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The objective of this paper is to establish comparisons between the Linear Algebra (LA) approach practiced in Engineering courses offered by Chilean and Brazilian Higher Education Institutions and, for that, teachers from both countries were interviewed. From a methodological point of view, the research consists of two case studies. For the analysis of the interviews, we used the precepts of Content Analysis. The data were qualitatively analyzed considering the MTSK theoretical model. In this analysis, we sought to identify what specialized knowledge these teachers have regarding AL and about its teaching and learning. The results have shown that, in relation to the Mathematical Knowledge (MK) domain, which refers to content knowledge, the Knowledge of Topics subdomain (KoT), linked to the way that teachers know the topics they teach, is the most present among interviewees. In the Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) domain, covering specific pedagogical knowledge linked to Mathematics, the Knowledge of Mathematics Teaching (KMT), regarding strategies, teaching theories, resources and materials, and Knowledge of Mathematics Learning Standards (KMLS) subdomains, concerning the curricular specifications and the moments in which the student must or can learn certain content and with what level of depth prevail.

Many studies highlight the importance of socio-emotional aspects in professional communities of practice (CoP). This study aims to understand how these aspects are articulated with the professional content. An online professional CoP has been subjected to analysis by following a sequential exploratory mixed-methods inductive model combining the analysis of forum contents and in-depth interviews. The results define the concept of 'agreeable dialogue zones' as a strip of conversation in which the search for a friendly and safe environment; professional self-demand; comfort; personal thematic preferences; and the demands of each topic in a written environment are balanced.

The fundamental pillars of nursing science--nursing care, management, and teaching and research--are in constant evolution. The adaptation of Spanish nursing to the European Higher Education Area has promoted nursing research. Over the past few years, several institutions have made official statements concerning the difficulty of finding teaching staff for university nursing degrees. This is closely linked to the production of research, given that minimum criteria must be met for university teacher accreditation. The goal of this study is to analyze scientific production in nursing, nursing research and teaching in The Web of Science in order to establish how this is progressing and to gain further insight into the field of academic nursing. A total of 34,497 documents were analyzed using the Bibliometrix software version 4.1.0. The results reveal an increase in nursing research over time. Most of this is published in English and mainly focuses on specific nursing areas, such as oncology or psychiatry. Spain occupies the eighth place worldwide in nursing research. In spite of this position, the data suggest that other factors are blocking the accreditation of university teachers of nursing in Spain. They also reflect the need to encourage nursing research in this setting in the future.

Purpose: This paper aimed to examine moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels in physical education. Method: A review of reviews was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The screening process, data extraction, assessment of the risk of bias, and analysis of the results were carried out independently by two reviewers. A total of eight systematic reviews from six databases, which included 224 studies, involving more than 80,000 students (elementary, middle, and high school), enrolled in more than 450 schools worldwide were unpacked. Results: Students fail to meet the 50% recommendation of MVPA lesson time, irrespective of country, school stage, gender, or MVPA measures. Physical education-based interventions increased students' MVPA during lessons (range 14.3%-24%) compared with control groups. Conclusion: Physical education is uniquely positioned to provide physical activity opportunities for students, but teachers must target the provision of adequate MVPA levels, which is not currently happening.

In this paper, we examine how differences in the academic and professional backgrounds of engineering teachers shape their personal relationship to the use of mathematics in engineering practices, and whether these differences affect some of their practices. The analyses herein are based on an institutional perspective and employ Chevallard's anthropological theory of the didactic (ATD). We interviewed two teachers in an engineering programme to identify specific elements of their practice that could be attributable to the mobilisation of knowledge and skills derived from their distinct academic backgrounds and experience. The results indicate that the teachers mobilise different tasks, techniques, and technologies in many of their practices, and that they take different approaches to using mathematics and applying rigour.

In Brazil, glyphosate is present in more than 130 commercial formulations, and its toxic effects have already been tested in different species to understand its impact on biota Decapod crustaceans are widely used as experimental models due to their biology, sensitivity to pollutants, ease of collection, and maintenance under laboratory conditions. We evaluated the changes in metabolism (hemolymph) and oxidative balance markers (gill and hepatopancreas) of a crayfish (Parastacus promatensis) after exposure to Roundup® (active ingredient: glyphosate). The crayfish were captured in the Garapiá stream within the Center for Research and Conservation of Nature Pró-Mata, Brazil. We collected adult animals outside (fall) and during (spring) the breeding season. The animals were transported in buckets with cooled and aerated water from the collection site to the aquatic animal maintenance room at the university. After acclimatization, the animals were exposed to different concentrations of glyphosate (0, 65, 260, 520, and 780 µg/L). The results showed a significant variation in the hemolymph glucose, lactate, and protein levels. We observed variations in the tissue antioxidant enzymatic activity after exposure to glyphosate. Finally, the increase in oxidative damage required a high energy demand from the animals to maintain their fitness, which makes them more vulnerable to stress factors added to the habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper extends the concept of metrics based on the Bayesian information criterion (BIC), to achieve strongly consistent estimation of partition Markov models (PMMs). We introduce a set of metrics drawn from the family of model selection criteria known as efficient determination criteria (EDC). This generalization extends the range of options available in BIC for penalizing the number of model parameters. We formally specify the relationship that determines how EDC works when selecting a model based on a threshold associated with the metric. Furthermore, we improve the penalty options within EDC, identifying the penalty ln (ln (n)) as a viable choice that maintains the strongly consistent estimation of a PMM. To demonstrate the utility of these new metrics, we apply them to the modeling of three DNA sequences of dengue virus type 3, endemic in Brazil in 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how emerging infectious diseases spread within and between countries is essential to contain future pandemics. Spread to new areas requires connectivity between one or more sources and a suitable local environment, but how these two factors interact at different stages of disease emergence remains largely unknown. Further, no analytical framework exists to examine their roles. Here we develop a dynamic modelling approach for infectious diseases that explicitly models both connectivity via human movement and environmental suitability interactions. We apply it to better understand recently observed (1995-2019) patterns as well as predict past unobserved (1983-2000) and future (2020-2039) spread of dengue in Mexico and Brazil. We find that these models can accurately reconstruct long-term spread pathways, determine historical origins, and identify specific routes of invasion. We find early dengue invasion is more heavily influenced by environmental factors, resulting in patchy non-contiguous spread, while short and long-distance connectivity becomes more important in later stages. Our results have immediate practical applications for forecasting and containing the spread of dengue and emergence of new serotypes. Given current and future trends in human mobility, climate, and zoonotic spillover, understanding the interplay between connectivity and environmental suitability will be increasingly necessary to contain emerging and re-emerging pathogens. Here, using a dynamic modelling approach, the authors find that the spread of dengue through Mexico and Brazil is shaped by specific interactions between human mobility, climate, and the environment. Their models can also be applied to predict future spread in these geographic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transfers, in the form of subsidies, are a government intervention aimed at boosting economic development. These are provided through various instruments that affect production and trade. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development classifies these instruments into categories from most to least distorting. In its strategy of deregulating the world market, it encourages the use of the latter in agricultural policy. Nonetheless, the effect of this recommendation on the value of agricultural production has been poorly researched. This work assessed the relationship between the amounts of support in different agricultural policy instruments used and the value of the production of subsidized agricultural products (VpS) in Mexico, Brazil, and Chile during the period 1995-2020, through a multiple linear regression model with the stepwise backward elimination procedure. The results show that the transfer items that were relevant to explain the VpS in Mexico were: storage, marketing and other physical infrastructure, support based on area and number of animals, extension services, safety and inspection of agricultural products and institutional infrastructure (p< 0.05), in Brazil they were: research, market prices and education (p< 0.05) and in Chile they were: research, storage, marketing and other physical infrastructure, and farm restructuring (p< 0.05). It should be noted that all instruments with a significant effect on the VpS are classified as less distortive, except for the market price support present in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "TEACHING LITERATURE, LITERARY TEACHING, EMANCIPATORY TEACHING. PRESENTATION OF VOLUME 26, N. 2 OF ALEA. NEOLATIN STUDIES" discusses the situation of literature teaching in Brazil and proposes to expand its presence in basic and higher education. The document addresses the importance of a "literary teaching" that promotes critical thinking and the construction of knowledge in a dialogical way. Volume 26, number 2, of Alea, brings a dossier dedicated to rethinking the teaching of literature and literature as an educational tool, with reflections from researchers and teachers on the subject. [Extracted from the article]

Infection with ZIKV during pregnancy is associated with fetal developmental problems. Although neurological issues are being explored more in experimental studies, limited research has focused on the reproductive health consequences for offspring born to infected mothers. In this context, this study aimed to assess the impact of ZIKV infection during pregnancy on the testes and sperm of adult male offspring. Female mice were intraperitoneally inoculated with a Brazil strain of ZIKV during the 5.5th day of embryonic gestation. The offspring were evaluated 12 weeks after birth to analyze cellular and molecular changes in the testes and sperm. A novel approach combining variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and machine learning modeling was also introduced for sperm sample analysis. The study revealed the presence of ZIKV protein in the testis parenchyma of adult male offspring born to infected mothers. It was shown that the testes exhibited altered steroidogenesis and inflammatory mediators, in addition to significant issues with spermiogenesis that resulted in sperm with DNA fragmentation, head defects, and protamination failure. Additionally, sperm dielectric properties and artificial intelligence showed potential for rapid identification and classification of sperm samples from infected mice. These findings provide crucial insights into the reproductive risks for men born from ZIKV-infected pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different tabletop sugar and zero to low‐calorie sweetener samples (sachets) of different suppliers, taken randomly, at different cafeterias in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay have been selected, for spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis, to figure out if they can present non‐friendly components in their composition. Traces of sulfites and aluminosilicates make only 2 out of 16 tabletop sugar sweetener samples safe. On the other hand, traces of sucrose, lactose, sulfites, and aspartame, make only 1 out of 13 tabletop zero to low‐calorie sweetener samples, safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the environmental impact of porcelain tile production while maintaining cost-effectiveness is challenging. This work introduced a novel modeling approach for optimizing a standard composition range comprising kaolinite (15-38 wt.%), illite (0-20 wt.%), quartz (20-40 wt.%), and feldspar (20-45 wt.%) to establish a robust composition interval for porcelain stoneware tiles. The proposed study considers several factors, such as composition impact on the manufacturing sequence, production costs, and CO2 emission.Aflowsheet simulation databasewas generated by coupling the Dyssol framework with MATLAB. This study investigated the influence of rawmaterial compositionwithin the process sequence, the total CO2 emissions, and production costs within the contexts of Spain and Brazil, two of the top five global producers. Granules with a higher proportion of talc and illite exhibit reduced moisture content after spray drying, and these combinations have lower green body porosity after compaction. The addition of talc allowed for decreased porosity content after compaction reduced firing temperature, and lowered costs and CO2 emissions despite the higher prices associated with talc. The proposed simulation methodology offers a powerful decision-making tool for optimizing raw material composition tominimize cost and CO2 emissions in the porcelain tile production. This methodology represents an early stride toward integrating digital twin methodologies within the ceramic tile sector, facilitating improved process regulation, and promoting the adoption of digital technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel members of the subfamily Betarhabdovirinae, family Rhabdoviridae, were identified in Brazil. Overall, their genomes have the typical organization 3′-N-P-P3-M-G-L-5′ observed in mono-segmented plant-infecting rhabdoviruses. In aristolochia-associated cytorhabdovirus (AaCV), found in the liana aristolochia (Aristolochia gibertii Hook), an additional short orphan ORF encoding a transmembrane helix was detected between P3 and M. The AaCV genome and inferred encoded proteins share the highest identity values, consistently < 60%, with their counterparts of the yerba mate chlorosis-associated virus (Cytorhabdovirus flaviyerbamate). The second virus, false jalap virus (FaJV), was detected in the herbaceous plant false jalap (Mirabilis jalapa L.) and represents together with tomato betanucleorhabdovirus 2, originally found in tomato plants in Slovenia, a tentative new species of the genus Betanucleorhabdovirus. FaJV particles accumulate in the perinuclear space, and electron-lucent viroplasms were observed in the nuclei of the infected cells. Notably, distinct from typical rhabdoviruses, most virions of AaCV were observed to be non-enclosed within membrane-bounded cavities. Instead, they were frequently seen in close association with surfaces of mitochondria or peroxisomes. Unlike FaJV, AaCV was successfully graft-transmitted to healthy plants of three species of the genus Aristolochia, while mechanical and seed transmission proved unsuccessful for both viruses. Data suggest that these viruses belong to two new tentative species within the subfamily Betarhabdovirinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study set out to analyse the sexuality contents of the "Caderneta de Saúde do Adolescente," an adolescent health handbook developed for use in Brazil. Using content analysis, the adequacy of the document was assessed using an approach informed by the International Planned Parenthood Federations comprehensive sexuality education theoretical framework. Findings suggest that six out of the seven categories present within this framework were partially covered, with the handbook providing information on the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and contraception. Certain key concepts were, however, discussed differently in the male and female versions of the handbook, the handbook does not address gender issues, and has very limited coverage of sexual diversity. The adolescent health handbook was a tool created to help young Brazilians to better understand what it is like to be young person, explaining some of the physical and psychological changes that occurs at this time. However, with respect to sexuality, some changes are appropriate to increase the comprehensiveness of the sexuality education that the resource provides.

Impatiens walleriana was introduced into Brazil and is now widely cultivated as an ornamental plant. Impatiens plants from a public garden showing leaf mosaic and colour break symptoms were submitted to total RNA extraction and high throughput sequencing. Identity of 99% with Amaranthus leaf mottle virus (AmLMV, Potyvirus) was observed. This is the first report of AmLMV in both Impatiens walleriana and the Americas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue fever, a prevalent and rapidly spreading arboviral disease, poses substantial public health and economic challenges in tropical and sub-tropical regions worldwide. Predicting infectious disease outbreaks on a countrywide scale is complex due to spatiotemporal variations in dengue incidence across administrative areas. To address this, we propose a machine learning ensemble model for forecasting the dengue incidence rate (DIR) in Brazil, with a focus on the population under 19 years old. The model integrates spatial and temporal information, providing one-month-ahead DIR estimates at the state level. Comparative analyses with a dummy model and ablation studies demonstrate the ensemble model's qualitative and quantitative efficacy across the 27 Brazilian Federal Units. Furthermore, we showcase the transferability of this approach to Peru, another Latin American country with differing epidemiological characteristics. This timely forecast system can aid local governments in implementing targeted control measures. The study advances climate services for health by identifying factors triggering dengue outbreaks in Brazil and Peru, emphasizing collaborative efforts with intergovernmental organizations and public health institutions. The innovation lies not only in the algorithms themselves but in their application to a domain marked by data scarcity and operational scalability challenges. We bridge the gap by integrating well-curated ground data with advanced analytical methods, addressing a significant deficiency in current practices. The successful transfer of the model to Peru and its consistent performance during the 2019 outbreak in Brazil showcase its scalability and practical application. While acknowledging limitations in handling extreme values, especially in regions with low DIR, our approach excels where accurate predictions are critical. The study not only contributes to advancing DIR forecasting but also represents a paradigm shift in integrating advanced analytics into public health operational frameworks. This work, driven by a collaborative spirit involving intergovernmental organizations and public health institutions, sets a precedent for interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing global health challenges. It not only enhances our understanding of factors triggering dengue outbreaks but also serves as a template for the effective implementation of advanced analytical methods in public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of sustainable technologies that optimize biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by peanut crops is essential to improve plant growth and ensure high grain yield potential. A study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of inoculation with Bradyrhizobium spp. and foliar application of molybdenum (Mo) in improving the productive response of peanut crop (Arachis hypogaea L., cv. IAC Tatu ST) in moderately acidic sandy soil (pH 5.0) of the Cerrado region, Brazil during two growing seasons (2016/2017 and 2017/2018). Treatments consisted of uninoculated seeds (control) and inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. and foliar application of Mo at five rates (0, 25, 50, 100, and 150 g Mo ha−1). These treatments were arranged in a randomized block design in split plots with four replicates. Nodulation, shoot dry matter, leaf N concentration, and peanut grain yield were significantly high in plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium spp. in both growing seasons. The grain yield increased by 13% and 12% with the inoculation of Bradyrhizobium spp. compared with non-inoculated plants in the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons, respectively. Plants fertilized with Mo showed higher root nodulation, leaf N concentration, and shoot dry matter production than control plants in both growing seasons. However, the crop grain yield was significantly high (24%) only in the 2016/2017 season in plants fertilized with Mo. The optimal rate of foliar Mo application in peanut plants cultivated in sandy soils varies from 80 to 100 g of Mo ha−1. Due to improved root nodulation, N uptake, plant growth, and higher crop grain yield, rhizobium inoculation and foliar application of Mo are sustainable agricultural practices that should be recommended for peanut growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the procedural incident for the disregard of legal personality in the Brazilian Civil Procedure Code. The author explains the theoretical and practical importance of this incident, which allows lifting the corporate veil and holding partners responsible for the acts of the company. Unlike other countries, Brazil has codified this procedure in its legislation and has its own procedure for summoning third parties to the process at any stage, even in the execution of the judgment. The author systematizes the work following the five articles of the Brazilian Civil Procedure Code of 2015 that explain the procedural incident applicable to all stages of the process. [Extracted from the article]

The aim of this study was to analyze the work process of physiotherapists in primary health care (PHC) and the repercussions of work management practices. A qualitative study that used semi-structured interviews with nineteen physiotherapists, two management physiotherapists and a coordinator of PHC in municipality in Southern Brazil. Data were analyzed using the methodological framework of discourse analysis. Through the analyzed speeches, the work routine of physiotherapists working in basic health units in the municipality studied mainly involves individual care, group activities and home visits. The diversity of this routine is influenced by management, work teams, the characteristics of the assisted population and the professional profile of the physiotherapist. Measures that enhanced work effectiveness were the increase in the number of physiotherapists in the city over the years, effective interprofessional relationships, the possibility of working in a single health unit, and monthly meetings for continuing education. Among the weaknesses presented were the low effectiveness of the orthopedics protocol adopted in the municipality, poor access to secondary care, lack of knowledge about the physiotherapist's functions in PHC and limitations in infrastructure and financial resources. Physiotherapy in primary care has been consolidated in the studied city, with effective management actions and increased access to professional, having a positive impact on resolving health conditions sensitive to this level of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methicillin resistance, mediated by the mecA gene in staphylococci and mammaliicocci, has caused tremendous setbacks in the use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine due to its high potential of presenting the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. Three other mec analogs exist, of which the mecC has evolutionary been associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in wild animals, thus loosely referred to as the wild MRSA. In this study, we present an epidemiological review and genomic analysis of non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci that carry the mecC-mediated methicillin resistance trait and determine whether this trait has any relevant link with the One Health niches. All previous studies (2007 till 2023) that described the mecC gene in non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci were obtained from bibliometric databases, reviewed, and systematically analyzed to obtain the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence determinants, mobilome, and other genetic contents. Moreover, core genome single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis was used to assess the relatedness of these strains. Of the 533 articles analyzed, only 16 studies (on livestock, environmental samples, milk bulk tanks, and wild animals) were eligible for inclusion, of which 17 genomes from 6 studies were used for various in silico genetic analyses. Findings from this systematic review show that all mecC-carrying non-aureus staphylococci were resistant to only beta-lactam antibiotics and associated with the classical SCCmec XI of S. aureus LGA251. Similarly, two studies on wild animals reported mecC-carrying Mammaliicoccus stepanovicii associated with SCCmec XI. Nevertheless, most of the mecC-carrying Mammaliicoccus species presented an MDR phenotype (including linezolid) and carried the SCCmec-mecC hybrid associated with mecA. The phylogenetic analysis of the 17 genomes revealed close relatedness (<20 SNPs) and potential transmission of M. sciuri and M. lentus strains in livestock farms in Algeria, Tunisia, and Brazil. Furthermore, closely related M. sciuri strains from Austria, Brazil, and Tunisia (<40 SNPs) were identified. This systematic review enhances our comprehension of the epidemiology and genetic organization of mecC within the non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci. It could be hypothesized that the mecC-carrying non-aureus staphylococci are evolutionarily related to the wild MRSA-mecC. The potential implications of clonal development of a lineage of mecA/mecC carrying strains across multiple dairy farms in a vast geographical region with the dissemination of MDR phenotype is envisaged. It was observed that most mecC-carrying non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci were reported in mastitis cases. Therefore, veterinarians and veterinary microbiology laboratories must remain vigilant regarding the potential existence of mecA/mecC strains originating from mastitis as a potential niche for this resistance trait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vulnerability of the Amazon has widely increased with the COVID-19 global pandemic and with the dismantlement of environmental protection policies in Brazil during the Bolsonaro administration. By contrast, local initiatives focusing on sustainable production, conservation, enhancing local people's quality of life, and supporting a more inclusive economy have emerged throughout the region and are building resilience in face of these disruptions. They represent seeds for transformation towards more sustainable trajectories from the ground up. In this context, women play a significant role, but their actions and voices are poorly understood, studied, or even considered. In this article, we use a novel approach to engage and highlight women's experiences by connecting decolonial and process-relational perspectives. Decolonial and process-relational thinking are closely linked in many ways, including in that they embrace difference as a mode of experiencing social-ecological relations. One particular aspect of this link is the shared focus on liminal thinking or thinking from the borders, what we call 'betweenness'. In our decolonial praxis, we highlight women's perspectives on their particular and diverse ways of life in the Amazon as they confront diverse pressures. To this end, we collaborated with 39 women from Santarém and neighboring towns in western Pará through participant observation, semi-structured interviews and facilitated dialogues. We discuss their perspectives on regional transformation, particularly the expansion of large-scale agribusiness around rural communities, and their understanding and responses to these changes. We reflect on the mutual learning experience resulting from the transdisciplinary engagement between researchers and collaborators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar, salt, and fat content in processed products are important concerns for consumers. Hence, alternative "healthy" versions of conventional foods such as chocolate, potato chips, and yogurt are offered. This work aimed to define the emotional response of consumers from different cultural backgrounds (Spain vs. Brazil) evoked by healthier versions of conventional products and the relationship between hedonic responses and health consciousness. A total of 186 Brazilian and 152 Spanish consumers participated in this online cross‐cultural study. Participants answered a Health Consciousness Questionnaire and an emotional check‐all‐that‐applies questionnaire using picture stimuli of conventional chocolate, potato chips, and yogurt and their healthier versions with less sugar, salt, and fat content, respectively. The Brazilians' emotional responses were more diverse for all stimuli compared to the Spaniards'. However, participants from both cultures rated an average of "slightly agree" on the health consciousness scale; a higher level of consumption, liking, and willingness to buy; and a higher frequency of positive emotional terms for the stimuli of conventional products compared to their healthier versions. A higher frequency of evocation of "active" is strongly associated with higher levels of health consciousness. Strategic actions by the food industry and government must consider cultural, emotional, and health‐conscious factors to encourage the consumption of healthier foods. Practical Application: Food manufacturers can use the information obtained from this study to create healthier versions of their products that appeal to consumers' emotional responses and health consciousness levels. The findings can assist in designing strategic actions to promote healthier food consumption by emphasizing the benefits of healthier food choices and making them more appealing to consumers. The methodology employed in this study can also be applied to further studies aimed to assess emotional responses to food stimuli across different cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The white-eared opossum, Didelphis albiventris Lund, 1840, is one of the most widely distributed South American marsupials. As currently defined, the species ranges from northeastern and central Brazil through Paraguay and central Bolivia, all of Uruguay, and in Argentina, from the north to northern Patagonia. Previous phylogeographic analyses found two haplogroups, one corresponding to northeastern and central Brazil and the other to southern Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. In those studies, differentiation was based on the geographic distance between both regions and the presence of geographic barriers among populations. The aims of the present contribution were to perform population-genetic analyses using the mitochondrial markers cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) and cytochrome b (cyt b) in order to elucidate the phylogeographic history of this species by incorporating samples from Argentina into the published datasets, and to evaluate whether there is more than one taxonomic entity under the name Didelphis albiventris. We studied the craniodental morphology of the species and used environmental niche modeling (ENM) as an additional methodology to investigate the environmental factors affecting its distribution. Our molecular, morphological, and ENM results strongly suggest the existence of two taxonomic entities under Didelphis albiventris, one in southern Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, and the other in central and northern Brazil. Data from specimens in the missing middle part of the taxon's range and evidence from nuclear markers are needed before formalizing a taxonomic split. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Mountain rivers differ from alluvial rivers due to their morphology and hydraulic characteristics. Within various types of mountain rivers, the canyon rivers are those under the direct or indirect influence of canyon landscapes. Studies involving canyons are extensive in the literature. However, there is a lack of knowledge to establish a relationship between morphology, topography, local sediments, and river channel characteristics. This study aims to understand the relationship between morphology, topography, and local sediments in a canyon river in Southern Brazil. Methods: Topobathymetric data were obtained during a field survey using a total station and an RTK-GPS device for three reaches (canyon landscape (CL), transition landscape (TL), and floodplain landscape (PL)) in the canyon river. Features such as bankfull width, depth, channel slope, and floodplain width were obtained. Geomorphic patterns of the reaches were evaluated in terms of their classification and similarity level through cluster analysis. Sediment size was surveyed using the zig-zag pebble-count procedure. Results: Results suggest that sediment supply is an essential characteristic of the canyon's influence on river morphology. This condition improves the heterogeneity observed in the Geomorphic Unit Tool and topographical results. The thalweg lines are more complex in CL than the TL and PL reaches. Three grain-size-distribution curves presented similar sediment size and mean diameters. Sediments larger than d80 remain immobile or, at least, need fractioning for transporting or depositing somewhere. Alternatively, these sediments may be transported during debris flow events or discharges with a high return period. Conclusion: The influence of the canyon on river characteristics weaken from upstream, close to the gorge, to downstream toward the floodplain. The valley shape can affect sediment transport since the entrenchment caused by the canyon walls influences the water level and the hydraulic conditions for incipient motion conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of plant-based and micro-organism-based biological inputs is a sustainable agricultural practice. It promotes a suitable and better utilization of non-renewable resources in the environment. The benefits of using micro-organisms are associated with direct and indirect mechanisms, mainly related to improvements in the absorption and availability of nutrients, resulting in a consequent impact on plant growth. The main benefits of using biochemical pesticides are the promotion of sustainability and the management of resistance to pests and diseases. Although the use of micro-organisms and botanical metabolites is a promising agricultural alternative, they are still primarily concentrated in grain crops. There is a huge opportunity to expand the plant-based and micro-organism-based biological inputs used in agriculture due to the wide range of mechanisms of action of those products. At a global level, several terminologies have been adopted to characterize biological inputs, but many terms used conflict with Brazilian legislation. This review will clarify the classes of biological inputs existing in Brazil as well as present the application and evolution of the market for microbiological and plant-based inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the effect of ministers' exposure to periods of low presidential approval in Brazil and Chile between 1990 and 2014. Approval is explored with quarterly estimates using a dyad-ratios algorithm and merged into a time-dependent cabinet data set to evaluate individual ministerial terminations (N = 4245). The empirical strategy combines time-varying exposure Cox regressions with observational data and propensity score and matching to estimate the effect of low approval on ministerial survival and perform a moderation analysis with three profiles associated with presidential strategies: (1) nonpartisan ministers to limit agency loss and moral hazard; (2) economists as ministers to optimise cabinet performance and send positive signals to the electorate; and (3) party leaders as ministers to optimise legislative support. The main findings show that risk increases by 135.1% in periods of low approval. In addition, approximately only one in five nonpartisan ministers is removed compared to party members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on analysis of Brazilian‐Spanish cooperation in Latin America, this article aims to contribute to the discussion on whether South–South Cooperation (SSC) represents an alternative model with specific and differentiated objectives, or if it largely reproduces the constraints and interests traditionally associated with the North–South model, but with new institutions and actors. We start by analysing the main criticisms levelled at cooperation in the literature, emphasising the identification, review and comparison of the mechanisms of domination and dependency that derive from the bilateral and multilateral practices of traditional development cooperation. We then construct a synthetic dependency index to measure the ability of Spain and Brazil – as representative cases of North–South Cooperation (NSC) and SSC with Latin America – to influence the foreign trade, investment and foreign policy decisions of aid recipients, and to empirically contrast the lower level of verticality that much of the available literature assumes about SSC schemes. The empirical analysis suggests significant differences between NSC and SSC in terms of their ability to reproduce dependency patterns and validate the discourse that tends to identify the latter as an alternative cooperation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas is the property of Universidad de Santiago de Chile 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.)

Maclura is a plant genus little known and used, species of which have been mainly used in the recovery of soils, for medicinal purposes such as dental infection treatments, and as wood for making furniture and construction. The overexploitation of this genus has placed certain species in endangered extinction status in some countries, such as Brazil. In addition, the scarce research and information limit the development, cultivation, and management of its species regarding their biochemical composition, which includes bioactive compounds such as the phenolic and flavonoid compounds found in some species such as M. pomifera, M. cochinchinensis, and M. tinctoria. The plants' antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities have been attributed to these compounds. Other biochemical components such as ashes, insoluble lignin, holocellulose, and the high content of lipids and carbohydrates have been identified to be used to produce biofuels, with characteristics very similar to fuels derived from petroleum. This review aims to analyze the current knowledge on the plant genus Maclura, exploring its biochemical compounds and potential applications, including as a food additive, antioxidant supplement, in agriculture, for therapeutic purposes, aquaculture, and the cosmetic and industrial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the determinants of resilience in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and strategies for CSA expansion, including the role of public policies, providing a genuine international comparison of inputs from CSA coordinators in Brazil and Spain. The results indicate that CSA projects with an engaged small consumer core group that supports the producer have additional tools to build resilience. Synergies with other like-minded social, educational, or environmental projects offer significant expansion opportunities. Distrust of CSA actors in public policies limits their ability to support the CSA movement, but indirect policy adjustments could have a favorable effects on CSA expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sustainability in Debate / Sustentabilidade em Debate is the property of University of Brasilia, Center for Sustainable Development 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 Revista de Ciencias Médicas de Pinar del Río is the property of Editorial Ciencias Medicas 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.)

In this paper we analyse the introduction of irrational and real numbers in secondary textbooks, and specifically the propositions on how these should be taught, in a sample of Brazilian textbooks used in state schools and approved by the Ministry of Education. The analyses discussed in this paper follow an institutional perspective (using Chevallard's Anthropological Theory of Didactics). Our results indicate that the notion of irrational number is generally introduced on the basis of the decimal representation of numbers, and that the mathematical need for the construction of the field of real numbers remains unclear in the textbooks. It seems that textbooks used in secondary teaching institutions develop mathematical organisations which focus on the "practical" block.