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Este artigo tem por objetivo avaliar a capacidade de uso da terra na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Santo Antônio (BHSA), visando subsidiar medidas de planejamento para atividades agropecuárias. Para a elaboração do mapa de capacidade de uso da terra, realizou-se a reclassificação e sobreposição ponderada dos dados em formato raster, no software ArcGIS, para os fatores declividade e solo. A aplicação da capacidade de uso da terra possibilitou a identificação de três grupos e oito classes, sendo que três classes possibilitam o uso agrícola intensivo, moderado e com restrição. Já para quatro classes, recomenda-se o uso do solo para a pastagem, reflorestamento ou manutenção da cobertura vegetal, havendo, ainda, uma classe especial para os Neossolos Quartzarênicos, por conta de sua alta fragilidade à erosão. A partir da sobreposição dessas informações em ambientes SIG, os resultados corroboram que a maior parte dessa bacia corresponde à classe IV, que compreende boa aptidão para o cultivo de pastagem. Esta área se encontra apta para o uso agropecuário, no entanto, os resultados demonstraram que as características físicas deverão ser observadas com mais cautela, principalmente no que diz respeito aos solos e ao relevo, pois apresentaram grande fragilidade, caso sejam ocupados de forma inadequada quanto a sua capacidade.

ABSTRACT Brucellosis is an important bacterial disease of global distribution with zoonotic potencial. Serological tests used in Brazil for diagnosis of bovine brucellosis, including the Rose Bengal test (RBT), 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), fluorescent polarization (FPA), and complement fixation (FC), are based on the smooth lipopolysaccharide antigen (S-LPS) of Brucella abortus. The aim of this study was to evaluate a recombinant BP26 protein used as antigen in a rapid lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (rBP26-LFIA) for serological diagnosis of bovine brucellosis. Analytical performance of rBP26-LFIA was evaluated in positive and negative bovine serum samples previously characterized by RBT and 2-ME. Estimates of analytical sensitivity and specificity were 73.91% and 97.14%, respectively. Bovine sera reactive to Neospora, Trypanosoma vivax or Leptospira were used to assess specificity because these diseases are commonly associated with abortion in cattle. In addition to a possible cross-reaction induced by commercial vaccines against Leptospira in serological tests for bovine brucellosis using S-LPS as an antigen. In conclusion, rBP26-LFIA, with its current standardization, had good analytical performance. However, a future evaluation of diagnostic performance by rBP26-LFIA with samples from regions with known prevalence is necessary for its recommendation for use in the Brazilian program for the control and eradication of bovine brucellosis.

Consumer preference and acceptance surveys associated with genetic improvement programs contribute to greater acceptance of new cultivars, in the competitive and dynamic ornamental plants market. Thus, the present work aimed to evaluate Brazilian habits related to the home cul- tivation of Capsicum spp. and preferences regarding four pre-cultivars of ornamental pepper, and the relationship with different socioeconomic factors. A virtual questionnaire containing 18 multiple-choice questions was shared by the authors in their contact networks, via social media and email. The responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The influence of socioeconomic factors on the respondents’ habits and preferences was analyzed using the Chi-Square test. The survey included 1045 respondents from all Brazilian states, of all age groups, income levels and education levels. It was found that home cultivation of peppers is widespread throughout Brazil, in rural and urban areas, mostly in pots. Ornamental peppers were widely ac- cepted among men and women of all income classes. Although a greater preference was observed for white flowers and elongated, triangular fruits, with five stages of maturity, regional, social, and economic differences influenced the choice for these attributes. Greater acceptance was also observed for the medium vessel (2 dm3) and the hybrid HPO 03. After registration, this will be an important technological product adapted to Brazilian conditions.

This paper describes the Santos Basin Underwater Soundscape Monitoring Project (PMPAS-BS), a Brazilian ocean soundscape monitoring initiative. The main objective of the project is to quantify and assess hydroacoustic noise of anthropogenic origin in a large sedimentary basin extending from 23° S to 28° S on the southeastern Brazilian continental margin of the South Atlantic Ocean. Noise associated with oil and gas (O&G) exploration and production activities is the primary target, but this oceanic region also has busy shipping lanes for commercial, military, and fishing vessels. The two main hubs of Brazil’s export and import of goods by sea are located in this region: Santos and Rio de Janeiro ports. The project has three measurement components: mobile monitoring based on gliders and drifting acoustic profilers, fixed shallow-water monitoring based on acoustic measurements at coastal stations near shipping lanes associated with exploration and production activities in the Santos Basin, and fixed oceanic monitoring based on deep-water mooring lines equipped with passive autonomous acoustic recorders near production units, shipping lanes, and areas with lower intensity of O&G activities (pristine or reference sites). Numerical modeling of anthropogenic underwater acoustic noise has also been included as a fourth project component. The PMPAS-BS covers an area of more than 251,000 km2 and uses several instruments with different methods and sensors for acoustic measurements. Its results provide current sound levels over a very large region of the western South Atlantic, both in areas more and less affected by anthropogenic activities.

Abstract: In the Extreme South of Bahia, in the Municipality of Ibirapuã, under irrigation, the productive performance of 20 varieties of sweet orange trees, with different maturation times, was evaluated, with the main focus on the orange trees ‘Pera’ (18 clones), ‘Valencia’ (18 clones) and ‘Natal’ (five clones), totaling 58 tops varieties. The rootstocks used were the mandarin tree ‘Sunki Tropical’ and the citrandarins ‘Indio’, ‘Riverside’ and ‘San Diego’. Each top/rootstock combination, totaling 232, was represented by five plants, observing a planting spacing of 6 m x 3 m. The experiment was implemented on April 21, 2015. The tops Pera Selection CNPMF A15; ‘Pera C-21’; Pera Selection CNPMF D3; ‘Pera D25’; ‘Pera CNPMF E-6’; Pera Selection CNPMF CE-03; Pera Selection Olímpia; ‘Pera Bianchi’; Pera Selection Vacinada; Pera Selection Ipeal-E3; Pera Selection Ibotirama; ‘Valencia CNPMF Montemorelos’; ‘Natal CNPMF-112’; Selection Berna, Selection F-Menuda; ‘BRS Sincorá’; ‘Aquiri’; Selection Early Oblong; Selection Russas P.S.; ‘Seleta Itaboraí’; ‘Pineapple’ and ‘Westin’ were more productive on the ‘Sunki Tropical’ rootstock. The tops Pera Selection Ibotirama; Valencia Selection CNPMF 02; Valencia Selection CNPMF 03; ‘Valencia CNPMF-27’; Valencia Selection CNPMF 36; Valencia Selection L. White; ‘Natal CNPMF 112’; Selection Berna; ‘Aquiri’; Selection Early Oblong; ‘Salustiana’; ‘Diva’ and ‘Hamlin 20’ were more productive on the ‘San Diego’ rootstock. The tops Pera Selection CNPMF 02; Pera Selection CNPMF C-32; ‘Pera CNPMF D-6’; ‘Pera D25’; Pera Selection Olímpia; Valencia Selection CNPMF 01; Valencia Selection CNPMF 02; Valencia Selection CNPMF; ‘Valencia CNPMF 27’; Valencia Selection CNPMF 36; Valencia Selection CNPMF-F11; Valencia Selection Chapman; ‘Valencia CNPMF Montemorelos’; ‘Valencia CNPMF Tuxpan’; Natal Selection CNPMF 02; Natal Selection Ipeal; ‘Natal CNPMF 112’; Selection F-Menuda, ‘Seleta Itaboraí’; ‘Salustiana’; ‘Pineapple’; ‘Hamlin 20’ and ‘MelRosa’ were more productive on the ‘Riverside’ rootstock. The tops Pera Selection CNPMF A15; ‘Pera D25’; Pera Selection Ipeal E3; Valencia Selection CNPMF 01; Valencia Selection CNPMF 02; Valencia Selection CNPMF; Valencia Selection CNPMF 36; Valencia Selection CNPMF-F11;Valencia Selection Delta; Valencia Selection Chapman; ‘Valencia CNPMF Montemorelos’;Valencia Selection Registro; ‘Valencia CNPMF Tuxpan’; Valencia Selection CNPMF21; Natal Selection CNPMF 01; ‘Natal CNPMF 112’; Selection Berna; ‘Aquiri’; ‘Diva’ and‘Hamlin 20’were more productive on the ‘Indio’ rootstock.

Abstract Here, we analyze critical changes in environmental law enforcement in the Brazilian Amazon between 2000 and 2020. Based on a dataset of law enforcement indicators, we discuss how these changes explain recent Amazon deforestation dynamics. Our analysis also covers changes in the legal prosecution process and documents a militarization of enforcement between 2018 and 2022. From 2004 to 2018, 43.6 thousand land-use embargoes and 84.3 thousand fines were issued, targeting 3.3 million ha of land, and totaling USD 9.3 billion in penalties. Nevertheless, enforcement relaxed and became spatially more limited, signaling an increasing lack of commitment by the State to enforcing the law. The number of embargoes and asset confiscations dropped by 59% and 55% in 2019 and 2020, respectively. These changes were accompanied by a marked increase in enforcement expenditure, suggesting a massive efficiency loss. More importantly, the creation of so-called conciliation hearings and the centralization of legal processes in 2019 reduced the number of actual judgments and fines collected by 85% and decreased the ratio between lawsuits resulting in paid fines over filed ones from 17 to 5%. As Brazil gears up to crack-down on illegal deforestation once again, our assessment suggests urgent entry points for policy action.

The (mis)paths of Brazilian politics in authoritarian periods and theatrical metalanguage constitute the bases that sustain the play Pequeno teatro da felicidade, by Márcio Souza. Starting from the Cabanagem revolt, it weaves a critical panel about the arbitrariness of the civil-military dictatorship. The analysis, qualitative in nature, takes into account its structure and the themes linked to political criticism, with the purpose of emphasizing its actuality regarding the threats to democracy. The theoretical contribution is based on the literary and essayistic contributions of Márcio Souza, on his critical fortune, on theatrical theory, on the thought around authoritarianism and testimonial writing. Thus, the play mimics the oppressive regimes in general and their murderous greed, but also the resistance and the fight for freedom, giving art a fundamental role in the face of barbarism.

Citrus represents one of the main fruit crops grown in the world, highlighting the ‘Tahiti’ acid lime tree. The objective was to compare rootstock varieties combined with this scion to identify those with the best agronomic performance and precocity of production, in addition to Phytophthora gummosis resistance. The experiment was carried out in Capitão Poço, northeast region of Pará, and the following seven rootstock genotypes were evaluated: ‘Sunki Tropical’, ‘BRS O S Passos’, ‘BRS Bravo’, ‘BRS Donadio’, ‘Citrandarin Indio’, ‘BRS Matta’, and ‘LVK x LCR-038’. A randomized block experimental design was used, with three replications and 10 plants per plot. The evaluated characteristics were: plant height (m); crown volume (m3); number of ripe fruit per plant; total yield of ripened fruit per plant (kg plant-1); cumulative fruit yield (fruit kg plant-1); and average productive efficiency (fruit kg m-3 of crown). The average productive efficiency was high. For early selection, the best rootstocks in terms of yield, stability and adaptability were Sunki Tropical, BRS O S Passos, and Cintradarin Indio. The fruit number had the greatest direct effect on fruit yield, and crown pruning was directly harmful. Further studies to understand the complex interaction of G x E for BRS Donadio and Sunki Tropical should be carried out.

Abstract Wildfires are aggravating due to climate change. Public policies need territorial intelligence to prevent and promptly fight fires, especially in vast regions like Brazil. To this end, we have developed a fire-spread prediction system for the Brazilian Cerrado, the biome most affected by wildfires in South America. The system automatically uploads hot pixels and satellite data to calculate maps of fuels loads, vegetation moisture, and probability of burning for simulating fire spread thrice a day for the entire Cerrado at 25 ha and for nine conservation units at 0.04 ha spatial resolution. In both versions, the model attains 65–89% of spatial match. Model results together with ancillary data, e.g., historical burned areas and annual CO2 emissions from fires, are available on an interactive web-platform that serves as a tool for fire prevention and fight, particularly in the selected conservation units where the platform is being used for daily operations.

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue describir la tasa de descuento sexual y evaluar la relación entre el autorreporte de Conductas Sexuales Arriesgadas (CSA) y el descuento sexual en una muestra de adultos jóvenes en Colombia. Para esto, se realizó una investigación no experimental de corte transversal y correlacional. 139 participantes fueron sometidos a un cuestionario de Autorreporte de Conductas de Riesgo Sexual, la Tarea de Descuento Sexual (SDDT) y el Cuestionario de Elección Monetaria (MCQ). Los análisis de la curva de descuento sexual demuestran que el valor de la opción de tener sexo seguro disminuye con el incremento en la demora en la obtención de un condón (i.e. descuento sexual). Adicionalmente, se observa que el grado de descuento sexual está asociado con CSA, como el número de parejas sexuales y el número de relaciones sexuales en los últimos 3 meses y que hay una diferencia en el patrón de descuento sexual entre hombres y mujeres.

Citrus orchards in northeastern Brazil are mostly rainfed and comprised basically of ‘Pera CNPMF D-6’ sweet orange budded on ‘Rangpur’ lime, for the drought tolerance and productivity imparted by this rootstock. Therefore, the selection of new varieties is needed to broaden the genetic basis of citrus cultivated in this region. Accordingly, this study compared vegetative, productive, and fruit quality traits of eight sweet orange scions grafted on ‘Rangpur’ lime over eleven years under the tropical rainfed conditions of northeastern Brazil. ‘Kona’ trees excelled in yield performance associated with bulk canopy, precocity, sweet fruit with intermediate acidity, and high vitamin C contents in spite of proneness to alternate yields and low ratio (maturity index). ‘Valencia Montemorelos’ and ‘Rubi’ trees, in turn, had high yield performances coupled with intermediate canopies, sweet fruit, intermediate acidity (‘Rubi’) and vitamin C contents, low propensity for yield fluctuation (‘Valencia Montemorelos’), and high precocity (‘Rubi’), albeit low ratio. Overall, our results emphasize ‘Kona,’ ‘Valencia Montemorelos,’ and ‘Rubi’ as superior sweet orange varieties for diversification of tropical rainfed orchards for their outstanding yield performance and good fruit quality.

Wildfires, exacerbated by extreme weather events and land use, threaten to change the Amazon from a net carbon sink to a net carbon source. Here, we develop and apply a coupled ecosystem-fire model to quantify how greenhouse gas-driven drying and warming would affect wildfires and associated CO2 emissions in the southern Brazilian Amazon. Regional climate projections suggest that Amazon fire regimes will intensify under both low- and high-emission scenarios. Our results indicate that projected climatic changes will double the area burned by wildfires, affecting up to 16% of the region's forests by 2050. Although these fires could emit as much as 17.0 Pg of CO2 equivalent to the atmosphere, avoiding new deforestation could cut total net fire emissions in half and help prevent fires from escaping into protected areas and indigenous lands. Aggressive efforts to eliminate ignition sources and suppress wildfires will be critical to conserve southern Amazon forests.

Wildfires, exacerbated by extreme weather events and land use, threaten to change the Amazon from a net carbon sink to a net carbon source. Here, we develop and apply a coupled ecosystem-fire model to quantify how greenhouse gas-driven drying and warming would affect wildfires and associated CO2 emissions in the southern Brazilian Amazon. Regional climate projections suggest that Amazon fire regimes will intensify under both low- and high-emission scenarios. Our results indicate that projected climatic changes will double the area burned by wildfires, affecting up to 16% of the regions forests by 2050. Although these fires could emit as much as 17.0 Pg of CO2 equivalent to the atmosphere, avoiding new deforestation could cut total net fire emissions in half and help prevent fires from escaping into protected areas and indigenous lands. Aggressive efforts to eliminate ignition sources and suppress wildfires will be critical to conserve southern Amazon forests.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic brought countless challenges to public health and highlighted the Brazilian health system vulnerabilities in facing the emergency. In this article, we analyze data on COVID-19-related deaths in 2020-21 to show the epidemic consequences in Brazil. Methods The Mortality Information System and the Live Birth Information System were the primary information sources. We used population estimates in 2020-21 to calculate COVID-19 specific mortality rates by age, sex, and educational level. Considering the total number of COVID-19 deaths in 2020-21, the COVID-19 proportional mortality (%) was estimated for each age group and sex. A graph of the daily number of deaths from January 2020 to December 2021 by sex was elaborated to show the temporal evolution of COVID-19 deaths in Brazil. In addition, four indicators related to COVID-19 mortality were estimated: infant mortality rate (IMR); maternal mortality ratio (MMR); number and rate of orphans due to mother’s COVID-19 death; the average number of years lost. Results The overall COVID-19 mortality rate was 14.8 (/10,000). The mortality rates increase with age and show a decreasing gradient with higher schooling. The rate among illiterate people was 38.8/10,000, three times higher than a college education. Male mortality was 31% higher than female mortality. COVID-19 deaths represented 19.1% of all deaths, with the highest proportions in the age group of 40-59 years. The average number of years lost due to COVID-19 was 19 years. The MMR due to COVID-19 was 35.7 per 100,000 live births (LB), representing 37.4% of the overall MMR. Regarding the number of orphans due to COVID-19, we estimated that 40,830 children under 18 lost their mothers during the epidemic, with an orphans’ rate of 7.5/10,000 children aged 0-17 years. The IMR was 11.7 per 1000 LB, with 0.2 caused by COVID-19. The peak of COVID-19 deaths occurred in March 2021, reaching almost 4000 COVID-19 deaths per day, higher than the average number of deaths per day from all causes in 2019. Conclusions The delay in adopting public health measures necessary to control the epidemic has exacerbated the spread of the disease, resulting in several avoidable deaths.

This study aimed to evaluate methods for studying the in vitro antimicrobial activity of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against Brucella abortus and to evaluate the antagonistic effect of LAB on the viability of this pathogen. A total of 18 LAB strains (Lactobacillus plantarum, n = 11; Pediococcus acidilactici, n = 1; Lactobacillus rhamnosus, n = 4; and Lactobacillus brevis, n = 2), isolated from Minas artisanal cheeses produced in three regions (Canastra, Campos das Vertentes, and Araxá) of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, were tested for their antimicrobial activity against B. abortus using three methods: spot-on-lawn, agar well diffusion assay, and antagonistic activity of the culture supernatants. None of the tested LAB strains could inhibit B. abortus in the spot-on-lawn and agar-well diffusion assays. The supernatants produced by LAB had an acidic pH, with intensity depending on bacterial growth and strain, and could inhibit the growth of B. abortus. In contrast, pH-neutralized (pH 7.0) LAB supernatants did not suppress the growth of B. abortus. The results showed that the best technique to study the in vitro antagonism of LAB against B. abortus was the antagonistic activity of culture supernatants. The growth of B. abortus may have been inhibited by acid production.

The use of mRNA-based immunotherapies that leverage the genomes of oncolytic viruses holds significant promise in addressing glioblastoma (GBM), an exceptionally aggressive neurological tumor. We explore the significance of mRNA-based platforms in the area of immunotherapy, introducing an innovative approach to mitigate the risks associated with the use of live viruses in cancer treatment. The ability to customize oncolytic virus genome sequences enables researchers to precisely target specific cancer cells, either through viral genome segments containing structural proteins or through a combination of regions with oncolytic potential. This strategy may enhance treatment effectiveness while minimizing unintended impacts on non-cancerous cells. A notable case highlighted here pertains to advanced findings regarding the application of the Zika virus (ZIKV) in GBM treatment. ZIKV, a member of the family Flaviviridae, shows oncolytic properties against GBM, opening novel therapeutic avenues. We explore intensive investigations of glioblastoma stem cells, recognized as key drivers in GBM initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy. However, a comprehensive elucidation of ZIKV’s underlying mechanisms is imperative to pave the way for ZIKV-based clinical trials targeting GBM patients. This investigation into harnessing the potential of oncolytic-virus genomes for mRNA-based immunotherapies underscores its noteworthy implications, potentially paving the way for a paradigm shift in cancer treatment strategies.

Summary: Severe arable land loss and ecological problems raise attention to protect/develop land for food and ecology demand. Spatial conflict appears in front of multidemand for urbanization, food, and ecology. Our study took China as an example and explicitly outlined spatial preference of urbanization, food, and ecology. From the aspect of land amount, there are enough lands to support multidemand with a surplus of agriculture land of 45.5 × 106 ha. However, spatial conflict widely appears among the multidemands. We tested the impacts of different priorities on urban pattern, crop yield, and ecology and found the priority of food > ecology > urbanization gave the best outcome. Our results verified the importance of including priority of land multidemand to avoid confusion and increase efficiency in the implementation of land policies.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the association between self-reported sexual orientation and violence in the Brazilian population. Methods: This cross-sectional epidemiological study used the 2019 National Survey of Health database. Total violence and its subtypes (psychological, physical, and sexual) were analyzed in the previous 12 months. Prevalence and odds ratio adjusted for age group were estimated, with their respective 95% confidence intervals, according to the self-reported sexual orientation of the Brazilian population aged 18 years and older. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: Most of the Brazilian population self-identified as heterosexual (94.75%) and 1.89% as LGB+. This percentage was lower than that of respondents who refused to answer the question (2.28%). The prevalence of violence in the general population of Brazil was 18.27%, and the most common subtype was psychological violence (17.36%). The LGB+ population was more than twice as likely to experience any type of violence. LGB+ women had the highest prevalence in all violence subtypes, and heterosexual men had the lowest. LGB+ women were over three times more likely to experience physical violence compared to heterosexual ones. Meanwhile, the probability of LGB+ men experiencing sexual violence was almost eight times higher than in heterosexual men. Conclusion: The prevalence of violence against the LGB+ population was high in the country. Public policies aimed at this population are necessary to fight discrimination against sexual diversity and ensure the rights of non-heterosexual people.

The inner ear, the organ of equilibrium and hearing, has an extraordinarily complex and intricate arrangement. It contains highly specialized structures meticulously tailored to permit auditory processing. However, hearing also relies on both peripheral and central pathways responsible for the neuronal transmission of auditory information from the cochlea to the corresponding cortical regions. Understanding the anatomy and physiology of all components forming the auditory system is key to better comprehending the pathophysiology of each disease that causes hearing impairment. In this narrative review, the authors focus on the pathophysiology as well as on cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to hearing loss in different neonatal infectious diseases. To accomplish this objective, the morphology and function of the main structures responsible for auditory processing and the immune response leading to hearing loss were explored. Altogether, this information permits the proper understanding of each infectious disease discussed.