Efeito da umidade do solo na biologia de Rhopalosiphum maidis (FITCH, 1856) (Hemiptera: aphididae) em milho.

O efeito da umidade do solo na biologia de Rhopalosiphum maidis (Fitch) em plantas de milho (Zea mays) foi avaliado em casa de vegetação. Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos (20%, 40% e 100% de rotação hídrica) e quatro repetições, sendo cada parcela experimental constituída por um vaso de polietileno de cinco litros contendo duas plantas de milho no estádio fenológico três e com dez pulgões adultos confinados em microgaiolas de 10 mm de altura por 10 mm de diâmetro (cinco pulgões/microgaiola/planta), perfazendo um total de 40 pulgões/tratamento. As variáveis biológicas do pulgão estudadas foram: a duração de cada instar, dos períodos pré-reprodutivo, pós-reprodutivo e reprodutivo, a produção diária, total de ninfas e de alados e o ciclo de vida de R. maidis. Houve efeito da umidade do solo onde estavam as plantas de milho, tanto na duração do desenvolvimento dos pulgões, em cada um dos quatro ínstares, quanto na duração da fase ninfal, sendo que os pulgões que se desenvolveram em plantas de milho com défice de água de 80% completaram os estádios ninfais num menor período. De igual forma, o período reprodutivo e a longevidade dos adultos foram mais curtos nos pulgões que se desenvolveram em plantas de milho em solo com 20% da capacidade de campo. Porém, não houve efeito dos tratamentos na duração do período pós-reprodutivo. Por outro lado, adultos de pulgões que se desenvolveram nas plantas em solo com 20% da água necessária produziram a primeira ninfa num menor período do que os desenvolvidos nas plantas que receberam 40% de água na capacidade de campo. Pulgões cuja fase jovem ocorreu em plantas de milho sob estresse hídrico de 80% desapareceram mais rapidamente do que aqueles desenvolvidos em plantas sob regime de estresse hídrico de 60%. Esses resultados indicam que o manejo da água no milho pode ser uma estratégia no controle de fatores naturais que afetam tanto a população como o número de gerações do pulgão no ambiente, podendo reduzir a necessidade do controle químico

An Investigation of the KFK_{F}-type Lorentz-Symmetry Breaking Gauge Models in N=1N=1-Supersymmetric Scenario

In this work, we present two possible venues to accomodate the $K_{F}$-type Lorentz-symmetry violating Electrodynamics in an $N=1$-supersymmetric framework. A chiral and a vector superfield are chosen to describe the background that signals Lorentz-symmetry breaking. In each case, the $\ K_{\mu \nu \kappa \lambda }$-tensor is expressed in terms of the components of the background superfield that we choose to describe the breaking. We also present in detail the actions with all fermionic partners of the background that determine $\ K_{\mu \nu \kappa \lambda }$.Comment: 10 page

Brainwave nets: Are sparse dynamic models susceptible to brain manipulation experimentation?

© Copyright © 2020 Nascimento, Pinto-Orellana, Leite, Edwards, Louzada and Santos. Sparse time series models have shown promise in estimating contemporaneous and ongoing brain connectivity. This paper was motivated by a neuroscience experiment using EEG signals as the outcome of our established interventional protocol, a new method in neurorehabilitation toward developing a treatment for visual verticality disorder in post-stroke patients. To analyze the [complex outcome measure (EEG)] that reflects neural-network functioning and processing in more specific ways regarding traditional analyses, we make a comparison among sparse time series models (classic VAR, GLASSO, TSCGM, and TSCGM-modified with non-linear and iterative optimizations) combined with a graphical approach, such as a Dynamic Chain Graph Model (DCGM). These dynamic graphical models were useful in assessing the role of estimating the brain network structure and describing its causal relationship. In addition, the class of DCGM was able to visualize and compare experimental conditions and brain frequency domains [using finite impulse response (FIR) filter]. Moreover, using multilayer networks, the results corroborate with the susceptibility of sparse dynamic models, bypassing the false positives problem in estimation algorithms. We conclude that applying sparse dynamic models to EEG data may be useful for describing intervention-relocated changes in brain connectivity

Comparação entre hipertensão autoreferida e pressão arterial casual e presença de fatores de risco em funcionários da saúde de Bauru e Jaú

Model: Prevalence study. Objectives: To evaluate the presence of self-reported hypertension to compare with blood pressure measurements. Besides, this work investigated health information level of workers and if the job position has any influence on blood pressure (BP). Methods: This study evaluated 349 health workers (44±10 years old) from Bauru and Jau cities, who answered some questions about history of health condition, use of medicines, past surgeries as well as social, scholar and physical conditions and had their blood pressure measured. Each subject selfreported as normotensive or hypertensive. Values of systolic >≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic PA >-90 mmHg were considered elevated. Among the health workers evaluated, 198 were submitted to thropometric and biochemical evaluations. Values are presented as means ± SD and frequency of distribution. It was used T-student test (p<0.05). Results: From all workers evaluated only 16% self-reported as hypertensive, which 56% presented high BP, however 91% used to take antihypertensive medicines. Among the 84% who self-reported as normotensive, 24% presented high BP and 8% used to take medicines. Although most of the employees of each section self-reported as normotensive, more than a half presented high BP and which was more common in the health’s section (76.3%). Conclusion: These results suggest that besides the majority of the employees self-reported as normotensive, an elevated number of health workers presented high blood pressure and used to take medicines appropriately,which indicates that they did not have enough knowledge about their health. Furthermore, it was observed that Health Section presented the higher blood pressure values.Modelo : Estudo de prevalência. Objetivos:  Avaliar a presença de hipertensão arterial auto-referida e comparar com os níveis de pressão arterial aferidos. Além sso, o trabalho se propôs a avaliar o grau de informação dos funcionários da saúde e determinar se o setor onde trabalha o funcionário influencia a Pressão Arterial (PA). Métodos: Foram avaliados 349 funcionários (46±10 anos) das cidades de Bauru e Jaú, que responderam uma anamnese (dados pessoais, condição socioeconômica, presença de doenças, prática de exercícios físicos e setor ocupacional) e foram submetidos a uma avaliação da PA. Os avaliados se auto-referiram normotensos ou hipertensos. Valores de PA Sistólica >140 mmHg e/ou PA diastólica >90 mmHg foram considerados elevados. Dentre os avaliados, 198 foram submetidos à avaliações antropométricas e bioquímicas. Os resultados são apresentados como média ± desvio padrão e distribuição de frequência. Utilizou-se teste “T- student”  (p<0,05). Resultados: Dentre os servidores, 16% se auto-referiram hipertensos, dos quais 56% apresentaram PA elevada e, destes, 91% utilizavam medicação antihipertensiva. Dentre os 84% que se auto-referiram normotensos, 24% apresentaram PA elevada e 8% tomavam medicamentos. A maioria dos funcionários de cada setor se autoreferiu normotenso, entretanto, grande parcela apresentou PA elevada, sendo esta mais frequente no setor “Saúde” (76,3%). Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem que apesar da maioria dos funcionários se classificar como normotensos, uma parcela expressiva apresentou PA elevada e fazia uso de medicamentos inadequadamente, indicando que não tinham conhecimento do seu estado de saúde. Além disso, observou-se que o setor “Saúde” foi aquele que apresentou os maiores valores de PA.

Trends in the environmental impacts of unprocessed or minimally processed, processed, and ultra-processed animal products in Brazil over 30 years

Background: We aim to assess the trends in the consumption of unprocessed or minimally processed, processed, and ultra-processed animal products, and the environmental impacts associated with them. Methods: We have used data from five Brazilian Household Budget Surveys (1987, 1996, 2003, 2009, 2017). Animal products (beef, pork, poultry, eggs, fish, milk, and cheese) were classified into NOVA food groups: unprocessed or minimally processed (G1), processed (G3), and ultra-processed (G4). We estimated the share (%) of each food group to daily kcal per capita, as well as carbon footprint (CF), water footprint (WF) and ecological footprint (EF) per 1000 kcal-day. Trends over the years were tested using linear regression considering the population size as a weighting factor. Results: From 1987 to 2017, the dietary share of G1 animal products decreased 2% (15.5-15.2%, p-trend < 0.001), while the share of G3 and G4 products increased by 88% (1.6-3.0%, p-trend < 0.001) and 340% (4.3-1.1%, p-trend < 0.001), respectively. CF in g CO2 eq per 1000 kcal remained the same for G1 products (921.4-946.2, p-trend = 0.278) and increased by 124% (30.9-69.3, p-trend < 0.001) and 319% (50.7-212.5, p-trend < 0.001) for G3 and G4 products, respectively. WF in litres per 1000 kcal decreased by 11% for G1 products (846.7-752.5, p-trend < 0.001), and increased by 130% for G3 (24.3-55.9, p-trend < 0.001) and 323% for G4 products (42.5-179.8, p-trend < 0.001). Similarly, EF in m2 per 1000 kcal decreased by 5% for G1 products (6.06-5.73, p-trend < 0.001), and increased by 67% for G3 (0.24-0.40, p-trend < 0.001) and by 305% for G4 products (0.21-0.85, p-trend < 0.001). Conclusion: The consumption of processed and ultra-processed animal products has been increasing along with their environmental impact, suggesting that the reduction of their consumption would be beneficial for both human and planet health

The impact of ultra-processed food on carbon, water and ecological footprints of food in Brazil

Background Ultra-processed foods (UPF) have been associated with major diet-related public health issues that share underlying drivers with climate change. Both challenges require major changes to the food system and so the potential benefits to health and the environment present a double motivation for transformation. Our aim is to assess the impacts of UPF on total greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), water and ecological footprints in Brazil food purchases. Methods We have used data from 4 Brazilian Household Budget Surveys (1987, 1996, 2003, 2009). Each food item was classified into NOVA food groups (unprocessed/minimally processed, culinary ingredients, processed and ultra-processed). The information was linked to nutrition and footprint data. Purchases were converted into grams per capita per day to estimate total energy (kcal), percentage of energy from UPF, as well as total GHGE, water and ecological footprints. We performed linear regression to calculate year-adjusted means of footprints per 1000 Kcal by year-specific quintiles of UPF participation in the total energy. The data were analysed in R v.3.6.1 and STATA SE 14.1. Results The mean UPF participation in total energy varied from 13% (SD 2.4) in the 1st UPF quintile to 29% (SD 5.1) in the 5th quintile. The footprints increased linearly across quintiles: the mean g CO2eq varied from 1312 in the 1st to 1721 in the 5th UPF quintile (p-trend<0.001); the mean litres of water varied from 1420 in the 1st to 1830 in the 5th quintile (p-trend<0.001); the mean m2 varied from 9.4 in the 1st to 12.3 in the 5th quintile (p < 0.001). Conclusions The environmental impacts were higher for Brazilian diets with a larger fraction of energy from UPF. Specifically, low UPF diets seem to have lower GHGE, water and ecological footprints. Our findings offer new motivators for dietary change to simultaneously healthier and more sustainable eating patterns and will be of relevance to consumers and policymakers. Key messages Diets high in UPF cause more climate impact than diets with lower levels of UPF. Healthy and sustainable dietary patterns should be low in ultra-processed foods

A social and ecological assessment of tropical land uses at multiple scales: the Sustainable amazon network

Science has a critical role to play in guiding more sustainable development trajectories. Here, we present the Sustainable Amazon Network (Rede Amazônia Sustentável, RAS): a multidisciplinary research initiative involving more than 30 partner organizations working to assess both social and ecological dimensions of land-use sustainability in eastern Brazilian Amazonia. The research approach adopted by RAS offers three advantages for addressing land-use sustainability problems: (i) the collection of synchronized and co-located ecological and socioeconomic data across broad gradients of past and present human use; (ii) a nested sampling design to aid comparison of ecological and socioeconomic conditions associated with different land uses across local, landscape and regional scales; and (iii) a strong engagement with a wide variety of actors and non-research institutions. Here, we elaborate on these key features, and identify the ways in which RAS can help in highlighting those problems in most urgent need of attention, and in guiding improvements in land-use sustainability in Amazonia and elsewhere in the tropics. We also discuss some of the practical lessons, limitations and realities faced during the development of the RAS initiative so far

Climatic and local stressor interactions threaten tropical forests and coral reefs

Tropical forests and coral reefs host a disproportionately large share of global biodiversity and provide ecosystem functions and services used by millions of people. Yet, ongoing climate change is leading to an increase in frequency and magnitude of extreme climatic events in the tropics, which, in combination with other local human disturbances, is leading to unprecedented negative ecological consequences for tropical forests and coral reefs. Here, we provide an overview of how and where climate extremes are affecting the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth and summarize how interactions between global, regional and local stressors are affecting tropical forest and coral reef systems through impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. We also discuss some key challenges and opportunities to promote mitigation and adaptation to a changing climate at local and global scales. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Climate change and ecosystems: threats, opportunities and solutions'