Economic activities and deforestation in Brazil's Carajás region. Examining production deforestation linkages

Esse artigo avalia os impactos das atividades produtivas nas condições macroeconômicas e no desmatamento usando um modelo CGE para duas regiões. O objeto de estudo e a interação entre os setores produtivos (especialmente agricultura, pecuária, madeira e ferro gusa) e desmatamento na região leste da Amazônia brasileira. Essa região, também conhecida como o Corredor de Carajás, experimentou um rápido crescimento e povoamento nas últimas três décadas. Nesse mesmo período, uma parcela significativa de seus recursos naturais, florestas em particular, foi exaurida. As simulações realizadas revelam que o desenvolvimento da metalurgia só indiretamente conduz a um nível mais elevado de desmatamento ao estimular a expansão da agricultura e da pecuária. A expansão das atividades agrícolas gera como sub-produto madeira suficiente para atender a demanda crescente da produção de carvão causada pelo crescimento da metalurgia.This paper assesses the impacts of productive activities on macroeconomic conditions and deforestation using a two-region CGE model. The object ofstudy is the interaction between productive sectors (especially agriculture, livestock, timber and pig iron) and deforestation in the Eastern Amazon region ofBrazil. This region, also known as the Carajas Comdor, has experienced rapid growth and settlement over the last three decades. Over this same period a significant portion of its natural resources (particularly forest) has been depleted. The growth simulations reveal that expansion and development of the metals sector only indirectly result in higher levels of deforestation by stimulating the expansion of agriculture and livestock production. The expansion of agricultural activities results in sufficient wood by-products to meet the greater demand for charcoal production caused by development of the metals sector

Synchrotron X-Rays for Microstructural Investigations of Advanced Reactor Materials

X-rays from synchrotron beamlines provide a powerful tool for materials analysis in circumstances where long-term materials degradation under complex loading conditions (e.g., temperature, irradiation, and stress) becomes important. This may occur for advanced gas cooled reactors. Synchrotron X-rays can help to improve lifetime assessments by providing a more in-depth understanding of microstructural damage. This article summarizes results of X-ray absorption fine spectrum analysis and X-ray magnetic circular dichroism synchrotron techniques. They were employed to evaluate various microstructural features, which are important in understanding the lifetime of materials exposed to extreme conditions. Dispersoid strengthening by yttria particles, conditions that produce nanocrystal Zircaloy, and the role of magnetism on the stability of ferritic steels were taken as example

BCCM/ULC public collection of cyanobacteria: A tool for microbial research and innovation.

editorial reviewedCyanobacteria represent an ancient group of morphologically diverse oxyphototrophic bacteria. Their long and complex evolutionary history is considered to have contributed to the successful colonization of a wide range of habitats including those, which are, from an anthropocentric point of view, hostile to life and are known as ‘extreme’ environments. Cyanobacteria thriving in mesophilic environments have been extensively studied in respect to their taxonomy. However, little is known about the diversity and taxonomy of extremophilic cyanobacteria. Nonetheless, the discovery of several new taxa through the investigation of just a limited number of extreme habitats suggests a high degree of novel biological diversity that remains unexplored. The BCCM/ULC public culture collection, funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office since 2011, currently hosts more than 500 cyanobacterial strains, of which approximately 140 derive from polar, subpolar, and alpine environments, followed by tropical, subtropical and mediterranean biotopes. In addition, strains of Belgian origin (lakes, soils) are also represented in the collection. All strains are studied by applying a polyphasic approach workflow, which includes a combination of morphological (microscopy), molecular (16S rRNA gene and ITS region) and ecological data. Cyanobacteria are also known producers of a variety of natural products. Indeed, there have been more than 2000 functionally diverse and structurally complex bioactive metabolites identified from cyanobacteria, including alkaloids, cyclic and linear peptides, polyketides and nonribosomal peptides. These metabolites range from toxins to biologically active molecules showing promise as potential drug leads. As part of an ongoing effort to discover new molecules with potential pharmaceutical applications, the strains are being evaluated for their antibacterial and/or antifungal activities. Furthermore, whole-genome sequencing is applied to study taxonomically interesting morphotypes and bioactive metabolite-producing strains. Genome sequencing has already been performed for 25 strains, 10 of them being currently analysed within the collection. The bioinformatic analysis of genomes of the strains ULC007, ULC065 and ULC129 revealed the presence of biosynthetic gene clusters encoding for a wide range of natural products with potential biomedical applications. Polar strains of the recently described genus Laspinema are also studied from a phylogenomic and comparative genomic perspective to understand the basis of adaptations to cold environments. Lastly, the collection has developed a series of containerized bioinformatics workflows that correspond to the open science practices

Effects of Bioleaching on the Chemical, Mineralogical and Morphological Properties of Natural and Waste-Derived Alkaline Materials

Bioleaching is a potential route for the valorisation of low value natural and waste alkaline materials. It may serve as a pre-treatment stage to mineral carbonation and sorbent synthesis processes by increasing the surface area and altering the mineralogy of the solid material and by generating an alkaline rich (Ca and Mg) aqueous stream. It may also aid the extraction of high value metals from these materials (e.g. Ni), transforming them into valuable ore reserves. The bioleaching potential of several bacteria (Bacillus circulans, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus mucilaginosus, Sporosarcina ureae) and fungi (Aspergillus niger, Humicola grisea, Penicillium chrysogenum) towards the alteration of chemical, mineralogical and morphological properties of pure alkaline materials (wollastonite and olivine) and alkaline waste residues (AOD and BOF steel slags, and MSWI boiler fly ash) at natural pH (neutral to basic) was assessed. Bioleaching was conducted using one-step and two-step methodologies. Increased solubilisation of alkaline earth metals and nickel were verified. Alteration in basicity was accompanied by alteration of mineralogy. AOD slag experienced solubilisation-precipitation mechanism, as evidenced by the decline of primary phases (such as dicalcium-silicate, bredigite and periclase) and the augmentation of secondary phases (e.g. merwinite and calcite). Nickel-bearing minerals of olivine (clinochlore, lizardite, nimite and willemseite) significantly diminished in quantity after bioleaching. Altered mineralogy resulted in morphological changes of the solid materials and, in particular, in increased specific surface areas. The bioleaching effect can be attributed to the production of organic acids (principally gluconic acid) and exopolysaccharides (EPS) by the microorganisms. The similarities between fungal and bacterial mediated bioleaching suggest that biogenic substances contribute mostly to its effects, as opposed to bioaccumulation or other direct action of living cells

Behavioral and metabolic effects of sublethal doses of two insecticides, chlorpyrifos and methomyl, in the Egyptian cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

International audienceInsecticides have long been used as the main method in limiting agricultural pests, but their widespread use has resulted in environmental pollution, development of resistances, and biodiversity reduction. The effects of insecticides at low residual doses on both the targeted crop pest species and beneficial insects have become a major concern. In particular, these low doses can induce unexpected positive (hormetic) effects on pest insects, such as surges in population growth exceeding what would have been observed without pesticide application. Methomyl and chlorpyrifos are two insecticides commonly used to control the population levels of the cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis, a major pest moth. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of sublethal doses of these two pesticides, known to present a residual activity and persistence in the environment, on the moth physiology. Using a metabolomic approach, we showed that sublethal doses of methomyl and chlorpyrifos have a systemic effect on the treated insects. We also demonstrated a behavioral disruption of S. littoralis larvae exposed to sublethal doses of methomyl, whereas no effects were observed for the same doses of chlorpyrifos. Interestingly, we highlighted that sublethal doses of both pesticides did not induce a change in acetylcholinesterase activity in head of exposed larva

Fatores associados ao controle glicêmico em pessoas com diabetes na Estratégia Saúde da Família em Pernambuco

OBJETIVO Identificar los factores asociados con el control glucémico en personas con Diabetes Mellitus (DM) tipo 2 registradas en la Estrategia Salud de la Familia (ESF) en Pernambuco, Brasil. MÉTODO Fueron investigadas, por regresión múltiple, las asociaciones entre el control glucémico (hemoglobina A glicosilada menor o mayor o igual al 7%) presentado por las personas con DM y variables relacionadas con condiciones sociodemográficas, hábitos de vida, características de la diabetes, de su tratamiento y seguimiento de los pacientes por los servicios sanitarios. RESULTADOS Más del 65% de los participantes presentaron control glucémico inadecuado, especialmente aquellos de menos edad, duración de la enfermedad más larga, más contactos anuales con la ESF y régimen terapéutico complejo. Personas con DM sin derivaciones a especialistas presentaron un mayor descontrol glucémico. Asociaciones con escolaridad y obesidad no permanecieron significativas en el modelo multivariado. CONCLUSIÓN La evolución de la diabetes dificulta el control adecuado. Sin embargo, la atención a las personas con DM más jóvenes y las derivaciones a especialistas son factores susceptibles de mejora del control glucémico.OBJETIVO Identificar fatores associados ao controle glicêmico em pessoas com Diabetes Mellitus (DM) tipo 2 cadastradas na Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) em Pernambuco, Brasil. MÉTODO Foram investigadas, por regressão múltipla, as associações entre o controle glicêmico (hemoglobina A glicosilada menor ou maior ou igual a 7%) apresentado pelas pessoas com DM e variáveis relacionadas com condições sociodemográficas, hábitos de vida, características do diabetes, de seu tratamento e acompanhamento dos pacientes pelos serviços de saúde. RESULTADOS Mais de 65% dos participantes apresentaram controle glicêmico inadequado, principalmente aqueles com idade menor, duração da doença mais longa, mais contatos anuais com a ESF e regime terapêutico complexo. Pessoas com DM sem encaminhamentos para especialistas apresentaram um maior descontrole glicêmico. Associações com escolaridade e obesidade não permaneceram significativas no modelo multivariado. CONCLUSÃO A evolução do diabetes dificulta o controle adequado, todavia, a atenção às pessoas com DM mais jovens e os encaminhamentos para especialistas são fatores suscetíveis de melhora do controle glicêmico.OBJECTIVE Identifying factors associated with glycemic control in people with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) registered in the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in Pernambuco, Brazil. METHOD Associations between glycemic control (glycosylated hemoglobin A lower or equal to 7%) presented by people with DM and variables related to sociodemographic conditions, lifestyle, characteristics of diabetes, treatment and follow-up of patients by health services were investigated by multiple regression. RESULTS More than 65% of the participants presented inadequate glycemic control, especially those with lower age, longer illness duration, more annual contacts with FHS and complex therapeutic regimen. People with DM without referrals to specialists presented greater glycemic control. Associations with education level and obesity did not remain significant in the multivariate model. CONCLUSION The evolution of diabetes hinders adequate control, however, attention to younger people with DM and referrals to specialists are factors that can improve glycemic control