A baseline evaluation of atmospheric and river discharge conditions in the Hudson Bay Complex during 2016-2018

In this article, we examine atmospheric and river discharge conditions within the Hudson Bay Complex for the BaySys 2016–2018 field program time frame. Investigated in particular is a subset of European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis - Interim (ERA-Interim) atmospheric forcing variables, namely 2-m surface temperature, 10-m surface winds, precipitation, and sea-level pressure, in addition to river discharge. Results from this assessment show that 2016 was characterized by unusually warm conditions (terrestrial and marine) throughout the annual cycle; 2017 by strong cyclone activity in March and high precipitation in January, October, and November; and 2018 by cold and windy conditions throughout the annual cycle. Evaluation of terrestrial conditions showed higher than normal land surface temperatures (the Hudson Bay physical watershed) for all of the 2016–2018 period (excluding a colder than normal spell August–November 2018), particularly in January (2016 and 2017), higher than normal precipitation in October (2016 and 2017), and higher than normal terrestrial discharge to the Hudson Bay Complex in March (2016 and 2017), with drier than average June through October (2016–2018)

Intergenerational differences in walking for transportation between older men and women in six countries

Background – Research on potential differences in walking between men and women have mixed and inconclusive results, and no study has examined differences in walking between men and women across multiple countries and generations (i.e., young-old, old-old, and oldest-old). This study aims to compare older men and women walking for transportation across three generations and among six countries (i.e., China, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Ghana, and India). Methods – This study adopted the cross-sectional design that utilised data from the World Health Organization Study on AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE – wave one). The sample included 12,125 older adults aged 60-114 years from the six countries. The participants were selected with a cluster random sampling method in each country. The data was analysed using three-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results – There were significant differences in walking for transportation among countries. In only South Africa there was a significant difference in walking between men and women, as well as among the three older generations. South African men reported more walking than South African women, and younger-old South Africans reported more walking than older-old and the oldest South Africans. Conclusions – There are differences in older adult walking for transportation among countries. Differences in walking between men and women and among the three generations were only significant in South Africa

Spatial heterogeneity of habitat suitability for Rift Valley fever occurrence in Tanzania: an ecological niche modelling approach

Despite the long history of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in Tanzania, extent of its suitable habitat in the country remains unclear. In this study we investigated potential effects of temperature, precipitation, elevation, soil type, livestock density, rainfall pattern, proximity to wild animals, protected areas and forest on the habitat suitability for RVF occurrence in Tanzania. Presence-only records of 193 RVF outbreak locations from 1930 to 2007 together with potential predictor variables were used to model and map the suitable habitats for RVF occurrence using ecological niche modelling. Ground-truthing of the model outputs was conducted by comparing the levels of RVF virus specific antibodies in cattle, sheep and goats sampled from locations in Tanzania that presented different predicted habitat suitability values. Habitat suitability values for RVF occurrence were higher in the northern and central-eastern regions of Tanzania than the rest of the regions in the country. Soil type and precipitation of the wettest quarter contributed equally to habitat suitability (32.4% each), followed by livestock density (25.9%) and rainfall pattern (9.3%). Ground-truthing of model outputs revealed that the odds of an animal being seropositive for RVFV when sampled from areas predicted to be most suitable for RVF occurrence were twice the odds of an animal sampled from areas least suitable for RVF occurrence (95% CI: 1.43, 2.76, p < 0.001). The regions in the northern and central-eastern Tanzania were more suitable for RVF occurrence than the rest of the regions in the country. The modelled suitable habitat is characterised by impermeable soils, moderate precipitation in the wettest quarter, high livestock density and a bimodal rainfall pattern. The findings of this study should provide guidance for the design of appropriate RVF surveillance, prevention and control strategies which target areas with these characteristics

Anthropogenic disturbance in tropical forests can double biodiversity loss from deforestation

Concerted political attention has focused on reducing deforestation1,2,3, and this remains the cornerstone of most biodiversity conservation strategies4,5,6. However, maintaining forest cover may not reduce anthropogenic forest disturbances, which are rarely considered in conservation programmes6. These disturbances occur both within forests, including selective logging and wildfires7,8, and at the landscape level, through edge, area and isolation effects9. Until now, the combined effect of anthropogenic disturbance on the conservation value of remnant primary forests has remained unknown, making it impossible to assess the relative importance of forest disturbance and forest loss. Here we address these knowledge gaps using a large data set of plants, birds and dung beetles (1,538, 460 and 156 species, respectively) sampled in 36 catchments in the Brazilian state of Pará. Catchments retaining more than 69–80% forest cover lost more conservation value from disturbance than from forest loss. For example, a 20% loss of primary forest, the maximum level of deforestation allowed on Amazonian properties under Brazil’s Forest Code5, resulted in a 39–54% loss of conservation value: 96–171% more than expected without considering disturbance effects. We extrapolated the disturbance-mediated loss of conservation value throughout Pará, which covers 25% of the Brazilian Amazon. Although disturbed forests retained considerable conservation value compared with deforested areas, the toll of disturbance outside Pará’s strictly protected areas is equivalent to the loss of 92,000–139,000 km2 of primary forest. Even this lowest estimate is greater than the area deforested across the entire Brazilian Amazon between 2006 and 2015 (ref. 10). Species distribution models showed that both landscape and within-forest disturbances contributed to biodiversity loss, with the greatest negative effects on species of high conservation and functional value. These results demonstrate an urgent need for policy interventions that go beyond the maintenance of forest cover to safeguard the hyper-diversity of tropical forest ecosystems

Grau de comprometimento psicológico ao exercício e comparação da insatisfação corporal de atletas participantes do panamericano escolar

INTRODUÇÃO: O esporte de rendimento parece ser um agente potencializador para o surgimento de transtornos psicopatológicos, sendo, portanto, pertinente avaliar o grau de comprometimento psicológico ao exercício e aspectos da imagem corporal em atletas adolescentes de elite, já que estas variáveis são fatores de risco para desencadeamento de transtornos alimentares. OBJETIVO: Comparar a insatisfação corporal entre diferentes modalidades esportivas e verificar a influência da mesma sobre o grau de comprometimento psicológico ao exercício em atletas adolescentes competitivos. MÉTODOS: A amostra do estudo foi constituída por 65 atletas adolescentes de diversas modalidades esportivas de ambos os sexos. Para avaliar a insatisfação corporal foi aplicado o body shape questionnaire (BSQ) e o grau de comprometimento psicológico com o hábito de se exercitar foi avaliado pela escala de dedicação ao exercício (EDE). RESULTADOS: A insatisfação com a própria imagem foi observada em 21,5% dos participantes com diferença entre as modalidades (p 0,05). Além disso, a insatisfação influenciou 12% na modulação do grau de comprometimento psicológico ao exercício (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Dessa forma, conclui-se que, para esta amostra, a taxa de satisfação corporal foi alta e pouco relacionada ao grau de comprometimento ao exercício