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The article argues that chronic unemployment has become the main context of youth policies in Spain and Brazil. Our point is that the current structural crisis of the capitalist system eventually provokes chronic unemployment. To be precise, both business and international organisations have endorsed structural adjustments and austerity policies that have destroyed productive forces through expropriation and exploitation in many countries, thus expanding chronic unemployment despite youth policies claiming otherwise. In Spain, two public policies try to circumvent the adverse situation of many youth, namely: the Quality of Education Act (LOMCE) and the Youth Guarantee Scheme. Brazil follows the same logic of these policies through initiatives such as the High School reform and Projovem program. However, in both countries the structural crisis threatens the future of young generations despite these fashionable policies exclusively targeted to them.

This study aimed to explore the pathways that can influence cigarette smoking among adolescents. This population-based cohort followed a random sample of 12-year-old adolescents from southern Brazil for 6 years. Regular cigarette smoking was assessed through a self-reported question, previously used in the Brazilian National Survey of Scholar Health. We also gathered data on bullying, dental caries at baseline, incidence of caries, sex, friend network, and Sense of Coherence (SOC). Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were also collected. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the pathways. Of the 1,134 adolescents examined at baseline, 768 were re-evaluated (67.7% retention rate). The prevalence of smoking was 37.6%. This prevalence was directly affected by low SOC (SC: -0.14, p < 0.01), low household income (SC: -0.12, p < 0.01), and male sex (SC: 0.15, p < 0.01). Presence of dental caries at baseline indirectly influenced the occurrence of dental bullying at follow-up via the incidence of dental caries (SC: 0.01, p < 0.05). Dental bullying indirectly influenced cigarettes consumption via SOC (SC: 0.62, p < 0.05). Friend network also indirectly influenced the consumption of cigarettes via SOC (SC: 0.32, p < 0.05). Psychosocial factors influence adolescent cigarette consumption through its higher direct and indirect effects (via bullying). In addition, behavioral, sociodemographic, and clinical factors also influence the occurrence of smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the contribution of oral and maxillofacial pathology laboratories (OMPLs) in Brazilian public universities to the diagnosis of lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). A cross-sectional study was performed using biopsy records from a consortium of sixteen public OMPLs from all regions of Brazil (North, Northeast, Central-West, Southeast, and South). Clinical and demographic data of patients diagnosed with lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal SCC between 2010 and 2019 were collected from the patients' histopathological records. Of the 120,010 oral and maxillofacial biopsies (2010-2019), 6.9% (8,321 cases) were diagnosed as lip (0.8%, 951 cases), oral cavity (4.9%, 5,971 cases), and oropharyngeal (1.2%, 1,399 cases) SCCs. Most cases were from Brazil's Southeast (64.5%), where six of the OMPLs analyzed are located. The predominant profile of patients with lip and oral cavity SCC was Caucasian men, with a mean age over 60 years, low schooling level, and a previous history of heavy tobacco consumption. In the oropharyngeal group, the majority were non-Caucasian men, with a mean age under 60 years, had a low education level, and were former/current tobacco and alcohol users. According to data from the Brazilian National Cancer Institute, approximately 9.9% of the total lip, oral cavity, and oropharyngeal SCCs reported over the last decade in Brazil may have been diagnosed at the OMPLs included in the current study. Therefore, this data confirms the contribution of public OMPLs with respect to the important diagnostic support they provide to the oral healthcare services extended by the Brazilian Public Health System. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the association between oral health and rurality in an older Brazilian population. Population-based samples of 1,451 urban and 411 rural elders were obtained from two databases. Several oral health and related measures, including the number of teeth lost, use of dental prostheses, dental visits, self-reported oral health, and perceived need for a dental prosthesis, were compared. Oral health-related information was obtained by a trained research team with interviews conducted in the individuals' homes. Regression models were used to verify the association between living in rural areas and oral health outcomes after adjusting for possible confounding factors. The elderly population mostly comprised of women in rural or urban areas, and the mean age was 70 years in both locations. Less-educated individuals (without or with complete elementary schooling) were more common in rural regions than in urban areas. After adjustment for socioeconomic characteristics, living in rural areas was associated with a lower perceived need for dental prostheses (PR 0.68, 95% CI 0.56-0.84), poor self-reported oral health (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.05-1.46), and having fewer teeth (ß -1.31; 95% CI -2.18 to -0.45). The place of residence had a significant impact on oral health indicators, with rurality negatively influencing oral health. These findings suggest that preventive and curative strategies for dental services may be needed for the Brazilian rural population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Interface - Comunicação, Saúde, Educação is the property of Fundacao UNI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, subspace methods are applied to the identification of the dominant electromechanical oscillation modes of a large power system, using ambient data. The data are acquired by a low-voltage WAMS. Complementary techniques for the preprocessing of the measurements, and the tuning of the identification methods, are discussed. Results for the Brazilian Interconnected Power System are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ambiente e Água is the property of Revista Ambiente e Agua and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Alcance is the property of Revista Alcance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A new species, Mucuna japira A. M. G. Azevedo, Agostini & Sazima, is described from Brazil. It has features similar to M. sloanei Fawc. & Rendle, but has pseudo-racemose inflorescences and the standard petal measures ¾ of the length of the keel, whereas M. sloanei has umbellate inflorescences and the standard petal measures ½ of the length of the keel. This new species is restricted to the Atlantic forest of coastal São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. A key to Brazilian species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of solid litter and its consequences for coastal ecosystems is now being investigated around the world. Different types of material can be discarded in areas such as salt marshes, and various fouling organisms can associate with such items forming the Plastisphere. This study investigated the distribution of solid litter along zones (dry, middle, flooded) of a salt marsh environment in the Patos Lagoon Estuary (South Brazil) and the association of biofouling organisms with these items. Solid litter quantities were significantly higher in the dry zone when compared to the middle and flooded zones, showing an accumulation area where the water rarely reaches. Most items were made of plastic, as shown for many other coastal areas, and originated from food packaging, fishery and shipping activities and personal use. Although not statistically significant, there was a tendency of increased biofouling towards the flooded zone. Thirteen groups were found in association with solid litter items, mainly algae, amphipods, and gastropods. The preference for salt marsh zones, types of material and items' colour was highly variable among groups of organisms, which can be related to their varied physiological requirements. In summary, significant plastic contamination of salt marshes of the Patos Lagoon was associated with a heterogeneous distribution of fouling communities. [Display omitted] • A snapshot revealed litter contamination in the Patos Lagoon up to 22 items m−2. • Litter density increases with lower flooding rate in the salt marsh. • Items mostly originated from food packaging, fishery, shipping, and personal use. • Biofouling tended to be higher in lower, wetter zones but this was not significant. • Preferences among biofouling groups can relate to other attached species. Main finding Plastic contamination of salt marshes of the Patos Lagoon was associated with a heterogeneous distribution of fouling communities and their preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the maximum torsional strength of orthodontic mini-implants of different diameters. Methods: Eighteen mini-implants measuring 10 mm in length were divided into three groups (n = 6). G1, G2 and G3 had miniimplants of 1.2, 1.4, and 1.6 mm in diameter, respectively. Mini-implants manufactured by SIN (Sistema de Implantes, São Paulo, SP, Brazil) were used in all groups. Results: The results showed statistically significant differences (p<0.0001) among the groups. The torsional strength was found to be higher in the mini-implants from the same manufacturer that had greater diameter (G3>G2>G1). Conclusion: Mini-implants with greater diameter should be used if increased torque is needed during orthodontic procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A high diversity of native pollinators was found across urban areas in Brazil. • Interactions are organized into modules, indicating some pollinator specialization. • Existing data, however, are biased spatially and towards certain sampling methods. • Native plants, herbs and shrubs, are important for supporting pollinators. • Urban tropical areas have much potential for conservation of pollinators. Urban areas contribute to conservation of pollinators, but we lack assessments from the most biodiverse tropical regions in the world. We synthesized studies on urban plant-pollinator interactions across Brazil, compiling 86 studies conducted in urban green spaces that reported 2678 interactions for 519 plant and 337 animal species. We evaluated the spatio-temporal distribution of the data, effects of sampling and conducted interaction network analyses. Most studies were conducted after the 2000s, in highly urbanized Atlantic Forest areas, with overrepresentation of large public institution areas. Most studies are of difficult access to the international audience as they were published in Portuguese and in local journals. Around 60% of the plants associated to pollinators are native while only three floral visitor species were categorized as exotic. Bees were the most diverse group and had the highest number of interacting plants, but avian and mammal pollinators were also found in urban areas. Hence, many native pollinators benefit from urban floral resources. Sampling effort and method impacted the number of interaction partners recovered, indicating the need for complementary and better planned sampling protocols. Mostly herbs and shrubs acted as network hubs across Brazilian urban landscapes, so these life forms are important to support pollinators and should be promoted for this purpose. We advocate for better standardized and planned research on urban plant-pollination interactions in diverse tropical countries, in order to accomplish a truly global effort on conservation of pollinators in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown the effect of surface coatings on biofouling; however, they did not take into account the interaction of the micro and macrofouling communities, the effect of substrate orientation and the zooplankton-zoobenthic coupling together. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Zn- and Cu 2 O-based coatings on micro and macrofouling on steel surfaces, while also observing the role of substrate orientation and zooplankton supply. An experiment was carried out in the Patos Lagoon Estuary in southern Brazil for three months between spring and summer, where ASTM-36 steel plates represented different coatings (Zn- and/or Cu 2 O-based) and orientations (vertical and horizontal). To assess the zooplankton supply, sampling was carried out weekly using a 200 μm plankton net. Zn-based coating positively affected microfouling density compared to uncoated surfaces. The same pattern was observed with macrofouling, associated with vagile fauna preference, which represented 70% of the settled macrofoulers. Cu 2 O-based antifouling painted surfaces showed the highest microfouling density inhibition, while Zn + Cu 2 O-based coating did not affect the bacteria adhesion but showed lower density compared to Zn-based coating alone. The coatings combination showed the highest invertebrate inhibition. In this way, the macrofouling community was more sensitive than microfouling was to the antifouling coatings tested. The substrate orientation only affected macrofouling, horizontal surfaces being more attractive than vertical. Meroplankton, tychoplankton and holoplankton were recorded on the surfaces, although their representation in plankton was not proportional to the recruits recorded on the substrates. This was probably due to fast dispersion, the interactions of other factors and/or ecological succession stage. Surface coating, substrate orientation, and zooplankton supply interacted with the biofouling process on steel in different ways depending on the organism evaluated. Therefore, copper oxide- and zinc-based coatings were not suitable as coatings to avoid the total biofouling establishment. Image 1 • Biofouling represents a problem for naval engineering. • Chemical coatings are applied on surfaces to avoid the establishment of organisms. • Zn and Cu 2 O-based coatings affect micro and macrofouling in different ways. • Macrofouling is more sensitive to antifouling coatings than microfouling is. • Zn and Cu 2 O-based coatings were not suitable to avoid total biofouling on steel. Main finding of the work: Zn and Cu 2 O-based coatings are not suitable to avoid the total biofouling establishment. Macrofouling is more sensitive than microfouling to these coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]