Contributions of alternative agricultures to food security, profitability and sustainability : a narrative review

Numerous authors support conventional agriculture, arguing that it has helped feed an expanding population and reduce hunger. However, many criticize its reliance on external resources, stating that it is unsustainable and has detrimental effects on the environment and society. The main goals of this dissertation are to identify the current state of research on alternatives to conventional agriculture (from now on called “alternative agricultures”), specifically how these alternatives stack up against conventional agriculture in terms of achieving food security, farming profitability, and sustainability. Furthermore, an effort is also made to guide future research in order to be more helpful of reaching the socially shared objective of making agriculture sustainable. The results of this literature review, based on the gathered information, suggest that the performance of alternative agricultures in the three researched agricultural functions (food security, profitability and sustainability) is heavily context dependent. However, under some contexts, alternative agricultures can either provide better performance in one or more of these functions. Finally, several studies attempt to model worldwide transitions to alternative agricultures; however, these only discuss the global food supply, and fail to consider existing problems (such as logistic issues and/or income distribution) that are obstacles in achieving food security.Vários autores defendem a agricultura convencional, argumentando que esta possibilitou alimentar uma população crescente e reduzir a fome mundial. No entanto, muitos criticam a sua dependência de recursos externos, designando-a como insustentável e afirmando que esta tem efeitos negativos no ambiente e na sociedade. Os objetivos principais desta dissertação são determinar o estado atual da literatura no que toca a alternativas à agricultura convencional (a partir daqui serão designadas como “agriculturas alternativas”), mais especificamente em como estas se comparam à agricultura convencional no que toca a garantir segurança dos abastecimentos, lucro e sustentabilidade. A tese também procura guiar pesquisa futura, de forma a ser o mais útil possível para atingir o objetivo comum que é a agricultura sustentável. Os resultados desta revisão de literatura, baseados na informação recolhida, sugerem que o desempenho das agriculturas alternativas nas três funções agrícolas exploradas (segurança dos abastecimentos, lucro e sustentabilidade) é altamente dependente do contexto em que estas se aplicam. Mas, em alguns contextos, as agriculturas alternativas podem fornecer um melhor desempenho numa ou mais das funções mencionadas. Finalmente, várias publicações estimam transições mundiais para agriculturas alternativas; no entanto, estas apenas discutem o abastecimento alimentar global, e não consideram problemas existentes (por exemplo, problemas de logística e/ou distribuição de rendimentos) que são obstáculos para atingir a segurança dos abastecimentos

O Mercado interbancário de câmbio no Brasil,Creation-Date: 2005-07

We thoroughly describe the workings of the Brazilian interbank exchange rate market: agents, products, regulation, operation and risks. We analyse the recent evolution of the exchange rate market and came to a negative evaluation of the current exchange rate trading system, thereby suggesting an alternative centralized system, more liquid and transparent. We show econometrically that the exchange rate is firstly formed in the exchange rate futures market at the Commodities and Futures Exchange (BM&F), being then transmitted through arbitrage to the spot market.Câmbio, Microestrutura do Mercado de Câmbio no Brasil, Regulação, Mercado de câmbio à vista e futuro

Molecular and morphophysiological responses cocoa leaves with different concentrations of anthocyanin to variations in light levels

Theobroma cacao gives higher yield when cultivated in full sun under irrigation system with fertilization, because is a species little conservative in relation the efficiency of water use. On the other hand, T. cacao is usually cultivated under shade conditions in ‘Cabruca’ and agroforestry systems but with low yield. It has been observed under field conditions that the genotypes of T. cacao with high concentration of anthocyanins in young leaves are more tolerant to high irradiance stress when grown in full sun. The accumulation of flavonoids or other UVabsorbing compounds in the leaf epidermis is one of the most important mechanisms to screening out UV-B radiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of light on three clonal cacao genotypes (‘Catongo’, SCA-6 and SJ-2), contrasting in relation to accumulation of anthocyanin levels in young leaves, by evaluations of photosynthesis, activity of guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), chloroplastid pigment contents and vacuolar (anthocyanins) flavonoids contents, anatomical characteristics and gene expression of the leaf. In summary, (i) the anthocyanins contents in leaf level did not provide protection against photoinhibition in T. cacao, (ii) the ‘Catongo’ and SJ-2 genotypes showed greater phenotypic plasticity to the morphology and the chloroplastidic pigment contents in the leaf, while the SCA-6 genotype allocated more in the flavonoids content and hsp70 gene expression; (iii) the relative expression of the genes psbA and psbO, did not vary between genotypes under irradiance stress

Efeito agudo dos exercícios resistidos e exercícios aeróbicos sobre a pressão arterial de homens hipertensos leves

Atualmente há uma grande procura de hipertensos para a prática de atividades físicas. Embora venha sendo bastante investigada e documentada, a influência da intensidade do exercício na magnitude e duração ainda é controversa. O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar o efeito agudo de exercícios resistidos e aeróbicos sobre a pressão arterial em homens hipertensos leves. A amostra foi dividida em dois grupos, grupo (ER) Exercício Resistido (n=7) e grupo (EA) Exercício Aeróbico (n=7). A PAS e PAD foram aferidas antes de cada sequência de exercícios por métodos auscultatórios e imediatamente após o termino de cada sequência, sendo monitorado em ciclos de 15 minutos, em repouso absoluto durante 60 minutos para comparar a magnitude e duração do comportamento da pressão arterial pós-treino. Foram utilizados os seguintes protocolos de treinamento com duração total de três dias sendo dias alternados. Grupo EA 40 minutos na esteira, com 80% da frequência cardíaca máxima e o grupo ER 4 sets de 20 repetições com 50% de 1RM, com intervalos de 2 a 3 minutos entre exercícios e 60 a 90 segundos por séries. E foi encontrado um maior efeito hipotensor no grupo ER comparado ao grupo EA pós-treino. Portanto, o estudo indica que o exercício de força não parece oferecer risco quando ao aumento da PA e da FC em indivíduos hipertensos em resposta aguda ao treino, indicando ser seguro para essa população

Effects of 1% Topical Brinzolamide on Intraocular Pressure in Healthy Dogs

Background: Glaucoma is one of the most common causes of blindness in dogs, and is generally characterized by death of the retinal ganglion cells associated with a rapid loss of vision. Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) occurs in patients with primary glaucoma, due to genetic abnormalities in pectinal ligaments and the trabeculae of the iridocorneal angle, producing inadequate drainage of aqueous humor. IOP is the result of the dynamic equilibrium between the production and drainage of aqueous humor. Intraocular surgery, anterior lens luxation, systemic diseases, immune-mediated, neoplastic and infectious diseases lead to the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier and increase the amount of protein and cells in aqueous humor, which can block this drainage pathway. Under these conditions, becomes indispensable the pharmacological control of IOP by reducing aqueous humor production. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of topical 1% brinzolamide on intraocular pressure (IOP) in twelve healthy dogs.Materials, Methods & Results: The age range of affected dogs was 1-5 years, with a mean age of 2.5 years. Twelve dogs were included in this study. All animals were healthy based on clinical, ophthalmic and hematological examinations. Selected animals were kept in a room with 500 lux luminosity, 56.8% relative humidity, 20°C temperature, exposed to 12 h of light/dark cycle, were fed twice daily and water ad libitum. All animals were adaptation to the procedures and examiners and IOP was measured by applanation tonometry at 08:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 02:00 p.m., 05:00 p.m., and 08:00 p.m., for 7 days and 2 days of baseline. Subsequently, one eye of each dog was randomly assigned, the eye received one drop of 1% brinzolamide at 08:30 a.m., 02:30 p.m., and 08:30 p.m. during four consecutive days and adelfo eyes received one drop of sterile saline solution and were considered control eyes. During the treatment phase and on the day after the treatment had finished, all parameters were evaluated in a blind fashion at the same pre-established time points. The value for IOP during the baseline of the treated eye were 16.77 ± 0.22 mmHg. The baseline period, values did not differ significantly between treated and control eyes. Comparison between the first day of brinzolamide-treated eyes with the average daily values of the two days of the baseline period showed that IOP decreased significantly 8.88%. IOP after four days of daily instillations of brinzolamide was able to decrease overall IOP by 1.42 mmHg (8.47%) when compared with the baseline period. Overall IOP values in the brinzolamide-treated eyes decreased 1.02 mmHg (6.24%) when compared to the control eyes. There were no statistically significant differences when compared control eye to baseline. Three times daily instillations of 1% brinzolamide in healthy dogs significantly decrease 8.47% IOP. During the post-treatment period, the average daily values of the brinzolamide-treated eyes remained 1.52 mmHg below the average daily values observed at baseline period.Discussion: The present research showed that, the average daily IOP values in the brinzolamide-treated eyes decreased 1.49 mmHg (8.88%) at the end of the first day, 1.69 mmHg (10.07%) at the end of the fourth day, and the cumulative IOP values after four days of treatment, were able to decrease by 1.42 mmHg (8.53%). Three times daily instillations of 1% brinzolamide in healthy dogs significantly decrease IOP, and therefore may be indicated to management of intraocular hypertension and glaucoma

Molecular and morphophysiological responses cocoa leaves with different concentrations of anthocyanin to variations in light levels

Theobroma cacao gives higher yield when cultivated in full sun under irrigation system with fertilization, because is a species little conservative in relation the efficiency of water use. On the other hand, T. cacao is usually cultivated under shade conditions in ‘Cabruca’ and agroforestry systems but with low yield. It has been observed under field conditions that the genotypes of T. cacao with high concentration of anthocyanins in young leaves are more tolerant to high irradiance stress when grown in full sun. The accumulation of flavonoids or other UVabsorbing compounds in the leaf epidermis is one of the most important mechanisms to screening out UV-B radiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of light on three clonal cacao genotypes (‘Catongo’, SCA-6 and SJ-2), contrasting in relation to accumulation of anthocyanin levels in young leaves, by evaluations of photosynthesis, activity of guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), chloroplastid pigment contents and vacuolar (anthocyanins) flavonoids contents, anatomical characteristics and gene expression of the leaf. In summary, (i) the anthocyanins contents in leaf level did not provide protection against photoinhibition in T. cacao, (ii) the ‘Catongo’ and SJ-2 genotypes showed greater phenotypic plasticity to the morphology and the chloroplastidic pigment contents in the leaf, while the SCA-6 genotype allocated more in the flavonoids content and hsp70 gene expression; (iii) the relative expression of the genes psbA and psbO, did not vary between genotypes under irradiance stress

Surface Morphology Alterations In Bovine Dentin Exposed To Different Bleaching Agents

Aim: This study evaluated the morphological changes caused by internal bleaching agents on dentin surface. Methods: Twenty crowns of bovine incisors were cut into slabs that were randomly distributed in six experimental groups (n = 5), according to the bleaching agent used: G1 – sodium perborate + water, G2 – sodium perborate + 2% chlorhexidine gel, G3 – sodium perborate + 30% hydrogen peroxide, G4 – 30% hydrogen peroxide, G5 – 37% carbamide peroxide and G6 – gel base without carbamide. Two Control Groups were used: C1 with distilled water and C2 with 2% chlorhexidine gel. The specimens were immersed in the respective test bleaching agent and incubated at 37 °C for seven days. Following, they were prepared for scanning electron microscopy and five images from each tooth segment were recorded and analyzed for surface morphological alterations, by three previously calibrated examiners. Inter-examiner agreement was verified using the Kappa test. The rank averages obtained for the groups were subjected to Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance at 5% significance level. Results: The analysis of the scores obtained indicated that all tested materials caused some morphological alteration on dentin, except for sodium perborate + water (G1) and Control Groups 1 and 2. Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide caused significantly more severe alterations (p < 0.05) to dentin structure, than the other bleaching agents evaluated. Conclusions: Sodium perborate-based pastes seemed to be the most harmless agent to dentin structures in non-vital tooth bleaching, while hydrogen peroxide solutions and carbamide peroxide agents caused the greatest alterations.8125-2

Avaliação pós-operatória da analgesia promovida pelo uso da dexmedetomidina isolada e associada à morfina em cadelas submetidas à ovariohisterectomia

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar a eficácia analgésica pós-operatória da dexmedetomidina isolada e associada à morfina em pacientes submetidas à anestesia geral inalatória com isoflurano e submetidas à ovariohisterectomia eletiva (OH). Vinte cadelas saudáveis foram selecionadas a partir de exames físico e laboratoriais. Previamente ao estudo, foram submetidas a um período de 24 horas de adaptação ao ambiente e aos observadores. Ato contínuo, foram divididas aleatoriamente em dois grupos: grupo dexmedetomidina, na dose de 10 μg/Kg (GD) e grupo dexmedetomidina (10 μg/Kg) associado com morfina, na dose de 0,3 mg/Kg (GDM), administrados pela via intramuscular (IM). Ato contínuo, as pacientes foram induzidas com propofol e mantidas com isoflurano diluído em oxigênio 100% e administrado através de vaporizador calibrado. Para verificação da analgesia pós-operatória foram realizadas avaliações de dor por meio de escalas de Glasgow Modificada (EGM) e de Melbourne (EM). Para avaliação de sedação, por meio da escala de Dobbins (ED), em diferentes tempos: antes da administração da MPA (T0), e em mais 6 tempos no período pós-operatório, uma (T1), duas (T2), quatro (T3), oito (T4), 12 (T5) e 24 (T6) horas após a extubação orotraqueal. Não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas entre os grupos nas escalas de acordo com o teste de Kruskal-Wallis post-hoc de Dunn; e entre os tempos notou-se diferença estatística pelo teste de Friedman (p<0,05) para EGM e EM, porém não houve necessidade de resgate analgésico. Portanto, conclui-se que a dexmedetomidina isolada e associada a morfina produziu efeito analgésico adequado no período pós-operatório de cadelas submetidas a OH. Palavras-Chave: cães; α-2-agonista; opioides; dor

Aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos da tuberculose associada a diabetes em alagoas entre 2013 e 2022

A tuberculose (TB) é uma doença infectocontagiosa causada pela Mycobacterium tuberculosis, é um problema muito associado a aspectos socioeconômicos,&nbsp;como desnutrição e habitação inadequada, e também a um elemento muito importante que é a existência de comorbidades, por exemplo, infecção pelo HIV e a diabetes. Estudos mostraram que pacientes com Diabetes Mellitus (DM) podem ter de 2,44 a 8,33 vezes mais chances de contrair a infecção e que em 2014, 15% dos casos de TB tinham DM associada. Este estudo objetivou analisar os aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos da tuberculose associados a diabetes em Alagoas entre 2013-2022. Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico analítico transversal, onde foram incluídos todos os casos de TB com agravamento associado do DM registrados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN) no período de janeiro de 2013 a dezembro de 2022 no estado de Alagoas. Para a análise das características epidemiológicas, foram selecionadas as variáveis: como idade, sexo e raça/cor, as informações sobre a residência, como a zona em que se encontram, e dados adicionais sobre o caso, incluindo a forma clínica e situação de encerramento.&nbsp; Foi identificado alguns aspectos relevantes sobre o perfil dos casos de comorbidade tuberculose/diabetes mellitus no estado de Alagoas, incluindo a maior prevalência em homens de meia-idade com baixa escolaridade e pertencimento étnico-racial pardo, com predomínio da forma pulmonar e um maior índice de cura. A TB-DM ainda representa um grande problema de saúde pública, evidenciando a importância do preenchimento adequado das plataformas de saúde para o estado. Assim, destaca-se a importância de aprimorar as políticas públicas de saúde e garantir um tratamento mais efetivo e equitativo para a população afetada por essa comorbidade