Search

To investigate the biomechanical factors associated with patellofemoral pain in children and adolescents. A cross-sectional, population-based study conducted in Brazil from 2019 to 2023, involving students from public schools. Adjusted prevalence ratios and their respective 95% confidence intervals for the outcome in relation to independent variables were calculated for association analysis, adopting a significance level of 5%. Out of the total of 283 students, 152 were female and 182 were aged between 16 and 18 years old. A positive association was observed between the presence of patellofemoral pain and a poor movement quality in both lower limbs (right side: p = 0.04 and left side: p = 0.04) as well as with dynamic valgus of the left lower limb (p < 0.01). Patellofemoral pain in children and adolescents is associated with poor movement quality in the lower limbs and dynamic valgus of the left lower limb. Actions targeting these biomechanical factors may be crucial for early diagnosis and clinical treatment of this disfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared reflectance spectroscopy has demonstrated potential as a tool for monitoring and preventing contamination in different environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usage of near-infrared spectroscopy for predicting heavy-metal contamination in mangrove soils from the Botafogo River estuary located in Pernambuco State, Northeastern Brazil. These soils exhibit the highest mercury (Hg) levels ever reported for Brazilian mangrove soils. Sixty-one samples (obtained at depths ranging from 0 to 5 cm) were collected and measured using near-infrared (1000–2500 nm) reflectance spectroscopy. Preprocessing methods were applied, and partial least squares regression was used to build prediction models for attributes such as clay content, soil organic matter (SOM), pH, Eh, and concentrations of Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The models were evaluated using root mean squared error (RMSE), the adjusted coefficient of determination (R2adj), bias, the ratio of performance to interquartile distance (RPIQ), and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The best outcomes were noted for concentrations of Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Pb (RPIQ > 2.5 and R2adj > 0.80); second-best outcomes were found for Zn and SOM (RPIQ > 1.5 and R2adj > 0.70). Clay content, pH and Eh exhibited the poorest outcomes (RPIQ < 1.5). The importance of spectral preprocessing is highlighted, notably with Savitzky-Golay derivatives and Multiplicative Scatter Corrections, which boosted performance for most of the variables. Near-infrared spectroscopy can be efficiently used to predict Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and SOM and represents a technique complementary to traditional analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article exposes and analyzes the potentialities and limits of the activities of public defenders who work in Brazilian criminal sentence enforcement courts. It is the result of a work of systematization of different research experiences carried out in recent years: an ethnographic research with the Public Defender's Office of São Paulo and a documentary research on criminal sentence enforcement proceedings in the state of Rio de Janeiro. After making some general considerations about the role of public legal assistance in the Brazilian criminal justice system, the article explores the role of public defenders in some key moments of a sentence enforcement process: in the elaboration of a request of benefit; in the inspection of procedural records; in the monitoring of the processing time of the court; and, finally, in the defense at administrative processes of disciplinary infractions. In all those situations it is possible to perceive the aporetic or paradoxical character of the public defenders' operations. On the one hand, their intervention in sentence enforcement proceedings appears to be absolutely essential, triggering the rights and benefits that make the prison population flow through the prisons in Brazil. On the other hand, public defenders appear as agents that are absolutely powerless, if not entirely useless, because they are incapable of making the justice system observe, in due course, the most ordinary subjective rights of a convict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemiparasitic plants can directly influence host plants performance through the invasion of the vascular system. However, the extent to which host plants can influence hemiparasitic plants is poorly understood. We investigated the phenology, reproductive components (pollen grains, flower buds, flowers, and fruits), and floral visitors' composition and behavior (time spent per flower and number of flowers visited) of Struthanthus polyanthus (Loranthaceae) in three different host species. Moreover, we explored the effects of abiotic (light, temperature, and humidity) and biotic factors (host plants) on S. polyanthus's floral visitors. The study was carried out from September 2015 to December 2016, in a savanna area in Brazil, in three different hosts. Our results indicated significant effects of host plants and abiotic variables on hemiparasitic plants and their floral visitors. We found that although the phenological events of S. polyanthus among hosts coincided throughout the year, the S. polyanthus' reproductive components were differently affected by hosts, and the host plants significantly influenced the S. polyanthus floral visitors' composition and behavior. Finally, abiotic factors influenced the time spent per flower and the number of flowers visited by floral visitors of S. polyanthus. Our study highlights the context-dependent performance of a hemiparasitic plant, contributing to a better understanding of plant–plant relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from Porto Alegre region (Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil) remain understudied. We therefore investigated mosquitoes occurring in 11 sites of this region, and evaluated which landscape features may explain the variation of species richness and composition of mosquito populations in different urban-natural areas of the study region. Using BG-Pro traps, we collected 4311 mosquitoes, from at least 50 species, 14 genera, and two subfamilies. Mansonia titillans (n = 598, 13.87%), Culex spp. (n = 513, 11.9%), and Mansonia wilsonii (n = 502, 11.65%) were the most abundant taxa. Aedes aegypti (n = 36, 0.84%) is potentially exploring new landscapes in the region, beyond human habitations. We identified two new descriptions for the Rio Grande do Sul state, Mansonia pessoai (n = 70, 1.62%) and Toxorhynchites theobaldi (n = 6, 0.14%). The model selection procedure identified that the percentage coverage of temporary crops and the Simpson's diversity index at landscape level as possible variables explaining the species richness, while percentage coverage of urban and temporary crops were the best predictors of species composition. BG-Pro traps were efficient for catching several adult mosquito species including Toxorhynchites mosquitoes. Therefore, this could be an interesting sampling methodology for mosquito surveillance. Implications for insect conservation: This study expanded the knowledge about Culicidae diversity in Brazil, highlighted the importance of green urban areas for biodiversity conservation, and provided data for entomological surveillance programs. This study also contributes to the conservation of mosquito species that pose no risk to human health (e.g., Toxorhynchites), highlighting that such species have relevant ecological roles, unrelated to disease transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital sewage is considered an environment with the potential to favor the spread and increase of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR). The increase in antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest global threats today. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the profile of antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence factors in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from the sewage of a tertiary hospital located in southeastern Brazil. For bacterial isolation, membrane filtering, serial dilution, and spread-plate techniques were used. The bacterial isolates were identified using the MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight) technique. Antimicrobial susceptibility profile was performed by disk-diffusion test. Virulence genes were screened by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and the hypermucoviscosity phenotype by string test. In total, 13 enterobacteria distributed in three species were identified (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Citrobacter freundii) and 76.9% (n = 10) were classified as MDR. Two K. pneumoniae demonstrated the hypermucoviscosity phenotype. The virulence genes ycfM and entB were detected in all K. pneumoniae isolates (other genes found were fimH, mrkD, and kfu). The results indicated that the sewage from the analyzed hospital receives MDR bacteria and has the potential to contaminate and spread through the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bird hunting in Brazil's semi-arid region is a widespread practice with implications for biodiversity conservation and food security in local communities. This study evaluated how socioeconomic factors determine the activity level and bird hunting profile in Catimbau National Park where it is banned. We tested if gender, age, schooling, occupation, receipt of government aid, income, and the number of family members influence whether or not a person is a hunter, looking at past and present hunting activities. We also test if these same socioeconomic variables determine the hunting profile, influenced by the total known species, nature of hunting (food or other uses), and total known techniques. In seven peasant communities, we interviewed 47 respondents through semi-structured interviews. We conducted two multiple component analyses to characterize the profile of hunters. Our results show that socioeconomic factors do not define historical hunting. However, gender defines current activity, which is predominantly by men. We believe that the context of prohibition and penalization requires an evaluation of the cost and benefit of hunting activity, in which the risk of being arrested or losing government aid is factored in. The profile of bird hunters is not merely governed by socioeconomic logic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genotype × environment (GE) interaction can difficult soybean breeding programs to achieve the aim of more productive cultivars. Environment stratification is a way to circumvent this problem. However, multiyear data studies are difficult to work with, because they are, usually, unbalanced. GGE Biplot is an efficient method to find mega-environments, however, it allows for, at most, 30% of the unbalanced data. Thinking about how we could resolve this problem we came up with the idea of test a method that englobes GGE Biplot graphs, environment coincidence matrices and networks of environment. Wherefore, this work aimed to gather GGE Biplot graphs of a network of trials unbalance multiyear soybean via matrices of coincidence and networks of environment to optimize environmental stratification. Data from an experimental network of 43 trials was used, these experiments were implanted in 23 municipalities during the crop seasons of 2011/2012, 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2015/2016 in Brazil. The trials were implanted under an experimental block design with randomized treatments and approximately 30 genotypes were evaluated, of which most of these genotypes were not repeated between the trials evaluated. The GE interaction were statistically significant for all 43 trials. The step by step of our analyses was: GGE Biplots graphs were obtained; the environment coincidence matrices were calculated; the values of matrices were used to obtain the networks of environmental similarity. The study demonstrated that by the method was possible to identify, using unbalanced multiyear data, four mega-environments. The region under study can be represented by the municipalities of Palotina, Maracaju, Bela Vista do Paraíso and Rolândia. Therefore, integrating GGE Biplot graphs and networks of environmental similarity is an efficient method to optimize a soybean program by environment stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The practice of physical activity has been recommended during the pandemic period of COVID-19 as a way of preventing the worsening of physical and mental health. After the increase in COVID-19 cases in Brazil and the new lockdown decrees, many people have reported that they are unable to engage in physical activity during the lockdown. Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the barriers to physical activity in the 2nd lockdown in the state of Ceará, Northeast Brazil. Methods: 1036 (55.6% women) residents of the state of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil participated in the study. For data collection, a questionnaire was used including sample characterization questions, physical activity, and barriers to physical activity during the 2nd lockdown in the state of Ceará. This instrument was made available by Google Forms, between March 8th and 19th, 2021. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: The three most relevant barriers were: Lack of motivation (7.3%), lack of space at home (5.9%) professional instructions (2.8%). The lack of space at home barrier was associated with age (OR = 2.56; CI 95% 1.05–6.02) and living in the capital (OR = 2.53; CI 95% 1.26–5.33). The barriers, taking care of children (OR = 3.75; CI 95% 1.37–10.2) and increased time spent on daily activities (OR = 2.20; CI 95% 1.02–4.74) were associated with living in the metropolitan region. Conclusion: The lack of motivation, space at home, and professional instruction showed as being limiting factors to physical activity during the lockdown, indicating plans of action aimed at encouraging the practice of physical activity during a pandemic period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main categories of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are arboviruses, of which Dengue and Chikungunya are the most common. Arboviruses mainly affect tropical countries. Brazil has the largest absolute number of cases in Latin America. This work presents a unified data set with clinical, sociodemographic, and laboratorial data on confirmed patients of Dengue and Chikungunya, as well as patients ruled out of infection from these diseases. The data is based on case notification data submitted to the Brazilian Information System for Notifiable Diseases, from Portuguese Sistema de Informação de Agravo de Notificação (SINAN), from 2013 to 2020. The original data set comprised 13,421,230 records and 118 attributes. Following a pre-processing process, a final data set of 7,632,542 records and 56 attributes was generated. The data presented in this work will assist researchers in investigating antecedents of arbovirus emergence and transmission more generally, and Dengue and Chikungunya in particular. Furthermore, it can be used to train and test machine learning models for differential diagnosis and multi-class classification. Measurement(s) clinical data Technology Type(s) interview [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Some commercial/industrial sectors have increased their interest in sustainability, in some cases changing their business focus, from a profit-centered approach to a more balanced view, including environmental and social factors. It means that the interest in sustainability is increasing. Life cycle management (LCM) is a methodology/concept that can contribute to this paradigm shift. In this research, the potential application of LCM in the bakery segment was investigated, considering the entire value chain related to the sector (inputs, packaging, suppliers, customers, waste management). Methods: Bakeries were visited, in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, to learn about the products, services, production processes, and the socio-environmental and economic sustainability practices, aiming at identifying bottlenecks and to propose alternatives based on LCM. Besides the field approach, the study was structured based on the literature that brings the concepts and potentialities of applying LCM in various economic/industrial sectors. The PDCA cycle and the SWOT Matrix were also used to assist the implementation of LCM. A roadmap was proposed aiming at the LCM implementation in bakeries. Results: The results show that although the sector has some environmentally sustainable practices (waste separation, energy savings, reuse of products, inputs purchased locally), the primary intention is to reduce costs and not to mitigate environmental impacts. Regarding social responsibility, they donate bread to institutions. This is an important attitude, but not the only one for fulfilling the social role within the value chain. They do not consider suppliers that show concern for the environment (certified companies), and both marketing and product labels do not evoke these issues too. Conclusions and recommendations: Thus, there is the possibility of implementing LCM in bakeries if there is a concern with sustainable production and consumption. A roadmap for implementing LCM in bakeries was proposed including some steps: mapping the life cycle of products/processes/services associated with the sector; analyzing factors that can influence the actions towards sustainability; disseminating life cycle information to the entire value chain; efficient waste management, including the partnership with recycling companies; and treatment of the collected data and improvement proposal, using management tools such as the PDCA Cycle, the SWOT Matrix, and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aiming at the search for environmental and economic sustainability and social fair alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) clones have become a major threat to global public health. The clonal group 258 (CG258) is considered a high-risk CG and the K. pneumoniae strains belonging to it are often multi-resistant and to spread mainly in the hospital environment. This study aimed to characterize the antimicrobial resistance profile, virulence factors, and the clonal relationships among 13 K. pneumoniae strains belonging to CG258 from patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Teresina, in the state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil. Ten strains were classified as MDR and three as extensively drug-resistant (XDR). Three different β-lactamase-encoding genes (blaKPC, blaOXA-1-like, and blaCTX-M-Gp1) and six virulence genes (fimH, ycfM, mrkD, entB, ybtS, and kfu) were detected. Moreover, two hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae strains and one capsular K-type 2 were found. Multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed ten different sequence types (STs) (ST14, ST17, ST20, ST29, ST45, ST101, ST268, ST1800, ST3995, and ST3996) belonging to CG258, being two (ST3995 and ST3996) described for the first time in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale farmers who depend on natural resources for subsistence in rural areas are especially vulnerable to climate change and may develop adaptive responses once they understand the nature of the risks and their consequences. We examine the effects of schooling, experience in agriculture, and the number and severity of risks perceived by farmers on the number and type of adaptive responses developed. Ninety-four farmers were surveyed in six rural communities in Catimbau National Park, Pernambuco, Brazil, to obtain socioeconomic data about major drought events and perceived related risks. Participants were asked to classify risks according to their severity. We argue that understanding the degree of vulnerability of social-ecological systems in semi-arid regions may facilitate actions at different scales to mitigate risks arising from climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidating woody community diversity and structure change along environmental gradients is still a central issue of tropical forest ecology. We have evaluated changes in alpha and beta diversity, community composition and structure of woody communities along an elevational gradient in Dwarf Cloud Forests, Southeast Brazil. We selected five areas along an elevational gradient (1,300–1,600 m asl), and randomly allocated 10 plots (10 m × 20 m) in each area in the Ibitipoca State Park (ISP), Serra da Mantiqueira, southeastern Brazil. All woody species (diameter at breast height ⩾ 5.0 cm) were collected for taxonomic identification. Thus, we analysed the woody communities based on a phytosociological approach. Overall, 147 species and 37 families were recorded, distributed in 2,303 individuals. No differences in the species richness pattern were observed between areas using the rarefaction and extrapolation curves. Significant differences in species composition and structure between areas were observed. The high beta diversity observed, corroborated by the Jaccard coefficient, increases with decreasing altitude. Our results showed that woody communities in the studied Dwarf Cloud Forests have a higher diversity and structural variability along elevational gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cactaceae display a wide array of pollination systems, with many different animals already confirmed as pollinators. Pilosocereus is one of the most conspicuous bat-pollinated genera characteristic of the tropical dry forests of Brazil, known as Caatinga. The role of bats, hawkmoths and bees as pollinators in natural populations was investigated for four Pilosocereus species (P. catingicola, P. chrysostele, P. gounellei and P. pachycladus). Earlier results obtained with P. tuberculatus were also included in the comparative discussion. These species depend mainly upon nocturnal visitors; however, Xylocopa grisescens bees also play a secondary role in the fruit set. Although chiropterophily is predominant in Pilosocereus, P. gounellei was visited and pollinated at night exclusively by sphingids. All species are described as presenting a chiropterophilous syndrome based on their nocturnal anthesis, strong and unpleasant flower scent, pale, white or cream inner perianth, compact and abundant flower parts, and large volume of nectar with low sugar concentration. Pollen is available and the stigma is receptive throughout anthesis. With the exception of P. gounellei, there was no fruit set from spontaneous or manual self-pollination, indicating that allogamy is the predominant reproductive system in all the species studied. These species thus rely on animals that function as efficient pollen vectors for their sexual reproduction. The Pilosocereus species present different levels of dependence on bats, from the participation of secondary pollinators to not being visited by bats at all. Dependence levels are associated with the species floral attributes, which, although subdued, can determine different pollination systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) enrichment can have large effects on mangroves' capacity to provide critical ecosystem services by affecting fundamental functions such as N cycling and primary productivity. However, our understanding of excess N input effects on N cycling in mangroves remains quite limited. To advance our understanding of how N enrichment via water or air pollution affects mangroves, we evaluated whether increasing N inputs would decrease biological N fixation (BNF), but intensify N dynamics and N losses to the atmosphere in these systems. We measured N concentrations in sediment and vegetation, rates of BNF in sediment and litter, and net sediment ammonification and nitrification rates. We also evaluated long-term integrated N dynamics and N losses to the atmosphere using the natural abundance of N stable isotopes (δ15N) in the sediment–plant system and in estuarine water. We performed these analyses at non-N-enriched and N-enriched (that is, polluted) fringe and basin mangroves in southeastern Brazil. The δ15N in the sediment–plant system was higher at N-enriched than non-N-enriched fringe sites, indicating increased N losses to the atmosphere from N-enriched sites. However, N concentrations in sediment and vegetation were similar or lower at N-enriched relative to non-N-enriched sites. BNF and net ammonification and nitrification rates were also similar between N-enriched and non-N-enriched sites. Excess N inputs intensified N losses to the atmosphere from mangroves, but N pools, BNF, and net ammonification and nitrification rates were not affected by N enrichment, likely because excess N was quickly lost from the system by direct denitrification and volatilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this study was to identify if lower limb pain with neuropathic characteristics is predictive of depressive symptoms in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated in primary care in Brazil. It was investigated if diabetic and non-diabetic related variables could influence depressive symptoms. A quantitative and cross-sectional study was carried out in two Basic Health Units with users of the Brazilian Public Healthcare System, who were evaluated for depressive symptoms (BDI), quality of life (QoL, SF6D), pain intensity, neuropathy (loss of plantar sensitivity—LOPPS), body composition (DEXA), biochemical tests, sociodemographic variables, and comorbidities. The patients were stratified into four groups: N+P+, N+P−, N−P+, and N−P− (N = neuropathy and P = pain). One hundred twenty-one diabetics were selected by random sampling between August 2016 and June 2017. Neuropathy affected 53.8% of these individuals, and 59.5% reported intense pain. Overall depressive symptoms scores showed a positive correlation with pain intensity and a negative correlation with QoL. Depressive symptoms were reported by 66.9% of the sample, mostly female, with better levels of cholesterol, HDL and LDL; comorbidities; worse QoL; greater intensity of pain; impaired sleep; and painful neuropathy (N+P+). The predictive factors for depressive symptoms were lower QoL, pain with neuropathic characteristics, female sex, obesity, and ineffective glycemic control. These data may contribute to the understanding of the complexity of patients with T2DM who are treated in primary care and to public policies planning of care directed at the needs of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated children’s perceptions of their learning experiences in early childhood education and care using data from two different settings: Brazil and Finland. We adopted a qualitative and cross-national research design. Photographs were used to gather children’s representations of their learning places and spaces and also later to elicit reflections during group interviews. This process of using photographs allowed us to elicit children’s perceptions about their learning. The analysis consisted of content categorization of the photographs, content analysis of the interviews, and juxtaposition of materials in a comparative framework. The children represented and conceived their learning experience in four categories of school spaces: objects, actions, significant others, and cultural practices. By analyzing each of these categories, we identify five core elements of children’s perceptions about their learning: relevance of peer interactions; recognition of learning through play; children’s acknowledgment of their own competence for learning; school spaces as places for learning actions; and present time as the timeframe for learning. Practical implications of these findings are discussed, including the importance and relevance of considering children’s perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, comfort and attitudes of physiotherapy students towards human sexuality. An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in four universities. Physiotherapy students (n = 248) enrolled in an undergraduate degree program were invited to participate and 203 (82%) were included. Students were enrolled in the first (29%), second (22%), third (33%) and fourth (16%) years of the undergraduate degree program. The instrument used was the Scale of Knowledge, Comfort and Attitudes of Physiotherapy Students towards Human Sexuality. Results indicated that students enrolled in the first year of the program reported less knowledge then students in the third (p ≤ 0.001) and fourth years (p ≤ 0.001). Students enrolled in the second year reported less knowledge than the students in the third (p = 0.007) and fourth years (p = 0.002). Students enrolled in the fourth year of the program reported more discomfort compared with students enrolled in the first year (p = 0.049). Additionally, female students showed more discomfort, especially when issues are related to male patients. These findings highlight the importance of a change in the physiotherapy curriculum to better prepare future physiotherapists in delivering holistic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A preference inversion occurs when "worse" health (instead of "better" health) along a scale or score is preferred. Our aim was to confirm past findings of EQ-5D-5L preference inversions among English-speaking respondents and to explore inversions among Portuguese-speaking respondents. Anecdotal evidence suggests that inversions may be more common in the Portuguese version, where the translation of the fourth level "severely" (gravemente) means "gravely."Methods: Through an infusion clinic in Tampa, Florida, United States and a cardiology clinic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 740 respondents completed a tablet-based survey, which included the EQ-5D-3L and -5L followed by paired comparisons designed to assess preference inversions between the fourth and fifth levels of each of the five domains: Mobility (MO), Self-Care (SC), Usual Activity (UA), Pain/Discomfort (PD), and Anxiety/Depression (AD). An example from the AD dimension would be: "Which do you prefer? Starting today, 30 days with health problems: Severely anxious or depressed or Extremely anxious or depressed" (i.e., Level 4 AD vs. Level 5 AD).Results: In the English-speaking respondents, preference inversion was only observed to a substantial extent in the AD dimension (U.S. N = 470; 7% MO, 14% SC, 14% UA, 20% PD, and 45% AD). Inversions were more common among the Portuguese-speaking respondents (Brazil N = 270; 11% MO, 32% SC, 35% UA, 49% PD, and 65% AD). Specifically, 44 out of 68 Brazilian respondents (65%) preferred "extremamente" (Level 5 AD) over "gravemente ansioso (a) ou deprimido (a)" (Level 4 AD).Conclusions: This evidence confirms previous findings for the U.S. English version of the EQ-5D-5L and led to a relabeling on the Portuguese version. It demonstrates the usefulness of collaboration between psychometric, econometric, and linguistic experts in developing the wording for and translating preference-based measures of health-related quality of life. Further research may explore inversions in other translations. The authors recommend that preference inversion tests should be included in the development and translation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To translate, cross-culturally adapt and test the measurement properties of the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire (ÖMPSQ) short and long versions in Brazilian-Portuguese.Methods: The ÖMPSQ versions were translated, cross-culturally adapted and pretested in 30 patients with acute and subacute non-specific low back pain. Internal consistency, reproducibility (reliability and agreement), construct validity, and ceiling and floor effects were tested in 100 patients. Construct validity was assessed using the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK), and the Pain Numerical Rating Scale.Results: Internal consistency was adequate (ÖMPSQ: Cronbach's alpha = 0.83; ÖMPSQ-short: Cronbach's alpha = 0.72). Reliability was substantial (ÖMPSQ: ICC2,1 0.76; ÖMPSQ-short: 0.78). Standard error of measurement was very good for the ÖMPSQ (5 %) and good for the ÖMPSQ-short (6.7 %); limits of agreement were 13.07 for the ÖMPSQ and 1.37 for the ÖMPSQ-short; and the minimum detectable change was 25.12 for the ÖMPSQ and 15.51 for the ÖMPSQ-short. The ÖMPSQ total score showed a good correlation with the RMDQ (r = 0.73) and the TSK (r = 0.64) and a moderate correlation with pain intensity (current pain: r = 0.36; last 2 weeks: r = 0.37; last episode: r = 0.46). Moreover, ÖMPSQ-short showed a good correlation with RMDQ (r = 0.69) and a moderate correlation with TSK (r = 0.57) and pain (current pain: r = 0.34; last 2 weeks: r = 0.36; last episode: r = 0.54). No ceiling or floor effects were detected in both versions.Conclusion: The Brazilian-Portuguese ÖMPSQ and ÖMPSQ-short showed acceptable measurement properties and provide evidence that the Brazilian-Portuguese versions of ÖMPSQ and ÖMPSQ-short are similar to the original versions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Menopause can be defined as the complete interruption of menstrual cycles. The period which precedes this event is termed climacteric. Improvements in medical-care have brought an increase in the life expectancy of people with disabilities and increased the number of women with disabilities who experience climacteric and menopause. The objective of this review was to analyze available data on the health care, health status and symptoms perceived by women with disabilities during the climacteric and menopause period. A search in the literature was performed considering nine electronic databases-Medline, Cinahl, Scielo, Lilacs, SportDiscus, Web of Science, Academic Search Premier and PsycInfo. The inclusion criteria were: (a) field study with the participation of climacteric and/or post-menopausal women with some kind of disability; (b) evaluation of the health conditions of the participating women, with the care taken in order to maintain their health during this period and/or the symptoms perceived during climacteric. Seventeen studies were selected. Specific characteristics of the climacteric and menopause process in disabled women were found in all the studies. This review highlights the necessity to create a questionnaire and evaluation methods for assessing the health status and healthcare, as well as the specific climacteric symptoms of women with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of dental pain during pregnancy and its association with sociodemographic factors and oral health conditions among 315 pregnant women in South Brazil. Participants were interviewed to obtain sociodemographic data, such as age, educational level, employment status, family income, and marital and parity status. Medical and dental histories were also collected, including the occurrence of dental pain and the use of dental services during pregnancy. Clinical examinations were performed to assess the presence of visible plaque and gingival bleeding and to calculate the decayed, missing, and filled teeth index. Means and standard deviations of continuous variables and frequencies and percentages of categorical variables were calculated. Independent variables were included in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. A total of 173 (54.9 %) pregnant women reported dental pain during pregnancy. After adjustment of the analysis, caries activity remained the main determinant of dental pain (odds ratio 3.33, 95 % CI 1.67-6.65). The prevalence of dental pain during pregnancy was high and the presence of caries activity was a determinant of dental pain. Moreover, access to oral health care was low, despite pregnant women's increased need for dental assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diet of 50 juvenile green turtles Chelonia mydas live-captured incidentally by fixed fishing traps between January and June 2009 in Cananéia Estuarine-Lagoon complex, Brazil, was studied through analysis of esophageal lavage samples. Green turtles consumed an omnivorous diet, with 18 food components identified and grouped into 4 categories as follows: terrestrial plants, algae, invertebrates, and seagrass. Black mangrove leaves were of the greatest importance to diet. Turtles incidentally get into fixed traps probably because these devices are located on mangrove margins, where they forage. The additional foods suggest that green turtles also feed opportunistically on material adhered to the trap structure and/or on items that cross into its interior. Green turtle diet in estuarine environments appears to be determined by the availability of food components, with some selectivity toward items of apparently greater nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inefficiency of conservation efforts based exclusively on natural habitat patches has called the attention of some conservationists to the matrix. Described as the major component of a landscape, the matrix is often agricultural, particularly in the tropics. In this context, agroforestry practices have been recognized for their ability to support a rich fauna and flora. Besides the extensive literature concerning bird communities in agroforestry systems, very few studies analyze how different species respond to the management of such practices. Our study describes the diet and habitat use frequency of five frugivorous bird species in agroforest home gardens, secondary forests, and pastures in the region of Pontal do Paranapanema, Brazil. The focal species were Ramphastos toco (Toco Toucan), Pteroglossus castanotis (Chestnut-eared Aracari), Amazona aestiva (Blue-fronted Amazon), Ara chloroptera (Green-winged Macaw), and Cyanocorax chrysops (Plush-crested Jay). We gathered both habitat use frequency and diet using the 'feeding-bout' method. Overall frequency was higher in the secondary forest when compared to pasture and home gardens for all bird species except A. aestiva. The number of feeding bouts was higher in home gardens than in forests for all species with the exception of C. chrysops. Differences in monthly median feeding activity were only statistically significant for C. chrysops and for A. aestiva. The latter was the only species observed feeding in pasture habitats. The total number of food taxa was larger in home gardens than in the forest. Our results reinforce the importance of agroforestry systems as a resource-rich habitat for frugivorous birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest suffered a severe geographic contraction along the last five centuries that reduced drastically most vascular epiphyte populations. Among the range of man-made matrixes, tree monocultures have the potential to contribute positively to the maintenance of the regional epiphyte diversity. Here, we test the similarity in abundance, richness, and species composition between vascular epiphytic communities established in managed monocultures of exotic and native species with natural communities occurring in neighboring native Araucaria Forest patches. In the São Francisco de Paula National Forest (Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil), we recorded 62 epiphyte species from 300 phorophytes occurring in 12, one-hectare plots of Araucaria Forest and managed plantations of Pinus, Eucalyptus and Araucaria. Species richness, rarefied richness and abundance were significantly higher in Araucaria Forest in comparison to the exotic stands. Species composition was also substantially differentiated as Araucaria Forest patches harbored a greater number of zoochorous species than those of the exotic stands. Additionally, plantations of Araucaria angustifolia, a native species, sustained more individuals and more species than the exotic plantations. Neither tree height nor DBH explained epiphyte richness; however, both phorophyte diversity and stand age together accounted for 92% of the among-site variation in epiphytic species richness. We conclude that substrate heterogeneity in combination with time available for colonization contribute significantly to beta-diversity of epiphytes in Araucaria forests. However, demographic experimental studies are necessary in order to disentangle the role of substrate quality from metapopulation processes, such as dispersal limitation, at both temporal and spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

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

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

The article provides information on the study which aims to examine the impact of religious discourses of exclusion and inclusion to the people in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The study which was conducted for 2 years uses an ethnographic observations of institutions and religious events. Results of the comparison between the 3 major religious denominations which include the Roman Catholic, Afro-Brazilian, and evangelical Protestant revealed a diversity of discourses on the same-sex sexual desires.

Rare species are one of the principal components of the species richness and diversity encountered in Dense Ombrophilous Tropical Forests. This study sought to analyze the rare canopy species within the Atlantic Coastal Forest in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Six diVerent communities were examined: Dense Ombrophilous alluvial Forest; Dense sub-montane Ombrophilous Forest; Dense Montane Ombrophilous in Serra do Marand Serra da Mantiqueira. In each area the vegetation was sampled within forty 10 £ 25 m plots alternately distributed along a linear transect. All trees with DBH (1.3 m above ground level) ¸5 cm were sampled. The canopy was characterized using the allometricre lationship between diameter and height, and included all trees with BDH ¸10 cm and height ¸10 m. A total of 64 families, 206 genera, and 542 species were sampled, of which 297 (54.8%) represented rare species (less than one individual per hectare). The percentage of rare species varied from 34 to 50% in each of the diVerent communities sampled. A majority of these rare trees belonged to the Rosidae, and a smaller proportion to the Dilleniidae. It was concluded that there was no apparent pattern to rarity among families, that rarity was probably derived from a number of processes (such as gap formation), and that agreat majority of the rare species sampled were consistently rare. This indicates that therestricted geo graphic distribution and high degree of endemism of many arboreal taxa justi-Wes the conservation of even small fragments of Atlantic Forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the vegetation corridors that connect small remnants of undisturbed primary forest in the Lavras landscape (Brazil), Protium spruceanum is a representative of a mass-flowering insect-pollinated and bird-dispersed tree. Allozyme variation was quantified from five forest remnants (N = 150) from secondary vegetation corridors linking them (N = 80) to generate information for genetic conservation. The species adhered to H-W equilibrium in all fragments in most of the loci. The results indicated high gene diversity in the fragments (Hˆe = 0.381-0.507) and corridors (Hˆe = 0.336-0.470); positively correlated with the plant density (r = 0.742, R² = 0.551, d.f. = 4). We did not find evidence of inbreeding within fragments (fˆ = -0.188; P<0.05) nor overall (Fˆ = -0.101; P<0.05). The genetic differentiation among remnants was low (θp = 2.8%). Evidence of recent bottlenecks by anthropogenic disturbance was detected in fragments (P<0.05, Wilcoxon sign-rank test). The minimal viable population was estimated for conservation in situ, indicating fragments with possibilities of maintaining genetic equilibrium diversity in the short term (except F3) and in the long term (only F5). The Nˆe/N ratios was also calculated to contribute to vegetation enrichment, area recovery or creation of new vegetation corridors. We found high levels of gene diversity in the vegetation corridors, genetic identity with the fragments and absence of inbreeding. Thus, our results suggest that landscape management strategies should therefore consider both the creation of new vegetation corridors and the protection of extant ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fragmented landscapes, agroforest woodlots can potentially act as stepping stones facilitating movement between forest fragments. We assessed the influence of agroforest woodlots on bird distribution and diversity in the Atlantic forest region (SE Brazil), and also tested which categories of species can use different types of connection elements, and whether this use is influenced by the distance to large forest patches. We studied two fragmented landscapes, with and without stepping stones linking large fragments, and one forested landscape. Using a point count, a bird survey was undertaken in the fragmented landscapes in five different elements: large remnants (>400 ha), agroforest woodlots (0.4-1.1 ha), small patches (0.5-7 ha), riparian corridor, and pasture areas (the main matrix). Generalist and open-area species were commonly observed in the agroforest system or other connection elements, whereas only a few forest species were present in these connections. For the latter species, the distance of woodlots to large patches was essential to determine their richness and abundance. Based on our results and data from literature, we suggest that there is an optimal relationship between the permeability of the matrix and the efficiency of stepping stones, which occurs at intermediate degrees of matrix resistance, and is species-dependent. Because the presence of agroforest system favors a higher richness of generalist species, they appeared to be more advantageous for conservation than the monoculture system; for this reason, they should be considered as a management alternative, particularly when the matrix permeability requirement is met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular epidemiology of a recent norovirus (NoV) outbreak in Brazil performed by comparative analysis with Genebank NoV sequences showed that the GII.4 strain was responsible for 72.5% of all NoV-positive cases (58/80). Other detected NoV strains included GII.3 (7/80; 8.8%) and GII.9 (8/80; 10%). This is the first outbreak reported in Bahia state, Brazil, during June–July of 2006, where NoV was identified as the principal etiologic agent in hospitalized young adults with acute gastroenteritis symptoms. These findings suggest that GII.4 is a predominant circulating genotype in NoV outbreaks in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Febrile neutropenia is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Managing infectious in neutropenic patients remains a dynamic process, making necessary timely and efficient empirical antibiotic therapy. The implementation of critical pathways has been suggested as a strategy to improve clinical effectiveness. This study evaluated the compliance with an institutional critical pathway for the management of febrile neutropenia and the impact on clinical outcomes at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil (HCPA). We performed a cohort study that prospectively included patients hospitalized from January 2004 to December 2005 and presented febrile neutropenia (190 episodes). Historical controls were selected from March 2001 to April 2003 (193 episodes) before the critical pathway was introduced. This study showed a low rate of full compliance (21.6%; 95% CI 15.7–27.5) with the critical pathway. In most cases, there was partial compliance (67.9%; 95% CI 61.3–74.5). Despite the moderate adherence observed, we recorded a decrease in in-hospital all-cause mortality in the sample studied after protocol implementation (from 24.4 to 14.4%; P = 0.017) and reduction in the length of use of cephalosporin and quinolones. In conclusion, implementation of a critical pathway seems to be an effective strategy to improve clinical outcomes in patients hospitalized with febrile neutropenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports a collection of Amblyomma spp. ticks in birds from several areas of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 568 tick specimens (404 larvae, 164 nymphs) were collected from 261 bird specimens. From these ticks, 204 (36%) specimens (94 larvae, 110 nymphs) were reared to the adult stage, being identified as Amblyomma longirostre (94 larvae, 90 nymphs), Amblyomma calcaratum (13 nymphs), Amblyomma nodosum (2 nymphs), and Amblyomma cajennense (5 nymphs). Additionally, 39 larvae reared to the nymphal stage and 8 nymphs that died before reaching the adult stage were identified as A. longirostre according to peculiar characters inherent to the nymphal stage of this species: scutum elongate, and hypostome pointed. The remaining 271 larvae and 46 nymphs were identiWed as Amblyomma sp. Ticks were collected from 51 species of birds distributed in 22 bird families and 6 orders. The order Passeriformes constituted the vast majority of the records, comprising 253 (97%) out of the 261 infested birds. Subadults of A. longirostre were identified from 35 species of Passeriformes, comprising 11 families (Cardinalidae, Dendrocolaptidae, Fringillidae, Furnariidae, Parulidae, Pipridae, Thamnophilidae, Thraupidae, Turdidae, Tyrannidae, and Vireonidae), and from 1 species of a non-passerine bird, a puffbird (Bucconidae). Subadults of A. calcaratum were identified from 5 species of Passeriformes, comprising 5 families (Cardinalinae, Conopophagidae, Pipridae, Thamnophilidae and Turdidae). Subadults of A. nodosum were identified from 2 species of Passeriformes, comprising two bird families (Thamnophilidae and Pipridae). Subadults of A. cajennense were identified from 2 species of non-passerine birds, belonging to 2 different orders (Ciconiiformes: Threskiornithidae, and Gruiformes: Cariamidae). Birds were usually infested by few ticks (mean infestation of 2.2 ticks per bird; range: 1-16). Currently, 82 bird species are known to be infested by immature stages of A. longirostre, with the vast majority [74 (90%)] being Passeriformes. Our results showed that Passeriformes seems to be primary hosts for subadult stages of A. longirostre, A. calcaratum, and A. nodosum. However, arboreal passerine birds seem to be the most important hosts for A. longirostre whereas ground-feeding passerine birds seem to be the most important for both A. calcaratum and A. nodosum. In contrast, the parasitism of birds by subadults of A. cajennense has been restricted to non-passerine birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithological and micropaleontological studies of sediments were carried out along the meridional profile across the Brazil Basin. Based on nannoplankton and diatom assemblages, the sediments represented by oxidized miopelagic clays, differently reduced hemipelagic clays, and clayey-siliceous ( Ethmodiscus) and calcareous (coccolith-foraminiferal) oozes are attributed to the Pleistocene-Holocene. Specific features of sedimentary material indicate its redeposition by Antarctic bottom waters, mudflows, slumps, and rockslides. It is shown that sedimentation in the Brazil Basin corresponds to the incomplete pelagic (miopelagic) type of oceanic lithogenesis transitional to the near-continental one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first to present a quantitative survey of bird species occurring in the archipelago of Anavilhanas, located in the Rio Negro in the Brazilian Amazon and is part of the Anavilhanas Ecological Station. We asked whether bird community composition is similar among the islands, and between islands and areas dominated by the surrounding upland terra firme forest on the left (east) margin of the Rio Negro. The surveys were conducted in November and December of 1988, using two complementary methods with mist nets and boat transects. A total of 232 bird species was found for Anavilhanas including a survey done in 1998. The families Tyrannidae and Thamnophilidae showed the highest number of species (16.4% and 9.0% of the total respectively). Some species not well known or having limited distributions are relatively frequently encountered in the archipelago, such as Spizastur melanoleucus, Mitu tomentosa, Phaethornis rupurumii, Xiphorhynchus kienerii, Thamnophilus nigrocinereus, Myrmotherula klagesi, Myrmoborus lugubris, Pipra filicauda, and Cephalopterus ornatus. Hybrid Multidimensional Scaling (HMDS) ordination analysis indicated that the bird community composition is similar among islands. However, the bird community composition on the islands was significantly different from that in sites of terra firme forest at Rio Negro margins. Anavilhanas is a unique ecological system in the Amazon and has it own avifauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract??This study performed clinical, serological and parasitological assessments in dogs from Vale do Rio Doce, in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, a region considered as a ?controlled endemic? area for canine visceral leishmaniosis (CVL). Nevertheless, there are signs that CVL in dogs may be re-emerging as a programme to control the disease was interrupted in the 1990s. The majority of the animals examined presented various symptoms associated with CVL. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test indicated 13.7 and 12.4% of positivity of dogs from the urban and rural areas, respectively. According to indirect immunofluorescence assay test and TRALd tests, 18.2 and 42.2% of dogs in the rural area were seropositive, respectively. Parasitism in seropositive dogs was confirmed by in vitro tissue culture. Sand flies of the genusLutzomyia, which are able to transmit both cutaneous and visceral leishmaniosis, were found in the area. The results provide a strong evidence of the re-emergence of CVL in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract??Late Quaternary vegetation, fire and climate dynamics were studied by pollen and charcoal analysis on a sediment core from near the summit of the Serra do Ara?atuba at 1500?m elevation, part of the Serra do Mar coastal mountains of Paran? State, southern Brazil. Three radiocarbon dates indicate that clay and peat were deposited in a shallow basin during the last 14,880?b.p.Accumulation was probably continuous, but sedimentary gaps during the dry mid Holocene cannot be excluded. During late-glacial times the upper coastal mountain were covered with grassland, reflecting relatively dry and cold climatic conditions. Large areas of natural grasslands remained in the upper mountain region during the Holocene. Only after 2000?b.p.didAraucariaforest trees, speciallyIlex,some Atlantic forest trees as well as the pioneerMyrsinemove to higher elevations, reflecting markedly wetter climatic conditions. This expansion stopped and the forest areas were reduced significantly by human activities during about the last 200?300 years. The modern grassland vegetation of the uppermost mountains may reflect the natural setting, but may also partly result from post-Columbian human activities. Fires were rare during the late Pleistocene and even less frequent during the early and mid Holocene. During the wettest recorded period of the late Holocene fires increased markedly and are therefore most probably of anthropogenic origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multitemporal data sets from the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) were used to evaluate their applicability for exploratory soil mapping in the floodplain of the Northern Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Fifty-four soil profiles were classified into 21 soil units according to the FAO–UNESCO system. Information layers of vegetation types and dynamics of flooding were elaborated by applying supervised hierarchical classification rules. Geomorphologic units were mapped by visual image interpretation. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to test relations between thematic layers and soil units as well as aggregated soil clusters, developing a statistical mapping model. Northern Pantanal floodplain soils show a high variability as a function of age and granulemetry of underlying sediments, as well as soil moisture and flooding regimes. GIS layers of nine vegetation formations, three geomorphologic units and three multi-temporal moisture types were elaborated. Cross-tabulations and multinomial logistic regression models indicate significant relations between FAO–UNESCO soil units and GIS layers. As soil sampling density had been low, a final predictive model was developed for the mapping of six aggregated soil clusters, obtaining a high significance level ( p<0.05) for prediction. Applied methodology was found to be appropriate to develop models on soil–landscape relationships and improve information on spatial distribution of soil groupings in the Northern Pantanal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the cultural significance of plants in communities situated in the coastal forest zone of Pernambuco, Brazil. The methodology consisted of obtaining ethnobotanical data in 54 unstructured interviews among community members chosen from a cultural and social questionnaire. Respondents were queried on their knowledge of plants, utility, and method of use. Results show that the plants common to the communities played a vital role in the respondents' lives, including their social and economic dependence on some of the species.

Characterization, management and protection of biodiversity are the most prominent challenges in conservation biology. Analyses on molecular similarity (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA-Polymerase Chain Reaction, RAPD-PCR) and morphologic patterns (morphometric and meristic characters) were performed to evaluate the existence of population structuring in the Doce river basin, in a widespread small-sized characin, Astyanax bimaculatus. Three hundred (300) individuals were collected from six locations isolated by waterfalls or dams, in the Doce river basin, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Genetic differentiation among tributaries was significant ( p<0.00001) and accounted for 21% of total variance ( p<0.00001). Only the Grande waterfall of the Casca river was an effective factor for differentiation of populations ( p<0.00001), and meristic characters were also consistent with molecular data. We concluded that genetic and morphologic variation of this species was not necessarily associated with waterfalls and that molecular and meristic data are effective predictors of population divergence in this basin. The consequences of these findings for the protection and management of aquatic biodiversity were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pantanal is a 140,000 km2 sedimentary floodplain in western Brazil and one of the largest wetlands in the world. The main landscapes and phytophysiognomies, according to flood origin, are briefly described and some of the characteristic plant species are mentioned: (a) river flood (1-5 m) on clayey eutrophic soils with gallery forests, pioneer forests and scrub,TabebuiaandCoperniciaparks, seasonal swamps, grasslands and oxbow lakes; and (b) rain flood (10-80 cm) mainly on dystrophic sandy soils (72% of the total area) with savanna (“cerrado”) grasslands and woodlands, with or without ponds. Regulating factors of the vegetation such as wet-and-dry cycle and management are considered. Dynamics of the vegetation, in particular the aquatic types, are shortly depicted. The role of grazing for conservation is discussed, and we suggest that 200 years of cattle ranching apparently did not cause major changes in the vegetation, except turning tall grass into short swards, as the domestic herd found a nearly empty niche. However, severe threats to the flora and fauna of the Pantanal originate outside the floodplain. Siltation of the Taquari river is pointed out as the worst environmental problem, changing the hydrology (wet-and-dry to wet), fauna and flora, e.g. eliminating riparian forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling between different types of surface (tropical forest or grass) and the Convective Boundary Layer (CBL) has been investigated using observational (rawinsoundings) data collected over Rondônia in southwest Amazonia. The data reported here support the notion that deforestation may modify the dynamics of the boundary layer, in particular during the dry season. In this period the sensible heat fluxes are very high over pasture, creating a CBL around 550m deeper compared to that over the forest. The measurements showed the height of the fully developed CBL for pasture to be 1650 m, compared to around 1100m for forest. During the wet season the height of the CBL is lower than during the dry season and has the same height (around 1000 m) for forest and pasture sites. The CBL over pasture is hotter and drier than over forest during the dry season, but during the wet season the air temperatures and humidities are similar. Comparing the CBL growth during the dry and wet season, there is evidence that the CBL properties over the forest are not dependent on the surface characteristics, but over the pasture they are. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the results obtained by land degradation assessment in the Fortaleza Metropolitan Region, in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Area assessment was done in a two-phase study: the characterization of the environmental components by field and laboratory work, and a more detailed study in the degraded sites. Environmental geoindicators were used to classify the degradation level for each drainage basin as low, intermediate, or high. Coastal erosion, gravitational mass movements, dune movements, water erosion, sedimentation, water pollution, sanitary landfills in inappropriate sites, caves and abandoned mines of aggregates exploitation and occupation in swamp areas are the main land degradation sources registered in the region. Among the drainage basins for degradation level, 5 were classified as high, 3 as intermediate, and 4 as low. These problems have affected the people living in the region and demanded heavy investments to rehabilitate degraded areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carapa guianensis Aubl. (Meliaceae), a hard wood tree from the Brazilian Amazon, has large recalcitrant seeds that can germinate and establish in both flood-free (terra-firme) and flood-prone (várzea) forests. These seeds, although large, can float. This study was designed to experimentally examine seed longevity under floating conditions ex-situ and its effects on subsequent germination and seedling growth. Many seeds germinated while floating, and radicle protrusion occurred from 3 to 42 d after the start of the floating treatment (tap water, room temperature 20–30 °C). Shoots of newly germinated floating seedlings may elongate up to 37.0 cm in 20 d without loss of viability. Epicotyl and first leaf emergence were delayed by floating. Seeds that did not germinate while floating were then placed on vermiculite and watered daily, where many seeds resumed germination. Germination during and after floating was affected by the length of the floating treatment: 88% germinated after 1 mo, 82% germinated after 2 mo and 70% germinated after 2.5 mo. These results indicate that Carapa guianensis has physiological variation regarding dormancy in response to seed floatation. The fact that floatation induces dormancy in recalcitrant seeds of this economically important species can be relevant to initiatives of ex situ storage of seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]