Two summers of São Paulo drought: Origins in the western tropical Pacific

Two years of drought in Southeast Brazil have led to water shortages in São Paulo, the country's most populous city. We examine the observed drought during austral summers of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 and the related large-scale dynamics. The 2013–2014 precipitation deficits were more concentrated in the state of São Paulo, while in 2014–2015 moderate deficits were seen throughout the region. We find that a persistent warm sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly in the western tropical Pacific Ocean was an important driver of drought via atmospheric teleconnection in the two December–February seasons. The warm SST and associated convective heating initiated a wave train across the South Pacific. The resulting anticyclonic geopotential height anomaly over the southwest Atlantic expanded the westward margin of the South Atlantic high and prevented low-pressure systems from entering southeast Brazil from midlatitudes. This mechanism suggests a hemispheric symmetry to that proposed for the recent California drought

Harnessing Geometric Frustration to Form Band Gaps in Acoustic Channel Lattices

We demonstrate both numerically and experimentally that geometric frustration in two-dimensional periodic acoustic networks consisting of arrays of narrow air channels can be harnessed to form band gaps (ranges of frequency in which the waves cannot propagate in any direction through the system). While resonant standing wave modes and interferences are ubiquitous in all the analyzed network geometries, we show that they give rise to band gaps only in the geometrically frustrated ones (i.e. those comprising of triangles and pentagons). Our results not only reveal a new mechanism based on geometric frustration to suppress the propagation of pressure waves in specific frequency ranges, but also opens avenues for the design of a new generation of smart systems that control and manipulate sound and vibrations

Relação entre o desenvolvimento financeiro e o crescimento económico na África Subsaariana

Existe uma extensa literatura sobre a relação existente entre o desenvolvimento do sistema financeiro e o crescimento económico. Existem argumentos para se considerar que o bom funcionamento do setor financeiro potencia o crescimento económico e esperar que o desenvolvimento deste setor gere mais crescimento económico. No entanto, também existem argumentos para considerar que o sobredimensionamento do setor financeiro possa prejudicar o crescimento económico, tendo em conta a recente crise económico-financeira de 2007-2008. Neste sentido, a literatura empírica recente sobre a relação existente entre o desenvolvimento do setor financeiro e o crescimento económico tem investigado a eventualidade do perfil dessa relação ser não linear. Este estudo contribui para esta literatura, analisando a natureza desta relação em países que se encontram entre os mais pobres como são os países da África Subsaariana. Com base numa amostra de 44 países da África Subsaariana, no período 1980-2015, estimou-se um modelo com dados em painel, considerando a hipótese da relação entre o nível de desenvolvimento financeiro e o crescimento económico ser não linear. Os resultados das estimações sugerem que o nível de desenvolvimento financeiro, medido quer pelo peso do crédito doméstico ao setor privado no PIB quer pelo peso da moeda em sentido lato no PIB, é positivo para o crescimento económico até um certo limiar e negativo, ultrapassado esse limiar. Os resultados empíricos sugerem então a existência de uma relação em U-invertido entre o desenvolvimento financeiro e o crescimento económico, mesmo para os países da África Subsaariana.There is a vast literature on the effect of financial development on economic growth. There are arguments for considering that a well-functioning financial system is growth-enhancing and to expect that more finance lead to more growth. However, there are also arguments for considering that too much finance can harm economic growth, relying in the recent 2007-2008 global crisis. Therefore, recent empirical literature on the relationship between financial development and economic growth investigates whether this relationship is non-linear. This study contributes to this literature, by investigating the nature of this relationship in countries that are among the poorest countries, the Sub-Saharan African countries. Using a sample of 44 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, for the period 1980-2015, we estimate a panel data model, allowing for a non-linear relationship between the level of financial development and economic growth. The estimation results suggest that the level of financial development, measured either by the domestic credit to private sector relative to GDP or by broad money relative to GDP, is good for economic growth only up to a point, after which it becomes harmful. Therefore, our empirical results confirm that the financial sector size exerts an inverted U-shaped effect on economic growth, even for Sub-Saharan African countries

Oficinas literárias: as estratégias de compreensão como possibilidade para a formação de atitudes leitoras na infância

Este artigo busca apresentar os resultados de uma proposta interventiva em estratégias de compreensão, com foco na estratégia de “Inferências” para a Educação Infantil. Os resultados são frutos de uma pesquisa de Pós Graduação em Educação, Stricto Sensu (Doutorado), que teve como objetivo geral compreender as possibilidades das estratégias de leitura para a formação de atitudes leitoras desde a infância, a fim de desenvolver práticas mediadas, impulsionadoras da formação do pequeno leitor na Educação Infantil.  Participaram da pesquisa 36 crianças integrantes de duas turmas de Educação Infantil (Pré II), com idade média de 5 e 6 anos. Uma turma (16 crianças), constituiu o grupo controle e, a outra turma (20 crianças), o grupo interventivo, que participou de oficinas literárias.  A pesquisa percorreu as seguintes fases: avaliação inicial das estratégias de compreensão, oficinas literárias e avaliação final das estratégias de compreensão. O conjunto de Oficinas intituladas “Pequeno Leitor” teve como suporte teórico uma abordagem de ensino das estratégias leitura estadunidense. Os resultados foram apresentados articulando as dimensões qualitativas e quantitativas na busca por uma inter-relação dinâmica. Os resultados apontam os benefícios da interação com os livros literários e da organização de situações de leitura compartilhada na Educação Infantil, nas quais a criança pode se apropriar e internalizar elementos iniciais, para o posterior uso pleno e individual da leitura. Assim, cabe à escola criar condições para que as crianças vivenciem a leitura de forma significativa e façam uso de suas atitudes leitoras em desenvolvimento

Fragmentation Increases Impact of Wind Disturbance on Forest Structure and Carbon Stocks in a Western Amazonian Landscape

Tropical second-growth forests could help mitigate climate change, but the degree to which their carbon potential is achieved will depend on exposure to disturbance. Wind disturbance is common in tropical forests, shaping structure, composition, and function, and influencing successional trajectories. However, little is known about the impacts of extreme winds in fragmented landscapes, though second-growth forests are often located in mosaics of forest, pasture, cropland, and other land cover types. Though indirect evidence suggests that fragmentation increases risk of wind damage, few studies have found such impacts following severe storms. In this study, we ask whether fragmentation and forest type (old vs. second growth) were associated with variation in wind damage after a severe convective storm in a fragmented production landscape in western Amazonia. We applied linear spectral unmixing to Landsat 8 imagery from before and after the storm, and combined it with field observations of damage to map wind effects on forest structure and biomass (Figure 4, 5). We also used Landsat 8 imagery to map land cover with the goals of identifying old- and second-growth forest and characterizing fragmentation. We used these data to assess variation in wind disturbance across 95,596 hectares of forest, distributed over 6,110 patches. We find that fragmentation is significantly associated with wind damage, with damage severity higher at forest edges and in edgier, more isolated patches (Figure 7). Damage was more severe in old-growth than in second-growth forests, but this effect was weaker than that of fragmentation (Figure 8). These results illustrate the importance of considering spatial configuration and landscape context in planning tropical forest restoration and predicting carbon sequestration in second-growth forests. Future research should address the mechanisms behind these results, to minimize wind damage risk in second-growth forests so their carbon potential can be maximally achieved

RELATION BETWEEN PERFORMANCE AND ANTROPOMETRIC AND FUNCTIONAL PROFILES OF OPTIMIST SAILORS

This study investigates the relation between anthropometric and functional characteristics of juvenile/infantile categories and their results at the State Optimist Class Sailing Championship of 2006 held in Rio de Janeiro. A group of 50 male sailors of both categories were evaluated. The juvenile category presented superior height, as expected, and a lower fat percentage in relation to the infantile category, maintainig the body mass index (BMI) and body mass similar. The number of training sessions, the manual strength and weight presented significant correlation with the performance

Climate change and sugarcane expansion increase Hantavirus infection risk

Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS) is a disease caused by Hantavirus, which is highly virulent for humans. High temperatures and conversion of native vegetation to agriculture, particularly sugarcane cultivation can alter abundance of rodent generalist species that serve as the principal reservoir host for HCPS, but our understanding of the compound effects of land use and climate on HCPS incidence remains limited, particularly in tropical regions. Here we rely on a Bayesian model to fill this research gap and to predict the effects of sugarcane expansion and expected changes in temperature on Hantavirus infection risk in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The sugarcane expansion scenario was based on historical data between 2000 and 2010 combined with an agro-environment zoning guideline for the sugar and ethanol industry. Future evolution of temperature anomalies was derived using 32 general circulation models from scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 (Representative greenhouse gases Concentration Pathways adopted by IPCC). Currently, the state of São Paulo has an average Hantavirus risk of 1.3%, with 6% of the 645 municipalities of the state being classified as high risk (HCPS risk ≥ 5%). Our results indicate that sugarcane expansion alone will increase average HCPS risk to 1.5%, placing 20% more people at HCPS risk. Temperature anomalies alone increase HCPS risk even more (1.6% for RCP4.5 and 1.7%, for RCP8.5), and place 31% and 34% more people at risk. Combined sugarcane and temperature increases led to the same predictions as scenarios that only included temperature. Our results demonstrate that climate change effects are likely to be more severe than those from sugarcane expansion. Forecasting disease is critical for the timely and efficient planning of operational control programs that can address the expected effects of sugarcane expansion and climate change on HCPS infection risk. The predicted spatial location of HCPS infection risks obtained here can be used to prioritize management actions and develop educational campaigns

Development of a Bioactive Food Additive for Controlling of Fungal Growth

Fresh foods have a great importance in human nutrition. However, they are marketed with greatly reduced shelf life mainly due to fungal spoilage. In this work, cell wall degrading enzymes produced by Trichoderma asperellum T00 (TCWDE) were immobilized onto cashew gum polysaccharide (CGP) in order to evaluate the potential use of this material as food additive aiming to increase the shelf life by inhibiting fungal growth. Results from factorial design (32) evidenced that the best conditions for TCWDE immobilization was achieved with 20 min of reaction using 1 mmol L-1 of NaIO4. On these conditions it was observed 91% of retention yield for NAGase (30.1 ± 0.38 U mL-1), 41% for chitinase (0.67 ± 0.05 U mL-1), and 24% for β-1,3-glucanase (0.017± 0.001 U mL-1). CGP/TCWDE was effective for growth inhibition of Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium sp. and the inhibition mechanism seems to involve changes in the cell wall of those microorganisms. Finally, the CGP/TCWDE presented high stability after drying, maintaining enzymatic and biological activity after 200 days of storage at room temperature (25 ºC)

Evasão de alunos com necessidades educacionais especiais em escolas ribeirinhas: limites e desafios ao Atendimento Educacional Especializado

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar o acesso e a permanência de alunos com necessidades educacionais especiaisem escolas das comunidades ribeirinhas de Belém, PA. A pesquisa tem por locus escolas vinculadas ao sistema municipal de ensino em quatro ilhas de Belém, PA, são elas: Combu, Caratateua, Mosqueiro e Cotijuba. O aporte teórico é o da Pedagogia Crítica. A análise sobre o acesso às escolas foi realizada a partir das matrículas divulgadas no Censo Escolar, no período de 2007 a 2013. A análise sobre a permanência foi realizada a partir de entrevistas com professores de salas regulares, de salas de recursos multifuncional e coordenadores de escolas municipais ribeirinhas. Os resultados mostram elevado índice de evasão escolar nesse período. Evasão justificada nas entrevistas, pela mobilidade das famílias em busca de trabalho e condições de vida e pela incapacidade da escola oferecer adequado trabalho pedagógico a todos os seus alunos. Se houve avanço na maior oferta de atendimento educacional especializado, o debate permanece na busca pela qualidade na educação e na superação das desigualdades sociais.Palavras-chave: Necessidades Educacionais Especiais. Escolas ribeirinhas. Educação Especial no campo."Dropout rate for special needs students in river side schools: limitations and challenges of special education assistance.The aim of this study is to analyze the access and the permanence of pupils with special educational needs in schools of coastal communities of Belem, PA. The locus of the research was schools linked to the city school system in four islands of Belem, PA, which are: Combu, Caratateua, Mosqueiro and Cotijuba. The theoretical framework is that of Critical Pedagogy. The analysis of access to schools was based on enrollment disclosed in the school census, from 2007 to 2013. The analysis of the stay was made from interviews with regular room teachers, multifunctional room features and coordinators of riverside city schools. The results show high dropout rate in this period. Evasion justified in interviews, mobility of families in search of work and living conditions, and" the school's failure to provide adequate pedagogical work to all its students. If there has been progress in the greater supply of specialized educational services, the debate remains in the search for quality in education and overcoming social inequalities.Keywords: Special Educational Needs. Riverside schools. Special Education in the Countryside.

Analysis of the influence of pharmacotherapy on the quality of life of seniors with osteoarthritis

AbstractAimsThis study aimed to assess the influence of pharmacotherapy on health-related quality of life of elderly with ostheoarthritis.MethodsLongitudinal study involving 91 older adults from both genders (Age: 70.36±5.57 years) from EELO project with self-reported knee or hip ostheoartritis, confirmed by radiographic analysis. Data regarding pharmacotherapy was assessed by a structured questionnaire and the quality of life was analyzed by SF-36 questionnaire at the initial moment and two years thereafter. All domains from quality of life were grouped in physical and mental components for further data analysis.ResultsA statistically significant decline in both physical and mental components of quality of life was observed (Wilcoxon test, p<0.05). However, it was observed a slighted decline in physical components in group treated with chondroitin/glucosamine when compared to other groups, according to Kruskal–Wallis test (p=0.007). On the other hand, it was not observed any influence of pharmacological treatment on mental components of health-related quality of life (p>0.05).ConclusionsTreatment with condroitin/glucosamin contributes to a lower decline in physical component while it had no influence on mental component of health-related quality of life in older adults with ostheoartritis