Midwest Brazil Research Articles

Biomechanical analysis of wood processing work in tropical forest regions: A study in Midwest Brazil

In the wood processing industry, working with machines exposes workers to occupational risks. This study evaluates the biomechanics of work activities carried out in a wood processing operation in tropical forest regions to identify risks associated with the development of musculoskeletal injuries. Data were collected in a wood processing industry from a tropical forest region in Midwest Brazil. Forty forest workers were evaluated, equivalent to 100% of the population of the company participating in the study. Biomechanical movements were measured using the Three-Dimensional Biomechanical Model for Predicting Stances and Static Forces. There was a risk of injury to the joints of the upper limbs (wrists and shoulders), as well as to the torso. When splitting and manually stacking wood, a risk of spinal injury was identified. All workers had a high risk of developing injuries in all joints evaluated in addition to a risk of serious spinal injury. In this way, the development of these activities without any ergonomic interventions makes the risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries in the workers involved imminent, with consequent early professional incapacity.

Unveiling the Impact of the Omicron Variant: Insights from Genomic Surveillance in Mato Grosso do Sul, Midwest Brazil.

Genomic surveillance has emerged as a crucial tool in monitoring and understanding the dynamics of viral variants during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Midwest region of Brazil, Mato Grosso do Sul has faced a significant burden from the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, with a total of 613,000 confirmed cases as of June 2023. In collaboration with the Central Public Health Laboratory in the capital city of Campo Grande, we conducted a portable whole-genome sequencing and phylodynamic analysis to investigate the circulation of the Omicron variant in the region. The study aimed to uncover the genomic landscape and provide valuable insights into the prevalence and transmission patterns of this highly transmissible variant. Our findings revealed an increase in the number of cases within the region during 2022, followed by a gradual decline as a result of the successful impact of the vaccination program together with the capacity of this unpredictable and very transmissible variant to quickly affect the proportion of susceptible population. Genomic data indicated multiple introduction events, suggesting that human mobility played a differential role in the variant's dispersion dynamics throughout the state. These findings emphasize the significance of implementing public health interventions to mitigate further spread and highlight the powerful role of genomic monitoring in promptly tracking and uncovering the circulation of viral strains. Together those results underscore the importance of proactive surveillance, rapid genomic sequencing, and data sharing to facilitate timely public health responses.

Application periods against diceraeus (dichelops) melacanthus on maize and their significant response on damage and grain yield in the Brazilian Midwest

Diceraeus melacanthus (Dallas, 1851) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) remains one of the primary pests in maize nowadays in Brazil, causing significant losses in production. Different insecticide application periods against this pest were performed, and the following parameters were evaluated the plant damage, maize yield and an economic analysis was conducted using these two parameters. The experiment was performed in two growing seasons (2021 and 2022) in a two-factor scheme, with five insecticide application periods: zero (untreated); V1–V3; V1–V3 + V3–V4; V1–V3 + V3–V4 + V4–V6, and V1–V3 + V3–V4 + V4–V6 + V6–V7; and three insecticides: acephate (Perito - 970 g a. i./kg SG - 1,0 kg/ha), thiamethoxam + lambda-cyhalothrin (Engeo Pleno S - 141 + 106 g a. i./L ZC - 0,3 L/ha) and ethiprole (Curbix - 200 g a. i./L SC - 0,75 L/ha). There was a significant difference for the isolated factors of growing season, evaluation stages, application periods and insecticides for the number of plants with damage rating ≥2. Curbix, Engeo Pleno and Perito showed the maximum reduction of damage in maize plants with application periods at V1–V3 + V3–V4 + V4–V6 and V1–V3 + V3–V4 + V4–V6 + V6–V7, presenting 3.2 and 2.9 plants with damage rating ≥2, respectively. Evaluations between the V7 and V8 stages showed a negative correlation with maize yield (Cor = −0.712 at V7 and -0.537 at V8). Regardless of the insecticide used, the V1–V3 + V3–V4 + V4–V6 + V6–V7 application period had the highest productivity, with an average of 4660 kg/ha, differing 681.8 kg/ha and net income of $ 30,3/ha from the uncontrolled plots. Additionally, every 5 days of an application period increased the yield in 178,9 kg/ha or 35 kg/ha daily. Therefore, the use of control tactics from V1–V3 to V6–V7 of maize plants contributes significantly to the reduction of damage, the increase of productivity and a higher net income.

Itinerant Agriculture and Food Sovereignty: agricultural scenario in the modern world

The expansion of agribusiness in Brazil challenges the future of traditional agricultural systems. This article intends to identify processes by which traditional farmers maintain agricultural diversity on the frontier of monocultures in the Brazilian Midwest, with ethnobotanical records of agricultural practices and agrobiodiversity with 86 quilombolas farmers in Baixada Cuiabana, resulting from production in spaces derived from cutting agriculture and burns. The crops are configured as islands of agrobiodiversity designed among cerrado fields, forests and fallow land, with the ingenious combination of cultural practices and production and conservation of creole and hybrid seeds in the face of the advance of capitalist agriculture. In these relatively stabilized territories, active agriculture is not yet threatened by commercial agricultural expansion or by the extraterritorial process of cultural disqualification. Valuing traditional territories are basic conditions to encourage farmers to continue conserving agrobiodiversity in a dynamic and cultural way over time and achieving the desired food sovereignty.

Genotype-environment interaction in maize hybrids: a multivariate relationship between yield components, morphological variables and disease tolerance

ABSTRACT Knowledge of phenotypical variables, yield and susceptibility to diseases may clarify why some hybrids are more productive than others. In this study, we evaluated the stability and responsiveness of genotype-environment interactions on phenological variables, yield components and susceptibility to diseases of maize hybrids. Experiments were conducted in 5 regions in the Brazilian Midwest. Two population were used for each hybrid in each region, totalling 10 systems-environments. Data were analysed by Restricted Maximum Likelihood; Best Unbiased Linear Prediction and Principal Components Analysis. Environmental conditions and plant populations affect the yield components of maize hybrids. Variations equal to 57,000 and 62,700 plants ha−1 was relatively small and may not have been large enough to reveal plant density effects on disease. Diseases reduced the yield of hybrids with greater susceptibility to these phytopathogens at some sites, despite the use of fungicides. The best performance for at least two yield component variables resulted in the highest yield. Microclimate control using plant populations was omitted as a management option for reducing the severity and incidence of diseases for the tested conditions in this work. The climatic conditions of agricultural sites increased the incidence and severity of diseases, mainly of Cercospora zeae maydis.

Evaluation of the snakebite severity in the brazilian midwest

Evaluation of the snakebite severity in the brazilian midwest

The Upper Rio Paraguay Basin Reveals Another Jewel Hidden: Hypostomus uruguayensis (Loricariidae)

The present work extends the distribution of Hypostomus uruguayensis to the upper Rio Paraguay basin. This species which was originally described from the Rio Uruguay in Southern Brazil and cited to Argentina and Bolivia is here reported for the first time within the Brazilian Midwest. Additionally, the new population was compared to the original description and the holotype of H. uruguayensis, providing a foundation for brief comments on a diagnosis of H. uruguayensis.

Prevalence of negative behaviour in the dental setting and association with sociodemographic, oral health-related and psychosocial factors amongst Brazilian preschool children.

To investigate the prevalence of negative behaviour in preschool children attending dental clinics and its association with sociodemographic, oral health-related and parental psychosocial factors. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 145 parents/guardians and their children aged 4-6years attending paediatric dentistry training programmes in a capital city of Midwest Brazil. Data were obtained from children's dental records, interviews, and questionnaires for parents/guardians. The outcome was negative child behaviour, based on the dentists' use or indication of behavioural control measures during the dental appointments, as registered in the children's dental records. Covariates were sociodemographic, clinical and parent/guardian psychosocial factors religiosity (DUREL index) and Sense of Coherence (SOC-13 scale). Bivariate analyses and Poisson regression with robust variance were performed. The prevalence of negative behaviour was 24.1% (95% CI = 17.9-31.7). In the bivariate analyses, the variables initially selected for the regression models (p < 0.25) were the parent/guardians' number of children and religiosity, and the children's dental pain and caries status in deciduous teeth. After adjustment, the prevalence of negative behaviour was 2.12 higher in children with teeth extracted due to caries. The prevalence of negative behaviour was high and associated with the presence of missing teeth due to caries, regardless of sociodemographic, psychosocial, and other oral health factors.

Coarsening of tufa textures through early diagenesis: Modern and fossil examples from Bonito region (Central-West, Brazil)

Diagenetic modifications in tufa are difficult to distinguish from primary processes as they occur soon after sedimentation. Active and inactive fossil, probably Pleistocene to mid-Holocene, tufas in the Bonito region (Brazilian Midwest) were investigated to characterize primary and early diagenetic changes. Textural observations, analyses of cathodoluminescence and point counting were performed to identify the main diagenetic processes in active and fossil tufa facies. Lithification, coarsening of the textures, and degradation of organic matter are the main diagenetic changes. Although in some cases microspar and some spar crystals are syn-sedimentary, most of them occur as early diagenetic products. Microbial influence, anisotropy of the porosity and dominant capillarity-controlled processes are all related to lithification. Micrite grading to microspar occurring in both modern and inactive tufa is interpreted as neomorphism. Inactive tufa presents cloudy spar crystals interpreted as neomorphic (pseudospar) and clear spar crystals formed as cements. High correlation coefficients and negative trends between contents of micrite-microspar (active tufa) and micrite-spar (inactive tufa) suggest neomorphism as the main diagenetic process, in agreement with textural observations in thin section. The lack of correlation between pores and micrite, microspar and spar in both tufas suggests that the main diagenetic processes are not pore-consuming, at the scale of the present work. Although the textural differences between active and inactive tufa from Bonito region are very subtle, all the diagenetic changes were limited to the time spanning the active depositional system.

Remotely sensed imagery and machine learning for mapping of sesame crop in the Brazilian Midwest

The changes in landscapes have been followed more intensely in recent decades thanks to scientific advances, both in the field of technological improvement of satellites and in remote sensing techniques. Advanced and efficient machine learning techniques have helped remote sensing professionals to determine these changes, from the simplest to the most complex landscapes, allowing the identification of the most varied land uses and occupation, as well as the estimation of the areas that these uses occupy, allowing a more dynamic management of natural resources, especially in agricultural exploitation, providing reliable information to decision makers. Thus, the objective of this work is, through machine learning techniques, to estimate the area of sesame (Sesamum indicum) cultivation in the crop season 2021/2022, in the municipality of Canarana, in the state of Mato Grosso, comparing the performance of the Random Forest and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers, using images from the Landsat 8/OLI satellite. As a source of information for the supervised classification, control points in geographic coordinates were collected in the study area to identify the areas cultivated with sesame. The vegetation indices NDVI, EVI, NDBI, PVI and SAVI were used for the elaboration of thematic maps, along with the Landsat 8/OLI images. Global Accuracy and Kappa index were used as a rule of thumb in the evaluation of the thematic maps, compared by the Z test, with significance at α = 0.05. The test revealed that the Random Forest classifier showed better performance in identifying the sesame cultivated areas, with Global Accuracy of 0.95 and Kappa of 0.90, when compared to SVM, which showed 0.91 and 0.81, respectively. The use of machine learning techniques in Landsat 8/OLI images proved satisfactory in estimating areas cultivated with sesame in the municipality of Canarana-MT, demonstrating confidence in the mapping. The way Random Forest structures its training model, creating as many decision trees as necessary, ended up mitigating more classification errors and proved to be more promising when compared to SVM. As a rule, both algorithms showed potential for mapping the sesame crop.

Emergence of a New Strain of DENV-2 in South America: Introduction of the Cosmopolitan Genotype through the Brazilian-Peruvian Border

Dengue virus 2 (DENV-2) seriously contributes to dengue-related mortality. It includes five nonsylvatic genotypes, with cosmopolitan being the most widespread with a significant contribution to the total number of DENV-2 cases globally. In South America, the cosmopolitan genotype was first recorded in 2019 in Madre de Dios, Peru, and then in Goiás (Midwest Brazil) in November 2021. In this study, we tested 163 human serum samples from Acre (Northern Brazil) collected during a DENV outbreak between 2020 and 2021 for all DENV genotypes by RT-qPCR. Of the 163 samples, 139 were positive for DENV-2, and 5 were positive for DENV-1. Five DENV-2-positive samples from early 2021 were sequenced, and the sequences clustered with the three other DENV-2 cosmopolitan genotype sequences already recorded on the continent. These results create a geographical link, suggesting the possible route of introduction of the DENV-2 cosmopolitan genotype into Brazil through the border with Peru, from which it may have dispersed to Midwest Brazil.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Indigenous Peoples of Brazil: Epidemiology and Risk Factors Associated with Death.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) represents a serious public health problem for the indigenous peoples of Brazil, since acute respiratory infections are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in thispopulation. To assess cases of SARS in Brazilian indigenous peoples in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as sociodemographic and health factors associated with deaths from SARS in this population. Ecological study carried out based on secondary data from the Brazilian Database for Epidemiological Surveillance of Influenza referring to the Brazilian indigenous population with SARS in 2020. The variables included sociodemographic factors and health conditions. Statistical analyses were carried out considering absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies and logistic regression with odds ratios (OR), with death as the outcome of interest. A total of 3062 cases were reported in the analyzed period. Of these, there was a predominance of men (54.6%), adults (41.4%), with comorbidities (52.3%), with low levels of schooling (67.4%) and residents of rural areas (55.8%). Cases and deaths were concentrated in the states of Amazonas and Mato Grosso do Sul, states in the North and Midwest of Brazil. A greater chance of death was observed in elderly indigenous people (OR = 6.29; 95%CI 4.71-8.39), with low levels of schooling (OR = 1.72; 95%CI 1.22-2.28), residents of rural areas (OR = 1.35; 95%CI 1.12-1.62), and with comorbidities (OR = 1.87; 95%CI 1.42-2.46), especially obesity (OR = 2.56; 95%CI 1.07-6.11). The study was able to trace the clinical-epidemiological profile, as well as identify the groups of indigenous people most vulnerable to SARS as a result of COVID-19 and evolution to death in Brazil. The findings show the high impact on the morbidity and mortality of the Brazilian indigenous population exposed to SARS and are relevant for epidemiological health surveillance, since they can guide preventive public policy actions and quality of life measures for this ethnic group in Brazil.

Oxygen uptake efficiency slope measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing: applicability analysis of the available prediction equations in a Brazilian healthy sample

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Background Oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a measure derived from submaximal oxygen uptake values and has prognostic significance in heart failure patients. Measured values are compared to reference standards for an adequate individual assessment. However, current reference values prediction equations have applicability limitations due to differences in ergometer and sample characteristics (age range and nationatilies), which may impact external validation, as international heterogeneities in peak oxygen uptake values have already been demonstrated by Milani et al. and Peterman et al. Purpose To analyze the applicability of the available prediction equations for OUES in a healthy Brazilian sample from the Midwest region. Methods Cross-sectional study of subjects assessed by treadmill CPET in the Brazilian Midwest region between January/2011 to March/2020. The inclusion criteria were CPET performed on a treadmill in healthy subjects aged 20 years or older, and with respiratory exchange ratio ≥ 1.0. The exclusion criteria were any history of cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, presence of cardiovascular risk factors (such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current smoking, and obesity) and abnormalities on CPET. The following available prediction equations were used for comparisons with the measured OUES: 1) Buys et al. from Belgium/Netherlands; 2) Hollemberg et al. from United States; 3) Sun et al. from United States; 4) Brazilian prediction equations calculated in our same sample using sex, age and anthropometric variables. Statistical comparisons between measured and predicted OUES were performed using Spearman correlation test and Bland-Altman agreement analysis. Results During the study period, 7,843 CPETs were performed and included for eligibility. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 3,544 assessments of healthy individuals were included (1,574 women; 1,970 men; age 20 to 80 years). All correlations between measured and predicted values were significant, with rho ranging from 0.325 to 0.396 in females and from 0.391 to 0.450 in males (Figure 1). The mean errors by the Bland-Altman agreement analysis were heterogeneous between the OUES predition equations, with better results in our Brazilian equation. Greater bias were observed in the equation by Sun et al. for both sexes, in the equation from Buys et al. for females and in the equation by Hollemberg et al. for males (Figure 2). Conclusions The applicability analysis of the international prediction equations for OUES revealed great heterogeneity, limiting the external validation of the available equations, and highlighting the importance of using country-specific reference values for OUES to ensure a correct individual evaluation.

Peak oxygen uptake during treadmill cardiopulmonary exercise testing: applicability analysis of the FRIEND registry prediction equation in a Brazilian healthy sample

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). Background Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is an important marker for health, physical performance and cardiovascular prognosis. Measured values are compared to reference standards for an adequate individual assessment. However, regional and international heterogeneities for VO2peak values have already been demonstrated by Milani, which may limit the external validation of the predictive equations developed in different nationalities. One of these equations was developed in an American population sample (FRIEND Registry) by Myers, but this equation has never been evaluated for portability in a population sample from the Brazilian Midwest region. Purpose To analyze the applicability of the FRIEND registry prediction equation for treadmill VO2peak in a healthy Brazilian sample from the Midwest region. Methods Cross-sectional study of subjects assessed by CPET in the Brazilian Midwest region between January/2011 to March/2020. The inclusion criteria were CPET performed on a treadmill in healthy subjects aged 20 years or older, and with respiratory exchange ratio ≥ 1.0. The exclusion criteria were any history of cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, presence of cardiovascular risk factors (such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current smoking, and obesity) and abnormalities on CPET. Variables were described as median and interquartile range. Statistical comparisons between measured and predicted VO2peak were performed using Spearman correlation test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and Bland-Altman agreement analysis. Results During the study period, 7,843 CPET were performed and included for eligibility. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 3,544 assessments of healthy individuals were included (1,574 women; 1,970 men; age 20 to 80 years). The measured and predicted VO2peak were, respectively, 29.4 (25.1; 33.9) and 33.1 (29.5; 36.2) mL/kg/min in females, and 39.4 (34.3; 43.9) and 42.2 (39.1; 45.0) mL/kg/min in males, with significant differences (p &amp;lt; 0.0001). Correlations were significant (p &amp;lt; 0.0001) for both sexes (rho = 0.418 in women and 0.432 in men) (Figure 1). The mean error by the Bland-Altman agreement analysis was similar in both sexes, with a bias of -2.96 mL/kg/min (95% limits of agreement: -14.96 to 9.04 ) in females and a bias of -2.78 mL/kg/min (95% limits of agreement: - 15.39 to 9.83) in males (Figure 2). Conclusions The median values of the measured VO2peak were lower than the predicted values for both sexes, with a significant mean error, which limits the applicability of the FRIEND registry prediction equation in the Brazilian Midwest region population and highlights the international heterogeneity of the variable.

High-frequency sequence stratigraphy applied to a strictly continental and fragmented basin – Case study in the Mesozoic record of the Parecis basin, western Brazil

Sequence stratigraphy applied to strictly continental alluvial system can provide better understanding about the triggering mechanism and tectono-climatic control over sedimentation behavior. The Parecis Basin, a large intracratonics basin located in mid-west Brazil, have an understudied Mesozoic continental record, with an undefined lithostratigraphy and regional correlations. We thus applied a sequence stratigraphy approach to reassess the stratigraphic framework of the Vilhena Outcropping Area, which is the uplifted western border of the Parecis Basin, situated inside the Guaporé Block. Based on new field data and stratigraphic analysis, we identified three Third Order Sequences, registering the evolution of at least a significant part of the Mesozoic register. Three basin wide bounding surfaces were identified, being: the Mesozoic Basal Surface, Bounding Surface 1 and Bouding Surface 2, all of these surfaces can be traced to another outcropping areas inside the Guaporé Block, allowing the first sub-basin correlation of the Parecis Basin.

Food Insecurity Among Haitian Migrants Living In Brazil.

To analyze the situation of food insecurity among Haitians living in Midwest of Brazil, based on questions of the Brazilian Scale of Food Insecurity (BSFI). A survey was carried out with a probabilistic sampling proportional to sex of Haitians aged over 18 years who lived in Cuiabá and Várzea Grande, Mato Grosso. Haitian migrants were interviewed by bilingual (Haitian Creole/Portuguese) individuals, and for the analysis of the BSFI questions. Because the BSFI is not validated for Haitians, the first eight questions of the scale were assessed separately, according to sex, debts incurred for the migration project and time of residence in Brazil. Chi-square was calculated to test the differences between groups. A total of 404 Haitians were evaluated, 81.9% male individuals, 60.9% aged between 18 and 36 years. Among the respondents, 64.4% were worried about running out of food before having money to buy more food, and 62.6% answered that they ran out of food before having money to buy it. Higher proportions of positive answers were observed for women and those who reported having debts to finance the migration costs to Brazil. The high proportion of positive answers to the BSFS questions by Haitians seems to indicate a situation of social vulnerability and food insecurity, especially among Haitian women, as well as among those who had debts to migrate to Brazil and those who have lived in the country for more than a year.

Productivity Loss and Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Brazilian Presenteeism: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: The work has been brought to nursing professionals, denoting an increase in illness and consequent decrease in productivity. Objective: This study aims to verify the relationship between productivity and the presence of musculoskeletal symptoms in presenteeism. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and analytical study conducted with 305 Nursing workers from an emergency hospital in the Brazilian Midwest region. For data collection, four self-applied instruments were used, namely: the Sociodemographic Work and Health Conditions Questionnaire (QSCTS), the Stanford Presenteeism Scale (SPS-6), the Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ), and the Brazilian version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), Nordic Musculoskeletal Symptom Questionnaire (QNSO). The “presenteeism” and “presenteeism degree” dependent variables were related to the independent variables using the logistic regression model. Results: Presenteeism was identified in 134 (43.8%) workers. Overall productivity loss was 8.8%. Regarding the relationship between presenteeism and the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms, workers with problems in the upper back, knees, and neck in the last year were 6.5, 2.7, and 2.2 more likely to be presenteeism, respectively. Conclusion: The study confirmed the relationship between greater productivity losses and the incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms with presenteeism events in the Nursing team.

Kinetics, mechanism, and tautomerism in ametryn acid hydrolysis: From molecular structure to environmental impacts

The excessive use of pesticides and the demand for environmentally friendly compounds have driven the focus to detailed studies of the environmental destination of these compounds. Degradation by hydrolysis of pesticides, when released into the soil, can result in the formation of metabolites with potentially adverse effects on the environment. Moving in this direction, we investigated the mechanism of acid hydrolysis of the herbicide ametryn (AMT) and predicted the toxicities of metabolites through experimental and theoretical approaches. The formation of ionized hydroxyatrazine (HA) occurs with the release of the SCH3- group and the addition of H3O+ to the triazine ring. The tautomerization reactions privileged the conversion of AMT into HA. Furthermore, the ionized HA is stabilized by an intramolecular reaction that provides the molecule in two tautomeric states. Experimentally, the hydrolysis of AMT was obtained under acidic conditions and at room temperature with HA as the main product. HA was isolated in a solid state through its crystallization as organic counterions. The mechanism of conversion of AMT to HA and the experimental investigation of the reaction kinetics allowed us to determine the dissociation of CH3SH as the rate-controlling step in the degradation process that culminates in a half-life between 7 and 24 months under typical acid soil conditions of the Brazilian Midwest – region with strong agricultural and livestock vocation. The keto and hydroxy metabolites showed substantial thermodynamic stability and a decrease in toxicity compared to AMT. We hope that this comprehensive study will support the understanding of the degradation of s-triazine-based pesticides.

Trends in Precipitation and Air Temperature Extremes and Their Relationship with Sea Surface Temperature in the Brazilian Midwest

The Brazilian Midwest has significant spatiotemporal variability in terms of precipitation and air temperature, making it more vulnerable to the occurrence of extreme weather events. The objective of this study is to characterize the trend of extreme climatic events regarding precipitation and air temperature in the Brazilian Midwest, and to analyze their relationship with Pacific and Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature anomalies (SSTAs). We used daily precipitation and air temperature data measured at 24 conventional weather stations. Pacific and Atlantic SSTA data were obtained from the Climate Prediction Center. The frequency of hot extremes had increased, while that of cold extremes had decreased significantly, thus highlighting the consistent warming across the Brazilian Midwest. The precipitation extremes had greater variability than the temperature extremes. Precipitation intensity increased in Amazonia, with no change in annual precipitation volume. The precipitation extremes in the Brazilian Savanna, Pantanal, and the Atlantic Forest did not have a well-defined pattern but indicated a trend towards a decrease in days with intense precipitation events. In general, the Equatorial Pacific and Atlantic Ocean (TNAI and TSAI) SSTAs were negatively correlated with precipitation extreme indices and positively correlated with air temperature extreme indices in the Amazon. However, the North Atlantic SSTAs were positively correlated with precipitation and air temperature extreme indices in the Brazilian Savanna and Pantanal. In addition, the Pacific SSTAs were positively correlated with precipitation intensity in the Atlantic Forest. Thus, the variability of the trends of precipitation and air temperature extreme indices in the Brazilian Midwest was observed, and it was surmised that this measure was significantly related to Pacific and Atlantic SSTAs.

Leishmania infantum infecting the carnivore Nasua nasua from urban forest fragments in an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazilian Midwest.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Leishmania infantum in South American coatis inhabiting two forest fragments in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Midwest region of Brazil, an endemic area of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis (VL). A total of 110 South American coatis were sampled in the conservation unit "Parque Estadual do Prosa" (PEP) and in the residential area "Vila da Base Aérea" (VBA) from March 2018 to April 2019. As a longitudinal study that include up to six recaptures of the same individual, a total of 190 capture events were obtained. Blood, bone marrow and skin samples were obtained for parasitological (axenic culture), serological (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay - ELISA and Dual-path Platform immunoassay - DPP® CVL) and molecular diagnostic assays (targeting kDNA for Leishmania spp. and L. infantum; and HSP70 followed by sequence analysis). Seropositivity for L. infantum was found in 33 individuals, six in PEP and 27 in VBA. Furthermore, L. infantum was detected by molecular analysis in 16 individuals, seven from PEP and nine from VBA. We also isolated L. infantum from bone marrow of one individual and detected a single positive skin sample in molecular assay from other individual, both from VBA. An overall infection rate of 36.4% (40/110) was observed, significantly higher in the VBA (49.1%) than in the PEP (21.6%), probably because VBA presents: (i) a large number of resident dogs and chickens that would be attracting sandflies; (ii) a denser population of this wild mammal species; and (iii) physical barriers and a lack of functional connectivity in the surroundings, preventing these animals to disperse out. We conclude that South American coati populations living in urban forest fragments of Campo Grande are affected by the epidemiological scenario of VL, known to involve dogs, vectors and humans. We highlight the importance of investigate the parasitism by L. infantum in this and other potential L. infantum reservoirs that inhabit urbanized regions endemic to VL.