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Introduction: Distinguishing and categorizing the origin of garlic are highly significant, considering its widespread use as a flavoring agent. With billions of dollars annually in global trade, garlic is frequently susceptible to fraudulent practices. Methodology: Paper spray ionization mass spectrometry (PS‐MS) was employed to quickly analyze garlic samples from distinct geographic origins: China and Brazil. The so‐generated PS‐MS data were treated with metabolomic multivariate approaches, and the garlic samples from these different geographic regions were easily discriminated. Results: Brazilian garlic was characterized to contain higher levels of amino acids, such as arginine, proline, and valine, and organosulfur compounds, such as allicin, alliin, and l‐γ‐glutamil‐S‐allyl‐l‐cysteine, compared to Chinese garlic. The PS‐MS data were treated employing multivariate approaches, typically used in the metabolomics field, and this protocol was promptly able to discern among both types of samples. Conclusion: Hence, this combined strategy holds promise not only as an effective tool for the authentication of the geographical origin of garlic but also as a powerful means for biomarker discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's wort) is one of the world's most consumed medicinal plants for treating depression and psychiatric disorders. Counterfeiting can occur in the medicinal plant trade, either due to the lack of active ingredients or the addition of substances not mentioned on the labels, often without therapeutic value or even harmful to health. Hence, 43 samples of St. John's wort commercially acquired in different Brazilian regions and other countries were analyzed by paper spray ionization mass spectrometry (PS‐MS) and modeled by principal component analysis. Hence, samples (plants, capsules, and tablets) were extracted with ethanol in a solid–liquid extraction. For the first time, PS‐MS analysis allowed the detection of counterfeit H. perforatum samples containing active principles typical of other plants, such as Ageratum conyzoides and Senna spectabilis. About 52.3% of the samples were considered adulterated for having at least one of these two species in their composition. Furthermore, out of 35 samples produced in Brazil, only 13 were deemed authentic, having only H. perforatum. Therefore, there is a clear need to improve these drugs' quality control in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classifying papers according to the fields of knowledge is critical to clearly understand the dynamics of scientific (sub)fields, their leading questions, and trends. Most studies rely on journal categories defined by popular databases such as WoS or Scopus, but some experts find that those categories may not correctly map the existing subfields nor identify the subfield of a specific article. This study addresses the classification problem using data from each paper (Abstract, Title, Keywords, and the KeyWords Plus) and the help of experts to identify the existing subfields and journals exclusive of each subfield. These "exclusive journals" are critical to obtain, through a pattern detection procedure that uses machine learning techniques (from software NVivo), a list of the frequent terms that are specific to each subfield. With that list of terms and with the help of optimization procedures, we can identify to which subfield each paper most likely belongs. This study can contribute to support scientific policy‐makers, funding, and research institutions—via more accurate academic performance evaluations—, to support editors in their tasks to redefine the scopes of journals, and to support popular databases in their processes of refining categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the use of paper spray mass spectrometry (PS‐MS) combined with chemometric models to analyze seized samples of anabolic steroids. Because many forensic laboratories typically demand high‐throughput analysis for this type of sample, we developed a quicker and simpler alternative analytical method for routine analysis with minimal sample preparation. Oily samples (n = 39) resulting from seizures carried out by Brazilian Federal and State Police units were selected for this study. These samples were analyzed by PS‐MS in the positive ion mode and full scan (50–1000 m/z), providing spectra containing patterns of the respective active ingredients present in each product. A principal component analysis (PCA) model was built, which discriminated samples mainly according to their active ingredients and allowed to detect and characterize some cases of product counterfeiting. The variable selection method ordered predictors selection was employed jointly with PCA to improve sample cluster separation and to provide model simplification. The final PCA model was built with three principal components and using only 28 spectral variables. This model accounted for 69.82% of the variance and discriminated samples according to their specific active ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need for energy sources with lower environmental impacts to dispose of waste generated by human activities. In this context, a holistic analysis of energy use of waste from agricultural and forestry activities, animal excreta, urban solid waste and sewage, waste from the pulp and paper industry and charcoal in Brazil is presented. Based on a bibliographic review, the current Brazilian panorama is presented in figures giving, a vision of national potential for harnessing bioenergy from this theoretical and technical potential. The QGIS3.24.2 Tisler geoprocessing tool was used to generate potentiality maps from census data of microregions and municipalities available in the IBGE database (2022) and in the Geocentric Reference System for the Americas (SIRGAS 2000). The results of map analysis by micro‐regions of the primary energy from agricultural residues highlight sugar cane, corn and soybeans crops, followed by wastewater and animal excreta. They stood out amont the studied sources of biomass with technical potentials of 53.17, 15.23 and 6.81 GW, respectively. With these results, it is concluded that Brazil could enable around 75 GW installed power, reusing all biomass, potentially 12.5 PJ, without considering the 16 GW already installed from sugarcane and paper black liquor plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: The effort to make fake documents look real leads to the use of crickets and beverages to produce artificially aged papers, as land titles, based on yellowing caused by the use of these methods. An old practice in Brazil, called "cricketing", has led to the misappropriation of Brazilian land using these documents. We propose a rapid, simple, instantaneous and non‐destructive method to identify artificially aged papers by easy ambient sonic‐spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI‐MS) analysis. Methods: Three typical aging procedures were used to obtain artificially aged papers using coffee, cola drink, and crickets, with the papers being analyzed by EASI‐MS. Multivariate statistical analyses were performed on the data to find the sample groups and to study the most relevant ions of each ageing procedure. High‐resolution MS (HRMS) was used to obtain the exact masses and attribute formulae to relevant ions present in the samples. Results: The combination of EASI‐MS and multivariate statistical analyses allowed us to identify the most relevant ions to classify the adulteration of documents and HRMS identified most of these relevant ions. TMS fingerprinting in combination with multivariate analysis also demonstrated that this approach can qualitatively differentiate all the examined paper samples. Conclusions: We developed a cheap, fast and easy method that can help to elucidate counterfeit documents that have been artificially aged, helping to identify chemical additives and one that can be used in forensic laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Methods & Procedures Outcomes & Results Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Speech and language therapists (SLTs) play an important role in assessing and rehabilitating communication disorders in people with dementia, but there is evidence to suggest that they do not receive appropriate training to provide management and support during their training.To investigate the level of awareness and knowledge that practising SLTs from Brazil have about dementia and their role in the care of dementia through an online survey.An online survey tool was developed to collect information from practising Brazilian SLTs regarding their knowledge about dementia, awareness about their role in the care of people with dementia, and opinions on how SLTs may be better prepared to work in the dementia field. The survey was disseminated via social media, websites, and e‐mail lists of researchers and stakeholders.A total of 227 SLTs completed the survey. Participants showed good knowledge of dementia in general, while their answers were less accurate on primary progressive aphasia. Regarding the awareness by SLTs of their role in the care of people with dementia, most agreed or strongly agreed that SLTs could help people in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dementia (> 80%). However, fewer participants agreed or strongly agreed that they felt confident in contributing to the treatment and diagnosis process of dementia (about 50%). To improve the training of SLTs in Brazil, most participants believed that it would be necessary to improve the teaching of dementia at the undergraduate speech and language therapy curriculum level and to develop recommendations or guidelines about speech and language therapy practice in dementia.The results of this survey point to a need for improvement in the knowledge and confidence of Brazilian SLTs about dementia. To reach this goal, targeted training courses and applied practice opportunities should be embedded within university curricula and training programmes. Many studies confirm the importance of speech and language therapy in the non‐pharmacological treatment of people with dementia. However, other evidence suggests to a possible lack of training for Brazilian SLTs, especially in the curriculum of undergraduate courses. This study reveals that Brazilian SLTs have substantial knowledge of dementia and recognize the significance of their role in treating people with dementia. However, a minority expressed confidence in their ability to assess and treat people with dementia. The findings of this research demonstrate that Brazilian SLTs have good knowledge of dementia and endorse their professional role in dementia care; however, they lack confidence in their own skills and expertise in diagnostic assessment and treatment of dementia. Interventions aimed at boosting the SLT's confidence level could lead to improved patients outcomes and overall quality of care within clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how research advisory groups can be a vehicle for youth activism. It draws on our experiences with young activists, aged 15–26 years, in India and Brazil, who were advisors on a research project focused on youth livelihoods in cities. These young people played a vital role in supporting youth researchers, identifying research themes and developing engagement and advocacy strategies. Through this paper, we explore how the Youth Expert Group advisory model evolved differently in each location and examine how these were shaped by the context, the 'adult' research team and the youth activists themselves. A critically reflexive response in intergenerational partnership is essential to support youth activists in research activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social paper wasp Agelaia pallipes is known to eat carrion and scavenge on vertebrates. There are few records of wasps predating vertebrates, including an attack on an adult hummingbird and the predation of bird nestlings. During a project monitoring reproductive behaviour of a neotropical songbird, the Lined Seedeater Sporophila lineola in south‐eastern Brazil, we recorded the predation of a four‐day‐old nestling by a social paper wasp. In the video, the adult female bird attempted to visit the nest prior to the predation. The male could be seen with its crest feathers erect after a wasp left the nest, when the nestling was presumably already dead. When we arrived at the nest to remove the camera, we found the nestling dead, and did not observe the parents in the vicinity. We also registered two other dead nestlings in a different nest with similar wounds. However, the conclusive cause of death of those nestlings is unknown. Nest predation is a major selective pressure in birds, and insects are rarely assumed to play a notable role in this process. Further research is needed to better understand the nature of the relationship between wasps and birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature has usually regarded street‐level bureaucrats (SLBs) as relatively privileged bureaucrats, neglecting an important sub‐group of these civil servants: low‐status SLBs. Even though they may be members of a team with other SLBs who have more status, they may suffer from intraorganizational inequality, meaning unequal access to resources and the requirement that they perform informal tasks associated with their unequal position in the organization. We examine the unique challenges low‐status SLBs are often confronted with, and how they cope with them. Based on 94 interviews with community health workers in Brazil, we identify several types of burdens associated with their ambiguous tasks, as well as the strategies they use to cope with these burdens. The analyses suggest that the burdens and coping strategies are an important source of the inequality on the team. The paper discusses the importance of considering the diversity of roles occupied by SLBs and the inequalities within teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This scoping review aimed to identify and appraise the effectiveness and impact of breastfeeding promotion interventions conducted across Portuguese- speaking sovereign countries. Methods: Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched 14 electronic databases for publications published through 31 July 2023. The search terms were designed to find studies promoting breastfeeding or exclusive breastfeeding in pre- defined Portuguese- speaking countries. Results: Of the 5263 papers initially retrieved, 30 interventional studies on breastfeeding met the inclusion criteria across three countries: Brazil (N = 26), Portugal (N = 2) and Guinea Bissau (N = 2). Participants ranged from pregnant women, mothers, mother-infant pairs, healthcare professionals, and school children. Overall, the interventions increased exclusive breastfeeding and better breastfeeding practices, such as a higher duration of breastfeeding. The interventions positively affected maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, knowledge and perception. Only four studies used a theoretical framework. Conclusion: While the results were often statistically significant, no study had an outcome close to the recommended UNICEF and WHO goal of 70% breastfeeding at six months. The need to determine what works for the recommended six months postpartum period is critical for maximising children's health in Portuguese- speaking countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In celebration of the journal's 50th anniversary, the aim of the study was to review the whole collection of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (CDOE) publications from 1973 to 2022 and provide a complete overview of the main publication characteristics. Methods: The study used bibliometric techniques such as performance and science mapping analysis of 3428 articles extracted from the Scopus database. The data were analysed using the 'Bibliometrix' package in R. The journal's scientific production was examined, along with the yearly citation count, the distribution of publications based on authors, the corresponding author's country and affiliation and citation count, citing source and keywords. Bibliometric network maps were constructed to determine the conceptual, intellectual and social collaborative structure over the past 50 years. The trending research topics and themes were identified. Results: The total number of articles and average citations has increased over the years. D Locker, AJ Spencer, A Sheiham and WM Thomson were the most frequently published authors, and PE Petersen, GD Slade and AI Ismail published papers with the highest citations. The most published countries were the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil and Canada, frequently engaging in collaborative efforts. The most common keywords used were 'dental caries', 'oral epidemiology' and 'oral health'. The trending topics were healthcare and health disparities, social determinants of health, systematic review and health inequalities. Epidemiology, oral health and disparities were highly researched areas. Conclusion: This bibliometric study reviews CDOE's significant contribution to dental public health by identifying key research trends, themes, influential authors and collaborations. The findings provide insights into the need to increase publications from developing countries, improve gender diversity in authorship and broaden the scope of research themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper contributes to the growing literature on the relationship between relatedness, complexity and regional diversification. It explores regional diversification in an emerging economy, focusing on diversification opportunities of regions with distinct levels of local capabilities. We investigate the importance of relatedness and economic complexity for sectoral and technological diversification in all regions of Brazil during the period 2006–2019. Regions tend to diversify in sectors/technologies requiring similar capabilities to those already available locally. In general, the higher the sector/technology complexity, the lower the probability of diversification. However, in high‐complex regions, complexity reverses into a positive force for diversification. Our analysis shows diversification prospects vary widely across different types of regions in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current studies on religion in Brazil are marked by the dispute over secularism and the boundaries between the religious and the political. This paper shows how the literature on secularization and laicidade followed the social relevance of religions to adjust the focus on the subjects under research to the point that throughout the 20th century, studies were mainly dedicated to analyzing the position of the Catholic Church vis‐à‐vis the national secular state; the growth of the Pentecostals since the mid‐1990s, led to a shift in the literature dedicated to their new relevance in public life and their dispute over laicidade. I argue that this social transformation broadened the scope of the investigation to the particularities of their presence in the public sphere and the production of Pentecostal political‐esthetic sensibilities, in contrast to the previous Catholic secularity pattern. This scenario of transformation with increased religious pluralism and conflict of public religions has enabled an understanding of the particularity of the experience of secularity in Brazil and allows us to rethink some of the previous global theoretical assumptions about secularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to validate the hypothesis that in Brazil, between 1941 and 1948, when the first geographical expeditions to the sertão (backcountry) of Brazil took place, there was a transition in the epistemological style practiced by geographers between the historicist and ecological approach and a positivistic planning approach. Added to both is the need to restructure the colonial legacy of the country's territory, a perspective marked by social geography with a Marxist bias. This transition process is, simultaneously, the construction of another hybrid geographical style and an epistemological point of view of its own. This form of epistemology reflects the configuration of space, i.e., the continuity of the economic and political life of the coast without major modifications. However, the projected planning perspectives for the future occupation of the sertão, seen by the actors of the time as an empty territory, with resources and in which its occupation could gradually reverse Brazil's colonial legacy. Brazilian scientific space is observed as a circulation of knowledge, which is subject to tensions. Conceptual developments occurred in discussions in National Council of Geography (CNG) and Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) institutional settings and were called 'geographical talks/gatherings', which were published in the Boletim Geográfico and the Revista Brasileira de Geografia. Based on these discussions and controversies, it was possible to differentiate the styles of geography mobilised by actors, as well as to create a general interpretation based on the material analysed. Development geography and a geographical reason are understood as the result of this construction, based on two main factors: the influences of foreign geographies and the nature of the country. The methodology adopted was a geo‐history of knowledge, associated with aspects of Bruno Latour's actor‐network theory. Finally, the paper seeks to contribute to the validation of the epistemological and heuristic virtues typical of the southern hemisphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on data science in digital cultural heritage in Brazil, where there is a lack of systematized information and curated databases for the integrated organization of documentary knowledge. Thus, the aim was to systematically map the different forms of information organization and representation applied to objects from collections belonging to institutions affiliated with the federal government's Special Department of Culture. This diagnosis is then used to discuss the requirements of devising strategies that favor a better data science information infrastructure to reuse information on Brazil's cultural heritage. Content analysis was used to identify analytical categories and obtain a broader understanding of the documentary sources of these institutions in order to extract, analyze, and interpret the data involved. A total of 215 hyperlinks that can be considered cultural collections of the institutions studied were identified, representing 2,537,921 cultural heritage items. The results show that the online publication of Brazil's digital cultural heritage is limited in terms of technology, copyright licensing, and established information organization practices. This paper provides a conceptual and analytical view to discuss the requirements for formulating strategies aimed at building a data science information infrastructure of Brazilian digital cultural collections that serves as future projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The recent expansion of tree plantations is the most important agrarian change in many parts of Brazil. This article uses the results of extensive field research to analyse the different ways paper and pulp companies assure their land base for eucalyptus plantations. The mechanisms of land access have changed little over the decades, amounting to a process of primitive accumulation which seems to be controlled by the ways the pulp industry influences land markets and prices, the strength of any resistance, and particularly the government support enjoyed by industry. Many paper and steel companies, either directly or indirectly, are increasingly relying on eucalyptus plantations, with negative impacts in many places. The expansion of tree monocultures with rural exclusion is characteristic of the wider phenomenon of land grab which is driven by the dominating financial logic of current capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to spatially and regionally examine academic engagement within Brazil, identifying patterns. Moreover, our investigation can contribute to a better understanding of how knowledge can be turned into a tool to fight regional inequality. We depart from two hypotheses: first, universities situated in peripheral regions interact more with companies from relatively more dynamic regions, and second, in the absence of industrial knowledge demand, universities tend to collaborate more closely with a diverse range of stakeholders in the region. To evaluate these hypotheses and find empirical evidence, we consider 4497 research groups and 4603 nonacademic organizations as "nodes" connected by 8830 collaborations throughout all Brazilian regions. Social network tools are used to illustrate the spatial and regional dimensions of academic engagement more accurately. The results show that academic engagement is not regionally homogeneous, demonstrating essential differences regarding local nonacademic partnerships. Innovation policies, which encourage only university–firm interactions, perpetuate regional inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the ideological foundations of contemporary capitalism and its organizational models in Brazil. Our analysis considers three positions present in the literature: the thesis of the new spirit of capitalism; the literature about financialization and the shareholder value model; and the configuration of a managerial mode of domination. A content analysis was conducted to investigate normative business content from Brazilian “top voices” on the LinkedIn network. A total of 180 influential texts from 32 authors composed our corpus and were assessed based on an abductive approach that had as references the economies of worth model and a related framework for assessing the dynamic configuration of capitalism justifications. Results support the idea that contemporary capitalism is characterized in ideological terms by the fluidity of normative references restricting the market logic, configuring a complex or managerial mode of domination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant research and development in the areas of microwave photonics in Brazil are presented in this paper. These include direct microwave modulation of semiconductor laser diodes, optical control of MESFETs and HEMTs as well as high speed fiber optic components. Future directions for research in this area are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides evidence about location and colocation patterns of manufacturing entrepreneurship and spatial scope of agglomeration economies in the context of a developing country. Using microgeographic data for all Brazilian manufacturing activities and distance‐based measures, we find clear patterns of colocalization between entrants and existing establishments, and that these patterns occur mainly at short distances. For activities presenting colocalization between entrants and existing establishments, our results also indicate that a greater number of incumbent establishments in a given location positively affects the number of entrant establishments that decide to locate there, an effect that attenuates rapidly with distance (generally disappearing after 5 km). This pattern of attenuation is robust to both the inclusion of a comprehensive set of controls for observable and unobservable local characteristics and the use of instrumental variables to address remaining endogeneity concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within emerging fields of research focusing on neuro‐urbanism, neuro‐geographies, and biosociality, which experiment with using emerging mobile biosensor methods, few if any have used them to research socio‐spatial life in communities that suffer high levels of violence and other socio‐spatial injustices. Extending non‐representational accounts of the body, emotions, and affect, this paper discusses an experimental geography–neuroscience collaboration, working in a favela of Rio de Janeiro to explore the embodied urban emotions and affects of violently bordered urban communities. Emphasising non‐representational, corporeal spatial practices in a study of women living in Brazil's favelas, we use electrodermal activity biosensors to propose a novel methodological and analytical approach that focuses on forms of affective debilitation and resilience. Theoretically, we draw on biopolitical theory and border theory to propose a method that avoids oppositions between biopolitical and necropolitical accounts of borders. The aim of the research, conducted in June 2016, is to understand levels of affective debilitation or resilience among women living in the Maré Complex of favelas in Rio de Janeiro. Using a wearable biosensor, we took measures of electrodermal activity of eight women as they undertook one of their routine, everyday journeys within the favela. We also conducted an hour‐long qualitative interview with each participant. We find that for all our participants, navigating the favela's violent border spaces subjects their bodies to very high levels of affective and cognitive demand. While some women responded to this with stress reactions that created acute levels of affective debilitation, others responded very strongly, showing exceptionally high levels of affective resilience. Our research highlights the affective labour required of women to co‐construct urban borders, and emphasizes their agency and forms of everyday resistance in shaping the favela's affective atmospheres. Combined biosensing (electrodermal activity/galvanic skin response) data and interview data reveal that women living in the favela experience high levels of stress and fear. For one resident this results in affective debilitation (a wounding of the capacity to affect and to be affected). However, other women showed exceptionally high levels of affective resilience and resistance. The research points to the important role of women in co‐constructing the embodied borders of the favela. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at estimating the regional and sectoral impacts of the Covid‐19 pandemic in the state of Sergipe, Brazil in 2020. We use an input‐output model with partial hypothetical extraction. The main results suggest a significant reduction in economic activity in the state, particularly in the Transport and Industry sectors. On the other hand, the Real estate and Food and Accommodation sectors have a greater capacity for recovery with the introduction of an emergency aid program. The municipalities with the largest absolute impact on gross domestic product are Aracaju, Canindé de São Francisco and Nossa Senhora do Socorro, two of them located in the metropolitan area of Aracaju. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the productivity of crops of agricultural interest and their interactions with physicochemical soil properties is widely explored. However, there is still a gap concerning the contribution of biological soil attributes and especially the relationship between crop productivity and the structures of organism communities within the soil, such as the enchytraeids. This paper aimed to evaluate the diversity and structures of enchytraeids communities in subtropical soils and their relationship with soybean productivity and soil properties within a no‐tillage system. This study was conducted in soybean growing grounds working under no‐till farming systems in southern Brazil. Samples were collected according to ISO 23611‐3 and extracted with the hot–wet methodology. The organisms were identified up to their genus level. Enchytraeids density increased with the increase of soybean productivity for both evaluated crops. Enchytraeus, Fridericia, and Hemienchytraeus were more abundant in high productivity and genus Achaeta was only found in the second crop and was not a sensitive indicator toward changes in soybean productivity. Regarding the relationship between the enchytraeid community and soil attributes, the variables clay, phosphorus, moisture contents, pH, Ca/Mg as well as carbon and nitrogen from soil and litter, affected Enchytraeidae distribution. Enchytreids showed significant correlations with soybean productivity in the no‐tillage system for subtropical soils in Brazil, demonstrating potential bioindicators of soil quality and consequently of soybean productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical models have been developed to investigate and understand responses of biogeochemical cycle to global changes. Steady state, when a system is in dynamic equilibrium, is generally required to initialize these model simulations. However, the spin‐up process that is used to achieve steady state pose a great burden to computational resources, limiting the efficiency of global modeling analysis on biogeochemical cycles. This study introduces a new Semi‐Analytical Spin‐Up (SASU) to tackle this grand challenge. We applied SASU to Community Land Model version 5 and examined its computational efficiency and accuracy. At the Brazil site, SASU is computationally 7 times more efficient than (or saved up to 86% computational cost in comparison with) the traditional native dynamics (ND) spin‐up to reach the same steady state. Globally, SASU is computationally 8 times more efficient than the accelerated decomposition spin‐up and 50 times more efficient than ND. In summary, SASU achieves the highest computational efficiency for spin‐up on site and globally in comparison with other spin‐up methods. It is generalizable to wide biogeochemical models and thus makes computationally costly studies (e.g., parameter perturbation ensemble analysis and data assimilation) possible for a better understanding of biogeochemical cycle under climate change. Plain Language Summary: Land carbon cycle models, a critical component of earth system models, have been developed to investigate and understand ecological responses to global changes. However, the model spin‐up process to achieve steady state are usually time‐consuming and pose great computational burden. The spin‐up problem hinders our ability to study some key issues in land carbon cycle modeling, such as sensitivity analysis. This paper applies a new SASU framework to accelerate spin‐up of Community Land Model matrix version 5. Compared with traditional native dynamic approach, SASU speeds up the spin‐up by approximately 50 times, achieving the fastest spin‐up speed than all the previously recorded methods. Our SASU method is applicable to biogeochemical models and, therefore, liberates the models for computationally costly studies, such as parameter perturbation ensemble analysis and data assimilation. Key Points: A new semi‐analytical spin‐up (SASU) framework combines the default accelerated spin‐up method and matrix analytical algorithmSASU accelerates CLIM5 spin‐up by tens of times, becoming the fastest method to our knowledgeSASU is applicable to most biogeochemical models and enables computationally costly study, for example, sensitivity analysis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engaging with the assassination of black city councillor Marielle Franco, the paper discusses how "milícia urbanism", a formation of power and capital accumulation driven by parapolice networks, intensifies the necropolitical governance of Rio de Janeiro. Specifically, this necropolitics is characterised by liaisons among armed, political, institutional and economic actors that enable acts of violence with impunity, aggravating the conditions of violence for subaltern populations. Dialoguing with the Black Studies debate on necropolitics and works on violent democracies, the paper situates milícia urbanism within a postcolonial genealogy of parapolicing. Ever since the colonial plantation, it is argued, parapolicing has been integral to a power technology that avoids sovereign accountability while serving white capital interests. Whereas previous accounts of necropolitics have centred on the sovereign exception, this genealogy furthers an understanding of necropolitics "beyond the exception". The paper concludes that Marielle Franco's black‐feminist politics has been vital to contestations of this necropolitics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One dominant narrative of the recent Brazilian crisis elaborated by scholars explains it as the result of a (lost) battle of secularist and progressive forces against religious and conservative ones. This paper challenges such a Manichaean viewpoint, by approaching grassroots politics in the context of critical events from Dilma Rousseff's impeachment to Jair Bolsonaro's victory in the 2018 presidential elections, from an ethnographic perspective. Drawing on fieldwork among Pentecostal families involved in the Landless Workers Movement, this paper argues that looking at moral reciprocity as well as power relations may help us to move beyond dichotomous stereotypes and analytical frameworks such as 'patronage' or 'populism'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coeval Neoproterozoic mafic dykes with a well‐constrained isotopic age of 925 Ma are distributed in the North China Craton (NCC) of China and São Francisco Craton (SFC) of Brazil. Several recent studies favor the hypothesis that these two cratons were connected during 925 Ma and constituted building cratons for the supercontinent Rodinia. However, the paleo‐positions of the two cratons in Rodinia have not yet been paleomagnetically resolved. This paper presents the paleomagnetic results of these dykes in both NCC and SFC. Detailed thermal and alternating‐field demagnetization revealed that these dykes record stable components of magnetization with unblocking temperatures below the Curie temperature of magnetite. Rock magnetic results and scanning electron microscope analysis further confirm that the major magnetic minerals in dyke samples are pseudo‐single domain titanomagnetites. The mean directions of the characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) of the dykes are distinct from those of rocks of different ages in the sampling localities, and are supported by positive baked contact tests, indicating primary remanent magnetization. The ChRM of the SFC dykes also exhibits dual polarity. Our results suggest that the NCC and SFC were in the moderate to high paleolatitudes of the Southern Hemisphere during approximately 925 Ma, suggesting a possible paleogeographic connection between the two cratons. A new paleogeographic reconstruction of both cratons during 925 Ma is proposed, which is supported by other geological evidence. Plain Language Summary: The formation and breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia have played crucial roles in the global tectonic evolution and paleoclimate changes during the Neoproterozoic which lasted from 1.0 billion to 541 million years ago. The exact configuration of the Rodinia remains debatable, including whether the North China Craton (NCC) and São Francisco Craton (SFC) were integral components of the Rodinia. In this paper, we present new results of an integrated investigation, including paleomagnetic and rock magnetic studies and scanning electron microscope analysis, on the well dated coeval 925 Ma mafic dykes in both NCC and SFC. The results of scanning electron microscope and magnetic measurements confirm the major magnetic minerals and the stability of characteristic remanence directions. The results imply that both NCC and SFC were located at moderate to high paleolatitudes of the Southern Hemisphere during approximately 925 Ma, suggesting the possibility of a paleogeographic connection between the two cratons in the Rodinia. The findings of this study help gain improved understanding of paleogeography of the early Earth. Key Points: Characteristic remanence for the 925 Ma dykes in North China Craton and São Francisco Craton is interpreted as primaryBoth cratons were located at moderate–high paleolatitudes, southwest of Rodinia's core at 925 Ma, suggesting a paleogeographic connectionThe possible paleogeographic connection between the two cratons is supported by new paleomagnetic and geological evidence [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key scientific publication demonstrates that the bio‐physical composition of the broiler chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) represents a signal of the Anthropocene. This finding contributes to a wider body of evidence that locates the beginning of the Anthropocene in the mid‐20th century, and is part of a broader intellectual project that seeks to establish and demarcate the Anthropocene as a new geological era. This paper takes a different tack. Treating Gallus gallus as an objective corollary for the Anthropocene, it positions the broiler chicken and the Anthropocene as an ontologically emergent nexus comprised of social–spatial relations, materialities, and practices. The paper then adopts critical nexus thinking to trace out the key relations and materialities, and their points of convergence, and underpinning extractivist ontologies that assemble into the chicken's body. Relations of particular concern include the processes that embody surplus value into the corporality of the chicken; the rationalisation and transformation of territories and landscapes into productive units of space, and the tightly coupled, interconnected flows of relations, materials, and coordinating technologies that comprise the 'supply chain'. It argues that by using critical nexus thinking to identify and articulate these relations that assemble into Gallus gallus, it renders the Anthropocene legible. Such legibility in turn fosters geographical awareness and responsibility that might lead to the changes necessary to address the large‐scale spatial inequalities from which the era stems and redress the consequences that the era might otherwise engender. Paper positions Gallus Gallus Domesticus ('The Broiler Chicken') as an objective corollary for the Anthropocene. It then employs critical nexus thinking to trace out its constituent relations and to fashion a geography of the Anthropocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the location patterns of manufacturing industries in Brazil using a distance‐based measure and micro‐geographic panel data for a 10‐year period. Our results show that 89.9% and 91% of manufacturing at the 3‐digit level have statistically significant localization for 2006 and 2015, respectively, and that these patterns remain high when we consider 4‐digit classification. High‐tech industries have location patterns at short distances, being localized mainly in large urban areas, while low‐tech industries are also localized at long distances. We also present evidence that agglomeration economies affect the degree of spatial concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus pandemic and responses to it have had uneven impacts on different segments of societies. This study analysed the experiences of LGBTQIA+2 people during the COVID‐19 emergency, based on interviews in the United Kingdom and Brazil in 2020. The two countries are instructive cases, given the different social, cultural, economic, and political contexts. Pre‐existing marginalisation shaped COVID‐19 experiences in both settings, influencing the challenges faced, such as isolation or disruption to transgender healthcare, and coping strategies, including the important role of LGBTQIA+ volunteer and mutual aid groups. This paper argues that despite commonalities, there is no single LGBTQIA+ experience, and that disaster strategies will be ineffective until they recognise intersectionality and support the diversity of LGBTQIA+ populations. It concludes with a call for more inclusive disaster research, policy, and practice, which requires scrutinising the dominant cisgender–heteronormative structures that produce and reproduce LGBTQIA+ marginalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely accepted in keratocyte carcinoma and an increasing number of literatures concerning PDT in skin cancer is published. But a detailed examination of publication patterns of PDT in skin cancer has not yet been carried out. Methods: Bibliographies were retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection restricted the publication date from January 1, 1985 to December 31, 2021. The search terms were photodynamic therapy and skin cancer. Visualization analysis and statistical analysis were performed by VOSviewer (Version 1.6.13), R software (Version 4.1.2) and Scimago Graphica (Version 1.0.15). Results: 3248 documents were selected for analysis. The results showed that the number of annual publications related to PDT in skin cancer was gradually increased and would continue to increase in the future. The results illustrated that "melanoma", "nanoparticles", "drug‐delivery", "mechanism", "delivery" and "in‐vitro" are newly occurred topics. The most prolific country was the United States and the most productive institution was the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. German researcher Szeimies RM published the most papers related to PDT in skin cancer. British Journal of Dermatology was the most popular journal in this field. Conclusion: The topic that PDT in skin cancer is a heated issue. Our study revealed the bibliometric result of the field, which might provide the prospects for further research. We recommend future investigations focusing on PDT in treating melanoma, innovation of photosensitizer, improvement of drug delivery and the mechanism of PDT in skin cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, abortion is only allowed in cases of rape, serious risk to a woman's life or fetal anecephaly. Legal abortion services cover less than 4% of the Brazilian territory and only 1,800 procedures are performed, in average, per year. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, almost half of the already few Brazilian abortion clinics shut down and women had to travel even longer distances, reaching abortion services at later gestational ages. In this paper, we describe three bottom‐up advocacy strategies that emerged from difficulties deepened during the COVID‐19 pandemic at a single abortion service in Brazil, amidst anti‐gender policies from the federal government. Telemedicine abortion, outpatient surgical abortion and the provision of abortion after 20 weeks' gestation are important strategies that may reduce inequalities that impact the most vulnerable populations, such as black and indigenous women, children, adolescents and women experiencing domestic violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent economic, technological, and social shocks have led to a period of high economic uncertainty. The term "economic resilience" has been used to describe how regional clusters deal with and adapt to various shocks. This paper aims to analyze the elements that influence the resilience trajectory of a cluster. We conduct qualitative and exploratory research on the centennial Wine Cluster in Serra Gaúcha, Brazil, using data sources, interviews, and documents. To this end, we first identify seven elements that influence cluster resilience from the literature review. Subsequently, through an empirical case study, we verify whether these elements could represent the resilience of clusters. The results show that these seven elements are integrable and represent dimensions that explain the resilience of the cluster analyzed. Moreover, the findings highlight that resilience and resistance to crises are the historical results of improvements and the development of new routines for clustered companies. This study contributes to the cluster resilience literature and presents elements explaining how regions can adapt to and deal with shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses autonomy as a set of practices that result in the production and reproduction of resources that allow for self‐organization. We define autonomy as a social construct that refers to the self‐organizing capacity of people, communities, and movements. Such capacity assumes both resources and agency. In that vein, our conceptualisation implies that autonomy is a relational concept: It can only emerge when and where struggles that aim at going beyond dependency (i.e., nonautonomy) concretely exist. Autonomy is three‐pronged, involving a set of goal‐oriented activities, a distantiation from capital, and the agency of social actors. Intertwined with these levels are peasant movements that have the capacity to develop and implement a political agenda that is not overshadowed and/or dictated by external influences. The paper illustrates this intertwining with the case of the Circuito (O Circuito), a Brazilian peasant movement that has constructed and operates an extended farmers' market and which simultaneously transforms farming practices. The Circuit is the outcome of collective action and shows the potential of multilevel performance of several actors engaged in concerted actions. In the conclusion, we suggest that the Circuit represents autonomy based on commonly pooled resources as well representing a countermovement to the destructive dynamics of food empires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Right‐wing variants of populism are on the rise across the globe, creating new patterns of interaction between society and the environment. These new socio‐ecological relationships – dubbed "populist ecologies" – are not homogenous and, instead, can vary from country to country and populist to populist. In this paper, we adopt two illustrative case studies to outline two particular right‐wing populist ecologies. First, we turn to the government of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil (2019 onwards) and detail the ways in which Bolsonaro's anti‐science agenda is evident in his response to patterns of deforestation and the "burning of the Amazon" in 2019. Second, we explore the politics of Matteo Salvini in Italy, highlighting how, in this form of right‐wing populism, the environment has become a container for wider political ambitions. In doing so, this work highlights the complexity of the relationship between contemporary right‐wing populism and the environment – and the ways in which populist ecologies may act to conceal the more‐nefarious elements of the populist moment. This paper details how right‐wing variants of populism create new socio‐ecological patterns of interaction. Drawing on case studies of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil and Matteo Salvini in Italy, we advance a conceptualisation of "populist ecologies" to explore and make sense of how ecology is represented within far‐right populist projects. In doing so, we highlight an important complexity in which populist ecologies may function to conceal broader, more nefarious elements of far‐right populist projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transitioning from gasoline and petroleum‐based products to biofuels and green chemicals is a paradigm shift that will lead to the development of the bioeconomy. In this sense, the role of biorefineries in countries like Brazil is very important as the country generates a huge amount of second generation (2G) biomass every year and also has an attractive consumable market. However, technological innovations are still required to unleash the fullest potential of biomass conversion to biofuels and biochemicals, although successful examples are already a reality. For example, Amyris Inc. has developed renewable products for cosmetics (squalene), healthcare (artemisinin), and flavors / fragrances, and Suzano Papel e Celulose has developed sustainable technologies for the production of pulp and paper, and lignin‐derived adhesives (Ecolig). First‐generation ethanol in Brazil is an established source of transportation fuel but 2G ethanol production with low production costs is still a challenge at commercial scale, and companies like Raízen and GranBio continue making efforts to improve the economic feasibility of the adopted processes. In this context, the RenovaBio Policy launched by the Federal Brazilian Government in December 2017 aims to boost the production and utilization of biofuels and green chemicals in the country. Considering the matters mentioned above, this paper discusses the Brazilian biorefinery developments, technological advances, and current industrial scenario for the production of biofuels and chemicals. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at understanding the reception of the new anthropology, in particular the perspective of Eduardo Viveiros de Castro, by psychoanalysis and analytical psychology. Native peoples in Brazil have acquired visibility nationally and internationally, thanks to their mobilization and political organization. Award-winning books have been published such as A Queda do Céu (The Fall of the Sky) by Davi Kopenawa and Bruce Albert, and Ideias para Adiar o Fim do Mundo (Ideas to Postpone the End of the World) by Ailton Krenak. Freudian-based psychoanalysis keeps silent about native peoples and the new anthropology. The Lacanian psychoanalyst C. Dunker appears more open about it and wrote many articles and one important book on the subject. Jungians are the most enthusiastic and speak out politically about these peoples through courses, study groups, articles, online debates, books and the presence of native leaders and shamans in their conferences. This paper discusses the different perspectives on the issue in the psychoanalytical community, which vary from silence to excitement, and their subjacent political alliances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes an adaptation of the method developed in previous papers to determine the onset and demise of the rainy season (ONR and DER) dates in the areas of the South American monsoon system (SAMS) based on the pentad antisymmetric outgoing long‐wave radiation (AOLR). In those papers, the sign change of the mean AOLR in the central Amazon Basin (CAM) and western central Brazil (WCB) from positive to negative defined the ONR, from negative to positive, the DER dates. Since the monsoon convection presents a northwest–southeast oriented progression, the antisymmetric area to the WCB was selected subjectively. Thus, here we propose to use the Ward hierarchical clustering method to select areas in the SAMS and in the northern tropical America (NTA) for the regionalized AOLR calculation. The significant (at the 95% confidence level) negative correlations with the largest magnitude among the clusters in the SAMS and NTA and the outgoing long‐wave radiation (OLR) and precipitation annual cycles in each group define the pairs to calculate the AOLR. Then, the AOLR time series is calculated and subjected to a 5‐pentad running mean filter. This method keeps the climatological features of the convection annual cycle such that the closer (farther) the pair is to the equator the longer (shorter) the rainy season. The ONR and DER dates found with this new method are remarkably close to those found previously. Therefore, the new method proposed here highlights regional aspects of rainy season and can easily be automatized for its routine application at the operational climate monitoring centres, for instance at INPE. This is the most important advantage of the method and might be relevant to the SAMS rainy season monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aims: To describe typical phonological development of Brazilian Portuguese (BP)‐speaking children, considering the following parameters: age of customary production, acquisition and mastery. Methods & Procedures: Data were collected from 857 children aged between 3 years and 8 years 11 months with typical language and speech development. The sample was grouped into 6‐month age bands. The data were analysed using one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Games–Howell post‐hoc tests. Outcomes & Results: Stops (/p, b, t, d, k, g/), nasals (/m, n, ɲ/) and some fricatives (/f, v, s, z/) were mastered before the age of 3 years (age of mastery). The age of acquisition for phonemes /ʃ, ʒ/ was 3;6, though both were only mastered at 4;0 years. The liquid /l/ was acquired at 3;0 and mastered at age 3;6, while /x/ was acquired and mastered at age 3;6. The phoneme /ʎ/ was acquired at 7;0 and mastered at age 8;6. The tap /ɾ/ was acquired between the ages of 4;0 and 4;6, and mastered at 4;6. In coda position, /n, l/ were acquired at 3;0, while /s/ was mastered at 4;6 and /ɾ/ between 4;6 and 5;0 years. Clusters involving /ɾ/ were acquired at 6;0, while those with /l/ were acquired between the ages of 6;6 and 7;0. Conclusions & Implications: This study presented acquisition for consonants in BP and can be used as a reference for the assessment of developmental speech disorders. In this study, stops and nasals were acquired first, followed by fricatives and, lastly, liquids. This finding is corroborated by previous studies in BP and other languages. What this paper adds: What is already known on the subject: What this paper adds to existing knowledge: What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A by‐product of energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence (EDXRF)‐analysis consists of using the ratios of selected X‐ray peaks to determine the thickness of multilayered objects. Three different methods were developed in the past, all because the two main K or L X‐lines from an EDXRF spectrum emitted by a chemical element have a distinct energy and are differently attenuated by an overlying layer. This specific subject has many papers dedicated, but only a few considerations were devoted to the limits of these methods, that is, the range, for example, of gold thickness that can be usefully determined by each method. This paper defines these limits in the specific case of thin gilding (with d < 1 μm). Three typical situations were considered, and the following artefacts were studied: two artefacts on gilded lead, where the gold leaf is superimposed to a white lead pigment, both in the painting "La Fornarina" of Raphael, dated 1520 AD, and in the imperial carriage of Dom Pedro II emperor of Brazil. In this last case, the white lead pigment was painted over the wood structure of the carriage; four artefacts on gilded copper, three crowns and a pendant, from the tomb of the Lady of Cao, from the Moche civilization of the North of Peru, dated around 350 AD; finally, an artefact on gilded silver, a vase from the Chavín civilization of the North of Peru, dated around 1000‐200 BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our main goal in this paper is to understand the fuel market's spatial price competition. While most of the literature uses the density of gas stations and proximity to rivals as proxies for spatial competition, we measured the marginal increase in spatial competition by the entrance of a new rival nearby. The empirical results indicate that a new firm's entrance reduces prices, and the reduction is more significant the closer the new rival is. A new rival less than 100 meters away is related to a reduction of 2.6% on the typical incumbent firm price. When the new rival is located farther than 250 meters, the incumbent response is lower than 1%. For even greater distances, the effects were significant only when incumbents are unbranded. The extent of spatial competition matters for the outcome; while firms that already faced intense spatial competition are not impacted by having an entrant seller nearby, those facing low spatial competition had a significant price reduction. The pattern, entry of rivals closer matters more, remains when investigating the gasoline price, the ethanol price, and the gasoline wholesale‐retail margins in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the influence of agglomeration and spatial sorting on wages in Brazilian cities. The empirical strategy is based on a two‐step estimation. The first step estimates a wage equation with the observed characteristics of workers and firms and location effects. The second step decomposes the location effects into employment density and fixed effects of firm and worker. We estimate an urban wage premium for a developing country with the simultaneous inclusion of worker and firm fixed effects, instrumental variables, and nighttime lights. We find agglomeration effects of 4.3–5.7%, which are larger than those obtained for developed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite a recent drive to increase diversity, the global academic workforce is skewed in favor of authors from high‐income countries, and women are under‐represented in the published medical literature. Objectives: To explore the trends in authorship of three high‐impact otolaryngology journals over a ten‐year period (2011–2020). Methods: Journals selected: JAMA Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, The Laryngoscope and Rhinology. Articles were reviewed from four issues per journal per year, and data was collected on: time of publication; subspeciality; number of authors; sex of first and last authors; country of practice of first author and country where each study was conducted. Trends were examined though univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results: 2998 articles were included. 93.9% of first authors and 94.2% of studies were from high‐income countries. Women were first authors in 31.5% (n = 912) and senior authors in 18.4% (n = 524) of articles. Female first authorship significantly increased between 2011 and 2020 however female senior authorship remained the same. There have been no significant changes in the proportion of published articles from low‐and middle‐income countries (LMIC) over time (p =.65). Amongst the LMIC articles, 72% came from Brazil, Turkey or China and there were no published papers from countries with a low‐income economy (gross national income per capita of $1085 or less). Conclusions: Although female first authorship has increased in the last decade, there has been minimal other demographic change in authorship over this time. High‐impact otolaryngology journals poorly represent academia in low‐and‐middle income countries. There is a need for increased advocacy promoting gender and geographical research equity in academic medicine. Level of Evidence: III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a novel, easy to execute, mindfulness‐based solution to the waiting time problem at healthcare facilities in particular, with the potential to enhance consumers' experience within a waiting time scenario. Findings of four studies—one in‐class experiment with undergraduates, one field study among adults in a doctor's office, one online experiment in the US, and one online experiment in Brazil—revealed that variations on a 5‐min mindfulness‐based intervention led to more positive perceptions and greater loyalty intentions towards the service. The findings confirm that offering mindfulness interventions to consumers while they are waiting may help reduce dissatisfaction and other negative outcomes that longer than expected waiting times might evoke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we apply statistical methods for functional data to explore the heterogeneity in the registered number of deaths of COVID‐19, over time. The cumulative daily number of deaths in regions across Brazil is treated as continuous curves (functional data). The first stage of the analysis applies clustering methods for functional data to identify and describe potential heterogeneity in the curves and their functional derivatives. The estimated clusters are labeled with different "levels of alert" to identify cities in a possible critical situation. In the second stage of the analysis, we apply a functional quantile regression model for the death curves to explore the associations with functional rates of vaccination and stringency and also with several scalar geographical, socioeconomic and demographic covariates. The proposed model gave a better curve fit at different levels of the cumulative number of deaths when compared to a functional regression model based on ordinary least squares. Our results add to the understanding of the development of COVID‐19 death counts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behind the conjunctural growth of popular economies in Brazilian cities lies a set of entangled disputes over urban density with important political consequences. While popular economic agents are repressed by local governments, informal work hired through digital platforms grows exponentially and engenders new precarious forms of assembling labour relations in, and extracting value from, global South cities. The contrasts and indirect relations between digital platforms and popular economic agents are important in understanding the growth of platforms, which hinges on accessing low‐wage workers whose attempts to make an independent living are otherwise prohibited. This dynamic has resulted in the political mobilisation of popular economy agents and their alliances with urban social movements. Through this paper, I examine how their networking and particular disputes for a right to the city hold potential for the emergence of other economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity can lead to biotic homogenization (BH) and biotic differentiation (BD). BH is a process of increasing similarity in community composition (including taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic components), whereas BD is a process of decreasing similarity over space and time. Here, we conducted a systematic review of BH and BD in plant communities in tropical and subtropical forests to identify trends and knowledge gaps. Our bibliometric search in the Web of Science returned 1989 papers, of which 151 matched our criteria and were included in the analysis. The Neotropical region had the largest number of articles, and Brazil was the most represented country with 92 studies. Regarding the type of change, homogenization was more frequent than differentiation (noted in 69.6% of publications). The taxonomic diversity component was measured more often than functional and phylogenetic diversity components. Most studies (75.6%) assessed homogenization and differentiation based on a single observation in time; as opposed to few studies that monitored plant community over multiple years. Forest fragmentation was cited as the main determinant of homogenization and differentiation processes (57.2% of articles). Our results highlight the importance of evaluating community composition over time and more than taxonomic components (i.e., functional and phylogenetic) to advance understanding of homogenization and differentiation. Both processes were scale dependent and not mutually exclusive. As such, future research should consider differentiation as a potential transition phase to homogenization and that potential differences in both processes may depend on the spatial and temporal scale adopted. Understanding the complexity and causes of homogenization and differentiation is essential for biodiversity conservation in a world increasingly affected by anthropogenic disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most item response theory (IRT) models for dichotomous responses are based on probit or logit link functions which assume a symmetric relationship between the probability of a correct response and the latent traits of individuals taking a test. This assumption restricts the use of those models to the case in which all items behave symmetrically. On the other hand, asymmetric models proposed in the literature impose that all the items in a test behave asymmetrically. This assumption is inappropriate for great majority of tests which are, in general, composed of both symmetric and asymmetric items. Furthermore, a straightforward extension of the existing models in the literature would require a prior selection of the items' symmetry/asymmetry status. This paper proposes a Bayesian IRT model that accounts for symmetric and asymmetric items in a flexible but parsimonious way. That is achieved by assigning a finite mixture prior to the skewness parameter, with one of the mixture components being a point mass at zero. This allows for analyses under both model selection and model averaging approaches. Asymmetric item curves are designed through the centred skew normal distribution, which has a particularly appealing parametrization in terms of parameter interpretation and computational efficiency. An efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm is proposed to perform Bayesian inference and its performance is investigated in some simulated examples. Finally, the proposed methodology is applied to a data set from a large‐scale educational exam in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]