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An experimental procedure is presented that was developed by fifth-year chemical engineering and industrial chemistry undergraduates at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro doing the discipline on Experimental Organic Technology. The aim of this study was to apply the solvatochromic effect of the dye Nile Blue chloride to the characterization of biodiesel/diesel blends with different biodiesel content, using an alternative image processing analysis method involving low-cost, simple, and rapid assays. The effect of the solvatochromic dye Nile Blue chloride was monitored using the software ImageJ, which is being used currently, yielding rapid and effective responses. As an outcome, the students proposed a procedure that had potential application to colorimetric determination of biodiesel content in diesel oil. This gave students the opportunity to put the knowledge acquired in the course into practice, by dealing with issues concerning the fuels industry, making the learning process more dynamic, engaging, and effective.

The present article is aimed at analyzing the effects of learning analytics on students' self-regulated learning in a flipped classroom. An experiment was conducted with 96 engineering students, enrolled in a subject offered in the Flipped Classroom model. The students were divided into two groups: an experimental group (N = 51) and a control group (N = 45). After each learning unit, while the control group did not have access to any learning analytics resources, students from the experimental group received a bulletin with feedback to support Self-Regulated Learning. The levels of student self-regulation were measured through questionnaires at the beginning and the end of the course. The analysis of the collected data revealed that the bulletin promoted significant effects in self-regulated learning in the experimental group, stimulating the self-reflection and colleague's support search for clarifying doubts. These results demonstrate that learning analytics can be used to promote self-regulated learning in flipped classrooms, helping students identify strategies that can increase their academic performance.

The processes of occupation and exploitation in the Amazon have been increasing, and as a consequence, forest areas are being replaced by agroecosystems. As a consequence of this change, changes have been occurring in the soil attributes, and consequently, in the stability of aggregates in these environments. Thus, this work had two objectives: the first was to evaluate the impacts generated by the conversion of forests into agroecosystems on the soil attributes that are related to aggregates, in the southwestern region of the Amazon; the second objective was to evaluate the roles of pedophysical and pedochemical parameters on the stability of soil aggregates. The study was carried out on rural properties located in the southern part of Amazonas State, Brazil. Eight areas under different agroecosystems were selected: in the municipality of Canutama: (i) annatto, (ii) guarana, and (iii) cupuassu; in the municipality of Humaitá: (iv) cassava, (v) agroforestry, and (vi) sugarcane; and in the municipality of Manicoré: (vii) pasture and (viii) native forest. Unformed soil samples were collected from the 0.00–0.10 m layer and analyzed for aggregate stability, bulk density, soil organic carbon, and soil organic carbon stock. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed. The largest soil aggregations occurred in the annatto, guarana, sugarcane, and pasture agroecosystems. We associate the greater aggregation capacity of soils with factors that are inherent to the cultivated species and soil properties. The first factor corresponds to the adaptability of the Amazonian and grass species and their ability to produce biomass. The second factor is related to the physical and chemical properties of Amazonian soils, largely influenced by the sand fraction, soil organic carbon, soil acidity, and availability of exchangeable Ca and Mg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussion over the years regarding the quality of newly graduated engineers in Brazil has concluded that there are gaps between learning and market expectations. Analyzing the current scenario, the Ministry of Education (MEC) has approved new national curriculum guidelines that emphasize skills development and the adoption of active methodologies. The aim is to develop students as protagonists of their own learning. One of these methodologies is game-based learning (GBL), which utilizes games for educational purposes to integrate theory and practice. GBL simulates reality and presents concepts in a playful way, resulting in greater student engagement and interest. However, research shows that a lack of knowledge and difficulty accessing such games are barriers to implementing this methodology. Previous research has focused on the development of serious game metadata (SGM), the establishment of controlled vocabularies, and the identification of educational games targeting production engineering (PE). The authors of the present paper developed a database focused on the disciplines and content covered in production engineering courses. The paper describes the database and its aims to: (a) increase the use of games in the teaching-learning process; (b) make the process more effective; and (c) prepare better professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on evaluating the spatial variability of chemical attributes of soils under different agricultural use and native forest, indicating which are the possible indicator attributes of changes in environmental, through the use and management of the soil. The study was carried out in the southern region of the Amazonas state, in an Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo (Ultisol). Sampling grids were established measuring: 90 m × 70 m with regular soil collection spacing of 10 m for the guarana and forest areas; 90 m × 56 m spaced at 10 m × 8 m for annatto area; and 54 m × 42 m with spacing between points of 6 m for the cupuaçu area, totaling 80 sampling points in each area, with soil samples collected at depths of 0.0-0.05; 0.05-0.10 m and 0.10-0.20 m. The following attributes were determined: pH, Al3+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, P, H + Al, CEC, V% and m%. Descriptive, geostatistical and multivariate statistical analyzes were performed. The results show that it is possible to state that the descriptive, geostatistical and multivariate statistical techniques were able to identify the difference between the spatial variability of the attributes according to each specific use of individual soils. The multivariate analysis made it possible to select the attributes that most contribute to the variability of these soils, and with that, it was found that the forest showed less spatial variability in the surface layer, with higher reach values by scaled semivariograms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land Surface Temperature (LST) is a key variable in the energy and water balance between the surface and the atmosphere. LST is typically retrieved from remote sensing data because of the lack of sufficient flux towers for meteorological data collection, which makes local availability of LST scarce. Remote sensing can provide data for large areas, but the spatial resolution of the data may be coarser than the temporal resolution (e.g. a daily revisit interval for satellite-based Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors), or conversely, the spatial resolution may be coarser than the temporal resolution (e.g. Landsat satellite images obtained every 16 days). This tradeoff between spatial and temporal resolutions has motivated researchers to develop methods and algorithms to create image collections with both high spatial and temporal resolutions. In this study, we used a cloud-based downscaling algorithm to create LST images with high temporal and spatial resolution for the southern region of Brazil using Google Earth Engine (GEE). A comparison of the downscaling estimates with thermal Landsat images showed that 65% of the root mean squared errors (RMSE) were lower than 2 K, and 77% of the correlation coefficients (R) were greater than 0.70, while 84% of the bias values were between −2 and 2 K. The downscaling estimates were also validated using in situ measurements. Overall, a comparison between in situ measurements and different LST retrieval methods differed slightly in accuracy, with average RMSE values between 1.55 and 4.32 K, bias between −1.07 and 3.96 K, and correlation coefficients of nearly 0.90. These results demonstrate that cloud computing can be used to retrieve LST with high spatiotemporal resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic forced different countries to implement new strategies to reduce its spread and mitigate its economic and social effects. Given this scenario, this study aims to compare government incentives granted by Brazil and Chile, in response to the economic effects of COVID-19. This qualitative and exploratory research uses indirect (bibliographic) and secondary documentation with data collected from the websites of the state governments in each country, between 2020 and 2021. The Iramuteq 2.0 software for data analysis. Based on Factorial Correspondence Analysis using a dendrogram, the study analyzes the incentives launched by: laws, decrees, contingency policies, guidelines in booklets, applications, and combating fake news, classified into 4 (four) categories: (i) tax and labor, (ii) actions on social networks, (iii) benefits programs and (iv) legalization. The results show that Chile offered more incentives than Brazil, highlighting the helping program from large companies to small ones, On the other hand, Brazil conducted more campaigns to combat fake news. In the light of the communication theory (CT), the findings highlighted the advances of governments in the expansion of digital channels (social networks, web pages and applications) to inform citizens and companies. During this period State Governments learned new insights to outline new strategies to stimulate the economy, to promote learning and increase the capacity to lead in contexts of crises and pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to describe and compare the demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics and follow-up of representative samples of patients with myopathies and systemic sclerosis overlap syndromes (Myo-SSc) from two tertiary centers. Patients and methods: This is a cross-sectional and retrospective study conducted between January 2000 and December 2020. Fourty-five patients were analyzed with Myo-SSc (6 males, 39 females; mean age: 50.2±15.4 years; range, 45 to 65 years) from two tertiary centers (n=30 from Brazil and n=15 from Japan). Results: The median follow-up was 98 (range, 37 to 168) months. Muscle impairment started simultaneously with the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis in 57.8% (26/45) of cases. Muscle involvement occurred before the onset of systemic sclerosis in 35.5% (16/45) of cases, and after in 6.7% (3/45). Polymyositis was observed in 55.6% (25/45) of cases, followed by dermatomyositis in 24.4% (11/45) and antisynthetase syndrome in 20.0% (9/45). Concerning systemic sclerosis, the diffuse and limited forms occurred in 64.4% (29/45) and 35.6% (16/45) of the cases, respectively. Comparing the subgroups, Myo or SSc onset was earlier in Brazilian patients, and they had a higher frequency of dysphagia (20/45, [66.7%]) and digital ulcers (27/45, [90%]), whereas Japanese patients had higher modified Rodnan skin scores (15 [9 to 23]) and prevalence of positive anti-centromere antibodies (4/15 [23.7%]). The current disease status and mortality were similar in both groups. Conclusion: In the present study, Myo-SSc affected middle-aged women, and its manifestation spectrum varied according to geographic distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruticulture in the Amazonian Rainforest is one of the main causes of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and soil erosion. Fruticulture plays a key role in the soil traits and soil organic matter (SOM) compartments by altering the soil ecosystem. Our aim was to assess the influence of Forest–Fruticulture conversion on soil traits, and SOM fractions in Brazil's Legal Amazon. The experiment was carried out in field conditions using four land uses as main treatments: Bixa orellana, Theobroma grandiflorum, Paullinia cupana, and the Amazon Rainforest. The soil physicochemical traits were analyzed using samples that were collected from 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm soil depth by using grids (10 × 10 m) with 36 sampling points. Our results showed that the Fruticulture promoted an increase in bulk density, GMD, aggregate diameter, soil porosity, gravimetric moisture, sand, clay, carbon associated with humic acid, and, the sum of bases (K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+), while the Amazon Rainforest showed the highest values of silt, soil P content, SOC, p-SOC, m-SOC, carbon associated with fulvic acid, humine, and soil C stock. Overall, the fruticulture farming systems have negative effects on SOM compartments. The results of our study highlight the importance of considering fruticulture with endemic plant species by promoting soil fertility and soil aggregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Fatec Zona Sul (REFAS) is the property of Revista Fatec Zona Sul (REFAS) 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.)

Changes in primary cover for agricultural crops in Amazonas region influence the phenomenon of spatial variability in soil properties. This phenomenon is still studied assuming that the spatial data is isotropic, but does not consider the anisotropic pattern of soil properties. Thus, the aim of this work was to characterize, identify and correct isotropic patterns of magnetic susceptibility (MS) measurements using anisotropic models that actually represent the spatial aspects of the data. Three cultivation areas and one under native forest, classified as Haplic Alisol, were georeferenced and sampled by a mesh system covering 192 samples per area. Texture, X-ray diffraction and frequency-dependent (χfd) and mass-specific (χlf and χhf) magnetic susceptibility analyzes were performed. Then, classical and geostatistical analyzes were applied to the data, assuming isotropy and anisotropy. All χ frequencies were shown to be spatially dependent, satisfying the isotropy hypothesis. Thereby, the application of anisotropic analysis was able to confirm the presence of all types of anisotropy in Alisols. Anisotropic correction provided an improvement in models that fit the directional trends within the areas, and provided a reduction in the nugget effect and an increase in the correlation ranges. Thus, the generated kriging maps improved the patches of zonal trends of greater or lesser χ that stand out at the level of sub-regions. These zones should, therefore, be used as indicators of variability, paying special attention during their management, especially in research related to the delimitation of specific management zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Edentulism usually leads to esthetic, functional, and emotional discomfort resulting in a loss of self-esteem and a decrease of the patient’s quality of life. Dental implants provide new possibilities to ensure the comfort and efficacy of prosthetic rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction level of patients rehabilitated using the Branemark protocol or overdenture implant-supported prostheses. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two patients were rehabilitated using the Branemark protocol and 23 using overdenture prostheses. Then, an adapted oral health-related quality of life questionnaire was administered in addition to a clinical exam to determine the condition of the dental implants and prostheses. The results for treatment expectation, understanding of the type of treatment, phonetic function, chewing comfort, pain, and self-esteem improvement were analyzed with Fisher exact test (P < .05). Results: Both treatments presented satisfaction of above 87%, with no statistical difference between them. Eighty-two percent of patients treated with overdenture prostheses and 80.8% of those treated with the Branemark protocol had no complaint of pain (P = .087). Conclusion: The treatments analyzed in this study were highly satisfactory with regard to functional and esthetic factors, resulting in an increase in self-esteem and quality of life. The psychological factor is a complex variable in patient satisfaction that directly influences quality of life. Considering the desires of patients in choosing the type of prosthesis is critical to treatment success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to present the panorama of the teaching of Accounting Sciences in the third sector (TS) in the Accounting course in view of its prominence and growth, it is expected that higher education can prepare the professional to act with the recent changes gives TS legislation, preparing useful and transparent information for its users. To achieve the objective, the offer of disciplines in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Brazil was verified. The empirical study of an applied nature, has as exploratory methodology analyzing the curriculum available in the pages of 77 public HEIs, being analyzed 62 subjects offered on the TS. The results indicated that the TS course is not offered in all HEIs in Brazil, those that have it available as an elective course (optional). The research highlighted that among the HEIs studied, UNIFESP offers the TS discipline with the highest number of hours. Among the analysis by regions, the results showed that the Northeast region and represented by the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais, are the ones that offer the most TS disciplines. According to the Institute of Applied Economics Research (IPEA, 2020) this region and these states are not the most quantitative of TS institutions. Finally, data analyzed revealed that HEIs in Brazil are not complying with Resolution 4 of 2005 in its entirety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of converting natural ecosystems in cultivated areas, as well as use and land management systems have provided changes in aggregate stability and soil carbon stocks levels. The objective of this work was to evaluate the stability of aggregates and carbon stock in areas under forest conversion to different cropping systems, using statistical tools. Grids were established according to the culture dimensions, samples were taken at the crossing points of the grids at depths 0.00–0.05; 0.05–0.10; and 0.10–0.20 m, with 80 sampling points in each area, totaling 240 per area. At each sampling point, samples were collected with a preserved structure in the shape of a clod to determine the physical and chemical attributes, with a total of 960 samples in the four areas evaluated. The conversion process influenced soil aggregation, as measured by increased clay fraction dispersion and decreased WAD, GAD and aggregate classes >2.00 mm; The attributes were shown at the limit of the degree of spatial dependence, varying from moderate to strong; In the multivariate analysis, the forest and cupuaçu areas presented similar behavior, with values of OC, CS, silt, clay and classes of aggregates 2–1 mm, <1mm and ASI, above average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of postpolymerization method on the color stability of resin-based composites. Samples of direct and indirect restorative materials were polymerized with two photo-curing units (Visio photo-curing oven system and LED Elipar Freelight 2). All samples were submitted to an initial chromatic analysis using a spectrometer and submitted to ultraviolet-accelerated artificial aging. The direct material showed less color change than the indirect material, independent of the photo-activation method used. Samples photo cured with the LED system showed less change than those photo cured with the Visio system. The postpolymerization oven did not improve the color stability of direct and indirect resin-based composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the relationship between the adherence to critical chain project management (CCPM) practices and the new product development performance, in terms of the results of product development programs and product portfolio management (PPM). Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted with 79 innovative companies operating in Brazil. Data were analyzed using correlation analysis and non-parametric tests. Findings: Significant and positive correlations were found between CCPM adoption and the performance factors proposed. The adoption of CCPM offered stronger correlation with PPM performance than with the adoption of traditional methods. The results further indicate a possible indirect contribution of CCPM practices to the product development program by means of PPM improvement. Originality/value: This study deepens the knowledge of the joint study between project management and new product development, by bringing empirical evidence that the adoption of specific practices suggested by CCPM is used by organizations with superior performance. Moreover, the results broaden CCPM literature by attesting that companies do not necessarily have to apply the CCPM approach in a formal and explicit way to obtain the performance results given. The analyses still have practical value when indicating which CCPM practices should be prioritized by managers seeking high performance in PPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian Federal Constitution of 1988 attribute to the Federated states to define the criteria for the creation of new municipalities. Therefore, the states' rules facilitate the creation of these political units, which contributed to the dismembering intensification throughout the country. Because of this, it was approved the Constitutional Amendment 15/1996 which prevented municipalities from being created until new Federal regulations, and those created without the legal regulation were judicially contested. This work intends to uncover how municipalities could be created and installed since then, without legal support, and for what reasons the Brazilian judiciary maintained its existence. Controversial The establishment of these municipalities reveals political disputes, power relations, and conceptions of State that lead to reflection on the meaning of the territorial division in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anuario do Instituto de Geociencias is the property of Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Geociencias 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.)

Background: The effects of exercise training on Chagas heart disease are still unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exercise training over functional capacity, cardiac function, quality of life, and biomarkers in Chagas heart disease.Methods: The PEACH study is a superiority randomized clinical trial which will include subjects who meet the following criteria: Chagas heart disease with a left ventricular ejection fraction below 45 % with or without heart failure symptoms; clinical stability in the last 3 months; adherence to clinical treatment; and age above 18 years. The exclusion criteria are: pregnancy; neuromuscular limitations; smoking; evidence of non-chagasic heart disease; systemic conditions that limit exercise practice or cardiopulmonary exercise test; unavailability to attend the center three times a week during the intervention period; and practitioners of regular exercise. The intervention group will perform an exercise training intervention three times per week during 6 months and will be compared to the control group without exercise. Both groups will undergo the same monthly pharmaceutical and nutritional counseling as well as standard medical treatment according to the Brazilian consensus on Chagas disease. The primary outcome is functional capacity based on peak exercise oxygen consumption during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Secondary outcomes are: cardiac function; body composition; muscle respiratory strength; microvascular reactivity; cardiac rhythm abnormalities; autonomic function; biochemical; oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers; and quality of life. Subjects will be evaluated at baseline, and at 3 and 6 months after randomization. Thirty patients will be randomly assigned into exercise or control groups at a ratio of 1:1.Discussion: Findings of the present study will be useful to determine if physical exercise programs should be included as an important additional therapy in the treatment of patients with Chagas heart disease.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02517632 (registered on 6 August 2015). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leishmaniasis includes a wide complex of diseases that affect humans and other mammals, and can range from a mild cutaneous form to a severe visceral type. The safety of the standard treatment using pentavalent antimony is a concern due to its toxic effects. The search for alternative, effective and less toxic treatments has led to the testing of natural products. The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic, leishmanicidal and healing potential of Arrabidaea chica. Methods: The crude ethanolic extract, as well as the chloroform, methanol and ethyl acetate fractions of A. chica were prepared and phytochemical analysis was performed. Cytotoxic evaluation was carried out through MTT colorimetric assay, and the 50 % cellular cytotoxicity was determined. After that, the effect of the extract and fractions against Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes, at intervals of 24, 48 and 72 h, was analyzed, and 50 % inhibitory concentration was determined. The healing effect of the plant was also tested in surgical lesions in Swiss mice skin. Results: Phytochemical screening showed that the crude extracts contained flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanidins and chalcones. The leishmanicidal potential of A. chica produced satisfactory results in concentrations of between 60 and 155.9 µg/mL. Cytotoxic assay revealed a 50 % reduction in viable cells at a concentration of 189.9 µg/mL. The healing results indicated that the treated group exhibited more pronounced signs of lesion resolution in the early period, but this pattern did not persist throughout the treatment. Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrate that A. chica has cytotoxic and leishmanicidal potential but its healing effect must be better studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The polymorphisms of IL28B have been described as important in the pathogenesis of infections caused by some viruses. The aim of this research was to evaluate whether IL28B gene polymorphisms (SNP rs8099917 and SNP rs12979860) are associated with HAM/TSP. Methods: The study included 229 subjects, classified according to their neurological status in two groups: Group I (136 asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers) and Group II (93 HAM/TSP patients). The proviral loads were quantified, and the rs8099917 and rs12979860 SNPs in the region of IL28B-gene were analyzed by StepOnePlus Real-time PCR System. Results: A multivariate model analysis, including gender, age, and HTLV-1 DNA proviral load, showed that IL28B polymorphisms were independently associated with HAM/TSP outcome in rs12979860 genotype CT (OR = 2.03; IC95% = 0.96–4.27) and in rs8099917 genotype GG (OR = 7.61; IC95% = 1.82–31.72). Conclusion: Subjects with SNP rs8099917 genotype GG and rs12979618 genotype CT may present a distinct immune response against HTLV-1 infection. So, it seems reasonable to suggest that a search for IL28B polymorphisms should be performed for all HTLV-1-infected subjects in order to monitor their risk for disease development; however, since this is the first description of such finding in the literature, we should first replicate this study with more HTLV-1-infected persons to strengthen the evidence already provided by our results. Author Summary: New evidence has shown that the pathogenic mechanism of disease-associated HTLV-1 infection is an impairment of the immunity. More recently, it has been demonstrated that IL28B polymorphisms are more likely to occur among HTLV-1 infected subjects and are associated with higher proviral loads in HTLV-1 carriers. Based on anti-HCV properties exhibited by IL28B, we examined the possibility of an association between IL28B polymorphisms (rs8099917 and rs12979860 SNPs) and HAM/TSP occurrence in a large cohort of HTLV-1-infected subjects in Sao Paulo city, Brazil. This study included 229 HTLV-1-infected subjects classified according to their neurological status in two groups (asymptomatic vs HAM/TSP cases), and observed that persons with SNP rs8099917 genotype GG and rs12979860 genotype CT may present a distinct immune response against HTLV-1 infection. Thus, it seems reasonable to suggest that a search for IL28B polymorphisms should be performed for all HTLV-1-infected subjects in order to monitor their risk for HAM/TSP development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Business & Projects / Revista de Gestão e Projetos is the property of Revista de Gestao e Projetos 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 Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management / Revista de Gestão Costeira Integrada is the property of Associacao Portuguesa dos Recursos Hidricos 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.)

An optimal control approach is used to analyze the tradeoff between the use of water resources for electricity generation versus other economic uses (irrigation, industry, etc.). For that purpose, a dynamic model is presented which establishes relationships between economic growth, water resources management, and energy policy in the context of the aforementioned tradeoff, in an economy whose energy matrix is heavily dependent upon hydroelectric power. Among other results, the analysis establishes that in the market, the price of water for non-energy uses should be twice the price of the energy goods, indicating the necessity of substituting other sources of energy for hydroelectric power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We evaluated the quantity and composition of C&DW in Rio Branco, Brazilian Amazon. • 3.2 million tonnes of C&DW were generated in the last 20 years (cumulatively). • 100% of the C&DW was deemed reusable and/or recyclable. • C&DW indexes: 0.22 t/m² for new construction works and 0.41 t/m² for renovations. • Economic indicators show feasibility for a recycling plant, processing 90 t/h. Due to the scarcity of aggregate deposits in the region of the Brazilian Amazon, cities such as Rio Branco (state of Acre) rely on complex logistical operations to guarantee their supply. These operations substantially raise the cost of natural aggregates and, together with their environmental impact, justify the recycling of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) in the region. Therefore, the present study investigates the quantity and composition of the C&DW generated in the urban area of Rio Branco and proposes a recycling plant for the city. Periodic and systematic visits to construction sites were carried out to formulate representative indexes for the generation and composition of the C&DW. These indexes supported an economic feasibility analysis for the recycling plant, as well as a discussion of the environmental impact of this plant on the inert landfill currently used in Rio Branco. As a result, a C&DW generation index per constructed area of 0.22 t/m² was found for new construction works and 0.41 t/m² for renovation works, with unit weight of 0.98 t/m³ and 0.92 t/m³, respectively. According to its composition, 100% of C&DW was deemed reusable and/or recyclable. In the last 20 years (1999 - 2018), 3.2 million tonnes of C&DW were generated in the city, averaging 517 kg/(inhab•year). Economic indicators show feasibility for the installation of a recycling plant with a processing capacity of 90 t/h, improving the environmental, economic, and social aspects of the construction sector in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of usable aggregates for civil construction in Rio Branco (capital of Acre, a Federal State in the Amazon region) makes the production and use of recycled aggregates from construction and demolition waste (CDW) an alternative of great interest. In this study, a comprehensive characterization of CDW collected from 24 construction sites of six building types and three different construction phases (structures, masonry, and finishing) was carried out. The fine and coarse recycled aggregates were produced and evaluated in 10 different compositions. The aggregates' performance was evaluated in four mixtures designed for laying and coating mortars with a total replacement of conventional aggregates and a mixture designed for a C25 concrete with 50% and 100% replacement of conventional aggregates. CDW mortars showed lower densities and greater water retention, initial adhesion, and mechanical strength than conventional mortars. CDW concretes presented lower densities and greater resistance to chloride penetration than conventional concrete, with a small mechanical strength reduction. The recycled CDW aggregates proved to be technologically feasible for safe application in mortars and concrete; for this reason, it is believed that the alternative and proposed methodology is of great interest to the Amazonian construction industry, considering the high costs of raw materials and the need for defining and consolidating a sustainable development model for the Amazon region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Açaí berry is a fruit from the tree commonly known as açaízeiro (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) originated from the Amazonian region and widely consumed in Brazil. There are several reports of the anti-inflammatory activity of its pulp and few data about the seed's potential in inflammation control. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of catechin-rich açaí extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and carrageenan-induced paw edema. The treatment with E. oleracea ethyl acetate extract (EO-ACET) was used in an in vitro model performed with macrophages stimulated by LPS, in which pro-inflammatory markers were evaluated, and in an in vivo model of acute inflammation, in which edema inhibition was evaluated. EO-ACET showed an absence of endotoxins, and did not display cytotoxic effects in RAW 264.7 cells. LPS-stimulated cells treated with EO-ACET displayed low levels of nitrite and interleukins (IL's), IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-12, when compared to untreated cells. EO-ACET treatment was able to inhibit carrageenan-induced paw edema at 500 and 1000 mg/kg, in which no acute inflammatory reaction or low mast cell counts were observed by histology at the site of inoculation of λ-carrageenan. These findings provide more evidence to support further studies with E. oleracea seeds for the treatment of inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Politicians have approved significant changes to the Brazilian Forest Code (Brazilian Law n. 12.651/2012), providing partial pardons for illegal deforestation in 2012. Nonetheless, the New Forest Code (NFC) may cause economic harm, since ecosystem services may be affected, and the productivity of several crops may end up decreasing. Here, we explored two sets of factors, one at a narrow-scale – the loss of close natural vegetation cover – and another at a wide-scale considering implications at a landscape level to measure the effects of the presence/absence of forest remnants, and consequently, of pollinators, on coffee productivity. The narrow-scale perspective used manipulative experiments in ten coffee plantations, and the wide-scale perspective considered secondary data on coffee productivity in planted and native forests of 61 municipalities to test the hypotheses: i) coffee branches with pollinator access are more productive; ii) coffee crops in contact with native forest remnants are more productive; iii) coffee plants located near to native forest remnants are more productive; iv) coffee productivity increases with the municipality area occupied by native forest remnants, and, v) coffee productivity decreases with the municipality area occupied by Eucalyptus spp. At the narrow-scale, we detected 32 % higher coffee productivity when pollinators were present (hypothesis i) and 15 % higher productivity when forest remnants were in contact with the plantation (hypothesis ii), but no differences related to forest remnants in the broader area (hypothesis iii). At the wide-scale, we observed that a higher amount of native forest cover increased coffee productivity (hypothesis iv), while increased Eucalyptus spp. plantations reduced coffee productivity (hypothesis v). The corroboration of hypotheses i , ii, and iv illustrates the importance of animal pollination and native vegetation remnants fr coffee productivity. The findings for hypothesis v reinforce that Eucalyptus spp. plantations are not good surrogates for native vegetation as part of management recovery action for deforested areas. Following the New Forest Code's recommendations in Article 22 (Chapter IV, Section II), the preservation of native vegetation, species diversity, and native species regeneration should be attended to in legally instituted natural reserves. Our findings improve discernment that natural areas' devastation or its coverage using planted forest may reduce productivity levels of coffee plantations, representing a disruption of natural complexity, of organisms' connectivity, and consequently of ecosystem services as the pollination and pollinator-dependent crops' productivity, as the coffee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematite hosted in iron formations (IFs) is widely held as a transformation of (bio)chemical precipitates, which may register depositional conditions and sources responsible for the origin of these enigmatic rocks. Consequently, this is an attractive target to mineral-specific geochemical investigations aiming at distinguishing primary signatures from ore-related transformations and terrigenous contamination. This study reports in situ Electron Microprobe (EMP) and Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses of hematite grains from the Neoproterozoic Urucum IF, Jacadigo-Boqui Gr. The hematite grains were divided into three main morpho-textural types: (i) anhedral, micro-crystalline hematite (Hm1); (ii) coarser, subhedral to euhedral, microspecular (Hm2) and (iii) microplaty (Hm3) hematite. Factor analysis (FA) was used to trace underlying relationships among the trace elements (TEs). The identified factors were correlated to: (i) substitutions in the hematite structure (F3 a , MgO-MnO-Al 2 O 3 -TiO 2 ; and F1 b , Al-Ti-V); (ii) mineral inclusions (F1 a , SiO 2 ; F2 a , P 2 O 5 -CaO-MgO; and F2 b , Mg-Mn-Sr); (iii) hydrogenous and diagenetic incorporation (F3 b , Th-Zr-Cu and Ba-REE; F4 b , Si-U-Hf). The TE compositions are broadly consistent in all hematite types; this trend suggests limited post-depositional overprinting. Nearly isochemical signatures show that transformation of ferrihydrite to hematite and the subsequent recrystallization of this mineral were dominated by solid-state processes under high Eh. Elements exclusively incorporated in the hematite structure (Al, Ti, V) did not show significant fractionation with increasing recrystallization. Replacement and solution precipitation also occurred, albeit to a lesser extent. The recrystallization of Hm1 to Hm2 and Hm3 was likely controlled by texture and assisted by pressure and fluid circulation. Warm, alkaline, basin brines were also responsible for the dissolution of gangue minerals, particularly chert. Consequently, elements associated with mineral inclusions (Si, P, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Sr) decrease in abundance from Hm1 to Hm2 and Hm3. Ptygmatic quartz veinlets and chert dissolution pods attest to silica leaching and volume reduction leading to hypogene enrichment. Supergene enrichment resulted in ubiquitous secondary porosity, but generally did not affect the composition of the hematite grains. Non-CHARAC Zr/Hf ratios suggest active HFSE fractionation processes. Super-chondritic ratios record basin seawater enriched in Zr as a consequence of the fractionation of Hf onto amorphous silica, registered by sub-chondritic Zr/Hf ratios and a correlation between Si and Hf in factor F4 b. Distinctively seawater-like REE pasterns suggest a common precursor hydrogenous phase. Consistent true negative Ce anomalies and generally low Th/U ratios, together with the relatively common occurrence of hematite peloids, suggest that the precursor ferrihydrite particles were deposited and accumulated near the water-sediment interface, in a well-oxygenated shallow water setting. This implies the existence of a discrete chemocline separating the deep ferruginous waters from oxygenated shallow waters. • Texture and in situ composition data are presented for hematites from the Urucum IF-MnF. • Factor analysis shows element associated with inclusions and ancient seawater. • Results document seawater signatures in all textural types. • Recrystallization was nearly iso-chemical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Standards [VICS], Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment [CPFR] is based on the standardization, registration and electronic synchronization of data, supported by collaborative management among companies (VICS, 2004). Based on this definition, it can be concluded that there are two dominant factors in the implementation of CPFR: one essentially technological and the other non-technological. In this context, the main purpose of this study is to identify the so-called nontechnological factors involved in CPFR reported in the literature and to analyze them in real situations. The importance of these factors is then analyzed through the study of two real cases of CPFR implementation, the first in a large fast food network and the second at a wholesale food distributor operating in Brazil. The main findings indicate that the demand forecast conducted by the company that coordinates CPFR carries the most weight in the understanding of demand by the companies of the whole supply chain, that the collaborative culture is considered a very important factor in the relationships along the chain (albeit not essential to the implementation of processes), and that the monitoring of activities is fundamental in aligning the companies with CPFR management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery and tracking of antimicrobial resistance genes are essential for understanding the evolution of bacterial resistance and restraining its dispersion. Mammaliicoccus sciuri (formerly Staphylococcus sciuri) is the most probable evolutionary repository of the mecA gene, that later disseminated to S. aureus. In this study, we describe the first double mecA / mecC homologue-positive non- aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci (NASM) from the American continent, also representing the first report of mecC- positive NASM in Brazil. Two clonally related methicillin-resistant M. sciuri strains co-carrying mecA and mecC genes were isolated from the teat skin swab and milk sample collected from an ewe's left udder half. Both M. sciuri strains belonged to the sequence type (ST) 71. Besides mecA and mecC genes, the M. sciuri strains carried broad resistomes for clinically important antimicrobial agents, including β-lactams, tetracyclines, lincosamide, streptogramin, streptomycin, and aminoglycosides. Virulome analysis showed the presence of the clumping factor B (clfB), ATP-dependent protease ClpP (ClpP) and serine-aspartate repeat proteins (sdrC and sdrE) virulence-associated genes. Phylogenomic analysis revealed that these M. sciuri strains are part of a globally disseminated branch, associated with farm and companion animals and even with food. Our findings suggest that M. sciuri is likely to emerge as a pathogen of global interest, carrying a broad repertoire of antimicrobial resistance genes with a remarkable co-presence of mecA and mecC genes. Finally, we strongly encourage to monitor M. sciuri under the One Health umbrella since this bacterial species is spreading at the human-animal-environment interface. • Genomic study of Mammaliicoccus sciuri strains co-harboring mecA and mecC genes. • The presence of broad resistomes and virulence-associated genes was confirmed. • Phylogenomic analysis showed clonal relatedness with strains from Asia and Europe. • Clonal similarity with strains from domestic animals and food is demonstrated. • Human-animal-environment interface spread of M. sciuri mec-type genes is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Seroprevalence of and risk factors for toxoplasmosis in sheep from different properties in the Jaboticabal microregion, São Paulo State, Brazil were determined. Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were found in sera of 52.0% of 488 sheep tested by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT⩾64). T. gondii seropositivity in sheep was significantly associated with gender of the sheep, pasturing system, contact with cats, and the use of mineral supplements and the type of feed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]