Search

This research provides an overview of the challenges in analyzing multidimensional social exclusion data using multiple indicators. It highlights the importance of composite indicators in simplifying the understanding of complex realities. Grounded in this literature, the research proposes a new approach to address the issues related to the multispatial and multitemporal analysis of composite indicators, contributing to the existing body of knowledge in this area. To illustrate its potential, social exclusion measures proposed by the Center for Studies and Mapping of Social Exclusion for Public Policies are used for two southern Brazil municipalities. This framework considers demographic, economic, educational, and household dimensions and fourteen variables. The proposed approach offers two significant contributions: firstly, it prevents outliers from heavily influencing the normalized sub-indicators and composite indicators during the scale transformation process. Secondly, it provides a solution compatible with the three-dimensional nature of the problem, thereby enhancing the multitemporal analysis of composite indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatially heterogeneous weights and a non‐compensatory aggregation scheme, are two important properties needed to construct a composite indicator capable of summarizing properly the multidimensional phenomenon of local spatial units. Such a composite indicator takes into account, on the one hand, the latent characteristics of the specific units related to their location in the territory, and on the other hand, the relative importance of sub‐indicators highlighting both positive and negative aspects of the studied phenomena. Under these premises, this article proposes a new method called Ordered Geographically Weighted Averaging (OGWA), which can consider different degrees of non‐compensability between sub‐indicators and, at the same time, the spatial heterogeneity for continuous, ordinal, and mixed data. The properties of the method are evaluated through a simulation study. Finally, the method is applied to construct a composite indicator to map the urban public infrastructure of São Sebastião do Paraíso, a city located in the southeastern region of Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Aquichan is the property of Universidad de la Sabana 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.)

Exergy is a thermodynamic concept that ponders the quality of energy. It evaluates the irreversibilities of a machine, demonstrating its capacity to perform work associated with energy conversion. This article focuses on directing public policies and vehicle development toward their most proper usage worldwide. In the urban mobility scenario, there is an obvious demand to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In addition, the internal combustion engine (ICE) experiences considerable energy losses through heat exchange through the radiator and exhaust flow gases, which are not considerable in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) since there are no exhaust gases subsequent to combustion, nor combustion itself. This work presents longitudinal dynamics simulations of passenger vehicles to understand the magnitude of exergy destruction in ICEVs and BEVs, considering the Brazilian and European Union electric energy mix. Overall, the method can be applied to any other country. The simulation and model parameters were configured to match production road vehicles commercialized in the Brazilian market based on different versions of the same model. Two vehicle dynamic duty cycles were used, one relating to urban usage and another to highway usage, resulting in an overall exergy efficiency of around 50–51% for BEVs considering the exergy destruction in power plants. In contrast, ICE has an average efficiency of 20% in the urban cycle and around 30% in the highway cycle. By comparing the overall equivalent CO2 emissions, it is possible to conclude that EVs in the European energy matrix produce more GHG than ICE vehicles running on ethanol in Brazil. Nevertheless, there are increasing uses of coal, natural gas, and oil thermal electric power plants, raising the question of how the transition may occur with a general increase in electrification since there is an increasing electric expenditure in all sectors of society, and the renewable energy plants may not meet all of the demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The access to leisure is unevenly distributed in the societies. Despite the status of leisure as an individual right according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as to the World Leisure Organization Charter for Leisure, many people still have limited or no access to leisure. These discrepancies are even more noticeable in highly unequal countries and regions such as Latin America. In particular, Brazil is one of the most unequal countries in the world, where the wealthiest 1% earn 28% of the national income. This article investigates how social and economic disparities lead to inequalities in the access to consumption of leisure goods and services. Data from a recent and representative Brazilian household budget survey are analysed. Different types of leisure were examined according to Dumazedier's categories. The results revealed that the expenditure on leisure items in Brazil is associated to region, race, gender, family size and composition, education, and income. These findings highlight the need for policies to promote equal leisure opportunities as a means to development and justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jaguar Panthera onca has lost 85% of its habitat in the Atlantic Forest, where it persists in small and isolated populations in the largest fragments. In the absence of recent records, the jaguar had previously been presumed extinct in the large Atlantic Forest fragments of the Serra do Mar in southern Brazil. However, as this region is mountainous, densely forested and difficult to access, the jaguar could still be present, but undetected. We carried out an intensive survey using camera traps and interviews with local people in a large (c. 6,500 km2) forest block. During 2011–2019, 98 camera-trap stations were established (14,239 trap-days), and 249 interviews were conducted in 102 grid cells of 5 × 5 km. We obtained the first images of the jaguar in the region, from which five individuals were identified, and interviewees provided records of the jaguar in 24 grid cells. Our findings increase the range of this species in the Atlantic Forest by 9%, and we recommend that the area should be classified as a jaguar conservation unit. As the area we surveyed is adjacent to the Serra do Mar jaguar conservation unit, the combined area of 19,262 km2 is the largest priority area for jaguar conservation in the Atlantic Forest. This proposed jaguar conservation unit could serve as a vital source of jaguar individuals for the coastal forests further south. We recommend that surveys are extended southwards to Santa Catarina state to determine whether the presumed extinction of jaguars in this state is another case of a false absence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of flower therapy for the treatment of anxiety in overweight or obese adults with that of a placebo. The authors examined improvement in sleep patterns, reduction in binge eating, and change in resting heart rate (RHR). Design: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a parallel-group design and two arms. Setting/Location: Clinical Research Unit, Medical School, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Subjects: The study included 40 participants in the placebo group and 41 in the intervention group. Participants were of both genders, from 20 to 59 years of age, overweight or obese, with moderate to high anxiety. Interventions: The participants were divided into two random groups: one group was treated with Bach flower remedies (BFR) (bottles containing 30 mL of 30% hydro-brandy solution with two drops each of Impatiens, White Chestnut, Cherry Plum, Chicory, Crab Apple, and Pine), and the other group was given a placebo (same solution without BFR). The patients were instructed to orally ingest the solution by placing four drops directly in the mouth four times a day for 4 weeks. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI]). Secondary outcomes were sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]), binge eating (Binge Eating Scale [BES]), and RHR (electrocardiogram). Results: Multivariate analysis showed significant reductions in scores for the following variables in the intervention group when compared with the placebo group: STAI (β = −0.190; p < 0.001), PSQI (β = −0.160; p = 0.027), BES (β = −0.226; p = 0.001), and RHR (β = −0.07; p = 0.003). Conclusions: The anxiety symptoms, binge eating, and RHRs of the individuals treated with flower therapy decreased, and their sleep patterns improved when compared with those treated with the placebo. Registered at the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (no. RBR-47-kfxh). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typhoidal salmonellosis is a global public health problem occurring in developing endemic regions. In Brazil, cases are mostly registered in the North and Northeast regions. Molecular characterization of the strains is important to understand the epidemiology of disease infections and to design control strategies. The present study retrospectively evaluates the genotyping features of sporadic and outbreak-related Salmonella Typhi isolates from the Brazilian North region. Bacterial isolates were recovered from blood and a rectal swab of patients in the states of Acre and Pará, Brazilian North region, in the period of 1995 to 2013, and were submitted to genotyping by applying Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) reference methods. MLST genotyping revealed the presence of epidemic clones ST1 and ST2, and 20 pulsotypes were identified by PFGE, including four distinct clusters (A–D), and six subclusters (A1–D1) with indistinguishable strains in different periods and locations. To conclude, the obtained data demonstrates the temporal stability, adaptation, and transmission of outbreak-related and sporadic S. Typhi strains over time, contributing to the transmission chain in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a public health problem. The high level of HCV replication and its lack of post-transcriptional correction mechanisms results in the emergence of viral variants and the difficulty in determining polymorphisms and variants that contain the substitutions associated with resistance towards new antivirals. The main focus of this study was to map the NS5A and NS5B polymorphisms and resistance mutations to new antiviral drugs in HCV strains genotype 1 from patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. Serum samples were collected from patients who underwent routine viral load tests at the Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Sao Paulo city, Brazil. A total of 698 and 853 samples were used for the characterization of NS5A and NS5B regions, respectively, which comprise the HCV genotypes 1a and 1b. The prevalence of resistance mutations found in the NS5A region was 6.4%, with Y93H, L31M, Q30R, and Y93N as the main resistance-associated substitutions (RAS). No NS5B-associated RAS was observed for any of the analyzed drugs. These findings support that the RAS test should be offered to individuals with poor response to double combination regimens prior to treatment initiation, thereby assisting strain vigilance and selection of effective treatment or retreatment options using DAA regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean stem necrosis is caused by cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV), transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. CPMMV has already been recorded in all major soybean-producing areas of Brazil. The impacts caused by CPMMV to the current Brazilian soybean production are unknown, thus the main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of CPMMV infection on the main important soybean cultivars grown in the Southern and Midwestern regions of Brazil. Although asymptomatic in some of the tested cultivars, CPMMV infection significantly reduced the plant height, the number of pods per plant and the 1,000-grain weight. In addition, estimated yield losses ranged from 174 to 638 kg ha-1, depending on the cultivar. Evidence of seed transmission of CPMMV was observed in the BMX POTÊNCIA RR cultivar. These results suggest that CPMMV could have an important role in the reduction of soybean productivity in Brazil, but symptomless infections might be hiding the actual impact of this pathogen in commercial fields and infected seeds could be the primary inoculum source of the virus in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is one of the most important agricultural pests and virus vectors worldwide. Bemisia tabaci is considered a complex of cryptic species with at least 44 species. Among them, the species Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1, formerly B biotype) and Mediterranean (MED, formerly Q biotype) are the most important, and they have attained global status. In Brazil, MEAM1 was first reported in the 1990s and is currently the predominant species in the country, meanwhile, MED was recently reported in the South and Southeast regions and was found to be mainly associated with ornamental plants. Currently, an increasing problem in the management of whitefly infestations in greenhouses associated with bell pepper was observed in São Paulo State, Brazil. The whiteflies were collected and identified based on a microsatellite locus (primer pair BEM23F and BEM23R) and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and sequencing. We observed that MED was the predominant species collected on bell pepper, but it was also found on tomato, cucumber, eggplant, and weeds grown in greenhouses. In open field, we found MED on tomatoes, bell peppers, and eggplants. In addition, MED was identified in Goiás State in association with ornamental plants. The begomovirus Tomato severe rugose virus and the crinivirus Tomato chlorosis virus was detected on bell pepper and tomato, respectively. Only MED specimens were found associated with the virus-infected plants. Moreover, we also investigated the endosymbionts present in the MED whiteflies. The collected populations of B. tabaci MED harbored a diversity of secondary endosymbionts, with Hamiltonella (H) found predominantly in 89 specimens of the 129 tested. These results represent a new concern for Brazilian agriculture, especially for the management of the newly introduced whitefly MED species, which must be implemented to limit the spreading and establishment of this pest in different crops in this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mobility sector must reduce its carbon footprint over the vehicle life cycle, including production, usage, and recycling. The carbon footprint of vehicle usage varies with the mileage and the profile, urban or highway, and the carbon intensity of the energy source, emphasizing regional specificities: biofuels and the renewability of the electrical matrix. Battery-electric vehicles offer higher energy efficiencies, making passenger fleet electrification an effective way to reduce energy demand. However, transitioning to electric vehicles is challenging due to high costs and the required recharging infrastructure. We compared the life-cycle simulations of a conventional passenger car to its fully electrified or hybrid version. We found that the carbon footprint of a battery-electric vehicle is more than five times that of a conventional internal combustion-vehicle. Depending on the considered boundary conditions, the desired CO2e breakeven of a battery electric vehicle could not be achieved. Therefore, conducting a comprehensive and specific analysis of each country is crucial to optimize solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We analyzed the specificities of the USA, China, EU, and Brazil. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the challenges and opportunities and hopes to inform policy-makers to choose paths that reduce greenhouse gas emissions properly. • Clarifies impact of fuel blends on greenhouse gas emissions of passenger vehicles. • Brazilian fuel blends (E100 and E22) have significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions. • Efficiency of different vehicle types and fuel blends in reducing emissions is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Major advances have been made in heart transplantation, but there is a discrepancy between the number of patients potentially treatable by transplantation and the limited number of viable grafts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reasons for refusal of donor hearts. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of donor data from an organ procurement organization in the state of São Paulo (Brazil) between 2010 and 2012. Fisher's exact test, Student's t-test, and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used in the statistical analysis. Results Only 26 (7.9%) of 328 potential heart donors actually became donors. Most donors were men (18/26, 69.2%), Caucasians (14/26, 53.8%), and had a mean age of 23.5 yr. There were significant associations of use of donor hearts with the variables: brain death after trauma (p = 0.002), history of hypertension (p = 0.001), electrocardiographic changes (p = 0.007), and age (p = 0.001). Older age (n = 101, 33.4%) was the main reason for refusal of donor hearts, followed by poor medical history (n = 44, 14.6%), cardiac arrest of the donor during donor care (n = 25, 8.3%), use of vasopressor drugs (n = 23, 7.6%), and hemodynamic instability (n = 20, 6.6%). Conclusions Age, poor medical history, cardiac arrest, use of vasopressors, and hemodynamic instability were the most prevalent reasons for refusal of donor hearts. Echocardiogram evaluation is a potential intervention to improve heart transplantation conversion in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The muriqui (Brachyteles spp.), endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, is the largest primate in South America and is endangered, mainly due to habitat loss. Its distribution limits are still uncertain and need to be resolved in order to determine their true conservation status. Species distribution modeling (SDM) has been used to estimate potential species distributions, even when information is incomplete. Here, we developed an environmental suitability model for the two endangered species of muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus and B. arachnoides) using Maxent software. Due to historical absence of muriquis, areas with predicted high habitat suitability yet historically never occupied, were excluded from the predicted historical distribution. Combining that information with the model, it is evident that rivers are potential dispersal barriers for the muriquis. Moreover, although the two species are environmentally separated in a large part of its distribution, there is a potential contact zone where the species apparently do not overlap. This separation might be due to either a physical (i.e., Serra da Mantiqueira mountains) or a biotic barrier (the species exclude one another). Therefore, in addition to environmental characteristics, physical and biotic barriers potentially shaped the limits of the muriqui historical range. Based on these considerations, we proposed the adjustment of their historical distributional limits. Currently only 7.6% of the predicted historical distribution of B. hypoxanthus and 12.9% of B. arachnoides remains forested and able to sustain viable muriqui populations. In addition to measurement of habitat loss we also identified areas for conservation concern where new muriqui populations might be found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the reliability and validity of a Brazilian-Portuguese adaptation of the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS).Method: A Brazilian sample of 58 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and 58 healthy controls (HC) were administered the Brazilian-Portuguese BICAMS test battery, comprising the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), California Verbal Learning Test Second Edition (CVLT2), and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test Revised (BVMTR). Mean differences between groups on BICAMS tests were assessed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for age, gender, education, anxiety, and depression. Test–retest data were obtained from 49 of the MS patients, two weeks after the initial assessment.Results: The MS patient group scored significantly lower on all BICAMS tests (CVLT2F1,110 = 28.99,p < .001; BVMTRF1,110 = 7.77,p < .01; SDMTF1,110 = 21.09,p < .001). Mixed-factor ANCOVAs tested differences in learning curves across trials for CVLT2 and BVMTR. HCs had significantly steeper learning curves on both CVLT2 (F1,111 = 10.82,p < .01) and BVMTR (F1,110 = 7.816,p < .01). These findings support diagnostic validity of the Brazilian-Portuguese adaptation. Test–retest reliability was satisfactory for SDMT, CVLT2, and BVMTR (.86, .84, and .77, respectively).Conclusion: The results suggest that this Brazilian version of the BICAMS will be a valid and reliable measure once complete normative data become available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serological tests have long been established as rapid, simple and inexpensive tools for the diagnosis and follow-up of PCM. However, different protocols and antigen preparations are used and the few attempts to standardize the routine serological methods have not succeeded. Methodology/Principal findings: We compared the performance of six Brazilian reference centers for serological diagnosis of PCM. Each center provided 30 sera of PCM patients, with positive high, intermediate and low titers, which were defined as the “reference” titers. Each center then applied its own antigen preparation and serological routine test, either semiquantitative double immunodifusion or counterimmmunoelectrophoresis, in the 150 sera from the other five centers blindly as regard to the “reference” titers. Titers were transformed into scores: 0 (negative), 1 (healing titers), 2 (active disease, low titers) and 3 (active disease, high titers) according to each center's criteria. Major discordances were considered between scores indicating active disease and scores indicating negative or healing titers; such discordance when associated with proper clinical and other laboratorial data, may correspond to different approaches to the patient's treatment. Surprisingly, all centers exhibited a high rate of “major” discordances with a mean of 31 (20%) discordant scores. Alternatively, when the scores given by one center to their own sera were compared with the scores given to their sera by the remaining five other centers, a high rate of major discordances was also found, with a mean number of 14.8 sera in 30 presenting a discordance with at least one other center. The data also suggest that centers that used CIE and pool of isolates for antigen preparation performed better. Conclusion: There are inconsistencies among the laboratories that are strong enough to result in conflicting information regarding the patients' treatment. Renewed efforts should be promoted to improve standardization of the serological diagnosis of PCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of investigations of the epidemiology of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have focused on highly developed nations with a low prevalence of tuberculosis. In contrast, the Para state of north Brazil represents an area of high tuberculosis prevalence and increasing NTM incidence. Toward the goal of understanding the dynamics of infection by all Mycobacterium species, we report patient characteristics and the identification of NTM strains isolated from sputum samples from patients that were residents of Para, a state in the Amazon region, Northern of Brazil, over the period January 2010 through December 2011 (2 years). The 29 NTM patients comprised 13.5% of positive mycobacterial cultures over the 2-year period. A major risk factor for NTM pulmonary disease was previous tuberculosis (76%). Further, the average age of NTM patients (52 years) was significantly higher than that of tuberculosis patients (39 years) and more were female (72.4% vs. 37.4%). Unlike other Brazilian states, NTM pulmonary patients in Para were infected with a different spectrum of mycobacteria; primarily the rapidly growing Mycobacterium massiliense and Mycobacterium simiae complex. Author Summary: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental organisms that are naturally found in soil, water, dust and other sites. Several case reports and studies on the prevalence of pulmonary NTM disease have been published, nevertheless, the impact and the exact magnitude of NTM infections in countries where tuberculosis (TB) is endemic are not known. Here, we report the identification of NTM strains isolated from pulmonary samples from patients with a presumptive diagnosis of pulmonary TB and residents of the State of Para, in the Amazon region, Northern of Brazil. This study documents the occurrence and diversity of species of NTM that cause pulmonary disease in a region representative of those in the world with high infection rates by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bush dog Speothos venaticus, a rarely seen Neotropical canid categorized as Near Threatened globally, is categorized as Vulnerable in Brazil. In the Atlantic Forest occurrence data of this species are extremely rare. Here we document new records of the bush dog in four reserves in a large remnant of continuous coastal Atlantic Forest in Paraná state, southern Brazil. From a total of 4,112 trap days in two camera-trap surveys in 2009 and 2011 we obtained one opportunistic sighting and three independent photographic records of the bush dog. Additionally, park guards reported previous sightings (>4 years earlier) in three of these reserves, including the reserve where we did not record the species. Our results indicate that the remnant coastal Atlantic Forest of Paraná state is an important region for the conservation of the bush dog in southern Brazil. Given the rarity of this species in its natural habitat we suggest that conservation efforts in this region should focus on minimizing the potential threats (prey depletion from poaching and disease transmission from domestic dog) to the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of RAE: Revista de Administração de Empresas is the property of Fundacao Getulio Vargas 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.)

Drug safety profile is an important theme throughout the world. Recently, it has gained importance in the field of veterinary medicines. In Brazil, Ministry of Agriculture Law SDA 152/2008 submitted to the public consultation the draft of a National Program of Veterinary Pharmacovigilance. Taking into consideration the health risk to exposed human beings, the objectives of this paper are: characterization of veterinary pharmacovigilance and its usefulness for the Public Health, the description of established veterinary pharmacovigilance programs from the United States of America, the European Union and the United Kingdom, and the analysis of the Brazilian Program of veterinary pharmacovigilance draft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We isolated 44 strains of rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) from 19 patients with pulmonary infections assisted at the Instituto Evandro Chagas (Pará, Brazil) from 2004 to 2007. Identification at the species level was performed by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PRA) of a 441 bp hsp65 fragment and partial 16S rRNA, hsp65, and rpoB gene sequencing. Genotyping by PRA yielded 3 digestion patterns: one identical to Mycobacterium abscessus type I (group I); another to M. abscessus type II, Mycobacterium bolletii, and Mycobacterium massiliense (group II); and a third typical for Mycobacterium fortuitum type I (group III). When comparing analysis of the 3 genes, more discrimination was obtained by rpoB gene sequence, which allowed good distinction between group I, II, and III strains and subclassification of group II strains in SG IIa (M. bolletii) and SG IIb (M. massiliense). In this study, we show that the description of new RGM species requires the establishment of standardized procedures for RGM identification and the alert of the clinician about their involvement in pulmonary disease and the necessity of treatment for control and cure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Brown howlers ( Alouatta clamitans) are endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Because only 7.5% of this fragmented forest remains in Brazil, there is an urgent need for studies of its ecology. Understanding island populations, still poorly researched in the relatively well-studied Alouatta, can provide important information for understanding habitat fragmentation and conservation. We studied brown howlers on the northern portion of the coastal and protected island, Ilha do Cardoso State Park. We used distance sampling methods on 5 transects to estimate population density of the howlers. Estimated howler density on the island is 10.6 individuals/km2, with a total of 36 (21–62) individuals in a 3.4 km2 area. The density is low, but similar to that of other large and preserved areas. By triangulating on vocalization and following groups, we estimate that there are 10 groups with an average of 4.5 individuals per group. Groups comprise 42% adult females, 27% adult males, 20% juveniles, 7% infants, and the remaining 4% subadult males. Howlers apparently use all appropriate habitats, including Atlantic Forest of plains and slopes. We believe that the howler population is maintaining a typical replacement on the island, with low birth rates and high survival rates, but long-term studies are required to test this. Small group size and associated social structure may be due to the particular environmental conditions on Ilha do Cardoso State Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the geography of internal migration to and settlement within the metropolitan area of São Paulo. Specifically, the research objectives are to: (1) document the major flows of internal migration into the São Paulo metropolitan area: (2) map both short- and long-term migrant patterns of settlement within the São Paulo metropolitan area; and (3) approximate to what extent particular migrants from specific sending areas spatially concentrate in certain neighborhoods within the metropolitan area using both non-spatial and spatial measures of segregation. The key feature of our theoretical argument is that migrant networks evolve, accumulate, and generate higher than expected levels of internal migration to particular neighborhoods. As internal migrants become increasingly concentrated and a dynamic feedback process emerges between origin and destination, the metropolis becomes both segmented and segregated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "robust networks" concept of Ferdows is examined and related to other key theories from the manufacturing strategy literature, resource-based and other conceptualisations of the organisation of innovation in international networks, and the international business debates on "operational flexibility". The cases of seven international automotive assemblers with operations in Brazil are then considered in the light of Ferdows' framework and the external factors bearing on the country and the sector within it. It is evident that, among the global assemblers, the "world" car strategy is dominant, leading to a concentration on the "source" and "lead" roles for individual plants, often combined with radical logistical arrangements. This seems in turn to support the argument for "robustness" rather than "operational flexibility". Suggestions are made for further work to study the luxury car assemblers and other sectors where economies of scale are less important and where there is a greater degree of global dispersion of production facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon neutral solutions are demanded to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the mobility sector. In Brazil, alongside bioethanol, natural gas and biogas are potential solutions towards a low carbon future. While Brazilian natural gas market growth has increased due to recent offshore discoveries, its biogas potential is one of the largest in the world. Nevertheless, Brazil has currently no production of stock automobile by either gaseous fuel, despite of having the largest world flex fuel fleet (gasoline-ethanol). Therefore, the present research aims at evaluating critical points linked to the natural gas and biomethane businesses expansion in Brazil. The current scenario and outlook for energy usage is presented. RenovaBio, the recent governmental program to promote biofuels, is evaluated from the gas business point of view. And finally, the main incentive policies and regulations, price formation and limitations for the grid expansion are discussed. It is shown that biogas competitiveness as a vehicular fuel is limited mainly for the additional costs of its upgrading process to biomethane. Regarding the natural gas usage, the main limiting factor is the monopoly of production and transport in Brazil as it does not allow free competition and increases the end consumer price. Moreover, the current pipeline grid extension prioritizes the most industrialized regions and does not reach all potential natural gas users. New governmental policies and incentives were proven necessary to improve the economic viability and hence to fully benefit from the potential of both energy sources to reduce carbon footprint. • Critical points of success for to natural gas and biomethane in Brazil are presented. • Both CNG and biogas have prospects of growing production. • Main demand for natural gas in Brazil tends to remain for industrial and thermal use. • Current taxes are limiting factors for natural gas and biomethane viability. • Biogas shows much lower carbon intensity than CNG and traditional fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bemisia tabaci comprises a complex of cryptic species, of which MEAM1 (known as B biotype) and MED (known as Q biotype) are the most invasive and widely distributed ones. In Brazil, MEAM1 was first reported in the 1990s, while MED was first reported in 2014. The goal of this study was to understand the behaviour of the newly introduced MED cryptic species in Brazil and to predict the susceptibility of soybean, cotton, common bean, tomato and sweet pepper to it in the absence of insecticides. We investigated the performance as well as the competitive displacement of these cryptic species in the selected hosts. The best performance of MED was observed on common bean, followed by sweet pepper, propitiating the emergence of a large number of adults and a higher survival rate (±60 and 50% for MED, respectively, while for MEAM1, 20% was reached). In addition, MED displaced MEAM1 in sweet pepper and common bean after four generations (after 120 days, all insects were 100% MED). By contrast, MEAM1 displaced MED only in tomato after four generations. The competitive displacement and the performance results were the same, indicating the most suitable host for each species. Both MED and MEAM1 are well adapted to cotton and soybean plants, and no advantage was observed for one particular species in the absence of insecticides. Common bean and sweet pepper are excellent hosts for B. tabaci MED cryptic species, requiring increased attention by the producer. The year-round common bean cultivation in Brazil could contribute to the adaptation of MED to open field production in Brazil and, consequently, to the migration to other crops such as soybean and cotton, to which MED is also well adapted. Further management studies with these cryptic species in Brazil, including insecticide experiments and biological control assays, are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to analyze the sociodemographic and training profile of nursing professionals in the state of São Paulo in relation to Integrative and Complementary Practices in Health. Method: cross-sectional study, developed with 3,794 nursing professionals in the state of São Paulo, from 645 municipalities. To collect data, an online questionnaire was used containing sociodemographic and professional training variables. A hierarchical multiple Poisson regression model was constructed, considering training in practices as the dependent variable, with a significance level of 5%. Results: of the 3,794 (100%) participants, 479 (12.62%) had training in Integrative and Complementary Health Practices. The most frequent practices were auriculotherapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine/acupuncture and Reiki. The predominant training modalities were free, face-to-face and theoretical-practical courses. The variables age, no formal religion, higher education and specialization level, working hours and knowledge and previous experience on integrative practices were significant. Conclusion: the results indicate the need to encourage and expand the training of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices for nursing professionals, in order to strengthen their performance in health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban inequality is a highly complex and multidimensional phenomenon that involves several aspects, such as education, urban mobility, environment, technological or digital exclusion, food deserts, and inequalities in the distribution of urban facilities. Due to its impact on the living conditions of populations residing in the most deprived and unhealthy areas of cities, inequality in the distribution of urban public services is a particularly relevant issue. The measurement of urban inequality to discuss possible policy implications requires the synthesis of its sub-dimensions. Therefore, this paper applies the multicriteria method called ordered weighted averaging to evaluate the distribution of public goods in census tracts of the city of São Sebastião do Paraíso in Brazil. In particular, ordered weighted averaging, which allows the calibration of different degrees of non-compensability between sub-indicators and considers the heterogeneity of the census tracts, permits the evaluation of both positive and negative aspects of the studied phenomena. Two different composite indicators are calculated: the "Tax Index," which analyses the presence of public goods and the benefits in terms of property value and well-being that their presence generates, and the "Infrastructure Index," which examines the areas with the greatest lack of infrastructure. • Two composite indicators are constructed through ordered weighted averaging • The Infrastructure Index reveals priority areas for investment in public goods • The Tax Index shows which areas of the city benefit most from public goods • The indices form a mechanism for equitable allocation of public goods in the city • Taxes from the Fiscal Index fund public goods allocated by the Infrastructure Index [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium bovis is the main causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) being among the animal-adapted Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Herds can also be infected with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) causing a negative effect on the economy and on animal and human health through zoonotic infections. Molecular tools are required for mycobacteria identification; thus, it is laborious to determine the epidemiological information of mycobacteria among herds. We aimed to describe the mycobacterial pathogens associated with cases of suspected bTB lesions in cattle/buffaloes slaughtered for consumption and to investigate bTB transmission. We evaluated 74 lesion samples from 48 animals (27 bovine/21 buffaloes) from 16 mapped farms. Positives samples from nested-PCR were cultured in Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ), 2% pyruvate (LJ + P), and 2% glycerol (LJ + G) media, followed by Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining technique and partial gene sequencing (hsp 65, rpoB, and 16S-rRNA). Spoligotyping and 24-MIRU-VNTR were performed. The LJ + P increased the chance of obtaining bacilli. The respiratory tract and the oral cavity were the most important infection route. In addition, the calcified part of the lesions suggested chronic bTB. Spoligotypes of M. bovis (SIT986/SB0885) differed from others found in South America, and the MIRU-VNTR 24 loci suggested that bTB was associated to highly related strains. The NTM species found are of clinical importance in humans. • In Marajó, Brazil, M. bovis was present in more than 2/3 of the animals, constituting a considerable risk for zoonotic TB occurrence,. • The LJ enriched with pyruvate increased the chance of isolation of mycobacteria and particularly M. bovis. • Rare in Brazil, M. bovis genotype SIT997/SB0822 was related to 95.0% (19/20) of the cases, • The MIRU-VNTR technique suggests a recent bTB transmission with highly related genotypes and low genetic diversity among this population. • NTM species known to be involved in human disease cases were also isolated from the lesions, 66.7% of which were RGM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]