Why have land use change models for the Amazon failed to capture the amount of deforestation over the last decade?

Land cover change in the Neotropics represents one of the major drivers of global environmental change. Several models have been proposed to explore future trajectories of land use and cover change, particularly in the Amazon. Despite the remarkable development of these tools, model results are still surrounded by uncertainties. None of the model projections available in the literature plausibly captured the overall trajectory of land use and cover change that has been observed in the Amazon over the last decade. In this context, this study aims to review and analyze the general structure of the land use models that have most recently been used to explore land use change in the Amazon, seeking to investigate methodological factors that could explain the divergence between the observed and projected rates, paying special attention to the land demand calculations. Based on this review, the primary limitations inherent to this type of model and the extent to which these limitations can affect the consistency of the projections will also be analyzed. Finally, we discuss potential drivers that could have influenced the recent dynamic of the land use system in the Amazon and produced the unforeseen land cover change trajectory observed in this period. In a complementary way, the primary challenges of the new generation of land use models for the Amazon are synthesized. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Do Circadian Preferences Influence the Sleep Patterns of Night Shift Drivers?

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Recurrent genomic alterations in sequential progressive leukoplakia and oral cancer: drivers of oral tumorigenesis?

A significant proportion (up to 62) of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) may arise from oral potential malignant lesions (OPMLs), such as leukoplakia. Patient outcomes may thus be improved through detection of lesions at a risk for malignant transformation, by identifying and categorizing genetic changes in sequential, progressive OPMLs. We conducted array comparative genomic hybridization analysis of 25 sequential, progressive OPMLs and same-site OSCCs from five patients. Recurrent DNA copy number gains were identified on 1p in 20/25 cases (80) with minimal, high-level amplification regions on 1p35 and 1p36. Other regions of gains were frequently observed: 11q13.4 (68), 9q34.13 (64), 21q22.3 (60), 6p21 and 6q25 (56) and 10q24, 19q13.2, 22q12, 5q31.2, 7p13, 10q24 and 14q22 (48). DNA losses were observed in 20 of samples and mainly detected on 5q31.2 (35), 16p13.2 (30), 9q33.1 and 9q33.29 (25) and 17q11.2, 3p26.2, 18q21.1, 4q34.1 and 8p23.2 (20). Such copy number alterations (CNAs) were mapped in all grades of dysplasia that progressed, and their corresponding OSCCs, in 70 of patients, indicating that these CNAs may be associated with disease progression. Amplified genes mapping within recurrent CNAs (KHDRBS1, PARP1, RAB1A, HBEGF, PAIP2, BTBD7) were selected for validation, by quantitative real-time PCR, in an independent set of 32 progressive leukoplakia, 32 OSSCs and 21 non-progressive leukoplakia samples. Amplification of BTBD7, KHDRBS1, PARP1 and RAB1A was exclusively detected in progressive leukoplakia and corresponding OSCC. BTBD7, KHDRBS1, PARP1 and RAB1A may be associated with OSCC progression. Proteinprotein interaction networks were created to identify possible pathways associated with OSCC progression.

The influence of niche and neutral processes on a neotropical anuran metacommunity

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of Dental Surface Treatment with Nd:YAG and Er:YAG Lasers on Bond Strength to Recently Bleached Dentin

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of surface treatment with Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers on resin composite bond strength to recently bleached dentin. A total of 120 bovine incisors were distributed into two groups: C- without bleaching; and B- bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide. Each group was divided into three subgroups: N- without laser treatment; Nd- Nd:YAG laser irradiation; and Er- Er:YAG laser irradiation. The adhesive system (Adper Single Bond 2) was applied and composite build-ups were constructed with Filtek Supreme (3M/ESPE). The teeth were sectioned to obtain dentin-resin sticks (1x1mm(2)) and tested by microtensile bond testing. The bond strength values in group B, subgroup N (16.1 +/- 3.5MPa) presented no significant difference compared with group B, subgroup Er (14.7 +/- 6.1MPa). Group C, subgroup N (26.8 +/- 7.4MPa) presented no significant difference compared with group B, subgroup Nd (28.8 +/- 5.6MPa). Group C, subgroup Nd (36.1 +/- 7.9MPa) presented a significant increase in bond strength compared with the other groups. The Er:YAG laser did not influence the bond strength of bleached specimens, and the use of the Nd:YAG laser on bleached specimens was able to reverse the immediate effects of bleaching, obtaining bond strength values similar to those of the control group.

Drivers of clutch-size in Fork-tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus savana) at temperate and tropical latitudes in South America

Many species of birds exhibit a latitudinal gradient in annual reproductive investment, laying more eggs and producing more nestlings at higher latitudes. However, few studies have evaluated the mechanisms that underlie such patterns and such differences in grassland birds specifically. We monitored nests of Fork-tailed Flycatchers (Tyrannus savana) over two breeding seasons at a tropical site in Bolivia (in 2010-11 and 2011-12) and three breeding seasons at a southern temperate site in Argentina (2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13), testing two hypotheses explaining variation in clutch-size among populations: the food-limitation hypothesis and the nest-predation hypothesis. Mean clutch-size and mean brood-size were significantly larger at the temperate study site than at the tropical site. Availability of arthropod food per individual bird was significantly higher at the temperate site. There was no relationship, positive or negative, between rates of nest predation and either clutch- or brood-size, and thus no support for the nest-predation hypothesis. We conclude that food availability explains much of the latitudinal variation in clutch-size in this species. We discuss avenues for future research on the mechanisms underlying geographical variation in the life histories of Neotropical birds.

The Second Known Species of the Recently Described Genus Keraunea (Convolvulaceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação da usabilidade de representações cartográficas em diferentes escalas para sistema de navegação e guia de rota em automóvel

Pós-graduação em Ciências Cartográficas - FCT

Ovum pick-up technique in recently weaned ewe lambs subjected to ovarian stimulation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The most relictual fungus-farming ant species cultivates the most recently evolved and highly domesticated fungal symbiont species

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Diastolic blood pressure associated with accumulated work time among drivers and collectors

The relationship between diastolic blood pressure and the variables total cumulative working time and age was examined by regression analysis. The study was carried out among 839 bus drivers and conductors, users of an occupational health center in Campinas, S. Paulo State, Brazil. The main results were a positive association between diastolic blood pressure and cumulative working time, as well as an interaction between this variable and the bus worker's age.

Drivers of change in animal protein production systems: changes from 'traditional' to 'modern' beef cattle production systems in Brazil

Until 1990, beef cattle production in Brazil was recognized as an enterprise of low investment, low cost of production, as well as an extensive production system that used large land areas to be economically feasible. The situation changed for the Brazilian beef market when the economy stabilized in 1994 and all sectors involved in the beef supply chain were able to predict their associated costs and profits. During the same period, purchasing power of the Brazilian population grew, and as a consequence, consumers began to demand higher quality beef products. This new scenario in the late 1990s and early 2000s has led to more intensive beef production systems in Brazil as well as the need for a greater understanding of how technologies might be applied. As consequence of this evolution, in the last five years, a necessity to increase beef production has occurred. The quality of Brazilian beef has improved compared with beef produced 15 years ago, but continued improvements are needed to achieve excellence in terms of large-scale production of high quality beef, be sustainable over a long period of time, and increase our contribution to global food security.