A presença da Esso na imprensa brasileira

The article identifies some historical factors that led Esso Company to approach the journalistic community in the 1950’s. We can highlight, among the company’s strategies, the creation of Esso Reporter, on radio and television, the company’s investment in advertising and the creation of the Esso Award, the most important award given to the Brazilian press. Thus, we can’t ignore the performance of this multinational company on a wider social and political dynamic.O artigo tem o objetivo de identificar alguns fatores sócio-históricos que levaram a empresa Esso Standard do Brasil a aproximar-se do campo jornalístico na década de 1950. Dentre as estratégias podemos destacar a criação do Repórter Esso, no rádio e na televisão, o investimento da empresa em publicidade na imprensa escrita e a constituição do Prêmio Esso de Jornalismo, o mais importante programa de reconhecimento do trabalho de jornalistas no país. Nesse processo, não há como dissociar a atuação da multinacional dentro de uma dinâmica social e política mais ampla

Influence of cognitive mental state on postural balance of older people / Influência do Estado Mental Cognitivo no Equilíbrio Postural de Idosos

Cognitive status have an important role in the independence and functionality of the older people, so it is important to identify their influence in the context of postural balance. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the mental state influences the postural balance performance of the older people. Two hundred and seven physically independent older people of both sexes, mean age 67 ± 4 years were divided into three groups according to results obtained by the mini mental state examination. (group 1, Preserved cognitive functions - PCF, n = 57; group 2, Non suggestive cognitive deficit - NSCD, n = 72; group 3, Suggestive cognitive deficit - SCD, n = 78). The postural balance was evaluated in two conditions (two- and one-legged stand) by means of a force platform. Three trials were performed in each condition and the mean number of trials was used to analyze the oscillation of the center pressure (COP). The results showed significant differences between all groups in the mini mental questionnaire (PCF> NSCD> SCD, P = 0.05) was found between the groups for all COP parameters in the two balance conditions evaluated. The findings of the present study suggest that the differences found in cognitive status do not significantly influence in the postural balance of physically independent elderly. O estado cognitivo tem um papel importante na independência e na funcionalidade do idoso, assim é importante identificar sua influência no contexto do equilíbrio postural. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar se o estado mental influência no desempenho de equilíbrio postural de idosos. Duzentos e sete idosos, fisicamente independentes de ambos os sexos, com idade média 67 anos foram divididos em três grupos de acordo com resultados obtidos pelo questionário do mini exame de estado mental (grupo 1, Funções cognitivas preservadas – FCP, n=57; grupo 2, Déficit cognitivo não sugestivo – DCNS, n=72; grupo 3, Sugestivo de déficit cognitivo – SDC, n=78). O equilíbrio postural foi avaliado em duas condições (bipodal e unipodal) por meio de uma plataforma de força. Três tentativas foram realizadas em cada condição e a média das tentativas foi utilizada para analisar a oscilação dos parâmetros do centro pressão (COP). Os resultados encontrados mostraram diferenças significativas entre todos grupos no questionário de mini mental (FCP > DCNS > SDC, P= 0,05) foi encontrada entre os grupos para todos os parâmetros do COP nas duas condições de equilíbrio avaliadas. Os achados do presente estudo sugerem que, a diferença encontrada no estado cognitivo não influenciou significativamente no equilíbrio postural de idosos fisicamente independentes

Investigação soroepidemiológica e molecular de toxoplasma gondii em galinhas caipiras (Gallus Gallus) comercializadas em feiras livres da região metropolitana de Goiânia, Goiás / Serum epidemiological and molecular investigation of toxoplasma gondii in free-range chickens (Gallus Gallus) commercialized in open-air market of metropolitan region of Goiania, Goiás

O objetivo da realização deste trabalho foi estudar a ocorrência de T. gondii em galinhas caipiras comercializadas em feiras livres da região metropolitana de Goiânia, através de testes sorológicos e moleculares, e analisar a relação entre os dois testes na melhoria de detecção de aves positivas. Foram adquiridas aves de 20 feiras livres da região metropolitana de Goiás, sendo quatro aves por feira, totalizando 80 aves. De cada ave foram coletadas amostras de soro, cérebro e coração. Foram usados os testes de aglutinação modificada e a PCR para a análise das amostras. No presente trabalho, 31 (38,75%) aves foram soropositivas no teste de MAD (38,75 % - 31/80). Em relação à PCR, os resultados apresentaram diferenças de acordo com o número de fragmentos testados para cada víscera analisada, mostrando o aumento da positividade à medida do aumento do número de fragmentos analisados. Quando comparado em conjunto, a positividade das aves na PCR por titulação na sorologia, pôde-se perceber que houve relação direta entre o aumento do título do resultado da sorologia com o número de aves positivas na PCR. Houve diferença estatística entre a positividade na sorologia e na PCR, mostrando que aves negativas na sorologia pelo teste de MAD, tem chances significativas de possuírem cistos de T. gondii em suas vísceras.  Conclui-se que o elevado número de aves positivas indica a possibilidade de as mesmas participarem do ciclo biológico do parasito, servindo de fonte de infecção seja para os felídeos ou para o ser humano.

Fiber Optical Cable and Connector System (FOCCoS) for PFS/Subaru

FOCCoS, Fiber Optical Cable and Connector System, has the main function of capturing the direct light from the focal plane of Subaru Telescope using optical fibers, each one with a microlens in its tip, and conducting this light through a route containing connectors to a set of four spectrographs. The optical fiber cable is divided in 3 different segments called Cable A, Cable B and Cable C. Multi-fibers connectors assure precise connection among all optical fibers of the segments, providing flexibility for instrument changes. To assure strong and accurate connection, these sets are arranged inside two types of assemblies: the Tower Connector, for connection between Cable C and Cable B; and the Gang Connector, for connection between Cable B and Cable A. Throughput tests were made to evaluate the efficiency of the connections. A lifetime test connection is in progress. Cable C is installed inside the PFI, Prime Focus Instrument, where each fiber tip with a microlens is bonded to the end of the shaft of a 2-stage piezo-electric rotatory motor positioner; this assembly allows each fiber to be placed anywhere within its patrol region, which is 9.5mm diameter.. Each positioner uses a fiber arm to support the ferrule, the microlens, and the optical fiber. 2400 of these assemblies are arranged on a motor bench plate in a hexagonal-closed-packed disposition.Comment: 11 pages, 20 figure

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Degradation impacts on riparian forests of the lower Mearim river, eastern periphery of Amazonia

We describe degradation impacts on biomass, structural and functional composition of riparian forests of the Mearim river, eastern periphery of Amazonia, based on 40 transects from open water to terra firme and covering 4 degradation levels. Biomass was high (306.3 Mg ha−1) in original mature forests (MF), and 92.3% lower in strongly degraded (SD) sites. This suggests disproportionally high CO2-emissions via riparian forest degradation and calls for their preferential conservation and restoration to contain global warming. Degradation affected vegetation structure, especially plant size distribution, whereas overall plant abundance did not differ between degradation levels. ‘Aninga’ (Montrichardia arborescens and M. linifera) forms a conspicuous vegetation component in the aquatic zone, with 12.6% biomass and 58.4% abundance shares, relatively constant up to mid-level degradation but significantly lower in SD. Aninga's forefront position breaks the kinetic energy of waves and currents, making it ideal for erosion-control, we establish allometric equations for aninga biomass estimation. Erosion caused land-loss in the aquatic and semiaquatic sections of degraded sites. The biomass share of potentially N2-fixing Fabaceae was significantly higher in both aquatic (41.4%) and semiaquatic (44.8%) zones than in terra firme (6.3%). High denitrification N-losses in alternately aerobe-anaerobe zones could reduce N-availability and give N2-fixing legumes a competitive edge; we therefore recommend N2-fixing legumes for riparian forest restoration. We find low to moderate changes of vegetation indicators up to mid-level degradation, as opposed to systematically differing SD, pointing to a critical degradation threshold beyond which dysfunctionality impedes riparian ecosystem functioning. © 2017 Elsevier B.V

Genomic and epidemiological surveillance of Zika virus in the Amazon Region

Zika virus (ZIKV) has caused an explosive epidemic linked to severe clinical outcomes in the Americas. As of June 2018, 4,929 ZIKV suspected infections and 46 congenital syndrome cases had been reported in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Although Manaus is a key demographic hub in the Amazon region, little is known about the ZIKV epidemic there, in terms of both transmission and viral genetic diversity. Using portable virus genome sequencing, we generated 59 ZIKV genomes in Manaus. Phylogenetic analyses indicated multiple introductions of ZIKV from northeastern Brazil to Manaus. Spatial genomic analysis of virus movement among six areas in Manaus suggested that populous northern neighborhoods acted as sources of virus transmission to other neighborhoods. Our study revealed how the ZIKV epidemic was ignited and maintained within the largest urban metropolis in the Amazon. These results might contribute to improving the public health response to outbreaks in Brazil.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe