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

Toxicity of chromated copper arsenate: a study in mice

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) was widespread used as a chemical wood preservative with application in the construction of playground equipment, fences, jetties, and naval. Environmental protection agency (EPA) had limited the use of CCA-treated wood on 2002, due to probable implications on both human and environmental health. Although this fact, several industries pursue the use of this product within their manufactories. In addition, the durability of this wood for 60 years, makes these treated products an hazard to the public health. In the present work, studies were explored exposing mice to CCA, during 14, 24, 48, and 96 h for the assessment of acute toxicity of CCA. Kidney and liver were removed, prepared for histology and for metalloid, and copper content evaluation by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. The histological results evidenced apparently normal structures for control animals and group exposed to As2O5. On the contrary, the renal sections of the animals treated with CCA revealed epithelium cells desquamation, hyaline, and granular casts in renal tubules lumen. Furthermore, high levels of arsenic were detected in the kidney of animals treated with CCA over 14 and 48 h, being significantly greater than controls. Although this approach underlines the potential hazard of CCA on some vital organs, further testing may be required to establish the impacts on other functions

Nephrotoxicity effects of the wood preservative chromium copper arsenate on mice: histopathological and quantitative approaches

Chromium copper arsenate(CCA)was used for the protection of wood building material suntil the restriction by EPA in2002. During a short period of time 14–24h,a comparative nephrotoxicity study was performed regarding the effects of CCA and its compounds per se. Histopathological and histochemical features were correlated with the concentration of the total arsenic and chromium in mice kidney. Animals were subcutaneously injected with CCA(7.2mg/kg arsenic and 10.2mg/kg chromium per body weight), CrO3 (10.2 mg/kg),As2O5 (7.2 mg/kg)andNaCl(0.9%) per se. The histopathological examination of the renal sections evidenced acute tubular necrosis in the groups of animals exposed to CCA(in both periods of time). Although the same contents of pentavalent arsenic and hexavalent chromium were injected in treated animals with CCA and with the prepared solutions of As2O5 and CrO3, the arsenic concentration on kidneys of CCA-exposed animals was much higher than those in animals exposed to As2O5 (32- and28-fold higher at 14 and 24h,respectively). However,the elimination of chromium seems to occur similarly in the kidneys of animals treated with CCA and CrO3 per se. Interactions among the components of CCA result in a marked decrease of the ability of kidney to eliminate simultaneously both analytes.The nephrotoxicity of CCA was higher than its components per se, evidencing a possible synergetic effect

Nephrotoxicity of CCA-treated wood: a comparative study with As2O5 and CrO3 on mice

The purpose of this work was to assess the acute toxicity on male mice to a chromated copper arsenate (CCA) solution, a widespread wood preservative used in building industry until 2002. Animals were subcutaneously injected with CCA (7.2 mg/kg arsenic and 10.2 mg/kg chromium per body weight), CrO3 (10.2 mg/kg), As2O5 (7.2 mg/kg) and NaCl (0.9%) per se, during 48 h and 96 h, for histopathology, histochemistry, chromium and arsenic analysis. The results showed some histopathological changes within renal tubules lumen of CCA exposed animals (during 48 h, and 96 h), and CrO3 (for the period of 96 h). Furthermore, the renal levels of arsenic and chromium in treated animals were statistically more evident than controls. Although, the same contents of pentavalent arsenic and hexavalent chromium were injected into treated animals with CCA and with the prepared solutions of As2O5 and CrO3, a different distribution of the pattern of these compounds was observed in kidneys

Adolescência e saúde mental no acolhimento residencial: retrato de uma década em Portugal

Portugal is one of the countries in Europe with the highest rates of children/young people in Residential Care (RC), with the majority being in adolescence. In this article, a comparative analysis of psychological adjustment indicators published in the Annual Characterization of the Situation of Out-of-Home Care reports in the last decade is carried out. The results point to an increasing representativeness of adolescence in behavior problems and diagnoses associated with mental health and an increasing prevalence of young people who are prescribed psychiatric medication. The findings highlight the need to produce knowledge that informs promotion and protection policies in order to adjust it to the needs of young people in RC.    Portugal é dos países da Europa com taxas mais elevadas de crianças/jovens em Acolhimento Residencial (AR), encontrando-se a maioria na adolescência. Neste artigo procede-se a uma análise comparativa de indicadores de ajustamento psicológico publicados nos relatórios de Caracterização Anual da Situação de Acolhimento na última década. Os resultados apontam para uma representatividade crescente da adolescência nos problemas de comportamento e nos diagnósticos associados à saúde mental e uma crescente prevalência de jovens com medicação psiquiátrica. Problematiza-se a necessidade de produzir conhecimento que informe políticas de promoção e proteção ajustadas às necessidades dos jovens em AR. Portugal é dos países da Europa com taxas mais elevadas de crianças/jovens em Acolhimento Residencial (AR), encontrando-se a maioria na adolescência. Neste artigo procede-se a uma análise comparativa de indicadores de ajustamento psicológico publicados nos relatórios de Caracterização Anual da Situação de Acolhimento na última década. Os resultados apontam para uma representatividade crescente da adolescência nos problemas de comportamento e nos diagnósticos associados à saúde mental e uma crescente prevalência de jovens com medicação psiquiátrica. Problematiza-se a necessidade de produzir conhecimento que informe políticas de promoção e proteção ajustadas às necessidades dos jovens em AR.

Genome sequence of the model sulfate reducer Desulfovibrio gigas: a comparative analysis within the Desulfovibrio genus

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-03-17T16:55:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_156.pdf: 2070413 bytes, checksum: 8beeaec125086732b7d96f7d51f123f3 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-03-17T16:56:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_156.pdf: 2070413 bytes, checksum: 8beeaec125086732b7d96f7d51f123f3 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-03-17T17:02:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_156.pdf: 2070413 bytes, checksum: 8beeaec125086732b7d96f7d51f123f3 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-17T17:02:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_156.pdf: 2070413 bytes, checksum: 8beeaec125086732b7d96f7d51f123f3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica e Biologica Antonio Xavier. Oeiras, PortugalFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Rene Rachou. Grupo Informatica de Biossistemas. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilUniversidade Nova de Lisboa. Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica e Biologica Antonio Xavier. Oeiras, PortugalUniversidade Nova de Lisboa. Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica e Biologica Antonio Xavier. Oeiras, PortugalSTAB VIDA. Caparica, PortugalUniversidade Nova de Lisboa. Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica e Biologica Antonio Xavier. Oeiras, PortugalFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Rene Rachou. Grupo Informatica de Biossistemas. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilUniversidade Nova de Lisboa. Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica e Biologica Antonio Xavier. Oeiras, PortugalFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Rene Rachou. Grupo Informatica de Biossistemas. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Departamento de Microbiologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilSTAB VIDA. Caparica, PortugalFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Rene Rachou. Grupo Informatica de Biossistemas. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilSTAB VIDA. Caparica, PortugalFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Rene Rachou. Grupo Informatica de Biossistemas. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilUniversidade Nova de Lisboa. Instituto de Tecnologia Quimica e Biologica Antonio Xavier. Oeiras, PortugalDesulfovibrio gigas is a model organism of sulfate-reducing bacteria of which energy metabolism and stress response have been extensively studied. The complete genomic context of this organism was however, not yet available. The sequencing of the D. gigas genome provides insights into the integrated network of energy conserving complexes and structures present in this bacterium. Comparison with genomes of other Desulfovibrio spp. reveals the presence of two different CRISPR/Cas systems in D. gigas. Phylogenetic analysis using conserved protein sequences (encoded by rpoB and gyrB) indicates two main groups of Desulfovibrio spp, being D. gigas more closely related to D. vulgaris and D. desulfuricans strains. Gene duplications were found such as those encoding fumarate reductase, formate dehydrogenase, and superoxide dismutase. Complexes not yet described within Desulfovibrio genus were identified: Mnh complex, a v-type ATP-synthase as well as genes encoding the MinCDE system that could be responsible for the larger size of D. gigas when compared to other members of the genus. A low number of hydrogenases and the absence of the codh/acs and pfl genes, both present in D. vulgaris strains, indicate that intermediate cycling mechanisms may contribute substantially less to the energy gain in D. gigas compared to other Desulfovibrio spp. This might be compensated by the presence of other unique genomic arrangements of complexes such as the Rnf and the Hdr/Flox, or by the presence of NAD(P)H related complexes, like the Nuo, NfnAB or Mnh