Dataset from 55 experts engaged in nature conservation in Mozambique

Data ArticleThe data of this article is related to the original article entitled “An expert-based approach to assess the potential for local people engagement in nature conservation: The case study of the Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique” [1], published in Journal for Nature Conservation. The dataset is from an online and selfadministrated survey with 55 experts aware of conservation policies and incentives under implementation in the Niassa National Reserve (NNR), the largest protected area in the country and thirdlargest in Africa. The survey included four sections of both compulsory and non-compulsory questions, mostly in closedended Likert-scale. In the first section, experts were asked about the main practices that threaten biodiversity conservation in the NNR, the actors who are directly and indirectly responsible for each practice, and the reasons for local people's involvement with those practices. The second section was about the effectiveness and limitations of the current compensation measures to engage local residents with conservation-friendly practices. In the third section, respondents were asked to select new measures to enhance the current conservation status and engage local people more effectively in conservation. The last section was about the socio-economic profile of respondents. The survey was conducted from June to September 2017. The paper includes the survey itself, raw data in an Excel spreadsheet, descriptive analysis, crosstabulation and Post Hoc cellwise tests (goodness of fit). Data are provided for public use and can serve as a benchmark for collaboration in order to conduct more comprehensive research, comparative analysis as well as panel data can be derived. This data can also have applications in other fields such as mathematics, statistics, and computationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Livelihood and Farming System approach for effective conservation policies in Protected Areas of Developing Countries: The case study of the Niassa National Reserve in Mozambique

Effective conservation requires that conservation policies and management decisions first target local actors who are dependent on natural resource use in Protected Areas (PA) of Developing Countries (DC). In rural areas of DCs, these actors are mainly farmers who also rely on off-farm activities such as harvest of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) to complement their livelihoods. Here, we propose a novel approach to support the development of policy interventions aimed at achieving conservation goals through the sustainable development of local people in PAs of DCs. The approach consists in identifying the main Livelihood and Farming Systems (LFS) and select those that are more conservation-friendly, and that may contribute to solve conservation and development problems such as Human-wildlife conflict. Identifying the existing LFS can also help in searching for conservation-relevant improvements that can contribute to local people wellbeing, considering the existing FS as the starting point for a sustainable development strategy in PAs of DC. Data from the Niassa National Reserve (NNR), the largest PA in Mozambique, were used to develop this LFS approach. Measures of effort applied in harvesting NTFPs and in managing agricultural inputs and outputs were collected from 329 households through a structured survey. Cluster analysis was performed to identify and characterise the main LFS in the NNR. Based on the cluster results, we have identified four livelihood systems (LS): gatherers, hunters, farmers and employees; four farming systems (FS): specialized in maize, rice and sorghum, and a mixed FS. A Multinomial Logistic Model was also applied to understand the drivers of LFS choice. Livelihood systems were mainly driven by householdlevel socio-economic factors, while FS were driven by village-level biophysical conditions. Households who were employed and had diversified farming and off-farm activities were better off and more resilient to climate change and crop-raiding animals. Intensification appears to occur gradually but has found to be limited by rainfall availability. Based on our findings, we propose that conservation experts and policy-makers should use a LFS approach to re-frame the conservation narrative in PAs of DCs and promote the existing practices that can better protect biodiversity while improving livelihood and welfare of local peopleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterization of New Virulence Factors Involved in the Intracellular Growth and Survival of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, has complex and poorly understood extracellular and intracellular lifestyles. We used transposon-directed insertion site sequencing (TraDIS) to retrospectively analyze a transposon library that had previously been screened through a BALB/c mouse model to identify genes important for growth and survival in vivo. This allowed us to identify the insertion sites and phenotypes of negatively selected mutants that were previously overlooked due to technical constraints. All 23 unique genes identified in the original screen were confirmed by TraDIS, and an additional 105 mutants with various degrees of attenuation in vivo were identified. Five of the newly identified genes were chosen for further characterization, and clean, unmarked bpsl2248, tex, rpiR, bpsl1728, and bpss1528 deletion mutants were constructed from the wild-type strain K96243. Each of these mutants was tested in vitro and in vivo to confirm their attenuated phenotypes and investigate the nature of the attenuation. Our results confirm that we have identified new genes important to in vivo virulence with roles in different stages of B. pseudomallei pathogenesis, including extracellular and intracellular survival. Of particular interest, deletion of the transcription accessory protein Tex was shown to be highly attenuating, and the tex mutant was capable of providing protective immunity against challenge with wild-type B. pseudomallei, suggesting that the genes identified in our TraDIS screen have the potential to be investigated as live vaccine candidates

Biometria e matéria seca de plântulas de pau formiga quando submetidas a diferentes substratos / Biometry and dry matter of ant stick seedlings when submitted to different substrates

A Triplaris brasiliana cham mais conhecida como Pau formiga, é uma espécie que pertence à família polygonacea, que pode ser utilizada para recuperação de áreas degradadas. O Brasil vem sofrendo sérias degradações, devido à ausência de mais trabalhos da espécie supracitada. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a biometria e a matéria seca das plântulas da espécie proposta, em diferentes substratos, com intuito de entender qual seria melhor para seu desenvolvimento e analisar suas alocações em biomassa. O presente trabalho foi realizado no laboratório de tecnologia da produção, que está presente no Campus de Engenharias e Ciências Agrárias. Os frutos da espécie foram coletados em uma matriz presente no próprio Campus e o delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente causalizado, utilizando-se 10 substratos para as análises. Em função dos resultados obtidos, sugere-se que plântulas de Triplaris brasiliana Cham são indiferentes em sua fase inicial de desenvolvimento a ação da maioria dos substratos analisados, as variáveis de biometria: comprimento da raiz, comprimento total e diâmetro, foram as variáveis que se mostram mais eficientes para realização de análises para espécie estudada. Os substratos que se destacaram nessas variáveis foram areia lavada + vermiculita e areia lavada+ terriço vegetal+ vermiculita. Já em matéria seca as variáveis peso seco do epicótilo, peso seco da raiz, peso seco da folha, alocação de biomassa do epicótilo, se destacaram, mostrando-se ser as mais eficientes para a avaliação da espécie proposta, os substratos areia lavada, terriço vegetal, mata-borrão no escuro e mata borrão foram os que mais se destacaram variáveis analisadas de matéria seca. 

Morfometria e germinação de sementes de Biribá submetidas a diferentes substratos / Morphometry and germination of Biribá seeds submitted to different substrates

A anonácea é uma família botânica que possui um grande número de espécies, entre elas, a Annona mucosa. Jacq, o biribá. O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar os índices de germinação das sementes de biribá em diferentes substratos. O experimento foi desenvolvido no Laboratório de Tecnologia da Produção – Setor de produção de mudas, do Campus de Engenharia e Ciências Agrárias, pertencente a Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Rio Largo, Alagoas, Brasil. A obtenção das sementes foi realizada por meio da extração de frutos colhidos no campus em setembro de 2019. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado com 10 tratamentos dispostos com 4 repetições cada e 8 sementes por parcela. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos ao Teste de Tukey a 5%. As sementes apresentaram uma taxa percentual baixa de germinação em relação a dormência tegumentar presente na referida espécie. Dentre os tratamentos estudados, é recomendado o uso de substratos sólidos com alta aeração e compostos com alto teor de matéria orgânica como: areia lavada + torta filtrada + terriço vegetal, areia + terriço vegetal e torta filtrada + terriço vegetal, para resultados mais eficazes. O uso de substratos utilizando mata borrão (papel germitest) em rolo não são recomendados, uma vez que estes exibem os menores valores de germinação. Além disso, as variáveis que apresentaram melhores resultados nas análises feitas foram o índice de velocidade de germinação e o percentual de germinação, para avaliação da germinação em sementes de biribá. 

Particularidades da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica e suas exacerbações

A doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) é uma das principais causas de mortalidade no mundo, sendo o tabagismo o maior fator de risco. Os sintomas incluem dispneia crônica, tosse crônica e produção de escarro, que afetam a capacidade do paciente de realizar tarefas cotidianas, contribuindo para a ansiedade e incapacidade associada à DPOC. As exacerbações agudas da DPOC são caracterizadas pelo aumento da inflamação das vias aéreas, resultando em edema, produção de muco e broncoconstrição. Elas são desencadeadas por múltiplos fatores, como patógenos bacterianas e infecções virais, e a sua gravidade pode levar ao tromboembolismo, acidente vascular cerebral, infarto do miocárdio e mortalidade cardiovascular. Os profissionais de saúde devem considerar cuidadosamente os diagnósticos diferenciais e estar cientes dos possíveis impactos de um diagnóstico errado ao fazer o diagnóstico da DPOC. Para ajudar, eles podem usar questionários padronizados para avaliar a gravidade dos sintomas, limitação da atividade e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde dos pacientes. A espirometria é o padrão ouro para a confirmação diagnóstica da DPOC. Ela é importante para o diagnóstico e classificação da gravidade da limitação do fluxo aéreo em DPOC, bem como para detectar pacientes que mostram um declínio rápido na função pulmonar. Existem outros exames complementares úteis para o diagnóstico de DPOC que também podem ajudar a detectar comorbidades associadas à DPOC. O objetivo do tratamento da DPOC é minimizar o impacto da exacerbação atual e evitar novas exacerbações. Além disso, deve-se considerar o perfil do paciente de acordo com a classificação de GOLD para se traçar manejo terapêutico mais adequado

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Avaliação funcional das fraturas intra-articulares do calcâneo tratadas cirurgicamente Functional evaluation of surgically-treated intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus

OBJETIVO: Realizar uma avaliação clínica e funcional das fraturas intra-articulares do calcâneo tratadas cirurgicamente pelo Grupo de Cirurgia do Pé e Tornozelo do Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia do Hospital Universitário Cajuru no período compreendido entre janeiro de 2001 e dezembro de 2006. MÉTODOS: 107 pacientes, com 113 fraturas, foram submetidos ao tratamento conforme a classificação de Essex-Lopresti: nas fraturas tipo língua ou depressão central com cominuição intraarticular utilizaram-se redução aberta e fixação interna com placa para calcâneo (Synthes®) ou duplo H; nas demais fraturas tipo depressão central realizou-se tratamento minimamente invasivo e nas fraturas tipo língua, tratamento percutâneo. Foram avaliados e acompanhados clinicamente, com pontuação na tabela AOFAS, pelo mesmo grupo de cirurgiões. RESULTADOS: Houve 73% de resultados satisfatórios, média de 75,4 pontos, e 27% de insatisfatórios. CONCLUSÃO: A adequada redução das fraturas representa fator importante para que o paciente não tenha dor e edema residual. As fraturas do tipo depressão central foram as que resultaram em menor pontuação funcional. O não restabelecimento do ângulo de Böhler também levou a importantes alterações funcionais.<br>OBJECTIVE: To perform a clinical and functional evaluation of intra-articular fractures of the calcaneus treated surgically by the Group of Foot and Ankle Surgery at the Cajuru University Hospital from January 2001 to December 2006. METHODS: 107 patients, with 113 fractures, were submitted to treatment according to the Essex-Lopresti classification: in the tongue type fractures or central depression fractures with intra-articular comminution, open reduction and internal fixation with calcaneus plates (Synthes®) or Double H were used; for the other central depression type of fractures, the authors resorted to the minimally invasive treatment, and in tongue type fractures, percutaneous treatment was preferred. The patients were evaluated and clinically followed-up by the same group of surgeons, with evaluation scores according to the AOFAS table. RESULTS: 73% of satisfactory results, with a mean of 75.4 score points, and 27% unsatisfactory results. CONCLUSION: Adequate reduction of the fractures is an important factor to prevent pain and residual edema. Central depression type of fractures were those that had the lowest functional score. Non-reestablishment of the Böhler angle also culminated in relevant functional alterations