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Background A high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is associated with the risk of several chronic diseases, including ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke. This study aimed to model the impact of a 20% tax on all SSBs for IHD and stroke among Brazilian adults. Methods This was an ex-ante risk comparative study. The model applied a 20% tax on SSBs and projected the incidence, prevalence and mortality of IHD and stroke over a 20-year period (2019–39). Using data on consumption, previously published cross- and own-price elasticities of SSBs, and relative risk, we estimated changes in IHD and stroke burden. Results Our model predicts that a 20% SSB tax may reduce new cases of IHD by ~13%, especially among women, and avert ~8% of the deaths attributable to IHD over 20 years. These results represent a decrease of 19 543 new cases and 8466 and 7274 fewer deaths in the period for men and women, respectively. Estimates of reduction in incidence, prevalence and deaths from stroke were not significant over 20 years. Conclusions Even under conservative assumptions, our study found that a small reduction in SSB consumption led to a substantial decrease in IHD incidence and mortality in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modeling and simulation of industrial mineral processing operations are traditionally used for cyclone sizing and optimizations of industrial operations. However, the main models used are based on the total population of particles in the pulp, thus not distinguishing the individual minerals. This article presents the results of an innovative method that investigated the optimization of the metallurgical recovery of P2O5 in the desliming circuit of a phosphate ore processing plant in Brazil. A survey campaign was carried out in the existing industrial circuit, followed by determining the partition curves for the overall particles and specifically for the hydroxyapatite particles. The results were used to calibrate the Narasimha–Mainza cyclone model. From a Base Case determined with reference to the industrial survey, three optimization scenarios were simulated through cyclone geometries and respective operating conditions changes. Simulated scenarios indicated the possibility of P2O5 metallurgical recovery increasing from 9.4% to 12.7% compared to the Base Case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Campos Gerais region, located in the Subtropical Zone in Southern Brazil, stands out for presenting agricultural yields above the national average, especially for soybean. This study aimed to calibrate and validate the AquaCrop model for soybean crop in the edaphoclimatic conditions of Campos Gerais region. The data used were from the experimental stations of ABC Foundation in Arapoti, Castro and Ponta Grossa, Parana State, and Itaberá, São Paulo State. The input data (climate, crop, soil and soil management) from the 2006/07 to 2015/16 harvests were collected at the respective experimental stations and entered in the AquaCrop model for yield simulations. The data for model calibration were different from those used in the validation. The observed and simulated productivities were evaluated by simple linear regression analysis, mean absolute and relative errors, Pearson correlation coefficient (r), agreement (d) and performance (c) indexes. The model calibration was satisfactory in the studied localities, with agreement indices ranging from 0.87 < d < 0.99. In the validation, the model performance index ranged from "Terrible" to "Excellent", with agreement ranging from 0.59 < d < 1.00. The results showed a good relationship between the observed and simulated yields, indicating that the AquaCrop model is an option to plan and investigate alternatives that improve soybean crop productivity in the Campos Gerais region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

Dams are built to contain water or mining tailings and provide several benefits to society. The safety and stability of these structures are essential since eventual accidents can generate catastrophic damage. The main cause of ruptures is associated with abnormal seepage, which can progress to an internal erosion process. To assess the stability and safety of dams, periodic inspections are carried out, which typically include visual inspections and geotechnical instrumentation. Some geophysical methods have the potential to assist conventional geotechnical instrumentation using non-destructive and rapid acquisition investigations. The present study applied a finite element forward modeling to evaluate the percolation conditions and water stability in an earth dam of a decommissioned uranium mine in Brazil. The dam is the final structure of the contention system of mine water treatment. The electrical resistivity data were acquired using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and Schlumberger array. The results were presented from the inversion of data in 3D models. The data were processed by open-source software (modeling and inversion of geophysical data). The results indicate the presence of water in the vertical filter located in the crest area. The different levels of investigation indicated water infiltration in the rock mass of the dam foundation. These results are supported by structural surveys carried out in the area that indicate a fracturing pattern in the rock mass of the mine area. The results of the study were satisfactory for the desired purposes and demonstrate that geophysical methods constitute an important complementary tool for the geotechnical monitoring dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In integrative distributional, demographic and coalescent (iDDC) modelling, a critical component is the statistical relationship between habitat suitability and local population sizes. This study explores this relationship in two Enyalius lizard species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: the high-elevation E. iheringii and low-elevation E. catenatus and how this transformation affects spatiotemporal demographic inference. Most previous iDDC studies assumed a linear relationship, but this study hypothesises that the relationship may be nonlinear, especially for high-elevation species with broader environmental tolerances. We test two key hypotheses: (1) The habitat suitability to population size relationship is nonlinear for E. iheringii (high-elevation) and linear for E. catenatus (low-elevation); and (2) E. iheringii exhibits higher effective migration across populations than E. catenatus. Our findings provide clear support for hypothesis (2), but mixed support for hypothesis (1), with strong model support for a nonlinear transformation in the high-elevation E. iheringii and some (albeit weak) support for a nonlinear transformation also in E. catenatus. The iDDC models allow us to generate landscape-wide maps of predicted genetic diversity for both species, revealing that genetic diversity predictions for the high-elevation E. iheringii align with estimated patterns of historical range stability, whereas predictions for low-elevation E. catenatus are distinct from range-wide stability predictions. This research highlights the importance of accurately modelling the habitat suitability to population size relationship in iDDC studies, contributing to our understanding of species' demographic responses to environmental changes., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The epidemiologic effects of Zika virus (ZIKV) sexual transmission in virus-endemic countries remain unclear. We conducted a 2-level, linear mixed-effects logistic regression analysis by using a recently acquired population-based ZIKV and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) serologic dataset obtained from persons residing in Northeast Brazil (n = 2,070 participants). We adjusted mathematical models for housing type and age of participants; the models indicated a significantly higher likelihood of ZIKV seropositivity among persons engaged in a sexual relationship within the same household (odds ratio 1.25 [95% CI 1.00-1.55]; p = 0.047), regardless of their partner's ZIKV serostatus, and among participants with a ZIKV-seropositive sex partner within the same household (odds ratio 1.54 [95% CI 1.18-2.01]; p = 0.002). CHIKV was also modeled as a control; no sex-associated effects were observed for CHIKV serology. Inclusion of ZIKV sexual transmission in prevention and control strategies is urgently needed, particularly in ZIKV-endemic regions.

Water erosion is considered the main form of soil degradation of tropical and subtropical soils, causing the reduction of the productive capacity of the land and the eutrophication and silting of water bodies. However, the modeling of soil erosion is fundamental to design conservation practices of soils and waters. The objective of this work was to estimate soil losses in the Camaquã River Hydrographic Basin, located in southern Brazil, a region where water erosion is one of the main environmental problems. The modeling was performed using the Erosion Potential Method with the aid of geoprocessing techniques. The sediment delivery rate in the area was calculated from total sediment and flow data of the Camaquã River from a hydrosedimentological station. The Camaquã River Hydrographic Basin presented an estimated average soil loss of 7.4 Mg ha-1 year-1 and in 25% of the region the soil losses were higher than the tolerable limits. In the basin, a sediment delivery rate of 0.41 Mg ha-1 year-1 was observed, while the estimated value was 1.14 Mg ha-1 year-1. The identification of areas with high rates of soil losses due to water erosion, made in the present work, can help in the planning and management of soil conservation practices in the Camaquã River Hydrographic Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop growth models are abstract tools that represent a real system, being a simple and important technology to develop studies aiming to improve the yields of the most agricultural crops, like the maize in Brazil. The objective of this study was to analyze the sensitivity of the main AquaCrop model input parameters, as well as their responses in maize yield estimation, in State of Paraná, Southern Brazil. The analyses were performed with the genotype 30R50YH, 2014/15 planted on April 11, 2014. The parameters analyzed refer to crop, soil and soil management. The parameters were modified individually, maintaining the others fixed. With the results, the sensitivity index (SI) was calculated, which allowed the identification of the most sensitive AquaCrop parameters. The parameters related to the crop showed a higher sensitivity, as they were associated with the main equations of the model. The parameters related to the harvest index (HIo ), saturated hydraulic conductivity (KSAT), soil water stress (Ks) and air temperature stress (ATS) did not present sensitivity in the model for the conditions evaluated. According to the SI, the crop coefficient with complete canopy expansion (KcTR,x) was the most sensitive parameter in the model (SI = 1.0777), as it directly affected the maize biomass production and yield formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental 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.)

Climate variability, land use and land cover changes (LULCC) have a considerable impact on runoff–erosion processes. This study analyzed the relationships between climate variability and spatiotemporal LULCC on runoff–erosion processes in different scenarios of land use and land cover (LULC) for the Almas River basin, located in the Cerrado biome in Brazil. Landsat images from 1991, 2006, and 2017 were used to analyze changes and the LULC scenarios. Two simulations based on the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) were compared: (1) default application using the standard model database (SWATd), and (2) application using remote sensing multiple gridded datasets (albedo and leaf area index) downloaded using the Google Earth Engine (SWATrs). In addition, the SWAT model was applied to analyze the impacts of streamflow and erosion in two hypothetical scenarios of LULC. The first scenario was the optimistic scenario (OS), which represents the sustainable use and preservation of natural vegetation, emphasizing the recovery of permanent preservation areas close to watercourses, hilltops, and mountains, based on the Brazilian forest code. The second scenario was the pessimistic scenario (PS), which presents increased deforestation and expansion of farming activities. The results of the LULC changes show that between 1991 and 2017, the area occupied by agriculture and livestock increased by 75.38%. These results confirmed an increase in the sugarcane plantation and the number of cattle in the basin. The SWAT results showed that the difference between the simulated streamflow for the PS was 26.42%, compared with the OS. The sediment yield average estimation in the PS was 0.035 ton/ha/year, whereas in the OS, it was 0.025 ton/ha/year (i.e., a decrease of 21.88%). The results demonstrated that the basin has a greater predisposition for increased streamflow and sediment yield due to the LULC changes. In addition, measures to contain the increase in agriculture should be analyzed by regional managers to reduce soil erosion in this biome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most important diseases affecting citriculture in the world. Knowledge of climatic factors linked to HLB risk at large spatial scales is limited. We gathered HLB presence and absence data from official surveys conducted in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, over 13 years. The total count of orange and mandarin orchards, and mean orchard area, normalized to a spatial grid of 60 cells (55 × 55 km), were derived from the same database. Monthly climate normals (1984 to 2013) of rainfall, mean temperature, and wind speed split into rainy (September to April) and dry (May to August) seasons (annual summary was retained) were obtained for each grid cell. Two hierarchical Bayesian modeling approaches were evaluated, both based on the integrated nested Laplace approximation method. The first, the climate covariates model (CC model), used orchard, climate, and the spatial effect as covariates. The second, principal components (PC model), used the first three components from a principal component analysis of all variables and the spatial effect as covariates. Both models showed an inverse relationship between posterior prevalence and grid cell mean temperature during the dry season. Annual wind speed, as well as annual and rainy season rainfall, contributed to HLB risk in the CC and PC models, respectively. A partial influence of neighboring regions on HLB risk was observed. The results should assist policymakers in defining regions at HLB risk and guide monitoring strategies to mitigate further spread of HLB in the state of Minas Gerais. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on the fate of a large volume of mine slurry discharged from the Doce River (DR) to the coastal ocean after the worst environmental disaster in Brazilian which occurred in November 2015. We used Eulerian (ROMS) and Lagrangian (STRiPE) numerical models, as well as satellite remote sensing data, to study the spreading and seafloor accumulation of fine river-borne sediments during the initial six months following the disaster. We show that the regions of intense sediment accumulation were determined by spreading patterns of the surface-advected DR plume. The river discharge rate governed the plume surface area, while its position depended on local wind forcing conditions. The spreading of sediments carried by the DR plume was dominated by southward transport caused by prevailing upwelling-favorable northeasterly winds during the study period. Under high discharge conditions, river-borne sediments were transported over 100 km southward from the DR mouth and reached the outer shelf. In contrast, sediments were arrested near the mouth during drought periods and remained on the inner shelf. As a result, fine river-borne sediments accumulated on the seafloor, mainly in the large shallow shelf area southward from the DR mouth. Conversely, only a small fraction of residue was deposited northward. Thus, the Environmental Protection Area (EPA) of Costa das Algas, located 40 km southward from the DR, potentially exhibited more susceptibility to sediment arrival. On the other hand, their influence on Abrolhos Marine National Park, located 200 km northeastward from the DR mouth, was presumably minimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is one of the most cultivated and important legumes in the world. Given its importance, understanding the shifts of climate suitability for this crop under climate change is essential. One way to map these potential changes in soybean distribution is through species distribution models (SDMs). In this study, we conducted a SDM for soybeans, using data from non-irrigated soybean fields. We used CLIMEX and CliMond climatic data in 10' resolution data to model the current and future climatic potential distribution of soybeans, applying the general circulation model CSIRO-Mk3.0 and assuming an A2 emissions scenario for 2030, 2050, and 2070. We analyzed changes in the climatic suitability areas under these different climatic projections and highlighted the major soybean-growing countries (USA, Brazil, Argentina, China, and India). In the future, the consequences of climate change on soybean will probably depend on its locality on the globe. Climate suitability for soybean cultivation is likely to increase in countries and regions located at northern latitudes, such as Canada and Western Europe. On the other hand, countries located in tropical areas, for example Brazil and India, may suffer significant losses in suitable areas by 2070. Our model provides a more in-depth view of areas that can be incorporated into soybean cultivation and which stressors decrease the climatic suitability of soybean in current and future scenarios. Our results allow directing strategies in plant breeding for this crop, and policies to mitigate possible impacts on soybean production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the use of deficit irrigation and application of models for estimating agronomic performance of crops can help in more sustainable agricultural managements. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of irrigation levels on the agronomic performance of white oat (Avena sativa L.) and accuracy of the CERES-Barley model in simulating white oat growth and yield, as well as performing long-term simulation to identify the best sowing time for each irrigation management. The experiment consisted of five irrigation levels (11%, 31%, 60%, 87%, and 100%), being conducted in two agricultural years in southeastern Brazil. The model was calibrated with data of the treatment without water deficit (100%) of the first year and validated with the data of the other treatments in the 2 years. Long-term analyses, with a historical series of 16 years, were performed to recommend the best sowing dates for each irrigation management. Deficit irrigation linearly reduces the agronomic performance of white oat. The high accuracy of white oat yield estimation (R2 = 0.86; RMSE = 616 kg ha−1) using the CERES-Barley model allowed the long-term simulation for establishing the best sowing date for each irrigation level. For higher irrigation levels, sowing in periods with lower temperature (May and June) is more appropriate, as the 1 °C increment in the average temperature before flowering reduces crop yield by 600 kg ha−1. At irrigation levels with higher deficit, sowing in periods with higher rainfall (March and April) promotes higher crop yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental 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.)

Regression analysis is a traditional technique to fit equations and predict tree and forest attributes. However, problems may occur when the data show high dispersion around the mean of the regressed variable, limiting the use of traditional methods such as the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimator. Hence, the objectives were to propose a Quantile Regression (QR) methodology to predict tree growth and yield of a forest plantation without using the site index and compare it with the predictive accuracy of the Clutter model. The data came from clonal plantations of Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla located in the north of Bahia state (Brazil), and age ranged from 20 to 89-months-old. The set of permanent plots was divided into 50% for model training and the remaining for validation. The volume prediction methods, Clutter and QR, were evaluated using scatter plots of the relative error and graphs of the observed versus predicted volumes, as well as by the following statistics: mean prediction bias in percentage (BIAS %) and root mean square error in percentage (RMSE %). The volume predictions by QR resulted in higher accuracy compared to those obtained by the Clutter model. The QR demonstrated efficiency to predict volumes for different ages of eucalyptus plantations and can also be adapted to other forest areas and species worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, it is aimed, for the first time, at deriving simple models, leveraging the trend analysis in order to estimate the future greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal combustion. Due to the expectations of becoming the center of global economic development in the future, BRICS-T (Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China, South Africa, and Turkiye) countries are adopted as cases in the study. Following the models' derivation, their statistical validations and estimating accuracies are also tested through various metrics. In addition, the future greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal combustion are estimated by the derived models. The results demonstrate that the derived models can be successfully used as a tool for estimating the greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal combustions with accuracy ranges from at least 90% to almost 98%. Moreover, the estimating results show that the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal combustions in the relevant countries and in the world will increase to 14 BtCO 2eq and 19 BtCO 2eq by 2035, with an annual growth of 2.39% and 1.71%, respectively. In summary, the current study's findings affirm the usefulness of trend analysis in deriving models to estimate greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal combustion., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The study of drying kinetics is of fundamental importance for mathematical modeling, which has been widely used in the design and analysis of heat and mass transfer processes during drying. The objective of the experiment was to fit mathematical models to the drying process of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) seeds of the genotype 'Accession 53' and the cultivar 'Goianinha', under different temperature conditions, determining the mathematical model that can best predict this event, the liquid diffusion and the respective activation energies. The experiment was conducted at the Plant Science Laboratory of the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Goiás - Campus of Iporá, GO, Brazil. Eleven mathematical models were fitted by means of nonlinear regression analysis by the Gauss-Newton method, and the degree of fit was assessed based on the magnitude of the coefficient of determination (R2), chi-square test (X2), mean relative error (P) and standard deviation of the estimate (SE). It was found that during the drying of pumpkin seeds the effective diffusion coefficient increases with the increase in temperature for both varieties. The Page model was the one that best described the drying phenomenon of pumpkin seeds genotype 'Accession 53' and cv. 'Goianinha', with activation energy of 39.340 kJ mol-1 for the genotype 'Accession 53' and 43.239 kJ mol-1 for the cv. 'Goianinha'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Copyright of Sustainability in Debate / Sustentabilidade em Debate is the property of University of Brasilia, Center for Sustainable Development 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.)

Amazonian deforestation from slash‐and‐burn practices is a significant contributor to biomass burning within Brazil. Fires emit carbonaceous aerosols that negatively impact human health by increasing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure. These negative effects on health compound the already detrimental climatological and ecological impacts. Despite high biomass burning emissions in Brazil and the international attention drawn by the relaxation of Amazon protections in 2019, little is known about the health impacts from PM2.5 exposure attributable to these fires. We estimate PM2.5‐related premature deaths in Brazil associated with biomass burning, focusing on temporal, interannual, and spatial trends. We find that during the fire season of 2019, 4,966 (2,427, 8,340) premature deaths were attributable to fire emissions making up 10% (5, 17) of all PM2.5‐related premature deaths in Brazil. Between the 2019 and 2018 seasons, fire emissions increased by 1.37 Tg (1.00, 2.18) or 115% (60, 201), which was responsible for an increase in health impacts of 2,109 (965, 3,623) premature deaths or 74% (54, 98). Biomass burning emissions throughout Brazil contribute significantly to premature deaths, with the largest burning events occurring in northwestern Brazil. The impact of fires on PM2.5‐related premature deaths is highest in heavily populated regions despite their fires being 1 to 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the largest burning events. Results from this study characterize the extent to which elevated PM2.5 exposure levels owing to fires affect public health in Brazil and present an additional, public health‐focused, support for increased Amazon protections. Key Points: The severe health effects of biomass burning in Brazil compound the detrimental climatological and ecological impactsBrazilian biomass burning emissions and health impacts increased by 115% and 74%, respectively, between 2018 and 2019Locations of fires were equally or more impactful to public health in Brazil than emission magnitudes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of implementation of well-designed public policies aimed at the conservation of natural ecosystems has resulted, at a global level, in the decline of ecosystem functioning and, consequently, of the contributions they make to people. The poor enforcement of important environmental legislation in Brazil - for instance, the "Atlantic Forest Law" (Law n.11.428/2006) and the "Forest Code" (Law n.12.651/2012) - could compromise the overall maintenance of ecosystems and the services they provide. To explore the implications of different levels of federal laws' enforcement within the Cantareira System Protected Area (PA) - a PA in southeastern Brazil that provides fresh water for 47% of the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area -, we developed a conceptual framework to identify indirect and direct drives of biodiversity and ecosystem changes. We also projected four land-use scenarios to 2050 to test the effects of deforestation control and forest restoration practices on biodiversity and ecosystem services maintenance: the "business-as-usual" scenario (BAU), which assumes that all trends in land-use cover changes observed in the past will continue in the future, and three alternative exploratory scenarios considering the Atlantic Forest Law implementation, the partial implementation of the Forest Code and the full implementation of the Forest Code. Using the land-use maps generated for each scenario, we assessed the impacts of land-use changes on biodiversity conservation and soil retention. Our results revealed all alternative scenarios could increase biodiversity conservation (by 7%; 12%; and 12%, respectively), reduce soil loss (by 24.70%; 34.70%; and 38.12%, respectively) and sediment exportation to water (by 27.47%; 55.06%; and 59.28%, respectively), when compared to the BAU scenario. Our findings highlight the importance of restoring and conserving native vegetation for the maintenance and improvement of biodiversity conservation and for the provision of ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the efficiency of a synthesized eco-friendly geopolymer (7.5 wt% of coal fly ash incorporated into its composition) as an adsorbent for the removal of Cu(II) from an aqueous solution and a real water matrix. The results obtained were compared with a commercial natural zeolite used as an adsorbent of toxic metals in Brazil. The effect of the operating conditions on the adsorption kinetics and equilibrium were studied in a finite bath and in a fixed bed column. The adsorption kinetics curves obey the pseudo-first-order model for both materials. The geopolymer presented higher adsorption capacity than zeolite, and values for the qmax_geo/qmax_zeo ratio were 1.13, 1.92, and 2.56 at temperatures of 25, 40, and 55 °C, respectively. The isotherms obtained in the thermodynamic study are favorable and spontaneous adsorption process. The adsorption processes are endothermic. The geopolymer showed higher adsorption efficiency than the zeolite in a fixed-bed column, and even with the presence of substances in the natural water sample, the Cu(II) removal capacity of the geopolymer is 3–4 times higher than that of the zeolite. A cost analysis was also performed, the geopolymer was found to be a more economical adsorbent than the commercial zeolite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Aims: We adopted a modeling approach to predict the likely future prevalence of type 2 diabetes, taking into account demographic changes and trends in obesity and smoking in Brazil. We then used the model to estimate the likely future impact of different policy scenarios, such as policies to reduce obesity., Methods: The IMPACT TYPE 2 DIABETES model uses a Markov approach to integrate population, obesity, and smoking trends to estimate future type 2 diabetes prevalence. We developed a model for the Brazilian population from 2006 to 2036. Data on the Brazilian population in relation to sex and age were collected from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and data on the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and smoking were collected from the Surveillance of Risk and Protection Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL)., Results: The observed prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Brazilians aged over 25 years was 10.8% (5.2-14.3%) in 2006, increasing to 13.7% (6.9-18.4%) in 2020. Between 2006 and 2020, the observed prevalence in men increased from 11.0 to 19.1% and women from 10.6 to 21.3%. The model forecasts a dramatic rise in prevalence by 2036 (27.0% overall, 17.1% in men and 35.9% in women). However, if obesity prevalence declines by 1% per year from 2020 to 2036 (Scenario 1), the prevalence of diabetes decreases from 26.3 to 23.7, which represents approximately a 10.0% drop in 16 years. If obesity declined by 5% per year in 16 years as an optimistic target (Scenario 2), the prevalence of diabetes decreased from 26.3 to 21.2, representing a 19.4% drop in diabetes prevalence., Conclusion: The model predicts an increase in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Brazil. Even with ambitious targets to reduce obesity prevalence, type 2 diabetes in Brazil will continue to have a large impact on Brazilian public health., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Moreira, de Arruda Neta, Ferreira, de Araújo, Rodrigues, Lima, Vianna, Silva Neto and O’Flaherty.)

The provision of public services in a Democratic State of Law (DSL) implies to act efficiently and effectively. Public policies need to impact society, contributing to social and economic improvements. This article, due to the existence of gaps in the training of public managers, proposes to discuss interdisciplinarity in the field of Public Administration. Therefore, the general object is to build a model that can contribute to the measurement of the maturity of interdisciplinarity. The work and the proposed model are based basically on the theoretical contributions of Ramos (1996), Maturana (2002) and Japiassu (2006). The proposed model lists five criteria considered sufficient to evaluate the maturity of interdisciplinarity, as well as shows how these criteria can be considered in a weighted way. The concepts that permeate all work are: a) autonomy and complexity of Public Administration; and b) Sociological Reduction. The limitations of the study are related to the boundaries of the public field. It is believed that the proposed model, being generalist, can be used for other areas of knowledge, when interdisciplinarity is considered fundamental. This research leaves the possibility of future studies to understand how Interdisciplinarity occurs in Public Administration courses in Latin America and also as an opportunity to apply the model proposed in other Higher Education Institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to propose a structured model based on a data mining algorithm that can calculate, based on business association (BA) attributes, the probability of micro and small enterprises (MSEs) becoming a new member of a BA. Another goal is the probability of a BA attracting new members. Design/methodology/approach: As a methodological procedure, the authors used the Naive Bayes data mining algorithm. The collected data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively and then used to define the model, which was tested randomly, while allowing for the possibility of future validation. Findings: The findings suggest a structured model based on a data mining algorithm. The model can certainly be used as a management tool for BAs concentrating their efforts on those businesses that are certainly potential new recruits. Further, for an MSE, it serves as a means of evaluating a BA, indicating the possible advantages in becoming a member of a particular association. Research limitations/implications: This paper is not intended to be generalized, considering that it only analyzes the BAs of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In this way, when applying this model to other situations, the attributes listed here can be revised and even modified to adapt to the situation in focus. Practical implications: The use of the proposed model will make it possible to optimize the time of BA managers. It also gives MSE greater reliability in choosing BA. Social implications: Using this model will provide better decision-making and better targeting, thus benefiting both the BAs and the MSEs, which can improve their management and keep jobs. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the literature because it is the first to connect BAs, MSEs and Naive Bayes. Also, this study helps in better management for BA managers in their daily activities and provides a better choice of BA for MSE managers. Also, this study contextualizes BAs, MSEs and data mining in an objective way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Copyright of Anuario do Instituto de Geociencias is the property of Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Geociencias 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.)

Accuracy of geological modeling and understanding of the controlling parameters in sedimentary systems evolution are challenges in both academy and industry. Uncertainty in the prediction of spatial and temporal facies distributions and difficulties in quantitative analysis of controlling parameters are current challenges. To increase geological model certainty and sedimentary process understanding, computational modeling has evolved exponentially during the last 50 years. In this study, 3D stratigraphic forward modeling technique is used to simulate an ancient transgressive barrier system of southern Brazil, deposited during the Lower Permian in the Paraná Basin, upper part of the Rio Bonito Formation. In the study area, the depositional systems are part of a large transgressive cycle that includes fluvial-estuarine facies at the base and barrier-lagoon deposits (associated with the development of salt marshes) at the top. Throughout the region, offshore strata cover the barrier-lagoon facies. The simulation successfully represented the retrograde evolution of the coastal barrier system, with longshore currents as the main transport mechanism of sediments. The evolution of the barrier system started with upper shoreface deposits overlying the lagoon system facies in the south. Later, lower shoreface sediments covered upper shoreface deposits. Then, shoreline migration continued landward. Finally, offshore transition deposits covered all previous deposits. Simulations and tests of controlling parameters allowed an adjustment to actual thickness and lithologies up to 83%. These simulations allowed for the analysis of model sensitivity, in particular to the influence of parameters that control sedimentary evolution. The main controlling parameter was sediment supply (volume and composition), followed by time step. Initial bathymetry and sediment velocity had less of an impact. • Retrogradation of a barrier system was simulated by 3D stratigraphic forward modeling. • Parameter tests increased similarity between simulated and conceptual model. • Best-fit model reached up to 83% of similarity with the conceptual model. • The most influential parameter in the barrier system simulation was sediment supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlled release of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the soil and atmosphere is performed to test detection and monitoring tools, for which several field laboratories were established by a number of institutions worldwide. Numerical simulations of CO2 behavior in the shallow subsurface region are other forms of validation and verification of the leakage pathways and destinations. These studies aim to improve monitoring and verification of CO2 in case of unexpected leakages for public assurance. In this work, we present the results of a numerical modeling study conducted to simulate the injection of CO2 as carried out during a field test in Viamão, southern Brazil, where 20 kg day–1 of CO2 was pumped for 30 days through a vertical well 3 m below ground in an altered granitic soil. Multiphase flow simulations were performed with the TOUGH2/EOS7CA software for unsaturated porous media, using field data and injection parameters, including sensitivity tests to permeability direction, diffusivity, and boundary conditions. Results with increased horizontal permeabilities are in better agreement with the field observations. In this condition, mass balance calculations indicate approximately 90% of injected CO2 (20 kg day–1 during 30 days) remains in the soil after 180 days from injection start, consistent with the measured flow through the soil–atmosphere interface. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anuario do Instituto de Geociencias is the property of Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Geociencias 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 term landscape has a large number of applications and meanings in geography, constituting a key concept for this science. In this work a compartmentalization synthesis was proposed for the landscapes of the upper reaches of the Canhoto River watershed, Pernambuco, in the morphostructural domain of the Borborema Highlands. The research focus seeks to contribute to the discussions concerning the analysis and evolution of the Brazilian semi-arid landscapes. The applied methodology was based on an adaptation of geosystemic cartography, to the physiographic context of eastern Northeast of Brazil. Five landscapes systems were identified that show particular dynamism and respond to their own controls. It was observed that the variation of the structural elements of these systems corresponds to changes in the environmental attributes, resulting in the formation of exceptional landscapes within the semi-arid regional context. Also, it was observed that the morphology of the landscapes in question also reflects the surface accumulation of paleoclimatic transformations occurring along the Holocene. It is concluded that the methodology of geosystemic cartographic modeling represents an important tool for describing the landscape for geomorphological purposes, constituting also an efficient mechanism of environmental analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the typical values of unimpeded walking speed of primary school children in descending movement in stairs, the differences on walking speeds on the flights and landings and the impact of anthropometrical data (weight, height and bideltoid) in the walking speed of a children population are presented. The experiments were carried out with students of three primary schools in Brazil (ages 6 to 10). The objective was to get data to be used in evacuation modelling, free from influencing factors that can be found in data from fire drills, such as speed reduction due to crowds or adults controlling the flow. A new method of calculating walking routes in stairs was adopted in order to retrieve the walking speeds. Anthropometrical characteristics or age were not determinant for students' movement in free walking condition in this study. The mean value of speed obtained was 1.02 m/s on landings and 0.85 m/s on flights. The coefficients of variation (greater than 20 %) show that the distribution of values are quite wide, demonstrating a large dispersion of individual values. The reduction factor on flights for children, obtained in this study (0.81–0.9) is higher than those adopted in simulation models in general today (0.5–0.8). • Walking speeds were not dependent of age or anthropometric characteristics in this sample. • The high variability of walking speeds was caused by the non-homogenous behavior of individuals along the travel route. • The highest walking speeds obtained on stairs are higher than those adopted in simulation models, for slope angle of 30°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In Brazil, though Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is available to all, the benefits may not be experienced uniformly. We projected Life Expectancy (LE) for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in care as currently observed and estimated the impact of guideline-concordant care., Methods: Using a microsimulation model, we projected LE for a cohort of PLHIV and for four population groups: cisgender Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), cisgender Men who have Sex with Women (MSW), Cisgender Women (CGW), and Transgender Women (TGW). Cohort data from Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases/Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (INI/Fiocruz) informed model parameters. We modeled five scenarios: 1) Current care: ART initiation, adherence, and retention in care as currently observed, 2) Guideline-concordant care: immediate ART initiation, full adherence to treatment, and consistent retention in care, 3) Immediate ART initiation with observed adherence to treatment and retention in care, 4) Full adherence to treatment with observed timing of ART initiation and retention in care, and 5) Consistent retention in care with observed timing of ART initiation and adherence., Results: With current care, LE from age 15 would be 45.9, 44.4, 54.2, and 42.3 years, for MSM, MSW, CGW, and TGW. With guideline-concordant care, LE would be 54.2, 54.4, 63.1, and 53.2 years, for MSM, MSW, CGW and TGW, with TGW experiencing the greatest potential increase in LE (10.9 years). When investigating the components of care separately, MSW and CGW would gain most LE with immediate ART initiation, whereas for MSM and TGW consistent retention in care would be most impactful., Conclusions: In settings like INI/Fiocruz, MSW and CGW would benefit most from interventions focused on earlier diagnosis and linkage to care, whereas TGW and MSM would benefit from interventions to sustain engagement in care. Assessment of the HIV care continuum for specific populations should inform care priorities., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Sociedade Brasileira de Infectologia. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

SERPENS mission involves research and development of nanosatellites and is inserted in a set of activities carried on by Brazilian universities in the scope of strategies coordinated by AEB (Brazilian Space agency). The first satellite of a series, SERPENS-1, was put into orbit in September 2015, retiring in March 2016. SERPENS-2 mission is currently being designed. The experiments to be carried out in SERPENS-2 are: X and Gamma rays detection; South Atlantic magnetic anomaly detection and testing of a pulsed plasma thruster. Each experiment is related to the attitude. This paper is concerned with the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) design of a 3U CubeSat. A proposal of ADCS for SERPENS-II mission is described concerning both the mission and the attitude requirements. The modeling of the satellite and of its attitude dynamics is preliminarily studied considering the proposed ADCS. Results of the first control mode (de-tumbling) are presented and meet the requirements, as expected. An initial development of the second control mode is also evaluated: an attitude regulator in the local horizontal local vertical frame, with pure magnetic actuation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing throughput during the mining cycle operation frequently generates significant capital gains for a company. However, it is necessary to evaluate plant capacity and expand it for obtaining the required throughput increase. Therefore, studies including different scenarios, installation of new equipment and/or optimization of existing ones are required. This study describes the sampling methodology, sample characterization, modeling and simulation of Mineração Serra Grande industrial grinding circuit, an AngloGold Ashanti company, located in Crixás, State of Goiás, Brazil. The studied scenarios were: (1) adding a third ball mill in series with existing two ball mills, (2) adding a third ball mill in parallel with existing mills, (3) adding a vertical mill in series with existing mills and (4) adding high pressure grinding rolls to existing mills. The four simulations were carried out for designing the respective circuit, assessing the interference with existing equipment and installations, as well as comparing the energy consumption among the selected expansion alternatives. Apart from the HPGR alternative, all other three simulations resulted in the required P80 and capacity. Among the three selected simulations, the Vertimill alternative showed the smallest installed power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian Environmental Authority (IBAMA) has recently identified soil organisms as a priority area for risk assessment development for plant protection products. This includes consideration of which species in soil fauna are important to be tested for risk assessment purposes, which ecotoxicological tests should be used, and which exposure models would be suitable, considering Brazilian soils, local agricultural practices, and local biodiversity. In this brief communication, we present proposals and recommendations for the selection of appropriate regulatory exposure assessment techniques to support initial or foundation tier assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:862-869. © 2022 FMC Corporation, Syngenta, Adama, Bayer AG, BASF SE. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)., (© 2022 FMC Corporation, Syngenta, Adama, Bayer AG, BASF SE. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).)

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Brazil remain disproportionately affected by HIV. We estimated the potential incidence reduction by five years with increased uptake of publicly-funded, daily, oral tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among MSM using the Cost Effectiveness of Preventing AIDS Complications microsimulation model. We used national data, local studies, and literature to inform model parameters for three cities: Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Manaus., Results: In Rio de Janero, a PrEP intervention achieving 10% uptake within 60 months would decrease incidence by 2.3% whereas achieving 60% uptake within 24 months would decrease incidence by 29.7%; results were similar for Salvador and Manaus. In sensitivity analyses, decreasing mean age at PrEP initiation from 33 to 21 years increased incidence reduction by 34%; a discontinuation rate of 25% per year decreased it by 12%., Conclusion: Targeting PrEP to young MSM and minimizing discontinuation could substantially increase PrEP's impact., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Common bean production in Goiás, Brazil is concentrated in the same geographic area, but spread across three distinct growing seasons, namely, wet, dry and winter. In the wet and dry seasons, common beans are grown under rainfed conditions, whereas the winter sowing is fully irrigated. The conventional breeding program performs all varietal selection stages solely in the winter season, with rainfed environments being incorporated in the breeding scheme only through the multi environment trials (METs) where basically only yield is recorded. As yield is the result of many interacting processes, it is challenging to determine the events (abiotic or biotic) associated with yield reduction in the rainfed environments (wet and dry seasons). To improve our understanding of rainfed dry bean production so as to produce information that can assist breeders in their efforts to develop stress-tolerant, high-yielding germplasm, we characterized environments by integrating weather, soil, crop and management factors using crop simulation models. Crop simulations based on two commonly grown cultivars (Pérola and BRS Radiante) and statistical analyses of simulated yield suggest that both rainfed seasons, wet and dry, can be divided in two groups of environments: highly favorable environment and favorable environment. For the wet and dry seasons, the highly favorable environment represents 44% and 58% of production area, respectively. Across all rainfed environment groups, terminal and/or reproductive drought stress occurs in roughly one fourth of the seasons (23.9% for Pérola and 24.7% for Radiante), with drought being most limiting in the favorable environment group in the dry TPE. Based on our results, we argue that even though drought-tailoring might not be warranted, the common bean breeding program should adapt their selection practices to the range of stresses occurring in the rainfed TPEs to select genotypes more suitable for these environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of JBES: Brazilian Journal of Health Economics / Jornal Brasileiro de Economia da Saúde is the property of JBES: Brazilian Journal of Health Economics 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.)

Soil compaction is a threat to crop yield, but mechanical decompaction operations increase soil degradation risk and crop costs. The decision about soil management practices that minimize yield loss depends on the impact of soil compaction on crop yield. However, the relationship between soil compaction and crop yield is affected by rainfall pattern, which changes over the years. Long-term effect of soil compaction in crop yield is wide unknown, and fill this gap is crucial for adjust soil management to improve soil conservation and increase crop yield. To evaluate the impact of soil compaction on soybean yield over 30 crop seasons using DSSAT CSM-CROPGRO-Soybean model. Soybean yield was simulated in hypothetical soil profiles of sandy loam, silty loam and clay soils and 12 scenarios of soil compaction (contrasting scenarios - from a whole compacted profile to one compacted layer). We also set two hypothetical reduced rooting depths and three levels of reduced root proliferation due to soil compaction by changing the soil root growth factor parameter to mimic the mechanical stress effect on root growth on DSSAT. Simulations were carried out with data (1990 to 2020) from a weather station located in Southern Brazil and with soybean genetic parameters calibrated for the same region. The reduction in soybean yield due to soil compaction estimated by DSSAT was lower than 0.1 Mg ha−1 in simulations with well-distributed rainfall (every 2 weeks or shorter) but it reached 4.1 Mg ha−1 in simulations with periods without rainfall longer than 2 weeks. The simulated cumulative reduction in soybean yield over 30 years due to soil compaction reached up to 39% of the potential yield, of which 77% was associated with the decrease in rooting depth and 21% with the reduction in soil water availability. Thus, a reliable overview of the effect of soil compaction on soybean yield should consider the interactions between soil, plant and weather variables. This work presents a strategy based on DSSAT simulations to assess the relation between crop yield and soil compaction, which is a worldwide demand still fed with scarce data. Researchers, farmers, technicians and decision makers can replicate and improve this strategy to simulate the negative impact of soil compaction on soybean yield and many other crops, which can assist them to adjust management practices to minimize soil degradation and reduce yield gaps. [Display omitted] • Soil compaction decreases potential water supply, but crops yield loss in compacted soil also depends on rainfall pattern. • DSSAT was used to predict 30-year soybean yield in different soil compaction scenarios with variable rainfall pattern data. • By limiting water accessibility and availability, soil compaction can reduce about 79% and 21% of soybean yield, respectively. • Soybean yield gap associated with soil compaction cumulated over 30 years reached up to 39% of potential yield. • Results can help farmers decide on decompaction practices that reduce soil degradation and improve yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newer methods of management and harvesting of sugarcane are being considered to improve soil and water conservation in Brazil. Our aim in this study was to evaluate soil C dynamics under sugarcane cultivation as influenced by the use of conservation management, using measurements from four different management systems and land use histories, i.e. conventional management with preharvest burning, no burning with residue retention and two systems without burning plus additional organic amendments. Field sites also differed in terms of soil texture. We compared field measurements of soil C stocks, 13C and microbial biomass with simulated results from the Century ecosystem model for each of the sites and management histories. We also did long-term simulations of the management treatments and sites to approximate steady-state SOC levels, to explore potential management-induced differences in SOC stocks and interactions with soil texture. The model accurately represented treatment and site differences for total SOC stocks, in which SOC stocks were strongly affected by both rates of organic matter input to soil and soil clay content. However, the model tended to underestimate the relative contribution of sugarcane-derived C to total SOC for sites with high residue and external organic matter amendments. Measured microbial biomass C across the sites was closely aligned with relative amounts of organic matter input but did not appear to be strongly affected by soil texture, whereas the model predicted that both texture and organic matter input rate would impact microbial biomass C. Long-term simulations of the conservation management alternatives suggested that SOC stocks could be maintained at or above levels in the original native Cerradão vegetation, whereas conventional practices using residue burning would result in a reduction of SOC to ca. 60% of native levels. Our results support the use of the CENTURY model as an aid to assess the impacts of different soil management practices on SOC stocks under sugarcane in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jaguarí river basin has outstanding importance in the national scenario for being located between the largest industrial and population centers in the country and for the process that involves the management of its water resources. The main purpose of the basin's reservoirs is to supply water to the population of the metropolitan region of São Paulo, and before that, there are pressures and conflicts between the different actors interested in water resources, as well as creating protection policies, establishing the need for sustainable use conservation units, support environmental protection policies, resulting in proposals for nature conservation measures and promotion of the population's quality of life. Hydrological models represent an alternative to verify the impacts resulting from anthropic actions in water availability and production of sediments in large hydrographic basins. The models can simulate/indicate how changes in the environment are reflected in the hydro sedimentological balance of a basin. This study aims to assess soil loss in the Jaguari River basin using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to determine quantity and quality of the sediment production, the loss of soil, and resulting impacts to the Jaguarí River basin. Calibration and validation were performed to verify the suitability of the model and the spatialization of the factors that make up the Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE). The SWAT model proved to be suitable for the simulation of sediments; although the basin does not present a large area with potential for erosion risk, conservation measures can be taken to effectively control soil loss in susceptible areas. The average soil loss in the basin was 1.71 Mg ha−1 year−1 and the simulated and observed Sediment Delivery Rate (SDR) was 5.5% and 4.7%, respectively. • The SWAT proved to be suitable for sediment simulation in the Jaguarí River basin. • MUSLE factors allow the verification of the regions most susceptible to erosion. • The Sediment Delivery Rate are a great indicator for assessing the sediment load. • Urban areas contribute with 86.20% of soil loss. • The classes responsible for the greatest loss of soil are agriculture/pasture [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper focuses on organizational change through the business process management approach. While “business process modeling” permits understanding process activities and their activities with other participants, “current reality tree (CRT)” technique promotes the identification of process constraints. The purpose of this study is to compare the results from applying both diagnostic techniques, process modeling, using the business process modeling notation, and root cause analysis, using the CRT. Design/methodology/approach – The comparison is made using a pre-experiment in which two teams conducted diagnoses concomitantly in the information technology management (ITM) process of one unit of the biggest and prestigious higher education institution (HEI) in Brazil. Findings – The modeling technique and the CRT should be considered complementary techniques, since applying one does not diminish or exclude the importance of using the other. Results were compared analyzing which dimensions of the process each technique highlighted: strategy, organization, activity/information and resources. Research limitations/implications – A possible limitation of this research is that the experiment was conducted in a single process and the result cannot be generalized to other processes. Practical implications – It may be noted that the main contribution of this study is the presentation of the steps of two techniques for process diagnosis. It is expected that with the reports on diagnoses outcomes, team's assessment and the perception of the managers presented here other improvement teams may use the results of this research as an inspiration to perform process diagnosis, and as basis for decision making to define which technique to use according to the specific needs of process improvement. Originality/value – The paper stands out the comparison of the technique application's outcomes. This study offers valuable insights to the organizations that are interested in restructuring their processes. It delineates many important benefits of such a diagnosis techniques. It also identifies possible pitfalls and recommends guidelines for the successful conduction of process diagnoses initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental - Agriambi is the property of Revista Brasileira de Engenharia Agricola e Ambiental 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.)

High impedance faults (HIFs) are serious and troubling disturbances on power distribution systems because the main power system protection devices are usually not able to diagnose them accurately due to the low fault current levels. This paper presents the detailing of field experiments and modeling of HIF. A literature review of models of HIF was made and it was proposed to use a model known in the literature with some adjustments. With the model, based on actual records obtained at different contact surfaces, it was possible to obtain a set of simulated records representing the most important features found in most of the HIF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Silva Lusitana is the property of Unidade de Investigacao de Silvicultura e Productos Florestais 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.)