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Large-scale epidemics of arboviruses, such as dengue, have heightened societal awareness regarding the necessity of combating the primary transmission vectors. Equally critical is the identification of environmental conditions and variables that influence vector population dynamics. Aedes aegypti , the primary vector of arboviruses such as dengue and Zika in Brazil, is closely associated with the climatic and geographical conditions of urban environments. This study examines the relationship between precipitation and confirmed dengue cases in Recife (Brazil), employing regression and quantile analyses to evaluate the influence of meteorological conditions on the disease's spread. The findings reveal a direct correlation between monthly averages of precipitation and confirmed cases, although this is apparent only when excluding years of epidemic peaks. The highest number of cases generally aligns with the rainy season, and the lowest with the dry season, with weak, moderate and strong precipitation events being closely linked to increased dengue incidence. However, notable discrepancies were identified: four out of six major outbreaks occurred in drier months, challenging the assumption of a straightforward relationship between rainfall and dengue incidence. These findings underscore the multifaceted nature of dengue dynamics, suggesting that while precipitation plays a significant role, other factors, including serotype circulation and broader climatic phenomena, are equally critical in driving outbreaks. This complexity highlights the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms influencing dengue epidemics., Competing Interests: The authors have no relevant financial conflicts of interest. However, it should be noted that Tiago Massoni, Patty Kostkova, Tercio Ambrizzi, and Anwar Musah are members of the Editorial Board of Vector-Borne Diseases -- The Digital One Health Approach. Due to this affiliation, the manuscript has been managed by other editorial members. These author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision. The remaining 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 Borges, Musah, Dutra, Tunali, Lima, Tunali, da Silva, Aldosery, Moreno, dos Santos, Massoni, Yenigün, Kostkova, da Rocha, Campos and Ambrizzi.)

The present study offers an extensive overview on the evolution and current state of marine oil spill research in Brazil and then discusses further directions. Given the historical and current relevance of this issue, this paper also aims to summarize the exploration, geological background, design of oil spills timeline and assessment of the most important of them. Moreover, it includes a critical comparison of Brazilian oil spill models in terms of their simulation abilities, real-time field data assimilation, space and time forecasts and uncertainty evaluation. This study also presents the perspectives of the Multi-User System for Detection, Prediction, and Monitoring of Oil Spills at Sea (SisMOM) the largest and most important Brazilian project to face the offshore oil spills., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

After the oil spill disaster occurred in 2019, various events of tar balls reaching the Brazilian coast and archipelagos have been reported. The hypothesis here is that the oil/waste dumped in international waters by ships on-route to Cape of Good Hope is reaching the Brazilian coast. On that account, 30-year probabilistic simulations were used to estimate the probability of dumped oil residue reaching the Brazilian coast. The simulations considered three Zones following the South Atlantic route. The results have shown that up to 28.5 % of large ships could dump oil on-route. Inside the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone, the probability of dumped oil/waste reaching the coastline is about 62 % and quickly decreases for Dumping Zones 2 and 3. Equatorial and Northeast shores of Brazil are the most vulnerable to oceanic dumping when compared to other regions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Over 5000 tons of spilled oil reached the northeast coast of Brazil in 2019. The Laboratory for Computational Methods in Engineering (LAMCE/COPPE/UFRJ) employed time-reverse modeling and identify multiple potential source areas. As time-reverse modeling has many uncertainties, this article carried out a methodology study to mitigate them. A probabilistic modeling using Monte Carlo approach was developed to test these source areas with the Spill, Transport, and Fate Model (STFM) and a scenario tree methodology was used to select possible spill scenarios. To estimate the performance of Lagrangian models, two new model performance evaluations were added to Chang and Hanna (2004). The combination of probabilistic simulations, scenario tree analysis, and model performance evaluation proved to be a powerful tool for mitigating the uncertainties of time-reverse modeling, yielding good results and simple implementation., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Oceanic heat sources disturb the atmosphere, which, to come back to its initial state, disperses waves. These waves affect the climate in remote regions, characterizing the teleconnection patterns. In this study, we describe eight teleconnection patterns that affect South America climate: the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), the Tropical Atlantic Dipole (TAD), the South Atlantic Dipole (SAD), the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Precipitation and winds at 850-hPa anomalies, considering these teleconnection patterns in ENSO neutral periods, are also presented. Overall, southeastern South America and the north sector of the North and Northeast regions of Brazil are the most affected areas by the teleconnection patterns. In general, there is a precipitation dipole pattern between these regions during each teleconnection pattern., (© 2021 New York Academy of Sciences.)

This paper explores the main factors for mosquito-borne transmission of the Zika virus by focusing on environmental, anthropogenic, and social risks. A literature review was conducted bringing together related information from this genre of research from peer-reviewed publications. It was observed that environmental conditions, especially precipitation, humidity, and temperature, played a role in the transmission. Furthermore, anthropogenic factors including sanitation, urbanization, and environmental pollution promote the transmission by affecting the mosquito density. In addition, socioeconomic factors such as poverty as well as social inequality and low-quality housing have also an impact since these are social factors that limit access to certain facilities or infrastructure which, in turn, promote transmission when absent (e.g., piped water and screened windows). Finally, the paper presents short-, mid-, and long-term preventative solutions together with future perspectives. This is the first review exploring the effects of anthropogenic aspects on Zika transmission with a special emphasis in Brazil., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine, commonly referred to as 8-oxoG, is considered one of the most predominant oxidative lesions formed in DNA. Due to its ability to pair with adenines in its syn configuration, this lesion has a strong mutagenic potential in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Escherichia coli cells are endowed with the GO system, which protects them from the mutagenic properties of this lesion when formed both in cellular DNA and the nucleotide pool. MutY and MutM (Fpg) DNA glycosylases are crucial components of the GO system. A strong mutator phenotype of the Escherichia coli mutM mutY double mutant underscores the importance of 8-oxoG repair for genomic stability. Here, we report that in Caulobacter crescentus, a widely studied alpha-proteobacterium with a GC-rich genome, the combined lack of MutM and MutY glycosylases produces a more modest mutator phenotype when compared to E. coli. Genetic analysis indicates that other glycosylases and other repair pathways do not act synergistically with the GO system for spontaneous mutation prevention. We also show that there is not a statistically significant difference in the spontaneous levels 8-oxodGuo in E. coli and C. crescentus, suggesting that other yet to be identified differences in repair or replication probably account for the differential importance of the GO system between these two species. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 61:246-255, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Regional climate models have been used since 1989 in order to improve climate simulation in regions where mesoscale forcings modulate the regional climate. These models are driven by time-dependent lateral boundary conditions from global climate models or reanalysis, and this process is called dynamical downscaling. Here, we review the evolution of regional climate modeling, as well as present the studies developed for South America., (© 2018 New York Academy of Sciences.)

Subtropical cyclones are hybrid systems presenting a warm core at low levels, as tropical cyclones, and a cold core at upper levels, as extratropical cyclones. Their genesis can be as proper subtropical system or from the transitions (extratropical to subtropical or tropical to subtropical). Subtropical cyclones occur mostly over the sea and generate intense near surface winds with great impacts on human activities and ecosystems. We present a review of the main features, as obtained from observations and numerical simulations, for subtropical cyclone development over the major oceanic basins., (© 2018 New York Academy of Sciences.)

A new open access database, Brazilian Marine Biodiversity (BaMBa) (https://marinebiodiversity.lncc.br), was developed in order to maintain large datasets from the Brazilian marine environment. Essentially, any environmental information can be added to BaMBa. Certified datasets obtained from integrated holistic studies, comprising physical-chemical parameters, -omics, microbiology, benthic and fish surveys can be deposited in the new database, enabling scientific, industrial and governmental policies and actions to be undertaken on marine resources. There is a significant number of databases, however BaMBa is the only integrated database resource both supported by a government initiative and exclusive for marine data. BaMBa is linked to the Information System on Brazilian Biodiversity (SiBBr, http://www.sibbr.gov.br/) and will offer opportunities for improved governance of marine resources and scientists' integration. Database URL: http://marinebiodiversity.lncc.br., (© The Author(s) 2015. Published by Oxford University Press.)

This article discusses the development of a computerized support to demands for treatment of a wide spectrum and diverse nature. Developed under SPM platform (Situação, Problema e Melhoria), the practitioner seeks to provide an ergonomic aid from the identification and characterization of the processes of analysis demands. The interest of a technological support the practice of ergonomics is a domestic origin, which already features a wide universe. For purposes of this article will be drawn the line defined by the universe in the Federal Public Service occupations within the guidelines set Subsystem Integrated System for Health Care Workers of the Federal Government. The development of this system initially intended to assist the practitioner in ergonomics mapping situations in which the federal public servant has been undergoing for the second time that can classify and then treat them.

Precipitation and temperature climate indices are calculated using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis and validated against observational data from some stations over Brazil and other data sources. The spatial patterns of the climate indices trends are analyzed for the period 1961-1990 over South America. In addition, the correlation and linear regression coefficients for some specific stations were also obtained in order to compare with the reanalysis data. In general, the results suggest that NCEP/NCAR reanalysis can provide useful information about minimum temperature and consecutive dry days indices at individual grid cells in Brazil. However, some regional differences in the climate indices trends are observed when different data sets are compared. For instance, the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis shows a reversal signal for all rainfall annual indices and the cold night index over Argentina. Despite these differences, maps of the trends for most of the annual climate indices obtained from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and BRANT analysis are generally in good agreement with other available data sources and previous findings in the literature for large areas of southern South America. The pattern of trends for the precipitation annual indices over the 30 years analyzed indicates a change to wetter conditions over southern and southeastern parts of Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, central and northern Argentina, and parts of Chile and a decrease over southwestern South America. All over South America, the climate indices related to the minimum temperature (warm or cold nights) have clearly shown a warming tendency; however, no consistent changes in maximum temperature extremes (warm and cold days) have been observed. Therefore, one must be careful before suggesting any trends for warm or cold days.

The SOS regulon is a paradigm of bacterial responses to DNA damage. A wide variety of bacterial species possess homologs of lexA and recA, the central players in the regulation of the SOS circuit. Nevertheless, the genes actually regulated by the SOS have been determined only experimentally in a few bacterial species. In this work, we describe 37 genes regulated in a LexA-dependent manner in the alphaproteobacterium Caulobacter crescentus. In agreement with previous results, we have found that the direct repeat GTTCN7GTTC is the SOS operator of C. crescentus, which was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis studies of the imuA promoter. Several potential promoter regions containing the SOS operator were identified in the genome, and the expression of the corresponding genes was analyzed for both the wild type and the lexA strain, demonstrating that the vast majority of these genes are indeed SOS regulated. Interestingly, many of these genes encode proteins with unknown functions, revealing the potential of this approach for the discovery of novel genes involved in cellular responses to DNA damage in prokaryotes, and illustrating the diversity of SOS-regulated genes among different bacterial species.

Background: Lipoabdominoplasty, the combination of lipoplasty with classical abdominoplasty, presents new opportunities for the treatment of abdominal lipodystrophy., Objective: The author analyzed 211 patients who underwent lipoabdominoplasty from 2000 to 2004., Methods: After the preoperative physical examination, the patients were classified into 9 different groups according to the indications for the most appropriate technique in each case. Patient groups ranged from those presenting with mild fat panniculus and good quality skin to massive weight loss patients with a high degree of flaccidity. Techniques used in treating the various patient groups included lipoplasty alone, 3 variations of lipominiabdominoplasty, 4 variations of lipoabdominoplasty, and abdominoplasty alone. The surgical principles used in the variations of lipoabdominoplasty included dissection and sculpturing of the subcutaneous deep layer and superficial layer through lipoplasty, selective undermining and plication of the anterior rectus sheath, preservation of the perforator vessels, preservation of Scarpa's fascia and deep fat, skin resection, and umbilical transposition., Results: Two hundred eleven patients were treated between January 2000 and May 2004. Results were good, with high patient satisfaction regardless of variations in technique. There was no loss of sensibility in the suprapubic region in any patients. Among patients who underwent lipoabdominoplasty, there were low complication rates of epidermolysis (1.5%), seroma (1%), hematoma (1%), and necrosis (0.1%). There was no incidence of seroma, necrosis, or hematoma in the lipominiabdominoplasty subgroups I and II; in subgroup III, there was a 2% incidence of necrosis. Seroma was noted in 2% of patients who underwent reverse lipominiabdominoplasty. Similar low complication rates were observed in other groups., Conclusions: The classification of lipoabdominoplasty indications offers good options for treatment of the abdominal region. Lipoplasty, selective undermining, and maintenance of Scarpa's fascia help reduce surgical trauma that is the main factor affecting hematoma and necrosis rates. The learning curve for these classifications is fast because the described procedures are already familiar to most plastic surgeons.

Unlabelled: The technique of intramuscular injection (IM) into the antero-lateral region of the thigh is widely used. Nevertheless, despite this area being indicated as the second best location for this practice, the technique is still observed to be very painful for both adult and child patients., Objective: To study the localization, distribution and course of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh, and its topographic relationship with the area recommended for the practice of intramuscular injection, relating these characteristics to the pain resulting from such procedures., Method: By means of exposing the antero-lateral region by classical dissection, the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh was identified and isolated in 20 fixed adult male cadavers, giving emphasis to the viewing of its nerve rami across the iliotibial tract., Results: In 100% of the cases, the lateral cutaneous nerve emerged medially in relation to the upper anterior iliac spine. After this, it issued three wide-caliber rami in 70% of the specimens and only two in the remaining 30%. In the upper third and in the upper portion of the middle third of the thigh, a network of numerous small nerve rami was observed, enveloped in a variable quantity of adipose tissue. However, in the lower portion of the middle third of the thigh and in the lower third, no significant nerve rami were seen., Conclusion: Based on our data, we recommend whenever possible that the distal half of the region displayed by the classical technique be utilized as the location of choice for the practice of intramuscular injection into the antero-lateral region of the thigh. This is because this region is less innervated by the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh, which will cause less pain in this area during such procedures, thereby affording greater comfort to the patient.

No detailed descriptions exist of the collateral intercostal artery which can provide an accurate anatomical basis for ensuring a low rate of vascular complications during thoracocentesis and thoracoscopy. Consequently the present study was undertaken to provide information on the origin, size and topographic relationships of the collateral intercostal artery. Ninety cadaveric adult intercostal spaces were dissected using standard procedures. The collateral intercostal arteries were exposed throughout their full length and measured at the points within the intercostal spaces considered to be the most important for clinical purposes. The posterior intercostal arteries and their collateral branches were observed to decrease in size from posterior to anterior; however, no significant differences were present in their size in the first four intercostal spaces. Based on these findings the usual thoracocentesis or thoracoscopy technique, in which it is recommended that puncture is done as close as possible to the superior margin of the inferior rib, may lead to collateral intercostal artery laceration and considerable bleeding. A subtle, but important, modification to this technique is suggested aimed at achieving safer access to the intercostal space. In the modified technique, the puncture should be made in the middle of the intercostal space, thereby reducing the possibility of laceration of the collateral intercostal artery.

The study of the skin of medial area of the arm in cadavers made it possible to evaluate its regional characteristics. Sex or race were not reported, but the age group most appropriate to liposuction was considered. In this way, authors believed that, as per standards established at the time, results as to skin retraction in liposuction, will be able to be analyzed in a comparative way in the future.

The surgical anatomy of the subcutaneous screen on the gluteal region has aroused the interest of plastic surgeons because of the increasing search for surgical procedures that determine an improvement of its form. The dissection of 60 fixed surgical pieces showed the presence of a Buttocks' Sustaining Aparell formed by a trabecular conjunctival mesh termed main and secondary in a "beehive" aspect which may possibly be important in the maintenance of the buttock's characteristic contour. The planned implication of the Sustaining Aparell may determine, through an observation of its structure, a flattening or a ptosis of the gluteal region, allowing a better understanding of the aesthetic of this region.

When a person smiles and talks, everyone in his or her own specific way, it can be noticed that the tip of the nose drops and the upper lip shortens, making the nasolabial angle more acute. The importance of the upper lip in the dynamics of the nose makes necessary a more detailed study of the morphology and anatomical relations of the median part of the nasal septum depressor muscle, contributing in this way to new techniques in plastic surgery. The authors proposed to study the anatomy of the nasal septum depressor muscle and its relationship with the dermocartilaginous ligament of Pitanguy and the upper lip, important components of the nasal dynamics of facial expression. In this way they seek to contribute to the treatment of the nasal tip in aesthetic rhinoplasties.

The analysis of the abdominal skin on cadavers has made it possible for the authors to evaluate the skin's regional characteristics, taking into consideration the age group to be lipoaspirated regardless of race or sex. In this way, norms are established which in the future may be used to comparatively analyze results related to the cutaneous retraction after plastic surgery lipoaspiration.