Schistosomiasis is a major public health concern, with 200 million people infected worldwide. In Brazil, this disease has been reported in 19 states, and its prevalence in the city of Barra Mansa in ...Rio de Janeiro State is 1 %. The parasitological diagnostic methods currently available in these areas lack sensitivity; however, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have been employed successfully for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis by using antibodies against antigens of
Schistosoma mansoni
adult worms and eggs, and for the detection of circulating antigens. The objective of this study was to determine systematically the prevalence of
S. mansoni
infection in the peripheral areas of Barra Mansa. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to December 2011 by using probabilistic sampling that collected 610 fecal samples and 612 serum samples. ELISA-IgG with total extracts and ELISA-IgM with trichloroacetic acid-soluble fractions were employed to detect antibodies against
S. mansoni
and were compared with the Kato–Katz and Hoffman parasitological techniques. Among the individuals studied, anti-
S. mansoni
antibodies were detected in 11.16 % (
n
= 71) by ELISA-IgG and in 20.75 % (
n
= 132) by ELISA-IgM, while the parasitological techniques showed 0.82 % (
n
= 5) positivity. The agreement between the two ELISA tests was 85.38 % (
n
= 543), and 8.65 % (
n
= 55) of the serum samples showed positive results in both tests. The higher positivity of the ELISA-IgM test corroborates the results of previous reports and indicates that the test may be a useful tool in epidemiological studies, particularly in areas of low endemicity for
S. mansoni
.
Fermentation can contribute to improve functional aspects of foods. The first goal of this study was to determine amongst apple, grape and orange juices, the one with the best bacterial growth ...performance during fermentation by Lactobacillus strains from commercial and artisanal food origins, at 40°C for 48h. The juice with the highest bacterial growth was evaluated for bacteria viability during 4weeks of cold storage, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and folates production analyzed through HPLC/fluorimetry. Acceptability of fermented juice was appraised through hedonic analysis. Lactobacilli counts were the highest in apple and the lowest in orange juices at t=48h. In most cases, bacteria counts were higher in fermented (5.5 to 9.5logCFU/ml) than in supplemented apple juices (4.2 to 5.7logCFU/ml), at the 4th week of cold storage. SOD activity was significantly increased in all apple juices fermented by commercial Lactobacilli strains. Folates were produced in apple juices fermented by Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Apple juice was the best substrate for Lactobacillus growth and, considering bacterial viability and overall acceptance by the panelists, Lactobacillus acidophilus L10 was the most suitable strain for apple juice fermentation.
•Lactobacilli growth was higher in apple than in grape or orange juices.•Compared to supplementation, fermentation improved lactobacilli viability.•Folates were produced by L. plantarum and L. rhamnosus strains in apple juice.•SOD activity was correlated to lactobacilli growth during fermentation.•Fermented apple juices were scored as ‘like moderately’, by most of the panelists.
Monitoring forest cover change from Earth observation data streams in near-real-time presents a challenge for automated change detection by way of a continuously updated big dataset. Even though ...deforestation is a significant global problem, forest cover changes in pairs of subsequent images happen relatively infrequently. Detecting a change can require the download and processing of tens, hundreds or even thousands of images. In geoscientific applications of Earth observation, machine learning algorithms are increasingly used. Once trained, a machine learning model can be applied to new images automatically.
This paper introduces the open-access Python 3 package Pyeo - “Python for Earth Observation”. Pyeo provides a set of portable, extensible and modular Python functions for the automation of machine learning applications from Earth observation data streams, including automated search and download functionality, pre-processing and atmospheric correction, re-projection, creation of thematic base layers and machine learning classification or regression. Pyeo enables users to train their own machine learning models and then apply the models to newly downloaded imagery over their area of interest. This paper describes in detail how Pyeo works, its requirements, benefits, and a description of the libraries used. An application to the automated forest cover change detection in a region in Kenya is given. Pyeo can be used on cloud computing architectures such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Colab to provide scalable applications and processing solutions for the geosciences.
•Highlight 1: A Python package for Earth observation processing chains for change detection is presented.•Highlight 2: Data can be processed in near-real-time whenever a new satellite image is acquired.•Highlight 3: The satellite change detection algorithm informs the user of detected change events.•Highlight 4: An application to a forest in Kenya is presented to demonstrate the software.•Highlight 5: This software is used by the Kenya Forest Service for monitoring deforestation from Sentinel-2.
This study aimed to evaluate the influence of increasing concentrations of dietary dry oregano leaves (DOL), ranging from 0 to 0.15%, on different performance parameters of Nile tilapia. Hence, two ...separate experimental trials testing growth factors (Trial 1) and innate immunity and disease resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae infection (Trial 2) were conducted with a total of 464 tilapia juveniles and two to four replicates. As a result, dietary inclusion of DOL did not induce significant effects on growth performance, hematological parameters, and fillet composition. However, there were significant differences in lysozyme activity between groups of DOL at 0.075% and the control (0%). Moreover, the bactericidal index of the positive control and groups supplemented with DOL were significantly higher than baseline treatment groups. For disease resistance, there was a reduction of 15% in the relative risk of streptococcosis in fish juveniles after dietary inclusion of oregano at 0.15%. In conclusion, the inclusion of DOL in tilapia diets resulted in no significant gains in terms of growth; nevertheless, the immune system and resistance of tilapia against S. agalactiae infection were significantly improved.
The influence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in the natural history of the disease and its response to antiviral treatment have been addressed in many studies. In Brazil, studies on HBV ...genotype circulation have been restricted to specific population groups and states. Here, we have conducted a nationwide multicentre study with an unprecedented sample size representing all Brazilian regions in an effort to better understand the viral variants of HBV circulating among chronic carriers. Seven HBV genotypes were found circulating in Brazil. Overall, HBV/A was the most prevalent, identified in 589 (58.7 %) samples, followed by HBV/D (23.4 %) and HBV/F (11.3 %). Genotypes E, G, C and B were found in a minor proportion. The distribution of the genotypes differed markedly from the north to the south of the country. While HBV/A was the most prevalent in the North (71.6 %) and Northeast (65.0 %) regions, HBV/D was found in 78.9 % of the specimens analysed in the South region. HBV/F was the second most prevalent genotype in the Northeast region (23.5 %). It was detected in low proportions (7 to 10 %) in the North, Central-West and Southeast regions, and in only one sample in the South region. HBV/E was detected in all regions except in the South, while monoinfection with HBV/G was found countrywide, with the exception of Central-West states. Our sampling covered 24 of the 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District and is the first report of genotype distribution in seven states. This nationwide study provides the most complete overview of HBV genotype distribution in Brazil to date and reflects the origin and plurality of the Brazilian population.
Mercury (Hg total) fluxes were calculated for rainwater, throughfall and stream water in a small catchment located in the northeastern region of the Brazilian Amazon (Serra do Navio, Amapá State), ...whose upper part is covered by a natural rainforest and lower part was altered due to deforestation and activities related to manganese mining. The catchment area is 200 km from the nearest gold mining (garimpo). Minimum and maximum Hg concentrations were measured monthly from October 1996 to September 1997 and were 3.5–23.4 ng l
−1 for rainwater, 16.5–82.7 ng l
−1 for throughfall (March–August 1997) and 1.2–6.1 and 4.2–18.8 ng l
−1 for stream water, in natural and disturbed areas, respectively. In the natural area, the inputs were 18.2 μg m
−2 year
−1 in rainwater and 72 μg m
−2 year
−1 in throughfall. This enrichment was attributed to dry deposition. The stream output of 2.9 μg m
−2 year
−1 indicates that Hg is being recycled within the forest as other chemical species or is being retained by the soil system, as confirmed by the cumulative Hg burden in the 0–10 cm surface layer, which was 36
480 μg m
−2. When the disturbed area of the catchment was included, the stream output was 9.3 μg m
−2, clearly indicating the impact of the deforestation of the lower part of the basin on the release of mercury. The Hg burden in the disturbed area was 7560 μg m
−2 for the 0–10 cm surface layer.
Exchange of carbon between forests and the atmosphere is a vital component of the global carbon cycle. Satellite laser altimetry has a unique capability for estimating forest canopy height, which has ...a direct and increasingly well understood relationship to aboveground carbon storage. While the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) onboard the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) has collected an unparalleled dataset of lidar waveforms over terrestrial targets, processing of ICESat data to estimate forest height is complicated by the pulse broadening associated with large‐footprint, waveform‐sampling lidar. We combined ICESat waveforms and ancillary topography from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission to estimate maximum forest height in three ecosystems; tropical broadleaf forests in Brazil, temperate broadleaf forests in Tennessee, and temperate needleleaf forests in Oregon. Final models for each site explained between 59% and 68% of variance in field‐measured forest canopy height (RMSE between 4.85 and 12.66 m). In addition, ICESat‐derived heights for the Brazilian plots were correlated with field‐estimates of aboveground biomass (r2 = 73%, RMSE = 58.3 Mgha−1).
L. is a well-known fruit worldwide, and its highest production occurs in tropical and subtropical regions. The pulp contains vitamins A, C, and E, B complex vitamins, such as pantothenic acid and ...folate, and minerals, such as magnesium and potassium, as well as food fibers. Phenolic compounds, such as benzyl isothiocyanate, glucosinolates, tocopherols (α and δ), β-cryptoxanthin, β-carotene and carotenoids, are found in the seeds. The oil extracted from the seed principally presents oleic fatty acid followed by palmitic, linoleic and stearic acids, whereas the leaves have high contents of food fibers and polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, pro-anthocyanins, tocopherol, and benzyl isothiocyanate. Studies demonstrated that the nutrients present in its composition have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, protecting it against cardiovascular illnesses and preventing harm caused by free radicals. It has also been reported that it aids in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and in the reduction of cholesterol levels. Thus, both the pulp and the other parts of the plant (leaves and seeds) present antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic actions, which, in turn, can contribute to the prevention and treatment of obesity and associated metabolic disorders.
Tree mortality rates appear to be increasing in moist tropical forests (MTFs) with significant carbon cycle consequences. Here, we review the state of knowledge regarding MTF tree mortality, create a ...conceptual framework with testable hypotheses regarding the drivers, mechanisms and interactions that may underlie increasing MTF mortality rates, and identify the next steps for improved understanding and reduced prediction. Increasing mortality rates are associated with rising temperature and vapor pressure deficit, liana abundance, drought, wind events, fire and, possibly, CO2 fertilization-induced increases in stand thinning or acceleration of trees reaching larger, more vulnerable heights. The majority of these mortality drivers may kill trees in part through carbon starvation and hydraulic failure. The relative importance of each driver is unknown. High species diversity may buffer MTFs against large-scale mortality events, but recent and expected trends in mortality drivers give reason for concern regarding increasing mortality within MTFs. Models of tropical tree mortality are advancing the representation of hydraulics, carbon and demography, but require more empirical knowledge regarding the most common drivers and their subsequent mechanisms. We outline critical datasets and model developments required to test hypotheses regarding the underlying causes of increasing MTF mortality rates, and improve prediction of future mortality under climate change.
Given the inconsistencies of wind gust trends under the widespread decline in near‐surface wind speed (stilling), our study aimed to assess trends of observed daily peak wind gusts (DPWG) across ...Spain and Portugal for 1961–2014 by analyzing trends of (i) the frequency (90th percentile) and (ii) the magnitude (wind speed maxima) of DPWG. Wind gust series were homogenized on a daily basis, using MM5‐simulated series as reference, resulting in 80 suitable station‐based data sets. The average DPWG 90th percentile frequency declined by −1.49 d decade−1 (p < 0.05) annually. This showed marked seasonal differences: decreasing in winter (−0.75 d decade−1; p < 0.05) and increasing in summer (+0.18 d decade−1; p > 0.10). A negligible trend was calculated for the annual magnitude of DPWG (−0.005 m s−1 decade−1; p > 0.10), with distinct seasonality: declining in winter (−0.168 m s−1 decade−1; p < 0.10) and increasing in summer (+0.130 m s−1 decade−1; p < 0.05). Combined, these results reveal less frequent and declining DPWG during the cold semester (November–April) and more frequent and increasing DPWG during the warm semester (May–October). Large‐scale atmospheric changes such as the North Atlantic Oscillation Index (negative correlations ~−0.4–−0.6; p < 0.05) and the Jenkinson and Collison scheme (positive correlations mainly with Westerly regime: ~+0.5–0.6; p < 0.05) partly account for the decadal fluctuations of both frequency and magnitude of DPWG, particularly in winter. However, the North Atlantic Oscillation index‐DPWG relationships are smaller in spring, summer, and autumn (~−0.1–−0.2; p > 0.10), especially for the frequency, suggesting the role of local‐to‐mesoscale drivers.
Key Points
Annual frequency and magnitude of daily peak wind gusts (DPWG) has declined
Distinct seasonality with winter declines and summer increases is detected
Large‐scale circulation changes account for most decadal variability of DPWG
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