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Abstract In this work, we systematically analyse the population projections used in the emissions scenario ensembles reviewed by the Working Group III in the latest three reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). We show that emissions scenarios span smaller demographic uncertainties than alternative estimates both for the world and for critical regions, such as South-East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and China. Furthermore, the range of demographic projections has consistently shrunk over subsequent reports, exposing a problematic convergence towards a single socio-economic pathway: the “middle path” or SSP2. We argue that the undersampling of population uncertainties limits the range of future emission trajectories and has implications for climate transition scenarios. Emissions scenarios with a wider set of assumptions about future population should be submitted to the IPCC. The methods utilised in this study inform the development of independent audit methods for the assessment of relevant uncertainty sources in IPCC databases.

Objetivo: Avaliar a associação dos índices hematológicos com a mortalidade por todas as causas e transferência para hemodiálise (HD) em pacientes submetidos à diálise peritoneal (DP). Materiais e métodos: Uma coorte prospectiva foi realizada com 43 pacientes submetidos à DP acompanhados por 18 meses. Foram calculados os índices hematológicos a partir dos dados do hemograma coletados nos prontuários dos pacientes, a saber: Razão Neutrófilo-Linfócito (RNL), Razão NeutrófiloLinfócito Derivada (dRNL), Razão Plaqueta-Linfócito (RPL), Razão Monócito-Linfócito (RML), Índice Agregado de Inflamação Sistêmica (AISI), Índice Inflamatório Sistêmico (SII) e o Índice de Resposta Inflamatória Sistêmica (SIRI). Análises de correlação foram utilizadas para avaliar a associação entre estes índices hematológicos e marcadores inflamatórios clássicos (ferritina, global de leucócitos, IL-6 e IL-10). Os índices hematológicos foram categorizados por suas respectivas medianas, a sobrevivência dos pacientes foi estimada pelo método Kaplan Meier (K-M) e as curvas de sobrevivência comparadas pelo teste Logrank. O modelo de Cox para riscos competitivos foi utilizado para avaliar a influência dos índices na sobrevida. Resultados: Os índices AISI e SIRI tiveram uma correlação alta, positiva e estatisticamente significativa com a global de leucócitos (r = 0,74 e r = 0,71, respectivamente, p < 0,001). Apenas AISI e SII apresentaram estimativas de K-M estatisticamente significativas indicando maior sobrevida para AISI ≤ 149,61 (p = 0,01) e SII ≤ 722,80 (p = 0,02) e mantiveram associação estatisticamente significativa após ajuste de Cox. Pacientes que apresentaram AISI acima de 149,6 possuem 9,38 vezes mais risco de óbito ou de transferência para HD que pacientes com AISI em até 149,6. Os pacientes que possuem SII acima de 722,80 apresentam um risco de óbito ou de transferência para HD 4 vezes maior que os demais pacientes. Discussão: Os papéis distintos que as células de AISI e SII desempenham na resposta imune podem contribuir para a capacidade de identificar o risco de mortalidade e demais estados patológicos. Os índices hematológicos obtidos por uma maior combinação de células como AISI e SII podem ser mais úteis em avaliar o estado inflamatório e imunológico dos pacientes com DRC. Logo, supõe-se que AISI e SII tenham um desempenho melhor do que índices mais restritos para predição do risco de desfechos desfavoráveis nos pacientes em DP. Múltiplas populações de células sanguíneas participam da inflamação sistêmica, portanto, a inclusão dessas células no cálculo de um índice refletem melhor o estado inflamatório e melhora sua habilidade preditiva. Conclusão: O presente estudo demonstrou que AISI > 149,61 e SII > 722,80 foram independentemente associados ao risco de óbito ou de transferência para HD em pacientes em DP. Este é o primeiro estudo realizado no Brasil que investigou a associação entre os índices hematológicos e desfechos desfavoráveis nesse grupo de pacientes, contribuindo para gerar evidências importantes em relação ao uso de ferramentas práticas e mais acessíveis para detecção de riscos nessa população.

Subsidence refers to the gradual lowering or sudden sinking of the ground surface and is known to impact human lives in terms of damages to the infrastructures, utility lines, and buildings as well as changes in the surficial drainage systems and groundwater conditions. The impacts of land subsidence will be greater in the future, considering the sea level rise, population growth, intensification of coastal erosion and extreme events, as well as increase in flood risk or freshwater salinization, mostly in coastal cities. The main aim of this work is to provide an open-source, peer-reviewed, and comprehensive database identifying the main and secondary causes of land subsidence in 143 coastal cities. We highlight the potential impacts of subsidence that are still unknown in some at-risk cities and non-existence of mitigation measures. The database additionally shows that mitigation measures, specifically those addressing subsidence due to groundwater extraction, have proven successful in the past. The proposed database aims to increase the knowledge on the subsidence phenomenon and also global awareness of land subsidence issues among researchers, the scientific community, stakeholders, and policymakers in terms of urban planning and development.

Pacientes bariátricos devem realizar a reposição de vitamina B12 de forma contínua, assim como um adequado acompanhamento de profissionais de saúde no pré-operatório, no pós-imediato e ao longo da vida. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi analisar o autoconhecimento de pacientes que realizaram cirurgia bariátrica, quanto a deficiência da vitamina B12, sua sintomatologia e a educação nutricional referente a reposição. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de abordagem quantitativa, de cunho transversal, no qual pacientes bariátricos preencheram um questionário via Google Forms, sobre questões referentes ao objetivo proposto. A partir dos dados coletados foi realizada a descrição da amostra estudada, no qual, observou-se que é majoritariamente composta por mulheres, na faixa etária de 42 a 49 anos. No pós-operatório da cirurgia bariátrica, 68% apresentaram deficiência de vitamina B12, considerando a deficiência da vitamina logo no primeiro momento. Já 24% relataram perda de memória e 22% relataram fadiga e fraqueza frequente. Quanto a reposição de vitamina B12, 42% foram orientados a repor via oral e 34% fizeram a intramuscular, porém cerca de 36% da amostra estuda, relata não seguir com a reposição recomendada. Em suma, pacientes bariátricos possuem autoconhecimento da deficiência da vitamina B12 e dos sintomas dessa ausência no organismo. Ademais, esses indivíduos iniciam o tratamento com a reposição, mas relatam não continuar com esse acompanhamento, fazendo-se necessário maiores orientações dos profissionais relacionados a cirurgia bariátrica frente a importância desse acompanhamento ser realizado periodicamente, de maneira a instruir adequadamente esses indivíduos frente a sua educação alimentar e nutricional.

Ultrafast optical-domain spectroscopies allow to monitor in real time the motion of nuclei in molecules. Achieving element-selectivity had to await the advent of time resolved X-ray spectroscopy, which is now commonly carried at X-ray free electron lasers. However, detecting light element that are commonly encountered in organic molecules, remained elusive due to the need to work under vacuum. Here, we present an impulsive stimulated Raman scattering (ISRS) pump/carbon K-edge absorption probe investigation, which allowed observation of the low-frequency vibrational modes involving specific selected carbon atoms in the Ibuprofen RS dimer. Remarkably, by controlling the probe light polarization we can preferentially access the enantiomer of the dimer to which the carbon atoms belong.

Abstract Soil health has been used worldwide for soil monitoring in different soil use and management. The objective of the study was to evaluate, in a Subtropical Oxisol of the Campos Gerais region in Paraná state, if the Visual Evaluation of Soil structure (VESS) and Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) approaches allow evaluate soil response to various land uses or soil tillage used in the region. The land use and tillage practices consist of conventional tillage, minimum tillage, no-tillage, and secondary forest. The SMAF was used as a tool to evaluate the soil health using five indicators: pH, phosphorus, potassium, bulk density, and soil organic carbon. The VESS was used to determine the soil structural quality. The secondary forest showed the best soil structure and tillage practices declined soil structure quality. Similarly, the soil health index was higher in secondary forest compared to tillage practices, and the tillage had little effect on soil health. The SMAF showed differences between land use and tillage practices. The VESS method could be used as a complementary tool for monitoring the soil health.

Due to the emissions reduction commitments that Mexico compromised in the Paris Agreement, several clean fuel and renewable energy technologies need to penetrate the market to accomplish the environmental goals. Therefore, there is a need to develop achievable and realistic policies for such technologies to ease the decision-making on national energy strategies. Several countries are starting to develop large-scale green hydrogen production projects to reduce the carbon footprint of the multiple sectors within the country. The conversion sectors, namely power and refinery, are fundamental sectors to decarbonise due to their energy supply role. Nowadays, the highest energy consumables of the country are hydrocarbons (more than 90%) causing a particular challenge for deep decarbonisation. The purpose of this study is to use a multi-regional energy system model of Mexico to analyse a decarbonisation scenario in line with the latest National Energy System Development Program. Results show that if the country wants to succeed in reducing 22% of its GHG emissions and 51% of its short-lived climate pollutants emissions, green hydrogen could play a role in power generation in regions with higher energy demand growth rates. These results show, regarding the power sector, that H2 could represent 13.8 GW or 5.1% of the total installed capacity by 2050, while for the refinery sector H2 could reach a capacity of 157 PJ/y, which is around 31.8% of the total share, and it is mainly driven by the increasing demands of the transport, industry, and power sectors. Nevertheless, as oil would still represent the largest energy commodity, CCS technologies would have to be deployed for new and retrofitted refinery facilities.

In recent years, several approaches and pathways have been discussed to decarbonise the transport sector; however, any effort to reduce emissions might be complex due to specific socio-economic and technical characteristics of different regions. In Mexico, the transport sector is the highest energy consumer, representing 38.9% of the national final energy demand, with gasoline and diesel representing 90% of the sector´s total fuel consumption. Energy systems models are powerful tools to obtain insights into decarbonisation pathways to understand costs, emissions and rate of deployment that could serve for energy policy development. This paper focuses on the modelling of the current Mexican transport system using the MUSE-MX multi-regional model with the aim to project a decarbonisation pathway through two different scenarios. The first approach being business as usual (BAU) which aims to analyse current policies implementation and the second being a goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Under the considered net zero scenario, results show potential deployment of hydrogen-based transport technologies, especially for subsectors such as lorries (100% H2 by 2050) and freight train (25% H2 by 2050), while cars and buses tend to full electrification by 2050.

Abstract This article provides a combined geospatial artificial intelligence-machine learning, geoAI-ML, agent-based, data-driven, technology-rich, bottom-up approach and datasets for capturing the human dimension in climate-energy-economy models. Seven stages were required to conduct this study and build thirteen datasets to characterise and parametrise geospatial agents in 28 regions, globally. Fundamentally, the methodology starts collecting and handling data, ending with the application of the ModUlar energy system Simulation Environment (MUSE), ResidentiAl Spatially-resolved and temporal-explicit Agents (RASA) model. MUSE-RASA uses AI-ML-based geospatial big data analytics to define eight scenarios to explore long-term transition pathways towards net-zero emission targets by mid-century. The framework and datasets are key for climate-energy-economy models considering consumer behaviour and bounded rationality in more realistic decision-making processes beyond traditional approaches. This approach defines energy economic agents as heterogeneous and diverse entities that evolve in space and time, making decisions under exogenous constraints. This framework is based on the Theory of Bounded Rationality, the Theory of Real Competition, the theoretical foundations of agent-based modelling and the progress on the combination of GIS-ABM.

Objetivo: investigar a prevalência de aleitamento materno exclusivo e complementar, assim como os fatores associados, em cenário nacional. Métodos: revisão integrativa realizada nas bases de dados Scientific Electronic Library Online, MEDLINE e Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde. A equação de busca utilizada foi: (prevalência OR prevalence) AND (aleitamento materno OR breastfeeding). Foram incluídos 19 artigos na amostra final. Resultados: os fatores de proteção foram evidenciados em 13 estudos, destacando-se os maternos como a idade avançada, o ensino superior, o trabalho com licença maternidade e a frequência às consultas de pré-natais. Em relação aos fatores que se associam negativamente à prática, estes foram abordados em 15 estudos, ressaltando-se o uso de chupeta e mamadeira, crença cultural, o retorno ao trabalho materno, a falta de informação durante as consultas pré-natais e o não apoio de profissional da saúde. Conclusão: a instabilidade dos resultados encontrados é exercida pelas particularidades biológicas, sociodemográficas e culturais das populações, que distinguem a amamentação e sua prática. O estudo dos fatores associados ao Aleitamento Materno Exclusivo pode embasar recursos para as ações educativas, garantindo e apoiando a saúde da mulher, bem como a segurança alimentar e nutricional das crianças.

Abstract Objectives We describe the Residras registry, dedicated to Dravet syndrome (DS) and to other phenotypes related to SCN1A mutations, as a paradigm of registry for rare and complex epilepsies. Our primary objectives are to present the tools and framework of the integrative platform, the main characteristics emerging from the patient cohort included in the registry, with emphasis on demographic, clinical outcome, and mortality. Methods Standardized data of enrolled pediatric and adult patients were collected in 24 Italian expert centers and regularly updated at least on a yearly basis. Patients were prospectively enrolled, at registry starting, but historical retrospective data were also included. Results At present, 281 individuals with DS and a confirmed SCN1A mutation are included. Most patients have data available on epilepsy (n = 263) and their overall neurological condition (n = 255), based on at least one follow‐up update. Median age at first clinical assessment was 2 years (IQR 0–9) while at last follow‐up was 11 years (IQR 5–18.5). During the 7‐year activity of the registry, five patients died resulting in a mortality rate of 1.84 per 1000‐person‐years. When analyzing clinical changes over the first 5‐year follow‐up, we observed a significant difference in cognitive function (P

Prune Belly syndrome (PBS) is a rare complex malformation that preferentially affects male newborns. It presents with a wide spectrum of alterations that include abdominal muscle deficiency, varying degrees of renal dysplasia and urinary tract obstruction, in addition to bilateral cryptorchidism. In general, it is associated with other developmental anomalies, mainly of cardiac, pulmonary and gastrointestinal origin. Despite numerous advances in the treatment of complex malformations, morbidity and mortality in PBS remains high, due to early renal failure and associated malformations. This is a case report of a male newborn, inserted in a complex social context, born by vaginal delivery, premature, with a gestational age of 36 weeks and 1 day. At the initial assessment in the delivery room, he presented: male external genitalia, bilateral cryptorchidism, flabby and hollowed abdomen, parchment skin suggestive of the absence of abdominal muscles, mild respiratory effort and bradycardia. He received positive pressure ventilation and was referred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (UTIn) where a vesicocutaneous fistula and renal failure were found, despite the vesicostomy, progressing to death at 1 month and 1 day of chronological age. Complex congenital malformations, such as PBS, require individualized assessment so that better postnatal results are achieved. However, the limitation of therapeutic care must be carefully evaluated, considering the great morbidity that accompanies these patients. This article aims to describe a rare case of PBS, detailing the evolution of patients with this malformation.

Biquinho pepper has been gaining prominence on the national scene because of its sweet taste and low pungency. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the phenological growth stages of biquinho pepper according to the BBCH scale. Based on this general scale, biquinho pepper showed 9 of the 10 principal stages (germination, leaf development, formation of side shoots, shoot development, development of the harvestable vegetative parts of the plant, flowering, fruit development, coloring or ripening of fruits and senescence). In addition, 25 secondary growth stages have also been described. The study will act as a tool for adoption of better crop management practices (nutrient management, irrigation scheduling, monitoring of management of pests and timely harvest of fruits).

The administration of contraceptives in female cats leads to problems such as pyometra, fetal maceration, mammary hyperplasia, and mammary neoplasms. Among the diseases caused by contraceptives, mammary hyperplasia has only been diagnosed in felines. However, few experimental studies have shown that contraceptive administration can cause feline mammary hyperplasia. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the administration of a single dose of contraceptives in the mammary glands of healthy cats. Twenty cat owners who had administered contraceptives to female cats were selected. Animals were divided into two groups. Contraceptives were administered to cats in the first group, and saline solution was administered to cats in the other group (control). Before drug administration, all cats were clinically examined. Anamnesis, physical examination, blood count, biochemical tests, and abdominal ultrasonography were performed. Thirty days after the administration of contraceptives, all cats were examined, and the examinations were repeated. At 30 days, no changes were observed in the blood count or ultrasound findings. However, upon physical examination, all cats that received contraceptives showed generalized enlargement of their mammary glands. Cats in the control group were clinically normal. Ninety days after the procedure, the cats underwent an ovariohysterectomy. At that time, all cats were clinically normal and mammary enlargement regressed. It was concluded that a single contraceptive application could cause macroscopic mammary changes suggestive of hyperplasia in ten cats.

The extent to which modelled future pathways support effective policymaking for sustainability transitions has been questioned for a long time, with one major issue being the insufficient integration with the perspectives of policymakers and other stakeholders. One proposal to address this issue has been to set up facilitative dialogues with stakeholders to extend model-based pathways to socio-technical scenarios. This paper presents the results of a first series of such co-creation workshops, where stakeholders discussed bottlenecks for model-based decarbonisation pathways and ways to overcome these bottlenecks through tailored policy mixes. The workshops took place in five countries: Brazil, Canada, Greece, Germany, and the UK, each with a specific sector focus. In all five workshops, it became clear that substantial tensions exist between the “ideal” modelled decarbonisation pathways and the real-world situation on the ground. Also, adverse political framework conditions, uncertainty of future policies and resistance of powerful actors were emphasised as overarching bottlenecks in most workshops. At the same time, in several instances stakeholders pointed out important aspects of transformative trajectories that are not covered by the models. Some challenges and solutions stand out in all countries in spite of the strong diversity of contexts: allocation of capital towards massive investments into low-carbon solutions; infrastructure development for generation and transport of hydrogen, capture and use of CO2 as well as electricity grid and storage adapted to renewable energy solutions; stakeholder and citizen dialogues, where agreement is reached on cornerstones of long-term decarbonisation trajectories; and demand-side measures complementing investments into low-carbon processes.

Complex molecules show element- and enantio-specific properties and reactivity. Here the authors demonstrate identification of the element- and enantiomer-selective motion of Ibuprofen molecule using X-ray photons at the carbon K-edge.

Quantum dots (QDs) have attracted much attention and exhibit many attractive properties, including high absorption coefficient, adjustable bandgap, high brightness, long-term stability, and size-dependent emission. It is known that to obtain high-quality luminescent properties (i.e. emission color, color purity, quantum yield, and stability), the synthesis parameters must be precisely controlled. In this work, we have constructed a database with CdTe aqueous synthesis parameters and spectroscopic results and applied machine learning algorithms to better understand the influence of the main synthesis parameters of CdTe QDs on their final emission properties. A strong dependence of the final emission wavelength with the reaction time and surface ligands and precursors concentrations was demonstrated. These parameters adjusted synchronously were shown to be very useful for provide ideal synthesis conditions for the preparation of CdTe QDs with desirable emission wavelengths. Moreover, applying the algorithms correctly allows for obtaining information and insights into the growth kinetics of QDs under different synthetic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International academic mobility programs are increasingly expanding, mainly due to the process of institutionalization of Brazilian educational institutions. The exchange experience can enable greater foreign language learning, intercultural, academic, and professional development of students, and a partnership network, which can contribute to future partnerships and/or job opportunities. Thus, the objective of this work was to understand some effects of meaning in the Campus Divinópolis CEFET-MG undergraduate students’ identity constitution, due to their experience studying abroad, in addition to identifying the representations that emerge in the discourse of the subjects participating in the research in relation to international exchange. This is qualitative research and the instruments we used to form the corpus were written autobiographical narratives and semi-structured interviews with the subjects participating in this study via Google Meet. Then, this study has an interpretive nature, as it allows different interpretations of the collected material. Four students from the Mechatronics Engineering course participated in our research, who, when narrating their experiences, brought their representations to life. The importance of exchange for personal, academic, and professional growth reverberated in the participants' statements, allowing constant identity transformation. Finally, this study can contribute to a better understanding of the need for the internationalization process of our institution, allowing an evaluation of international academic mobility programs, in addition to encouraging other students to seek these opportunities offered by the institution.