Age and growth of the Amazonian migratory catfish Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii in the Madeira River basin before the construction of dams

The goliath catfish Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii has crucial economical and ecological functions in the Amazon basin. Although its life history characteristics have been studied in the Amazon, there is little information in the Madeira River basin, which holds genetically distinct populations and where dams were recently built. Using fish collected in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru, this study provides a validation of growth rings deposition and details the growth patterns of B. rousseauxii in the Madeira before the dams' construction. Age structure and growth parameters were determined from 497 otolith readings. The species exhibits two growth rings per year and sampled fish were between 0 and 16 years old. In the Brazilian portion of the basin, mainly young individuals below 5 years old were found, whereas older fish (> 5 years) were caught only in the Bolivian and Peruvian stretches, indicating that after migrating upstream to reproduce, adults remain in the headwaters of the Madeira River. Comparing with previous publications, B. rousseauxii had a slower growth and 20 cm lower maximum standard length in the Madeira River than in the Amazon River. This study provides a baseline for future evaluation of changes in population dynamics of the species following dams closure.Santo Antonio Energia (SAE)Universidade Federal de Rondonia (UNIR)Instituto de Estudos e Pesquisas Agroambientais e Organizacoes Sustentaveis (IEPAGRO)CAPES [1402376, 047/2012, 6632/14-9]CNPq [204344/2015-8]Foundation of Support to Research of the Amazon [PAREV/FAPEAM 019/2010]FAPESP (Sao Paulo Research Foundation) [2016/07910-0]Univ Fed Rondonia UNIR, Dept Biol, Lab Ictiol & Pesca, BR 364,Km 9,5, BR-76801059 Porto Velho, RO, BrazilPrograma Posgrad Rede Biodiversidade & Biotechnol, BR 364,Km 9,5, BR-76801059 Porto Velho, RO, BrazilUAGRM, IRD, IIAP, LMI,EDIA, Montpellier, FranceINPA, Av Andre Araujo 2936, BR-69067375 Manaus, AM, BrazilUniv Fed Alagoas UFAL, Av Lourival Melo Mota,S-N Tabuleiro Martins, BR-57072900 Maceio, AL, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Rua Doutor Carvalho Mendonca 144, BR-11070100 Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Amazonas, Av Gen Rodrigo Octavio Jordao Ramos 3000, BR-69077000 Manaus, AM, BrazilIIAP, Vv Jose Quinones Km 2-5,Apartado Postal 784, Iquitos, PeruIRD, UMR BOREA, MNHN, CNRS 7208,SU,UCN,UA,IRD 207, Ave Agropolis 911, F-34394 Montpellier, FranceUMSS, ULRA, FAUNAGUA, ECOSINTEGRALES SRL, Ave Max Fernandez Final S-N, Cochabamba, BoliviaECOSINTEGRALES SRL, Res Act, Carlos Muller St 211, Cochabamba, Cercado, BoliviaInst Amazon Invest Cient SINCHI, Ave Vasquez Cobo Entre Calles 15 & 16, Bogota, ColombiaUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Rua Doutor Carvalho Mendonca 144, BR-11070100 Santos, SP, BrazilCAPES [1402376, 047/2012, 6632/14-9]CNPq [204344/2015-8][PAREV/FAPEAM 019/2010]FAPESP [2016/07910-0]Web of Scienc

O uso de diários de campo na reflexão sobre a prática docente de licenciandos de química

..

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

Fatores de influência no comportamento de compra de alimentos por crianças

A escolha alimentar nas sociedades contemporâneas passa, inevitavelmente, pelo comércio, pois o alimento constitui-se mercadoria que é consumida, assim como tantos outros bens e serviços. Atualmente muitas crianças já definem sozinhas suas escolhas alimentares, provocando a atenção tanto de empresas como de organizações preocupadas com sua nutrição. Utilizando o modelo BPM (Behavioral Perpective Model), criado por Foxall (2010), fundamentado na psicologia do consumidor e estruturado na tríplice contingência de Skinner, analisaram-se os fatores que influenciam crianças em seu comportamento de compra de alimentos. Tendo como sujeitos 175 alunos com idades compreendidas entre 10 e 12 anos, identificaram-se 35 variáveis que foram classificadas entre estímulos antecedentes (cenário ou histórico de aprendizado) e consequentes (reforço utilitário ou informativo) no comportamento de compra. Verificou-se que os estímulos reforçadores (consequentes) têm maior grau de importância para a decisão de compra de alimentos desses sujeitos do que os estímulos antecedentes, sendo que as consequências utilitárias são mais influentes do que as informativas. Conclui-se que os atributos dos produtos, como sabor e qualidade, têm maior influência na decisão de compra do que os estímulos ambientais, como as promoções e publicidade dos alimentos.Food choice in contemporary societies is, inevitably, a buying decision. Food is a product that is consumed, like so many other goods and services. Nowadays many children choose their food themselves, which attracts attention not only from companies that develop products and advertising for that segment, but also organizations concerned with their nutrition. This paper analyzed the factors that influence children's food purchasing behavior using the Perpective Behavioral Model (BPM) created by Foxall (2010), which in turn is based on consumer psychology and structured on Skinner's triple contingency. The subjects were 175 students between 10 and 12 years old. Thirty-five variables were identified and classified as antecedent stimuli (setting or learning history) or purchase reinforcers (utilitarian or informational reinforcement). It was seen that reinforcement stimuli (consequent stimuli) are more important to these children's decisions than antecedent stimuli, and that utilitarian consequences are more influential than informational consequences. It was concluded that product attributes such as taste and quality have greater influence on purchasing decisions than environmental stimuli such as promotions and food advertising

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Human Fungal Pathogens Causing Paracoccidioidomycosis

Paracoccidioides is a fungal pathogen and the cause of paracoccidioidomycosis, a health-threatening human systemic mycosis endemic to Latin America. Infection by Paracoccidioides, a dimorphic fungus in the order Onygenales, is coupled with a thermally regulated transition from a soil-dwelling filamentous form to a yeast-like pathogenic form. To better understand the genetic basis of growth and pathogenicity in Paracoccidioides, we sequenced the genomes of two strains of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb03 and Pb18) and one strain of Paracoccidioides lutzii (Pb01). These genomes range in size from 29.1 Mb to 32.9 Mb and encode 7,610 to 8,130 genes. To enable genetic studies, we mapped 94% of the P. brasiliensis Pb18 assembly onto five chromosomes. We characterized gene family content across Onygenales and related fungi, and within Paracoccidioides we found expansions of the fungal-specific kinase family FunK1. Additionally, the Onygenales have lost many genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism and fewer genes involved in protein metabolism, resulting in a higher ratio of proteases to carbohydrate active enzymes in the Onygenales than their relatives. To determine if gene content correlated with growth on different substrates, we screened the non-pathogenic onygenale Uncinocarpus reesii, which has orthologs for 91% of Paracoccidioides metabolic genes, for growth on 190 carbon sources. U. reesii showed growth on a limited range of carbohydrates, primarily basic plant sugars and cell wall components; this suggests that Onygenales, including dimorphic fungi, can degrade cellulosic plant material in the soil. In addition, U. reesii grew on gelatin and a wide range of dipeptides and amino acids, indicating a preference for proteinaceous growth substrates over carbohydrates, which may enable these fungi to also degrade animal biomass. These capabilities for degrading plant and animal substrates suggest a duality in lifestyle that could enable pathogenic species of Onygenales to transfer from soil to animal hosts.National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U.S.)National Institutes of Health. Department of Health and Human Services (contract HHSN266200400001C)National Institutes of Health. Department of Health and Human Services(contract HHSN2722009000018C)Brazil. National Council for Scientific and Technological Developmen

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

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives