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Introduction: Distinguishing and categorizing the origin of garlic are highly significant, considering its widespread use as a flavoring agent. With billions of dollars annually in global trade, garlic is frequently susceptible to fraudulent practices. Methodology: Paper spray ionization mass spectrometry (PS‐MS) was employed to quickly analyze garlic samples from distinct geographic origins: China and Brazil. The so‐generated PS‐MS data were treated with metabolomic multivariate approaches, and the garlic samples from these different geographic regions were easily discriminated. Results: Brazilian garlic was characterized to contain higher levels of amino acids, such as arginine, proline, and valine, and organosulfur compounds, such as allicin, alliin, and l‐γ‐glutamil‐S‐allyl‐l‐cysteine, compared to Chinese garlic. The PS‐MS data were treated employing multivariate approaches, typically used in the metabolomics field, and this protocol was promptly able to discern among both types of samples. Conclusion: Hence, this combined strategy holds promise not only as an effective tool for the authentication of the geographical origin of garlic but also as a powerful means for biomarker discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need for energy sources with lower environmental impacts to dispose of waste generated by human activities. In this context, a holistic analysis of energy use of waste from agricultural and forestry activities, animal excreta, urban solid waste and sewage, waste from the pulp and paper industry and charcoal in Brazil is presented. Based on a bibliographic review, the current Brazilian panorama is presented in figures giving, a vision of national potential for harnessing bioenergy from this theoretical and technical potential. The QGIS3.24.2 Tisler geoprocessing tool was used to generate potentiality maps from census data of microregions and municipalities available in the IBGE database (2022) and in the Geocentric Reference System for the Americas (SIRGAS 2000). The results of map analysis by micro‐regions of the primary energy from agricultural residues highlight sugar cane, corn and soybeans crops, followed by wastewater and animal excreta. They stood out amont the studied sources of biomass with technical potentials of 53.17, 15.23 and 6.81 GW, respectively. With these results, it is concluded that Brazil could enable around 75 GW installed power, reusing all biomass, potentially 12.5 PJ, without considering the 16 GW already installed from sugarcane and paper black liquor plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic discourse on food justice and sustainable food consumption needs to be informed by empirical contributions and heterogenous conceptualisations from diverse parts of the world. This paper broadens the dialogue with a variety of voices and knowledges, rooting itself not only in the specific political and social context, but also the discursive and epistemic traditions of Brazil, which stand in dialogue with international discourses. Firstly, an analysis is offered of the multi‐stakeholder process that since the mid‐1990s shaped the discourse, theorisation and policy making on food justice and sustainable food consumption in Brazil. Emerging from this process were globally leading Brazilian policy initiatives such as Zero Hunger, the School Feeding Program, the progressive Food Guide, and co‐crafted concepts such as comida de verdade. The institutional architecture for this discourse, the National Food Council and regular conferences, were dismantled in 2019 after a change in government. Secondly, the paper presents data from 30 interviews with key stakeholders from civil society, policy, business, media and celebrity influencers, conducted at the time of the dissolution. Three key subdiscourses on sustainable food consumption emerge: access, with an emphasis on right to food; health; and re‐conhecimento, a term we use to articulate the confluence of multiple knowledges and consciousnesses, including an insistence on the cultural role of food. Throughout the interviews, co‐crafted concepts and phrases emerging from the multistakeholder process reverberated. The paper argues that the multi‐stakeholder process resulted not just in a coherent shared discourse, concepts and policy during a period of conducive policy environment, but also in collective resilience. The invisible edifice of shared ideas and commitments around this public issue is still intact and may be reactivated in future. In times of increased political polarisation, not just in Brazil, this is an important argument for investing in such long‐term multi‐stakeholder dialogue processes. This paper analyses the distinct multi‐stakeholder process which shaped the discourse, theorisation and policy making on food justice and sustainable food consumption in Brazil. It presents data from 30 interviews with key stakeholders, from which three sub‐discourses emerge: access; health; and re‐conhecimento. The paper argues that although the multi‐stakeholder forums crafting this discourse were dismantled in 2019 after a change in government, the process of co‐crafting has resulted in key concepts and a shared vision which demonstrate collective epistemic resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Methods & Procedures Outcomes & Results Conclusions & Implications WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS What is already known on the subject What this paper adds to existing knowledge What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Speech and language therapists (SLTs) play an important role in assessing and rehabilitating communication disorders in people with dementia, but there is evidence to suggest that they do not receive appropriate training to provide management and support during their training.To investigate the level of awareness and knowledge that practising SLTs from Brazil have about dementia and their role in the care of dementia through an online survey.An online survey tool was developed to collect information from practising Brazilian SLTs regarding their knowledge about dementia, awareness about their role in the care of people with dementia, and opinions on how SLTs may be better prepared to work in the dementia field. The survey was disseminated via social media, websites, and e‐mail lists of researchers and stakeholders.A total of 227 SLTs completed the survey. Participants showed good knowledge of dementia in general, while their answers were less accurate on primary progressive aphasia. Regarding the awareness by SLTs of their role in the care of people with dementia, most agreed or strongly agreed that SLTs could help people in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dementia (> 80%). However, fewer participants agreed or strongly agreed that they felt confident in contributing to the treatment and diagnosis process of dementia (about 50%). To improve the training of SLTs in Brazil, most participants believed that it would be necessary to improve the teaching of dementia at the undergraduate speech and language therapy curriculum level and to develop recommendations or guidelines about speech and language therapy practice in dementia.The results of this survey point to a need for improvement in the knowledge and confidence of Brazilian SLTs about dementia. To reach this goal, targeted training courses and applied practice opportunities should be embedded within university curricula and training programmes. Many studies confirm the importance of speech and language therapy in the non‐pharmacological treatment of people with dementia. However, other evidence suggests to a possible lack of training for Brazilian SLTs, especially in the curriculum of undergraduate courses. This study reveals that Brazilian SLTs have substantial knowledge of dementia and recognize the significance of their role in treating people with dementia. However, a minority expressed confidence in their ability to assess and treat people with dementia. The findings of this research demonstrate that Brazilian SLTs have good knowledge of dementia and endorse their professional role in dementia care; however, they lack confidence in their own skills and expertise in diagnostic assessment and treatment of dementia. Interventions aimed at boosting the SLT's confidence level could lead to improved patients outcomes and overall quality of care within clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how research advisory groups can be a vehicle for youth activism. It draws on our experiences with young activists, aged 15–26 years, in India and Brazil, who were advisors on a research project focused on youth livelihoods in cities. These young people played a vital role in supporting youth researchers, identifying research themes and developing engagement and advocacy strategies. Through this paper, we explore how the Youth Expert Group advisory model evolved differently in each location and examine how these were shaped by the context, the 'adult' research team and the youth activists themselves. A critically reflexive response in intergenerational partnership is essential to support youth activists in research activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the history of contractual choice in coffee plantations of São Paulo, Brazil. It focuses on the consolidation of non‐captive labour markets in the early phases of the transition from slavery in the country, particularly in the 1840s–50s. Vis‐à‐vis the alternatives of fixed rents and fixed payments per time worked or piece rates, the paper examines the rationale for the adoption of sharecropping arrangements with European bonded labourers. New archival evidence suggests that sharecropping had no obvious productivity advantage over alternative labour–rental arrangements in this period, and that the adoption of sharecropping arrangements resulted from the positional advantage of its first proposers, who influenced later choices of contractual design. A credit‐labour tie‐up long outlived the original sharecropping arrangements, in turn allowing for the immigration of poor and credit‐constrained Europeans, paving the way to insert Brazil into the circuits of mass migration without promoting institutional reforms to attract non‐bonded immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature has usually regarded street‐level bureaucrats (SLBs) as relatively privileged bureaucrats, neglecting an important sub‐group of these civil servants: low‐status SLBs. Even though they may be members of a team with other SLBs who have more status, they may suffer from intraorganizational inequality, meaning unequal access to resources and the requirement that they perform informal tasks associated with their unequal position in the organization. We examine the unique challenges low‐status SLBs are often confronted with, and how they cope with them. Based on 94 interviews with community health workers in Brazil, we identify several types of burdens associated with their ambiguous tasks, as well as the strategies they use to cope with these burdens. The analyses suggest that the burdens and coping strategies are an important source of the inequality on the team. The paper discusses the importance of considering the diversity of roles occupied by SLBs and the inequalities within teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the effects of the storm‐time prompt penetration electric fields (PPEF) and traveling atmospheric disturbances (TADs) on the total electron content (TEC), foF2 and hmF2 in the American sector (north and south) during the geomagnetic storm on 23–24 April 2023. The data show a poleward shift of the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) crests to 18°N and 20°S in the evening of 23 April (attributed to eastward PPEF) and the EIA crests remaining almost in the same latitudes after the PPEF reversed westward. The thermospheric neutral wind velocity, foF2, hmF2, and TEC variations show that TADs from the northern and southern high latitudes propagating equatorward and crossing the equator after midnight on 23 April. The meridional keograms of ΔTEC show the TAD structures in the north/south propagated with phase velocity 470/485 m/s, wave length 4,095/4,016 km and period 2.42/2.30 hr, respectively. The interactions of the TADs also appear to modify the wind velocities in low latitudes. The eastward PPEF and equatorward TADs also favored the development of a clear/not so clear F3 layer in northern/southern regions of the equator. Plain Language Summary: The thermosphere‐ionosphere‐magnetosphere system is largely affected during events of geomagnetic storms. Its dynamics, mainly in the ionized environment, may impact modern lives by degradations in the satellite signals affecting, for example, all applications involving Global Navigation Satellite System. The thermosphere and ionosphere responses to the large geomagnetic storm of 23–24 April 2023 are analyzed here and the main discoveries are the unexpected spatial plasma density distribution over Boa Vista (MLat ≈ 8°N) due to resulting effects of a disturbed eastward electric field and traveling atmospheric disturbance (TAD). The interactions/interferences of TADs were able to explain the unexpected moment of the peak in thermospheric neutral wind speed measurements over the equatorial station, as well as all variations in ionospheric parameters (foF2, hmF2, and total electron content) recorded in pairs by seven Digisondes and GNSS receivers spread across Brazil. Key Points: Interactions of traveling atmospheric disturbances (TADs) cause unexpected thermospheric neutral wind speeds in the American equatorial and low‐latitude sectorsThe effects resulting from a disturbed electric field and TADs were able to produce anomalous electron density distribution at low latitudesThe variations in the ionospheric observational measurements recorded around 4 UT in Brazil on 24 April 2023 were explained by the passages of TADs [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This scoping review aimed to identify and appraise the effectiveness and impact of breastfeeding promotion interventions conducted across Portuguese- speaking sovereign countries. Methods: Using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched 14 electronic databases for publications published through 31 July 2023. The search terms were designed to find studies promoting breastfeeding or exclusive breastfeeding in pre- defined Portuguese- speaking countries. Results: Of the 5263 papers initially retrieved, 30 interventional studies on breastfeeding met the inclusion criteria across three countries: Brazil (N = 26), Portugal (N = 2) and Guinea Bissau (N = 2). Participants ranged from pregnant women, mothers, mother-infant pairs, healthcare professionals, and school children. Overall, the interventions increased exclusive breastfeeding and better breastfeeding practices, such as a higher duration of breastfeeding. The interventions positively affected maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy, knowledge and perception. Only four studies used a theoretical framework. Conclusion: While the results were often statistically significant, no study had an outcome close to the recommended UNICEF and WHO goal of 70% breastfeeding at six months. The need to determine what works for the recommended six months postpartum period is critical for maximising children's health in Portuguese- speaking countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biotropica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

When will stringent sustainability commitments (not) be a stumbling block in the negotiation of trade agreements? Although the existing literature has explored the determinants of the design of sustainability provisions in trade agreements, few works have explored when countries will accept/reject those provisions once their content cannot be changed. Based on insights from game theory, we flesh out the conditions under which there will be an equilibrium in favor of hard sustainability provisions in trade deals. We then present empirical illustrations related to Mexico's participation in the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) and Brazil's participation in the EU‐Mercosur trade negotiations. Our model shows that (1) fears of partner opportunism, (2) the costs of nonparticipation in trade deals, and (3) costs of adjustments to hard trade‐sustainability commitments are key to understanding whether a compromise can arise on trade and strong sustainability commitments. The model highlights what sorts of concessions ought to be made for negotiations to prosper. The findings point to how the changing structure of trade governance may affect the decision‐making process of Global South countries. The paper concludes with recommendations and avenues for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the dynamics of registered firms after implementing a new law (2009) in the Brazilian labour market. The law proposed the electronic monitoring of working time to provide more efficiency and security by standardizing the equipment used for control and avoiding manipulation. As stricter monitoring may increase costs, this paper seeks to analyse whether there have been changes in the dynamics of firms adapting to the new regulation. There are two potential mechanisms as a reference: increasing wages and decreasing workers (or contracted hours), and increasing labour force and decreasing contracted hours per worker (and therefore the monthly wage). Using Brazilian employee–employer data and the difference‐in‐differences approach as an empirical strategy, our main findings suggest that firms that adapt to the new electronic workday control had a general reduction in the number of hours hired, an increase in wages for companies with 10–50 employees and a decrease in workplace accidents in firms with 50 or more employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a new interpretation of Brazil's independence that relates the process of political emancipation to the Portuguese empire's fiscal crisis at the beginning of the nineteenth century. We discuss the origins and impact of the fiscal crisis that followed the Napoleonic invasion of Portugal in 1807 and the transfer of the government to Rio de Janeiro. Quantitative evidence shows that expenditures with the palace and the army in Brazil were higher than those discussed in the previous literature. Moreover, the government was only able to finance itself by increasing loans via paper money issuances from the Bank of Brazil. Real wages show that the inflationary policy in the 1810s led to a rapid decline in living standards, fuelling dissatisfaction with the government. Our findings are consistent with views expressed in contemporary official correspondence and parliamentary debates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In celebration of the journal's 50th anniversary, the aim of the study was to review the whole collection of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (CDOE) publications from 1973 to 2022 and provide a complete overview of the main publication characteristics. Methods: The study used bibliometric techniques such as performance and science mapping analysis of 3428 articles extracted from the Scopus database. The data were analysed using the 'Bibliometrix' package in R. The journal's scientific production was examined, along with the yearly citation count, the distribution of publications based on authors, the corresponding author's country and affiliation and citation count, citing source and keywords. Bibliometric network maps were constructed to determine the conceptual, intellectual and social collaborative structure over the past 50 years. The trending research topics and themes were identified. Results: The total number of articles and average citations has increased over the years. D Locker, AJ Spencer, A Sheiham and WM Thomson were the most frequently published authors, and PE Petersen, GD Slade and AI Ismail published papers with the highest citations. The most published countries were the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil and Canada, frequently engaging in collaborative efforts. The most common keywords used were 'dental caries', 'oral epidemiology' and 'oral health'. The trending topics were healthcare and health disparities, social determinants of health, systematic review and health inequalities. Epidemiology, oral health and disparities were highly researched areas. Conclusion: This bibliometric study reviews CDOE's significant contribution to dental public health by identifying key research trends, themes, influential authors and collaborations. The findings provide insights into the need to increase publications from developing countries, improve gender diversity in authorship and broaden the scope of research themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for ecological sustainability while reducing the impacts of environmental deterioration has become a worldwide endeavour. Furthermore, it is unclear how developing economies such as Brazil can considerably improve environmental quality (EQ). This paper contributes to the ongoing literature by evaluating the effect of green finance, economic growth, political risk, social globalization and green innovation on environmental quality in Brazil. The study used data spanning between 2000Q1 and 2018Q4. Unlike other investigations, the current study used load capacity factor as a proxy for environmental quality, which considers both demand and supply sides of environmental issues. The current study applied the novel dynamic ARDL to capture the short and long‐run nexus. The bootstrap causality test was also applied to capture causal connection instabilities over time. The results of this study are as follows: (1) a significant and positive association was found between political risk, green finance, green innovation and social globalization environmental quality; (2) a significant and negative interplay was detected between economic growth and environmental quality; (3) The time‐varying causality shows a feedback causality at various periods between political risk, green finance, green innovation, economic growth, social globalization and environmental quality. This study also serves as a reference point for governments and policymakers in terms of investing in eco‐friendly technologies in order to improve environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anecdotal evidence for several developing countries suggests that foreign direct investment and multinational enterprises (MNEs) may be an important conduit of cultural exchange. Recent work in economics has explored the role that MNEs play in transferring gender equality around the globe, but with mixed results. In this paper, we consider the implications of increased foreign direct investment in Brazil on the transmission of high‐quality gender policy and practice. In particular, we investigate whether workers with experience at multinational firms, now employed in domestic firms with no foreign influence, help to change gender‐specific outcomes at their Brazilian companies. We next ask whether it matters from where the foreign direct investment originates—that is, do workers with experience in MNEs with headquarters in relatively gender‐equal countries transfer best practices toward women better than do workers with experience in MNEs from relatively more gender‐unequal countries? Increasing the share of workers with MNE experience modestly improves the gender earnings gap in some specifications. Additionally, workers in management positions offer the strongest positive contributions to closing gender gaps. However, despite the many theoretical reasons and suggestive empirical evidence from previous literature to expect differential implications across FDI‐source countries, our data fail to support this notion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper contributes to the growing literature on the relationship between relatedness, complexity and regional diversification. It explores regional diversification in an emerging economy, focusing on diversification opportunities of regions with distinct levels of local capabilities. We investigate the importance of relatedness and economic complexity for sectoral and technological diversification in all regions of Brazil during the period 2006–2019. Regions tend to diversify in sectors/technologies requiring similar capabilities to those already available locally. In general, the higher the sector/technology complexity, the lower the probability of diversification. However, in high‐complex regions, complexity reverses into a positive force for diversification. Our analysis shows diversification prospects vary widely across different types of regions in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, a lot more packaging is used to protect and carry products, since they are no longer sold in bulk. Brazil holds the world's fourth largest consumer market for Hygiene, Perfumery, and Cosmetics—HPC in the world. It can therefore be inferred that there is a large consumption of packaging in this sector. However, the country has with the Brazilian Solid Waste Policy (BSWP), which obligates the implementation of reverse logistics for packaging and introduces the concept of shared responsibility—everyone in the chain is responsible for the waste. This paper aims to analyzed the perception of consumers of the sector of HPC related to the disposal and reverse logistics of packaging of beauty products under the Circular Economy‐CE perspective. For this purpose, we applied an online survey with consumers in the HPC sector in Brazil. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. It was identified that consumers lack knowledge about the concepts of CE and BSWP, indicating a need to improve the environmental awareness of the population. However, most consumers showed interest in companies that are concerned with the destination of used packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the ideological foundations of contemporary capitalism and its organizational models in Brazil. Our analysis considers three positions present in the literature: the thesis of the new spirit of capitalism; the literature about financialization and the shareholder value model; and the configuration of a managerial mode of domination. A content analysis was conducted to investigate normative business content from Brazilian "top voices" on the LinkedIn network. A total of 180 influential texts from 32 authors composed our corpus and were assessed based on an abductive approach that had as references the economies of worth model and a related framework for assessing the dynamic configuration of capitalism justifications. Results support the idea that contemporary capitalism is characterized in ideological terms by the fluidity of normative references restricting the market logic, configuring a complex or managerial mode of domination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of foetal exposure to air pollution from agricultural fires on Brazilian students' cognitive performance later in life. We rely on comparisons across children who were upwind and downwind of the fires while in utero to address concerns around sorting and temporary income shocks. Our findings show that agricultural fires increase PM2.5$$ {\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5} $$, resulting in significant negative effects on pupils' scores in Portuguese and Maths in the 5th$$ 5\mathrm{th} $$ grade through prenatal exposure. Back‐of‐the‐envelope calculations suggest that a 1% reduction in PM2.5$$ {\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5} $$ from agricultural burning has the potential to increase later life wages by 2.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the ideological foundations of contemporary capitalism and its organizational models in Brazil. Our analysis considers three positions present in the literature: the thesis of the new spirit of capitalism; the literature about financialization and the shareholder value model; and the configuration of a managerial mode of domination. A content analysis was conducted to investigate normative business content from Brazilian “top voices” on the LinkedIn network. A total of 180 influential texts from 32 authors composed our corpus and were assessed based on an abductive approach that had as references the economies of worth model and a related framework for assessing the dynamic configuration of capitalism justifications. Results support the idea that contemporary capitalism is characterized in ideological terms by the fluidity of normative references restricting the market logic, configuring a complex or managerial mode of domination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to spatially and regionally examine academic engagement within Brazil, identifying patterns. Moreover, our investigation can contribute to a better understanding of how knowledge can be turned into a tool to fight regional inequality. We depart from two hypotheses: first, universities situated in peripheral regions interact more with companies from relatively more dynamic regions, and second, in the absence of industrial knowledge demand, universities tend to collaborate more closely with a diverse range of stakeholders in the region. To evaluate these hypotheses and find empirical evidence, we consider 4497 research groups and 4603 nonacademic organizations as "nodes" connected by 8830 collaborations throughout all Brazilian regions. Social network tools are used to illustrate the spatial and regional dimensions of academic engagement more accurately. The results show that academic engagement is not regionally homogeneous, demonstrating essential differences regarding local nonacademic partnerships. Innovation policies, which encourage only university–firm interactions, perpetuate regional inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second Fundão Dam Rupture Science Meeting was held in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on 21 and 22 September 2022. A total of 100 delegates attended the meeting, which featured high‐quality oral presentations and posters over the two days and lively discussions of the science presented. The meeting resulted in nine papers being published in this special series. In the discussion, it was commented that the first meeting had been more a meeting of competitive perspectives but that the second meeting featured a more collaborative sharing of knowledge. Also, there had been substantial improvement in ways to deal with the lack of pre‐event data and account for other stressors in the system, and as a result, stronger conclusions regarding the recovery rates of the system were able to be made. Importantly, there was no evidence for a feasible "time bomb" of a future catastrophic release of contaminants, but it was agreed that different scenarios continue to be researched. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:70–73. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given weak protections for whistleblowers in Brazil – a country with over one million federal civil servants and a well‐known history of corruption scandals – how common is whistleblowing? This study presents results from a survey completed by 652 federal civil servants in Brazil. Examining the incidence of wrongdoing, whistleblowing, and retaliation, as well as the role of gender and public service motivation (PSM), we find that women tend to report wrongdoing less often than men, are less willing to engage in subsequent acts of whistleblowing, and experience more retaliation. Similar to previous studies, PSM is positively related to whistleblowing and retaliation diminishes intentions to engage in subsequent whistleblowing. Unlike previous studies, we find that PSM is more predictive of whistleblowing for women than for men. In contributing new findings to research on whistleblowing in lower to middle‐income democracies, this paper contains important policy implications, particularly on the critical question of gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent selection is an effective breeding method for improving complex traits in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding. In this study, we propose a genitor selection strategy, employing a multi‐trait selection approach and genetic diversity analysis. To evaluate our proposed method, we conducted a lattice design trial during the winter seasons of 2020 and 2021 in Viçosa, MG, Brazil, comprising 87 lines and 13 commercial cultivars. It assessed various traits such as plant height, days to heading, wheat leaf rust, tan spot of wheat, a hundred grain mass, hectoliter weight, and grain yield, and the best linear unbiased predictor (BLUP) was obtained for each trait via restricted maximum likelihood. Next, a genotypic distance matrix, derived from principal component analysis using the BLUP values, was computed to perform hierarchical clustering via the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean. The selection of superior genotypes was made utilizing the multi‐trait genotype‐ideotype distance index, resulting in the identification of eight lines and two commercial cultivars as candidates. Furthermore, the genetic diversity analysis revealed distinct clusters among the selected genotypes. To assess the divergence of the chosen genitors, this study proposes a complementarity matrix using factor analysis. Our results indicate that this selection strategy effectively directed the identification of the best and divergent genitors. The complementarity matrix developed in this paper to evaluate the crossings proposal can also be used to evaluate combinations in any panel selected via a multi‐trait approach and can be easily applied and interpreted by breeders of various programs. Core Ideas: Novel strategy to select divergent genitors for cycle zero of recurrent selection program is presented.Multi‐trait selection and genetic diversity analysis of tropical wheat on phenotypic data is presented.A complementarity index based on a factor analysis is presented to evaluate the proposed crossings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In any society, the relationship between economy and politics is characterized by controversy, enigmas and mysteries. Economic performance affects political results, and the political environment and its process produce financial results. Brazil was hit by economic and political crises from 2012 to 2016. Such crises made it possible to redesign the correlation network between the assets negotiated on the B3 (Brazil Stock Exchange and Over‐the‐Counter Market). This paper aimed to analyse the main aspects related to the topological structure of the assets negotiated on the B3 and its volatility between the pre‐and post‐2014 electoral periods. Results showed the hierarchical clusters and the evolution of the systemic risk, with the banks leading the concentration in the post‐electoral period. The closeness centrality indices for the minimum variance portfolios were modified by approximately 80% between the pre‐electoral and post‐electoral periods. It was concluded that the political events significantly changed the structure, the risk and the possibility of selecting assets for portfolios in the Brazilian market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Society is increasingly concerned over the environmental impact of diets. Much of this concern is over the environmentally destructive nature of meat production, especially beef and especially in the Amazon. This article aims to understand the production of beef in Brazil through the understudied perspective of forage grasses. In doing so, the article traces who was involved in the importation and improvement of forage grasses in Brazil, why they were involved, and what the consequences of their actions were. By centering forage grasses, we can better understand the potential consequences of seemingly unimportant plant breeding efforts. Summary: Beef is viewed by many as one of the more environmentally destructive foods today. Whether it is deforestation in the Amazon or concentrated feedlots, the rancher and the cow have come to epitomize the dangers of a global industrial food system. This article looks at the industrialization of beef cattle from another angle, a bit closer to the ground. It looks at the role and circulation of plants and plant breeders in the expansion of beef cattle in the Brazilian tropics.The article draws on documents collected from the institutional archives of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, known by its Portuguese acronym Embrapa and the Rockefeller Archive Center. Additional archival documents were acquired by a personal contact. Embrapa was established in 1973, but its archives contain documents from Brazilian agricultural research agencies from as far back as 1952. Documents from the Rockefeller Archive Center include research bulletins and reports from Nelson Rockefeller's IBEC Research Institute (IRI), which conducted research on forage grasses from the 1950s until the 1970s.The article puts forth the argument that imported and improved forage grasses made large‐scale cattle ranching environmentally viable and economically profitable in Brazil. One type of grass in particular, Brachiaria, was central in propelling Brazil as the world's largest producer of beef and underpinning perhaps the most environmentally and socially destructive cattle ranching system in the world. Brachiaria was a key biological and technological input to further entrench longstanding structural inequalities of land ownership.One of the key conclusions of this article is that perspectives from the margins can be illustrative of how seemingly unimportant research (forage grass breeding) can have massive consequences as part of a broader socio‐environmental system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Diversity & Distributions is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Between 2013 and 2017, we carried out nine field missions in the Lago Grande de Curuai floodplain, located in Pará state – North of Brazil – to collect samples for monitoring surface water quality. This site separated from the river by a narrow bank is composed of a network of channels and shallow lakes, a morphology shared by the floodplains of the lower Amazon. A multiparameter probe was used in situ to measure electrical conductivity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, turbidity, depth and a Secchi disk to estimate transparency. Water grab samples were analysed for suspended material, alkalinity, humic acid, phosphorus, nitrogen, carbon and chlorophyll. Sampling stations were distributed over the seven larger lakes in the floodplain and sampled at different periods of the hydrological cycle. The number of samples varied with the floodplain water level, with a minimum of 25 samples for each field visit. This data set is a collection of water quality data to assist in the limnological or biogeochemical studies of surface waters in Amazonian floodplain lakes, and the product of successive French‐Brazilian projects: (1) the Clim‐FABIAM 'Climate changes and Floodplain lake biodiversity in the Amazon Basin: how to cope and help the ecological and economic sustainability' funded by the French Foundation for biodiversity research (FRB), (2) the project Bloom‐ALERT –'Environmental sensitivity and population health vulnerability to cyanobacteria in the Amazon: towards shared indicators' funded by the French‐Brazilian research program GUYAMAZON 2014, and the project (3) 'Ecossistemas das várzeas e biodiversidade: Impactos das mudanças ambientais e climáticas considerando cenários de desenvolvimento sustentáveis' (Project number 490634/2013‐3) funded by the Brazilian National scientific Research Council CNPq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The efficiency of animal‐mediated seed dispersal is threatened by the decline of animal populations, especially in tropical forests. We hypothesise that large‐seeded plants with animal‐mediated dispersal tend to have limited geographic ranges and face an increased risk of extinction due to the potential decline in seed dispersal by large‐bodied fruit‐eating and seed‐dispersing animals (frugivores). Location: Atlantic Forest, Brazil, South America. Taxon: Angiosperms. Methods: First, we collected dispersal‐related traits (dispersal syndrome, fruit size, and seed size), growth form (tree, climber, and other) and preferred vegetation type (open and closed) data for 1052 Atlantic Forest plant species. Next, we integrated these with occurrence records, extinction risk assessments, and phylogenetic trees. Finally, we performed phylogenetic generalised least squares regressions to test the direct and interactive effects of dispersal‐related traits and vegetation type on geographical range size. Results: Large‐seeded species had smaller range sizes than small‐seeded species, but only for species with animal‐mediated dispersal, not for those dispersed by abiotic mechanisms. However, plants with abiotic dispersal had overall smaller range sizes than plants with animal‐mediated dispersal. Furthermore, we found that species restricted to forests had smaller ranges than those occurring in open or mixed vegetation. Finally, at least 29% of the Atlantic Forest flora is threatened by extinction, but this was not related to plant dispersal syndromes. Main Conclusions: Large‐seeded plants with animal‐mediated dispersal may be suffering from dispersal limitation, potentially due to past and ongoing defaunation of large‐bodied frugivores, leading to small range sizes. Other factors, such as deforestation and fragmentation, will probably modulate the effects of dispersal on range size, and ultimately extinction. Our study sheds light on the relationship between plant traits, mutualistic interactions, and distribution that are key to the functioning of tropical forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endemic to the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil, the critically endangered Buffy‐Headed marmoset (Callithrix flaviceps) is lacking the required attention for effective conservation. We modelled its ecological niche with the main objectives of (1) defining suitable habitat and (2) prioritising areas for conservation and/or restoration. The current geographical range of Callithrix flaviceps in the Atlantic Forest of Southeast Brazil. We used Ensemble Species Distribution Modelling to define current habitat suitability considering four climate and two landscape variables. To identify areas to prioritise for conservation and/or restoration, we predicted future habitat suitability considering the intermediate (RCP4.5) and extreme (RCP8.5) climate change scenarios for the years 2050 and 2070. Among the variables included to predict current species distribution, tree canopy cover, precipitation seasonality and temperature seasonality were the most important whereas digital elevation model and precipitation during the wettest month were the least important. Callithrix flaviceps was most likely to occur in areas with tree canopy cover >80%, high precipitation seasonality and temperature seasonality between 21 and 23°C. From the future suitability prediction maps, the Caparaó National Park stands out as a likely key area for the preservation of the species. Furthermore, high climatic suitability but low landscape suitability suggests that habitat restoration in 'Serra das Torres' (South of the current distribution area) might be a useful strategy. However, creating ecological corridors on the west side of Caparaó would be necessary to improve connectivity. More surveys within and beyond the current geographical range are required to define more precisely the distribution of the species. Our results support the notion that seasonality is important for Callithrix flaviceps and that as a montane species, it prefers colder environments and higher altitudes. Within both climate change scenarios, Caparaó National Park was predicted to be highly suitable, with a high probability of presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Initial dementia prevalence estimates have revealed a significant burden of the disease in Indigenous communities in Amazonas, Brazil. However, the need for culturally adapted cognitive tools poses a critical challenge when assessing cognitive performance in these communities. This study addressed this issue by culturally adapting and providing validity indicators for the Brazilian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (BRICA) tool in Manaus, Brazil's urban multiethnic Indigenous community. METHODS: Using a three‐stage process and a stakeholder‐engaged approach, the BRICA tool was culturally adapted in an urban multiethnic Indigenous community from Manaus, Brazil. The content validity index (CVI) examined inter‐rater concordance between experts, while criterion and concurrent validity were performed using diagnostic consensus criteria in 141 Indigenous participants aged ≥ 50 years. RESULTS: Findings showed evidence of content validity in terms of equivalence aspects (scale CVI [S‐CVI] 0.93) and relevance ratings (S‐CVI 0.85) between expert panels. The identified cut‐off score of ≤ 33/39 on the BRICA demonstrated a sensitivity of 94.4%, specificity of 99.2%, positive predictive value of 94.4%, and negative predictive value of 99.2% for dementia diagnosis. DISCUSSION: Using a stakeholder‐engaged approach, we culturally adapted the BRICA tool for a Brazilian urban multiethnic Indigenous community. This comprehensive adaptation process resulted in favorable indicators of content, construct, and criteria validity for the BRICA tool. By addressing the existing bias in cognitive assessment within Indigenous communities, the BRICA tool represents a noteworthy breakthrough. Its implementation exhibits potential for improving the early detection and management of dementia among Indigenous groups. Highlights: Culturally sensitive tools are essential to assess cognition in Indigenous populations.An expert panel and stakeholders' perspectives were incorporated to design the Brazilian Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (BRICA) tool.A cognitive screening tool was adapted and validated using a stakeholder approach.BRICA is the first culturally sensitive cognitive tool for urban Brazilian Indigenous individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Surface and subsurface acidity and soil compaction restrict root exploration and impair crop yields in agropastoral systems under no‐till. To support the development of surface and subsurface acidity correction methodologies that can decrease soil compaction in agropastoral systems under no‐till, this study tested the following hypotheses: (a) the incorporation of limestone with plowing and harrowing (conventional tillage) for surface and subsurface acidity correction decreases soil compaction in agropastoral systems under no‐till, (b) the subsurface application of hydrated lime with a shank subsoiler‐fertilizer (minimum tillage) for surface and subsurface acidity correction decreases soil compaction in agropastoral systems under no‐till, and (c) the surface application of Ca compounds (no tillage) for surface and subsurface acidity correction increases soil compaction in agropastoral systems under no‐till. In a field experiment in an agropastoral system under no‐till in an Arenic Hapludalf in Brazil, the abilities of three application management methodologies (no tillage, conventional tillage, and minimum tillage) for three Ca compounds (limestone, phosphogypsum, and hydrated lime) to ameliorate acidity in the surface and subsurface layers and decrease soil compaction were evaluated. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications. The results support the following conclusions: (a) the incorporation of limestone with plowing and harrowing does not decrease soil compaction in agropastoral systems under no‐till; (b) the subsurface application of hydrated lime with a shank subsoiler‐fertilizer does not decrease soil compaction in agropastoral systems under no‐till; and (c) the surface application of limestone does not increase soil compaction in agropastoral systems under no‐till. Core Ideas: The incorporation of limestone with plowing and harrowing does not decrease soil compaction.The subsurface application of hydrated lime with a shank subsoiler‐fertilizer does not decrease soil compaction.The surface application of limestone does not increase soil compaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Signals recorded by two stations in the Brazilian region: [Fortaleza (3.74°S, 38.57°W) and Inconfidentes (22.31°S, 46.32°W)], receiving L1 transmissions from different geostationary satellites, were used to evaluate the amplitude scintillation index S4 and several characteristics of scintillation events (continuous record with S4 > 0.2) during nighttime hours (18:00 LT–02:00 LT) in the years 2014–2016. The effects from solar activity, season, and local time on the number of scintillation events per night, maximum scintillation, scintillation event duration, and spacing between consecutive events will be discussed. The results indicate that: (a) scintillation occurs from September to March in both links; (b) the most likely numbers of observed scintillation events per night were two or three, particularly during the first 2 years; (c) on average, the first scintillation event usually had larger maximum S4 values when compared to those of the later ones along the night; (d) the first scintillation event had a longer mean duration than the succeeding ones in a given night; (e) the durations of scintillation events, regardless of their numbers per night and the location, decreased with local time; (f) the opposite dependence of spacings between consecutive events on local time was observed; (g) the cumulative distribution functions of the scintillation onset time indicated a strong dependence on the dip latitude of the station; and (h) early occurrences of onset times are directly related to the increased probability of the occurrence of multiple scintillation events. Plain Language Summary: This study used radio signals from geostationary satellites collected from two ground‐based stations in distinct dip latitudes over Brazil to evaluate aspects of amplitude scintillation. The investigation focused on the number of occurrences and in their specific characteristics such as intensity, duration, and spacing between consecutive scintillation events. The early nighttime hours, when scintillation is more likely to affect the signals were considered during the months of September to March over the years of 2014–2016, covering varied seasonal and solar flux conditions. The findings indicate that scintillation events earlier in the night have larger S4 values and longer duration, being more severe for transionospheric signals. The results also show that earlier onset of scintillation events is likely to indicate multiple events over the night. These new findings contribute to the understanding of scintillation phenomenon and provide valuable insights for improving satellite‐based systems in equatorial and low‐latitude regions. Key Points: The first scintillation event has larger maximum S4 values and longer mean duration when compared to the subsequent eventsThe durations of the scintillation events decrease with local time. The spacing between consecutive events shows the opposite trend; andEarlier occurrences of onset times are related to the increased probability of the occurrence of multiple scintillation events [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]