Marked decline in forest-dependent small mammals following habitat loss and fragmentation in an Amazonian deforestation frontier

Agricultural frontier expansion into the Amazon over the last four decades has created million hectares of fragmented forests. While many species undergo local extinctions within remaining forest patches, this may be compensated by native species from neighbouring open-habitat areas potentially invading these patches, particularly as forest habitats become increasingly degraded. Here, we examine the effects of habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation on small mammal assemblages in a southern Amazonian deforestation frontier, while accounting for species-specific degree of forest-dependency. We surveyed small mammals at three continuous forest sites and 19 forest patches of different sizes and degrees of isolation. We further sampled matrix habitats adjacent to forest patches, which allowed us to classify each species according to forest-dependency and generate a community-averaged forest-dependency index for each site. Based on 21,568 trap-nights, we recorded 970 small mammals representing 20 species: 12 forest-dependents, 5 matrix-tolerants and 3 open-habitat specialists. Across the gradient of forest patch size, small mammal assemblages failed to show the typical species-area relationship, but this relationship held true when either species abundance or composition was considered. Species composition was further mediated by community-averaged forest-dependency, so that smaller forest patches were occupied by a lower proportion of forest-dependent rodents and marsupials. Both species richness and abundance increased in less isolated fragments surrounded by structurally simplified matrix habitats (e.g. active or abandoned cattle pastures). While shorter distances between forest patches may favour small mammal abundances, forest area and matrix complexity dictated which species could persist within forest fragments according to their degree of forest-dependency. Small mammal local extinctions in small forest patches within Amazonian deforestation frontiers are therefore likely offset by the incursion of open-habitat species. To preclude the dominance of those species, and consequent losses of native species and associated ecosystem functions, management actions should limit or reduce areas dedicated to pasture, additionally maintaining more structurally complex matrix habitats across fragmented landscapes

Major Meta-Analysis, Randomized Clinical Studies, and International Consensus on Serum Levels and Importance of Supplementing Vitamin D: State of the art

Introduction: Hypovitaminosis D is highly prevalent and constitutes a public health problem worldwide. It can affect more than 90% of individuals, depending on the population studied. Objective: To make a broad analysis of the world literature to compose the State of the Art on serum vitamin D levels and its adequate supplementation, to prevent and mitigate various diseases, based on randomized clinical studies, analysis, and latest international conferences and consensus. Methods: The present study followed a literary review of randomized clinical studies, meta-analysis, and the latest international consensus. Cochrane instrument was adopted to assess the quality of the included studies between 2015 and 2020. Major considerations and conclusion: Laboratory evaluation should be performed by measuring 25(OH)D, and the main groups of individuals at risk for vitamin D deficiency are the elderly, patients with osteoporosis, history of falls and fractures, obese, pregnant women, and infants. For patients with osteoporosis and increased risk of fractures, recommended that concentrations of 25(OH)D remain above 30 ng/mL for full benefits on the prevention of secondary hyperparathyroidism, decreased risk of falls. Special considerations must have taken to pregnant women and infants, in patients with chronic renal failure, obese patients, and those undergoing bariatric surgery. Several clinical studies and current meta-analysis have shown significant results with vitamin D supplementation in cardiovascular complications, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases, cognitive function, among others, with doses above 30 ng/mL, reaching up to 70 ng/mL, and maintaining serum dosage at 50 ng/mL

Hydropriming seed treatment and plant field performance

O condicionamento fisiológico compreende técnicas que estimulam a germinação e contribuem para reduzir a sensibilidade de sementes e de plântulas a estresses. Efeitos sobre a germinação e a emergência de plântulas têm sido amplamente estudados, mas a influência sobre o comportamento das plantas em campo ainda não é totalmente conhecida. Esta pesquisa foi conduzida com o objetivo principal de verificar efeitos do hidrocondicionamento sobre a germinação, emergência de plântulas, desenvolvimento das plantas e produção de couve-flor. Sementes das cultivares de couve-flor Sharon e Teresópolis Gigante, representados por três lotes, foram hidrocondicionados em papel-toalha, a 20ºC, até atingir 38% de água ('Sharon') ou 41% ('Teresópolis Gigante'). Posteriormente, foram secadas em estufa, a 28-30ºC e 45-55% de umidade relativa, até atingirem teores de água de 7,5% a 7,9%. O potencial fisiológico das sementes foi determinado em laboratório, avaliando-se a percentagem e a velocidade de germinação. Posteriormente, efetuou-se a semeadura em bandejas de poliestireno; o transplante para o campo foi efetuado quando as plantas atingiram estádio de quatro folhas definitivas (30 dias após a semeadura). Determinou-se a velocidade e percentagem de emergência das plântulas aos 14 dias após a semeadura; a altura e a massa seca das plantas foram avaliadas aos 14; 30; 56; 74 e 84 dias e o diâmetro médio da cabeça e a produção final, aos 110 dias. O hidrocondicionamento pode favorecer a velocidade de germinação e de emergência de plântulas, mas esses efeitos não são suficientes para persistir durante o desenvolvimento das plantas e afetar a produção final.Priming treatment usually promotes rapid and uniform germination and increases tolerance to different stress conditions. Post-treatment effects on seed germination and seedling emergence have been extensively studied but information of plant performance is less available. This research was conducted to verify the influence of hydropriming on seedling emergence, plant development and yield of cauliflower. Sharon and Teresópolis Gigante cultivars, each one represented through three seed lots were primed between two moistened germination paper towel layers under 20ºC. Seeds from 'Sharon' attained 38% of moisture and, 'Teresópolis Gigante', 41% of moisture. After the conditioning treatment, seeds were dried to 7.5%-7.9% of moisture in oven with air circulation, at 28-30ºC and 45-55% R.H. Seed physiological potential was evaluated in laboratory by speed and percentage of germination. Seeds of each lot were planted in multicell polystyrene trays (200 cells/tray) containing artificial growing mix, and seedlings were transplanted into a field plot when they reached the four-leave stage (30 days after sowing). Seedling emergence (percentage and speed) was determined 14 days after sowing date, and plant height and plant dry weight were measured at 14; 30; 44; 56, and 74 days. Head diameter and yield were recorded at 110 days. Hydropriming treatment promoted increases in speed of germination and in percentage and speed of seedling emergence, but those effects were not enough to persist during plant growth, not affecting the cauliflower yield

Potencial fisiológico de sementes de couve-flor

The assessment of seed physiological performance is essential to provide consistent information to compose quality control programs conducted by seed companies and allow prompt decisions to reduce post-harvest and commercialization problems. This research was carried to evaluate the efficiency of different procedures to determine cauliflower seed vigor. Six lots of the cultivar Sharon were initially characterized by germination and seedling emergence, and subsequently subjected to traditional and saturated salt accelerated aging, controlled deterioration, electrical conductivity, and potassium leachate tests, in two evaluation times. The traditional accelerated aging (41ºC/48 h), the saturated salt procedure (45ºC/72 h), the controlled deterioration (moisture content adjusted to 20% or 22% and aging at 45ºC/24 h), the electrical conductivity (50 seeds/75 mL water and evaluation after 4 h) and the potassium leakage (25 seeds/50 mL of water and evaluation after 30 min) laboratory tests are sensitive to detect differences in the physiological potential of cauliflower seeds. However, those results did not relate to the percentage seedling emergence in greenhouse controlled conditions, as a consequence of the favorable conditions for emergence. However, the differences identified in the tests may be related to the ability of seed lots to perform in less favorable environments.A eficiência da determinação do potencial fisiológico de lotes de sementes é essencial para a obtenção de informações consistentes, permitindo a composição de programas de controle de qualidade de sementes e a obtenção de informações consistentes para a redução de problemas pós-colheita e durante a comercialização. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi comparar a eficiência de diferentes procedimentos para a determinação do vigor de sementes de couve-flor. Para tanto, foram utilizados seis lotes do cultivar Sharon, caracterizados inicialmente pelos testes de germinação e de emergência de plântulas. Em seguida, conduziram-se testes de envelhecimento acelerado tradicional e com solução saturada de cloreto de sódio, deterioração controlada, condutividade elétrica e lixiviação de potássio, em duas épocas de avaliação. Os testes de envelhecimento acelerado tradicional, a 41ºC/48 h, e com solução saturada de cloreto de sódio, a 45ºC/72 h, de deterioração controlada (ajuste do grau de umidade para 20% ou 22%, 45ºC/24 h), de condutividade elétrica (combinação 50 sementes/75 mL de água/4 h) e de lixiviação de potássio (25sementes/50 mL de água/30 min) são suficientemente sensíveis para detectar diferenças no potencial fisiológico de sementes de couve-flor. No entanto, essas informações não se refletiram na percentagem de emergência de plântulas em ambiente favorável, mas podem ser úteis para identificar lotes com maior probabilidade de apresentar desempenho adequado quando ocorrem desvios das condições mais adequadas de ambiente.FAPESPCNP

Contribuição do geoprocessamento para o estatuto da cidade como ferramenta para o planejamento e gestão urbana

O Estatuto da Cidade é um instrumento de regulação urbanística e intervenção urbana resultante dos movimentos sociais de uma sociedade organizada na luta pela reforma urbana. Destaca-se aqui a contribuição do geoprocessamento como ferramenta integradora e de análise no planejamento e na gestão urbana apoiados em parâmetros das Diretrizes Gerais, dos instrumentos do Estatuto da Cidade que estabelecem o Ordenamento Territorial e a Propriedade Urbana. Aborda uma compreensão que permite de forma estrutural e contextualizada acentuar a importância da tecnologia como apoio aos instrumentos de gestão da propriedade urbana, a eficiência do Cadastro Territorial Multifinalitário sobre o uso, ocupação e domínio de posse das propriedades. Realça o geoprocessamento como um meio importante na caracterização das condições da paisagem para estudos preditivos e para o ordenamento das estruturas informacionais.The City Statute is an instrument of regulation and urban intervention arising from social movements of an organized society in the struggle for urban reform. It is highlighted the GIS contribution as an integration and analysis tool in the planning and urban management, which are based on the General Guidelines and the City Statute that establishing the Spatial Planning and Urban Property. Covers an understanding, which allows, in a structural and contextualized way, emphasize the importance of technology to support the management of city property, the efficiency of the Territorial Multipurpose Cadastre, the occupation and the ownership domain of properties. Enhances the geoprocessing techniques as an important way to describe the landscape conditions for predictive studies and the informational structures demand.Peer Reviewe

Lockdown or participatory health surveillance? Lessons from the Covid-19

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Targeting Angiotensin Ii Type-1 Receptor (at(1)r) Inhibits The Harmful Phenotype Of Plasmodium-specific Cd8(+) T Cells During Blood-stage Malaria

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CD8(+) T-cell response is critical in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria during blood-stage. Our group and other have been shown that angiotensin II (Ang II) and its receptor AT(1) (AT(1)R), a key effector axis of renin-angiotensin system (RAS), have immune regulatory effects on T cells. Previously, we showed that inhibition of AT(1)R signaling protects mice against the lethal disease induced by Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection However, most of the Ang II/AT(1)R actions were characterized by using only pharmacological approaches, the effects of which may not always be due to a specific receptor blockade. In addition, the mechanisms of action of the AT(1)R in inducing the pathogenic activity of Plasmodium-specific CD8(+) T cells during blood-stage were not determined. Here, we examined how angiotensin II/AT1R axis promotes the harmful response of Plasmodium-specific CD8(+) T-cell during blood-stage by using genetic and pharmacological approaches. We evaluated the response of wild-type (WT) and AT1R(-/-) Plasmodium-specific CD8(+) T cells in mice infected with a transgenic PbA lineage expressing ovalbumin; and in parallel infected mice receiving WT Plasmodium-specific CD8(+) T cells were treated with losartan (AT(1)R antagonist) or captopril (ACE inhibitor). Both, AT(1)R(-/-) OT-I cells and WT OT-I cells from losartan- or captopril-treated mice showed lower expansion, reduced IL-2 production and IL-2R? expression, lower activation (lower expression of CD69, CD44 and CD160) and lower exhaustion profiles. AT(1)R-/- OT-I cells also exhibit lower expression of the integrin LFA-1 and the chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR3, known to play a key role in the development of cerebral malaria. Moreover, AT1R(-/-) OT-I cells produce lower amounts of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha and show lower degranulation upon restimulation. In conclusion, our results show the pivotal mechanisms of AT(1)R-induced harmful phenotype of Plasmodium-specific CD8(+) T cells during blood-stage malaria.7Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico [57.3695/2008-3, 57.3767/2008-4, 471771/2013-9, 456997/2014-8]Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro [E-26/110.551/2010, 111681/2013, E-26/102.170/2013, E-26/201.197/2014]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Important aspects to the development of the supply chain management to promote innovation

The new economy, also called knowledge economy, shifts radically the basis of competition and highlights the merger of firms; the cooperation, without eliminating the role of competition; the customized and flexible production systems. It also points out the collective efficiency, which demands a new model of management of network relationships. In this context, profound changes in organizational structures are observed leading to the obsolescence of isolated companies and the emergence of networks of companies and supply chain managements. Based on this new paradigm of competitiveness, the objective of this article is to present relevant aspects of the development of supply chain managements to promote the innovation. This is an academic research, which encompasses technical and bibliographic procedures. The conquest of dynamic competitiveness depends on the growing search for optimal systems both in and out of the organizational boundary. In this context the creation of a new model of competitiveness with emphasis on the competition among supply chains highlights that organizations are part of a transitional stage which in the beginning focused on an individual efficiency and nowadays concentrates the attention on a collective efficiency. The supply chain management to promote the innovation must be focused on aspects related to technologies, to the processes involving value creation for the customer, and also on aspects related to human talent, especially in the integration of people to share the same objectives. The casting of variables that should be considered during the planning of supply chain management development to promote the innovation is: customer orientation, knowledge flow, structure, degree of relationships, and the use of information and communication technologies. It was also observed that the implementation of the concept of SCM to improve the innovation demands significant changes not only in internal procedures but also in external ones mainly due to the partnership between customers and suppliers

Comparative analysis of sustainability assessment methods in agroecosystems

The aim of this work was to compare and analyze three different methods of the sustainability evaluation in agricultural systems, such as the Indicateurs de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles (IDEA), the weighted Assessment of environmental impact of New Rural activities (APOIA Novo-Rural), and the indicators of sustainability in Agroecosystem (ISA). Those methods were comparied by two criteria. The first one relates to the distribution of sustainability indicators into categories (Endogenous System Operation, Endogenous Resources, Exogenous Systems Operation, and Exogenous Resources) and elements (technical, socioeconomic, natural and cultural resources). The second one involves the conceptual approaches of each method towards the concept of sustainability, objective and target audience, adoption of the systemic approach, level of stakeholder’s participation, level of adequacy, and method flexibility in different realities. The indicators set of each method, although quantitatively different, consider the diversity of elements that involve the agricultural systems. The IDEA method concentrates its indicators on the Endogenous System Operation category, while the APOIA Novo-Rural and the ISA methods concentrate their indicators on the Endogenous Resources category. The IDEA method directs the assessment to the awareness of the environmental processes that surround the agricultural activity in the property. On the other hand, in the APOIA Novo-Rural and the ISA methods, the reflective practice is fostered from impacts on the environment, and can be improved by extension actions. The main difference presented among those methods is the integrative evaluation of the indicators as well as trade-offs involved

Anti-atherogenic properties associated with the antioxidant activity from the hydrophilic extracts of Halimeda incrassata (Chlorophyta, Bryopsidales)

Seaweeds are a source of natural antioxidants having potential application in oxidative stress and associated diseases. In this work, anti-atherogenic properties associated with the antioxidant activity from the hydrophilic extracts of Halimeda incrassata were studied. The phenolic content assessed inthe aqueous extract and fraction phenolic acids (FPA) was 0.13 ± 0.05 and 0.47 ± 0.09 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry seaweed, respectively. In DPPH?, radical scavenging assay fractions exhibited a dependent concentration. The seaweeds extract inhibited the desoxirribose oxidation in the presenceor absence of EDTA (IC50 = 1.91± 0.09 mg/mL) (IC50 = 2.95 ± 0.01 mg/mL). In vivo antioxidant properties of FPA-H.incrassata were investigated in rats with a CCl4-induced liver injury. Pre-treatment with H.incrassata led to approximately 50% reductions in liver TBARS levels. The treatment with H. incrassataFPA also increased the activity of the CAT enzyme, which in turn resulted in an enhanced antioxidantdefense. The expression of Catalase by PCR-RT technique demonstrated a higher gene expression when compared with that which was observed in the CCl 4-treated group. Antiatherogenic properties were studied in the inhibition of lipoprotein oxidation mediated by Cu2+ or HRP/H2O2, free radicalscavenging, and metal ion chelation, and it was dose dependent with a higher concentration needed for the aqueous extract than for the FPA fraction. Antioxidant activity was also improved in macrophages as evaluated in the cell supernatant (by TBARS formation); and by luminol enhanced chemiluminescence after cell activation with zymosan; and a degree of cell lipoperoxidation wasdecreased by the Halimeda incrassata extract. The results of this work add to the antioxidant potential of the seaweed for its application in oxidative stress associated conditions.Fil: Vidal-Novoa, Alexis. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: Costa-Mugica, Ariadna. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: Zulueta Díaz, Yenisleidy de Las Mercedes. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; Cuba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Diaz-Gutierrez, Daylín. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: de Oliveira e Silva, Ana, Mara. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Vazquez, Ana María. Center For Molecular Inmunology; CubaFil: Claudina, Zaldívar-Munoz. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: Dalva, Assuncao Portari de Mancini. Institute Butantan Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Mancini-Filho, Jorge. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi