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The Covid-19 virus pandemic has caused a tormenting problem for democracies around the planet. Some governments, relying on the Rally-round-the-Flag Effect, took advantage of the moment of exceptionality to increase their own executive powers, making them even more exorbitant, while others took a denialist stance in relation to the global threat posed by the virus. missing the opportunity to present themselves as protectors of the population and thus forge some kind of national unity. The objective of the article is to analyze how three relevant and authoritarian political leaders adopted different strategies to confront the pandemic, embracing or disregarding the Rally-round-the-Flag Effect, as well as the political consequences of such decisions. Our hypothesis is that the leaders scrutinized at work who ignored the Rally-round-the-Flag Effect strategy were unsuccessful in combating the pandemic, paying a high political price for this, which did not happen to those who adopted it. In this sense, the cases of the Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro and Viktor Orbán governments will be critically examined in light of the proposed theme. The method used consists of comparing the three models of governance in the fight against the pandemic with the literature in political science, especially that which deals with the Rally-round-the-Flag Effect and the so-called illiberal democracies considering the authoritarian profile of the aforementioned leaders. The main conclusion shows that Trump and Bolsonaro's negotiating strategy resulted in failure due to the high number of deaths resulting from the pandemic and frustrated their eventual plans for democratic erosion of institutions, while Orbán, that adopted the posture of protector of the population under the mantle of the Rally Effect-round-the-Flag, further expanded its executive powers.

A large amount of thermal energy is stored in the oceans between the tropics, available for conversion into electrical energy using OTEC technology. The aim of this study was to determine the annual and seasonal variability of the oceanic thermal resource in Mexico. Using the WOA18 database, we mapped surface temperature at a 10 m depth, deep cold water (

Copper selenide nanoparticles (Cu2-x Se NPs) have received a lot of attention in recent decades due to their interesting properties and potential applications in various areas such as electronics, health, solar cells, etc. In this study, details of the synthesis and characterization of copper selenide nanoparticles modified with gum arabic (GA) are reported. Also, through transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) analysis, the transformation of the morphology and particle size of copper selenide nanoparticles in aqueous solution was studied. In addition, we present an antimicrobial study with different microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Candida albiacans (C. albicans). Copper selenide nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC) and TEM. XRD confirmed the crystal-line structure of the nanoparticles such as cubic berzelanite with a particle size of 6 nm ± 0.5. FTIR and TGA corroborated the surface modification of copper selenide nanoparticles with gum arabic, and DSC suggested a change in the structural phase from cubic to hexagonal. TEM analysis demonstrated that the surface modification of the Cu2-x Se NPs stabilized the nanostructure of the particles, preventing changes in the morphology and particle size. The antimicrobial susceptibility analysis of copper selenide nanoparticles indicated that they have the ability to inhibit the microbial growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.

Located in the center of the largest river basin in the world, the State of Amazonas in Brazil has an extensive network of more than 20 thousand kilometers of navigable waterways, which is the main mode of transportation between localities, both for cargo and passengers. The region is practically disconnected from the rest of the country due to the lack of roads. Thus, the Amazon River network acted as an efficient means of transmission of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), rapidly transforming the region into an epicenter of the pandemic with one of the highest infection rates in Brazil. Despite the adoption of national and state measures to combat new infections, the situation continued to deteriorate for reasons still under investigation. Given this scenario, this work aims to identify possible infection risks in typical passenger vessels used in the Brazilian Amazon. Three case studies of different passenger vessels were considered, discussing possible scenarios that could allow the spread of COVID and proposing some recommendations for infection prevention. It is hoped that this communication will contribute to the dissemination of information related to the typical means of long-distance passenger transport in the Amazon, to the planning of infectious disease prevention strategies on board regional ships and to ensure a sustainable future for the Amazonian population. Furthermore, this research aims to contribute to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda on health and well-being.

The real estate business on sandy coasts and coastal dunes has increased dramatically over the last decades because of the growing demands for leisure activities which, consequently, have yielded important economic gains. Such ravaging exploitation results in the replacement of sandy ecosystems with tourism-oriented settlements, infrastructure, and facilities. As the sandy beaches and coastal dunes become deteriorated or eliminated, their protective role is lost, and the hydrometeorological risks to which the increasing human coastal populations are exposed grow, especially in a climate change scenario with increasing storminess. Furthermore, when possible, the expansion of the tourism industry continues searching for new, unspoiled locations, and the cycle begins again. This situation leads to the dilemma of coastal management: should we continue with the over-exploitation of sandy coasts for growing economic benefits? Or should we preserve the coasts for protection against the impact of increasing storms and sea level rise and to benefit biodiversity? Although scientific evidence demonstrates the relevance of protecting the coasts, coastal development plans continue to ignore these findings. What are the key drivers for these trends? We first looked for scientific evidence of the appraisal of the esthetic beauty of the beach and coastal dunes, as highly important drivers of urbanization and coastal environmental change. We then looked for evidence that demonstrated how coastal dunes offer storm protection Finally, we examined if the conservation of beaches and coastal dunes can be compatible with non-intrusive tourism. In summary, through the literature review and our own data, we show how different alternatives may help achieve a more sustainable coastal tourism by combining economic necessities with environmental concerns.

A marca Amazônia gera várias discussões sobre consumo, representações, repercussão e significância. Neste artigo, procura-se discutir a Amazônia enquanto marca, em primeiro lugar, além de apontar as relações de poder, a partir das ações do governador do Pará, Helder Barbalho (MDB). Em 2023, ele iniciou seu segundo mandato como chefe do poder executivo estadual. A ideia, no presente debate, é promover uma revisão de literatura com reflexões conceituais. Ao mesmo também, usa-se o estudo de caso, colocando-se em tela a análise da marca Amazônia nas ações do governador paraense. Para reforçar o argumento, apresentam-se questões importantes, como o protagonismo de Helder Barbalho ocupa na região, o uso do Instagram e do Twitter em sua comunicação institucional, as ferramentas de propaganda e a atuação do político em eventos globais. Como conclusões, é possível verificar que o governador do Pará expandiu a visibilidade da marca Amazônia como meio de fortalecer suas relações de poder junto ao governo federal e aos organismos internacionais.

This study aims to explore additional fluids beneficial for coastal thermal energy converter (CTEC) operation. Ammonia’s thermodynamic properties, characterized by higher condensation temperatures and pressures, demand significantly elevated operating pressures, resulting in a substantial energy load for efficient operation. Thus, exploring alternatives such as R134a becomes crucial, particularly considering its potential as a better working fluid for power generation in a Rankine cycle. The research methodology involves employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations alongside experimental investigations to examine the performance of an axial turbine concept under different working fluids. The results obtained indicate that R134a is the most appropriate working fluid for an axial turbine within a CTEC, outperforming ammonia, thereby implying significantly better operational efficiency.

The demand for different energy goods and services is a fundamental component in a country’s economic structure for development. Understanding it is vital in designing economic policies, such as taxes, that can improve the welfare of the population. A comprehension of the distributional effects of elasticities and the application of them to simulate household responses to price changes, as well as a calculation of the welfare impacts on poor and rich households in Mexico, should inform policy design. This paper uses the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (ENIGH) from 1996 to 2018 to estimate the demand of Mexican households for fuels, specifically electricity, liquefied petroleum gas, and gasoline. A Quasi Ideal Quadratic Demand System (QUAIDS) is employed to analyse the effects of removing energy subsidies and introducing a carbon tax. The results indicate that welfare losses would be regressive concerning electricity price increases, while changes in gasoline prices would be progressive. Redistributing the tax revenues accrued by removing energy subsidies and imposing the carbon tax would have more progressive effects on the economy of Mexican households, with welfare gains of up to 350% for the poorest households in the case of electricity consumption taxes.

Throughout the Caribbean region, coastal areas are of vital importance for national incomes from the tourism industry. However, accelerated coastal development has impacted the coastal ecosystems, including the beaches, and deterioration of the shore results from cumulative impacts on both marine and coastal ecosystems. It is essential to identify the areas that need special attention for targeted management plans and actions, especially in areas with high anthropogenic pressure. This research proposes an integrated assessment of the conservation state of shore and coastal ecosystems in the Puerto Morelos National Reef Park (PNAPM) in the Mexican Caribbean, through the spatial monitoring of key parameters. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was employed to analyze the land use on the shore, foredune condition, morphological characteristics of the beaches, shoreline evolution, and the condition of coral reefs and seagrass meadows. The analysis identified the most critical areas in relation to shore deterioration and priority areas for the preservation of ecosystems. The spatial data obtained for the PNAPM can serve as a basis for ongoing shore monitoring, and targeted management actions through the designation of areas that require either preservation or ecosystem restoration practices. This methodology can be applied to other reef systems in the Caribbean.

Although there are constant improvements in wave energy converter (WEC) technology, it is crucial to investigate site-specific sea conditions for optimal power absorption and efficiency. This study compares the efficiency of a floating buoy-type WEC device, with three differently shaped floats: a semi-sphere, a cylinder considered suitable for a location near Ensenada, on the Baja California peninsula, and a novel, rounded, semi-rectangular float. A statistical analysis of the wave climate of the last 42 years was performed to define the conditions to which the device is subjected. The WEC location was chosen for shallow waters, using a computational model that solves the modified mild slope equation. The hydrodynamic response of the three float designs was then analyzed in the frequency and time domains, using the software ANSYS AQWA 19.2, to assess the dynamics of the floating body, the forces exerted, and the power absorbed, as well as the suitability of the proposed power take-off (PTO) system. The findings show that the proposed float design absorbs the most energy, with an annual power of 135.11 MW, and that the PTO mechanism is appropriate.

Holopelagic Sargassum species have bloomed recurrently in the northern tropical Atlantic since 2011, causing socioeconomic and environmental problems. Little is known about their basic biology and responses to the abiotic environment. The aim of this study was to determine how temperature affects the growth rates of the genotypes S. fluitans III, S. natans I, and S. natans VIII that predominate in these blooms. The growth rates were evaluated in specially designed ex situ systems between 22 and 31 °C, which corresponds with the natural temperature range of these seaweeds in the northern tropical Atlantic. All the genotypes had decreased growth rates at 31 °C, and they varied in their response to temperature, with S. fluitans III presenting a maximal rate of 0.096 doublings· day−1 (doubling its weight in 10.5 d) at 28 °C and S. natans VIII a minimal rate of 0.045 doublings· day−1 (doubling its weight in 22.2 d) at 31 °C. In addition, the response to the temperature varied depending on the time of the year. Understanding the role of temperature in the growth of holopelagic Sargassum genotypes, amongst other factors influencing their physiology (such as nutrients, salinity tolerance, or light, including their interactions), could help to understand the dynamics of the recent blooms in the tropical North Atlantic.

La necesidad de incorporar a las energías renovables en la matriz energética de las naciones del mundo es un valor entendido que no requiere más justificación porque, más allá de metas locales o compromisos internacionales, de ello depende la sostenibilidad de la humanidad. En México, sin embargo, la contribución de las fuentes de energía limpias y renovables al sistema eléctrico nacional se mantiene todavía con cierto rezago. Uno de los principales retos a vencer es la provisión de información útil para la toma de decisiones y que permita dar certeza a los potenciales inversionistas. En el caso de las fuentes de energía marinas, esto se traduce, en primera instancia, en ofrecer datos que permitan vislumbrar la capacidad eléctrica que se podría instalar y con ello estimar la viabilidad del negocio. En ese sentido, este trabajo contribuye a la caracterización de la potencia disponible en las diferentes fuentes aprovechables del océano, a la vez que se hacen recomendaciones de sitios donde ahondar en estudios y análisis. Se hizo una revisión bibliográfica de la potencia en las fuentes: corrientes, térmica y salino para el Caribe mexicano. Se encontró que existen sitios de aprovechamiento geográficamente viables y con recurso disponible adecuado para cubrir una parte considerable de la demanda eléctrica de la península de Yucatán y la isla Cozumel. Sitios clave son la parte sur de la isla y el canal de Cozumel para corrientes; la parte norte de Quintana Roo para oleaje; la parte central del mismo estado para OTEC, y la bahía de Chetumal para gradiente salino. En cuanto a energía undimotriz, componente central de este trabajo, se evaluó de manera teórica todo el litoral nacional, encontrando siete sitios recomendables para analizar a mayor profundidad. Luego de una estimación gruesa y conservadora, se halló que esta fuente de energía podría contribuir, en el corto o mediano plazos con al menos un 0.2 % de la capacidad instalada nacional.

Damaging and accelerated anthropization in coastal areas, as well as the need to adapt to climate change, means we must concentrate on improving management plans based on the diagnoses provided by coastal studies. Among these studies is the vulnerability assessment, obtained from evaluating a set of variables or indicators, which contribute to sustainable development. Since there is no single list of variables to consider in determining coastal vulnerability, 60 vulnerability studies from a period of 29 years (1994–2023), from across the globe, were consulted, and through a statistical mode method, the variables most used by multidisciplinary authors were identified. These studies were organized into groups: ecological, geomorphological, maritime climate, socioeconomic and legislative; creating sets categorized as the minimum indispensable, acceptable, and ideal variables. The results showed that most studies use between six and seven variables from only the maritime climate and geomorphological information groups. The number of variables used by individual studies, on the other hand, was not directly related to the scales (global, national, regional, local), but to the risks, such as flooding and erosion, it resolved. Only two studies included the minimum essential information for the legislative group, which is the presence of protected natural areas. Coastline displacements was the variable most used (43 studies), followed by the geoform type and the rate of sea level change (36), the wave regime (35) and the tidal range (33). The DSSs (Decision Support Systems) for coastal management were also reviewed, showing that these systems focus on a topic with a greater number of variables.

A formação de valores políticos ocorre por meio do processo de socialização política. Nesse quesito, a escola se constitui como uma das mais importantes no processo de incorporação de valores como o de participação política. Os jovens ao longo de sua formação escolar podem encontrar espaço ou não para problematizar questões relacionadas a política. A criação dos Institutos Federais como unidades de ensino técnico e tecnológico institucional em 2008, suscitou na formação de uma nova categoria de jovens estudantes de Ensino Técnico potencializados a desempenhar contextualizações críticas na sociedade. E em 2016 essas instituições estiveram fortemente presentes nos protestos contra os coortes orçamentários, em que alguns campi foram inclusive ocupados pelos estudantes. Essa pesquisa questiona o processo de formação de valores políticos junto aos estudantes dessas instituições. Objetiva-se avaliar o papel desempenhado pelos Institutos Federais junto a formação de valores democráticos, opiniões políticas e liberdade de debate político na sala de aula. Para alcançar os objetivos propostos, foi disponibilizado um questionário online para estudantes dessas instituições, recebendo 211 contribuições de 13 estados Brasileiros no ano de 2017.

Massive influxes of holopelagic Sargassum spp. (Sargassum natans and S. fluitans) have been causing major economic, environmental and ecological problems along the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Predicting the arrival of the sargassum as an aid to addressing these problems is a priority for the government, coastal communities and the society; both mitigating the impacts and providing opportunities for its use. Lack of data concerning precise locations and times of sargassum beachings means that public and private funds are being spent inefficiently and most actions are reactive. The dynamic nature of sargassum beachings/influxes render conventional ground-based monitoring insufficient. Earth observation and cloud-based processing services offer tools to track, quantify and understand sargassum beaching remotely in a frequent, systematic and reliable manner with the temporal and spatial resolutions required for its management. In order to find the right solutions to address this problem, in this paper the needs and requirements of stakeholders are taken into consideration for the development of an Earth observation-based service to monitor sargassum along the Mexican Caribbean coast. Routine monitoring of sargassum over a large area will be cost effective and help mitigate the negative effects of sargassum influxes. The combination of imagery from Planet, specifically their SuperDove systems that provide daily data at 3 m spatial resolutions, with the freely available EU Copernicus data would be useful for many different stakeholders and potential users. A prototype of the service is presented, based on the main user requirements. The system would enable public and private organizations to allocate resources appropriately in affected areas quickly and efficiently, thereby minimizing economic, social and environmental impacts and enhancing the resilience of local communities. It would also assist the sargassum industry in the collection of fresh algae for onward processing. The system could easily be implemented for similar types of environmental monitoring in the Greater Caribbean and beyond.

Abstract Wave-induced inundation in coastal zones is a serious problem for residents. Accurate prediction of wave run-up height is a complex phenomenon in coastal engineering. In this study, several machine learning (ML) models are developed to simulate wave run-up height. The developed methods are based on optimization techniques employing the group method of data handling (GMDH). The invasive weed optimization (IWO), firefly algorithm (FA), teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO), harmony search (HS), and differential evolution (DE) meta-heuristic optimization algorithms are embedded with the GMDH to yield better feasible optimization. Preliminary results indicate that the developed ML models are robust tools for modeling the wave run-up height. All ML models’ accuracies are higher than empirical relations. The obtained results show that employing heuristic methods enhances the accuracy of the standard GMDH model. As such, the FA, IWO, DE, TLBO, and HS improve the RMSE criterion of the standard GMDH by the rate of 47.5%, 44.7%, 24.1%, 41.1%, and 34.3%, respectively. The GMDH-FA and GMDH-IWO are recommended for applications in coastal engineering.

Coastal dune restoration projects are increasingly seen as a means of protecting the coast against storms, especially with the use of natural (plants), artificial (geotextile tube cores) and hybrid (plants and geotextile tube) elements. As geotextile tube cores have been found to negatively affect dune and beach natural morphodynamics, rocky cores are thus seen as a potential alternative. We carried out laboratory experiments to compare the performance of dunes with rocky cores, geotextile cores, and both types when coupled with planted vegetation. We investigated these elements in the context of scaled mild, moderate, and intense storm conditions. The results showed that dunes with either type of core lost more sand than dunes without cores. The addition of plants generally reduced the erosion across the various options, but most strongly for rocky cores under mild and moderate storm conditions. We also found that dunes with a high density of plants were best for intense conditions. Overall, the use of rocky dune cores, when coupled with plants, is the most suitable and sustainable alternative option in hybrid engineering projects.

Quality function deployment (QFD) is now used in various fields, such as product development, design, manufacturing, planning, and quality management services, as a planning tool to achieve customer requirements and needs while improving performance and sustainability concerns. This paper presents a systematic literature review of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodologies integrated into QFD over the last year. In 2022, 56 research papers on planning strategies, the supply chain, and product development using QFD were published. Other fields such as energy, academia, and environment have also shown considerable interest in the integration of MCDM methodologies in QFD to improve decision-making processes. This research shows that the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solutions (TOPSIS) methodologies are mainly used to rank customer requirements and weigh their importance in the house of quality (HoQ) structure. The use of fuzzy logic has been incorporated into the correlation matrix to evaluate the relationships between customer requirements and technical requirements. Methodologies such as decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and fuzzy cognitive maps are implemented to deal with contradictions, and they have also been used to rank engineering characteristics. In the field of energy and renewable technologies, only few studies related to the integration of MCDM methodologies in QFD were found, but it is forecasted that their use will be used more often as they offer improvements and benefits in the ocean energy sector.

The bloom of pelagic Sargassum in the Atlantic Ocean has become increasingly problematic, especially when the algae have beached. A build-up of decaying beached material has damaging effects on coastal ecosystems and tourism industries. While remote sensing offers an effective tool to assess the spatial and temporal patterns of Sargassum over large spatial extents, its use so far has been limited to a broad discrimination of Sargassum species from other macroalgae and floating vegetation. Knowledge on the spatial distribution of decayed material will help to support management strategies and inform targeted removal. In this study, we aim to characterise the spectral response of fresh and decayed Sargassum and identify regions of the spectra that offer the greatest separability for the detection and classification of decayed material. We assessed the spectral response of fresh and decayed Sargassum (1) in situ on the beach and (2) in mesocosm experiments where Sargassum samples were allowed to decay over time. We found a decrease in the magnitude of reflectance, noticeably in the visible region (400–700 nm), for decayed, in contrast to fresh, Sargassum. Separability analyses also showed that most spectral bands with a wavelength > ~540 nm will be capable of discriminating between fresh and decayed material, although the near-infrared region offers the greatest degree of separability. We demonstrate, for the first time, that there are clear differences in the spectral reflectance of fresh and decayed Sargassum with potential application for remote sensing approaches.

The physical and ecological importance of seagrass meadows in coastal processes is widely recognized, and the development of tools facilitating characterization of their structure and distribution is important for improving our understanding of these processes. Mixed (multi-specific) meadows in a Mexican Caribbean reef lagoon were mapped employing a multiparameter approach, using PlanetScope remote sensing images, and supervised classification based on parameters related to the structure of the seagrasses meadows, including the cover percentages of seagrass/algae/sediment, algae thalli and seagrass shoot densities, canopy heights and estimated leaf area index (LAI). The cover, seagrass and algae densities, and seagrass canopy heights were obtained using ground truth sampling, while the LAI was estimated using data obtained from long-term monitoring programs. The maps do not show the differentiation of seagrass species, but ground truthing contemplated characterization of the density of Thalassia testudinum, Syringodium filiforme and Halodule wrightii and their respective LAIs. S. filiforme was the dominant species in terms of shoot density, and T. testudinum was dominant in terms of LAI. In the multiparameter-based map four classes were defined, based on the cover and structural characteristics, and its overall accuracy was very high (~90%). Maps based on sediment cover and LAI alone also had 4 classes, but they were less accurate than the multiparameter-based map (~70% and ~80%, respectively). The multiparameter-based seagrass map provided spatially-explicit data on the abundance and structure of seagrasses, useful for future monitoring of the changes in the meadows, and also for studies of that require data of large-scale meadow structure, such as inventories of associated biota, blue carbon storage, or modelling of the local hydrodynamics.

Analgesic consumption increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. A high concentration of this kind of drug is discarded in the urine, reaching the effluents of rivers, lakes, and seas. These medicines have brought serious problems for the flora and, especially, the ecosystems’ fauna. This paper presents the results of removing diclofenac, ibuprofen, and paracetamol in an aqueous solution, using Sargassum spp. from the Caribbean coast. The study consisted of mixing each drug in an aqueous solution with functionalized Sargassum spp in a container under constant agitation. Therefore, this work represents an alternative to solve two of the biggest problems in recent years; first, the reduction of the overpopulation of sargassum through its use for the remediation of the environment. Second is the removal of drug waste used excessively during the COVID-19 pandemic. Liquid samples of the solution were taken at intervals of 10 min and analyzed by fluorescence to determine the concentration of the drug.The sorption capacity for diclofenac, ibuprofen, and paracetamol was 2.46, 2.08, and 1.41 μg/g, corresponding to 98 %, 84 %, and 54 % of removal, respectively. The removal of the three drugs was notably favored by increasing the temperature to 30 and 40 °C, reaching efficiencies close to 100 %. Moreover, the system maintains its effectiveness at various pH values. In addition, the Sargassum used can be reused for up to three cycles without reducing its removal capacity. The wide diversity of organic compounds favors the biosorption of drugs, removing them through various kinetic mechanisms. On the other hand, the Sargassum used in the drugs removal was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, TGA analysis, and scanning electron microscopy before and after removal. The results showed an evident modification in the structure and morphology of the algae and demonstrated the presence of the biosorbed drugs. Therefore, this system is sustainable, simple, economical, environmentally friendly, highly efficient, and scalable at a domestic and industrial level that can be used for aquatic remediation environments.

OBJETIVO: Analisar as fontes de crenças de futuros professores de Educação Física sobre o planejamento e a avaliação no ensino dos jogos esportivos coletivos. MÉTODOS: Foram adotados procedimentos de pesquisa qualitativa a partir de estudo de casos múltiplos. Realizou-se a análise de planos de ensino e entrevistas semiestruturadas com quatro futuros professores de uma universidade pública no sul do Brasil. A técnica de Análise de Conteúdo foi utilizada para a análise dos dados. Foram adotadas categorias e subcategorias a priori: planejamento (base teórica e propósitos) e avaliação (compreensão de como os estudantes aprendem; formas de avaliação de aprendizagem e avaliação do ensino) e a posteriori: contextos e situações de aprendizagem. RESULTADOS: As experiências no contexto universitário foram fontes importantes para as crenças sobre o planejamento e a avaliação do ensino, em especial, as orientações pedagógicas e as práticas de ensino. Já as experiências com a avaliação enquanto estudantes, influenciaram nas crenças sobre os meios de avaliação. CONCLUSÃO: As experiências provenientes do contexto universitário contribuíram para a construção de crenças sobre o planejamento e as experiências diretas no contexto escolar impactaram na avaliação da aprendizagem.

As the biomass of pelagic Sargassum spp. increased across the North Atlantic equatorial recirculation region from 2011 onwards, massive rafts of sargasso appeared in the Western Caribbean in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020. These events raised concerns regarding their negative consequences on the environment, local income, and human wellbeing. As adequate monitoring and analysis tools are needed for designing in-water and on-beach control strategies to reduce potential negative impacts, more robust and spatially explicit information is needed in order to improve sargasso management and focus restoration efforts. In this paper, we offer a spatiotemporal multiscale description of sargasso distribution and dynamics for 2014–2020 in the Mexican Caribbean: (1) for the entire region (millions of km2); (2) at the local scale (thousands of km2) evaluating the dynamics inside the reef lagoon at Puerto Morelos, Mexico; and finally, (3) specific beach observations (hundreds of km2) derived from data on beach cleaning volumes. Fifteen areas in the Mexican Caribbean, with different sargasso dispersions and on-shore accumulations, were evaluated. The areas around Tulum, Solidaridad, and Puerto Morelos have the most extreme and most frequent episodes but also exhibited the greatest seasonal variability. Extreme sargasso presence can occur in the Western Caribbean in any season, albeit with increasing coverage and recurrence in the summer. Images from a coastal video monitoring station at Puerto Morelos showed that massive sargasso beaching was associated with low energy conditions (Hs< 0.25 m, wind speed0.4 m, wind speed = 8 m/s, spring tide). Time-series analyses of sargasso beaching showed different periods of historic maximum sargasso coverage over July–October 2018 and others in January–February 2019. Wind and wave regimes influenced sargasso in distinct ways, depending on the coastal section, probably related to coastline morphology, oceanic regime, or the extent of the continental platform. This work presents the longest systematic time series (2014-2020) of high resolution satellite detected sargasso in Mexico. Spatial and temporal patterns are proposed as fundamental steps for managing sargasso accumulations.

This work describes the characteristics of a device capable of detecting the magnetic field generated by a submerged electrical conductor. This low-cost apparatus is based on the open-source Arduino platform and offers the possibility of monitoring magnetic fields generated by undersea cables. Measuring magnetic fields generated by undersea cables facilitates the development of technologies that will harness marine energy potential. The research is based on published parameters of magnetic field values generated by existing submarine cables. A coil was built to simulate an approximate magnetic field at 10 mT. The magnetic field generated by the coil was used as a reference standard. The device developed has a measurement probe built with an array of SS49E Hall effect sensors placed in a straight line and separated 5 cm from each other. A DS18B20 temperature sensor was added to make the necessary corrections and cancel the influence of temperature during the measurements. A microSD card module was attached to store continuous magnetic field measurements. The device was adjusted under strict laboratory conditions. The functionality of the device developed was confirmed by two samplings in the sea. In these samples, the magnetic field generated by the coil was measured in the entire water column from a depth of 3 m to 150 m. Results indicate that the prototype can successfully perform the necessary functions to quantify the underwater magnetic field accurately with about 10 µT accuracy.

The wave power in the Gulf of Mexico was analyzed, using 42 years (1979–2020) of simulated data, with ERA-5 winds to force the WAVEWATCH III wave model. The model was successfully validated with three NDBC buoys, 42,055, 42,001 and 42,002. Comparison of significant wave heights obtained from the Jason-2, Cryosat-2, and Saral satellites showed good mean correlation coefficients and root mean squares. The spatial distribution of wave power was studied, as well as its seasonal variability. The region studied has moderate availability of wave power with marked seasonality. A multi-criteria MCA approach, including both sea state and wave energy converters (WECs), was then applied. Nine virtual sites were selected for the study and the AAHPA device gave best results in 7 virtual sites and the Wavestar device in the remaining two. The technology of these two devices, a system of oscillating buoys, is the most viable technology for the Gulf of Mexico.

Comprehensive knowledge of extreme values is required for designing offshore structures and ocean current turbines. However, data on the return levels of ocean currents are rarely available. This is the case for the Mexican Caribbean, where enormous energy potential in the ocean currents has recently been detected. In this study, long-term numerical data from the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model for a depth of 50m was adjusted via linear quantile regression to short-term empirical data for a depth of 49m. The error of the results was estimated using simplified extreme value analysis. Based on the numerical data, a comprehensive extreme value analysis was conducted using the peaks over threshold method and fitting a Generalized Pareto Distribution to the data. This method relies on filtering peaks with a moving time window and an automated threshold selection based on a reparameterised scale parameter of the Generalized Pareto Distribution. The adjusted numerical model is shown to underestimate the empirical data with the error converging to almost 22% for rare events (return period > 10years). The method showed consistent results in the domain, with some anomalies only at the boundaries of the underlying numerical model. The methodology is suitable for estimating the return levels of ocean currents provided by HYCOM, although further research is needed to reduce the error of the numerical model.

Abstract Infrastructure is necessary to protect and provide the goods and services required by humans. As coastal green infrastructure (CGI) aims to respect and work with natural processes, it is a feasible response to mitigate or avoid the consequences of coastal squeeze. The concept of CGI is receiving increased attention of late due to the challenges facing us, such as climate change, population growth and the overexploitation of natural resources on the coast. Terms which may be applied to encourage the construction of infrastructure, or to minimize the responsibility for poorly made decisions, often induce misunderstanding. In this paper, the concept of CGI and its use in solving coastal problems is reordered. Four categories are proposed, according to the degree of naturalness of the project: Nature reclamation, Engineered ecosystems, Ecologically enhanced engineering, and De-engineering/Relocation. Existing coastal risk evaluation frameworks can be used to design many types of CGI. Key concepts, challenges and good practices for the holistic management of coastal squeeze are presented from the analysis of successful and unsuccessful CGI projects worldwide.

In this work, the influence of the Sargassum natans I alga extract on the morphological characteristics of synthesized ZnO nanostructures, with potential biological and environmental applications, was evaluated. For this purpose, different ZnO geometries were synthesized by the co-precipitation method, using Sargassum natans I alga extract as stabilizing agent. Four extract volumes (5, 10, 20, and 50 mL) were evaluated to obtain the different nanostructures. Moreover, a sample by chemical synthesis, without the addition of extract, was prepared. The characterization of the ZnO samples was carried out by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the Sargassum alga extract has a fundamental role in the stabilization process of the ZnO nanoparticles. In addition, it was shown that the increase in the Sargassum alga extract leads to preferential growth and arrangement, obtaining well-defined shaped particles. ZnO nanostructures demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory response by the in vitro egg albumin protein denaturation for biological purposes. Additionally, quantitative antibacterial analysis (AA) showed that the ZnO nanostructures synthesized with 10 and 20 mL of extract demonstrated high AA against Gram (+) S. aureus and moderate AA behavior against Gram (-) P. aeruginosa, depending on the ZnO arrangement induced by the Sargassum natans I alga extract and the nanoparticles’ concentration (ca. 3200 µg/mL). Additionally, ZnO samples were evaluated as photocatalytic materials through the degradation of organic dyes. Complete degradation of both methyl violet and malachite green were achieved using the ZnO sample synthesized with 50 mL of extract. In all cases, the well-defined morphology of ZnO induced by the Sargassum natans I alga extract played a key role in the combined biological/environmental performance.

In this research sustainable refrigerants are tested as filler gases in Transparent Thermal Insulation (TTI) for the first time. These are compared with pig fat, a readily available material with good thermal inertia that is proposed as an organic phase change material (PCM). The aim of this paper is to compare the thermal behaviour of a Hybrid Air Conditioning System (HACS) with TTI filled with R134a, R1233zd and a pig-fat-based PCM. Numerical simulations using the OPAQUE 3 program and two online platforms are used to evaluate the possible application of TTI and PCM as passive systems. Additionally, three TTI models are used to simulate the heat transfer processes of TTI, PCM and R134a. The velocity of the flow in the air gap is also analysed numerically in both laminar and turbulent states. For the assessment, infrared thermographic imagery is used to measure the temperatures in the HACS, giving values of 46.17 °C by day and 38.05 °C at night. The results show that the heat loss and heat gain in the combination TTI filled with refrigerants and pig-fat-based PCM are between 2.22 and 1.51 W/m2. In addition, the HACS was able to keep a small box warm during the night. The flow in the air gap of the HACS can be controlled by installing Ni-Ti wire actuators with a cooling temperature of 23 °C and a heating temperature of 70 °C. The Ni-Ti wire actuators can open and close the dampers at 23 °C and 51 °C, respectively. By installing a 5-watt solar-power fan, the velocity of the flow in the air gap in the HACS can be increased, thus improving the efficiency of the system. In all the experiments, the pig fat proved to be suitable for use in building applications as a non-flammable organic material.

The numerical performance of a buoy-type wave energy converter (WEC) under regular wave conditions is described in this paper. The open-source computational fluid dynamics software OpenFOAM® was used to couple a grid for the solid body motion of the WEC, with the grid designed for wave propagation, in order to calculate buoy movement parameters. The buoy has a horizontal, cylindrical structure, with a pivot point for semi-axis rotation. Five buoy-radiuses were analyzed, as this parameter considerably increases the efficiency of the WEC point absorber. To better understand the interaction of the WEC with the waves, the transmission and reflection coefficients were calculated, along with two non-linear parameters: skewness and asymmetry. The results indicate that, with this system, more power can be extracted from shorter waves, T = 4 s, compared to T = 8 s of the same wave height. This implies that a small buoy could be employed at sites with this prevailing wave regime, without a decrease in efficiency and with considerable cost reductions. Finally, this WEC increases the values of wave skewness, which is linked to onshore sediment transport; therefore, if appropriately designed, WEC arrays installed near the coast could also promote onshore sediment transport.

Establishing a renewable marine energy industry demands the development of high-efficiency devices that capture as much energy as possible. The Blow-Jet is a wave energy converter mainly composed of a sloping conical channel in the shape of a brass tube, which concentrates the waves at its widest part and expels a jet of water at its narrow upper end through an orifice that can be turbined. The device has no moving parts and great flexibility in its placement. This research presents an improvement of its geometry, increasing efficiency by minimizing undesired hydrodynamic interactions. The performance of the Blow-Jet was characterized using 3D numerical modeling and laboratory tests in a wave flume. Sixteen geometric configurations of the Blow-Jet were numerically tested, and that showing the best performance was 3D printed and assessed experimentally. The twofold objective was to evaluate the performance of the new Blow-Jet geometry and to validate a numerical tool for further geometrical improvements of the device. The novel geometry is nearly 20% more efficient than the original.

The electrical grid of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico, operates separately from the National Interconnected System, with Baja California connected to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council of the USA; and Baja California Sur having an isolated, independent network. Based on the need for alternative renewable sources of electricity generation in the region, this work evaluates the wave energy power at specific locations on the Pacific coast of the peninsula, and identifies wave generation sites (WEGS). The WEGS were defined as rocky shore sites associated with a wave energy potential of over 10 kW/m (where the installation of oscillating water columns (OWC) is feasible) and the presence of coastal settlements that are less than 10 km from the shoreline. It was found that 370 km of the Pacific coast of the peninsula have characteristics suitable for the installation of OWC, and up to 1.4 million inhabitants could be benefited by this wave energy harvesting.

ABSTRACT The aim was to identify the beliefs about teaching practices oriented to constructivism by Elementary Physical Education teachers of the Florianópolis Metropolitan Nucleus in Santa Catarina, Brazil. In this quantitative and descriptive study, 129 Elementary School Physical Education teachers answered a questionnaire to characterize the participants and a translated and adapted version of the Constructivist Teaching Practices Inventory in Elementary Physical Education - CTPI-EPE. Descriptive statistic and binary logistic regression analysis were used, with the aid of the open-source software “R”, version 3.6.1. The results revealed that regardless of personal, academic, and professional characteristics, the Physical Education teachers investigated perceive their teaching often oriented towards constructivism. It stands out, teachers with a temporary job often have beliefs related to teaching practices oriented towards general constructivism; teachers who did not participate in courses on sports education have beliefs oriented to the development of social cooperation; and teachers with a temporary employment bond and with a non-degree graduate program had a greater chance of promoting students' personal relevance in their classes.

Iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) are heterogeneous clinicopathological entities developing in patients receiving immunosuppression. Outside the posttransplant setting, methotrexate (MTX), a drug commonly used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, is an immunosuppressive agent frequently reported to be associated with LPD. MTX-associated LPD (MTX-LPD) includes a spectrum of lymphocytic proliferations, ranging from polyclonal hyperplasia to malignant lymphoma. MTX-LPD diagnosis can be challenging, as signs and symptoms are often nonspecific and may overlap with those of several other conditions, including exacerbation of the underlying autoimmune disease. Spontaneous regression of LPD after MTX discontinuation is characteristic of MTX-LPD, therefore avoiding chemotherapeutic intervention in a significant proportion of patients. Other cases, however, should receive chemotherapy.

AISI 304 SS has good corrosion resistance in a variety of environments but does not have good resistance to wear. Aggressive marine environments require materials that can withstand both the biocorrosion and the wear associated with the impact of waves, ocean currents and suspended particles. Oxy-nitriding of stainless steels can be used to increase their hardness and wear resistance. The conventional oxy-nitriding process is lengthy, and the temperature involved can affect the corrosion resistance of the material. To mitigate these problems, it was decided to study an oxy-nitriding process in plasma electrolytic conditions, using aqueous solutions of 20, 30 and 40 wt% urea. The results showed that all the concentrations evaluated gave lower levels of wear than untreated stainless steel. However, considering the amount of urea used and the environmental emissions from the waste generated, a concentration of 20% by weight of urea in the electrolyte is considered sufficient to increase up to three times the wear resistance of stainless steel. XRD, XPS and microscopy analyses showed that, in the main, the outermost layer of the steel surface treated by electrolytic plasma has a morphology of small craters of chromium and iron oxy-nitrides. A nitrogen diffusion layer was also seen below the oxy-nitrided layer.

The present work shows the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles through a green method, using sargassum extracts, which provide the reducing and stabilizing compounds. The conditions of the medium in which the reaction was carried out was evaluated, that is, magnetic stirring, ultrasound assisted, and resting condition. UV-Vis, FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction results confirmed the synthesis of ZnO with nanometric crystal size. The scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the morphology and size of the particles depends on the synthesis condition used. It obtained particles between 20 and 200 nm in the sample without agitation, while the samples with stirring and ultrasound were 80 nm and 100 nm, respectively. ZnO nanoparticles showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative P. aeruginosa. A quantitative analysis was performed by varying the concentration of ZnO nanoparticles. In all cases, the antibacterial activity against Gram-positives was greater than against Gram-negatives. Ultrasound-assisted ZnO nanoparticles showed the highest activity, around 99% and 80% for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, respectively. Similar results were obtained in the study of the anti-inflammatory activity of ZnO nanoparticles; the ultrasound-assisted sample exhibited the highest percentage (93%), even above that shown by diclofenac, which was used as a reference. Therefore, the ZnO nanoparticles synthesized with sargassum extracts have properties that can be used safely and efficiently in the field of biomedicine.

The recent periodic influx of massive quantities of pelagic Sargassum spp. (sargasso) into the Caribbean has posed ecological, social, and economic challenges to the region. Sustainable use of the biomass is crucial to mitigate negative impacts of beached algae. The current uses of sargasso in Mexico are reviewed, and a biorefinery approach is proposed to optimize its commercialization. The commercialization potential of sargasso in the Mexican Caribbean is analyzed using the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis. The unpredictability of the influx to the Mexican shores is considerable, both in time and space, also, some areas receive consistently more sargasso than others. The lack of available technology, local infrastructure and regulations concerning sargasso are relevant, as is the urgent need to establish proper regulatory measures. In the context of the Mexican legal system, the category “special waste” can best be applied to sargasso that is collected from the beach or nearshore waters for the purpose of regulation. Lessons learnt from in Mexico may be applied elsewhere, with adaptations for each specific location. More importantly, mutual understanding of the constraints and possibilities of sargasso management in other countries, or territories, may facilitate the coordinated management of this transboundary macroalgae bloom.

Coral reefs are increasingly recognized for their shoreline protection services. The hydrodynamic performance of this ecosystem is comparable to artificial low-crested structures often used in coastal protection, whose objective is to emulate the former. Coral reefs also provide other important environmental services (e.g., food production, habitat provision, maintenance of biodiversity and social and cultural services) and leave almost no ecological footprint when conservation and restoration actions are conducted to maintain their coastal protection service. However, studies have focused on their flood protection service, but few have evaluated the morphological effects of coral reefs through their ability to avoid or mitigate coastal erosion. In this paper, we investigate the relation between shoreline change, reefs’ geometry and hydrodynamic parameters to elucidate the physics related to how the Mesoamerican Reef in Mexico protects sandy coastlines from erosion. Using numerical wave propagation and historical shoreline change calculated from satellite imagery, a direct correlation was found between shoreline movement, the depths and widths of reef flats, changes in the wave energy flux, and the radiation stresses of breaking waves. The findings indicate that the most remarkable efficacy in preventing beach erosion is due to reefs with shallow crests, wide reef flats, a dissipative lagoon seabed, located at ∼300 m from the coastline. The results provide essential insights for reef restoration projects focused on erosion mitigation and designing artificial reefs in microtidal sandy beaches. Results are limited to wave-dominated coasts.

Este trabalho tem como principal objetivo a discussão da formação de uma nova direita no Brasil, usando o marco cronológico das manifestações contra Dilma Rousseff (PT) em 2015 e como apogeu a ascensão de Jair Bolsonaro (então, no PSL) à Presidência da República, em 2018. A ideia é tratar do eixo discursivo da formação dessa nova direita, analisando algumas estratégias de comunicação política. O problema de pesquisa está em identificar se tais abordagens são eficazes junto ao eleitorado brasileiro. Os métodos são a revisão de literatura e a análise de discurso relacionada aos eixos teórico e intelectual desses agrupamentos ideológicos, às vezes representados em partidos. As conclusões mostram crescimento dos canais de comunicação da nova direita no Brasil, reforçando a conexão com o eleitor e ampliando esse novo alinhamento político-ideológico no país.

Stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) is an optimization technique used in the operation of reservoirs for many years. However, being an iterative method requiring considerable computational time, it is important to establish adequate convergence criterion for its most effective use. Based on two previous studies for the optimization of operations in one of the most important multi-reservoir systems in Mexico, this work uses SDP, centred on the interest in the convergence criterion used in the optimization process. In the first trial, following the recommendations in the literature consulted, the difference in the absolute value of two consecutive iterations was taken and compared against a set tolerance value and a discount factor. In the second trial, it was decided to take the squared difference of the two consecutive iterations. In each of the trials, the computational time taken to obtain the optimal operating policy was quantified, along with whether the optimal operating policy was obtained by meeting the convergence criterion or by reaching the maximum number of iterations. With each optimization policy, the operation of the system under study was simulated and four variables were taken as evaluators of the system behaviour. The results showed few differences in the two operation policies but notable differences in the computation time used in the optimization process, as well as in the fulfilment of the convergence criterion.

The impact of storms on coastal dunes and beaches and the effects they induce in topography and plant communities are natural processes that contribute to maintaining natural coastal dynamics. However, because coasts are often densely populated, these phenomena are perceived as major threats to human property. To protect human assets sustainably, nature-based defenses have emerged as an option. Coastal dunes act as natural buffers that mitigate the extent of erosion and inland flooding, and their resistance depends on the biogeomorphological feedback between the plants and the dunes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of one winter storm on beach and dune topography and the plant communities, and to explore the effect of plants in mitigating erosion on beaches with different geomorphological features. The effects on plant communities were evaluated by comparing diversity and plant cover before and after the storm. Later, the role of plants in conferring dune resistance against erosion was examined by measuring erosion on the exposed face of the dunes considering plant cover and plant richness. The results did not show significant differences in plant diversity and plant cover between pre-and post-storm conditions, but turnover of species was recorded. The dune building species were not affected but inland species disappeared. Erosion was reduced when the dunes were higher and, furthermore, plant cover was negatively correlated with erosion on these dunes. The results showed a reduced impact of the storm on the plant communities, which is important as it facilitates the recovery of dunes by the dune-building species and protects them in a subsequent storm. The novelty of this study is that: (a) it demonstrates the species-specific role of plants in mitigating dune erosion in field conditions; (b) it shows the interaction between plant-related features and geomorphological variables in promoting dune resistance to erosion, and (c) it explores the immediate effect of a winter storm on the plant community and dune-building species.

Compressive syndromes of peripheral nerves both in the upper and lower limbs are part of daily clinical practice; however, the etiological diagnosis can be challenging and impact on the outcome of the patient. We report five cases with rare etiologies of nerve entrapments: one in the lower limb and four in the upper limbs with the final diagnosis made only during the operation. The patients evolved without post-operative complications and had good outcomes. This series includes the first report of sciatic compression by a lipoma in the popliteal fossa, two lipomas one with compression of infraclavicular brachial plexus and another with compressing the posterior interosseous nerve, and two reports of vascular lesions due to blunt traumas, which are also uncommon. This series adds to the literature more hypotheses of differential diagnoses in nerve entrapments, which is fundamental to surgical decisions and pre-operative planning—and perhaps most importantly prevents wrong diagnosis of idiopathic compressions, which would lead to a completely wrong approach and unfavorable outcomes.

O presente artigo tem por objetivo discutir os impactos que o advento do Estatuto do Torcedor trouxe para o futebol brasileiro, especialmente para a estabilidade jurídica das competições organizadas pela Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF). Antes da edição do estatuto era comum que as regras das competições fossem alteradas no curso de sua realização, causando grande instabilidade jurídica para os players e para a própria CBF. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho revisitará alguns casos relevantes ocorridos nas duas últimas décadas em competições nacionais e os analisará à luz dos seus impactos jurídicos antes da edição do estatuto e após a publicação desse documento. Usam-se os métodos da revisão de literatura e da análise documental para dar sustentação a pesquisa. A principal conclusão é que o estatuto trouxe estabilidade jurídica para as competições, harmonizando-se, assim, com a concepção que protege os interesses do torcedor, considerado como consumidor do produto futebol.

En este trabajo se propone el uso de estructuras sumergidas de forma elíptica como una alternativa viable para la focalización del oleaje y con ello disponer de focos de alta energía para su aprovechamiento como fuente de energía renovable. Se empleó un modelo numérico, validado con datos experimentales, para determinar la geometría óptima de la estructura elíptica sumergida en términos de la longitud y dirección del oleaje incidente. Los resultados permiten diseñar lentes elípticos sumergidos como función de las condiciones hidrodinámicas locales para obtener su máximo desempeño, y ofrece métricas de su eficiencia para distintas geometrías en términos de su excentricidad, altura, y profundidad de instalación.

La reflexión debida a obras de abrigo es un fenómeno importante de cuantificar dado que, si no se controla, puede provocar problemas a la navegación, a la operación portuaria y, en casos extremos, a la estabilidad de la misma estructura. Dada la forma en que interactúan los taludes rugosos de los rompeolas y el oleaje, el coeficiente de reflexión es prácticamente único para cada tipología y forma de dique, por lo que su cálculo depende, además de las condiciones de clima marítimo, de las propiedades geométricas de la estructura, así como de su porosidad. En este trabajo se presenta una evaluación del coeficiente de reflexión para diques rompeolas de piezas sueltas con perfil en forma de “S” a partir de resultados obtenidos con el modelo OpenFOAM. Dicha información se comparó contra datos de laboratorio publicados en otras fuentes y contra algunas formulaciones disponibles en la literatura. Los resultados que ofrece el modelo numérico son muy semejantes a los reportados de manera experimental y, el modelo para el cálculo del coeficiente de reflexión obtenido mostró poca dispersión y buena precisión en comparación con las formulaciones previas, por lo que puede emplearse en los rompeolas originales del estudio, así como a otras tipologías de estructuras.

Objectives: Clinical approach of prostate cancer (PCa) biochemical recurrence (BCR) is an ever-changing topic. Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography ([68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CTPSMA PET-CT) has shown good potential in this field. The aim is to evaluate PSMA PET-CT detection rate in PCa BCR and assess its impact on clinical outcome. Material and methods: Out of 319 patients with PCa who underwent PSMA PET-CT between October 2015 and June 2019, 70 had developed BCR after treatment with curative intent. Two groups were created: one with BCR after surgery (RP group) (N: 48; 68.6%) and other with BCR after radiotherapy (RT group) (N: 22; 31.4%). Clinical, analytical, pathological and PSMA PET-CT results were evaluated. Results: Initial age was different between groups (p = 0.008). RP patients were mainly at intermediate risk (85.1% vs 42.9%, p = 0.001) while RT patients were at low risk of recurrence (8.5% vs 47.6%, p = 0.001). In RP and RT groups, PSMA PETCT detected, respectively, pelvic relapse in 31.3% and 63.6%, and extrapelvic relapse in 18.8% and 31.8%. Salvage treatment was performed in 61.9% (n = 26) of RP patients and in 15% (n = 3) of RT patients, p < 0.001. Of RP patients submitted to salvage treatment, 59.1% achieved complete remission. Concerning these patients, local radiotherapy led to complete remission in 68.4% (n = 13). Of RT patients submitted to salvage treatment, two had complete remission and one had partial remission.Concerning detection rate, PSMA PET-CT was positive for pelvic relapse when pre-PET PSA ≥ 0.8 ng/mL (RP) or ≥ 2.3 ng/mL (RT) and for extrapelvic relapse when PSA ≥ 0.4 ng/mL (RP) or ≥ 3.5 ng/mL (RT), p > 0.05. Conclusions: Biochemical persistence rate after salvage therapy was similar (30-40%). The cut-off PSA values for pelvic relapse detected on PSMA PET-CT were ≥ 0.8 ng/mL (RP) and ≥ 2.3 ng/mL (RT).

Sandy coasts represent about one-third of the global coastline and are among the most valuable and most vulnerable areas for humans and many other species. Socio-economic development and climate change impacts, together with traditional engineering for shore protection, have pervasively resulted in coastal squeeze, thereby threatening coastal life and economic activities, and the very survival of coastal ecosystems. In the past, the responses to problems such as land loss, coastal erosion and flooding were primarily reactive, through gray engineering solutions, with little interest shown in the ecosystem processes impacted by coastal armoring. In recent decades, coastal management strategies have become more diverse, embracing traditional engineering solutions alongside ecosystem-based measures. Even so, many of these new strategies still fail to meet sustainability criteria. Inspired by Per Bruun’s “The Ten Demands for Coastal Protection” from 1972, this article attempts to consider these changes and knowledge acquired since the 1970s, in order to tentatively formulate “Ten Commandments” for the sustainability of sandy coasts in face of climate change and socio-economic development. As such, the paper offers a new vision and briefly summarizes good practices for the management of sandy coasts, particularly useful for those who, at whatever level of influence, could contribute to the long-term realization of this new vision.

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo foi analisar as fontes de crenças sobre as estratégias de ensino dos esportes coletivos de universitários do curso de Licenciatura em Educação Física de uma universidade pública do sul do Brasil. Adotaram-se procedimentos de estudo qualitativo em que participaram 4 universitários. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de observação sistemática, seguido de entrevistas com estimulação de memória e analisados através da Análise de Conteúdo. Os resultados indicaram que as fontes de crenças estavam relacionadas as experiências de prática motora, os feedbacks e as observações de professores. Conclui-se que as crenças dos universitários se desenvolveram por experiências ao longo da vida, envolvendo diversos contextos e situações de aprendizagem.