This study delves into the foraging ecology of the cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) in the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA), assessing bite marks on pelagic fishes collected ...between March and September 2018. Examination of 200 individuals from five species revealed the shark's predilection for targeting adult fish, ensuring efficient removal of energy‐rich tissue layers. However, a notable exception is Thunnus albacares, preyed on predominantly during its juvenile stage, possibly due to vertical spatial segregation. Recent bites were pervasive across species, with wahoo displaying a distinctive pattern. Cookiecutter shark bites predominantly targeted the lateral body portion (>55%) except for yellowfin tuna, which exhibited a preference for the ventral region (95%). The estimated length distribution suggests the SPSPA as a potential nursery area for cookiecutter sharks. Bite mark positions and frequencies may be linked to fish behavior, swimming velocity, and fishing gear strategy, highlighting the complex interplay in pelagic ecosystems.
Here, we analyze critical changes in environmental law enforcement in the Brazilian Amazon between 2000 and 2020. Based on a dataset of law enforcement indicators, we discuss how these changes ...explain recent Amazon deforestation dynamics. Our analysis also covers changes in the legal prosecution process and documents a militarization of enforcement between 2018 and 2022. From 2004 to 2018, 43.6 thousand land-use embargoes and 84.3 thousand fines were issued, targeting 3.3 million ha of land, and totaling USD 9.3 billion in penalties. Nevertheless, enforcement relaxed and became spatially more limited, signaling an increasing lack of commitment by the State to enforcing the law. The number of embargoes and asset confiscations dropped by 59% and 55% in 2019 and 2020, respectively. These changes were accompanied by a marked increase in enforcement expenditure, suggesting a massive efficiency loss. More importantly, the creation of so-called conciliation hearings and the centralization of legal processes in 2019 reduced the number of actual judgments and fines collected by 85% and decreased the ratio between lawsuits resulting in paid fines over filed ones from 17 to 5%. As Brazil gears up to crack-down on illegal deforestation once again, our assessment suggests urgent entry points for policy action.
Abstract
Estuaries are highly productive ecosystems, which are strongly affected by several anthropogenic pressures. Phytoplankton is a key element for assessing the ecological quality status in ...these transitional waters. Moreover, understanding physico-chemical and biological drivers is crucial to disentangle their effect on the structure of phytoplankton community. The present work aims to study the effect of the main physico-chemical drivers on the phytoplankton community structure and dynamics in a temperate well-mixed estuary (Sado Estuary). Four sampling stations were analyzed monthly in three regions of the estuary, from 2018 to 2019. Surface water samples were collected to analyze the phytoplankton community and several concomitant physico-chemical parameters. Temperature, turbidity, salinity, and nutrients availability were the drivers that best explained the spatio-temporal patterns observed in the phytoplankton community. The upper estuary was characterized by higher phytoplankton cell abundances and biomass. Three phytoplankton groups stood out in the characterization of the estuarine assemblages: diatoms, cryptophytes, and dinoflagellates. Diatoms were the dominant group most of the year, being dominated by small cell species (single and chain-forming) upstream, and by larger chain-forming species downstream. Cryptophytes had a high contribution to the community in the inner regions of the estuary, while dinoflagellates contributed more for the community composition downstream, where high abundances of harmful algal species were sporadically found. Previous studies on the phytoplankton community dynamics in this estuary are limited to the 1990s. Thus, the present study provides insight into changes in the dominant phytoplankton groups of the Sado Estuary in the last 25 years, namely an increase in cryptophytes over diatoms in the inner estuarine regions, and an increase in dinoflagellates near the estuary mouth.
The slogan Undetectable equals Untransmittable (U = U) communicates that people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) will not transmit HIV to their sexual partners. We ...describe awareness of U = U among sexual and gender minorities (SGM) living in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru by self-reported HIV status (PLHIV, negative, unknown) during 2021 using an online survey. We estimated two models using Poisson regression for each population group: Model A including socio-demographic factors (country, gender, age, race, education, and income), and then Model B including taking ART (for PLHIV) or risk behavior, ever-taking PrEP, and HIV risk perception (for HIV-negative or of unknown HIV status). A total of 21,590 respondents were included (Brazil: 61%, Mexico: 30%, Peru: 9%). Among HIV-negative (74%) and unknown status (12%), 13% ever used PrEP. Among PLHIV (13%), 93% reported current use of ART. Awareness of U = U was 89% in both Brazil and Mexico, which was higher than in Peru 64%. Awareness of U = U was higher among PLHIV (96%) than HIV-negative (88%) and HIV-unknown (70%). In multivariate models, PLHIV with lower education were less aware of U = U, while those taking ART were more aware. Among HIV-negative, non-cisgender, lower income, and those with lower education had lower awareness of U = U, while individuals ever using PrEP had higher awareness. In conclusion, awareness of U = U varied by HIV status, socio-demographic characteristics, and HIV risk behavior. The concept of U = U should be disseminated through educational strategies and include a focus on SGM to combat HIV stigma.
Objectives
We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of serological biomarkers for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and advanced fibrosis (METAVIR‐F3F4) in HIV mono‐infected individuals.
Methods
In ...all, 674 participants from the PROSPEC‐HIV study (NCT02542020), who had blood sample tests and transient elastography (TE) performed on the same day, were eligible. Exclusion criteria were viral hepatitis co‐infection (n = 90), abusive alcohol intake (n = 61), missing data (n = 47) or unreliable TE (n = 39). NAFLD was defined by controlled attenuation parameter ≥ 248 dB/m and advanced fibrosis by liver stiffness measurement ≥ 8.7 kPa with M probe or ≥ 7.2 kPa with XL probe. Biomarkers for NAFLD Steato‐ELSA, Fatty Liver Index (FLI), Hepatic Steatosis Index (HSI), NAFLD‐Liver Fat Score (NAFLD‐LFS) and fibrosis Fibrosis‐4 score (FIB‐4), Aspartate‐to‐Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) were calculated.
Results
A total of 437 patients 57% female, age = 44 (interquartile range: 35–52) years, body mass index (BMI) = 26.1 (23.4–29.3) kg/m2, CD4 = 660 (427–901) cells/μL were included. The prevalence 95% confidence interval (CI) of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were 38.2% (33.8–42.9) and 10.5% (8.0–13.8), respectively. The areas (95% CI) under the receiver operator curve (AUROCs) for diagnosis of NAFLD were 0.854 (0.818–0.889), 0.840 (0.804–0.877), 0.805 (0.762–0.847) and 0.793 (0.750–0.836) for Steato‐ELSA, FLI, HSI and NAFLD‐LFS (P < 0.001), respectively. All tests yielded satisfactory sensitivities, specificities and negative predictive values (NPVs). The AUROCs (95% CI) for diagnosis of advanced fibrosis were 0.736 (0.659–0.814), 0.700 (0.614–0.7851) and 0.795 (0.726–0.864) for FIB‐4, APRI and NFS (P = 0.077), respectively. These tests yielded high specificities and negative predictive values (NPVs) > 90%.
Conclusion
Biomarkers for NAFLD had a good accuracy and those for fibrosis had high specificities and NPVs. These tests should be integrated to HIV care to detect NAFLD and to exclude advanced liver fibrosis.
Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Malpighiales: Caryocaraceae) trees have a wide distribution in the Cerrado, and it is protected by federal laws. The need to monitor and understand pest damage to crops ...and forests is a major motivation for the study of population distribution. The mites (Acari) population distributions on C. brasiliense are unknown. We studied seasonal mite population distribution and their ecological indices on C. brasiliense trees in Cerrado areas during three years. Greatest number of Agistemus sp. (Stigmaeidae), Histiostoma sp. (Histiostomidae), Proctolaelaps sp. (Ascidae), and diversity and species richness on leaves of C. brasiliense occurred in the autumn; Tetranychus sp.1 (Tetranychidae) on leaves in the autumn and winter; Histiostoma sp., and Proctolaelaps sp. in fruits in the summer. No significant effect of season was observed in the abundance of Eutetranychus sp., Tetranychus sp.2 (Tetranychidae) and Acaridae. The populations of Acaridae, Eutetranychus sp., Proctolaelaps sp. and Tetranychus sp.1 negatively correlated with temperature. Proctolaelaps sp. and Tetranychus sp.1 correlated negatively with rainfall and Eutetranychus sp. and Proctolaelaps sp. positively with sunlight. The period with low rainfall and relative humidity increases the phytophagous mites and their predators, especially Agistemus sp.. The Tetranychus sp. and Histiostoma sp. species may become pests in C. brasiliense in the Cerrado domain.
Ground temperature's sensitivity to climate change has garnered attention. This study aimed to monitor and analyze temporal trends and estimate Active Layer Thickness from a monitoring point at ...Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, in Antarctica. Quality control and consistency analysis were performed on the data. Methods such as serial autocorrelation, Mann-Kendall, Sen-Slope, Pettitt, and regression analysis tests were applied. Spearman's correlation examined the relationship between air temperature and ground depths. The active layer thickness was estimated using the maximum monthly temperature, and the permafrost lower limit used the minimum monthly temperature. Significant summer seasonal trends were observed with Mann-Kendall tau, positive Sen-Slope, and Pettitt slope at depths of 67.5 and 83.5 cm. The regression analysis was significant and positive for all ground depths and in different seasons. The highest correlation (r=0.82) between air temperature and surface ground depth was found. Freezing prevailed at all depths during 2008-2018. The average Active Layer Thickness (ALT) was 92.61 cm. Temperature is difficult to monitor, and its estimation is still complex. However, it stands out as a fundamental element for studies that refer to the impacts of climate change.Ground temperature's sensitivity to climate change has garnered attention. This study aimed to monitor and analyze temporal trends and estimate Active Layer Thickness from a monitoring point at Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, in Antarctica. Quality control and consistency analysis were performed on the data. Methods such as serial autocorrelation, Mann-Kendall, Sen-Slope, Pettitt, and regression analysis tests were applied. Spearman's correlation examined the relationship between air temperature and ground depths. The active layer thickness was estimated using the maximum monthly temperature, and the permafrost lower limit used the minimum monthly temperature. Significant summer seasonal trends were observed with Mann-Kendall tau, positive Sen-Slope, and Pettitt slope at depths of 67.5 and 83.5 cm. The regression analysis was significant and positive for all ground depths and in different seasons. The highest correlation (r=0.82) between air temperature and surface ground depth was found. Freezing prevailed at all depths during 2008-2018. The average Active Layer Thickness (ALT) was 92.61 cm. Temperature is difficult to monitor, and its estimation is still complex. However, it stands out as a fundamental element for studies that refer to the impacts of climate change.
Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Malpighiales: Caryocaraceae) trees are widely distributed throughout the Cerrado ecosystem. The fruits of C. brasiliense trees are used by humans for food and as the main ...income source in many communities. C. brasiliense conservation is seriously threatened due to habitat loss caused by the land-use change. Sucking insects constitute an important ecological driver that potentially impact C. brasiliense survival in degraded environments. In addition, insects sampling methodologies for application in studies related to the conservation of C. brasiliense are poorly developed. In this study, sucking insects (Hemiptera) and their predators were recorded in three vertical strata of Caryocar brasiliense canopies. The distribution of sucking species showed vertical stratification along the canopy structure of C. brasiliense. The basal part of the canopy had the highest numbers of sucking insects Aphis gossypii (Glover 1877) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and Bemisia tabaci (Genn. 1889) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and their predators Chrysoperla sp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), spiders (Araneae), and Zelus armillatus (Lep. & Servi., 1825) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Predators' distribution follows the resource availability and preferred C. brasiliense tree parts with a higher abundance of prey.
Abstract At the global level, Sorghum bicolor (L.), is one of the most important crops, which ranks fifth among all cereals. It is cultivated in Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, where it ...serves as a source of food and feed for humans and animals, respectively. However, production is constrained by several factors including pests and diseases. Among the pests that are known to attack Sorghum, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), commonly called the green cereal aphid, is the most destructive pest of sorghum. S. graminum damage to sorghum is worsen by water deficit which favors its occurrence. Limited information on the spatial distribution of the pest and its natural enemies impedes the development of ecologically friendly management strategies. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of S. graminum and its natural enemy Coccinella septempunctata (L.) during the vegetative and reproductive stage of the crop using geostatistical analysis. The spatiotemporal distribution of S. graminum was influenced by Sorghum development stage, surrounding landscape, and presence of its main predator C. septempunctata. Moreover, the abundance of C. septempunctata was influenced by the density of S. graminum. The findings from this study are required for developing sustainable pest management strategies against S. graminum.
Resumo Em uma escala global o Sorghum bicolor (L.) é uma das culturas mais importantes, ocupando o quinto lugar entre todos os cereais. É cultivada na África, Ásia, Oceania e Américas, onde serve como fonte de alimento e ração para humanos e animais, respectivamente. No entanto, a produção é limitada por vários fatores, incluindo pragas e doenças. Entre as pragas que atacam o sorgo, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), comumente chamado de pulgão verde dos cereais, é a praga mais destrutiva do sorgo. O dano de S. graminum ao sorgo é agravado pelo déficit hídrico que favorece sua ocorrência. Informações limitadas sobre a distribuição espacial da praga e seus inimigos naturais impedem o desenvolvimento de estratégias de manejo ecologicamente corretas. Portanto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar a distribuição espaço-temporal de S. graminum e seu inimigo natural Coccinella septempunctata (L.) durante a fase vegetativa e reprodutiva da cultura por meio de análise geoestatística. A distribuição espaço-temporal de S. graminum foi influenciada pelo estágio de desenvolvimento do sorgo, paisagem circundante e presença de seu principal predador C. septempunctata. Além disso, a abundância de C. septempunctata foi influenciada pela densidade de S. graminum. Os resultados deste estudo são necessários para o desenvolvimento de estratégias sustentáveis de manejo de pragas contra S. graminum.
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