São Paulo City Research Articles

Integration of very high-resolution stereo satellite images and airborne or satellite Lidar for Eucalyptus canopy height estimation

Eucalyptus plantations cover extensive areas in tropical regions and require accurate growth monitoring for efficient management. Traditional in-situ measurements, while necessary, are labor-intensive and impractical for large-scale assessments. Very high-resolution satellite stereo imagery is playing an increasingly important role in the estimation of fine Digital Surface Models (DSMs) across landscapes. However, its ability to estimate canopy height models (CHMs) has not been widely investigated. This study investigates the integration of high-resolution satellite stereo imagery from the Pleiades sensor with airborne or satellite Lidar data to estimate canopy height over eucalyptus plantations. Two study sites were selected in Brazil, representing flat and semi-mountainous topographies, Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) and Sao Paulo (SP), respectively. Digital Surface Models generated from Pleiades images (DSMP) were combined with Digital Terrain Models extracted from airborne Lidar data (DTMALS) to create Canopy Height Models (CHMALS). The evaluation of the CHMALS was based on two in situ canopy height measurements (Hmax and Hmean). For the SP site, the CHMALSmax, which is the average height of top 10% pixel values within each plot, correlated well with in situ Hmean, which is the average height of 10 central trees (r = 0.98), showing a bias of 1.4 m, RMSE of 3.1 m, and rRMSE of 18.5%. At the MS site, CHMALSmax demonstrated a bias of 1.9 m, RMSE of 2.3 m, rRMSE of 17.3%, and r correlation of 0.92. Despite a tendency to underestimate heights below 20 m in young tree plantations with open canopy, the results indicate reliable canopy height estimation. The study also investigates the potential of Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) elevation data as an alternative to DTMALS in absence of airborne Lidar data. The resulting CHMGedi is promising but slightly less accurate than Lidar-based CHMs. The best GEDI-based CHM (CHMGedimax) showed a bias and rRMSE of 1.3 m and 20.5% for the SP site, and 2.2 m and 24.9% for the MS site. These findings highlight the potential for integrating Pleiades and Lidar data for efficient and accurate canopy height monitoring in eucalyptus plantations.

Bibliometric Analysis of Maxillary Expansion Publications Trends.

Maxillary expansion is a common treatment in clinical orthodontics and can be performed in a wide age range using different methods. This bibliometric analysis aims to provide an overview of research on maxillary expansion. A literature search was performed in the Web of Science database, and publications related to maxillary expansion between 1970 and 2023 were included. Data, including titles, abstracts, keywords, countries, regions, and references, were exported and analyzed within the scope of the bibliometric indicators. The study was conducted on 2633 publications. Between 1970 and 2023, research on maxillary expansion showed a general upward trend in the number of publications. From the analyzed publications, we observed that rapid maxillary expansion (RME) was the most common type of maxillary expansion, accounting for 78% of all publications. Most publications originated from the United States (24.3%), and these articles were also the most cited (17180). Lorenzo Franchi contributed the most publications (85, 3.2%) and was cited 2830 times for maxillary expansion. The highest number of publications was from the University of Sao Paolo (119), and the most cited institution was the University of Florence (3287). The bibliometric indicators showed a rapid increase in the number of published works on the topic of maxillary expansion, particularly in recent years. Advances in patient evaluation (3D imaging, modeling) and application methods (mini-screws, clear aligners) appear to have helped to maintain the popularity of maxillary expansion. We also observed that maxillary expansion is associated with several other specialties in addition to dentistry.

The Role of Traditional Salt Production in Achieving Halal Standards of the Ulamaconsultative Council: Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Objective: The fact in salt production by traditional coastal communities is a lack of understanding of the halal standards for salt production formulated by the Ulama Consultative Council in the Aceh region. Supposedly, Muslim salt farmers already have basic knowledge about halal salt production standards under Islamic sharia rules. This article, therefore, describes the salt processing process that conforms to halal production standards, including the main raw materials, workers, facilities, production processes, product packaging, and product distribution under Islamic law. Method: The data used in this study were observations of Lancang coastal salt (coastal salt fields), interviews with the head of LPPOM MPU and secretaries, the head of the Banda Aceh Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service, 241 coastal salt farmers, and three staff supporting salt farmers. Data were also obtained through a focus group discussion attended by all elements involved in the Acehnese halal salt production. Results: The results of this study highlighted that four standards had been met: raw material standards, worker standards, packaging standards, and distribution standards. Meanwhile, two standards have not been fulfilled: the standard for processing and the standard for the facilities used. Both have not met halal standards according to the guidelines of the Ulama Consultative Council in Aceh. SDGs Review | São Paulo (SP) | VOL. 4 | e01594 | pag: 01-47 | Jan-Dec | 2024. Contribution: this research helps improve the quality of salt produced by traditional farmers in Aceh by introducing and guiding them to comply with the halal standards set by LPPOM MPU Aceh. Education and awareness-raising among farmers about the importance of halal production are key points, where they are taught how to apply halal principles at every stage of the salt-making process. With a better understanding of these standards, farmers can not only improve the quality of their products but also obtain halal certification, which in turn increases the market value and consumer trust in the salt they produce. Furthermore, this research positively impacts the local economy by opening up broader market opportunities for traditional salt farmers. Halal certification allows them to sell their products to a larger market segment, including consumers who prioritize halal products, thus increasing the income and well-being of the farmers. Additionally, this research emphasizes the importance of preserving traditional methods in salt production, ensuring that techniques passed down through generations remain relevant and comply with current halal standards. The findings of this research also provide valuable input for the government and related institutions in formulating policies that support halal production and the sustainability of traditional salt farmers. As a model or example of best practices, this research can be adopted by other regions with traditional salt production, enabling them to follow Aceh's lead in implementing halal production standards. Thus, this research not only directly benefits traditional salt farmers in Aceh but also has the potential to inspire and drive positive changes at the national level.

Urbanisation on the coastline of the most populous and developed state of Brazil: the extent of coastal hardening and occupations in low-elevation zones

Worldwide, coastlines have been replaced and altered by hard infrastructures to protect cities and accommodate human activities. In addition, human settlements are common and increasing in lowland areas threatened by coastal risk hazards. These urbanisation processes cause severe socioeconomic and ecological losses which demand policy reforms towards better coastal management and climate resilience. A first step in that direction is to comprehend the status of coastal hardening and occupation of vulnerable areas. Here, we mapped the coastline of the most populous and developed state of Brazil: São Paulo (SP). Our goal was to quantify the linear extent of natural habitats, artificial structures (AS), and occupations in low-elevation coastal zones (≤ 5 m) within 100 m from marine environments (LECZ100m) along the coastline and within estuaries. SP coast has a total extent of 244 km of AS, of which 125 and 119 km correspond to AS running along the coastline (e.g., seawalls, breakwaters) and extending from the shoreline into adjacent waters (e.g., jetties, pontoons, groynes), respectively. 63% of the total extent of AS is located in the most urbanised region. Breakwalls were the most common infrastructure (108 km), followed by jetties and wharves (~40 km each), and aquaculture and fishing apparatus (~24 km). Over 300 km of the SP coastline has inland occupations in LECZ100m: 235 and 67 km are adjacent to sandy beaches and estuarine/river margins, respectively. Coastal hardening is advanced in the central region of SP resulting from intense port activities and armoured shorelines. In other regions, much of coastal urbanisation seems to be driven by secondary usage of the cities, such as real estate development for beach houses and tourism. Our findings suggest that coastal urbanisation poses a major but often neglected source of environmental impact and risk hazards in SP and Brazil.

Prospects for Multicultural Encounters and Identification Processes - Insights from Case Studies among Migrants in Brazil

This paper analyses how multicultural encounters have shaped groupism processes and notions of identities among migrants in contemporary Brazil. To do that, the paper contextualises the particular sense of hybridity built in the Brazilian multiculturalism approach, and how it enabled certain encounters and senses of belonging beyond nationhood-oriented groupism and sometimes beyond ethnicity-oriented groupism. The paper brings insights from a fieldwork study held among a hundred migrants living in the two main charity shelters in Sao Paulo-Brazil, demonstrating how these individuals operate different senses of belonging through encounters according to different aims. It explains how they operate their belonging to migrant categories (and the vulnerabilities associated with it) for claiming for dignity, rights and access to basic services in Brazil. The paper also explains how these migrants operate other belongings beyond such migrant status and nationality categories (such as belongings related to gender, age, language, profession, religion, etc.) in other encounters with different aims and dynamics. Overall, the paper also aims to contribute to scrutinising the reified concept of 'group' which dominates mainstream literature, indicating how the perspective of encounters might allow us to identify more fluid and spontaneous categories which seem to better comprehend contemporary multicultural relations.

Methane Production from Sugarcane Vinasse Biodigestion: An Efficient Bioenergy and Environmental Solution for the State of São Paulo, Brazil

This study mapped the bioenergy production from sugarcane vinasse according to the mesoregions of the State of São Paulo (SP), Brazil, assessing the magnitude of biogas-derived electricity and biomethane production and estimating the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. SP holds 45% of the Brazilian ethanol-producing plants, in which 1.4 million m3 of carbon-rich vinasse are generated daily. The electricity generated from vinasse has the potential to fully supply the residential consumption (ca. 6.5 million inhabitants) in the main sugarcane-producing mesoregions of the state (Ribeirão Preto, São José do Rio Preto, Bauru, Araçatuba and Presidente Prudente). In another approach, biomethane could displace almost 3.5 billion liters of diesel, which represents a 26% abatement in the annual state diesel consumption. Energetically exploiting biogas is mandatory to prevent GHG-related drawbacks, as the eventual emission of methane produced under controlled conditions (261.2 × 106 kg-CO2eq d−1) is ca. 7-fold higher than the total emissions estimated for the entire ethanol production chain. Meanwhile, replacing diesel with biomethane can avoid the emission of 45.4 × 106 kg-CO2eq d−1. Implementing an efficient model of energy recovery from vinasse in SP has great potential to serve as a basis for expanding the utilization of this wastewater in Brazil.

Identification of the needs and priorities of older people and stakeholders in rural and urban areas of Santo Andre, Brazil.

There are few data reporting the needs and priorities of older adults in Brazil. This hampers the development and/or implementation of policies aimed at older adults to help them age well. The aim of this study was to understand areas of importance, priorities, enablers and obstacles to healthy ageing as identified by older adults and key stakeholders in both urban and rural environments. Two locations were selected, one urban and one rural in the municipality of Santo André, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo (SP). Workshops for older adults (>60 y) and stakeholders were conducted separately in each location. The workshops incorporated an iterative process of discussion, prioritisation and ranking of responses, in roundtable groups and in plenary. Areas of commonality and differences between older adult and stakeholder responses were identified by comparing responses between groups as well as mapping obstacles and enablers to healthy ageing identified by older adults, to the priorities identified by stakeholder groups. The socio-ecologic model was used to categorise responses. There were few shared responses between stakeholders and older adults and little overlap between the top ranked responses of urban and rural groups. With respect to areas of importance, both stakeholder groups ranked policies for older people within their top five reponses. Both older adult groups ranked keeping physically and mentally active, and nurturing spirituality. There was a marked lack of congruence between older adults' obstacles and enablers to healthy ageing and stakeholder priorities, in both urban and rural settings. Most responses were located within the Society domain of the socio-ecologic model, although older adults also responded within the Individual/ Relationships domains, particularly in ranking areas of most importance for healthy ageing. Our results highlight substantial differences between older adults and stakeholders with respect to areas of importance, priorities, enablers and obstacles to healthy ageing, and point to the need for more engagement between those in advocacy and policymaking roles and the older people whose needs they serve.

Ethanol, acetaldehyde, and methanol in the gas phase and rainwater in different biomes and urban regions of Brazil

In the context of the increasing global use of ethanol biofuel, this work investigates the concentrations of ethanol, methanol, and acetaldehyde, in both the gaseous phase and rainwater, across six diverse urban regions and biomes in Brazil, a country where ethanol accounts for nearly half the light-duty vehicular fuel consumption. Atmospheric ethanol median concentrations in São Paulo (SP) (12.3 ± 12.1 ppbv) and Ribeirão Preto (RP) (12.1 ± 10.9 ppbv) were remarkably close, despite the SP vehicular fleet being ∼13 times larger. Likewise, the rainwater VWM ethanol concentration in SP (4.64 ± 0.38 μmol L−1) was only 26 % higher than in RP (3.42 ± 0.13 μmol L−1). This work demonstrated the importance of evaporative emissions, together with biomass burning, as sources of the compounds studied. The importance of biogenic emissions of methanol during forest flooding was identified in campaigns in the Amazon and Atlantic forests. Marine air masses arriving at a coastal site led to the lowest concentrations of ethanol measured in this work. Besides vehicular and biomass burning emissions, secondary formation of acetaldehyde by photochemical reactions may be relevant in urban and non-urban regions. The combined deposition flux of ethanol and methanol was 6.2 kg ha−1 year−1, avoiding oxidation to the corresponding and more toxic aldehydes. Considering the species determined here, the ozone formation potential (OFP) in RP was around two-fold higher than in SP, further evidencing the importance of emissions from regional distilleries and biomass burning, in addition to vehicles. At the forest and coastal sites, the OFP was approximately 5 times lower than at the urban sites. Our work evidenced that transition from gasoline to ethanol or ethanol blends brings the associated risk of increasing the concentrations of highly toxic aldehydes and ozone, potentially impacting the atmosphere and threatening air quality and human health in urban areas.

The matryoshka of urban instruments in Urban Intervention Projects in São Paulo

The aim of this article is to analyze the arrangements for the governance and social participation in the Arco Jurubatuba Urban Intervention Project (UIP), an urban instrument provided for in the 2014 São Paulo (SP) Master Plan, and its impacts on low-income territories. The article presents a case study of two Special Zones of Social Interest (ZEIS) located within the area of the project, in the south zone of the city. Two questions guided the investigation: (i) To what extent did the communities participate in the discussions regarding the proposal? and (ii) What were the governance arrangements that resulted from the proposal, considering the overlap of instruments within the UIP. It is highlighted that the institutional arrangements and the instruments selected for formulating and implementing the UIP increased the complexity of the project, the fragmentation of the process and the superficiality of the procedures for participating and legitimizing the intervention. Choices made during the UIP design and its “matryoshka” of instruments made it difficult for people to identify when and where crucial decisions were made regarding the intervention that affected low-income territories, thereby impairing social participation and postponing (even preventing) any resistance.

Survey of Phyllosticta citricarpa mating type in the São Paulo citrus belt and optimization of in vitro ascospore production

AbstractPhyllosticta citricarpa, the citrus black spot causal agent, requires both mating types, designated as MAT1‐1 and MAT1‐2, to produce ascospores. Mating‐type ratio in some citrus‐growing areas has been characterized but remains little known in the São Paulo (SP) citrus belt, the largest sweet orange producer worldwide. A protocol for in vitro ascospore production was developed recently; however, there are few studies regarding the optimal conditions for their production. Thus, this study aimed to determine the mating‐type ratio in SP and quantify ascospores produced under different conditions in vitro. The mating types were identified by duplex PCR, and ascospore production was assessed in five culture media: potato dextrose agar (PDA), ½ PDA, malt extract agar (MEA), oatmeal agar (OMA) and citrus agar (CA), and at temperatures from 10 to 30°C. The ratio of MAT1‐1 and MAT1‐2 was similar to 1:1. Ascospore production reached peaks of 8.0, 7.0 and 3.0 × 103 ascospores/mL in MEA, PDA and ½ PDA, respectively. There were no ascospores observed in OMA and CA. P. citricarpa ascospores were observed only at 15, 20 and 25°C in PDA, with peaks of up to 2.0 × 103 ascospores/mL at 42, 35 and 21 days, respectively. There were no ascospores observed at 10 and 30°C. Both mating types are similarly distributed in the SP citrus belt, and in vitro ascospore production may be optimized by using MEA at 25°C. These data provide a better understanding of P. citricarpa sexual reproduction and a background for further studies with ascospores.

Replacing Natural Gas with Biomethane from Sewage Treatment: Optimizing the Potential in São Paulo State, Brazil

The search for cleaner and more sustainable energy sources is increasingly growing. Aligning this demand with another environmental problem, such as sewage treatment/disposal, is a strategic priority. In light of this, the aim of this study was to estimate the energy potential of sewage generated in the Brazilian state of São Paulo (SP) by using it to produce biomethane. The study also evaluated the viability of using this byproduct of sewage treatment (biomethane) as a substitute for natural gas (NG), as both of them have similar lower heat values. To do this, information was gathered regarding the population, gross domestic product per capita, sewage collected, and natural gas consumption for each of the state’s 645 cities, and, based on this, the sewage energy potential, the amount of NG to be substituted by biomethane, and the reduction in CO2 emissions were calculated. Moreover, in order to address a possible allocation of biomethane that could potentially be produced in each SP city and sent to currently NG-consuming cities, an optimization algorithm was proposed. The results indicated a sewage energy potential of 4.68 × 109 kWh/yr for the entire SP state, which would be enough to supply around 10% of the energy value of all the NG currently consumed. It was also observed that from 130 cities with NG consumption, 10 could produce enough biomethane to fully satisfy the natural gas demand. In the elected scenario of optimization, 291 cities were found to be capable of supplying the demand of 26 cities that currently use NG. The potential to reduce CO2 emissions is between 1.81 × 106 and 2.42 × 106 ton/yr, and this range could increase if sewage treatment coverage grows. Despite the challenges inherent in extrapolating a potential study to scenarios that require significative investment, the results obtained are useful for formulating public policies for decarbonization in the near future.

Biological patterns of reproduction of the Brazilian sardine Sardinella brasiliensis in the purse seine fishery of Southwest Atlantic Ocean: A long-term assessment

Recent estimates of the size at first maturity (L50) of Sardinella brasiliensis showed contradictory results with a decreasing in the fish stock biomass encompassed by increasing values of L50. The methodological approach used hereby allowed to separate sardines classified in the virginal maturity stage from those categorized in the recovery stage, and ready for one next spawning event. This study evaluated the hypothesis of the existence of separated stocks experiencing distinct environmental conditions and fishing pressures which may have altered L50 estimates using a robust dataset based on biological samples collected along the entire species distribution area in the southeast-south Brazilian coast [Rio de Janeiro (RJ), São Paulo (SP), Paraná (PR), Santa Catarina (SC) and Rio Grande do Sul (RS)] between 2000 and 2018. A reclassification of the gonadal maturity stages provided a more realistic estimate of L50. Combining biological, reproductive, fishing data and the mean temperature of the catch (MTC), the leave-one-out classification correctly re-assigned individuals with an overall accuracy of 85% [100% (RJ), 45% (SP), 99% (PR), 99% (SC) and 82% (RS)]. The connectivity between the local populations of S. brasiliensis off RJ (23°S) and the southern populations is limited, contrasting to spatial structured semi-discrete population-units found between SP and RS (24°S-30°S). The northern extreme population-unit (RJ, 22°S-23°S) showed an expressive reduction of L50, and a negative correlation was detected between the increasing MTC values and the abundance of early maturing individuals and recruits of the species. Stock specific L50 estimates seemed to act as indicators of long term environmental fluctuations.

Cryptic circulation of chikungunya virus in São Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil, 2015-2019.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has spread across Brazil with varying incidence rates depending on the affected areas. Due to cocirculation of arboviruses and overlapping disease symptoms, CHIKV infection may be underdiagnosed. To understand the lack of CHIKV epidemics in São José do Rio Preto (SJdRP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil, we evaluated viral circulation by investigating anti-CHIKV IgG seroconversion in a prospective study of asymptomatic individuals and detecting anti-CHIKV IgM in individuals suspected of dengue infection, as well as CHIKV presence in Aedes mosquitoes. The opportunity to assess two different groups (symptomatic and asymptomatic) exposed at the same geographic region aimed to broaden the possibility of identifying the viral circulation, which had been previously considered absent. Based on a prospective population study model and demographic characteristics (sex and age), we analyzed the anti-CHIKV IgG seroconversion rate in 341 subjects by ELISA over four years. The seroprevalence increased from 0.35% in the first year to 2.3% after 3 years of follow-up. Additionally, we investigated 497 samples from a blood panel collected from dengue-suspected individuals during the 2019 dengue outbreak in SJdRP. In total, 4.4% were positive for anti-CHIKV IgM, and 8.6% were positive for IgG. To exclude alphavirus cross-reactivity, we evaluated the presence of anti-Mayaro virus (MAYV) IgG by ELISA, and the positivity rate was 0.3% in the population study and 0.8% in the blood panel samples. In CHIKV and MAYV plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs), the positivity rate for CHIKV-neutralizing antibodies in these ELISA-positive samples was 46.7%, while no MAYV-neutralizing antibodies were detected. Genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed CHIKV genotype ECSA in São José do Rio Preto, SP. Finally, mosquitoes collected to complement human surveillance revealed CHIKV positivity of 2.76% of A. aegypti and 9.09% of A. albopictus (although it was far less abundant than A. aegypti) by RT-qPCR. Our data suggest cryptic CHIKV circulation in SJdRP detected by continual active surveillance. These low levels, but increasing, of viral circulation highlight the possibility of CHIKV outbreaks, as there is a large naïve population. Improved knowledge of the epidemiological situation might aid in outbreaks prevention.

Maturity of e-government in Brazilian municipalities: analysis of the dissemination of information and knowledge about the Covid-19 pandemic to Society

Electronic government (e-gov) is a reality already experienced by citizens and organizations of different countries around the world. Governments of different levels can provide information and knowledge available through electronic channels in order to provide a better relationship between their institutions and society. This research aims to identify and classify the maturity of electronic portals of municipal governments in the five largest cities in Brazil regarding the dissemination of information and knowledge about the Covid-19 pandemic to society, classifying them according to the stages of maturity of electronic government proposed by Lechakoski and Tsunoda (2015). To acchieve this goal, a descriptive research of multiple cases was carried out, with the application of a documentary research protocol on the websites of the following Brazilian municipal governments: São Paulo (SP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Salvador (BA), Belo Horizonte (MG) and Fortaleza (CE). The results showed that the municipalities of São Paulo (SP) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ) showed greater compliance with the criteria analyzed in the model considered, being classified in the 'integrated' stage, the most developed level. The municipalities of Salvador, Belo Horizonte, and Fortaleza were classified in the transactional stage.

Influence of HLA-A, [sbnd]B, and -DRB1 genes and panel-reactive antibodies on the waitlist time for kidney transplantation in the state of Sao Paulo-Brazil

BackgroundBrazil ranks second in the absolute number of transplants. However, the supply remains insufficient to meet the demands, resulting in a lengthy waitlist. This study aimed to analyze whether the frequency of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and the value of calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA) would influence the waiting time for kidney transplantation. MethodsThe HLA-A, B, and -DRB1 frequencies and the cPRA value were analyzed in 11,186 kidney transplant candidates included in the waitlist from 2006 to 2016. ResultsThe most frequent alleles were HLA-A*02, HLA-B*35, and HLA-DRB1*13. The overall mean length of stay on the list was 986 ± 1001 days. The mean waiting time for the three most frequent alleles of the HLA-A and B loci showed no significant difference when compared with the least frequent alleles; however, for the HLA-DRB1 locus, the most frequent alleles showed a shorter waiting time. In the association between HLA and PRA, the average length of stay on the list increased according to the candidate's degree of sensitization, regardless of the analyzed HLA frequency. ConclusionThe length of stay on the waitlist is influenced by the frequency of the HLA alleles of the DRB1 locus and the degree of sensitization.

Otolith shape can be used as a tool to infer population connectivity among individuals of Larimus breviceps at Southwestern Atlantic

Abstract Otoliths are an excellent tool for analysing the pattern of habitat use between adults and juveniles and connectivity between fish populations. Larimus breviceps is a species belonging to the family Sciaenidae, which has an important role in the marine food chain, as it is one of the most abundant and frequent species in the bycatch of coastal shrimp fisheries in Brazil. The present study aimed at comparing the otolith shape of specimens collected in three different Brazilian coastal areas: Sergipe (SE), northeastern region; São Paulo (SP), southeastern region; and Paraná (PR), southern region. In a laboratory, 88 otoliths were extracted, photographed, and the contour was analysed by the wavelet method (32 from SE, 28 from SP, and 28 from PR). The otolith contours varied between sampling sites. Linear discriminant analysis correctly reclassified 60.23% otoliths by the sampled sites, with the best reclassifications occurring in SE (62.5%), followed by PR (60.71%) and SP (57.14%). Multivariate analysis of variance also evidenced significant differences in contours among the sampling sites (F = 2.3; P < 0.005). Thus, two morphotypes of otoliths were found for L. breviceps: one from Sergipe (northeastern Brazil) and the second one from southeastern–southern Brazil, indicating connectivity between the populations off São Paulo and Paraná, to be confirmed by future genetic studies.

ESTRESSE TOXICOLÓGICO EM UM RIO ALTAMENTE IMPACTADO NO AMBIENTE PORTUÁRIO DE SANTOS, SP

TOXICOLOGICAL STRESS IN A HIGHLY IMPACTED RIVER FROM THE PORT ENVIRONMENT OF SANTOS, SP. There are many stilts and industry, which discharge sewage, domestic garbage and industrial effluents in the Pouca Saúde River from the port environment of Santos, São Paulo (SP) State. However, ecotoxicological studies in this river are rare. In this study, we seek to fill this gap by analyzing physicochemical, toxicological, and chemical conditions. Surface water and sediment samples were collected at 2 sampling sites with riparian community activities and industrial activities in the summer, autumn, winter and spring. The parameters analyzed were pH, alkalinity, turbidity, salinity, oils, greases, dissolved oxygen (DO), toxicological and cytotoxicity with mitotic index (MI) of onion roots using Allium cepa roots, and concentration of Pb, Zn, Hg, Ni and Cd. Our results showed alterations in the DO, turbidity, oils/greases and reduction of MI when compared to the respective control. Ni and Zn in sediment samples presented concentrations exceeding levels occasionally associated with adverse biological effects “threshold effect level”. These results suggested that the water quality of the Pouca Saúde River is influenced by both presences of heavy metals contamination and the seasons, i.e. by the tide. Thus, the toxic potential monitoring carried out in this study is of paramount importance to this river.

Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos: Analisando os Direitos Coletivos e Difusos dos Catadores de Materiais

Abstract This article scrutinizes the National Policy on Solid Waste (PNRS) - Law 12.305/2010 regarding the collective and diffuse rights of collectors of recyclable materials. More than a decade since the enactment of the PNRS, the rights bestowed by this legislation have yet to be actualized. In its analysis, the article highlights public-interest civil actions pertaining to the cities of São Paulo (SP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), and Brasília (DF). The hypothetical-deductive method was employed within a qualitative framework, utilizing both bibliographic and documentary research tools. It is concluded that, due to governmental neglect, there is an imperative for the ongoing involvement of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office to advocate for and safeguard the rights of this worker category, which are pivotal in the advancement of a sustainable environment.

SRPSKI ISELjENICI U JUŽNOJ AMERICI NAKON DRUGOG SVETSKOG RATA I NjIHOV ODNOS PREMA NOVIM VLASTIMA U JUGOSLAVIJI

Many Serbian royalists and various opposition groups to the Communist Party of Yugoslavia administration sought safety in South America following World War II. While many of them settled in Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Argentina, the majority of them escaped to Argentina. Numerous clubs and organizations were established in those nations, such as the “Srpski klub̊ˮ from Sao Paolo, the “Srpski patriotski blok̴ˮ from Montevideo, the Argentian Serbs society ˮVelika Srbijaˮ from Buenos Aires, and others.These groups published publications and pamphlets, debated domestic politics, and conducted meetings. Diplomacy from Socialist Yugoslavia closely followed the operations of those groups. The Serbian community in Argentina started the journal “Srpska zastavaˮ with the goal of uniting all Serbs.Although they disapproved of the “bad experienceˮ of Yugoslavia, they also lauded Serbia for its medieval history and early 20th-century modern sovereignty. Despite not holding an official position in any emigrant group, Milan Stojadinović, the former Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, was a prominent figure among Serbian emigrants in Argentina. Rather, he served as a consultant for both the biggest newspaper in the country, “Srpska zastavaˮ, and the group “Velika Srbijaˮ. Although the efforts of Serbian expatriates in South America following World War II did not result in significant changes in their home country, they occasionally posed a challenge to Titoʼs regimeʼs propaganda efforts.

Global cities as subjects of international relations in the 21st century

Global cities are becoming increasingly influential actors in international relations in the 21st century. That is why this work uses a city as the primary unit of analysis, which, although traditionally considered a state actor, currently develops autonomous initiatives that go beyond internal borders and have a global reach. The goal is to examine the potential and resources of global cities for independent participation in international relations and thereby evaluate their role in foreign policy. To explain this process, the concept of actorness is used. Actorness as a character of the city was discussed in more detail in the example of Sao Paolo by applying Duran?s four-dimensional model, whose criteria are authority, opportunities, autonomy, and presence. This model was applied in search of an answer to the main research question: Can we talk about Sao Paolo as an actor in international relations? The analysis of the case study will be based on an extensive review of primary and secondary data sources, including official documents of the city municipality and the city office for external affairs, media reports, scientific publications, and works on the topic of the city?s international engagements. Based on the analysis of the mentioned data, each of these characteristics has been met in the international activity of Sao Paulo. The intention is to contribute to the existing literature by expanding the geographical scope of the study of international urban activism and shifting the academic focus away from the Eurocentric discourse. The paper adopts a multilingual approach in search of relevant information on the role of cities in international relations in Spanish and Portuguese in order to enrich the debate and fill the gaps found in the literature in English.