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Purpose: The purpose of this research is to analyze whether self-efficacy and entrepreneurial characteristics (e.g., risk-taking, planning, opportunity recognition, persistence, sociability, innovation, and leadership) differ in the explanation of entrepreneurial intention models, having entrepreneurial education as a moderator of relationships. Originality/value: This paper offers an in-depth perspective on which behavioral characteristics fit best into entrepreneurial intention models and helps to fill a theoretical and practical gap on the need for university education to increase its positive impact on human capital, particularly on students' professional skills, demonstrating which characteristics are most impacted by entrepreneurial education. Design/methodology/approach: Quantitative methodology was employed, and data were analyzed with structural equation modeling. The sample consisted of 1,004 Brazilian university students from public and private universities. The research was conducted in a non-proba bilistic way and with a convenience sample. In order to address the research hypothesis and objectives, all constructs were adapted from relevant literature on entrepreneurship. Findings: The results indicate it seems more appropriate to use a set of entrepreneurial characteristics when investigating an entrepreneurial intention model if you are looking for a higher explanatory factor and a more robust model; also, entrepreneurial characteristics represent a more sensitive model, which brings accurate assessments on factors that affect entrepreneurial intention. With these findings, entrepreneurial education can be planned to shape certain characteristics through actions in the university environment, making it possible to measure the impact of education on entrepreneurial intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for charging electric vehicles using renewable energy sources and ensuring the stability of the electrical system has been growing. This has led to the development of charging stations that integrate photovoltaic systems, energy storage systems in batteries, and charging stations. The storage system allows for applications that increase the reliability of the electrical network. The objective of this work is to study, based on real operational scenarios, the impacts, and criteria of energy quality of a charging solution containing a photovoltaic system, a storage system, and a charging station. In the solution, the batteries are lead-carbon type and photovoltaics have priority in energy supply, using excess generation to charge the batteries. In this aspect, the work presents relevant contributions to the study of energy quality. An improvement in energy quality is pointed out with the use of batteries, proving that even in the most diverse operating situations, such as partial shading of the photovoltaic modules, with 20% shading relative to the nominal power, charging is not impacted and reductions in distortions are achieved, with a 50% reduction in voltage imbalance, when the storage system is a voltage reference and reference to the microgrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annonaceae is a large family composed of more than 119 genera and more than 2500 species that are distributed in both tropical and subtropical areas. The Annona genus is a member of Annonaceae family, which encompasses about 175 species, most of which are native to Brazil and tropical America. This plant is commonly found on tropical and subtropical continents. Annona atemoya is a commercially important hybrid of A. squamosa and A. cherimola. Phytochemical investigations of A. atemoya leaves, fruit, and seeds have been conducted in limited studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the constituents of the leaves, fruit pulp, and seeds of A. atemoya because few studies have reported their constituents. Annonaceous acetogenins were identified in the leaves and pulp of A. atemoya for the first time. Twenty compounds were identified: sixteen were acetogenins and four were alkaloids. Additionally, two compounds were isolated, and their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic analysis and compared with the results of previous studies. The concentration of acetogenins in the pulp was very low compared with that in the leaves, whereas the seeds were found to contain the highest concentrations and greatest diversity of compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species distribution is a combination of ecological, historical, stochastic, and evolutionary mechanisms, and is a process that has been severely impacted by anthropogenic activities. Freshwater zooplankton is adequate to assess that combination because it groups cosmopolitan and endemic species. We hypothesized that the spatial distribution of Diaphanosoma species is defined by a complex interaction between factors such as spatial limitation, limitation of environmental conditions, and ecological conditions. We georeferenced the occurrence of Diaphanosoma in Brazil to study the potential distribution of the species, preference of ecoregions, environmental features associated with Diaphanosoma, and their co-occurring patterns. Five species of Diaphanosoma are widely distributed in Brazil. D. spinulosum and D. birgei were widely distributed while D. fluviatile and D. polyspina had a more restricted distribution. The occurrences of Diaphanosoma species were shown to have an association with factors such as the total concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, pH and, temperature, except in the case of the D. brevireme. Our results show that geographic, environmental, and biotic filters can drive the spatial distribution of species of the genus Diaphanosoma. Therefore, the distribution and spatial occurrence of these species depend on dispersal capacity and spatial restrictions, suitability of the abiotic environment, and ecological interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At times funerary practices do not end with the deposition of the corpses in their final resting place, because occasionally these supposedly definitive burials are disturbed later. When we can confirm that people were mainly responsible for these disturbances, even when other natural taphonomic factors are present, then we have a situation of anthropic postfunerary manipulation of bodies and graves. Some precontact sites in northeastern Brazil have mortuary contexts with "anomalies" in the deposition of bodies into their graves. Applying a taphonomy-based approach, we analyze these cases and compare them to other burials with similar characteristics from central-eastern Brazil in our discussion of the "alternative" phenomenon of postburial manipulation. The evidence suggests that the anthropic disturbance of older burials and corpses should be understood not as a random event, but as an integral and meaningful part of the mortuary practices of ancient inhabitants from across different regions of Brazil throughout the Holocene. With this work we highlight not only unusual mortuary patterns of precontact human groups in Brazil and South America but also the importance of a taphonomic approach to understanding the complexity and variability of funerary and postfunerary actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, Acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) is the leading cause of cancer deaths in children and adolescents. Treatment toxicity is one of the reasons for stopping chemotherapy. Amerindian genomic ancestry is an important factor for this event due to fluctuations in frequencies of genetic variants, as in the NUDT15 and SLC22A1 genes, which make up the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic pathways of chemotherapy. This study aimed to investigate possible associations between NUDT15 (rs1272632214) and SLC22A1 (rs202220802) gene polymorphism and genomic ancestry as a risk of treatment toxicities in patients with childhood ALL in the Amazon region of Brazil. The studied population consisted of 51 patients with a recent diagnosis of ALL when experiencing induction therapy relative to the BFM 2009 protocol. Our results evidenced a significant association of risk of severe infectious toxicity for the variant of the SLC22A1 gene (OR: 3.18, p = 0.031). Genetic ancestry analyses demonstrated that patients who had a high contribution of African ancestry had a significant protective effect for the development of toxicity (OR: 0.174; p = 0.010), possibly due to risk effects of the Amerindian contribution. Our results indicate that mixed populations with a high degree of African ancestry have a lower risk of developing general toxicity during induction therapy for ALL. In addition, individuals with the SLC22A1 variant have a higher risk of developing severe infectious toxicity while undergoing the same therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density management diagrams (DMD) are graphic models that describe the forest stand dynamics, and they are extremely useful to regulate tree density. This study aimed to develop a DMD for Eucalyptus dunnii stands located in the municipality of Rio Negrinho, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Plots of 400 m² were inventoried at the ages of 2, 3 and 4 years. The following variables were determined for the stands: the basal area per hectare, the number of trees per hectare and the geometric mean diameter. The Reineke model (1933) was fitted and its intercept value recalculated to define the maximum density line, reaching a determination coefficient of 0.5461. With the elaborated DMD of the current stand, a thinning can be simulated at 5.8 years with a cut at 7 years, taking into consideration a diametric increase of 2.41 cm. In addition, another scenario was simulated with thinning occurring at 4 and 6 years and a cut at 7.5 years. With the execution of this work, the DMD proved to be an efficient tool for the elaboration of forest management plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil has one of the largest herds in the world and is highlighted in global dairy production. To reach the final consumer, milk and dairy products undergoes several stages from milking on farms up to distribution in supermarkets. All these dairy products must be inspected by one of the sanitary authorities at the federal, state or municipal levels, which will supervise the hygiene and sanitation practices used throughout the production chain. However, it is known that nowadays there is sale and consumption of milk and dairy products that were not inspected, putting the population into risks. This study aimed to assess consumers' knowledge about foodborne diseases and the informal consumption of dairy products and posteriorly educating them about the risks of consuming milk and illegal dairy products. We conducted 120 interviews with questions structured in a semi-open questionnaire, verifying the interviewees' knowledge about the consumption of milk and dairy products inspected or not and the diseases transmitted by dairy products. It was observed that 97% (117/120) of people consumed milk and dairy products, 21% (25/120) people preferred to consume informal products directly from the producer and 8% (9/120) stated that they have this preference because consider them as healthier products. Only 9% (11/120) of persons knew the meaning of official inspection seals from federal, state and municipal inspection services (SIF, SIE, SIM), with only 7% (9/120) persons looking for the seal when buying a product. After applying the questionnaire, with the intention of promote health education, a folder was delivered to respondents, containing information on milk contamination, on foodborne diseases and on the importance of inspection of animal origin products. These results demonstrated that improving or adopting educational actions are urgently required on this population, reducing or eliminating the trade and consumption of informal products which can cause risks to public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbances caused by both natural and anthropogenic forces can drive changes in alpha and beta taxonomic diversity and be accompanied by losses or gains in freshwater ecosystem function (e.g., secondary productivity and rate of decomposition). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that increases in cladoceran (microcrustaceans) taxonomic beta diversity in highly impacted environments lead to functional simplification and homogenization of community trait composition. This was accomplished by comparing a reference group of low-impact waterbodies (lakes and reservoirs) to high-impact waterbodies located in four regions of northeastern and south Brazil. Functional composition of cladoceran communities was inferred using a suite of morphological, physiological, behavioral, and life-history traits. Differences in taxonomic and functional community composition were tested using univariate and multivariate statistics. Taxonomic beta diversity and functional richness differed significantly between the reference (low-impact) and high-impact waterbodies, where high-impact environments showed higher taxonomic and functional beta diversity and lower functional richness. By contrast, we found functional homogenization of cladoceran communities in just one out of the four regions. Last, we propose that disturbances can affect traits locally in communities, making them rarer until they are lost, by promoting functional simplification. When disturbances are persistent, they lead to functional and taxonomic homogenization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work proposes a simple method for direct determination of Cu and Mn in commercial fruit juices and nectars by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF AAS). We analyzed samples of different flavors (orange, mango, passion fruit, peach, and grape) and brands of Brazilian commercial fruit juices and nectars. We also carried out a study to define a suitable temperature program and to optimize the calibration conditions. It was possible to determine Cu and Mn in the samples just after a simple dilution of samples with a 0.70 mol L−1 HNO3 solution, except in the case of grape juice. We compared the results obtained with the proposed method to those obtained after a traditional treatment based on acid digestion in a microwave oven, and no significant differences were observed (except for grape juice). The accuracy of the method was assessed through a recovery test, which provided recovery percentages in the range of 81–117%. Precision was always better than 8%, and the limits of quantification for Cu and Mn were 6 μg L−1 and 9 μg L−1, respectively. We analyzed twenty-two samples, and the concentrations of Cu and Mn were in the range of 24.1–321 μg L−1 and 116–3296 μg L−1, respectively. Statistical analysis using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 95% confidence level showed that flavor and brand impacted on the concentration of the analytes in the samples. Among the samples analyzed, the grape juice presented the highest concentrations of both Cu and Mn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural radionuclides 226Ra, 228Ra, 210Pb and 210Po activity concentrations and the inorganic chemical composition were determined in radioactive mineral water springs from the Water Parks of Águas de Contendas and Lambari, located in the Water Circuit of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Radionuclides were determined by gross alpha and beta measurements and alpha spectrometry, and the chemical elements by ICP-OES. Among the radionuclides analyzed, the highest activity concentrations obtained were for 226Ra and 228Ra and the chemical elements Ca, Fe and Na presented higher values of concentrations. Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis was performed to verify the correlation between natural radionuclides and the chemical elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the lessons learned from the experiment BIOCOM'19 carried out in January 2019, in a shallow water bay off the island of Cabo Frio (RJ, Brazil). A dual accelerometer vector sensor hydrophone was deployed for two days, near a rocky shore covered with a significant benthic fauna. The results show that the frequency band above approximately 1.5 kHz is mostly associated with invertebrate biological noise and that the acoustic and the particle motion fields have a similar behavior, following the usual dawn-dusk activity pattern, and a coherent directivity content. At low frequencies, below ∼300 Hz, the acoustic pressure and the particle acceleration fields have significantly different spectral content along time. Many of these differences are due to anthropogenic noise sources related with nearby boating activity, while during quiet periods, they may be attributed to the biological activity from the rocky shore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Labor induction is defined as any procedure that stimulates uterine contractions before labor begins spontaneously. The vaginal and oral routes of administration of misoprostol are those most used for the induction of labor in routine practice, with the recommended dose being 25 μg. Nevertheless, the sublingual route may reduce the number of vaginal examinations required, increasing patient comfort and lowering the risk of maternal and fetal infection. Based on a previous systematic review, the objective of this study was to compare the frequency of tachysystole as the main outcome measure when misoprostol is administered sublingually at the dose of 12.5 μg versus vaginally at a dose of 25 μg to induce labor in a full-term pregnancy with a live fetus. Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind clinical trial was conducted at two maternity hospitals in northeastern Brazil. Two hundred patients with a full-term pregnancy, a live fetus, Bishop score ≤ 6 and an indication for induction of labor were included. Following randomization, one group received 12.5 μg misoprostol sublingually and a vaginal placebo, while the other group received a sublingual placebo and 25 μg misoprostol vaginally. The primary outcome was the frequency of tachysystole. Student's t-test, the chi-square test of association and Fisher's exact test were used, as appropriate. Risk ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: The frequency of tachysystole was lower in the group using 12.5 μg misoprostol sublingually compared to the group using 25 μg misoprostol vaginally (RR = 0.15; 95%CI: 0.02–0.97; p = 0.002). Failure to achieve vaginal delivery within 12 and 24 h was similar in both groups. Sublingual administration was preferred to vaginal administration by women in both groups; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The effectiveness of labor induction with low-dose sublingual misoprostol was similar to that achieved with vaginal administration of the recommended dose; however, the rate of tachysystole was lower in the sublingual group, and this route of administration may prove a safe alternative. Trial registration: Registration number: NCT01406392, ClinicalTrials.gov. Date of registration: August 1, 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high level of variation of biodiversity recovery within a landscape during forest restoration presents obstacles to ensure large‐scale, cost‐effective and long‐lasting ecological restoration. There is an urgent need to predict landscape variation in forest restoration success at a global scale.We conducted a meta‐analysis comprising 135 study landscapes to predict and map landscape variation in forest restoration success in tropical and temperate forest biomes. Our analysis was based on the amount of forest cover within a landscape — a key driver of forest restoration success. We contrasted 17 generalized linear models measuring forest cover at different landscape sizes (with buffers varying from 5 to 200 km radii). We identified the most plausible model to predict and map landscape variation in forest restoration success. We then weighted landscape variation by the amount of potentially restorable areas (agriculture and pasture land areas) within the same landscape. Finally, we estimated restoration costs of implementing Bonn Challenge commitments in three specific temperate and tropical forest biome types in the United States, Brazil and Uganda.Landscape variation decreased exponentially as the amount of forest cover increased in the landscape, with stronger effects within a 5 km radius. Thirty‐eight per cent of forest biomes have landscapes with more than 27% of forest cover and showed levels of landscape variation below 10%. Landscapes with less than 6% of forest cover showed levels of variation in forest restoration success above 50%.At the biome level, Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests had the lowest (12.6%), whereas Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests had the highest (22.9%) average of weighted landscape variation in forest restoration success. Our approach can lead to a reduction in implementation costs for each Bonn Challenge commitment between US$ 973 Mi and 9.9 Bi.Policy implications. Our approach identifies landscape characteristics that increase the likelihood of biodiversity recovery during forest restoration — and potentially the chances of natural regeneration and long‐term ecological sustainability and functionality. Identifying areas with low levels of landscape variation can help to reduce the risks and financial costs associated with implementing ambitious restoration commitments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To identify factors associated with the increased bleeding in patients during the postoperative period after cardiac surgery. Background: Bleeding is among the most frequent complications that occur in the postoperative period after cardiac surgery, representing one of the major factors in morbidity and mortality. Understanding the factors associated with the increased bleeding may allow nurses to anticipate and prioritise care, thus reducing the mortality associated with this complication. Design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: Adult patients in a cardiac hospital who were in the postoperative period following cardiac surgery were included. Factors associated with the increased bleeding were investigated by means of linear regression, considering time intervals of 6 and 12 hr. Results: The sample comprised 391 participants. The factors associated with the increased bleeding in the first 6 hr were male sex, body mass index, cardiopulmonary bypass duration, anoxia duration, metabolic acidosis, higher heart rate, platelets and the activated partial thromboplastin time in the postoperative period. Predictors in the first 12 hr were body mass index, cardiopulmonary bypass duration, metabolic acidosis, higher heart rate, platelets and the activated partial thromboplastin time in the postoperative. Conclusions: This study identified factors associated with the increased postoperative bleeding from cardiac surgery that have not been reported in previous studies. The nurse is important in the vigilance, evaluation and registry of chest tube drainage and modifiable factors associated with the increased bleeding, such as metabolic acidosis and postoperative heart rate, and in discussions with the multiprofessional team. Relevance to clinical practice: Knowledge of the factors associated with the increased bleeding is critical for nurses so they can provide prophylactic interventions and early postoperative treatment when needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor residual spray (IRS), mainly employing pyrethroid insecticides, is the most common intervention for preventing malaria transmission in many regions of Latin America; the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) has been more limited. Knockdown resistance (kdr) is a well-characterized target-site resistance mechanism associated with pyrethroid and DDT resistance. Most mutations detected in acetylcholinesterase-1 (Ace-1) and voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) genes are non-synonymous, resulting in a change in amino acid, leading to the non-binding of the insecticide. In the present study, we analyzed target-site resistance in Nyssorhynchus darlingi, the primary malaria vector in the Amazon, in multiple malaria endemic localities. We screened 988 wild-caught specimens of Ny. darlingi from three localities in Amazonian Peru and four in Amazonian Brazil. Collections were conducted between 2014 and 2021. The criteria were Amazonian localities with a recent history as malaria hotspots, primary transmission by Ny. darlingi, and the use of both IRS and LLINs as interventions. Fragments of Ace-1 (456 bp) and VGSC (228 bp) were amplified, sequenced, and aligned with Ny. darlingi sequences available in GenBank. We detected only synonymous mutations in the frequently reported Ace-1 codon 280 known to confer resistance to organophosphates and carbamates, but detected three non-synonymous mutations in other regions of the gene. Similarly, no mutations linked to insecticide resistance were detected in the frequently reported codon (995) at the S6 segment of domain II of VGSC. The lack of genotypic detection of insecticide resistance mutations by sequencing the Ace-1 and VGSC genes from multiple Ny. darlingi populations in Brazil and Peru could be associated with low-intensity resistance, or possibly the main resistance mechanism is metabolic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding trait variation along environmental gradients is crucial for assessing the adaptive potential of species. We analysed the intraspecific variation in six morphological traits of Frullania ericoides across environmental gradients (elevation, canopy openness and distance to water sources) in a humid ecological refuge in Brazil's semi-arid region. The traits measured (mean and coefficient of variation) were: leaf lobe area, leaf lobule area, underleaf area, stem width, ratio between leaf lobule area and leaf lobe area, and ratio between the number of laminate lobules and the total number of lobules. Seventy specimens from eleven localities (populations) showed greater intrapopulation than interpopulation mean trait variation. All traits, except for the ratio between leaf lobule area and leaf lobe area, presented interpopulation differences. Two trait strategies emerged: one related to water storage and plant size, and the other linked to proportional increases in leaf lobule area and lobe area. The lower the elevation was, the higher were the mean values of leaf lobe area and leaf lobule area, and the variance of stem width. The species exhibited significant trait variation, which can be decisive in the responses of populations to new selective pressures of establishment and maintenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyzed the energy and reproductive cycles of female and male Gymnodactylus geckoides in the Caatinga area of northeast Brazil. We investigated whether these proxies of body condition, such as reproductive cells maturation and cellular structures changed in response to variation in abiotic and biotic factors (i.e., humidity, temperature, seasonality, body temperature, growing rate and gonad volume), using individuals stored under scientific conditions collected between September 2018 and December 2021. The condition factor showed an isometric growth pattern in the population studied. Meanwhile, the lipid, hepatic, and gonad factors correlated with body growth and showed monthly and seasonal variations, as well as reproductive cell maturation and cellular structure morphology. The cycles displayed constant replacement of energy reserves and mature reproductive cells, indicating constant and acyclic reproduction in G. geckoides. Energy reserves appear to be used for many reproductive activities, including meeting, gestation, and egg laying that occur at different frequencies during different periods in the dry and rainy seasons. Therefore, the reproductive cycle is likely to be strongly controlled by biotic factors, which are modeled using abiotic factors and environmental conditions (environmental patterns which proportionate greater resource availability). Our study is the first to investigate energy cycles and reproductive strategies in G. geckoides. It has shown that this species stores greater amounts of energy during the rainy season and then depletes these reserves during the dry period, since the rainy season correspond to the increase in energy consumption, mainly because of gestation and egg laying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(68): This paper examines the Brazilian recognition of the Palestinian state, as one of the initiatives of the Lula government. It deals with the question of a Palestinian state within a clear border (1967 borders) and East Jerusalem within these borders. It concludes with recommendations for the Brazilian left and the Palestinian community in order not to undermine the status of the Palestinian cause in the Brazilian political arena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabies is one of the most important zoonosis in the world with high impact on public health. Studies report the presence of Lyssavirus in reservoirs of the wild cycle, highlighting the role of wild canines, marmosets, and vampire and non-vampire bats as potential vectors of the disease to domestic animals and human beings. Therefore, the reintroduction of rabies in urban environments from reservoirs of the wild cycle is a matter of concern. This study describes the profile of rabies cases documented in Brazil from 2002 to 2012, with emphasis on the wild transmission cycle of the disease. We carried out a descriptive study using records with information on the time of infection, persons with infection and location of confirmed cases of rabies in humans and animals, as well as data on anti-rabies treatments obtained from the Information System of Notifiable Diseases (Sinan) database. Within the study period, 82 cases of rabies transmitted by wild animals to humans were reported, predominantly in rural areas of the northern and north-eastern regions. Of the cases in humans, 72% did not receive post-exposure prophylaxis. Among wild mammals, vampire bats were the most frequent vectors of the disease. In the north-east region, 460 terrestrial wild mammals were reported with confirmed rabies. Over the study period, 1703 bats were reported to carry the rabies virus. In the south-east region, the most frequently reported carriers of the virus were non-vampire bats. The midwest and northern regions presented a lower number of records of rabies cases among terrestrial wild mammals. However, the high number of rabies cases among bovines reflects the role of the vampire bat as a maintainer of the rabies virus in the rural cycle. The present results are key to adjust the planning of rabies control in Brazil to the current epidemiological trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report recapture data for phyllostomid bats in different types of forests, and at different altitudes, obtained through long-term fieldwork in southeastern Brazil. We provide evidence of long-distance movements, with bats moving up to 120 km from mountains to the beach, with an altitudinal variation of 1,237 m. These movements demonstrate the high mobility of these bats and represent the longest distances recorded for them so far in the Neotropics, besides reinforcing the need for long-term capture and recapture programs aimed at understanding the movement dynamics of bat populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Araguainha Dome, in south-central Brazil, is a 40 km impact structure, formed at ca. 254 Ma close to the time of the Permian-Triassic boundary. It offers a stratigraphic window into the sedimentary sequences and to the basement of the Paraná Basin. The basement crops out in the central part of the structure and is surrounded by a belt of polymict impact breccias (PIB), and strata from the lowermost part of the Paraná Basin: the Rio Ivaí Group (Ordovician-Silurian) and Furnas and Ponta Grossa formations (Devonian). The PIB at the Araguainha impact structure, well exposed in the northern and southern sectors of the central uplift, has been shown to be composed of a particulate matrix containing a heterogeneous population of lithic and mineral clasts, and cogenetic melt parti-cles; it, thus, represents suevite. Field study has indicated that the breccia contains large mega-clasts from the metasedimentary basement, mainly phyllite - some with evidence of contact metamorphism against the alkali granite, as well as metasandstone and metapelite. Quartz pebbles, conglomerates, and sandstones and pelites prob-ably derived from the lower part of the basin are also abundant as clasts. Until now, two types of impact melt rock, the so-called type-I and type-II, of different composition and emplacement styles, were identified. Type-I is the more abundant and the first one that was recognized; it is of granitic composition and always occurs in the granite core. The so-called type-II, subdivided into low silica content (LS <68%wt. SiO2) and high silica content (HS >80%wt. of SiO2), is always present as melted clasts in the suevite. In order to characterize the two types of IMR and to understand the relationship between them and the potential target rocks, geochemical and isotopic (Sr-Nd and U-Pb in zircon) data from the two types of impact melt rocks, target rocks, sedimentary units from the lower part of the Paraná basin and samples from the suevites (melted clasts plus matrix) were obtained. Results and conclusions: In the SiO2 vs. MgO diagram: the IMR type-I have a restricted geochemical composition, similar with the porphyritic granite, whereas the LS and HS IMR type-II have more heterogeneous geochemical composition but always similar with Cuiabá Group. The suevite matrix has a similar composition with the lower part of the Paraná basin, specifically the Furnas Formation. In the 87Sr/86Sr(251.5) vs. εNd(251.5) diagram, the granite has high 87Sr/86Sr and less negative εNd of ~9. The lower part of the Paraná basin has lowest 87Sr/86Sr ratios and more negative εNd of ~13. The samples from the Cuiabá Group and the two types of IMR show compositions between these two extremes. Eighty-eight concordant U-Pb isotope data were. The results, together with published data for the basement (Cuiabá Group) and the lower stratigraphic units of the Paraná Basin, were analyzed by multidimensional scaling (MDS) and with the kernel density estimation (KDE). Both suevite samples show a bimodal age population with the main peak at ~640 Ma and a second peak at 2000-2500 Ma. The MDS and KDE plots indicate that the provenance for the two suevite samples is similar to the zircon age populations for the formation in the lower part of the Paraná Basin sequence, very similar to the age population for the Furnas Formation. Based on these geochemical, isotopic and first U-Pb provenance results, we can conclude that: 1) the composition of the melted clast (IMR type-II) looks similar to the Cuiabá Group but the matrix shows a composition and provenance data similar with the lower part of the basin, it means that our field observations that initially favored a strong contribution of clastic material from the Cuiabá Group to the suevite need to be considered with caution and 2), possibly the two IMR do not have the same origin and they are not coming from the same type of target rocks, whereas the IMR type-I is clearly similar to the granite. 3) The IMR type-II is similar in composition to the Cuiaba Group samples or alternatively it represents a mixture between the Furnas and Rio Ivai formations. Finally, our geochemical, isotopic and provenance studies need to be extended statistically. These results will be very useful in determining how deep the transient cavity at Araguainha was excavated, and how deep the projectile may have penetrated into the target. Moreover, the results will contribute to modeling of the cratering processes related to the formation of the Araguainha impact structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the changes in loads carried, in the model of backpack used and in the way of carrying school backpacks after the implementation of an educational program. Methods: This study was performed on 99 children aged seven to 11 years at elementary school level in a private school in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. The subjects' body mass (kg) and height (cm) and the loads carried in their backpacks (kg) were evaluated. The backpack models and the ways of carrying them were evaluated by filming before and after the intervention. The intervention program consisted of educational sessions offered to the children, parents and teachers. The sessions involved lectures about the spine and about the principles of load carrying. The children also received practical guidance relating to correct postures for load carrying. The children received monthly practical reinforcement for three months. The parents and teachers received reinforcement by means of information flyers and guidance on the school's home page. The data were analyzed by means of two-proportion equality and Wilcoxon statistical tests. The significance level was considered as a=0.05. Results: The use of a two-strap backpack model increased from 46.5% to 60.6% (p=0.046) and carrying it on two shoulders increased from 41.4% to 55.6% (p=0.047). The load carried in the backpacks decreased by 2.66kg (p<0.001) and the ratio between the subject's body mass and the load carried in the backpacks decreased by 7%. With regard to change per category, the number of subjects in the inappropriate group (load carried>15% of the subject's body mass) decreased (p<0.001). Conclusions: The educational sessions promoted changes in backpack use and it was observed a satisfactory adherence to the intervention program proposed. These results demonstrate the importance of Physical Therapy educational programs in schoolchildren's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the association between Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to verify the reliability of the MIP in patients on hemodialysis. In a repeated-measures design, patients on hemodialysis performed MIP and specific HRQoL questionnaire (trial 1). The MIP was repeated after 6 to 8 weeks (trial 2) and reliability was assessed using Intra-class Correlation Coefficient. Standard Error of Measurement and Minimal Detectable Change scores were calculated. Sixty-one individuals (68.9% men) were evaluated in trial 1. MIP was associated with specific domains "Symptoms" (r = 0.45; R2 adjusted = 0.192) and the kidney disease component summary (r = 0.38; R2 adjusted = 0.138). Regarding generic domains, the MIP was associated with "Physical Functioning" (r = 0.57; R2 adjusted = 0.375) and Physical component summary (r = 0.47; R2 adjusted = 0.258). Thirty-three patients were randomly selected to perform a second MIP test (trial 2). The Intra-class Correlation Coefficient was 0.94 (95%CI 0.88–0.97). By Bland-Altman analysis, the bias was 3.2 cmH2O, which represents a difference of 3.7%. The Standard Error of Measurement and Minimal Detectable Change for MIP were 5.9 cmH2O and 13.8 cmH2O, respectively. The MIP is a reliable test, associated with physical domains of HRQoL in patients on hemodialysis. Thus, it is a useful method for respiratory evaluation in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Alcoholic subjects manifest important deficits in frontal executive function, yet maintain cognitive mental status within normal range. Methods This study searched for volumetric measurements of segmented brain structures obtained from magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) that would predict executive functions and cognitive mental status in alcoholic subjects. The frontal assessment battery ( FAB) and the Mini-Mental State Examination ( MMSE) were applied to alcoholic subjects who underwent MRI. Cortical and subcortical segmentation and corrections were performed using FreeSurfer. Multiple linear regressions analyses having volumetric measures of segmented brain structures as predictors for FAB or MMSE scores as dependent measures were conducted. Sixty alcoholic subjects, 52 males, mean age of 47.2 ± SD 10.4 years, with heavy use of alcohol (mean 284.4 ± SD 275.9 g of alcohol/d) over a long time (mean 32.4 ± SD 11.1 years), showed FAB 11.1 ± SD 3.2 and MMSE of 25.2 ± SD 4.1. Results Multiple regression analyses having left and right side of each segment as predictors showed that gray matter volumes of rostral middle frontal cortex and cerebellar cortex ( p < 0.001), in which only the left side of these structures showed significant partial effects in the full model ( p < 0.05), showed to predict FAB performance. They were even more predictive when considered together ( p < 0.001), in which both left rostral middle frontal cortex ( p < 0.05) and left cerebellar cortex ( p < 0.01) predictors had significant partial effects in the full model. None of brain structures was predictive of MMSE performance. Conclusions We have concluded that volumetric measurements of left rostral middle frontal and cerebellar cortices seem to be able to predict the frontal executive performance but not the cognitive mental status in alcoholic subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented regarding the molecular and clinical characterization of hemoglobin Maputo in Brazilian newborn screening.

Objective: To assess the validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) by applying it to children and adolescents living in Salvador, Bahia Methods: The validity of this FFQ with 98 food items was investigated among 108 children and adolescents who were selected from a sample of 1445 that had been planned for a study on the risk factors for asthma and other allergic diseases. The adults responsible for these children and adolescents gave responses for a 24-hour recall (R24h) and an FFQ. The average energy and nutrient values from the FFQ were compared with those from the R24h by means of the paired t test and Pearson correlation coefficients. The concordance was evaluated using the Bland-Altman method and kappa statistics. Results: The energy and nutrient intake estimated using the FFQ was significantly higher than what was obtained using the R24h. The correlation coefficients adjusted for energy were statistically significant for protein, fat, vitamin C and zinc. The weighted kappa values ranged from 0.06 for vitamin A (p = 0.24) to 0.34 for energy (p < 0.00). The results from the Bland-Altman plots for lipid, protein and zinc showed the most significant validity parameters, and zinc was found to show the best concordance. Conclusion: The results suggest that the FFQ showed satisfactory validity for use in studies involving children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study documents unexpectedly low levels of intra and interpopulation genetic diversity in Kryptolebias ocellatus, an androdioecious and predominantly self-fertilizing killifish from south-eastern Brazil. This finding generally is inconsistent with the established opinion that the K. ocellatus and K. marmoratus clade originated in this geographic region and later dispersed northward into the Caribbean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate 1) the effects of soybean meal (SBM) from 3 major SBM-producing countries (United States, Brazil, and India) on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and meat quality of growing-finishing pigs and 2) the feeding value of the evaluated SBM as a feedstuff for growing-finishing pigs. Soybean meal representative of each country was purchased on the open market. A total of 144 barrows with the average BW of 23.77 (SD = 1.52 kg) were allotted to 3 dietary treatments with 12 replicate pens per treatment and 4 pigs per pen. The US SBM used in this trial had greater CP and total AA contents, greater KOH protein solubility, and less crude fiber than SBM from either Brazil or India. Diets were formulated to be isolysinic and isocaloric. Pigs fed diets containing US SBM were heavier (P < 0.05) than pigs fed diets containing Brazilian or Indian SBM at 12 and 18 wk. Pigs fed diets containing US SBM had greater (P < 0.05) ADG and G:F throughout the overall period when compared with pigs fed SBM produced in Brazil or India. The DM and N digestibility were greater for US SBM (P < 0.05) than Brazilian and India SBM at 6, 12, and 18 wk. Pigs were slaughtered at the end of 18 wk, and no differences were observed on meat quality (backfat thickness, LM area, pH, meat color, water holding capacity, and drip loss) among the treatments, except lean percentages were less and backfat thickness was greater in pigs fed Brazilian and Indian SBM than US SBM. The cost per kilogram of BW gain of the experimental diet containing US SBM was less than that of diets containing Brazilian or Indian SBM, but it would depend on the relative prices of each SBM. Based on the results of the current experiment, the productivity and feeding value of US SBM seems to be greater than the SBM produced in Brazil and India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pain is a multidimensional experience. Locus of control is an important factor related to chronic pain experience and treatment. There is a gap in the literature when discussing issues related to pain evaluation in elderly. Objectives: To analyze the factorial structure, intra and inter-rater reliability of the Brazilian version of the Pain Locus of Control Scale - Form C for elderly with chronic pain living in the community. Methods: One hundred and eighty one elderly individuals (71.5±6.8 years of age) answered a clinic and social-demographic questionnaire and the PLOC-C scale. A factorial analysis with varimax rotation of the PLOC-C scale was performed. The scale was applied twice by two observers to evaluate the intra and inter-rater reliability analyzed using Pearson's Correlation Coefficients. Results: The factorial analysis of the 18 item PLOC-C scale revealed six factors. Four items (1 and 6 from the chance locus of control subscale; 2 and 4 from the internal locus of control subscale) migrated toward unpredictable factors in the original factorial structure. Analysis with the removal of the four items demonstrated a better factorial structure and higher levels of internal consistency (α=0.836 and 0.669) and reliability (intra-examiner: r=0.65 and 0.93; inter-examiner: r=0.82 and 0.92) when compared to the complete subscales. The variance explained was of 48.7% for the 18 items and 62.4% for the 14 items scale. Conclusion: The results demonstrate a better applicability of the reduced scale on the sample. The reduced version may contribute to greater knowledge and consequently better chronic pain management in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus produces exoproteins that contribute to its ability to colonize the mammary gland such as hemolysins, coagulase, slime, and protein A. This study characterized phenotypically and genotypically these virulence factors in 50 Staph. aureus isolates. These isolates were obtained from milk samples from subclinical mastitis cases identified in 15 dairy cattle farms located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. All of the confirmed Staph. aureus samples were PCR positive for the coa gene, which displayed 3 different size polymorphisms. The amplification of the spaA X region yielded a single amplicon for each isolate with the prevalent amplicon sized 315 bp. The Staph. aureus isolates were 24 and 16% positive for the hla and hlb genes, respectively, and 22 and 20% positive for the icaA and icaD genes, respectively. Amplification of the agr gene RNAIII was positive in 74% of the strains. Twenty-seven different profiles were identified among the samples, indicating a great diversity of Staph. aureus involved in the etiology of mastitis cases in the analyzed region. These findings are valuable to the comprehension of the distribution of the profiles of Staph. aureus strains isolated from subclinical mastitis cases in the state of Rio de Janeiro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the association between Toxocara canis infection and total IgE levels and eosinophilia in blood donors from a large Brazilian city. Two hundred and sixty-eight blood donors from a government blood bank were tested. No helminth infection was diagnosed by parasitological stool examination. Total IgE levels and T. canis infection status were determined by ELISA. Eosinophil levels were determined using an automatic blood cell counter. Toxocara canis IgG antibodies were found in 124 (46.3%); 102 (38.0%) had eosinophilia ≥4% and 29 (10.8%) had eosinophilia ≥10%, respectively; 140 (52.2%) individuals had total IgE antibodies above the cut-off levels. Both total IgE and eosinophil levels ≥10% were positively associated with the infection . This study revealed a high prevalence of T. canis infection in blood donors, highlighting the need for screening for this infection. It also demonstrated that this population otherwise healthy has higher levels of blood eosinophils and total IgE and that both parameters are associated with T. canis infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The region of Toledo River, Paraná, Brazil is characterized by intense anthropogenic activities. Hence, metal concentrations and physical–chemical parameters of Toledo River water were determined in order to complete an environmental evaluation catalog. Samples were collected monthly during one year period at seven different sites from the source down the river mouth, physical–chemical variables were analyzed, and major metallic ions were measured. Metal analysis was performed by using the synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence technique. A statistical analysis was applied to evaluate the reliability of experimental data. The analysis of obtained results have shown that a strong correlation between physical–chemical parameters existed among sites 1 and 7, suggesting that organic pollutants were mainly responsible for decreasing the Toledo River water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the challenges involved in adopting an integrated approach to urban water policies and management, a particularly problematic issue in Brazil due to the incomplete nature of urbanization, defined as the lack of adequate and/or universalized access to infrastructure and services, informal housing and conflicts between environmental protection and social housing needs. In the last two decades strong social movements have influenced urban environmental policies from national to local levels. In Belo Horizonte since 1993, decision-making processes have involved important mechanisms of democratic inclusion, which have contributed to fairer urban policies. A brief discussion of the concept of governance follows, introducing the municipal urban policy within which drainage and sanitation policies have been implemented. This paper presents the constitutional and institutional role of the five municipal committees dealing with water governance issues, as they are important arenas for civil society participation. The main constraints to achieving integrated urban water governance at the local level and the extent to which such policies are able to reduce social inequalities and promote social environmental justice in the use and appropriation of urban water, are discussed. This paper is part of the SWITCH-Sustainable Water Management Improves Tomorrow's Cities' Health-research network [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial populations are primarily responsible for the decomposition of organic residues, the nutrients cycle, and the flow of energy inside of soil. The present study was undertaken to link soil microbiological and soil biochemical parameters with soil- and litter-quality conditions in the surface layer from 5 sites differing in plant cover, in stand age, and in land-use history. The aim was to see how strongly these differences affect the soil microbial attributes and to identify how microbiological processes and structures can be influenced by soil and litter quality. Soil and litter samples were collected from 5 sites according to different land use: preserved forest, nonpreserved forest, secondary forest, pasture, and eucalyptus plantation. Soil and litter microbial biomass and activity were analysed and DNA was extracted from soil. The DNA concentrations and soil microbial C and N correlated positively and significantly, suggesting that these are decisive nutrients for microbial growth and time required for microbial biomass renewal. The litter microbial biomass represented a source of C and N higher than soil microbial biomass and can be an important layer to contribute to tropical soil with low C and N availability. The litter quality influenced the litter and soil microbial biomass and activity and the soil bacterial diversity. The chemical and nutritional quality of the litter influenced the structure and microbial community composition in the eucalyptus plantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromitite layers in mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions represent a special case of cumulate rock where chromite is the sole liquidus (cumulus) mineral. Different mechanisms for the formation of chromitite layers have been postulated. In order to provide geological and petrological constraints for these models, chromitites and hosting mafic and ultramafic rocks from the Bacuri, Niquelândia and Ipueira-Medrado layered complexes in Brazil were investigated. The Bacuri Complex (2·2 Ga) is a large layered intrusion of the Amazon Craton. Chromitite layers of the Bacuri mafic-ultramafic complex are restricted to a 30–120 m-thick sequence of ultramafic cumulates overlying mafic cumulates. Most of the chromite is concentrated in a several metres-thick chromitite layer (the main chromitite) located at the base of the ultramafic cumulates. Cryptic variation of olivine with stratigraphic height (from Fo89 at the base to Fo76 at the top) is consistent with extensive fractionation of the ultramafic sequence. The stratigraphic position of the main chromitite supports a model for its origin associated with a major new influx of primitive parental magma. The cause of chromite saturation must therefore result from changes in magma composition resulting from mixing new influxes of primitive magma with a fractionated magma resident in the magma chamber... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper compares the status of social science research in India, China and Brazil using various indicators. It particularly focuses on the analyses of annual average publication rate vis-a-vis global publication share; similarity in research profile of different countries; research priorities of countries as measured in terms of national publications output by sub-fields; relative share of international collaborative papers in the national output; distribution of research output by geographical regions within each country; and characteristics of high productivity institutions and highly cited papers computed on select measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first description of spermatozoal ultrastructure of Mabuya skinks. The spermatozoa of the species studied are filiform, consisting of a head region, a midpiece and a tail. The head is characterized by the following features: a depressed acrosome anteriorly, an acrosome vesicle divided into cortex and medulla, paracrystalline subacrosomal material, a pointed tip perforatorium, a circular perforatorium base plate inside the subacrosomal cone, an epinuclear lucent zone separated from the subacrosomal cone by a membrane, a large nuclear rostrum, and round nuclear shoulders. The midpiece presents a bilateral stratified laminar structure, a distal centriole, peripheral fibres 3 and 8 grossly enlarged, columnar mitochondria with linear cristae, dense body rings and a triangular annulus. Finally, the tail is composed of a principal piece and an end piece. An axoneme and a fibrous sheath characterize the principal piece, and the end piece is formed only by an axoneme, which loses its pattern in the last portion. Comparisons with members of Teiidae revealed differences in the numbers of dense rings. A well-developed epinuclear lucent zone in Mabuya is less prominent among teiids. In the spermatozoa of Mabuya, the first ring of dense bodies is very large, uniquely resembling the condition present in snakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This article investigates whether the presence of residents in precarious work situations influences the self-rated health of people living in the same household. Methods: The study is based on the National Household Survey )PNAD) carried out in 1998 (n = 85 384) and 2003 )n = 89063) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. These samples included all individuals aged 15 years and over, who lived in large metropolitan regions of Brazil. The effects at individual and household levels were estimated by the generalised estimation equations )GEE). Results: At the individual level, poor self-rated health was inversely associated with schooling and positively associated with female sex, older age, informal work, unemployment and not economically active. Living in households with at least one informal or unemployed worker was positively associated with poor self-rated health, regardless of individual factors and socioeconomic characteristics of the household in 1998 )informal work: OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.12; unemployment: OR 1.08; 95% Cl 1.04 to 1.13), and in 2003 )informal work: OR 1.06; 95% Cl 1.03 to 1.10; unemployment: OR 1.10; 95% Cl 1.05 to 1.15). Conclusion: These results suggest that unemployment and/or informal work have a contextual impact on the self-rated health of household dwellers. They add to the hypothesis that adverse conditions in the labour market and their impact on the health of individuals and groups are relevant in understanding inequalities in health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The influence of socio-economic conditions on covariates of depression has received little attention. Aims: Examine whether prevalence and covariates of depressive symptoms are affected by socio-economic circumstances. Methods: Participants were 1,499 (86%) residents in Bambuí city, Brazil, aged ->- 60 years. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the GHQ-12 questionnaire and exploratory variables included demographic characteristics, life events, social support, health conditions and health service use. The analysis was stratified by family income (< US$240.00 [lowest tertile] vs. ->- US$240.00). Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher in those with lower income (43.9%) in comparison with the better off (27.7%). Dissatisfaction with relationships, worse self-rated health and insomnia were independently associated with depressive symptoms in both income groups (OR from 2.00 to 4.74; p < 0.05). Depressive symptoms were associated with number of chronic diseases, functional disability and hospitalizations among the poorer (OR from 1.73 to 2.37; p < 0.05), while old age (OR 2.08) and female gender (OR 2.03) were associated with depressive symptoms among the better off. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their covariates are influenced by socio-economic conditions in a population with slight income differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the spatial and temporal variation in O2 and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) forms concentrations in ten subtropical watersheds located in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with different degrees of impact by urbanization and land-use changes. Additionally, we used stable carbon isotopic composition of DIC to explain observed patterns. We found that land-cover changes and watershed geology are the main drivers of DIC distribution. Land-cover/use changes influence the riverine DIC in two ways: by replacing the original Cerrado 3 (C3)-type forest vegetation by C4-type vegetation composed of grasses (pasture), and by sugarcane. Most domestic sewage is dumped untreated into rivers in the state of São Paulo. Consequently, in the most densely populated watersheds, sewage is an important source of labile carbon and consequently of DIC to rivers. In terms of geology, although silicate weathering that produces kaolinite is the main type of weathering in the watersheds, the weathering of carbonate cements present in the geological formations of the western portion of the state of São Paulo are also an important source of DIC to rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania chagasi is endemic to northeast Brazil. A positive delayed-type hypersensitivity skin test response (DTH+) is a marker for acquired resistance to disease, clusters in families and may be genetically controlled. Twenty-three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in the cytokine 5q23.3–q31.1 region IRF1-IL5-IL13-IL4-IL9-LECT2-TGFBI in 102 families (323 DTH+; 190 DTH−; 123 VL individuals) from a VL endemic region in northeast Brazil. Data from 20 SNPs were analyzed for association with DTH+/− status and VL using family-based, stepwise conditional logistic regression analysis. Independent associations were observed between the DTH+ phenotype and markers in separate linkage disequilibrium blocks in LECT2 (OR 2.25; P=0.005; 95% CI=1.28–3.97) and TGFBI (OR 1.94; P=0.003; 95% CI=1.24–3.03). VL child/parent trios gave no evidence of association, but the DTH− phenotype was associated with SNP rs2070874 at IL4 (OR 3.14; P=0.006; 95% CI=1.38–7.14), and SNP rs30740 between LECT2 and TGFBI (OR 3.00; P=0.042; 95% CI=1.04–8.65). These results indicate several genes in the immune response gene cluster at 5q23.3–q31.1 influence outcomes of L. chagasi infection in this region of Brazil.Genes and Immunity (2007) 8, 539–551; doi:10.1038/sj.gene.6364422; published online 23 August 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a reliability analysis of 116 full-scale pond systems in Brazil, comprising 73 primary facultative ponds and 43 anaerobic--facultative pond systems. A methodology developed by Niku et al. (1979) is used for the determination of the coefficients of reliability, in terms of the compliance of effluent BOD, COD, TSS and FC to discharge standards or effluent quality targets. The design concentrations necessary to meet the prevailing discharge standards and the expected compliance percentages have been calculated from the coefficients of reliability obtained. The results showed that few units, under the observed operating conditions, would be able to present reliable performances in terms of compliance with the analyzed standards. For the four constituents (BOD, COD, TSS and FC) and both systems (facultative ponds and anaerobic-facultative systems), the variability of the effluent quality was very large, leading to a high variability of the coefficient of variation (CV) and the coefficient of reliability (COR). The effluent quality from the facultative ponds showed a larger distance to both the desired values and the discharge standard values, compared with the anaerobic--facultative systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazil, like many other developing countries, suffers from widespread pollution of the aquatic environment caused by the uncontrolled discharge of untreated urban wastewater. Some states have made greater progress towards the implementation of pollution mitigation strategies than others. However, a study undertaken in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais indicates that installation of treatment plants is not sufficient to meet effluent quality objectives. A range of different wastewater treatment processes were investigated and, although conclusive results were difficult to define due to the large differences in the frequency of sampling, the results showed a highly variable performance, in which many processes were not operating satisfactorily according to expected design performance or environmental standards set by the regulatory authority. In light of these findings, the paper discusses an innovative programme called PRODES, introduced by the National Water Agency (ANA), which aims to encourage public and private companies to implement new treatment plants and to improve the performance of existing wastewater treatment systems based upon a system of financial incentives according to the monitored reduction in pollutant loads. The paper concludes that this approach has considerable potential as part of a pollution mitigation strategy, but success is dependent on the development of a standardized framework for routine performance evaluation and monitoring to improve operational performance and regulatory procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In São Paulo metropolitan area, Brazil, Amblyomma aureolatum ticks are the main vector of Rickettsia rickettsii, which causes Brazilian spotted fever. In 2013, a boy in São Paulo died of Brazilian spotted fever associated with household dogs and A. aureolatum ticks. Prompt recognition and treatment of this illness might prevent deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to assess the influence of basic limnological variables on bacterioplankton abundance in twenty lagoons in the Upper Paraná River floodplain, Brazil. Twelve abiotic (depth, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), water transparency, temperature, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity and total inorganic carbon), and two biotic (chlorophyll-a and rotifers abundance) limnological factors were used as independent variables to explain bacterial countings. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the dimensionality of the abiotic data and chlorophyll-a. Subsequently, multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between bacterial abundance and the principal component axes and rotifer densities. Bacterioplankton abundance fluctuated from 1.8 to 5.9 × 106 cells.ml-1 during the high water phase and from 1.4 to 4.0 × 106 cells.ml-1 during the low water phase and they were significantly higher during the former phase (t=3.06; p=0.007). Bacterial abundance was not significantly correlated with chlorophyll-a and rotifers abundance. On the other hand, it was positively correlated with principal components 1 and 2, indicating that DOC, total nitrogen and phosphorus concentration, temperature and pH are important to explain bacteria abundance. These results indicate that the input of different sources of DOC and inorganic nutrients from the floodplain into the lagoons during the high water phase is more important to explain bacterial abundance than autochthonous phytoplanktonic organic matter or predation by rotifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichogramma galloi Zucchi is an efficient biological control agent against the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) in sugarcane fields in Brazil. This parasitoid is also a candidate to be used in pest management programmes in corn, as D. saccharalis has become a serious pest of this crop in some areas in Brazil. However, there is no data on the side-effects of chemicals on this species. The side-effects of promising chemicals to control the sugarcane borer in corn were tested by dipping eggs of the factitious host into the insecticidal solutions. Two different treatments were tested. First, dipping parasitized host eggs at different stages of immature development (egg-larva, prepupa and pupa); and second, by offering treated eggs to newly emerged females. The toxicity of the chemicals tested were dependent on the age of the parasitoid, affecting the immature survival, developmental time from egg to adult, parasitization capacity, adult longevity and the development of the filial generation. Spinosad, tebufenozide, triflumuron and lufenuron delayed adult eclosion of T. galloi when used to treat the host egg during the pupal stage. Spinosad was harmful when tested against any immature stage and adults of T. galloi. Lufenuron and triflumuron were harmful only when applied during the egg-larval development of the parasitoid. Although they did not affect the parasitization capacity, they caused almost 100% mortality of the immatures when used to treat eggs prior to parasitization. Tebufenozide was harmless to T. galloi causing a very slight immature mortality if used during the prepupal development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Mortality and morbidity for high‐risk surgical patients are often high, especially in low‐resource settings. Enhanced peri‐operative care has the potential to reduce preventable deaths but must be designed to meet local needs. This before‐and‐after cohort study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a postoperative 48‐hour enhanced care pathway for high‐risk surgical patients ('high‐risk surgical bundle') who did not meet the criteria for elective admission to intensive care. The pathway comprised of six elements: risk identification and communication; adoption of a high‐risk post‐anaesthesia care unit discharge checklist; prompt nursing admission to ward; intensification of vital signs monitoring; troponin measurement; and prompt access to medical support if required. The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality. Data describing 1189 patients from two groups, before and after implementation of the pathway, were compared. The usual care group comprised a retrospective cohort of high‐risk surgical patients between September 2015 and December 2016. The intervention group prospectively included high‐risk surgical patients from February 2019 to March 2020. Unadjusted mortality rate was 10.5% (78/746) for the usual care and 6.3% (28/443) for the intervention group. After adjustment, the intervention effect remained significant (RR 0.46 (95%CI 0.30–0.72). The high‐risk surgical bundle group received more rapid response team calls (24% vs. 12.6%; RR 0.63 [95%CI 0.49–0.80]) and surgical re‐interventions (18.9 vs. 7.5%; RR 0.41 [95%CI 0.30–0.59]). These data suggest that a clinical pathway based on enhanced surveillance for high‐risk surgical patients in a resource‐constrained setting could reduce in‐hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Brejos de altitude' is an ecosystem that has been subjected to severe exploitation, leading to an intense reduction in Brazil. Understanding the patterns of bryophyte diversity and composition, particularly of specialized species such as the epiphylls, to anthropic and abiotic variables is crucial for implementing protection measures.We investigated the relationship between composition and diversity of epiphyllous bryophytes and anthropic (edge effects) and abiotic (altitude) variables at local (within each 'Brejo') and regional (set of three 'Brejos') scale. Abiotic and anthropic variables were correlated with alpha and beta diversity (decomposed into species replacement and richness differences) using GLM. Their effects on species composition were evaluated using PERMANOVA.The localities at higher elevations harboured a richer bryoflora and overall beta diversity patterns were associated with altitude and locality, which acted over different scales. Regionally, the contribution of richness differences was limited with increasing altitude. Yet, dissimilarities among localities were associated with richness differences and replacement, denoting the importance of local factors. The composition was explained by local factors interacting with the regional altitudinal gradient. Anthropic activity was significant only when interacting with local factors and altitudinal gradient.Environmental filtering associated with altitude played a more important role in shaping the diversity and composition of epiphyllous bryophytes, at both regional and local scales. Each 'Brejo' acts as an ecological refuge, harbouring part of the whole environmental gradient, and presents a unique floristic composition. Moreover, partitioning beta diversity highlighted the interplay of local and regional forces shaping diversity patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]