Effects of Forest Restoration Techniques on Community Diversity and Aboveground Biomass on Area Affected by Mining Tailings in Mariana, Southeastern Brazil

Currently there is an urgent and special attention in actions to restore tropical forests. In this study, we evaluated the effect of different restoration methods on aboveground biomass (AGB) stock, tree community diversity and structure, in areas affected by the Fundão tailings dam collapse in Mariana, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. We measured and compiled data of the AGB, community diversity and structure attributes in 36 plots distributed in six restoration treatments and six replicas: planting of native tree seedlings with fertilization and pH correction (PSf) and without fertilization and pH correction (PS); seeding of native trees with fertilization and pH correction (SDf) and without fertilization and pH correction (SD); natural regeneration with fertilization and pH correction (NRf) and without fertilization and pH correction (NR). No significant differences in substrate properties and AGB between treatments. Although biomass storage between treatments was not statistically different, there is a clear pattern showing higher values active restoration method. The Pielou index ranged from 0.520 (SDf) to 0.943 (NR), except for SDf all the others treatments had values higher than 0.76. This result suggests floristic heterogeneity, without ecological dominance in the plant community. Overall, active restoration had important implications for the forest restoration where natural regeneration is limited

Study on Site Preparation and Restoration Techniques for Forest Restoration in Mining Tailings of Mariana, Brazil

Ecological restoration in forest ecosystem is a priority in Mariana, Brazil. Thus, we evaluated the effects of passive and active restoration methods through different site preparation techniques by manipulating physical-chemical properties of substrates on tree community coverage in Mariana, Brazil. A total of 48 plots (12 × 12 m each) were established in two areas along the flood plains with accumulation of tailings. The following treatments were established: (1) planting of native tree seedlings with fertilization (PSf) and (2) without fertilization (PS); (3) direct seeding of native trees with fertilization (SDf) and (4) without fertilization (SD); (5) natural regeneration with fertilization (NRf) and (6) without fertilization (NR). Differences in substrate properties and tree community coverage were evaluated between treatments, the substrate properties and tree community coverage relationship, and main effects of substrate fertility and texture on tree community coverage. There were marked differences in substrate and plant coverage between treatments. On average, the highest plant coverage was found in treatment with fertilization, such as NRf (59,5%) and SDf (48%). However, the treatment with seedling planting (PSf and PS) and NR did not show differences (~37%), while the lowest values were observed in SD (23%). There is a strong relationship between substrate fertility and plant community coverage, with significant positive effects. We observed that the passive and active restoration methods can be complementary in the soil and plant community coverage recovery

Sistema de Monitoramento & Avaliação dos Programas Esporte e Lazer da Cidade e Segundo Tempo do Ministério do Esporte

A Pesquisa avaliativa se enquadrou no tema 7 do referido edital, cujo objeto de estudo era a "Avaliação de políticas públicas e programas de esporte e lazer mantidos pelo Governo Federal". Seu período de realização foi entre 2008 e 2010, tendo sido desenvolvida pelo Centro de Estudos de Esporte e de Lazer do Departamento de Educação Física da Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, com a participação de professores do Programa de Pós-graduação em Geografia - Tratamento da Informação Espacial e do Instituto de Educação Continuada (IEC).Neste livro, apresenta-se a pesquisa avaliativa realizada em dois programas nacionais geridos pelo Ministério do Esporte, a saber: o Programa Esporte e Lazer na Cidade e o Programa Segundo Tempo, com o objetivo de criar seus respectivos sistemas de monitoramento & avaliação. A pesquisa surgiu da necessidade de definição de normas e procedimentos de fiscalização sistemática, coordenada, eficiente e responsável com atualização permanente dos referidos programas. O livro apresenta no capítulo 1 o objeto da pesquisa e o seu contexto; no capítulo 2, as opções teórico-metodológicas dos pesquisadores; no capítulo 3, o processo metodológico; no capítulo 4, os resultados da aplicação da pesquisa nacional; no capítulo 5, reflexões sobre o processo de gerenciamento da pesquisa; no capítulo 6, as considerações finais em que são apresentados desafios para os gestores dos programas, no sentido de contribuir para a qualificação dos mesmos.A pesquisa foi realizada através do Edital de Chamada Pública do Centro de Desenvolvimento do Esporte Recreativo e do Lazer (Rede CEDES) 01/2008/ME/SNDEL/REDE CEDES, para projetos de pesquis

Práticas artísticas no ensino básico e secundário

O crescimento carece de uma pedagogia, e educar é ao mesmo tempo algo de muito antigo, e de muito diferente. Neste ensejo, assinalam-se dois polos: o professor, os alunos. Mas a educação faz-se num contexto social, cultural, tecnológico, ambiental. Sobre isto conhecem-se alguns pontos de fixação que tornam a educação mais consequente e humanista. A Matéria-Prima, na Educação Artística, é exatamente o que parece: os materiais à espera de serem utilizados, os processos experimentados, as vivências significadas e sentidas. O professor de artes tem uma grande possibilidade de diferença.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Convalescent plasma for COVID-19 in hospitalised patients : an open-label, randomised clinical trial

Background: The effects of convalescent plasma (CP) therapy in hospitalised patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain uncertain. This study investigates the effect of CP on clinical improvement in these patients. Methods: This is an investigator-initiated, randomised, parallel arm, open-label, superiority clinical trial. Patients were randomly (1:1) assigned to two infusions of CP plus standard of care (SOC) or SOC alone. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with clinical improvement 28 days after enrolment. Results: A total of 160 (80 in each arm) patients (66.3% critically ill, 33.7% severely ill) completed the trial. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age was 60.5 (48–68) years; 58.1% were male and the median (IQR) time from symptom onset to randomisation was 10 (8–12) days. Neutralising antibody titres >1:80 were present in 133 (83.1%) patients at baseline. The proportion of patients with clinical improvement on day 28 was 61.3% in the CP+SOC group and 65.0% in the SOC group (difference −3.7%, 95% CI −18.8–11.3%). The results were similar in the severe and critically ill subgroups. There was no significant difference between CP+SOC and SOC groups in pre-specified secondary outcomes, including 28-day mortality, days alive and free of respiratory support and duration of invasive ventilatory support. Inflammatory and other laboratory marker values on days 3, 7 and 14 were similar between groups. Conclusions: CP+SOC did not result in a higher proportion of clinical improvement on day 28 in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 compared to SOC alone

The effect of selenium co-ingestion on mercury bioaccessibility in contaminated fish of the Amazon region

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element that contaminates humans by consuming fish with high concentrations due to biomagnification in the food chain. This situation primarily impacts the riverside population in the Amazon region, as fish is their staple food. The interaction between selenium (Se) and Hg is well known due to their respective conceptual Pearson (soft-soft) characteristics. However, there needs to be more understanding of the impact of Se co-ingestion on Hg bioaccessibility. This scenario has prompted the investigation into the effects of consuming Se-rich food on the potential bioaccessibility of Hg when simultaneously ingesting contaminated fish. Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) measured Hg, and a hydride generator (HG-AAS) was used for Se. The results indicated that the piscivorous species Cichla sp. (Tucunaré fish) exhibited a Hg concentration over twice the limit established by the European Commission: 2.94 ± 0.21 μg g−1 for raw fish and 2.64 ± 0.16 μg g−1 for cooked fish. Concomitant ingestion of beans can reduce the potential bioaccessibility of Hg by 42% (68.4 to 25.8), and Brazil nuts co-ingestion can be reduced by 45% (68.4 to 23.1). However, due to the high fish consumption in the riverside population's diet, the Hazard Index (HI) and Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values, including beans and Brazil nuts, exceeded the safe limit, even though THQ had decreased by 55%, and 66% with adding beans and Brazil nuts, respectively. These findings underscore the significant potential of Se in reducing Hg bioaccessibility through co-ingestion of foods containing this element. Additionally, it highlights the importance of considering regional dietary habits when assessing potential health risks. The results also sound like a warning about the food safety of the local communities

Ecology, feeding and natural infection by Leishmania spp. of phlebotomine sand flies in an area of high incidence of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in the municipality of Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil

Abstract Background Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are insects of medical importance due to their involvement in the zoonotic transmission of Leishmania spp. to vertebrates. The aim of this work was to study the ecology of the sand fly fauna of two types of environments, a rural environment (the Transacreana Road) and an urban park (Horto Florestal Park), both located in the municipality of Rio Branco in the state of Acre, Brazil. Additionally, this study intended to investigate Leishmania infection and blood meal sources of these sand flies using molecular techniques. Methods The sand fly fauna was studied in different environments (i.e. forest and peridomestic environments in a rural area, and an urban forest) using Shannon traps and HP light traps to collect sand fly specimens over 13 consecutive months (December 2014 to January 2016). For investigating natural infection by Leishmania and the source of sand fly blood meals, DNA samples were extracted from female sand flies and subjected to polymerase chain reaction targeting ITS1 and cytb genes. DNA sequencing was subsequently used to identify species of Leishmania and the source of blood meals. Results A total of 2515 individual sand flies of 43 species were collected and identified, Trichophoromyia auraensis (839; 33.35%), Trichophoromyia spp. (537; 21.35%) and Evandromyia saulensis (187; 7.43%) were more abundant in the rural area (S = 41 species) than in the urban forest. No significant differences were found in species richness between forest and peridomestic environments in the rural area (H = 0.04; P > 0.05), but a larger number of species was found in the forest. Leishmania DNA was sequenced in 13 samples, confirming the presence of L. (V.) braziliensis in Th. auraensis (n = 1), Ev. saulensis (n = 2), Ev. walkeri (n = 1), Ps. llanosmartinsi (n = 1), Pi. nevesi (n = 2), Ps. davisi (n = 1), Ps. ayrozai (n = 1), Pa. aragaoi (n = 1), Ny. antunesi (n = 1) and Ev. infraspinosa (n = 1). Only Ps. ayrozai possessed a sequence similar to that of L. (V.) guyanensis (99%). Through microscopic analysis, five specimens of Ev. saulensis were found to possess flagellate forms in the hindgut, with an infection rate of 2.4%. Samples from 33 fed females were submitted to cytb gene amplification, for which sequencing determined that all were similar to the sequence deposited on GenBank for Gallus gallus (domestic chicken). Conclusions The high abundance of Trichophoromyia auraensis and Ev. saulensis, and the detection of L. (V.) braziliensis DNA, suggests that both species may be vectors of American tegumentary leishmaniasis. Psychodopygus ayrozai was found to be infected by L. (V) braziliesnsis and L. (V.) guyanensis, and although collected in low abundance, it may be a potential vector in the region. The sand fly fauna was found to be rich and diverse with predominance of the genus Psychodopygus. Identification of food sources of fed females showed that 100% amplified a gene region compatible with the domestic chicken, which although considered refractory in the disease transmission cycle, may have an influence on the population dynamics of sand flies