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Copyright of Geologia USP: Série Científica is the property of Geologia USP 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.)

The 2015–2016 Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in Brazil was remarkably linked to the incidence of microcephaly and other deleterious clinical manifestations, including eye abnormalities, in newborns. It is known that ZIKV targets the placenta, triggering an inflammatory profile that may cause placental insufficiency. Transplacental lipid transport is delicately regulated during pregnancy and deficiency on the delivery of lipids such as arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids may lead to deficits in both brain and retina during fetal development. Here, plasma lipidome profiles of ZIKV exposed microcephalic and normocephalic newborns were compared to non-infected controls. Our results reveal major alterations in circulating lipids from both ZIKV exposed newborns with and without microcephaly relative to controls. In newborns with microcephaly, the plasma concentrations of hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (HODE), primarily as 13-HODE isomer, derived from linoleic acid were higher as compared to normocephalic ZIKV exposed newborns and controls. Total HODE concentrations were also positively associated with levels of other oxidized lipids and several circulating free fatty acids in newborns, indicating a possible plasma lipidome signature of microcephaly. Moreover, higher concentrations of lysophosphatidylcholine in ZIKV exposed normocephalic newborns relative to controls suggest a potential disruption of polyunsaturated fatty acids transport across the blood-brain barrier of fetuses. The latter data is particularly important given the neurocognitive and neurodevelopmental abnormalities observed in follow-up studies involving children with antenatal ZIKV exposure, but normocephalic at birth. Taken together, our data reveal that plasma lipidome alterations associated with antenatal exposure to ZIKV could contribute to identification and monitoring of the wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes at birth and further, during childhood. Author summary: Antenatal exposure to Zika virus (ZIKV) is linked to a wide range of clinical presentations at birth, from asymptomatic cases to microcephaly, and other neurocognitive and neurodevelopmental abnormalities manifested in the early childhood. Stratification of these clinical phenotypes in newborns with suspected antenatal ZIKV exposure is challenging, but critical to improve early assessment of rehabilitative interventions. In this study, plasma lipidome profiling of 274 lipid species was performed in both normocephalic and microcephalic newborns with antenatal ZIKV exposure and compared to non-infected controls. Multiple lipid species were independent predictors of antenatal ZIKV exposure. More specifically, microcephaly was strongly associated with an oxidized free fatty acid and ZIKV exposed normocephalic newborns exhibited higher plasma concentrations of lysophosphatidylcholine relative to controls. These findings emphasize the need for studies focused on the role of individual lipids in neuropathogenesis of ZIKV and raise the potential of plasma lipidome profiling for early diagnosis of newborns with suspected antenatal ZIKV exposure. To validate the predictive ability of this approach, prospective studies with a larger cohort of newborns are now required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the prevalence of spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) in Japanese immigrants in Brazil. The authors compare the frequency of SCA6 in Japan and Brazil, finding that it is relatively uncommon in Brazil compared to other subtypes of SCA. They also note that all of the SCA6 patients in their study had Japanese ancestry. The authors suggest that genetic diseases should be considered and investigated in individuals with Japanese ancestry, and that this guidance should be applied in other countries as well. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Revista de Gestão, Finanças E Contabilidade is the property of Universidade do Estado da Bahia 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.)

This study investigates the benthic microbial responses to organic matter ( OM) variations in quantity and sources in two shallow water bays (Fortaleza and Ubatuba Bays) on the SE coast of Brazil on six occasions during the year. The pelagic and benthic compartments of the bays were evaluated by: (i) nutrients and chlorophyll a (Chl a) in the water column; (ii) quantity and sources of OM in the sediment (Chl a, total organic carbon and total nitrogen and lipid biomarker composition); and (iii) microbial biomass in sediments as an indicator of active benthic response. Although there were changes in water-column nutrients during the year, Chl a was fairly constant, suggesting a regular supply of microalgae-derived OM to the sea bottom. Based on the composition of lipid biomarkers in sediments, OM sources were classified as mostly marine and with high contributions of labile (microalgae-derived) OM. Labile OM composition varied from diatoms in the summer to phytoflagellates in the winter and tended to accumulate in areas protected by physical disturbances in one of the bays. Microbial biomass followed this trend and was 160% higher in protected than in exposed areas. This study suggests that the coupling between labile OM and benthic microbial biomass occurs primarily in protected areas, irrespective of the time of the year. Since meio- and macrofaunal assemblages depend upon secondary microbial production within the sediments, this coupling may have an important role for the benthic food-web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to assess the sensitivity and specificity of an automated Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions equipment using narrow band stimulus. Methods: the hearing screening results of 300 newborns were analyzed. A portable automated equipment was used with narrow band stimulus to conduct the Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions. All newborns were also submitted to the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials using 100µs-duration click stimuli, which was considered the gold standard test. Results: the proportion of "pass" results in the neonatal hearing screening was 90.7%. Considering the gold standard results, it was observed a false-positive rate of 9%. The Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions with narrow band stimulus presented sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 92%. Conclusion: the narrow band stimulus was efficient enough to be used in neonatal hearing screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:The consumption of a dose of caffeine (CAF) may attenuate post-exercise hypotension. Research question:The purpose was to verify the effect of a dose of CAF on systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) after a session of aerobic exercise in normotensive individuals. Type of study:Randomized controlled study. Methods:Ten healthy, physically active men (24.4 ± 4.5yrs; 74.3 ± 11.8kg; 172.8 ± 8.6m; 36.8 ± 5.7ml.kg-1.min-1) were randomly submitted to two experimental protocols in distinct days, in a cross-over double-blind design, with the ingestion of 4mg.kg-1of CAF or placebo and performance of an aerobic exercise in a cycle ergometerat 60% VO2peak. SBP, DBP, MAP, HR and HRV components were assessed at the pre-exercise rest period, 60 min after substance ingestion and during 60min post-exercise. Results:At the post-ingestion period, there were reductions on basal HR on both sessions and mean rises of 5mmHg on SBP, of 7-8mmHg on DBP and of 6-7mmHg on MAP on the caffeine session. After exercise, there were reductions of 5-7mmHg on SBP, significant on the 30th and 40th min, on the placebo session. During the caffeine session, maintenance of raised HR levels, no difference in relation to the pre-exercise period for SBP and MAP, and higher blood pressure compared to the placebo session. HRV was altered in each session; however there were no differences between the experimental sessions. Conclusion:The ingestion of a 4mg.kg-1dose of CAF apparently does not significantly interfere on the cardiovascular behaviourafter a session of aerobic exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hydrogeology Journal is the property of Springer Nature 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.)

Abstract: Abundance and composition of marine benthic communities have been relatively well studied in the SE Brazilian coast, but little is known on patterns controlling the distribution of their planktonic larval stages. A survey of larval abundance in the continental margin, using a Multi-Plankton Sampler, was conducted in a cross-shelf transect off Cabo Frio (23°S and 42°W) during a costal upwelling event. Hydrographic conditions were monitored through discrete CDT casts. Chlorophyll-a in the top 100 m of the water column was determined and changes in surface chlorophyll-a was estimated using SeaWiFS images. Based on the larval abundances and the meso-scale hydrodynamics scenario, our results suggest two different processes affecting larval distributions. High larval densities were found nearshore due to the upwelling event associated with high chlorophyll a and strong along shore current. On the continental slope, high larval abundance was associated with a clockwise rotating meander, which may have entrapped larvae from a region located further north (Cabo de São Tomé, 22°S and 41°W). In mid-shelf areas, our data suggests that vertical migration may likely occur as a response to avoid offshore transport by upwelling plumes and/or cyclonic meanders. The hydrodynamic scenario observed in the study area has two distinct yet extremely important consequences: larval retention on food-rich upwelling areas and the broadening of the tropical domain to southernmost subtropical areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Small-scale near-surface galvanic scatters are known to be a bane when using natural field EM data to get quantitative information about the subsurface resistivity structure. Specifically, on magnetotelluric measurements, the effect of local surficial inhomogeneities is almost inevitable and produces a static shift in the measured apparent resistivities over the whole range of sampled frequencies. We present here the methodology used to account for static shift effects and make a correct interpretation of the resistivity distribution in a region beneath the northeastern part of the volcanic-covered Paraná basin, SE Brazil. Within this region are located the ground electrodes of the Rio Madeira HVDC transmission system (Bipoles I and II). The available data includes geophysical soundings made for the electrodes site selection before their installation and data acquired in the subsequent commissioning measurements after their construction (electrode resistance, soil surface potentials and pipe-to-soil potentials). Iterative calculations for the simultaneous adjustment of the measured electrode resistance and the local geoelectric model were developed, based on the commissioning data of the electrode. The accuracy of the adjusted geoelectric model was confirmed by the excellent fit obtained for the measured and calculated pipe-to-soil potentials at Gasbol, the Bolivia-Brazil gas pipeline located 26 km away from the electrode. • Design of an HVDC ground electrode is dependent on a reliable geoelectric model. • Static shift distortions affect the apparent resistivity of magnetotelluric soundings. • Electrode commissioning data can be used for correcting static shifts. • Proposed methodology simultaneously adjusts electrode resistance and static shifts. • The method was successfully applied to an HVDC electrode in a 1D environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ore Treatment Unit (UTM-Caldas), in the city of Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil, nowadays in decommissioning stage, was the first uranium extraction mine in Brazil. Several negative environmental impacts in the area have occurred, because of mining, treatment and beneficiation processes. Waste rock pile 4 (WRP-4) generates acid mine drainage (AMD), which is discharged in the Nestor Figueiredo retention pond (NFP). However, leakage of acid water by the NFP dam foundation has been constantly observed. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate a typical tropical soil, in order to use it as mineral liner for the NFP to minimize the leakage of acid water through the dam foundation and to retain predominant chemical species. Geotechnical, chemical and mineralogical tests were performed to characterize the soil and a column test was carried out using the acid mine drainage as contaminant, which contained aluminum (Al), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe) and fluoride (F − ). The soil presented micro aggregation, acid pH, and low values of organic matter content and cation exchange capacity, which are characteristics of highly weathered soils. Diffusion was the predominant transport mechanism in the column test. Effluent solutions with pH less than 6.0 indicated the formation of insoluble Al-F complexes in the soil and desorption of iron and manganese at concentrations above those allowed by the Brazilian legislation. At pH greater than 6.0, the desorption of iron and manganese and release of aluminum and fluoride in the free form occurred, with concentrations also higher than the allowed by the Brazilian legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study refines the hydrogeological conceptual model of an area with three interconnected aquifers, namely the Crystalline Aquifer System (CAS - igneous and metamorphic rocks), which is in contact with the Tubarão Aquifer System (TAS - sedimentary rocks) and the Diabase Aquifer System (DAS – diabase rocks). The detailed investigation involved geophysical logging and hydraulic and hydrodynamic characterization with straddle packers in a local tubular well, in which groundwater presents high uranium concentrations. Hydrogeochemical and isotope (δ2H, δ18O, 3H, δ13C, 14C) analysis in this well and in other three neighboring wells, with lower U concentrations, showed that ancient and modern waters (3H from <0.8 to 1.12 TU, 14C from 69.43 to 78.72 pMC) mix within the aquifer. During groundwater pumping, vertical fractures in the diabase aquifer possibly induce water mixing and recharge of the deeper levels of the aquifers from shallow layers. The high [U] are related to ancient waters from a confined aquifer hosted in CAS that reaches the wells through hydraulically active fractures located deeper than 159 m depth. Groundwater apparent ages do not increase systematically with depth, revealing a complex circulation model for CAS. The results obtained from the other wells, which are all located on drainage lineaments, reveal that one extracts modern water from DAS and TAS, another one extracts modern and ancient water from DAS and CAS, and the third extracts only ancient water from CAS, confirming the complexity of the local hydrogeology. Regarding regional groundwater management, the study revealed the need to characterize the sources of groundwater in each well, in order to protect modern waters from anthropogenic contamination and to protect ancient groundwater from overexploitation, as CAS hosts groundwaters recharged thousands of years ago or more. • Deep wells in fractured and sedimentary interconnected aquifers. • Discrete interval sampling from distinct fracture systems. • Hydrogeological complexity confirmed by groundwater's composition and apparent age. • Water mixing in the fractured aquifer and hydrogeological conceptual model. • Implications on groundwater management in crystalline aquifers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a hydrogeological characterization that fills knowledge gaps in an area where a complex geological scenario connects two fractured (granite/metamorphic rocks and diabase) and one porous (sedimentary rocks) aquifer systems. Previous groundwater studies from the four local deep supply wells suggested the sedimentary aquifer as the source of uranium (∼60 μg/L) in one of the wells. Despite the water extraction interruption from this well, this finding needed to be supported by evidence provided by the geological and structural characteristics of the aquifers. Data collected through video inspection, caliper, optical (OPTV), and acoustic borehole televiewers (ATV) revealed the predominance of the crystalline aquifer in the area. As recorded by video inspection, the well's borehole with high U intersects the crystalline rocks at several open fractures and presents the highest gamma radiation values. Therefore, we infer that the origin of dissolved U is the weathering of primary minerals locally occurring in those rocks. The U leaching and complexation as calcium-uranyl-carbonates favors its solubility in that specific aqueous medium, as shown by hydrogeochemical modeling using PHREEQC. Additionally, the major ions and trace elements concentrations allow the division of the wells into two groups: a) two with higher U concentrations, influenced by the granite/metamorphic aquifer and possibly longer residence times, and b) the other two wells with lower U concentrations, higher nitrate concentrations, influenced by the diabase aquifer, possibly have younger residence times. • The crystalline aquifer is the local source of dissolved U in the groundwater. • The occurrence of U-bearing minerals was inferred by gamma radiation measurements. • Uranyl and calcium carbonates are the prevailing U species in the groundwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objetivo: identificar as características e os motivos associados ao bullying escolar, por adolescentes brasileiros. Método: trata-se de uma investigação transversal, com dados provenientes de um inquérito epidemiológico (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar), realizado em 2012. Participaram do estudo 109.104 estudantes do 9º ano do ensino fundamental, de escolas públicas e privadas, localizadas em zonas urbanas ou rurais, de todo território brasileiro. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de um questionário autoaplicável e a análise foi realizada no software SPSS, versão 20, utilizando procedimentos do Complex Samples Module. Resultados: a prevalência de bullying identificada no estudo foi de 7,2%, sendo mais frequente no sexo masculino, em alunos mais jovens, de cor preta e indígena, e com mães sem nenhuma escolaridade. Dentre as causas/motivos do bullying, 51,2% não souberam especificar, e a segunda maior frequência de vitimização foi relacionada à aparência do corpo (18,6%), seguida da aparência do rosto (16,2%), raça/cor (6,8%), orientação sexual (2,9%), religião (2,5%) e região de origem (1,7%). Os resultados obtidos são semelhantes aos encontrados em outros contextos socioculturais. Conclusão: evidencia-se a problemática como pertencente ao domínio da área da saúde, uma vez que congrega determinantes para reflexão sobre o processo saúde-doença-cuidado dos escolares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]