Search

Orthoses are commonly used for treating injuries to improve the quality of life of patients, with customized orthoses offering significant benefits. Additive manufacturing, especially fused deposition modelling, enhances these benefits by providing faster, more precise, and more comfortable orthoses. The present study evaluates nine polymeric materials printed in horizontal and vertical directions by assessing their performance through compressive, flexural, and tensile tests. Among all materials, polycarbonate, polylactic acid, and ULTEMTM 1010 showed the most promising results, not only because they had the highest mechanical values, but also due to their minimal or no difference in performance between printing directions, making them advantageous in orthoses fabrication. Based on this, a finite element model of an ankle–foot orthosis was developed to simulate the deformation, strain, and stress fields under static conditions. The findings aim to optimize material selection for orthotic fabrication, where ULTEMTM 1010 is presented as the material with improved performance and durability.

Orthotic devices play an important role in medical treatment, addressing various pathologies and promoting patient recovery. Customization of orthoses to fit individual patient morphologies and needs is essential for optimal functionality and patient comfort. The advent of additive manufacturing has revolutionized the biomedical field, offering advantages such as cost reduction, increased personalization, and enhanced dimensional adaptability for orthotics manufacturing. This research focuses on the impact strength of nine polymeric materials printed by additive manufacturing, including an evaluation of the materials’ performance under varying conditions comprising different printing directions (vertical and horizontal) and exposure to artificial sweat for different durations (0 days, 24 days, and 189 days). The results showed that Nylon 12 is good for short-term (24 days) immersion, with absorbed energies of 78 J and 64 J for the vertical and horizontal directions, whereas Polycarbonate (PC) is good for long-term immersion (189 days), with absorbed energies of 66 J and 78 J for the vertical and horizontal directions. Overall, the findings contribute to a better understanding of the suitability of these materials for biomedical applications, considering both short-term and long-term exposure to physiological and environmental conditions.

The study presented herein concerns the mechanical properties of two common polymers for potential biomedical applications, PLA and PETG, processed through fused filament fabrication (FFF)—Material Extrusion (ME). For the uniaxial tension tests carried out, two printing orientations—XY (Horizontal, H) and YZ (Vertical, V)—were considered according to the general principles for part positioning, coordinates, and orientation typically used in additive manufacturing (AM). In addition, six specimens were tested for each printing orientation and material, providing insights into mechanical properties such as Tensile Strength, Young’s Modulus, and Ultimate Strain, suggesting the materials’ potential for biomedical applications. The experimental results were then compared with correspondent mechanical properties obtained from the literature for other polymers like ASA, PC, PP, ULTEM 9085, Copolyester, and Nylon. Thereafter, fatigue resistance curves (S-N curves) for PLA and PETG, printed along 45°, were determined at room temperature for a load ratio, R, of 0.2. Scanning electron microscope observations revealed fibre arrangements, compression/adhesion between layers, and fracture zones, shedding light on the failure mechanisms involved in the fatigue crack propagation of such materials and giving design reference values for future applications. In addition, fractographic analyses of the fatigue fracture surfaces were carried out, as well as X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) and Thermogravimetric (TGA)/Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) tests.

Abstract Considering the expected increasing demand for cellulose fibers in the near future and that its major source is wood pulp, alternative sources such as vegetable wastes from agricultural activities and agro-food industries are currently being sought to prevent deforestation. In the present study, cellulose was successfully isolated from six agroindustrial residues: corncob, corn husk, grape stalk, pomegranate peel, marc of strawberry-tree fruit and fava pod. Cellulose fibers were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Despite the evident morphological differences among the extracted celluloses, results revealed similar compositional and thermal properties with the wood-derived commercial microcrystalline cellulose used as a control. Trace amounts of lignin or hemicellulose were detected in all cellulose samples, with the exception of corncob cellulose, that exhibited the greatest extraction yield (26%) and morphological similarities to wood-derived microcrystalline cellulose, visible through SEM. Furthermore, corncob cellulose was found to have thermal properties (TOnset of 307.17 °C, TD of 330.31 °C, and ΔH of 306.04 kJ/kg) suitable for biomedical applications.

Osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent disease worldwide that leads to cartilage loss. Tissue engineering, involving scaffolds, cells, and stimuli, has shown to be a promising strategy for its repair. Thus, this study aims to manufacture and characterise different scaffolds with poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with commercial cellulose (microcrystalline (McC) and methyl cellulose (MC) or cellulose from agro-industrial residues (corncob (CcC)) and at different percentages, 1%, 2%, and 3%. PCL scaffolds were used as a control. Morphologically, the produced scaffolds presented porosities within the desired for cell incorporation (57% to 65%). When submitted to mechanical tests, the incorporation of cellulose affects the compression resistance of the majority of scaffolds. Regarding tensile strength, McC2% showed the highest values. It was proven that all manufactured scaffolds suffered degradation after 7 days of testing because of enzymatic reactions. This degradation may be due to the dissolution of PCL in the organic solvent. Biological tests revealed that PCL, CcC1%, and McC3% are the best materials to combine with human dental pulp stem/stromal cells. Overall, results suggest that cellulose incorporation in PCL scaffolds promotes cellular adhesion/proliferation. Methyl cellulose scaffolds demonstrated some advantageous compressive properties (closer to native cartilaginous tissue) to proceed to further studies for application in cartilage repair.

Tissue engineering using scaffolds is a promising strategy to repair damaged articular cartilage, whose self-repair is inefficient. Cellulose properties have been recognized for their application in the biomedical field. The aim of this study was to fabricate and characterize novel scaffolds based on poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) and sustainable cellulose. Thus, the performance of corncob-derived cellulose (CC) in scaffolds as an alternative to wood cellulose (WC) was also investigated to reduce the environmental footprint. Two concentrations of CC in scaffolds were tested, 1% and 2% (w/w), and commercial WC using the same concentrations, as a control. Morphologically, all the developed scaffolds presented pore sizes of ~300 µm, 10 layers, a circular shape and well-dispersed cellulose. Thus, all of these characteristics and properties provide the manufactured scaffolds suitable for use in cartilage-replacement strategies. The use of 2% CC results in higher porosity (54.24%), which promotes cell infiltration/migration and nutrient exchange, and has similar mechanical properties to WC. As for the effects of enzymatic degradation of the scaffolds, no significant changes (p > 0.05) were observed in resistance over time. However, the obtained compressive modulus of the scaffold with 2% CC was similar to that of WC. Overall, our results suggest that the integration of 2% corncob cellulose in PCL scaffolds could be a novel way to replace wood-cellulose-containing scaffolds, highlighting its potential for cartilage-replacement strategies.

Current treatments for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc dysfunctions are not fully effective and lack regenerative capacity. Therefore, the search for tissue-engineered materials for TMJ disc substitution is critical to fill this gap. Decellularization presents tremendous potential, as it is possible to obtain an extracellular matrix with an adequate biomechanical structure and biochemical components. However, its application to the TMJ disc is still in progress, since there are few studies in the literature, and those that exist have many gaps in terms of characterisation, which is decisive to ensure its success. Ultimately, we intend to emphasize the importance of the decellularization technique for the development of an engineered TMJ disc.

Understanding the mechano–biological coupling mechanisms of biomaterials for tissue engineering is of major importance to assure proper scaffold performance in situ. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to establish correlations between biomaterials, their processing conditions, and their mechanical behaviour, as well as their biological performance. With this work, it was possible to infer a correlation between the addition of graphene nanoparticles (GPN) in a concentration of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75% (w/w) (GPN0.25, GPN0.5, and GPN0.75, respectively) in three-dimensional poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based scaffolds, the extrusion-based processing parameters, and the lamellar crystal orientation through small-angle X-ray scattering experiments of extruded samples of PCL and PCL/GPN. Results revealed a significant impact on the scaffold’s mechanical properties to a maximum of 0.5% of GPN content, with a significant improvement in the compressive modulus of 59 MPa to 93 MPa. In vitro cell culture experiments showed the scaffold’s ability to support the adhesion and proliferation of L929 fibroblasts (fold increase of 28, 22, 23, and 13 at day 13 (in relation to day 1) for PCL, GPN0.25, GPN0.5, and GPN0.75, respectively) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (seven-fold increase for all sample groups at day 21 in relation to day 1). Moreover, the cells maintained high viability, regular morphology, and migration capacity in all the different experimental groups, assuring the potential of PCL/GPN scaffolds for tissue engineering (TE) applications.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) affect a substantial percentage of the population, and the resources spent on their treatment are considerable. Despite the worldwide efforts around Tissue Engineering of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc, a proper implant offering a long-term solution for TMD was not yet developed. To contribute to these efforts, this work is focused on the research and development of implants for TMJ disc regeneration. Scaffolds and hydrogels mimicking the TMJ disc of black Merino sheep were produced using different materials, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), and as a multi-material structure. Different parameters of the scaffold manufacturing were assessed: the influence of processing temperatures, filament diameter, and biological environment. Moreover, two multi-material approaches were also assessed, scaffold with a hydrogel shell and scaffold with a hydrogel core. It was found that increasing temperature, the scaffolds’ porosity decreases, increasing their compressive modulus. Decreasing the filament size (300 to 200 μm) decreases the compressive modulus to almost half of the initial value. Scaffolds with 200 μm filaments are the ones with a closer modulus to the native disc and their properties are maintained under hydrated conditions. The introduction of a hydrogel core in these scaffolds presented better mechanical properties to TMJ disc substitution.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is an important structure for the masticatory system and the pathologies associated with it affect a large part of the population and impair people’s lifestyle. It comprises an articular disc, that presents low regeneration capacities and the existing clinical options for repairing it are not effective. This way, it is imperative to achieve a permanent solution to guarantee a good quality of life for people who suffer from these pathologies. Complete knowledge of the unique characteristics of the disc will make it easier to achieve a successful tissue engineering (TE) construct. Thus, the search for an effective, safe and lasting solution has already started, including materials that replace the disc, is currently growing. The search for a solution based on TE approaches, which involve regenerating the disc. The present work revises the TMJ disc characteristics and its associated diseases. The different materials used for a total disc replacement are presented, highlighting the TE area. A special focus on future trends in the field and part of the solution for the TMJ problems described in this review will involve the development of a promising engineered disc approach through the use of decellularized extracellular matrices.

Objetivo: Este trabalho objetiva apresentar o médico de família e comunidade como um importante profissional na área da saúde da população de lésbicas, gays, bissexuais e transsexuais. Métodos: Relato de caso ilustrando encontro clínico e uso de ferramentas da medicina de família e comunidade. Conclusões: O médico de família consegue elaborar um projeto comum para o manejo dos problemas dessa população, que, além dos de origem biológica, compreende outros fatores que podem provocar adoecimento: o preconceito que atravessam no mero ato de sair à rua, a pressão de familiares descontentes com sua diversidade, sexual ou de gênero, a dificuldade psicológica da pessoa para se livrar dos seus próprios tabus e preconceitos para se permitir aceitar novas identidades

INTRODUÇÃO: A trissomia 21 (T21) é a cromossomopatia mais frequente, independentemente do género, etnia ou classe social. Os recém-nascidos apresentam alterações fenotípicas e eventualmente malformações congénitas. O objetivo foi criar um artigo de revisão acessível e ajustado à prática clínica do pediatra para seguimento de crianças e jovens com T21, através de uma visão holística dos cuidados de saúde. METODOLOGIA: Pesquisa dos artigos publicados em diferentes áreas, incluindo diretrizes de várias associações pediátricas. Revisão da literatura por especialistas em diferentes especialidades médicas com prática no seguimento de crianças e jovens com T21. CONCLUSÃO: Através de uma avaliação e intervenção holísticas é possível continuar a melhorar os cuidados de saú-de da população pediátrica com T21. Isso reflete-se não só através do aumento da esperança média de vida, mas também na melhoria da qualidade de vida experienciada em todas as idades.

‘Mencía’/‘Jaen’ it’s an important red grape variety, exclusive of the Iberian Peninsula, used in wine production namely in Bierzo D.O. and Dão D.O., respectively. This work evaluates the effect of the two different “terroirs” on the phenolic composition and chromatic characteristics of ‘Mencía’/‘Jaen’ monovarietal wines produced at an industrial scale in the same vintage. Using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares-Discrimination Analysis (PLS-DA), and Orthogonal PLS-DA (OPLS-DA) it was found that peonidin-3-coumaroylglucoside, petunidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-coumaroylglucoside, peonidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-acetylglucoside, malvidin-3-glucoside, and ferulic acid were the phenolic compounds with the highest differences between the two regions. PLS regression allowed to correlate the differences in lightness (L*) and redness (a*) of wines from ‘Jaen’ and ‘Mencía’ to differences in colored anthocyanins, polymeric pigments, total pigments, total anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-acetylglucoside, delphinidin-3-acetylglucoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside, peonidin-3-coumaroylglucoside, petunidin-3-glucoside and malvidin-3-glucoside in wines, and the colorless ferulic, caffeic, and coutaric acids, and ethyl caffeate. The wines a* values were more affected by colored anthocyanins, ferulic acid, total anthocyanins, delphinidin-3-acetylglucoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside and petunidin-3-acetylglucoside, and catechin. The positive influence of ferulic acid in the a* values and ferulic, caffeic, coutaric acids, and ethyl caffeate on the L* values can be due to the co-pigmentation phenomena. The higher dryness and lower temperatures during the September nights in this vintage might explain the differences observed in the anthocyanin content and chromatic characteristics of the wines.

The use of digital twins in tissue engineering (TE) applications is of paramount importance to reduce the number of in vitro and in vivo tests. To pursue this aim, a novel multimodal bioreactor is developed, combining 3D design with numerical stimulation. This approach will facilitate the reproducibility between studies and the platforms optimisation (physical and digital) to enhance TE. The new bioreactor was specifically designed to be additive manufactured, which could not be reproduced with conventional techniques. Specifically, the design suggested allows the application of dual stimulation (electrical and mechanical) of a scaffold cell culture. For the selection of the most appropriate material for bioreactor manufacturing several materials were assessed for their cytotoxicity. Numerical modelling methods were then applied to the new bioreactor using one of the most appropriate material (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified (PETG)) to find the optimal stimulation input parameters for bone TE based on two reported in vitro studies.

Obesity is associated with functional disabilities and impairments of quality of life, and many factors affect this relationship. This study aimed at characterizing and identifying the impact of clinical and functional conditions on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in obese old women. The HRQoL was assessed by the questionnaires "Outcomes Study Short Form-36 Health Survey" (SF-36) and "Impact of Weight on Quality of Life - Lite" (IWQOL - Lite), which were applied to 63 women with body mass index ≥30 kg/m2. Regression models were developed for general (SF-36) and specific (IWQOL-Lite) HRQoL. The associated factors investigated were: age, number of medicines, number of diseases, depressive symptoms, body mass index, grip strength, level of physical activity, and functional performance. The old women had a low level of strength and physical activity. Their functional performance was good to moderate, but a third of the sample presented deficit of mobility. The level of physical activity and functional performance had a positive impact on the general HRQoL and number of drugs had a negative one (R2=0.44). Depressive symptoms and body mass index negatively affected the specific HRQoL (R2=0.57). The study concluded that obese old women with depressive symptoms, low levels of physical activity, and functional performance, making use of a great number of drugs, are more vulnerable to experiencing poor HRQoL. All the factors associated with the HRQoL in this study are potentially modifiable with interventions of health prevention and promotion.

O presente texto analisa estudos sobre Religiosidade Popular e Saúde realizados no interior da linha de pesquisa Educação, Saúde e Cidadania, cadastrada como grupo de pesquisa no CNPq. A metodologia empregada no atual trabalho utiliza elementos da revisão sistemática. Foram selecionadas duas experiências consideradas relevantes na trajetória do estudo da Religiosidade Popular, na perspectiva da Educação Popular em Saúde. Uma constatação comum a esses estudos é a de que a população, mesmo por meio da adesão religiosa, acessa e elabora dimensões do viver em localidades pobres sob o domínio de grupos violentos, aumentando sua resistência às adversidades, às iniquidades sociais e trazendo mais sentido e contentamento à vida.

O Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF) do Município do Rio de Janeiro teve o seu primeiro projeto implantado em 1995, na Ilha de Paquetá, sofrendo sua efetiva expansão em 1999, para as comunidades do Borel (Tijuca), Parque Royal (Ilha do Governador), Canal do Anil (Jacarepaguá), Vilas Canoas (São Conrado) e Vilar Carioca (Campo Grande). O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o processo de implementação do Programa nessas comunidades, com vistas à identificar aspectos problemáticos e estratégias de melhoria para a sua efetiva atuação. Além disso, ainda que sem perspectiva de generalização dos seus achados, ele pretende prover elementos a serem considerados na expansão do Programa, especialmente no contexto de um grande centro urbano como o Rio de Janeiro. A pesquisa realizada constitui-se em um estudo de casos múltiplos, focado em um grande centro urbano. Envolveu investigação documental, a análise de indicadores de desempenho do Sistema de Informações da Atenção Básica (SIAB), e a análise de entrevistas com o Gerente Central do PSF na Secretaria Municipal de Saúde do Rio de Janeiro bem como profissionais das Equipes de Saúde da Família (ESF) e moradores das comunidades selecionadas. Entre os aspectos cobertos destacam-se: condições físicas do Programa, composição, forma de seleção, contratação e acompanhamento das equipes de profissionais, mecanismos de educação continuada para as equipes, participação do PSF na referências de pacientes para especialistas ou outros níveis de atenção e o papel da violência urbana. Os resultados obtidos permitiram a sistematização de fatores facilitadores e limitantes da implementação do PSF nas comunidades estudadas, incluindo perspectivas da gestão central, das equipes e dos usuários.O Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF) do Município do Rio de Janeiro teve o seu primeiro projeto implantado em 1995, na Ilha de Paquetá, sofrendo sua efetiva expansão em 1999, para as comunidades do Borel (Tijuca), Parque Royal (Ilha do Governador), Canal do Anil (Jacarepaguá), Vilas Canoas (São Conrado) e Vilar Carioca (Campo Grande). O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o processo de implementação do Programa nessas comunidades, com vistas à identificar aspectos problemáticos e estratégias de melhoria para a sua efetiva atuação. Além disso, ainda que sem perspectiva de generalização dos seus achados, ele pretende prover elementos a serem considerados na expansão do Programa, especialmente no contexto de um grande centro urbano como o Rio de Janeiro. A pesquisa realizada constitui-se em um estudo de casos múltiplos, focado em um grande centro urbano. Envolveu investigação documental, a análise de indicadores de desempenho do Sistema de Informações da Atenção Básica (SIAB), e a análise de entrevistas com o Gerente Central do PSF na Secretaria Municipal de Saúde do Rio de Janeiro bem como profissionais das Equipes de Saúde da Família (ESF) e moradores das comunidades selecionadas. Entre os aspectos cobertos destacam-se: condições físicas do Programa, composição, forma de seleção, contratação e acompanhamento das equipes de profissionais, mecanismos de educação continuada para as equipes, participação do PSF na referências de pacientes para especialistas ou outros níveis de atenção e o papel da violência urbana. Os resultados obtidos permitiram a sistematização de fatores facilitadores e limitantes da implementação do PSF nas comunidades estudadas, incluindo perspectivas da gestão central, das equipes e dos usuários.

O Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF) do Município do Rio de Janeiro teve o seu primeiro projeto implantado em 1995, na Ilha de Paquetá, sofrendo sua efetiva expansão em 1999, para as comunidades do Borel (Tijuca), Parque Royal (Ilha do Governador), Canal do Anil (Jacarepaguá), Vilas Canoas (São Conrado) e Vilar Carioca (Campo Grande). O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar o processo de implementação do Programa nessas comunidades, com vistas à identificar aspectos problemáticos e estratégias de melhoria para a sua efetiva atuação. Além disso, ainda que sem perspectiva de generalização dos seus achados, ele pretende prover elementos a serem considerados na expansão do Programa, especialmente no contexto de um grande centro urbano como o Rio de Janeiro. A pesquisa realizada constitui-se em um estudo de casos múltiplos, focado em um grande centro urbano. Envolveu investigação documental, a análise de indicadores de desempenho do Sistema de Informações da Atenção Básica (SIAB), e a análise de entrevistas com o Gerente Central do PSF na Secretaria Municipal de Saúde do Rio de Janeiro bem como profissionais das Equipes de Saúde da Família (ESF) e moradores das comunidades selecionadas. Entre os aspectos cobertos destacam-se: condições físicas do Programa, composição, forma de seleção, contratação e acompanhamento das equipes de profissionais, mecanismos de educação continuada para as equipes, participação do PSF na referências de pacientes para especialistas ou outros níveis de atenção e o papel da violência urbana. Os resultados obtidos permitiram a sistematização de fatores facilitadores e limitantes da implementação do PSF nas comunidades estudadas, incluindo perspectivas da gestão central, das equipes e dos usuários.

Abstract Introduction: Sarcopenic obesity in older adults may lead to an inability to use muscles efficiently and has been associated with functional deficits and disabilities. Objective: To identify the prevalence of obesity and sarcopenic obesity (SO) among community-dwelling older adults, and to characterize associated sociodemographics, health conditions and functional performance. Methods: Study data are from the FIBRA Network database of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. There were 1,373 older adult participants, subdivided into three groups: 1) non-obese; 2) non-sarcopenic obese; and 3) sarcopenic obese (SO). The latter is defined as a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and weak palmar grip strength (PGS). Results: The overall prevalence of obesity and SO among older adults was 25.85% and 4.44%, respectively, with levels of frailty and pre-frailty among at 36.1% and 59%, respectively. Gait speed (GS) was lower in the SO group as well, compared to the other groups. An average increase in GS of 0.1 m/sec reduced the likelihood of SO by 85.1%, in average. Sarcopenic obese older adults were 14.2 times more likely to be pre-fragile and 112.9 times more likely to be fragile than the other groups. Conclusion: The prevalence of obesity found in this study was higher than that in the general population, but similar to national statistics for the sample’s mean age and gender. SO was directly associated with frailty in advanced and instrumental activities of daily living as well as gait speed and significantly increased the likelihood of being pre-frail and frail. GS may be an extremely useful tool for monitoring the progress of SO in older adults.

This article analyses public policies and local experiences of tourism in Brazilian Pantanal through environmental approach using geographical categories of analysis. It is structured on four items that address tourism policy, its organization and governance, its relations with environmental policy represented by territories of environmental conservation, analysing the role of these Pantanal policies in multiple scales. To analyse the roles undertaken by Pantanal policies on Pantanal complex it became necessary to give some elements that characterizes it. Thus, considering tourism policy in its territorial aspect, our objective is to highlight relations between transformations in Pantanal region as it turned itself into a tourist destination and actions of public policies in their multiple administrative scales that can influence the process.

Este artículo analiza las políticas públicas y experiencias de turismo en el entorno natural del Pantanal brasileño, utilizando para ello categorías geográficas de análisis. El trabajo se estructura en cuatro apartados que abordan las políticas de turismo, su organización y gestión, sus relaciones con la política ambiental, representada en los campos de la conservación ambiental y el papel que desempeñan estas políticas en múltiples escalas. Para analizar el papel de estas políticas en un espacio tan complejo como es el del Pantanal ha habido nos hemos centrado en los elementos que hemos considerado más característicos. Así, estudiando la política de turismo en su aspecto territorial, queremos poner de relieve la relación entre los cambios habidos en la región de Pantanal como destino turístico y las repercusiones en este sentido de las acciones derivadas de las políticas públicas en sus distintas escalas administrativas.

Este artigo analisa as políticas públicas e experiências locais de turismo no Pantanal brasileiro, por meio de abordagem ambiental, servindo-se de categorias geográficas de análise. Estrutura-se em quatro itens que abordam a política do turismo, sua organização e governança, suas relações com a política ambiental representada pelos territórios da conservação ambiental e analisa-se o papel destas políticas pantaneiras em múltiplas escalas. Para analisar os papéis assumidos pelas políticas sobre o complexo pantaneiro tornou-se necessário dar alguns elementos que o caracteriza. Assim, considerando a política de turismo em seu aspecto territorial, nosso objetivo é destacar as relações entre as transformações ocorridas na região pantaneira em decorrência de ser um destino turístico e as ações de políticas públicas, em suas múltiplas escalas administrativas, que podem influenciar no processo.

Eco tourism is a two folded activity. It is supposed to allow tourists to discover and appreciate natural landscapes without leaving any ecological inprints. It is also supposed to help local developpement for local people and local culture. Biodiversity is often taken as a argument to promote eco tourism in a definite place: a high biodiversity is seen as attractive. This paper, which studies some eco tourism sites in Mato Grosso shows that biodiversity is not at its peak in all eco tourism establishment. It is, in deed, far greater in some agricultural sites, in gardens and in some urban sites.

The Atlantic Forest (AF) is a critical biodiversity hotspot and the second most deforested Brazilian biome proportional to its original area of natural vegetation. This work presents an exploratory spatial analysis of deforestation patterns from 1984 to 2022, using PRODES-MA data by the Brazilian Satellite Monitoring Program for the AF. During this period, 789600.587 km² of natural vegetation were deforested, being the majority (82%) of the 1309387 polygons with areas smaller than 0.199 km². A ranking of phytophysiognomies most affected by deforestation was provided based on the analysis of the following data: 2000 base map, historical series from 2004 to 2021, the 2022 deforestation map. The output shows that, Seasonal Semideciduous Forest accounted for 44%; 26%; and 28% respectively in 2000, within 2004 – 2021 and in 2022. Kernel density maps revealed deforestation concentration in 2022 in four regions: Bahia (BA), Minas Gerais (MG), Paraná (PR), and Santa Catarina (SC), mostly persistent throughout the historical series. Furthemore, spatial dependence analysis of deforestation by municipalities indicated positive autocorrelation and clusters consistent with density analysis. These regions with higher deforestation intensity are related to economic activities of some municipalities and their neighbors. Even though deforestation data from the PRODES-MA system are widely available, spatiotemporal analysis of its distribution highlighted priority areas useful for managing and planning conservation and recovery policies for AF.