Search

This paper introduces a digital microfluidic (DMF) platform for portable, automated, and integrated Zika viral RNA extraction and amplification. The platform features reconfigurable DMF cartridges offering a closed, humidified environment for sample processing at elevated temperatures, as well as programmable control instrumentation with a novel thermal cycling unit regulated using a proportional integral derivative (PID) feedback loop. The system operates on 12 V DC power, which can be supplied by rechargeable battery packs for remote testing. The DMF system was optimized for an RNA processing pipeline consisting of the following steps: 1) magnetic-bead based RNA extraction from lysed plasma samples, 2) RNA clean-up, and 3) integrated, isothermal amplification of Zika RNA. The DMF pipeline was coupled to a paper-based, colorimetric cell-free protein expression assay for amplified Zika RNA mediated by toehold switch-based sensors. Blinded laboratory evaluation of Zika RNA spiked in human plasma yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 75% respectively. The platform was then transported to Recife, Brazil for evaluation with infectious Zika viruses, which were detected at the 100 PFU mL−1 level from a 5 μL sample (equivalent to an RT-qPCR cycle threshold value of 32.0), demonstrating its potential as a sample processing platform for miniaturized diagnostic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Although SARS‐CoV‐2 surface contamination has been investigated in health care settings, little is known about the SARS‐CoV‐2 surface contamination in public urban areas, particularly in tropical countries. Here, we investigated the presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 on high‐touch surfaces in a large city in Brazil, one of the most affected countries by the COVID‐19 pandemic in the world. A total of 400 surface samples were collected in February 2021 in the City of Recife, Northeastern Brazil. A total of 97 samples (24.2%) tested positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 by RT‐qPCR using the CDC‐USA protocol. All the collection sites, except one (18/19, 94.7%) had at least one environmental surface sample contaminated. SARS‐CoV‐2 positivity was higher in public transport terminals (47/84, 55.9%), followed by health care units (26/84, 30.9%), beach areas (4/21, 19.0%), public parks (14/105, 13.3%), supply centre (2/21, 9.5%), and public markets (4/85, 4.7%). Toilets, ATMs, handrails, playgrounds and outdoor gyms were identified as fomites with the highest rates of SARS‐CoV‐2 detection. Taken together, our data provide a real‐world picture of SARS‐CoV‐2 dispersion in highly populated tropical areas and identify critical control points that need to be targeted to break SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work seeks to point out forms of Folk political communication using appropriation of digital media by popular groups, focusing on informal communication processes. The objective is to verify how the City of Recife uses the social network to interact with readersinternet users on the progress with the vaccination against COVID-19 of the population of Recife. It is in the appropriation of elements of folk culture by mass culture that we find the use of social networks as a vehicle for political folk communication by the City of Recife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Copyright of Revista 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.)

The current study investigated the effects of increase chronic anthropogenic disturbance (people pressure; grazing pressure and wood extraction), decreased precipitation, and the interaction of these factors on endemic bird species in the largest Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest found in South America, the Caatinga. The study was conducted in Catimbau National Park, Pernambuco, Brazil. We sampled endemic birds in 20 plots distributed across gradients of chronic anthropogenic disturbance and precipitation, through standardized censuses. We found isolated negative effects of people pressure and wood extraction on the richness and abundance of endemic birds. On the other hand, the number of species and individuals of birds were positively affected by the interactive effects of high precipitation levels and intense grazing. Species were affected and responded differently to the isolated and interactive effects of chronic anthropogenic disturbance predictors and precipitation. Our results demonstrated that different sources of chronic anthropogenic disturbances and decreases in precipitation regimes have pervasive effects on birds endemic to the Caatinga. In addition, they demonstrate the importance of well managed protected areas for the preservation and conservation of natural habitats and maintenance of biodiversity. • The interactive effect between increase grazing and precipitation results in greater richness and abundance of endemic birds. • Increase wood extraction has a negative effect on the richness and abundance of endemic birds even in wetter areas. • The chronic anthropogenic disturbance acted differently for each bird species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infiltration trenches are compensatory techniques that consist of a reservoir filled with granular material. Their function is to store and infiltrate runoff water generated by rainfall. The objective of this work was to evaluate the hydraulic performance and model the water dynamics of an infiltration trench installed in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. For each event, the response time of the infiltration system, the percentage of the infiltrated volume and the dynamics of water storage processes were analyzed as a function of rainfall events. The Puls method was used to model the events. The monitoring data demonstrated that the infiltration trench had a positive performance, infiltrating a large part of the drained volume, even with system overflows. The analyzed events presented an average emptying time of 6 days. The infiltration trench achieved its objective of decreasing the volume drained on the surface. The application of the Puls method in simulations of the monitored events showed satisfactory results in the statistical criteria coefficient of determination, deviation ratio and coefficient of residual mass, obtaining efficient adjustments, apart from a few exceptions. This study allowed us to prove the positive contribution of the trench to the water budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian semiarid region is subjected to irregular rainfall, prolonged droughts, and high temperatures, hampering the surface water accumulation. The water access is restricted to the alluvium in the valleys, which are used for cattle and poultry livestock development. These activities trigger the excessive use of veterinary antibiotics. As a consequence, antibiotics reach sediment surfaces and promote deterioration of groundwater quality. This work aims to evaluate the sorption potential of Sulfadiazine (SDZ) and to understand the dynamics of water transfer and solute transport processes in a typical alluvial deposit of the Capibaribe River, in the Agreste of Pernambuco. The sedimentological characterization was performed by Miall's Code, defining four lithofacies (Scm, Scm,b, Gcm,o, Scm,o). Kinetics and isotherms experiments allowed the analyses of SDZ sorption. Kinetics sorption showed an equilibrium tendency after 40 h and was better described by a second-order model, while isotherm sorption data were better fitted by the Freundlich model. According to the particle size distribution curve, Scm had the highest number of fine particles and organic matter, affecting interaction of SDZ in sediments. Consequently, SDZ sorption was slightly higher in this lithofacies. However, overall, SDZ sorption was low, thereby offering a real risk of groundwater contamination. For further investigation the dynamics of water transfer and solute transport in a heterogeneous alluvial deposit were simulated with the HYDRUS-2D. The structural heterogeneity influenced the spatial distribution of water storage under unsaturated conditions and provided the emergence of preferential flows. The solute dynamic follow a similar behavior of the water flow, due to the low retention of SDZ in the soil. Considering a condition near to saturation, the contrast of hydraulic and transport properties influences simultaneously in the processes of water transfer and solute transport. • This study determined the kinetics and isotherms sorption of Sulfadiazine (SDZ) in sediments from an alluvial deposit. • Sulfadiazine showed a higher affinity with the sediment with the most significant organic matter amount and clay content. • The results showed that SDZ offers a real risk of groundwater contamination due to its low sorption. • According to the simulations, the advance of the wetting front is disturbed by the presence of heterogeneities. • The structural heterogeneity impacts the solute transport processes in an alluvial deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian oil spill, from August 2019 to January 2020, was considered the most extensive accident in tropical oceans. We estimated the concentration of oil droplets that may be available for ingestion by microzooplankton. The collection was carried out in three areas: estuarine plume, bay and reef (Tamandaré, Pernambuco coast). We highlight the contribution of coral larvae in the reef region, surpassing the copepods, evidencing a spawning event. Oil droplets were recorded in all the sampled areas, with a high numerical abundance in the plume. Traces of oil ingestion by Brachyura zoea and Calanoida, Paracalanidae and Oithonidae copepods were observed, suggesting that these groups might have an important role in the degradation and final destination of oil dispersed after spills. The vulnerability of the larval phases of crabs and reef-building corals has been hypothesized, suggesting that the negative effects of oil on zooplankton can affect the recruitment of benthic invertebrates. • A fraction of the oil is fragmented in important tropical coastal ecosystems. • The estuarine plume may be a long-term source of oil for coastal and marine systems. • Traces of ingestion of oil were observed in microzooplankton organisms. • Vulnerability of larval phases of benthic organisms (crabs and corals) was shown. • Baseline time-series data are urgently needed for all tropical coastal ecosystems affected by the oil spill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple epicenters of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have emerged since the first pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China, such as Italy, USA, and Brazil. Brazil is the third-most affected country worldwide, but genomic sequences of SARS-CoV-2 strains are mostly restricted to states from the Southeast region. Pernambuco state, located in the Northeast region, is the sixth most affected Brazilian state, but very few genomic sequences from the strains circulating in this region are available. We sequenced 101 strains of SARS-CoV-2 from patients presenting Covid-19 symptoms that reside in Pernambuco. Phylogenetic reconstructions revealed that all genomes belong to the B lineage and most of the samples (88%) were classified as lineage B.1.1. We detected multiple viral introductions from abroad (likely from Europe) as well as six local B.1.1 clades composed by Pernambuco only strains. Local clades comprise sequences from the capital city (Recife) and other country-side cities, corroborating the community spread between different municipalities of the state. These findings demonstrate that different from Southeastern Brazilian states where the epidemics were majorly driven by one dominant lineage (B.1.1.28 or B.1.1.33), the early epidemic phase at the Pernambuco state was driven by multiple B.1.1 lineages seeded through both national and international traveling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian semiarid is one of the most populous regions in the world. The main income for populations in this region is agricultural production, which in turn is limited by climatic and soil conditions. This region has environmental and economic correlations with underdeveloped regions in northwestern Africa, displaying soil surface with monotonous landscapes of smooth undulating relief with large extensions of Planosols. Climatic conditions that lead to the formation of poorly developed soils and to losses of surface layers make these soils susceptible to degradation. In the Brazilian semiarid, lithology shows that felsic rocks are the main factor in pedogenesis of Planosols, conferring the main physical, chemical, and mineralogical attributes to the soil. In this study, we evaluated the pedogenesis by weathering of gneisses (felsic rocks) in two profiles of Planosols in the Cabrobó Desertification Nucleus, Pernambuco State, northeast Brazil, highlighting the role of the parent material in the soil intrinsic characteristics in the pedogenetic processes. The primary assemblage and pedological features were determined by optical microscopy in thin sections of the A, B, and C horizons from the two soil profiles. The secondary assemblage was identified by X-ray diffractometry using the technique: SEM-scanning electron microscopy. Clay formation in situ , colluvial contribution, and elutriation process contributed to the formation of the gradient textural in both Planosols, with no evidence of argilluviation. For total regolith profile, acidic metamorphic rocks present high structural variability directly influencing the evolution of saprolites, the alteration of primary minerals, and the formation routes of secondary minerals. The secondary assemblage was rather similar and comprised illite, smectite, and kaolinite in both regoliths. The saprolite inclination in P1 favors water movement in relation to P2. The regolith in P1 shows greater mineral alteration with increased pedogenic development. • The structural differences in the saprolites, influenced the formation of regoliths. • The argillation, colluvial contribution and elutriation were important processes drives in gradient textural formation. • Low availability of K was attributed to the new formation of illites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]