Foraminifera from surface sediments of a Brazilian mangrove affected by oil spill 20 years ago

Abstrac

Historical ecology in Brazil: a systematic mapping of scientific articles (1998–2021)

Historical Ecology is a multidisciplinary field that studies long-term relationships between humanity and the environment. There is a missing synthesis effort to organize and present the state of the scholarship in Historical Ecology in Brazil. We aimed to characterize by whom, when, where, what, and how research in Historical Ecology has been conducted in Brazil. We made a systematic mapping of 118 scientific articles published in Portuguese, Spanish, and English that fit our inclusion criteria. The results showed articles from 1998 to May 2021, published in 79 different journals. We found 264 national and international authors (60% men and 40%women); 91% of all investigations were carried out in the Amazon and Atlantic Forest biomes. There are few works about Cerrado, Caatinga, and Pampa, and none for Pantanal. The most mentioned keywords were historical ecology, Amazon, forest, and archaeology. Twenty-three articles focused on a particular species, primarily plants; 37% of all articles used Historical Ecology as its central axis of research, and 63% as auxiliary. We found more than 35 methodological procedures, both from the social and natural sciences. This overview revealed achievements, research gaps, and opportunities in this field.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults

Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities(.)(1,2) This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity(3-6). Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in more than 112 million adults, to report national, regional and global trends in mean BMI segregated by place of residence (a rural or urban area) from 1985 to 2017. We show that, contrary to the dominant paradigm, more than 55% of the global rise in mean BMI from 1985 to 2017-and more than 80% in some low- and middle-income regions-was due to increases in BMI in rural areas. This large contribution stems from the fact that, with the exception of women in sub-Saharan Africa, BMI is increasing at the same rate or faster in rural areas than in cities in low- and middle-income regions. These trends have in turn resulted in a closing-and in some countries reversal-of the gap in BMI between urban and rural areas in low- and middle-income countries, especially for women. In high-income and industrialized countries, we noted a persistently higher rural BMI, especially for women. There is an urgent need for an integrated approach to rural nutrition that enhances financial and physical access to healthy foods, to avoid replacing the rural undernutrition disadvantage in poor countries with a more general malnutrition disadvantage that entails excessive consumption of low-quality calories.Peer reviewe

Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI <18·5 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). For schoolaged children and adolescents, we report thinness (BMI <2 SD below the median of the WHO growth reference) and obesity (BMI >2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining underweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesit

Foraminíferos atuais em um manguezal impactado por petróleo 20 anos atrás: o Rio Iriri, canal de Bertioga, Santos-SP

Um manguezal da costa central do Estado de São Paulo, afetado por um derramamento de petróleo há vinte anos, mostrou, atualmente, nos 3 centímetros superficiais de sedimento, uma fauna de foraminíferos normal e abundante. Esta comunidade foi representada por 22 espécies pertencentes às subordens Trochamminina, Textulariina e Allogromiina. Os altos valores de dominância e os baixos valores de diversidade, eqüitatividade e riqueza de espécies são decorrentes da permanente instabilidade físico-química no substrato. As biofácies Miliammina fusca (1), Trochammina inflata - Arenoparrella mexicana - Miliammina fusca (2) e Arenoparrella mexicana - Haplophragmoides wilberti (3), constituem três faixas distintas deste ecossistema com águas intersticiais hipohalinas, ácidas e sub-óxicas. A primeira, no interior do manguezal, caracteriza-se por ser a mais estressante delas, apresentando os mais baixos valores de diversidade e eqüitatividade e os mais altos valores de dominância. As duas últimas, respectivamente nas franjas sub-externa e externa do manguezal, têm propriedades bióticas similares, havendo na terceira maior estresse. Embora não se tenha observado anormalidades nas tecas ou na estrutura da comunidade de foraminíferos, a presença de manchas de petróleo biodegradado situadas a aproximadamente 12 cm da superfície, ainda estão afetando o desenvolvimento de um bosque de Laguncularia racemosa presente nessa área.A mangrove in the central coast of São Paulo state, which was effected by oil spill twenty years ago, shows, at the present, an abundant and normal foraminifera fauna in its upper mud layer (1-3 cm depth). It is represented by 22 species pertaining to suborders Trochamminina, Textulariina and Allogromiina. High values of species dominance and low values of diversity, equitability and species richness, are due to the constant physical-chemical instability of the substrate. The biofacies Miliammina fusca (1), Trochammina inflata - Arenoparrella mexicana - Miliammina fusca (2) and Arenoparrella mexicana - Haplophragmoides wilberti (3) constitute three distinct belts, of this ecossistem with hipohaline, acidic and oxygen-poor interstitial water. The first one, inner mangrove, is characterized by the higher stress level, which the lowest values of diversity and equitability and the highest values of species dominance. The second and third ones, respectively sub-external and external fringe, are constituted by similar biotic structure, with higher stress at the third one. Although it is not observed abnormalities in tests or in the structure of foraminifera comunity, spots of biodegraded oil trapped approximately 12 cm downward the substrate are still affecting the growth of Laguncularia racemosa trees in the area

Metals and no-metals in sediments from a non-polluted mangrove: Cardoso Island, Cananéia, SP

This work aims to assess the spatial distribution and the seasonal behavior of metals, no-metals, physical and chemical variables and provide a pre-impact geochemical scenario from non-polluted mangrove sediments of a transect at the Cardoso Island (Cananéia, São Paulo State, Brazil) extending 340 m long landward. Triplicate samples from eight stations were collected in December 2001 and June 2002. Conductivity, pH, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen from the sediment interstitial water were checked in field using a Horiba U-10 probe. Metals and no-metals concentrations were obtained employing an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP OES) Vista-RL-Varian, radial vision. The sediments reflected two distinct intertidal segments: a “lower plain” (LP) and an “upper plain” (UP). The LP, which comprises the first 100 m landward from the bay, is a muddy environment with higher metal concentration and seasonally more stable than the UP. This latter, extending until the upper boundary of the intertidal zone, is a more oxygenated sandy flat with lower metal concentration. The distinct behavior of the geochemistry pattern observed along the transect in December and June is interpreted as associated with seasonal pluviometric fluctuations. The low metal concentrations denote low anthropogenic interference in the area, one of the most well preserved Brazilian coastal regions. It can be used as reference area to comparative studies involving similar ecosystems and, in the future, to check the environmental state of this mangrove flat.This work aims to assess the spatial distribution and the seasonal behavior of metals, no-metals, physical and chemical variables and provide a pre-impact geochemical scenario from non-polluted mangrove sediments of a transect at the Cardoso Island (Cananéia, São Paulo State, Brazil) extending 340 m long landward. Triplicate samples from eight stations were collected in December 2001 and June 2002. Conductivity, pH, temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen from the sediment interstitial water were checked in field using a Horiba U-10 probe. Metals and no-metals concentrations were obtained employing an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP OES) Vista-RL-Varian, radial vision. The sediments reflected two distinct intertidal segments: a “lower plain” (LP) and an “upper plain” (UP). The LP, which comprises the first 100 m landward from the bay, is a muddy environment with higher metal concentration and seasonally more stable than the UP. This latter, extending until the upper boundary of the intertidal zone, is a more oxygenated sandy flat with lower metal concentration. The distinct behavior of the geochemistry pattern observed along the transect in December and June is interpreted as associated with seasonal pluviometric fluctuations. The low metal concentrations denote low anthropogenic interference in the area, one of the most well preserved Brazilian coastal regions. It can be used as reference area to comparative studies involving similar ecosystems and, in the future, to check the environmental state of this mangrove flat

Narrativas fundadoras do feminismo: poderes e conflitos (1970-1978)

A forma como foram definidas as datas do ressurgimento do feminismo de 'Segunda Onda', na década de 1970, no Brasil, reflete interpretações oriundas de diferentes lugares. A narrativa de 'origem' desse feminismo foi resultado de disputas de poder entre diversos grupos feministas e entre estes e os diversos personagens envolvidos na luta contra a ditadura militar, instalada no país entre 1964 e 1985. As dicotomias entre 'lutas gerais e lutas específicas', de um lado, e entre 'verdadeiramente feministas e não-feministas', de outro, presentes nessas disputas, falam de poderes e de conflitos.<br>The way the 'Second Wave' feminism re-emergence was defined in the seventies, in Brazil, reflects interpretations that come from different places. The narrative of 'origin' of this feminism was result of contests of power among diverse feminists groups and among these and the diverse characters involved in the fight against the military dictatorship, present in the country between 1964 and 1985. The dichotomy between "general fights versus specific fights", in one side, and "true feminists versus not-feminists" in the other side, present in these contests, talks about powers and conflicts. I intend to discuss, in this article, the invention of these origins and their contests for power

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 is characterized by diminished peripheral CD8+β7 integrin+ T cells and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA response

Post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), also known as long COVID is a chronic and often debilitating condition that develops following acute disease. Here authors show that individuals who suffer from PASC symptoms at six month following infection are characterized by persisting immunological disfunction, affecting cellular and humoral components of mucosal immunity

Long-term efficacy and safety of eslicarbazepine acetate monotherapy for adults with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy: An open-label extension study

Objective: To assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) monotherapy during long-term treatment. Methods: An open-label extension (OLE) study was conducted in adults completing a phase 3, randomized, double-blind, noninferiority trial, during which they had received monotherapy with either once-daily ESL or twice-daily controlled-release carbamazepine (CBZ-CR) for newly diagnosed focal epilepsy. In the OLE study, all patients received ESL (800-1600 mg/d) for 2 years. Primary efficacy outcome was retention time (from baseline of the OLE study). Secondary efficacy assessments included seizure freedom rate (no seizures during the OLE study) and responder rate (≥50% seizure frequency reduction from baseline of double-blind trial). Safety assessments included evaluation of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Results: Of 206 randomized patients, 96 who received ESL in the double-blind trial (ESL/ESL) and 88 who received CBZ-CR in the double-blind trial (CBZ-CR/ESL) were treated with ESL monotherapy (89.3% overall). Treatment retention time was similar between groups, with low probability of ESL withdrawal overall (80% in both groups throughout the study. Incidence of serious TEAEs was similar between groups (7.3% vs 5.7%; 0% vs 1.1% possibly related), as were the incidences of TEAEs considered at least possibly related to treatment (17.7% vs 18.2%) and TEAEs leading to discontinuation (3.1% vs 4.5%). The types of TEAEs were generally consistent with the known safety profile of ESL. Significance: ESL monotherapy was efficacious and generally well tolerated over the long term, including in patients who transitioned from CBZ-CR monotherapy. No new safety concerns emerged