Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Novel eco-friendly water-based conductive ink for the preparation of disposable screen-printed electrodes for sensing and biosensing applications

This paper presents a novel water-based conductive ink obtained by proper combination of chitosan (C) biopolymer, graphite (G) powder, and glycerol (G), and its subsequent use in the screen-printing of disposable electrodes on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic obtained from recyclable soda bottles (CGG/PET electrodes). The electrode was used in two directions, as a sensor for the quantification of uric acid and as a biosensor for the enzymatic quantification of catechol. The linear sweep voltammetry-detection of uric acid (UA), showed a linear range between 8.0 and 500 μmol L−1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.36 μmol L−1. Additionally, the performance of the resulting electrodes for biosensing purposes was evaluated through the development of a catechol biosensor by the modification of the GCG/PET surface with the tyrosinase (Tyr) enzyme, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and dyhexadecyl phosphate (DHP) (Tyr-MWCNT-CGG/PET). Using the chronoamperometry technique a linear relationship from 0.5 to 50 μmol L−1 and LOD of 0.3 μmol L−1 were achivied for catechol. The proposed electrode has demonstrated outstanding analytical characteristics, proving its potential as a disposable, low-cost, and environmentally friendly platform for electrochemical sensing and biosensing purposes.Fil: Camargo, Jéssica Rocha. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Silva, Tiago Almeida. Universidade Federal de Viçosa; BrasilFil: Rivas, Gustavo Adolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Janegitz, Bruno C.. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; Brasi

STUDY OF THE PREVALENCE OF Capillaria hepatica IN HUMANS AND RODENTS IN AN URBAN AREA OF THE CITY OF PORTO VELHO, RONDÔNIA, BRAZIL

Introduction: Hepatic capillariosis, caused by Capillaria hepatica (Calodium hepaticum) (Bancroft, 1893), Travassos, 1915 (Nematoda, Trichinelloidea, Capillariidae), is a common zoonosis in rodents but is rare in humans. Seventy-two cases in humans have been reported worldwide since the first case was described by MACARTHUR in 192417,27. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Capillaria hepatica in humans and rodents in an urban area of Porto Velho, the capital of Rondônia, in Brazil. Methods: After conducting a census of the area, 490 residents were randomly selected, and, after signing a term of consent, provided blood samples that were screened for anti-Capillaria hepatica antibodies. Simultaneously, rats were captured to assess the prevalence of this parasite in rodents by histopathological examination in liver sections. Results: A prevalence of 1.8% was found among residents who had specific antibodies at a dilution of 1:150, indicating exposure to parasite eggs; 0.8% of the subjects also had positive titers at a dilution of 1:400, indicating true infection. The prevalence in rats was 2%. Conclusions: The prevalence of infection with this parasite among humans and rats was low. While the prevalence encountered among humans was within the limits reported in the literature, the prevalence among rodents was much lower.Introdução: Capilaríase hepática é causada pela Capillaria hepatica (syn. Calodium hepaticum) (Bancroft, 1893), Travassos, 1915 (Nematoda, Trichinelloidea, Capillariidae), sendo uma zoonose comum entre roedores, porém rara em humanos. Setenta e dois casos humanos foram relatados na literatura mundial desde o primeiro caso descrito por MACARTHUR em 192417,27. O objetivo desse estudo é determinar a prevalência da Capillaria hepatica em humanos e roedores de área urbana da cidade de Porto Velho, capital de Rondônia, Brasil. Método: Após realizar um censo da área, 490 moradores foram aleatoriamente selecionados e assinaram termo de consentimento, foram colhidas amostras de sangue para testar anticorpos anti-Capillaria hepatica. Simultaneamente, ratos foram capturados para determinação da prevalência deste parasita através do exame histopatológico em cortes de fígado. Resultados: Foi encontrada entre humanos prevalência de 1,8% de positividade para anticorpos específicos em diluição de 1:150, indicando exposição aos ovos do parasito; 0,8% desses também deram testes positivos quando seus soros sofreram diluição de 1:400, indicando infecção verdadeira. Nos ratos, a prevalência foi de 2%. Conclusão: A prevalência encontrada para o parasito entre homens e roedores foi baixa. Enquanto a prevalência encontrada entre humanos esteve dentro dos limites encontrados na literatura, a prevalência entre roedores foi bem menor

Carbon Nanomaterials-Based Screen-Printed Electrodes for Sensing Applications

Electrochemical sensors consisting of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) are recurrent devices in the recent literature for applications in different fields of interest and contribute to the expanding electroanalytical chemistry field. This is due to inherent characteristics that can be better (or only) achieved with the use of SPEs, including miniaturization, cost reduction, lower sample consumption, compatibility with portable equipment, and disposability. SPEs are also quite versatile; they can be manufactured using different formulations of conductive inks and substrates, and are of varied designs. Naturally, the analytical performance of SPEs is directly affected by the quality of the material used for printing and modifying the electrodes. In this sense, the most varied carbon nanomaterials have been explored for the preparation and modification of SPEs, providing devices with an enhanced electrochemical response and greater sensitivity, in addition to functionalized surfaces that can immobilize biological agents for the manufacture of biosensors. Considering the relevance and timeliness of the topic, this review aimed to provide an overview of the current scenario of the use of carbonaceous nanomaterials in the context of making electrochemical SPE sensors, from which different approaches will be presented, exploring materials traditionally investigated in electrochemistry, such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon black, and those more recently investigated for this (carbon quantum dots, graphitic carbon nitride, and biochar). Perspectives on the use and expansion of these devices are also considered

Development of New Simple Compositions of Silver Inks for the Preparation of Pseudo-Reference Electrodes

Silver materials are known to present excellent properties, such as high electrical and thermal conductivity as well as chemical stability. Silver-based inks have drawn a lot of attention for being compatible with various substrates, which can be used in the production uniform and stable pseudo-reference electrodes with low curing temperatures. Furthermore, the interest in the use of disposable electrodes has been increasing due to the low cost and the possibility of their use in point-of-care and point-of-need situations. Thus, in this work, two new inks were developed using Ag as conductive material and colorless polymers (nail polish (NP) and shellac (SL)), and applied to different substrates (screen-printed electrodes, acetate sheets, and 3D-printed electrodes) to verify the performance of the proposed inks. Measurements attained with open circuit potential (OCP) attested to the stability of the potential of the pseudo-reference proposed for 1 h. Analytical curves for β-estradiol were also obtained using the devices prepared with the proposed inks as pseudo-references electrodes, which presented satisfactory results concerning the potential stability (RSD < 2.6%). These inks are simple to prepare and present great alternatives for the development of pseudo-reference electrodes useful in the construction of disposable electrochemical systems

Study of the prevalence of Capillaria hepatica in humans and rodents in an urban area of the city of Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2015-03-17T13:53:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rocha EJG Study of the....pdf: 138873 bytes, checksum: 3aec7ed9947017e8611f434127d5f363 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2015-03-17T13:53:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Rocha EJG Study of the....pdf: 138873 bytes, checksum: 3aec7ed9947017e8611f434127d5f363 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2015-03-17T14:10:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Rocha EJG Study of the....pdf: 138873 bytes, checksum: 3aec7ed9947017e8611f434127d5f363 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-17T14:10:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rocha EJG Study of the....pdf: 138873 bytes, checksum: 3aec7ed9947017e8611f434127d5f363 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015Faculdade São Lucas. Porto Velho, RO, BrasilFaculdade São Lucas. Porto Velho, RO, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Laboratório de Patologia Experimental. Salvador, BA, BrasilLaboratório Central de Saúde Pública de Rondônia. LACEN/RO. Porto Velho, RO, BrasilUnB Universidade de Brasília. Hospital Universitário. Laboratório de Patologia Veterinária. Brasília, DF, BrasilUniversidade Federal de Mato Grosso. Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária. Departamento de Clínica Médica Veterinária. Cuiabá, MG, BrasilFaculdade São Lucas. Porto Velho, RO, BrasilFaculdade São Lucas. Porto Velho, RO, BrasilFaculdade São Lucas. Porto Velho, RO, BrasilUniversity of Sao Paulo. Porto Velho, RO, BrasilIntroduction: Hepatic capillariosis, caused by Capillaria hepatica (Calodium hepaticum) (Bancroft, 1893), Travassos, 1915 (Nematoda, Trichinelloidea, Capillariidae), is a common zoonosis in rodents but is rare in humans. Seventy-two cases in humans have been reported worldwide since the first case was described by MACARTHUR in 192417,27. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Capillaria hepatica in humans and rodents in an urban area of Porto Velho, the capital of Rondônia, in Brazil. Methods: After conducting a census of the area, 490 residents were randomly selected, and, after signing a term of consent, provided blood samples that were screened for anti-Capillaria hepatica antibodies. Simultaneously, rats were captured to assess the prevalence of this parasite in rodents by histopathological examination in liver sections. Results: A prevalence of 1.8% was found among residents who had specific antibodies at a dilution of 1:150, indicating exposure to parasite eggs; 0.8% of the subjects also had positive titers at a dilution of 1:400, indicating true infection. The prevalence in rats was 2%. Conclusions: The prevalence of infection with this parasite among humans and rats was low. While the prevalence encountered among humans was within the limits reported in the literature, the prevalence among rodents was much lower. KEYWORDS: Capillariasis; Capillaria hepatica; Rondônia