Scale In Brazil Research Articles

Assessing Subseasonal Forecasts of Dry Spells and Heatwaves at the Regional Scale in Brazil

This study evaluates the performance of subseasonal forecasts for dry spells and heatwaves at a regional scale in Brazil. The forecasts’ verification was designed to provide end-users with relevant information about the forecasts’ quality. The U.K. Met Office model was assessed using a significant sample of weekly forecasts: 552 for dry spells and 240 for heatwaves. The analysis reveals that the overall performance of the forecasts is low, with a chance of detecting an event close to 0.2, indicating that only one out of five observed dry spells is accurately predicted on average. The application of quantile mapping corrections demonstrates improvements in predicting shorter dry spells (up to 5 days) and longer lead times, although the timing of these forecasts often remains inaccurate, leading to increased false alarms. A significant improvement in the forecast quality occurs when categorization by duration is disregarded. The detection chances increase to 0.5−0.7 for dry spells and 0.5 for heatwaves. The Brier Score indicates that the probabilistic forecasts issued by the model are equivalent or less skilful than climatological probabilities. Overall, the findings underscore the challenges in forecasting dry spells and heatwaves in Brazil and highlight the need for ongoing improvements in forecasting methodologies to enhance their reliability and utility for regional decision-making. This research contributes to understanding subseasonal climate forecasting and its implications for managing climate-related risks in Brazil.

Virus discovery in cultured portunid crabs: Genomic, phylogenetic, histopathological and microscopic characterization of a reovirus and a new bunyavirus

Portunid crabs are distributed worldwide and highly valued in aquaculture. Viral infections are the main limiting factor for the survival of these animals and, consequently, for the success of commercial-scale cultivation. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the viruses that infect cultured portunid crabs worldwide. Herein, the genome sequence and phylogeny of Callinectes sapidus reovirus 2 (CsRV2) are described, and the discovery of a new bunyavirus in Callinectes danae cultured in southern Brazil is reported. The CsRV2 genome sequence consists of 12 dsRNA segments (20,909 nt) encode 13 proteins. The predicted RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) shows a high level of similarity with that of Eriocheir sinensis reovirus 905, suggesting that CsRV2 belongs to the genus Cardoreovirus. The CsRV2 particles are icosahedral, measuring approximately 65 nm in diameter, and exhibit typical non-turreted reovirus morphology. High throughput sequencing data revealed the presence of an additional putative virus genome similar to bunyavirus, called Callinectes danae Portunibunyavirus 1 (CdPBV1). The CdPBV1 genome is tripartite, consisting of 6,654 nt, 3,120 nt and 1,656 nt single-stranded RNA segments that each encode a single protein. Each segment has a high identity with European shore crab virus 1, suggesting that CdPBV1 is a new representative of the family Cruliviridae. The putative spherical particles of CdPBV1 measure ∼120 nm in diameter and present a typical bunyavirus morphology. The results of the histopathological analysis suggest that these new viruses can affect the health and, consequently, the survival of C. danae in captivity. Therefore, the findings reported here should be used to improve prophylactic and pathogen control practices and contribute to the development and optimization of the production of soft-shell crabs on a commercial scale in Brazil.

Motivational drivers for health professionals in a large quality improvement collaborative project in Brazil: a qualitative study

BackgroundThe success of collaborative quality improvement (QI) projects in healthcare depends on the context and engagement of health teams; however, the factors that modulate teams’ motivation to participate in these projects are still unclear. The objective of the current study was to explore the barriers to and facilitators of motivation; the perspective was health professionals in a large project aiming to implement evidence-based infection prevention practices in intensive care units of Brazilian hospitals.MethodsThis qualitative study was based on content analysis of semistructured in-depth interviews held with health professionals who participated in a collaborative QI project named “Improving patient safety on a large scale in Brazil”. In accordance with the principle of saturation, we selected a final sample of 12 hospitals located throughout the five regions of Brazil that have implemented QI; then, we conducted videoconference interviews with 28 health professionals from those hospitals. We encoded the interview data with NVivo software, and the interrelations among the data were assessed with the COM-B model.ResultsThe key barriers identified were belief that improvement increases workload, lack of knowledge about quality improvement, resistance to change, minimal involvement of physicians, lack of supplies, lack support from senior managers and work overload. The primary driver of motivation was tangible outcomes, as evidenced by a decrease in infections. Additionally, factors such as the active participation of senior managers, teamwork, learning in practice and understanding the reason for changes played significant roles in fostering motivation.ConclusionThe motivation of health professionals to participate in collaborative QI projects is driven by a variety of barriers and facilitators. The interactions between the senior manager, quality improvement teams, and healthcare professionals generate attitudes that modulate motivation. Thus, these aspects should be considered during the implementation of such projects. Future research could explore the cost-effectiveness of motivational approaches.

Amazon potential: technological prospect on the use of acai oil (Euterpe oleracea) in the development of bioproducts in the last decade (2014-2023)

The acai oil, extracted from Euterpe oleracea, has a wide range of promising biological activities, being produced on a large scale in Brazil, mainly in the Amazon region. Studies highlight its health benefits, including antimicrobial activity, anticancer action, antiatherogenic, anti-hypercholesterolemic, anti-hypertriglyceridemic, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive. Acai berry oil also shows potential in technological production. This technological prospecting was carried out between 2014 and 2023 to identify patents related to its use. 15 patent registrations were found, with applications in various sectors such as food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics. Brazil's supremacy in this field, especially by higher education institutions, reflects the country's scientific and innovative potential, highlighting the fundamental role of universities and research centers in generating applied knowledge and in the search for sustainable solutions. It is essential to continue supporting and encouraging research and innovation, promoting strategic partnerships between academia, industry and government, so that the knowledge generated contributes effectively to social, economic and environmental progress, both in Brazil and globally.

Using item response theory in the assessment of the financial well-being scale: an application in Brazil and India

PurposeThis study aims to evaluate Netemeyer and colleagues' much cited financial well-being scale in Brazil and India and compare responses from different demographics. It also compares the results using two analysis techniques, item response theory (IRT) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).Design/methodology/approachA total of 994 survey responses from Brazil and 1,081 from India were collected. IRT and CFA models were used to analyse the data.FindingsThe results demonstrate the two-dimensional structure of the financial well-being scale and show that different items are differentially useful in measuring the construct across different groups. These findings may support the scale's future refinement and use in applied studies that will target specific groups (e.g. males, females, younger respondents and older respondents).Research limitations/implicationsThis study serves as an example to others who can explore the advantages of IRT over classical test theory methods to assess the psychometric properties of scales aimed at measuring latent constructs of interest in the field of marketing.Practical implicationsThe correct diagnosis of financial well-being is important to guide interventions by governments and non-governmental entities, as well as by financial institutions interested in better understanding individuals.Originality/valueThe authors show how the identification of the characteristics of scale items provided by the IRT technique allows for a better understanding of its properties and how it can be improved.

Plant-parasitic nematode community and enzyme activities in soils under no-till soybean crops in Brazil

Soybean is Brazil's largest agricultural crop, grown across a variety of climates and soil conditions, and it is subjected to a large number of pests, including plant-parasitic nematodes. In general, the occurrence of plant-parasitic nematodes in soybean is influenced by various soil physicochemical properties, such as the pH, texture, and nutrient content. These soil properties may determine the nematodes community composition and affect soil quality and functioning, which can be monitored by analysing of soil enzyme activity. In this sense, the analysis of β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase enzymes can provide valuable information to assist decisions in the sustainable management of soybean cultivated soils in Brazil. In this study, we used 216 samples collected from no-till soybean fields across Brazil. The samples were used to investigate the influence of soil physical and chemical properties on the plant-parasitic nematode community and enzymatic activity. We identified seven genera of plant-parasitic nematodes including Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Heterodera, Rotylenchulus, Helicotylenchus, Scutellonema, and Xiphinema. Our results indicate that clay content and soil pH were the main properties modulating the plant-parasitic nematode community. We observed a higher abundance of plant-parasitic nematodes in highly acidic soils when compared to slightly acidic. In addition, soil organic matter content, available P, and pH were the main properties modulating microbial activity in the soil. No significant correlations were observed between enzymatic activity and nematode population density. This is the first study to provide insights into plant-parasitic nematode community composition and soil enzymes activity in soybean cultivated soils on a national scale in Brazil.

Validation of the Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC): Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Brazilian Version

Stigma towards people with mental illness is also present among health professionals. The study validated and estimated the reliability, dimensionality and structure of the Opening Minds Stigma Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC) scale in Brazil. In this methodological study, health professionals (n = 199) from Family Health Units in Brazil were recruited by convenience sampling. The EFA conducted with 16 items resulted in four factors. The Cronbach's Alpha for the OMS scale was 0.74, which is considered to reflect reasonable reliability. The data presented contribute to the use of the scale in studies that investigate the level of stigma among health professionals towards people with mental illness, as well as in the development of anti-stigma interventions in this context.

Reaction mechanisms in geopolymers produced from sugarcane bagasse ash

The production of Portland cement exhibits significant importance for social and economic development of a country, however also generates environmental impacts from the extraction of raw materials to the production of clinker. Despite the impacts, the demand for Portland cement is still growing in developing countries such as India, China, and Brazil. Faced with this impasse, research for the development of alternative materials to Portland cement is growing around the world. Among these researches, those related to alkali-activated materials (AAMs) stand out. AAMs are considered more sustainable than Portland cement because emit less CO2 during their production process. In addition, the raw materials used in its development are generally wastes from other industrial processes. Sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) is an example of residue generated on a large scale in Brazil and with great potential for use in the production of AAMs. Therefore, the present work seeks to develop AAMs using SCBA as an exclusive precursor. For this, the material's viability was verified through physical, mechanical, morphological, and calorimetric tests. As a result, concluded that SCBA is a viable precursor for AAMs, promoting sustainability and innovation in the field of construction materials. In addition, the main mechanism of the reaction of SCBA pastes is the diffusion process, independent of paste formulation and the silicate is crucial for the degree of reaction at early age. At the same time, the compressive strength and microstructure are strongly dependent on alkalis and silicate content and SiO2/Na2O proportions around 1.0 are the optimum point for SCBA pastes.

Oxidation of hydrochar produced from byproducts of the sugarcane industry for the production of humic-like substances: Characterization and interaction study with Cu(II)

Humic-like substances (HLS) are molecules extracted in an alkaline medium from different materials that have not been subjected to the natural process of humification that occurs in the soil. HLS have the potential to be used as organic fertilizers due to their ability to incorporate micronutrients such as Cu(II) and Co(II); in addition, they represent an alternative for the remediation of contaminated areas due to their high affinity for metals. HLS can be extracted from hydrochar (HC) but only with low yields of approximately 5%. Therefore, the present study aimed to increase the amount of HLS extracted from the HC produced from byproducts of the sugarcane industry through the oxidation of HC with HNO3. HLS extracted from oxidized and unoxidized HC were characterized by CHNS analysis and 13C CPMAS NMR. The interaction between HLS and Cu(II) was studied by molecular fluorescence quenching (EEM-PARAFAC) and applying the Ryan and Weber complexation model. The oxidation of HC with HNO3 allowed high yields of extracted HLS of above 80%. The oxidation carried out with 30% HNO3 for 2 h showed the best result, since the HLS30%(2h) were extracted with a very high yield (88.3%) in a short period of time. Oxidation promoted a decrease in HLS aromaticity and an increase in oxygen and nitrogen groups. HLS showed high affinity for Cu(II), as evidenced by the high logK values (between 5.5 and 5.9). HLS extracted from oxidized HCs showed higher complexation capacity due to the greater incorporation of the oxygenated groups promoted by oxidation, which are fundamental during the interaction with metallic cations. Therefore, the oxidation of HC substantially increased the production of HLS, representing a big advance for the production of carbonaceous materials with higher added value from byproducts of the sugarcane industry produced on a large scale in Brazil.

Identification of Heliothinae species (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in chickpeas in central Brazil

ABSTRACT Chickpea is a commercially exploited crop on a relatively new scale in Brazil, that is why, little information on the main pests is available. Mostly caterpillars showing Heliothinae morphological characteristics have emerged in production areas. In order to point out the species of these insects in chickpea fields produced in the Federal District and the surrounding areas, this study aimed to determine the morphological and molecular identification of these invertebrates in order to assist producers in pest management in a more sustainable way. Caterpillars were hand-collected directly from the plants in six sites and the moth collection was collected using light traps in four sites, monthly, in 2017 and 2018. The morphological identification was made through the adult insect genitalia and the subsequent molecular identification was performed using the cytochrome oxidase I enzyme with the quantitative PCR technique, which resulted in the development of an efficient and low-cost DNA extraction protocol to be used in samples under unfavorable storage conditions. Morphological and molecular studies showed the presence of Helicoverpa armigera, Helicoverpa zea, Chloridea virescens and Chloridea subflexa, with a predominance of Chloridea virescens in chickpea plants. Chloridea subflexa was verified for the first time feeding on chickpeas in Brazil.

Translation and cultural adaptation of the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale in Brazil

Resumo Objetivo Este estudo objetivou traduzir e adaptar culturalmente a COVID-19 Anxiety Scale para o contexto brasileiro. Método Trata-se de um estudo transversal e metodológico, que seguiu as seguintes etapas: tradução inicial, síntese das traduções, retrotradução, revisão por um comitê de especialistas e pré-teste. Resultados Inicialmente dois tradutores fizeram uma primeira tradução da COVID-19 Anxiety Scale para o português. Depois, estabeleceu-se a versão consensual, que foi retrotraduzida para o idioma inglês por outro tradutor. Posteriormente, as versões da COVID-19 Anxiety Scale foram revistas por oito especialistas. Após a análise, dois dos sete itens da escala foram modificados, obtendo--se a versão pré-final da COVID-19 Anxiety Scale. Por fim, essa última versão do instrumento foi pré-testada com 47 pessoas, que consideraram a escala clara e compreensível. Conclusão Conclui-se, portanto, que a COVID-19 Anxiety Scale foi adequadamente traduzida e adaptada para o contexto brasileiro e almeja-se dar seguimento à pesquisa para verificar evidências de validade da escala.

Translation, adaptation and validation of the MICA-4 scale in Brazil with application for medical students

Resumo Introdução: As doenças psiquiátricas estão em crescente prevalência nas últimas décadas, sendo também as patologias nas quais mais se observam atitudes estigmatizantes. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivos traduzir a escala MICA-4 em língua portuguesa com adaptação de forma transcultural para uso no Brasil e verificar a possibilidade de a ferramenta contribuir para avaliações de melhorias na formação médica por meio da aplicação em estudantes de Medicina. Método: Foram sete etapas para sua tradução e validação. Além disso, o trabalho consistiu na aplicação do teste em dois momentos em um grupo de 60 estudantes de Medicina que participaram de um rodízio de estágio em um hospital psiquiátrico do Brasil. Resultado: A validação da escala MICA-4 consistiu nas etapas de tradução, síntese, back-translation, comitê de experts, pré-teste, averiguação textual e aplicação, que foram executadas com sucesso. A escala obteve concordância entre os experts, e não houve dificuldade entre os estudantes durante a aplicação do teste. Na análise dos dados após aplicação do questionário durante os dois momentos, dentre os 16 itens da escala, o item 9 obteve relevância estatística (p < 0,05). Conclusão: Este estudo analisou a percepção dos estudantes em relação a situações estigmatizantes, e a maioria das respostas foi condizente com ações menos preconceituosas antes mesmo da experiência do estágio, sendo corroboradas após esse período. As questões que ainda expressaram atitudes estigmatizantes demonstram a necessidade de aprimoramento de ferramentas de ensino que possam diminuir essas atitudes negativas e contribuir para a formação de bons profissionais e, consequentemente, melhor qualidade de atendimento.

Potential Use of Data-Driven Models to Estimate and Predict Soybean Yields at National Scale in Brazil

Potential Use of Data-Driven Models to Estimate and Predict Soybean Yields at National Scale in Brazil

Validity evidence studies of the Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale in Brazil

Self-efficacy for emotion regulation is understood as the perceived capability to regulate the negative affect and to express the positive ones. This study aimed at the validity evidence for the Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale in the Brazilian context through two studies. In the first one, participants were 41 students from middle school (M = 13.49; SD = 1.52), being 58.5 % male. Results indicated a few adjustments in some items. The second study had 932 participants from two cities: one from Southeast Brazil and one from the North. The students were from middle and high schools being 50.3 % (n = 469) female. Their ages ranged from 13 to 23 years old (M = 16.50; SD = 1.52). After analysis through structural equation modeling, results indicated that the dimensions of the scale have a good fit according to the theoretical model with good accuracy indexes, thus confirming the validity evidence for this instrument, being reliable to be used in Brazil.

Psychometric Properties of the COVID-19 Burnout Scale in Brazil

The present study aims to adapt and analyze the psychometric properties (evidence of factor validity and internal consistency) of the COVID-19 Burnout Scale in a sample of Brazilian health professionals. Two studies were carried out (N total = 427). In Study 1 [202 health professionals (age over 18), mainly women (82%) and psychologists (31.2%)], an exploratory factor analysis support the one-factor solution and the suitability of the ten items. Moreover, was also presented in Study 2 [225 health professionals (over 18 years old), the majority of women (79.6%) and psychologists (24.8%)] results of confirmatory factor analysis and item parameters (Item Response Theory) that corroborate the unifactorial structure and convergent validity with the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. The results indicate that this measure may be suitable for use in research and in the burnout evaluation scenario.

Validity Evidence of the Social Dominance Orientation Scale in Brazil

Resumo O presente estudo buscou adaptar a Escala de Orientação à Dominância Social (SDO7) para o contexto brasileiro, propor uma versão reduzida do instrumento, avaliar sua estrutura fatorial e evidências de validade entre grupos. Para tanto, realizou-se coleta de dados on-line em que participaram 1.056 indivíduos de quatro diferentes amostras. Análises fatoriais confirmatórias indicaram os melhores índices de ajuste para a estrutura original de quatro fatores, sendo dois substanciais (Dominância e Anti-Igualitarismo) e dois de método (pró-traço e contra-traço). Os fatores substanciais, denominados “Dominância Social” e “Anti-Igualitarismo”, apresentaram alfa de Cronbach superior a 0,70 em todas as amostras. As versões longa e reduzida da escala apresentaram bons índices de validade de critério entre grupos com correlações altas entre os escores dos fatores substanciais e a autocategorização política. Portanto, o instrumento apresentou evidências de validade e fidedignidade e podem ser utilizados em estudos futuros.

Monitoring Complex Integrated Crop–Livestock Systems at Regional Scale in Brazil: A Big Earth Observation Data Approach

Due to different combinations of agriculture, livestock and forestry managed by rotation, succession and intercropping practices, integrated agriculture production systems such as integrated crop–livestock systems (iCL) constitute a very complex target and a challenge for automatic mapping of cropping practices based on remote sensing data. The overall objective of this study was to develop a classification strategy for the annual mapping of integrated Crop–Livestock systems (iCL) at a regional scale. This strategy was designed and tested in the six agro-climatic regions of Mato Grosso, the largest Brazilian soybean producer state, using MODIS satellite time-series images acquired between 2012 and 2019, ground data with heterogeneous distribution in space and time and a Random Forest classifier. The results showed that: 1. the use of unbalanced training samples with a class composition close to the real one was the right classifier training strategy; 2. the use of a single training database (pooling samples from different years and regions) to classify each region and year individually proved to be robust enough to provide similar classification accuracies in comparison to those based on the use of a database acquired for each region and for each year. The final hierarchical classification overall accuracy was 0.89 for Level 1, the cropping pattern level (single and double crops DC); 0.84 for Level 2, the DC category level (integrated system iCL soy-pasture/brachiaria, soy-cotton and soy-cereal); 0.77 for Level 3, the iCL level (iCL1 soy-pasture and iCL2 soy-pasture mixed with corn). The F-scores for DC, iCL and iCL1 cropping systems presented high accuracy (0.89, 0.85 and 0.84), while iCL2 was more difficult to classify (0.63). This approach will next be applied across the entire Brazilian soybean corridor, leading to an operational tool for monitoring the adoption of sustainable intensification practices recognized by Brazil’s Agriculture Low Carbon Plan (ABC PLAN).

Adaptation and evidence of validity of the corporate ethical virtues scale in Brazil: A measure of ethical culture in organisations

Introduction: Ethical culture stands out as an important variable in comprehending ethical norms and ethical behaviour at work. The Corporate Ethical Virtues (CEV) Scale is a widely used measure of ethical culture in organisations. This study aimed to adapt and validate the CEV Scale to a Brazilian context. Method. In Study 1 (n = 1.219), the CEV Scale was trans-lated and adapted, the reliability and the internal structure were tested and the discriminant validity of ethical climate measures was demonstrated. In Study 2 (n = 635), measurement invariance in two groups was demonstrated, and there was evidence of validity based on the relationships with related constructs. Results. The results indicated that the Brazilian ver-sion of the CEV Scale showed reasonable psychometric properties and provided evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Conclusion. This measure can be used by managers and consultants to diagnose ethical organisational culture.

Economical and environmental assessment of electric power generation on small scale in Brazil using wet ethanol

Electricity production from renewable sources is an important option aiming the mitigation of greenhouse gases, especially in off-grid communities. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess economically and environmentally scenarios related to the generation of electricity using wet ethanol produced from sugarcane on small scale. Thus, two scenarios were proposed considering six cases where ethanol fuel is produced in three different concentrations: 92% (E92W8), 90% (E90W10), and 80% (E80W20) by mass of ethanol. In Scenario 1, ethanol is utilized only to generate electricity (electricity consumed in production process and surplus of electricity for grid), while in Scenario 2 ethanol is consumed to provide electricity to the production process and the surplus of ethanol is used to replace gasoline in vehicles. A Life Cycle Assessment demonstrated an impact reduction in all impact categories when ethanol is utilized in electricity generation and/or to replace gasoline. The production and use of E90W10 for generation of electricity consumed in the process and for replacement of gasoline resulted in higher impact reduction with emission reduction of up to 49.5 ton of CO2eq per year. However, economic assessment proved that none of the cases presented feasibility, although the use of ethanol to replace gasoline is more attractive than its utilization in electricity generation. Nevertheless, off-grid communities can benefit from the options assessed in this study.

Cross-cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Childbirth Fear Prior to Pregnancy Scale in Brazil

Background:The fear of childbirth can range from apprehension to intense fear (tokophobia), with serious consequences for maternal health. Therefore, a standardized scale is needed to measure the fear of childbirth before pregnancy.Objective:This study aimed to adapt the Childbirth Fear Prior to Pregnancy (CFPP) scale to the Brazilian context and analyse its validity and reliability.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was completed by 146 nursing students at two Brazilian universities. A committee of experts evaluated the cross-cultural adaptation of the CFPP scale. Construct validity was verified using item-total correlations and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The validity of divergent concurrent criteria was evaluated by associating the score obtained using the Brazilian CFPP with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Reliability was analysed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and test-retest.Results:Correlation analysis revealed a predominance of moderate inter-item correlation and strong item-total correlation (>0.62). The EFA indicated that all items related to a single factor, with factor loadings and communalities >0.5. These results reinforced the one-dimensionality of the Brazilian CFPP. The validity of divergent concurrent criteria was confirmedviaweak correlations with DASS-21 scores (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). The Cronbach’s alpha (0.86) and the intra-class correlation coefficient (0.99) indicated reliability and strong temporal stability, respectively.Conclusion:The Brazilian version of the CFPP provides evidence of validity and reliability to measure fear of childbirth before pregnancy in young adults in Brazil.