used to estimate the heat fluxes required to reach a target temperature of 200 °C. Thermal and structural transient finite element method models were developed using ANSYS Workbench®. The temperature distribution was used to calculate the thermal stresses, also considering the effects of gravity and vacuum pressure. The stresses produced in the vacuum vessel by baking were below the limit defined by the ASME stress code, but the graphite tiles' support rails reached stress values above their material's yield strength. The resulting temperature distribution was not uniform, with some regions far from the 200 °C target. A redesign of the baking system will be required to reach a more uniform temperature field and avoid stresses above yield strength for some components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria continues to be a serious global public health problem in subtropical and tropical countries of the world. The main drugs used in the treatment of human malaria, quinine and artemisinin, are isolates of medicinal plants, making the use of plants a widespread practice in countries where malaria is endemic. Over the years, due to the increased resistance of the parasite to chloroquine and artemisinin in certain regions, new strategies for combating malaria have been employed, including research with medicinal plants. This review focuses on the scientific production regarding medicinal plants from Brazil whose antimalarial activity was evaluated during the period from 2011 to 2022. For this review, four electronic databases were selected for research: Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Scielo and Periódicos CAPES. Searches were made for full texts published in the form of scientific articles written in Portuguese or English and in a digital format. In addition, prospects for new treatments as well as future research that encourages the search for natural products and antimalarial derivatives are also presented. A total of 61 publications were encountered, which cited 36 botanical families and 92 species using different Plasmodium strains in in vitro and in vivo assays. The botanical families with the most expressive number of species found were Rubiaceae, Apocynaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae (14, 14, 9 and 6 species, respectively), and the most frequently cited species were of the genera Psychotria L. (8) and Aspidosperma Mart. (12), which belong to the families Rubiaceae and Apocynaceae. Altogether, 75 compounds were identified or isolated from 28 different species, 31 of which are alkaloids. In addition, the extracts of the analyzed species, including the isolated compounds, showed a significant reduction of parasitemia in P. falciparum and P. berghei , especially in the clones W2 CQ-R (in vitro) and ANKA (in vivo), respectively. The Brazilian regions with the highest number of species analyzed were those of the north, especially the states of Pará and Amazonas, and the southeast, especially the state of Minas Gerais. Although many plant species with antimalarial potential have been identified in Brazil, studies of new antimalarial molecules are slow and have not evolved to the production of a phytotherapeutic medicine. Given this, investigations of plants of traditional use and biotechnological approaches are necessary for the discovery of natural antimalarial products that contribute to the treatment of the disease in the country and in other endemic regions. [Display omitted] • Malaria continues to be a serious global public health problem. • Malaria is endemic in the Amazon and, in Brazil, 99.9% of notifications of cases and deaths from malaria occur in this region. • A total of 61 papers on Brazilian plants with antimalarial activity were published from 2011 to 2022. • 75 compounds were identified or isolated from 23 different species, 31 of which are alkaloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Committed to achieving carbon neutrality by mid-century, South America faces unique challenges in carbon mitigation due to its distinct socio-economic, technological, and institutional backgrounds compared to developed and other developing economies. Previous research on South America's carbon emissions has limited country and sector coverage and typically adopts a top-down approach that focuses on the overall emissions of an economy, neglecting individual energy sources and emission sectors. Therefore, this paper compiles a comprehensive inventory of CO 2 emissions for South American countries based on a meticulous bottom-up approach and multi-source data integration, followed by a thorough analysis of their temporal evolution patterns and the driving forces behind them. Between 2010 and 2020, South America's overall emissions peaked in 2014 at 1092.3 Mt., led by emissions from oil consumption and from the transport and electricity sectors, and dropped to 865.6 Mt. in 2020, due to the economic fluctuations and COVID-19. Specifically, Brazil was the largest emitter, Chile experienced the most significant increase in emissions, and Paraguay recorded the highest emission growth rate. Generally, expanding population was constant driver of emission growth. High energy intensity led to significant emission increases in Brazil and Ecuador, while elevated carbon intensity was the main driver in Argentina. Energy structure changes played a positive role in most countries to different extents (e.g., much more significant in Brazil than in Chile) but aggrevated emissions in Paraguay and Guyana. Therefore, carbon mitigation strategies should be tailored to each country's unique national circumstances. • During 2010–2020, South America's CO 2 emissions from fossil fuels peaked in 2014. • Transport and electricity sectors comprised over 60% of total emissions. • Brazil was the top emitter, while Chile saw the largest increase in emissions. • Emission patterns and driving factors varied significantly across countries. • Carbon reduction strategies should be tailored to local circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses a model of coastal barrier progradation where the development of a prograded plain was a product of the successive formation of foredune ridges followed by their burial by transgressive sand sheets and dunefields. The results are based on direct lithological data from drill holes and geomorphological analyses, indirect geophysical data (GPR), and 14C and OSL dating. Barrier progradation started at 6.69 ka (OSL) or 7.2 ka (14C), under sea-level rise. At around 5.0 ka (OSL), or thereabouts, a forced regression condition started to operate, when sea-level started to fall after it reached a maximum of 2.34 ± 0.8 m. During barrier progradation sets of foredunes were formed, and at least some of them were buried by sands of transgressive dunefields (TDF), which later evolved to transgressive sand sheets (TSS). A total of 11+ phases of TSS and a modern phase of TDF were formed in a time span of 6.69 ka (OSL) or 7.2 ka (14C), corresponding to one phase formed at each 560 or 600 yrs. Two models of possible development of the surface of Curumim barrier are proposed. • Arare record of aforedune plain buried by transgressive sandsheets formation. • The cyclic formation of transgressive dunefieldsand transgressive sand sheets. • The foredune/beach contact as a proxy of sea-level position. • Distinct contributions of normal and forced regressionon barrier progradation. • Possibletransformation of a transgressive dunefield in a transgressive sand sheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent disastrous tailings dam failures have heightened public concerns about the safety of these structures. Typically, tailings are disposed of as a slurry in a loosely saturated state, making them susceptible to static liquefaction. The widely used limit equilibrium method for analysing tailings dams may overlook potential failures and is incapable of simulating static-liquefaction-type dam failures. This paper presents simulations of the initiation of progressive failure within a finite element framework, using a well-described tailings dam in Brazil as a basis. Three different constitutive models (Hardening Soil, SANISAND2004, and NorSand) were employed to demonstrate a numerical modelling procedure for simulating tailings dam static liquefaction and a practical approach to numerically account for the effects of fines content in slime layers. Models that incorporate the state parameter (ψ) as an integral part can realistically depict the loss of strength in loose granular materials during a liquefaction process. Stress–strain paths of representative points in critical zones of the studied tailings dam indicate localized shear deformations that lead to progressive failure due to static liquefaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reservoir characterization is extremely important for understanding and determining the behavior of hydrocarbon reservoirs. The geophysical well logging, widely applied in the oil industry, helps to obtain essential physical properties (acoustic, electrical, mechanical, radioactive and thermal) by deploying measurement devices in the drilled well. This project aims to carry out the geological characterization of hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Amazonas Basin through the analysis of well geophysical logs. Despite the oil-producing potential of the basin, there are few published papers that use geophysical well logging for reservoir characterization. For this study, composite log data publicly provided by ANP were used. Six exploratory wells drilled in AM-T-84 and AM-T-85 exploratory blocks in the Amazonas Basin were selected. By analyzing the geophysical logs of gamma ray, resistivity, density and neutron from these wells, it was possible to identify the hydrocarbon reservoir interval within the Monte Alegre formation and obtain estimates of thickness, shale volume and porosity. The identified reservoir is relatively thin, with an average thickness of 16 m. The obtained shale volume values were relatively high, due to the influence of shale layers present in the Monte Alegre formation. The effect of clay content affected the interpretation process of the well logs; however, it did not significantly impact the reservoir porosity estimation, which ranged between 10.4 and 23.4 %. • The analysis and interpretation of well logs can provide petrophysics properties of the petroleum reservoir. • The Amazonas Basin is one of the pioneering areas for hydrocarbon exploration in northern Brazil. • Despite the clay content present in the formation, relatively good porosity values were obtained for the reservoir. • The temperature values obtained range from 70 to 95 °C. They are contained in the oil generation range (65–165 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow Fever (YF) is a viral arbovirosis of Public Health importance. In Brazil, surveillance is focused mainly on detecting epizootic events of Platyrrhini. Herein, we compared the detection and phylogenetic analysis of YF virus in two neotropical primates (NTP), a Callithrix detected in the previous epidemic period (2016–2020), and a Callicebus nigrifons , showing a new introduction of YF in 2023. This paper illustrates the importance of joint actions of laboratory and field teams to ensure quick response to Public Health emergencies, such as the intensification of vaccination of susceptible human populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil is the world's leading charcoal producer, mainly used as an energy source and reducing agent for iron ore in the pig iron and steel industry. Despite its vast production, much of the Brazilian charcoal production remains low-tech and inefficient, with limited utilization of by-products. To address potential environmental impacts, promote a circular economy, and reduce energy waste in the charcoal production chain, this study presents the benefits of using wood carbonization by-products through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The analysis was performed by comparing four scenarios: i) Current wood carbonization; ii) Wood carbonization with combustion of non-condensable gases; iii) Wood carbonization with energy recovering of non-condensable gases for electricity generation; and iv) Assessing the utilization of insoluble tar and biomass waste for generating additional electricity, and the use of Pyroligneous Extract (PE) in eucalyptus cultivation. The results demonstrate that by-product utilization prevents energy waste, with an estimated potential to generate 0.19–0.26 MWh per ton of charcoal in Scenarios 3 and 4. Furthermore, 3.3 t of CO2 eq./t of charcoal are sequestered from the atmosphere, and Scenarios 2, 3, and 4 can increase this amount by 5.06%, 6.7%, and 0.48%, respectively. This paper introduces an innovative assessment of PE utilization during eucalyptus cultivation, resulting in a 6.16% reduction in greenhouse gas emission and a 46.98% decrease in abiotic resource consumption, attributed to PE's potential to partially reduce pesticide consumption. [Display omitted] • Photochemical Oxidation is the main impact category due to CO emissions in carbonization kilns. • Potential to generate 0.19–0.26 MWh of electricity per ton of charcoal through by-products utilization. • Forest residues and insoluble tar increase electricity generation potential by 36%. • Charcoal by-products offset GHG emissions from 14 to 203 kg/ton of charcoal. • Pyroligneous Extract use leads to 6% lower GHG emissions and 47% decrease in abiotic resource consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed generation (DG) plays a strategic role in transitioning from a fossil to a renewable energy matrix, encouraging the reduction of energy poverty and access to green energy in traditional communities. This paper proposes a statistical model based on structural equations to analyze the influence of DG on Well-Being (CWB), and to estimate the causal relationships between the latent variables: economic (ECO), environmental (ENV), social (SOC), distributed generation system (DGS) and well-being (CWB) in a rural area in Brazil. The research is carried out in a Quilombola Community located in the south of Brazil. In the data collection process, a questionnaire was used in a Likert scale format, applied in loco to the residents of the Quilombola community. This database was imported into the SmartPLS software for analysis using a partial least squares approach. Structural equation-based modelling (SEM) results confirmed 66% of the hypotheses. The latent variables SOC and DGS directly and positively affected CWB with (β = 0.573) and (β = 0.433), respectively. The Economic variable with (β = 0.396) had a direct and positive effect on the DGS variable, and the DGS variable with (β = 0.404) had an immediate and positive impact on the CWB. The variables observed with the highest participation in the latent variables were: belonging (62%), social capital (31%), greenhouse gases (56%) and incentive policies (45%). The proposed model demonstrates that socioeconomic changes, carried out from specific public policies around the installation of DG, should contribute to the well-being of traditional communities and the reduction of energy poverty. • An analysis of the well-being development of a rural community was done. • For data collection process was used a Likert scale. • Only the social dimension had a direct effect on the well-being of the community. • The designed model demonstrated that the variables are susceptible to changes, influencing on public policies. • DG promotes well-being beyond technical issues and should encourage its installation in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]