Fractal properties of forest fires in Amazonia as a basis for modelling pan-tropical burnt area

Journal ArticleCurrent methods for modelling burnt area in dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs) involve complex fire spread calculations, which rely on many inputs, including fuel characteristics, wind speed and countless parameters. They are therefore susceptible to large uncertainties through error propagation, but undeniably useful for modelling specific, small-scale burns. Using observed fractal distributions of fire scars in Brazilian Amazonia in 2005, we propose an alternative burnt area model for tropical forests, with fire counts as sole input and few parameters. This model is intended for predicting large-scale burnt area rather than looking at individual fire events. A simple parameterization of a tapered fractal distribution is calibrated at multiple spatial resolutions using a satellite-derived burnt area map. The model is capable of accurately reproducing the total area burnt (16 387 km2) and its spatial distribution. When tested pan-tropically using the MODIS MCD14ML active fire product, the model accurately predicts temporal and spatial fire trends, but the magnitude of the differences between these estimates and the GFED3.1 burnt area products varies per continent. © Author(s) 2014.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CAPESScience without Borders programme fellowshi

Contribution of biomass fires to black carbon supply in a tropical river basin assessed using a Lagrangian atmospheric transport model and MODIS burned area product

Black carbon (BC) is known to be a potential sink of carbon for the global carbon cycle, particularly if long-term ocean stores are reached. Fluvial transport to the oceans can occur through the dissolution of BC in river water. Evidence from the Paraiba do Sul river basin, Brazil suggests that river DBC concentration is related to charcoal formed during the deforestation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. However, we highlight several key potential sources of BC to the basin that are yet to be considered. We hypothesize that external biomass fires are a source of BC to the basin on the basis that BC released from them can be transported over large distances before being deposited. This hypothesis is tested by quantifying the number of biomass fires intercepted by trajectories en route to the basin using the HYSPLIT model and a MODIS burned area dataset. We then create a Black Carbon Fallout Index (BCFI) which is rationalized by our assumption that atmospheric BC delivery to the basin is proportional to the number of interceptions of air masses en route to the basin. Our results suggest that the BC fallout from air masses reaching the basin in the dry season can explain 50% of the variance in DBC measured in the PSR channel during a subsequent collection campaign (p<.001). Spatial and temporal variations in the supply of BC to the basin throughout the dry season may in part be linked to the fires associated with the cultivation of sugarcane in southeast Brazil

Anatomical study of valves in the gastrocnemius trunk in human cadavers

BACKGROUND: Valves are characteristic structures of veins and are important to guide blood flow. Their presence in the superficial venous system of lower limbs has been well studied. However, there is a lack of published literature on deep veins, such as the gastrocnemius vein. OBJECTIVE: To carry out an anatomical study of the veins in the main gastrocnemius trunk in adult human cadavers. METHODS: The main gastrocnemius trunks of 80 gastrocnemius muscle heads of 20 adult cadavers were dissected. The cadavers were males, aged between 40 and 68 years, and fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution. Trunks and net types were classified according to Aragão et al.'s proposal. The valves were studied as to quantity, distribution, location and type with regard to trunk, leg, muscle head and type of gastrocnemius net. RESULTS: Of 80 gastrocnemius muscle heads, there were 95 main gastrocnemius trunks, and 17 were duplicated. There were 65 valves in 60 gastrocnemius trunks, all of them bicuspid: 35 in type I net, 23 in type II and seven in type III net. Valves were located in the proximal third of the main gastrocnemius trunk in 74% of cases. CONCLUSION: Valves were found in all net types that had main gastrocnemius trunk. These valves were bicuspid and predominantly located in the proximal third of main gastrocnemius trunks.CONTEXTO: As válvulas são estruturas características das veias, importantes na orientação do fluxo sangüíneo. Sua presença no sistema venoso superficial dos membros inferiores tem sido bastante estudada. No entanto, nas veias profundas, como a veia gastrocnêmia, a literatura é escassa. OBJETIVO: Realizar um estudo anatômico das válvulas do tronco gastrocnêmio principal em cadáveres humanos adultos. MÉTODOS: Foram dissecados os troncos gastrocnêmios principais de 80 cabeças de músculos gastrocnêmios de 20 cadáveres adultos do sexo masculino, com idade entre 40 e 68 anos, após fixados e mantidos em solução de formol a 10%. Os troncos e tipos de redes foram classificados de acordo com o proposto por Aragão et al. As válvulas foram estudadas quanto ao número, distribuição, localização e tipo com relação ao tronco, perna, cabeça do músculo e tipo de rede gastrocnêmia. RESULTADO: Em 80 cabeças de músculos gastrocnêmios, foram encontrados 95 troncos gastrocnêmios principais, sendo que 17 deles eram duplicados. Foram encontradas 65 válvulas em 60 troncos gastrocnêmios principais, todas elas do tipo bicúspide, sendo 35 na rede tipo I, 23 na do tipo II e sete na rede tipo III. Em 74% dos casos, as válvulas estavam localizadas no terço proximal do tronco gastrocnêmio principal. CONCLUSÃO: As válvulas foram encontradas em todos os tipos de redes que possuíam tronco gastrocnêmio principal, eram todas do tipo bicúspide e se localizaram predominantemente no terço proximal dos troncos gastrocnêmios principais.Universidade Federal de SergipeUniversidade TiradentesUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIT Instituto de Tecnologia e Pesquisa Laboratório de Morfologia e Biologia EstruturalUNIFESP Departamento de CirurgiaUniversidade Estadual de Ciências da Saúde de AlagoasUNIFESP, Depto. de CirurgiaSciEL

Anatomical study of the gastrocnemius venous network and proposal for a classification of the veins

Objectives. To present a detailed description of the gastrocnemius venous network.Design. Anatomical study in cadavers.Material and methods. Forty lower limbs from 20 adult male cadavers were studied. All gastrocnemius veins were dissected from the gastrocnemius muscle heads proximally toward their drainage site.Results. Eighty heads of 40 gastrocnemius muscles showed 438 gastrocnemius veins. the number of veins per muscle head varied between 2 and 12. There were 221 gastrocnemius trunks distributed as 95 main gastrocnemius trunks, 81 axial and 45 collateral ones. Front the 95 main gastrocnemius trunks, 83 (87%) drained into the popliteal vein. Direct observation of the gastrocnemius venous network allowed its to classify the anatomical distribution as four distinct types.Conclusions. the majority of main gastrocnemius venous trunks drain into the popliteal vein. There is wide variability in the number of gastrocnemius veins. We propose a classification of four distinct types of anatontical pattern.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, BR-05409010 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Surg, BR-05409010 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Financial implementation and the impact of vascular surgery task force, after the creation of the Strategic Actions and Compensation Fund (FAEC)

BACKGROUND: In spite of the fact that the number of surgeries presented by the elective surgery task force did not entirely reflect the reality, it is possible to declare that the financial implementation of the Brazilian Ministry of Health has been significative, as well as the increasing number of varicose vein surgeries, especially after the creation of the Strategic Actions and Compensation Fund (FAEC). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of financial investment in the Ministry of Health campaign for varicose vein surgery. METHODS: A transversal study of retrospective nature has been conducted, using information available at the Data Processing Department of the National Healthcare System database (DATASUS). All the authorization of hospital internment from the inferior member varicose vein surgeries, financed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health from January 1998 to December 2004, have been included in the research. RESULTS: In 1998, before the implementation of the elective surgery task force, 23,531 varicose vein surgeries have been performed, and R$5,819,033.27 invested. After the creation of the FAEC, 457,026 inferior member varicose vein surgeries have been performed from 1999 to 2004, and R$ 187,760,196.81 were invested with an average of R$31,293,336.13 per year. CONCLUSION: Thus, it is possible to conclude that the bigger investment from the Brazilian Ministry of Health, represented by the implementation of the elective surgery task forces by the FAEC, has been responsible for increasing the number of varicose vein surgeries all around Brazil.CONTEXTO: Apesar de reconhecer que o número apresentado pelo mutirão de cirurgias eletivas não refletisse inteiramente a realidade, foi significativa a implementação financeira do Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, bem como o aumento de cirurgias de varizes, após criação do Fundo de Ações Estratégias e Compensação (FAEC). OBJETIVO: Avaliar os resultados da aplicação do investimento financeiro do Ministério da Saúde no mutirão de cirurgias de varizes. MÉTODOS:Foi realizado um estudo transversal de natureza retrospectiva, utilizando informações do banco de dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde. Foram incluídas na pesquisa todas autorizações de internação hospitalar das cirurgias de varizes de membros inferiores pagas pelo Ministério da Saúde do Brasil, no período de janeiro de 1998 a dezembro de 2004. RESULTADOS: Em 1998, antes da implementação do mutirão de cirurgias eletivas foram realizadas 23.531 cirurgias de varizes e investidos R$ 5.819.033,27. Após a criação do FAEC, foram realizadas 457.026 cirurgias de varizes de membros inferiores, no período de 1999 a 2004, e foram investidos R$187.760.196,81 com média de R$ 31.293.336,13 por ano. CONCLUSÃO: O investimento feito pelo Ministério da Saúde durante o programa de mutirões de cirurgias eletivas pelo FAEC, proporcionou aumento significativo do número de cirurgias de varizes em todo Brasil.Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e de Cirurgia VascularUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Cirurgia VascularUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Departamento de CirurgiaUNCISALUniversidade Tiradentes Faculdade de MedicinaUNIFESP, Depto. de Cirurgia VascularSciEL

Detection of forest degradation caused by fires in Amazonia from time series of MODIS fraction images

A new method is presented to detect and assess the extent of burned forests in a tropical ecosystem. Our study area is located in Mato Grosso state southern flank of the Brazilian Amazon region. MODIS images are used over the dry season of year 2010. The proposed method is based on (i) linear spectral mixing model applied to MODIS imagery to derive soil and shade fraction images and (ii) image segmentation and classification applied to a multi-temporal dataset of MODIS-derived images. In a first step, deforested areas are identified and mapped from the soil fraction images while burned areas are identified and mapped from the shade fraction images. Then, burned forest areas are mapped by combining a forest/non forest mask with the resulting burned area map. Our results show that 14,220 km2 of forests were degraded by fire in Mato Grosso during year 2010. Our approach can be potentially used operationally for detecting forest degradation due to fires. The proposed method can also be applied to time series of medium and high spatial resolution images for regional and local analysis.JRC.H.3-Forest Resources and Climat

Coeval perpendicular shortenings in the Brasilia belt : collision of irregular plate margins leading to oroclinal bending in the Neoproterozoic of central Brazil

The three belts which form the Tocantins province (central Brazil) records Neoproterozoic-EoPaleozoic collisions involving the Amazon and São Francisco paleocontinents and the Paraná continental block. The Brasília belt is a typical orocline bended around the WNW—ESE striking Pirineus Zone of High Strain (PZHS) and is comprised of the NE-trending (northern) and SE-trending (southern) segments. The Brasília dome is an N—S elliptical structural window situated in the center of the belt, at the eastern end of the PZHS. It evidences Di— D₂ and D₃ɴ shortenings (~ 750—590 Ma) due to ocean closure and Amazon- São Francisco collision following a WNW—ESE path, and demonstrates similar evolution for both segments of the belt. However, in the southern segment, D₁—D₂ structures are deformed by shortening in the SW-NE direction (D₃S). New data demonstrating D₁—D₂ and D₃ɴ tectonites deformed by D₃S struc- tures in the area close to the dome's SW margin and SE of the PZHS support understanding the Brasília belt and oroclinal bending as a consequence of the collision of two (Amazon and São Francisco) irregular continental margins leading to separation-rotation of the Paraná block from the Amazon paleocontinent and the Paraná-São Francisco collision

Developing cost-effective field assessments of carbon stocks in human-modified tropical forests

Across the tropics, there is a growing financial investment in activities that aim to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, such as REDD+. However, most tropical countries lack on-the-ground capacity to conduct reliable and replicable assessments of forest carbon stocks, undermining their ability to secure long-term carbon finance for forest conservation programs. Clear guidance on how to reduce the monetary and time costs of field assessments of forest carbon can help tropical countries to overcome this capacity gap. Here we provide such guidance for cost-effective one-off field assessments of forest carbon stocks. We sampled a total of eight components from four different carbon pools (i.e. aboveground, dead wood, litter and soil) in 224 study plots distributed across two regions of eastern Amazon. For each component we estimated survey costs, contribution to total forest carbon stocks and sensitivity to disturbance. Sampling costs varied thirty-one-fold between the most expensive component, soil, and the least, leaf litter. Large live stems (≥10 cm DBH), which represented only 15% of the overall sampling costs, was by far the most important component to be assessed, as it stores the largest amount of carbon and is highly sensitive to disturbance. If large stems are not taxonomically identified, costs can be reduced by a further 51%, while incurring an error in aboveground carbon estimates of only 5% in primary forests, but 31% in secondary forests. For rapid assessments, necessary to help prioritize locations for carbon- conservation activities, sampling of stems ≥20cm DBH without taxonomic identification can predict with confidence (R2 = 0.85) whether an area is relatively carbon-rich or carbon-poor—an approach that is 74% cheaper than sampling and identifying all the stems ≥10cm DBH. We use these results to evaluate the reliability of forest carbon stock estimates provided by the IPCC and FAO when applied to human-modified forests, and to highlight areas where cost savings in carbon stock assessments could be most easily made

Cultura, saúde e mídia: um estudo sobre mulheres idosas em uma academia na cidade de Salvador, Bahia

O aumento do envelhecimento populacional no Brasil é um dado relevante. No artigo analisamos como a imagem corporal de sete mulheres idosas foram construídas em uma academia de ginástica. As imagens dos corpos em processo de envelhecimento das mulheres idosas entrevistadas vêm articuladas a um processo de “juvenilização”. Essas mulheres utilizam técnicas para driblar o envelhecimento dos corpos e buscam esconder e apagar os sinais de envelhecimento. As imagens que as idosas têm dos corpos estão associadas ao “corpo feio”, ao “corpo decrépito”, ao “corpo senil”. Para essas mulheres o corpo “perfeito” envolve noções de beleza, juventude, sensualidade, vitalidade, saúde e visibilidade. A metodologia utilizada para este estudo foi a etnografia. A amostra foi composta de sete idosas jovens, com idade entre 60 e 75 anos, que praticam atividade física em uma academia de ginástica, na cidade de Salvador. Destacamos neste estudo a contribuição de: Beauvoir (1990), Bourdieu (2007), Codo e Senne (2004), Courtine (1995), Couto (2012), Debert (2004), Debort (2003), Feathestone (2013), Foucault (2005), Goldenberg (2013), Le Breton (2013), Lipovestsky (2009), Matos (2015) e Motta (2002)