Competitiveness of Brazilian Sugarcane Ethanol Compared to US Corn Ethanol

Corn ethanol produced in the US and sugarcane ethanol produced in Brazil are the world’s leading sources of biofuel. Current US biofuel policies create both incentives and constraints for the import of ethanol from Brazil, and together with the competitiveness and greenhouse gas intensity of sugarcane ethanol compared to corn ethanol will determine the extent of these imports. This study analyzes the supply-side determinants of this competitiveness and compares the greenhouse gas intensity of corn ethanol and sugarcane ethanol delivered to US ports. We find that while the cost of sugarcane ethanol production in Brazil is lower than that of corn ethanol in the US, the inclusion of transportation costs for the former and co-product credits for the latter changes their relative competitiveness. We also find that the relative cost of ethanol in the US and Brazil is highly sensitive to the prevailing exchange rate and prices of feedstocks. At an exchange rate of US$1 = R$2.15 the cost of corn ethanol is 15% lower than the delivered cost of sugarcane ethanol at a US port. Sugarcane ethanol has lower GHG emissions than corn ethanol but a price of over $113 per ton of CO2 is needed to affect competitiveness.economic competitiveness, renewable fuel standard, ethanol trade policy, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy,

Clinically Significant Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Varied Intellectual Functioning.

Objective: To evaluate how distinct presentations of anxiety symptoms and intellectual impairment influence the measurement and estimated rate of clinically significant anxiety in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).Method: The sample included 75 children (ages 9-13 years) with ASD and varied IQ and 52 typically developing (TD) controls and parents. Parents completed anxiety symptom scales and a diagnostic interview, designed to (1) differentiate anxiety and ASD and (2) examine DSM-specified and unspecified ("distinct") anxiety presentations in each child, including fears of change, special interests, idiosyncratic stimuli and social confusion rather than evaluation. Children completed standard intellectual and ASD diagnostic assessments.Results: 69% of those with ASD had clinically-significant anxiety, including 21% DSM-specified anxiety disorders, 17% distinct anxiety, and 31% both. Only 8% of TD children had clinically-significant anxiety, all DSM-specified. DSM-specified anxiety disorders in children with ASD and intellectual impairment (IQ<70) were predominantly specific phobias. DSM-specified anxiety other than specific phobia was significantly less common in children with, versus without, intellectual impairment; this was not the case for distinct anxiety. The sensitivities of anxiety scales were moderate to poor, particularly in cases with intellectual impairment.Conclusions: ASD is associated with more frequent and varied presentations of clinical anxiety, which may align with and differ from the specified anxiety disorders of the DSM. Standard parent report anxiety scales have reduced sensitivity to detect clinical anxiety in ASD, particularly in children with intellectual impairment

Six New Galactic Orbits of Globular Clusters in a Milky-Way-Like Galaxy

Absolute proper motions for six new globular clusters have recently been determined. This motivated us to obtain the Galactic orbits of these six clusters both in an axisymmetric Galactic potential and in a barred potential, such as the one of our Galaxy. Orbits are also obtained for a Galactic potential that includes spiral arms. The orbital characteristics are compared and discussed for these three cases. Tidal radii and destruction rates are also computed and discussed.Comment: 29 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Complex architecture and regulated expression of the Sox2ot locus during vertebrate development

The Sox2 gene is a key regulator of pluripotency embedded within an intron of a long noncoding RNA (ncRNA), termed Sox2 overlapping transcript (Sox2ot), which is transcribed in the same orientation. However, this ncRNA remains uncharacterized. Here we show that Sox2ot has multiple transcription start sites associated with genomic features that indicate regulated expression, including highly conserved elements (HCEs) and chromatin marks characteristic of gene promoters. To identify biological processes in which Sox2ot may be involved, we analyzed its expression in several developmental systems, compared to expression of Sox2. We show that Sox2ot is a stable transcript expressed in mouse embryonic stem cells, which, like Sox2, is down-regulated upon induction of embryoid body (EB) differentiation. However, in contrast to Sox2, Sox2ot is up-regulated during EB mesoderm-lineage differentiation. In adult mouse, Sox2ot isoforms were detected in tissues where Sox2 is expressed, as well as in different tissues, supporting independent regulation of expression of the ncRNA. Sox2dot, an isoform of Sox2ot transcribed from a distal HCE located >500 kb upstream of Sox2, was detected exclusively in the mouse brain, with enrichment in regions of adult neurogenesis. In addition, Sox2ot isoforms are transcribed from HCEs upstream of Sox2 in other vertebrates, including in several regions of the human brain. We also show that Sox2ot is dynamically regulated during chicken and zebrafish embryogenesis, consistently associated with central nervous system structures. These observations provide insight into the structure and regulation of the Sox2ot gene, and suggest conserved roles for Sox2ot orthologs during vertebrate development

ANÁLISE DOS FATORES CONTRIBUINTES DOS ACIDENTES DE TRÂNSITO NO PERÍMETRO DO MUNICÍPIO DE ANÁPOLIS – GO NOS ANOS DE 2010 a 2012.

O crescente desenvolvimento econômico e social proporciona necessidades de locomoção através de meios de transporte mais rápidos e eficazes, que atendam as mais flexíveis características e que possua um amplo acesso a boa parte do território do nosso país. O modal rodoviário obtém preferência pois além de possuir longas vias de acesso e é o único a atender a maioria das especificações. Consequentemente os acidentes de Trânsito seguem na mesma proporção. Localizada no Planalto Central, Anápolis destaca-se por sua localização estratégica, próxima a capital do Estado e a capital Federal, considerada um importante polo industrial com destaque no ramo farmacêutico, possui um Porto seco, e tem seu perímetro cortado por três rodovias federais BRs 153, 060 e 414 e duas estaduais GOs-222 e 330. Justificando o seu intenso fluxo rodoviário, que acaba gerando um número considerável de acidentes causados por vários fatores. Com base em dados fornecidos pelo órgão competente no caso, a Polícia Rodoviária Federal coletados nos anos de 2010 a 2012 foi feita uma análise utilizando como abordagem a pesquisa quantitativa que conseguirá apontar em seus resultados quais fatores mais contribuíram para o alto índice de acidentalidade, levando em consideração os elementos: ser humano, veículo e via/meio ambiente

Mortality profile of myeloid and lymphoid leukemias in Brazil: 2000 to 2018 / Perfil de mortalidade por leucemias mieloide e linfoide no Brasil: 2000 a 2018

Introduction: Leukemias, despite their declining mortality over the years, continue to be a major public health problem in Brazil. Objective: to analyze trends in mortality from myeloid leukemia (LM) and lymphoid leukemia (LL) in Brazil from 2000 to 2018, correlating with health services and municipal human development index (MHDI). Methods: Data were collected from DATASUS databases for the year 2000 to 2018, regarding mortality rate, number of specialized hospitals, MDHI, primary care coverage and population by state. Correlation analyzes were performed between the studied variables and time series analysis to measure trends over the years (VPA – annual percentage change). Results: Approximately 50% of the Brazilian states showed a tendency to increase mortality from LL and LM. The North and Northeast regions have higher APC and lower MDHI. There is a statistically significant difference between MHDI and referral hospitals (p = 0.000; r = 0.64) and MHDI with primary care (p = 0.034; r = -0.41). For LL, mortality is higher in men (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation for LL mortality rate in women with primary care coverage (p=0.049; r=-0.38). Conclusions: Approximately 50% of Brazilian states showed increasing mortality. Mortality is higher in men with LL. Mortality of women with LL is lower where there are more primary and referral centers

Association of Amygdala Development with Different Forms of Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: The amygdala is widely implicated in both anxiety and autism spectrum disorder. However, no studies have investigated the relationship between co-occurring anxiety and longitudinal amygdala development in autism. Here, the authors characterize amygdala development across childhood in autistic children with and without traditional DSM forms of anxiety and anxieties distinctly related to autism. Methods: Longitudinal MRI scans were acquired at up to four timepoints for 71 autistic and 55 typically developing (TD) children (∼2.5-12 years, 411 timepoints). Traditional DSM anxiety and anxieties distinctly related to autism were assessed at study Time 4 (∼8-12 years) using a diagnostic interview tailored to autism: The Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule-IV with the Autism Spectrum Addendum. Mixed effects models were used to test group differences at study Time 1 (3.18 years), Time 4 (11.36 years), and developmental differences (age-by-group interactions) in right and left amygdala volume between autistic children with and without DSM or autism distinct anxieties, and TD. Results: Autistic children with DSM anxiety had significantly larger right amygdala volumes compared to TD at both study Time 1 (5.10% increase) and Time 4 (6.11% increase). Autistic children with autism distinct anxieties had significantly slower right amygdala growth compared to TD, autism-no anxiety, and autism-DSM anxiety groups and smaller right amygdala volumes at Time 4 compared to the autism-no anxiety (-8.13% decrease) and autism-DSM anxiety (-12.05% decrease) groups. Conclusions: Disparate amygdala volumes and developmental trajectories between DSM and autism distinct forms of anxiety suggest different biological underpinnings for these common, co-occurring conditions in autism

Plastic surgeons as hand surgery specialists: determinant factors of public’s perceptions

INTRODUCTION: To assess the possible determinants that lead public to choose plastic surgeons as hand surgery specialists. METHODS: General public members (n = 701) were asked to choose one or two specialists that they perceived to be an expert in 11 hand surgery-related scenarios. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were applied to assess the possible determinants (socio-demographic data, source of reported information, and previous plastic surgery contact) of public choice of plastic surgeons as experts in the hand surgery-related scenarios. RESULTS: A significantly (all p < 0.05) poor understanding of the role of plastic surgeons was seen in infectious hand injury, hand tumor, hand fracture, hand tendon injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis deformity, and dupuytren contracture. Age was a significant (all p < 0.05) determinant of plastic surgeon as a response pattern. CONCLUSION: Participants' age was a determinant of public choose plastic surgeons as experts in hand surgery area

An engineering perspective of ceramics applied in dental reconstructions

The demands for dental materials continue to grow, driven by the desire to reach a better performance than currently achieved by the available materials. In the dental restorative ceramic field, the structures evolved from the metal-ceramic systems to highly translucent multilayered zirconia, aiming not only for tailored mechanical properties but also for the aesthetics to mimic natural teeth. Ceramics are widely used in prosthetic dentistry due to their attractive clinical properties, including high strength, biocompatibility, chemical stability, and a good combination of optical properties. Metal-ceramics type has always been the golden standard of dental reconstruction. However, this system lacks aesthetic aspects. For this reason, efforts are made to develop materials that met both the mechanical features necessary for the safe performance of the restoration as well as the aesthetic aspects, aiming for a beautiful smile. In this field, glass and high-strength core ceramics have been highly investigated for applications in dental restoration due to their excellent combination of mechanical properties and translucency. However, since these are recent materials when compared with the metal-ceramic system, many studies are still required to guarantee the quality and longevity of these systems. Therefore, a background on available dental materials properties is a starting point to provoke a discussion on the development of potential alternatives to rehabilitate lost hard and soft tissue structures with ceramic-based tooth and implant-supported reconstructions. This review aims to bring the most recent materials research of the two major categories of ceramic restorations: ceramic-metal system and all-ceramic restorations. The practical aspects are herein presented regarding the evolution and development of materials, technologies applications, strength, color, and aesthetics. A trend was observed to use high-strength core ceramics type due to their ability to be manufactured by CAD/CAM technology. In addition, the impacts of COVID-19 on the market of dental restorative ceramics are presented