Combining charcoal sediment and molecular markers to infer a Holocene fire history in the Maya Lowlands of Petén, Guatemala

Abstract Vegetation changes in the Maya Lowlands during the Holocene are a result of changing climate conditions, solely anthropogenic activities, or interactions of both factors. As a consequence, it is difficult to assess how tropical ecosystems will cope with projected changes in precipitation and land-use intensification over the next decades. We investigated the role of fire during the Holocene by combining macroscopic charcoal and the molecular fire proxies levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan. Combining these two different fire proxies allows a more robust understanding of the complex history of fire regimes at different spatial scales during the Holocene. In order to infer changes in past biomass burning, we analysed a lake sediment core from Lake Peten Itza, Guatemala, and compared our results with millennial-scale vegetation and climate change available in the area. We detected three periods of high fire activity during the Holocene: 9500–6000 cal yr BP, 3700 cal yr BP and 2700 cal yr BP. We attribute the first maximum mostly to climate conditions and the last maximum to human activities. The rapid change between burned vegetation types at the 3700 cal yr BP fire maximum may result from human activity

AGRICULTURA FAMILIAR, ALIMENTOS ORGÂNICOS E SELO NACIONAL: PANORAMA ATUAL NO BRASIL

The organic agriculture65 of family farmers provides healthy food, reducing exposure to \ztoxic chemicals. The Brazilian government has support policies and programs, such as the National Family Agriculture Seal (SENAF), which identifies and values ​​products, providing consumers with security. In order to analyze the current scenario of family farming in Brazil based on official sources, this research adopts a complementary quantitative and qualitative approach, using the Thematic Analysis method. The data were obtained from the Brazilian Open Data Portal of the Federal Government, from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), called “Set of information on SENAF breeders and family farming products identified with the seal” of 2022. They were analyzed 2706 records of organic production family farmers, presenting food production, SENAF seals, cooperatives and family farmers and the Brazilian states of each occurrence. The results highlight the diversity in family farming producing organic products, emphasizing the need for more records to have a more complete and real profile, requiring technical support to increase the number of certifications. The study also allows inferences about the need for strategies to increase the consumption of organic products.La producción orgánica de los agricultores familiares proporciona alimentos saludables, reduciendo la exposición a químicos tóxicos. El gobierno brasileño tiene políticas y programas de apoyo, como el Sello Nacional de Agricultura Familiar (SENAF), que identifica y valora los productos, brindando seguridad a los consumidores. Para analizar el escenario actual de la agricultura familiar en Brasil a partir de fuentes oficiales, esta investigación adopta un enfoque cuantitativo y cualitativo complementario, utilizando el método de Análisis Temático. Los datos fueron obtenidos del Portal Brasileño de Datos Abiertos del Gobierno Federal, del Ministerio de Agricultura, Pecuaria y Abastecimiento (MAPA), denominado “Conjunto de informaciones sobre criadores SENAF y productos de la agricultura familiar identificados con el sello” de 2022. Fueron analizó 2706 registros de agricultura familiar de producción orgánica, presentando producción de alimentos, sellos SENAF, cooperativas y agricultura familiar y los estados brasileños de cada ocurrencia. Los resultados destacan la diversidad en la agricultura familiar productora de productos orgánicos, enfatizando la necesidad de más registros para tener un perfil más completo y real, requiriendo apoyo técnico para aumentar el número de certificaciones. El estudio también permite inferir sobre la necesidad de estrategias para incrementar el consumo de productos orgánicos.O governo brasileiro possui políticas e programas de apoio, como o Selo Nacional da Agricultura Familiar (SENAF) que identifica e valoriza os produtos, proporcionando segurança aos consumidores. Com intuito de analisar o panorama atual da agricultura familiar no Brasil baseando-se em fontes oficiais, esta pesquisa adota uma abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa complementar, utilizando o método de Análise Temática. Os dados foram obtidos do Portal Brasileiro de Dados Abertos do Governo Federal, do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA), com dados referentes ao Selo Nacional da Agricultura Familiar (SENAF) do ano de 2022. Foram analisados 2706 registros de agricultores familiares de produção orgânica, apresentando-se produção alimentos, os selos SENAF, cooperativas e agricultores familiares e os estados brasileiros de cada ocorrência. Os resultados destacam a diversidade na agricultura familiar produtora de orgânicos, enfatizando a necessidade de que mais registros para se ter um perfil mais completo e real, necessitando de apoio técnico para aumento do número de certificações. O estudo também permite inferir sobre a necessidade de estratégias para aumento do consumo de produtos orgânicos. Palavras-chave: segurança alimentar; produção orgânica; certificação; SENAF.   Family farming, organic foods and the national seal: current panorama in Brazil  ABSTRACT: The Brazilian government has support policies and programs, such as the National Family Agriculture Seal (SENAF), which identifies and values ​​products, providing consumers with security. To analyze the current scenario of family farming in Brazil based on official sources, this research adopts a complementary quantitative and qualitative approach, using the Thematic Analysis method. The data were obtained from the Brazilian Open Data Portal of the Federal Government, from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), with data referring to the National Family Farming Seal (SENAF) for the year 2022. They analyzed 2706 records of organic production family farmers, presenting food production, SENAF seals, cooperatives and family farmers and the Brazilian states of each occurrence. The results highlight the diversity in family farming producing organic products, emphasizing the need for more records to have a more complete and real profile, requiring technical support to increase the number of certifications. The study also allows inferences about the need for strategies to increase the consumption of organic products. Keywords: food safety; organic production; certification; SENAF

AVALIAÇÃO DAS PROPRIEDADES DOS RESÍDUOS DE Pinus patula EM DIFERENTES PERÍODOS DE ARMAZENAMENTO VISANDO A COGERAÇÃO DE ENERGIA

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as propriedades de resíduos de Pinus patula recém-abatidos e armazenados por um mês e por três meses, atacados e não atacados pela vespa da madeira, visando a um sistema de cogeração energética. Foram determinados a umidade de base úmida, a densidade básica, o poder calorífico inferior e o teor de cinzas do material. O valor da umidade para os resíduos recém-abatidos foi igual a 55,99%, enquanto que os resíduos armazenados e atacados por vespa não apresentaram diferenças significativas, com valor médio de 26,20%. Verificou-se que os valores de densidade básica e o teor de cinzas dos resíduos não apresentaram grandes variações, com médias de 0,380 g/cm3 e 0,436%. Os maiores valores para o poder calorífico foram 3507.71 cal/g e 3496.49 cal/g para resíduos de três meses não atacados e resíduos de um mês atacados por vespa. O material apresentou-se com potencial para geração de energia, considerando que o melhor período para sua utilização ocorre a partir de um mês e no máximo de três meses no caso de serem atacados por vespas. Palavras-chave: Resíduos; Pinus patula; energia.   Abstract Evaluation of the properties of Pinus patula residues in different storage periods aiming at energy co-generation. This work was intended to evaluate the properties of residues of newly logged Pinus patula and stored for one month and three months, either attacked or not attacked by the wood wasp, aiming at a system of energy co-generation. Moisture content (moist basis), basic density, inferior heat power, and ash content of the material were determined. The value of moisture for the newly logged residues was equal to 55.99%, while the stored and wasp-attacked residues presented no significant differences with average values of 26.20%. It was found that the values of basic density and ash content of the residues did not present any great variation with means of 0.380g/cm3 and 0.436%. The highest values for the heat power were 3577.1 cal/g and 3496.49 cal/g for the non-attacked three month residues and the wasp-attacked one-month residues. The material presented itself as a potential for energy-generation taking into account that the best period for it use occurs from one month on and in the maximum of three months in the case of them being attacked by wasps.Keywords: Residues; Pinus patula; energy.This work was intended to evaluate the properties of residues of newly logged Pinus patula and stored for one month and three months, either attacked or not attacked by the wood wasp, aiming at a system of energy co-generation. Moisture content (moist basis), basic density, inferior heat power, and ash content of the material were determined. The value of moisture for the newly logged residues was equal to 55.99%, while the stored and wasp-attacked residues presented no significant differences with average values of 26.20%. It was found that the values of basic density and ash content of the residues did not present any great variation with means of 0.380g/cm3 and 0.436%. The highest values for the heat power were 3577.1 cal/g and 3496.49 cal/g for the non-attacked three month residues and the wasp-attacked one-month residues. The material presented itself as a potential for energy-generation taking into account that the best period for it use occurs from one month on and in the maximum of three months in the case of them being attacked by wasps

Dust and gas absorption in the high mass X-ray binary IGR J16318−4848

Context. With an absorption column density on the order of 10²⁴ cm⁻², IGR J16318−4848 is one of the most extreme cases of a highly obscured high mass X-ray binary. In addition to the overall continuum absorption, the source spectrum exhibits a strong iron and nickel fluorescence line complex at 6.4 keV. Previous empirical modeling of these features and comparison with radiative transfer simulations raised questions about the structure and covering fraction of the absorber and the profile of the fluorescence lines. Aims. We aim at a self-consistent description of the continuum absorption, the absorption edges, and the fluorescence lines to constrain the properties of the absorbing material, such as ionization structure and geometry. We further investigate the effects of dust absorption on the observed spectra and the possibility of fluorescence emission from dust grains. Methods. We used XMM-Newton and NuSTAR spectra to first empirically constrain the incident continuum and fluorescence lines. Next we used XSTAR to construct a customized photoionization model where we vary the ionization parameter, column density, and covering fraction. In the third step we modeled the absorption and fluorescence in a dusty olivine absorber and employed both a simple analytical model for the fluorescence line emission and a Monte Carlo simulation of radiative transfer that generates line fluxes, which are very close to the observational data. Results. Our empirical spectral modeling is in agreement with previous works. Our second model, the single gas absorber does not describe the observational data. In particular, irrespective of the ionization state or column density of the absorber, a much higher covering fraction than previously estimated is needed to produce the strong fluorescence lines and the large continuum absorption. A dusty, spherical absorber (modeled as consisting of olivine dust, although the nature of dust cannot be constrained) is able to produce the observed continuum absorption and edges. Conclusions. A dense, dusty absorber in the direct vicinity of the source consisting of dust offers a consistent description of both the strong continuum absorption and the strong emission features in the X-ray spectrum of IGR J16318−4848. In particular, for low optical depth of individual grains, which is the case for typical volume densities and grain size distribution models, the dust will contribute significantly to the fluorescence emission

Dust and gas absorption in the high mass X-ray binary IGR J16318−4848

Context. With an absorption column density on the order of 10²⁴ cm⁻², IGR J16318−4848 is one of the most extreme cases of a highly obscured high mass X-ray binary. In addition to the overall continuum absorption, the source spectrum exhibits a strong iron and nickel fluorescence line complex at 6.4 keV. Previous empirical modeling of these features and comparison with radiative transfer simulations raised questions about the structure and covering fraction of the absorber and the profile of the fluorescence lines. Aims. We aim at a self-consistent description of the continuum absorption, the absorption edges, and the fluorescence lines to constrain the properties of the absorbing material, such as ionization structure and geometry. We further investigate the effects of dust absorption on the observed spectra and the possibility of fluorescence emission from dust grains. Methods. We used XMM-Newton and NuSTAR spectra to first empirically constrain the incident continuum and fluorescence lines. Next we used XSTAR to construct a customized photoionization model where we vary the ionization parameter, column density, and covering fraction. In the third step we modeled the absorption and fluorescence in a dusty olivine absorber and employed both a simple analytical model for the fluorescence line emission and a Monte Carlo simulation of radiative transfer that generates line fluxes, which are very close to the observational data. Results. Our empirical spectral modeling is in agreement with previous works. Our second model, the single gas absorber does not describe the observational data. In particular, irrespective of the ionization state or column density of the absorber, a much higher covering fraction than previously estimated is needed to produce the strong fluorescence lines and the large continuum absorption. A dusty, spherical absorber (modeled as consisting of olivine dust, although the nature of dust cannot be constrained) is able to produce the observed continuum absorption and edges. Conclusions. A dense, dusty absorber in the direct vicinity of the source consisting of dust offers a consistent description of both the strong continuum absorption and the strong emission features in the X-ray spectrum of IGR J16318−4848. In particular, for low optical depth of individual grains, which is the case for typical volume densities and grain size distribution models, the dust will contribute significantly to the fluorescence emission

Polymorphism in Non-Fullerene Acceptors Based on Indacenodithienothiophene

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG[Abstract] Organic solar cells incorporating non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) have reached remarkable power conversion efficiencies of over 18%. Unlike fullerene derivatives, NFAs tend to crystallize from solutions, resulting in bulk heterojunctions that include a crystalline acceptor phase. This must be considered in any morphology-function models. Here, it is confirmed that high-performing solution-processed indacenodithienothiophene-based NFAs, i.e., ITIC and its derivatives ITIC-M, ITIC-2F, and ITIC-Th, exhibit at least two crystalline forms. In addition to highly ordered polymorphs that form at high temperatures, NFAs arrange into a low-temperature metastable phase that is readily promoted via solution processing and leads to the highest device efficiencies. Intriguingly, the low-temperature forms seem to feature a continuous network that favors charge transport despite of a poorly order along the π–π stacking direction. As the optical absorption of the structurally more disordered low-temperature phase can surpass that of the more ordered polymorphs while displaying comparable—or even higher—charge transport properties, it is argued that such a packing structure is an important feature for reaching highest device efficiencies, thus, providing guidelines for future materials design and crystal engineering activities.This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion/FEDER (under Ref. PGC2018-094620-A-I00 and PGC2018-095411-B-I00, CEX2019-000917-S, and PGC2018-095411-B-100) and the Basque Country Government (Ref. PIBA19-0051). S.M. is grateful to POLYMAT for the doctoral scholarship. The authors thank A. Arbe, A. Alonso-Mateo, and L. Hueso for their support and access to characterization tools. The authors also thank the technical and human support provided by SGIker of UPV/EHU and European funding (ERDF and ESF). GIWAXS experiments were performed at BL11 NCD-SWEET beamline at ALBA Synchrotron (Spain) with the collaboration of ALBA staff. J.M and E.F.-G. acknowledge support through the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, H2020-FETOPEN 01-2018-2020 (FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking), “LION-HEARTED,” Grant Agreement No. 828984. J.M and N.S. would like to thank the financial support provided by the IONBIKE RISE project, which received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 823989. N.S., A.K., and A.B. furthermore are grateful to the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) for support via Project No. 1905901 within NSF's Division of Materials Research. A.S. and M.C. acknowledge financial support by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program “HEROIC,” Grant Agreement No. 638059. This work was partially carried out at Polifab, the micro- and nanotechnology center of the Politecnico di Milano. C.M. thanks the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation for funding through the project “Mastering Morphology for Solution-borne Electronics.” A.I. thanks MICINN for a Personal Técnico de Apoyo contract (PTA2017-14359-I) and gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Basque Government (Research Groups IT-1175-19) and the MICINN (PGC2018-094548-B-I00, MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE. Funding for open access charge: Universidade da Coruña/CISUG.Gobierno Vasco; PIBA19-0051Gobierno Vasco; IT-1175-19Estados Unidos. National Science Foundation; 190590

Zika virus exposure affects neuron-glia communication in the hippocampal slices of adult rats

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy was associated with microcephaly in neonates, but clinical and experimental evidence indicate that ZIKV also causes neurological complications in adults. However, the changes in neuron-glial communication, which is essential for brain homeostasis, are still unknown. Here, we report that hippocampal slices from adult rats exposed acutely to ZIKV showed significant cellular alterations regarding to redox homeostasis, inflammatory process, neurotrophic functions and molecular signalling pathways associated with neurons and glial cells. Our findings support the hypothesis that ZIKV is highly neurotropic and its infection readily induces an inflammatory response, characterized by an increased expression and/or release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We also observed changes in neural parameters, such as adenosine receptor A2a expression, as well as in the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neuron-specific enolase, indicating plasticity synaptic impairment/neuronal damage. In addition, ZIKV induced a glial commitment, with alterations in specific and functional parameters such as aquaporin 4 expression, S100B secretion and glutathione synthesis. ZIKV also induced p21 senescence-associated gene expression, indicating that ZIKV may induce early senescence. Taken together, our results indicate that ZIKV-induced neuroinflammation, involving nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor κB (NFκB) pathways, affects important aspects of neuron-glia communication. Therefore, although ZIKV infection is transient, long-term consequences might be associated with neurological and/or neurodegenerative diseases

Pandemic babies? Fertility in the aftermath of the first COVID-19 wave across European regions

Early evidence demonstrates that the fertility response to the COVID-19 pandemic has varied across European countries. Yet, prior research indicates that fertility responses to disasters are often localized sub-nationally. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 incidence, economic pandemic impacts, and the affectedness by virus containment measures varied subnationally across Europe during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sub-national variation in the fertility response seems therefore possible. We conducted a rigorous data collection effort in 28 European countries (equaling 241 European sub-national regions) and used cutting-edge forecasting methods to assess sub-national variation in the fertility response to the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we find sub-national variation, our results reveal that the fertility response to the pandemic was dominated by the country level, with Southern European countries witnessing more negative fertility response to the early pandemic than Northern Europe. Variance decomposition even indicates a ‘nationalization’ of birth rates during the winter months of 2020, as the withincountry variance in fertility declined and between-country variance increased. Nonetheless, highly urbanized areas in Europe experienced significantly steeper fertility declines as a response to the beginning of the pandemic, which is partly explained by their higher SARSCoV-2 incidence rates. SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates emerged as another important predictor of the fertility response more broadly. Higher incidences were associated with steeper fertility declines across the regions. Overall, country-level estimates represent fertility responses to the COVID-19 pandemic generally well, but the regional dimension provides additional important insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted fertility.publishedVersio

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London