Southeast Region Of Brazil Research Articles

Effect of Meteorological Variables on Energy Demand in the Northeast and Southeast Regions of Brazil

Energy consumption demand has shown successive records during recent months, primarily associated with heat waves in almost all Brazilian states. The effects of climate change induced by global warming and the increasingly frequent occurrence of extreme events, mainly regarding temperature and precipitation, are associated with this increase in demand. In this sense, the impact of meteorological variables on load demand in some substations in the northeast and southeast of Brazil was analyzed, considering the historical series of energy injected into these substations. Fifteen substations were analyzed: three in the state of São Paulo, six in Bahia, three in Pernambuco, and three in Rio Grande do Norte. Initially, essential quality control was carried out on the energy injection data. The SAMeT data sets were used for the variable temperature, and Xavier was used for precipitation and relative humidity to obtain a homogeneous data series. Daily and monthly data were used for a detailed analysis of these variables in energy demand over the northeast and southeast regions of Brazil. Some regions were observed to be sensitive to the maximum temperature variable, while others were sensitive to the average temperature. On the other hand, few cases showed the highest correlation with the precipitation and relative humidity variables, with most cases being considered slight or close to zero. A more refined analysis was based on the type of consumers associated with each substation. These results showed that where consumption is more residential, the highest correlations were associated with maximum temperature in most stations in the northeast and average temperature in the southeast. In regions where consumption is primarily rural, the correlation observed with precipitation and relative humidity was the highest despite being negative. A more detailed analysis shows that rural production is associated with irrigation in these substations, which partly explains consumption, as when rainfall occurs, the demand for irrigation decreases, and thus energy consumption is reduced.

PRESCRIPTIVE MAINTENANCE SYNCHRONIZED TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF INDUSTRY 5.0: A THEORETICAL DISCUSSION

This article aims to examine and understand the current scope of Prescriptive Maintenance integrated with the human-centric characteristics of Industry 5.0. Therefore, the main research question is the following: “In the view of the managers of the companies visited, located in the Southeast Region of Brazil, what are the main technical and administrative difficulties that companies encounter in successfully implementing proactive combinations on the factory floor, such as Prescriptive Maintenance integrated with the characteristics of Industry 5.0”?. The evolution of industrial processes in recent decades and the advent of Industry 4.0 integrated with human-centered characteristics have placed maintenance as one of the protagonists of industrial processes. In a scenario where automation and humans are gaining more and more space, the future of industries lies in Prescriptive Maintenance. To achieve the objective of the article, professional experiences from participation in congresses, seminars and technical visits to several factories located in the Southeast Region of Brazil are used. In data collection, we explored documentary observation and bibliographic research in the Science Direct and Web of Science databases. The study focuses on research areas related to maintenance integration, Industry 4.0 (Techno centric) and human-centric characteristics (Industry 5.0). The article brought important conclusions, as it addresses the impact and trends on the factory floor so that managers can develop competitiveness and productivity. The article highlights the role of maintenance methods in improving factory floor performance, emphasizing human knowledge and Prescriptive Maintenance practices to ensure operations within World Class standards.

Medical Genetics in Brazil in the 21st Century: A Thriving Specialty and Its Incorporation in Public Health Policies.

Brazil is a continent-size country with 203 million inhabitants, classified as a developing upper-middle-income country, although inequities remain significant. Most of the population is assisted by the public Unified Health System (SUS), along with a thriving private health sector. Congenital malformations are the second leading cause of infant mortality and chronic/genetic disorders and a significant burden in hospital admissions. The past two decades have been crucial for formalizing medical genetics as a recognized medical specialty in the SUS, as well as for implementing a new health policy by the Ministry of Health for comprehensive care for rare diseases. These public health policies had the broad support of the Brazilian Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics and patient organizations. Most comprehensive genetic services are concentrated in large urban centers in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil; with this new policy, new services throughout the country are progressively being integrated. The number of medical geneticists increased by 103% in a decade. Details on the policy and an overview of the availability of services, testing, human resources, newborn screening, research projects, patient organizations, and relevant issues regarding medical genetics in this vast and diverse country are presented.

Non-suicidal self-injury in the COVID-19 pandemic: results from cross-sectional surveys among Brazilian adults from 2020 to 2023.

The multilevel psychosocial stressors associated with COVID-19 pandemic set the stage to investigate risk factors and groups susceptible for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). A national sample of 9,929 Brazilian adults aged 36.1 years on average participated in the study. Cross-sectional data were collected in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. NSSI levels were considered high in the total sample (13.2%) when compared to other studies in this context. The variables with the highest explanatory power in the regression models were age, anxiety, and depression. The main risk factors were being younger, living in the South or Southeast regions of Brazil, having lower educational attainment, and having higher rates of anxiety and depression. Respondents had the highest probability of NSSI in 2022. The sustained higher rates of NSSI in 2023 compared to the beginning of the pandemic underscores the need for continuous monitoring and the development of preventive actions for self-injurious behaviors.

TP53 p.R337H Germline Variant among Women at Risk of Hereditary Breast Cancer in a Public Health System of Midwest Brazil.

Despite the high prevalence of TP53 pathogenic variants (PV) carriers in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil, germline genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer (HBC) is not available in the Brazilian public health system, and the prevalence of Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is not well established in other regions of Brazil. We assessed the occurrence of TP53 p.R337H carriers among women treated for breast cancer (BC) between January 2021 and January 2022 at public hospitals of Brasilia, DF, Brazil. A total of 180 patients who met at least one of the NCCN criteria for HBC underwent germline testing; 44.4% performed out-of-pocket germline multigene panel testing, and 55.6% were tested for the p.R337H variant by allelic discrimination PCR. The median age at BC diagnosis was 43.5 years, 93% had invasive ductal carcinoma, 50% had estrogen receptor-positive/HER2 negative tumors, and 41% and 11% were diagnosed respectively at stage III and IV. Two patients (1.11%) harbored the p.R337H variant, and cascade family testing identified 20 additional carriers. The TP53 p.R337H detection rate was lower than that reported in other studies from south/southeast Brazil. Nonetheless, identifying TP53 PV carriers through genetic testing in the Brazilian public health system could guide cancer treatment and prevention.

Prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis in roadkill armadillos in Brazil

To evaluate the prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis in road killed armadillos identified along Brazilian regions, samples of liver, spleen, muscle, ear, nose and tail were collected on highways from 78 animals. The armadillos were of four different species, Cabassous tatouay, Dasypus novemcinctus, Dasypus septemcinctus and Euphractus sexcinctus. After DNA extraction from two tissues, specific primers were used for the detection of each pathogen using SYBR green qualitative Real-Time PCR, and amplicons were sequenced. The species with the highest prevalence was D. novemcinctus, mainly in the Central-West, South, and Southeast regions of Brazil. We detected M. leprae DNA in 32 (41 %) of the 78 individuals and M. lepromatosis DNA was not identified in any of the examined samples. The zoonotic component of leprosy may play a role in the transmission of the disease in endemic areas in which environmental conditions and contact with reservoirs must be investigated.

Comparative effectiveness of clozapine and non-clozapine atypical antipsychotics provided by the Brazilian National Health System in adults with schizophrenia.

Currently, 21 million people live with the disease, mostly in low to middle-income countries. We aimed to assess the survival of patients with schizophrenia using clozapine compared with non-clozapine atypical antipsychotics provided by the Brazilian National Health System using real-world data. This is an open retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia to whom atypical antipsychotics were dispensed by the Brazilian National Health System between 2000 and 2015, based on deterministic-probabilistic pairing of administrative data records. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the cumulative probability of survival and the Cox proportional hazards model was adjusted to assess the risk factors for survival via the hazard ratio (HR). Participants were 375,352 adults with schizophrenia, with an overall survival rate of 76.0% (95%CI 75.0-76.0) at the end of the cohort. Multivariate analysis indicated a greater risk of death for men (HR=1.30; 95%CI 1.27-1.32), older adults (HR=17.05; 95%CI 16.52-17.60), and in the Southeast region of Brazil (HR=1.20; 95%CI 1.17-1.23). Patients who used non-clozapine atypical antipsychotics had a 21% greater risk of death when compared to those taking clozapine (HR=1.21; 95%CI 1.14-1.29). Additionally, a history of hospitalization for pneumonia (HR=2.17; 95%CI 2.11-2.23) was the main clinical variable associated with increased risk of death, followed by hospitalization for lung cancer (HR=1.82; 95%CI 1.58-2.08), cardiovascular diseases (HR=1.44; 95%CI 1.40-1.49) and any type of neoplasia (HR=1.29; 95%CI 1.19-1.40). This is the first published Brazilian cohort study that evaluated survival in people with schizophrenia, highlighting the impact of atypical antipsychotics. In this real-world analysis, the use of clozapine had a protective effect on survival when compared to olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, and ziprasidone.

Mass rearing requirements and ecological zoning of Telenomus remus estimated through life table in different temperatures and relative humidities

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is an important polyphagous pest of corn (maize) crops, reported as invasive on most continents. It is the main corn pest in South America. Control methods involve the use of agrochemicals and genetically modified cultivars. Among the possible alternatives for controlling this species, the present study evaluated the biological development of an isofemale line of Telenomus remus Nixon collected in Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil, on eggs of S. frugiperda at different temperatures and relative humidity (RH) levels. The development and parasitism of the parental generation of T. remus and its offspring were evaluated at different temperatures (18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30, 33, and 35 °C) and RH levels (30, 50, 70, and 90 %). Fertility life tables were constructed based on the values obtained at different temperatures and RH. The estimated thermal constant (K) was 210.36 degree-days, the lower temperature threshold (Tt) 10.6 °C, and the upper developmental threshold (Tmax) 35.9 °C. In both generations, T. remus showed the best parasitism performance at temperatures between 25 and 30 °C and RH between 50 and 70 %. We represented the results geographically, producing two types of zoning maps, one based on R0 (net reproductive rate) values and another based on the number of T. remus generations in municipalities according to the calendar for the first and second corn crops. Both zoning approaches indicated that the North, Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast regions of Brazil are the most suitable for the establishment and multiplication of T. remus, especially from September to February. In the colder Southern region, conditions are suitable only from November to March. Under the same climate conditions as S. frugiperda, T. remus can produce 4 to 6 times more generations in both corn crops. For the first corn crop, more regions of Brazil are favorable for the release of T. remus to control S. frugiperda.

Factors associated with early-stage lung cancer diagnosis (ESLCD) in Brazil, 2013-2019: A multivariable analysis.

e20091 Background: Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate among the leading deadly cancers worldwide. Despite improvements in tobacco cessation and treatment over the years, disparities in access to care, timely diagnosis, and proper treatment remain prevalent. This study aims to identify the factors associated (FA) with Early-Stage Lung Cancer Diagnosis (ESLCD) in Brazil. Methods: This retrospective cohort study includes individuals diagnosed with lung cancer from January 2013 to December 2019, registered in the Brazilian hospital-based Cancer Registry (HBCR). Descriptive and bivariate analysis was performed, and T-tests and Chi-square were used to compare early vs late-stage groups. Multivariable backward stepwise logistic regression identified FA with ESLCD at a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The study was conducted with data on 86,558 individuals registered in the HBCR; 56.6% were men, 64 years old on average, and 54.8% were white. We found a high percentage of patients without education information (23.9%), and 70% had completed high school. As for behavioral characteristics, only 20% of the patients had never smoked; the others were current smokers (40%) or former smokers (40%). Almost half of the patients were from the Southeast region of Brazil (44.6%), 27% from the South, 19.9% from the Northeast, 3.9% from the North and 3.9% from the Midwest. The vast majority of the individuals were diagnosed at a late stage (85.6%), while 14.4% were ESLCD. In the bivariate analysis, being less than 65 years old, being female, white, never smoking, having a college degree, and living in the south or southeast regions were associated with ESLCD. In the final multivariable model the Factors Associated with ESLCD were having less than 65 years (OR=1.28 [95% CI: 1.22-1.34]), of the female gender (OR=1.26 [95% CI: 1.22-1.32]), having education greater than a college degree (OR=1.49 [95% CI: 1.38-1.61]), and living on the southeast (OR=1.22 [95% CI: 1.15-1.30]); and in the south region (OR=1.21 [95% CI: 1.18-1.32]); which are the wealthiest regions in the country. Conclusions: The education level was the most decisive factor associated with ESLCD. Geographic location played an important role in ESLCD, indicating issues related to wealth and access to health services. Improving access to lung cancer diagnosis, especially for vulnerable populations, can reduce disparities in the rates of early-stage diagnosis and improve overall survival. [Table: see text]

Collaborative projects: sustainable development and risk management in the corrugated cardboard industry

The high costs of environmentally responsible and socially just approaches are some of the factors that hinder the implementation of sustainable projects in the industrial sector. However, upstream collaborative integration in the corrugated cardboard industry in southeastern Brazil is a reality. In this context, this study aimed to highlight the structure of a collaborative sustainable project in the context of the corrugated cardboard industry, to analyze ESG risk management in the corrugated cardboard industry in the Southeast Region of Brazil, the relationship between ESG risk management and social responsibility in corrugated cardboard industries, the strengths and weaknesses of risk management models in use by the consulted participants, and to propose innovations regarding risk analysis, applicable in sustainable projects with a collaborative bias. The methodology adopted was the case study, with consultation with managers in professional activity in the industrial sector, corroborated by document analysis and systematic review of the literature. We identified preliminary risk analysis (PRA) and failure mode analysis (FMEA) as key practices used by managers in the corrugated paper industry in the region. These practices are insufficient in the convergence of objectives, engagement with the community, and extension of the lifecycle of products and processes. Our findings show that the sustainability of a project may be an extension of the risk analyses carried out in the initial phase, mainly about strategic decision-making and the operationalization of investments. Without bias to the need for risk analysis, the life cycle analysis is also an effective way of highlighting the critical factors, weaknesses, and strengths of a sustainable project. The study indicates the so-called GUT matrix approach (gravity – urgency – tendency) as the most suitable for innovation in risk analyses oriented towards sustainable projects in the analyzed sector.

Physical-chemical and microbiological characterization of water destined to hemodialysis

This research evaluated the physical-chemical and microbiological parameters of water and dialysate in four distinct hemodialysis units located in the southeast region of Brazil. The physical-chemical parameters evaluated were pH, electric conductivity, turbidity, alkalinity, free chlorine, nitrate, fluoride, chloride, sulfate, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium ion concentrations. Microcystin was also quantified. The microbiological parameters evaluated were the detection of total coliform, total heterotrophic bacteria count (THB), and the isolation and identification of microorganisms in pre-reverse osmosis treatment and post-reverse osmosis treatment water samples and dialysate. The nitrate, fluoride and THB levels found in the water samples may present risk to the patient under hemodialysis treatment. Microcystin was detected in one of the potable water samples. Microorganisms were identified throughout the hemodialysis of the entire water treatment system, with Ralstonia sp. being the most frequent. The presence of emergent pathogenic bacteria highlighted in this study highlights the necessity of microbiological monitoring of water destined for hemodialysis. Keywords: dialysate, hemodialysis, water treatment.

Costs and benefits of restoration are still poorly quantified: evidence from a systematic literature review on the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

The achievement of international forest restoration goals requires economically viable land‐use options. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a priority area for ecosystem restoration, as it is widely deforested to make place for intensive agriculture and one of the most threatened biodiversity hotspots in the world. We systematically reviewed existing scientific literature on the biome to highlight the evidence on economic benefits and costs of forest restoration. A total of 15 publications were identified that quantify costs and/or economic benefits of forest restoration. We observed that most studies (11) [Correction added on 15 May 2024, after first online publication: In the preceding phrase, (12) was corrected to (11) in this version.] were published after 2018 and that research on the topic was biogeographically biased as 12 publications referred to study sites in Brazil's Southeast Region. Given its beneficial natural conditions, the Atlantic Forest is predestined for a wide range of restoration‐related opportunities, yet economic benefits of restoration are underexplored (seven studies). Moreover, benefits from a multifunctional use of restored forests are almost absent in the literature with only three studies presenting primary data. Elaboration of restoration costs is also limited to 10 studies that focus predominantly on active restoration. Thus, we argue that the economic costs and benefits of forest restoration are not well understood. Clarity thereon is, however, critical for policy formulation and to mobilize private investments. We therefore call for studies to fill in the knowledge gap on restoration economics in the Atlantic Forest biome, and to study restoration economics in other biomes as well.

Evaluation of angular, linear, and body index measures of pêga donkeys (Equus Asinus) from southeast of Brazil

The objective of this study was to perform body evaluation of Pêga donkeys (40 females and 10 males) from the Southeast Region of Brazil. Hippometer, measuring tape, and arthrogoniometer were used, considering the left antimere of the animals in a forced quadrupedal position. The analysis of variance showed a difference (p<0.05) between males and females for chest width, CPr, withers height, croup height, body length, back-loin length, posterior pastern length, and the angle of the tibiometatarsal joint. The values for body length, anterior pastern length, scapulohumeral angle, and metacarpophalangeal joint differed (p<0.05) between farms. Compactness index 1 and conformation index classified the animals as suited for saddle activities, and compactness index 2 classified them as suited for light drafting. The dactylothoracic index classified the animals into eumetric. Cannon load index was similar between sexes and between states. The load on the back by step index was 167.9±12.6 kg, and the LGI was 95.9±6.0 kg, equal between sexes and higher for the animals from RJ. It is concluded that the Pêga breed has sexual dimorphism and regional selection, interfering with morphometry and aptitude for saddle and light draft.

Head and neck cancer: epidemiological aspects of two large Brazilian medical centers

Objective: To compare clinical and epidemiological aspects of Head and neck cancers (HNC) patients treated in hospitals in northeast and southeast regions of Brazil. Methodology: The study cross-sectional retrospective analyzed 519 medical records of patients treated between 2016 and 2021. The factors evaluated for HNC prevalence included demographic data, predisposing factors, tumor location, treatment type, and related oral manifestations. Qualitative variables were expressed in absolute and relative frequencies. The chi-square test assessed potential associations between these variables (p< 0.05). Results: 54.1% of patients were men and 45.9% were women. Hospitals significantly differed regarding sex, age, and tobacco use (p< 0.05). The accumulated percentage indicated that adults under 60 years old were the most affected (62.6%). The larynx/hypopharynx was the most prevalent location (51.8%), followed by the oral cavity (25.8%). The tongue was the most affected anatomical region in the oral cavity (11.0%). Conclusion: Patient profile showed possible changes, with both sexes being similarly affected in increasingly younger patients. Demographic and lifestyle factors suggest an association with HNC, representing information for consideration when screening more susceptible patients and tracking early-stage lesions.

First record of Oligobregma Kudenov & Blake, 1975 (Annelida: Polychaeta: Scalibregmatidae Malmgren, 1867) from Brazil with the description of three new species.

Oligobregma represents the most speciose genus of Scalibregmatidae with 17 valid species. Most of them occur at great depths and are found living on soft bottoms. Here, we present the descriptions of O. nonatoi sp. nov., O. cruzae sp. nov., and O. bakkeni sp. nov., sampled from the Brazilian continental shelf and slope, and a key to all species of Oligobregma. O. nonatoi sp. nov. differs from its congeners by the presence of a triangular prostomium with short rounded horns, acicular spines on notopodia of chaetigers 14 and on neuropodia of chaetigers 13. Oligobregma cruzae sp. nov. can be distinguished by the presence of a quadrangular prostomium with two short, rounded horns, acicular spines on chaetigers 14, and lyrate chaetae from chaetiger 5. Finally, O. bakkeni sp. nov. is unique among its congeners by the presence of acicular spines with rounded tips. This is the first record of this genus along the Brazilian coast and the specimens were collected on Esprito Santo, Campos and Santos sedimentary basins, both located in Brazilian southeast region. The sampling campaigns were carried out in scientific expeditions related to two research projects: Santos Project Santos Basin Environmental Characterization and Ambes Project Esprito Santo Basin Assessment Project, both coordinated by CENPES/PETROBRAS.

Ecology of The Giant Armadillo in The Cerrado Mineiro, In the Southeast Region of Brazil

Objective: Identify and georeference burrows, qualify the soil and predominant vegetation where the giant armadillo lives, in the Cerrado of Triângulo Mineiro. Method/design/approach: The study was carried out on nine properties in the municipality of Uberaba, MG and one in Uberlândia, MG, covering a total area of 240.8 km2. Burrows with more than 1.0 m deep were adopted as a standard, all of which were georeferenced, for the construction of maps, measurement of areas, definition of phytophysiognomies, determination of distance traveled and spatial distribution of the animal in the region. To record the presence of the animal, 9 photographic cameras were installed in the area, at a height of 0.40 m. Soil samples were collected in 20 locations for chemical analysis at depths of 0-0.20, 0.20-0.40 and 0.40-0.60 m, with 4 replications. A descriptive analysis of the data was carried out using Agroestat Software. Result and conclusion: The 81 burrows were georeferenced, 41 of them in the Vale Encantado - Private Natural Heritage Reserve (VE-PNHR), where there was a 51% increase in the total number of burrows, with the majority in the Cerrado stricto sensu (41%) and Cerradão (23 %); The animal has a strictly nocturnal habit, with around 96% of activity between 8 pm and 6 am; The animal prefers acidic soils, with low fertility and sandy texture, as these are the places where they find the most food; Around 97% of burrows were recorded at altitudes above 800 meters. Research implications: In 70% of the areas where the animal's presence was recorded, it has a total area of less than 10 km2, indicating that the animal can survive in areas smaller than those already described in the literature. The fact that 75% of the burrows recorded in the study are considered ancient remains, and the species may no longer inhabit some of the areas studied, confirms the existence of a low density of the species in these evaluated areas of the Minas Gerais cerrado. Originality/value: The Giant armadillo is one of the large animals in the Brazilian cerrado and is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Knowing the importance of the species for the biodiversity of the cerrado, it is expected that the results generated in this study can help in the formulation of public policies to preserve the species.

Integrating Hydrological and Machine Learning Models for Enhanced Streamflow Forecasting via Bayesian Model Averaging in a Hydro-Dominant Power System

Streamflow forecasting plays a crucial role in the operational planning of hydro-dominant power systems, providing valuable insights into future water inflows to reservoirs and hydropower plants. It relies on complex mathematical models, which, despite their sophistication, face various uncertainties affecting their performance. These uncertainties can significantly influence both short-term and long-term operational planning in hydropower systems. To mitigate these effects, this study introduces a novel Bayesian model averaging (BMA) framework to improve the accuracy of streamflow forecasts in real hydro-dominant power systems. Designed to serve as an operational tool, the proposed framework incorporates predictive uncertainty into the forecasting process, enhancing the robustness and reliability of predictions. BMA statistically combines multiple models based on their posterior probability distributions, producing forecasts from the weighted averages of predictions. This approach updates weights periodically using recent historical data of forecasted and measured streamflows. Tested on inflows to 139 reservoirs and hydropower plants in Brazil, the proposed BMA framework proved to be more skillful than individual models, showing improvements in forecasting accuracy, especially in the South and Southeast regions of Brazil. This method offers a more reliable tool for streamflow prediction, enhancing decision making in hydropower system operations.

Precipitation Anomalies and Trends Estimated via Satellite Rainfall Products in the Cananeia–Iguape Coastal System, Southeast Region of Brazil

The objective of this research is to select the best orbital sensor for rainfall estimates (monthly and annual scales) and to analyze the frequency and magnitude of extreme rainfall events and their trends and disruptions based on the use of satellite rainfall product data for the Cananeia–Iguape Coastal System (CICS). Data from four satellite rainfall products were used to identify the correspondence with seven points on the surface of the study area. Statistical metrics were used to identify the best satellite rainfall product. After identifying the sensor with the best performance in estimating orbital precipitation, extreme events were identified by the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) on a one-month (SPI-1), three-month (SPI-3), and twelve-month (SPI-12) scale. Trend and rupture detection in the time series were performed using different statistical techniques (Mann–Kendall, Pettitt, Standard Normal Homogeneity Test, or Buishand test). Among the satellite rainfall products, CHIRPS had the best measurements for the analyzed points on the surface. The year 1983 was characterized as very rainy, also marked by the occurrence of El Niño, and was marked by the rupture of the rains at all points (IDs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) analyzed in the month of June. The decrease in monthly rainfall was more significant in the months of February (at points IDs 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7) and April (IDs 1, 3, 5, and 7). Decreased rainfall may cause CICS mangrove shrinkage. These results showed the importance of studying rainfall in an area with mangroves in order to understand the dynamics of vegetation in the face of climate change.

Evaluating total nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations in a watershed impacted by diverse anthropic activities in a developing country.

This research aims to identify critical contamination points by nutrients, their possible origin (point and nonpoint sources), their spatial distribution, and possible attenuation by natural and anthropogenic processes. The study area is the Velhas River Basin, located in the Southeast Region of Brazil (17.0°-20.5° S; 43.5°-45.0°W). A historical series of water quality monitoring, land cover map, demographic and agricultural censuses, sewage treatment diagnostics, and local hydrographic networks were used to achieve the objectives. In addition, the regions were divided into incremental areas, enabling individualized analyses of each sub-basin. Descriptive statistics, seasonality, categorized data tests, agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis, and principal component analysis were used. There was a significant contribution of nutrients in the most important urban agglomeration of the basin, resulting in peak concentrations measured at that place. Although the values were reduced by the mouth (650 km), the percentage of legislation violations remained high. The effects of punctual contamination were intensified by the low percentage of treated sewage in the basin, the absence of adequate treatment technologies to remove nutrients, and the disorderly urbanization. Furthermore, it was estimated that the nutrient load from animal husbandry is approximately 75% of the load from domestic effluents due to the high number of cattle in the basin and the low percentage of forests.

Hydrological changes in Serra da Mantiqueira Range watersheds (Southeast Brazil)

The Serra da Mantiqueira Environmental Protection Area is one of the most important Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspots in the World, and one of the main water sources for the Brazilian Southeast Region. In this study, we analyze the existence and characteristics of streamflow changes in two watersheds (Sapucaí-Mirim and Sapucaí-Guaçu River watersheds) of the Serra da Mantiqueira Range, and if these changes are due to climate change, alterations of land cover and/or external factors. Mann-Kendall and Pettit tests were used to detect changes in streamflow, rainfall and evapotranspiration data series, at different time scales. The characteristics and magnitude of land cover changes were evaluated from multi-temporal maps, produced from satellite images and the supervised classification technique. The results show an increase in winter rainfall at the two watersheds studied. No changes were detected in the streamflows of the Sapucaí-Mirim River Basin. The summer streamflow of Sapucaí-Guaçu River watershed reduced at a rate of −0.035 m³.s−1. year−1. In addition, there were sudden streamflow changes in the summer (from the year 1967) and autumn (from the year 1988) in Sapucaí-Guaçu watershed. Furthermore, the reference summer evapotranspiration of the Sapucaí-Guaçu watershed showed an increasing trend and an abrupt increase (in 1988), besides a sudden reduction of actual evapotranspiration in 2006. The integrated analysis of these results, together with the changes in land cover and population, allow us to conclude that the reductions in summer and autumn streamflows at the Sapucaí-Guaçu watershed were probably due to the increase in the water withdrawal for public supply, added to the effects of urbanization on the hydrology of the watershed.