Transforming the invisible into the visible: disparities in the access to health in LGBT+ older people

Objectives: To compare variables of access to healthcare between the LGBT+ population aged 50 and over and those non-LGBT+. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Brazil through a confidential online questionnaire. The use of the health system was characterized by the number of preventive tests performed and measured by the PCATool-Brasil scale (a 10-point scale in which higher scores were associated with better assistance in healthcare). The association between being LGBT+ and access to health was analyzed in Poisson regression models. Results: 6693 participants (1332 LGBT+ and 5361 non-LGBT+) with a median age of 60 years were included. In the univariate analysis, it was observed not only lower scores on the PCATool scale (5.13 against 5.82, p < 0.001), but a greater proportion of individuals among those classified with the worst quintile of access to healthcare (< 4 points), 31% against 18% (p < 0.001). Being LGBT+ was an independent factor associated with worse access to health (PR = 2.5, 95% CI 2.04‒3.06). The rate of screening cancer, for breast, colon, and cervical cancer was also found to be lower in the LGBT+ population. Conclusion: Healthcare access and health service experiences were worse in the LGBT+ group than in their non-LGBT peers. Inclusive and effective healthcare public policies are essential to promote healthy aging for all

Effect of niobium addition on the properties and microstructure of a high chromium cast iron alloy

High chromium cast iron (HCCI) is usually employed in equipment that experience high abrasive wear and therefore requires high resistance. Niobium could be added to these alloys to improve their resistance to wear. This study consisted in addressing the influence of 0.5% and 1.0% of niobium on the microstructure of a 26% Cr and 2.8% C HCCI alloy. Standard samples – without niobium – and samples with 0.5% and 1.0% Nb were melted, cut and then machined into adequate dimensions for tests. Two groups of samples – with and without heat treatment – were analyzed through X-ray Diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Vickers and Rockwell-C hardness. Carbides Volume Fraction (CVF) was quantified in the heat-treated samples. The majority of NbC carbides were observed to be thin and presented a hook shaped morphology. In addition, it was noted a precipitation of Nb-rich layers around the M7C3 carbides, which could act as a higher hardness coating. There was significant reduction in carbide volume fraction, from an initial 33.3% to 28.1% for the 0.5 % Nb alloy, and further reduction to 24.9% for the 1.0% Nb alloy, it was also noted an alteration on the quasi-eutectic microstructure to a hypoeutectic microstructure. The NbC carbides prevented hardness reduction as a result of lowering the CVF in heat-treated alloys; however, the alloys without heat treatment experienced reductions in hardness. Keywords: Heat treatment, niobium, high chromium cast iron, microstructure.

VIABILIDADE TÉCNICA E ECONÔMICA DE GERAÇÃO DISTRIBUÍDA DE ENERGIA ELÉTRICA

Este artigo aborda sobre a viabilidade técnica e econômica da concepção e implantação de microredes de Geração Distribuída (GD) de energia. Um estudo foi realizado em uma região rural para avaliar o potencial de geração de energia elétrica a partir de fontes renováveis, sendo esta já assistida pela rede convencional brasileira de energia. Foram estudadas as fontes renováveis de energia do povoado, analisado o sistema convencional de geração, transmissão, distribuição de energia elétrica desta região e a viabilidade técnica e econômica de implantação de Geração Distribuída, além de sua interconexão, ou não, à rede básica. Os procedimentos metodológicos usados foram pesquisas bibliográficas e documentais, entrevistas com formulários padronizados, e Estudo de Caso. Este Estudo foi realizado em Minas Gerais avaliando as condições atuais da eletrificação da área pesquisada e da implantação dos tipos de fontes de eletricidade – biomassa (biogás e queima de eucalipto), eólico, solar fotovoltaico. A partir dele, foram feitos cálculos e orçamentos junto a empresas. Conceberam-se, então, modelos de geração de eletricidade através de fontes renováveis constituindo uma GD. Por fim, estimaram-se os custos de implantação dos modelos na comunidade estudada e fizeram-se estimativas de custo para produção de energia elétrica, através de investimentos privados, considerando algumas situações possíveis de serem criadas, sendo elas: geração para consumo próprio, geração com venda de excedentes e possíveis expansões. Desta forma, evidenciou-se o alto valor dos investimentos necessários para utilização das fontes renováveis em pequenas gerações de energia elétrica, haja vista o cenário atual

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

A SÍFILIS ESTÁ DE VOLTA SYPHILIS IS BACK

Sífilis é uma infecção sexualmente transmissível (IST) exclusiva do ser humano, transmitida através de práticas sexuais sem proteção, contato com sangue ou saliva de indivíduos infectados e através da mãe para o filho. Tem como agente etiológico a espiroqueta Treponema Pallidum e, de acordo com as características clínicas, imunológicas e histopatológicas, apresenta 3 fases distintas: primária, secundária e terciária. As manifestações orais são relevantes para o diagnóstico precoce e os cirurgiões-dentistas devem estar atentos à patologia, por ser curável quando diagnosticada e tratada de forma eficaz, o que reduz danos irreversíveis.  Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) unique to humans, transmitted through unprotected sexual practices, contact with blood or saliva from infected individuals and through the mother to the child. Its etiologic agent is the spirochete Treponema Pallidum and according to its clinical, immunological and histopathological features, it has 3 distinct phases: primary, secondary and tertiary. Oral manifestations are relevant for early diagnosis and dental surgeons should be alert to the pathology because it is curable when diagnosed and treated effectively, which reduces irreversible damage

Palliative care over the rainbow: perspectives of middle-age and older LGBT+ adults regarding their end-of-life

OBJECTIVE: Reports show that LGBT+ people may face several struggles during their end-of-life (EOF) preparations, reporting higher rates, for example, of harassment and fear of feeling pain during these moments. We thus aimed to investigate variables related to EOF preparations among LGBT+ people and compare them with heterosexual cisgender individuals. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study in which Brazilians aged 50 or older were invited to answer an anonymous online survey between August 2019 and January 2020. The survey was widely distributed in neighbourhood associations, nongovernmental organizations, and social media. Those who identified as homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, non-heterosexual, transgender, travesti, or non-binary were grouped as LGBT+; cisgender and heterosexual participants were grouped as non-LGBT+. RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 6693 participants with a median age of 60 years. Out of all respondents, 1332 were LGBT+ (19.90%) and 5361 were non-LGBT+ (80.10%). Compared to their non-LGBT+ peers, LGBT+ people reported higher rates of loneliness (25.30% vs 16.32%, p &lt; 0.001), fear of dying alone (15.69% vs 9.79%, p &lt; 0.001) or in pain (35.21% vs 25.74%, p &lt; 0.001), and less social support (19.44% vs 13.48%, p &lt; 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Being LGBT+ was associated with challenges and inequalities regarding EOF preparations and discussions. Sexuality and diversity should be addressed in palliative training programs to address the needs of the LGBT+ population and to provide them with a dignified death.</p

An overview of the Brazilian inselberg genus Ameroglossum (Linderniaceae, Lamiales), with the description of seven new species

Field studies of the inselberg flora of north-eastern Brazil have resulted in the discovery of much greater morphological diversity of the genus Ameroglossum, than previously envisaged. These enigmatic plants are endemic to isolated rock outcrops, which have long been surrounded by unsuitable habitat. The morphological forms are geographically isolated and stable in cultivation when grown under similar conditions. We here provide detailed descriptions of the two previously known species and propose an additional seven new species in the genus. A taxonomic revision of the genus, including an identification key is provided. We hypothesize that the evolution of this genus is driven by the diversity of their hummingbird pollinators. Due to the threatened nature of inselberg habitats and the small populations found for most taxa, the species described here are likely to be under threat and in need for formal redlisting