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In 2015, a breach in the Fundão Dam in Mariana (Minas Gerais State, Brazil) resulted in the release of contaminated tailings into the Doce River basin. This accident increased the concentrations of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), vanadium (V), and manganese (Mn) in the soil, posing a potential hazard to the physiology of native species. The purpose of this study was to assess whether chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) in Allagoptera arenaria and Guapira pernambucensis changed following this accident when tested under different precipitation regimes in relation to soil properties and metal(loid) absorption. Our research was conducted in two sites located in the state of Espírito Santo in southeastern Brazil. Five independent biological replicates of A. arenaria and G. pernambucensis were selected at each site for nutritional and chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis. Five years after the dam rupture, A. arenaria and G. pernambucensis had absorbed As, Pb, and V. The increased amounts of metal(loid)s absorbed did not significantly impair the OJIP curve configuration for either species during the evaluated periods. However, A. arenaria at Biological Reserve of Comboios (RBC) during the rainy season showed increases in the values of maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (φP0) and total performance index on absorption basis (PITOTAL). These changes indicated more efficient tolerance mechanisms for increases in the concentrations of As, Pb, and V than those observed in G. pernambucensis. It was concluded that A. arenaria and G. pernambucensis exhibited an acclimation strategy in response to increased absorption of metal(loid)s.

This paper summarizes the rationale for, possible mechanisms of, and problems related to risk assessment of the association between shift work and cancer. The mechanisms by which circadian disruption may favor the induction and/or promotion of malignant tumors are complex and multifactorial. The multilevel endocrine changes caused by circadian disruption with melatonin suppression through light at night (LAN) lead to the oncogenic targeting of the endocrine-responsive breast in women and possibly the prostate in men. Repeated phase shifting with internal desynchronization may lead to defects in the regulation of the circadian cell cycle, thus favoring uncontrolled growth. Sleep deprivation leads to the suppression of immune surveillance that may permit the establishment and/or growth of malignant clones. The epidemiological studies published so far, although dealing with large cohorts and controlling for several personal confounders, have defined the exposure to shift and/or night work rather loosely and consequently do not allow for the proper assessment of the risk connected with circadian disruption.

Objective: To report health outcomes of 30 years (1978-2007) of medical surveillance of workers engaged in a perfluooctanoic acid (PFOA) production plant Methods: Fifty-three males workers (20 to 63 years) were submitted every year to medical examination and blood chemical chemistry tests, and serum PFOA dosage. Results: In the latest survey PFOA serum levels ranged from 0.20 to 47.04 µg/mL in currently exposed workers, and from 0.53 to 18.66 µg/mL in those formerly exposed. No clinical evidence of any specific trouble or disease has been recorded aver the 30 years, and all the biochemical parameters, including liver, kidney and hormonal functions, turned out to be within the reference ranges, but a significant association of total cholesterol and uric acid with and PFOA serum level was evidenced. Conclusions: A probable interference of PFOA on intermediate metabolism deserves further investigations.

Objective The aim of this review was to synthesize the evidence on the potential relationship between nightshift work and breast cancer. Methods We searched multiple databases for studies comparing women in shift work to those with no-shift work reporting incidence of breast cancer. We calculated incremental risk ratios (RR) per five years of nightshift work and per 300 night shift increases in exposure and combined these in a random effects dose—response meta-analysis. We assessed study quality in ten domains of bias. Results We identified 16 studies: 12 case—control and 4 cohort studies. There was a 9% risk increase per five years of night-shift work exposure in case—control studies [RR 1.09, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.02—1.20; I 2 =37%, 9 studies], but not in cohort studies (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.97—1.05; I 2 =53%, 3 studies). Heterogeneity was significant overall (I 2 =55%, 12 studies). Results for 300 night shifts were similar (RR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00—1.10; I 2 =58%, 8 studies). Sensitivity analysis using exposure transformations such as cubic splines, a fixed-effect model, or including only better quality studies did not change the results. None of the 16 studies had a low risk of bias, and 6 studies had a moderate risk. Conclusions Based on the low quality of exposure data and the difference in effect by study design, our findings indicate insufficient evidence for a link between night-shift work and breast cancer. Objective prospective exposure measurement is needed in future studies.

The intergovernmental panel on climate change predicts a progressive increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature; however, their effects on cereals have been shown for a limited number of species. This study evaluates the effects of increased CO2 concentration and temperature separately and combined on millet growth and grain production in open-top chambers where the microclimate was adjusted to the following conditions: ambient CO2 and temperature; CO2 enriched (~ 800 ppm) and ambient temperature; ambient CO2 and higher temperature (+3ºC); and CO2-enriched and higher temperature. For each treatment, two chambers were used, each containing 15 7 L pots. Each pot received five seeds at the beginning of the experiment and thinning to one plant per pot at 15 days after sowing. Ten plants were harvested from each chamber 65 days after sowing and the plant height, the number of leaves and the longest root length as well as shoot and root biomass were measured. The remaining plants were harvested 130 days after sowing to evaluate grain production. The results indicate that high CO2 levels did not affect plant growth and biomass. On the other hand, plants subjected to high temperature grew 7% taller than those grown under ambient temperature. Contrastingly, plants submitted to both elevated CO2 and temperature were 19% taller and had 22% more shoot biomass than plants under ambient CO2 and temperature. However, grain production did not change in any of the environmental conditions. We provide evidence that millets are tolerant of the predicted climate changes and that grain production potential may not be affected.

A strong motion monitoring network records data that provide an excellent way to study how source, path, and site effects influence the ground motion, specifically in the near-source area. Such data are essential for updating seismic hazard maps and consequently building codes and earthquake-resistant design. This paper aims to present the Italian Strong Motion Network (RAN), describing its current status, employment, and further developments. It has 648 stations and is the result of a fruitful co-operation between the Italian government, regions, and local authorities. In fact, the network can be divided into three sub-networks: the Friuli Venezia Giulia Accelerometric Network, the Irpinia Seismic Network, and all the other stations. The Antelope software automatically collects, processes, and archives data in the data acquisition centre in Rome (Italy). The efficiency of the network on a daily basis is today more than 97%. The automatic and fast procedures that run in Antelope for the real-time strong motion data analysis are continuously improved at the University of Trieste: a large set of strong motion parameters and correspondent Ground Motion Prediction Equations allow ground shaking intensity maps to be provided for moderate to strong earthquakes occurring within the Italian territory. These maps and strong motion parameters are included in automatic reports generated for civil protection purposes.

Toxic effects of copper (Cu) were analyzed in young plants of Inga subnuda subs. luschnathiana , a species that is highly tolerant to flooding and found in Brazil in wetlands contaminated with Cu. Plants were cultivated in fully nutritive solution, containing different concentrations of Cu (from 0.08 μmol to 0.47 mmol L −1 ). Symptoms of Cu toxicity were observed in both leaves and roots of plants cultivated from 0.16 mmol Cu L −1 . In the leaves, Cu clearly induced alterations in the thickness of the epidermis, mesophyll, palisade parenchyma, and intercellular space of the lacunose parenchyma. Also, this metal induced disorganization in thylakoid membranes, internal and external membrane rupture in chloroplasts, mitochondrial alterations, and electrodense material deposition in vacuoles of the parenchyma and cell walls. The starch grains disappeared; however, an increase of plastoglobule numbers was observed according to Cu toxicity. In the roots, destruction of the epidermis, reduction of the intercellular space, and modifications in the format of initial cells of the external cortex were evident. Cell walls and endoderm had been broken, invaginations of tonoplast and vacuole retractions were found, and, again, electrodense material was observed in these sites. Mineral nutrient analysis revealed higher Cu accumulation in the roots and greater macro- and micronutrients accumulation into shoots. Thus, root morphological and ultrastructural changes induced differential nutrients uptake and their translocations from root toward shoots, and this was related to membrane and endoderm ruptures caused by Cu toxicity.

Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened habitats on Earth, due mainly to anthropogenic pollutants made up of complex mixtures. The Iguaçu River is world famous for the Iguaçu Falls and highlighted by its endemism. Unfortunately, it is considered the second most polluted urban river in Brazil. We aimed to perform an environmental evaluation of Neotropical streams in the Iguaçu River basin, using a multibiomarker approach from a land use and landscape perspective. A set of biomarkers in the fish Psalidodonbifasciatus was analyzed using an Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) index and correlated with surrounding land uses. Agricultural and urban sites presented more alterations compared to references sites, with elevated protein carbonyls at agricultural sites, increased DNA damage and depletion of glutathione S-transferase at urban sites and decreased glutathione associated with higher histopathological indices at urban and agricultural sites. The IBR shows a consistent increase in negative effects in anthropized areas, with similar values at agricultural and urban sites. The multibiomarker approach, associated with a well-elaborated sample design and a statistical analysis, is an ideal method to obtain more conclusive results about the effects of human activities, revealing the effective result of exposure in the real world.

According to IPCC predictions for 2100, increasing CO₂ concentrations and global mean temperature could lead to a future scenario of increased incidence and duration of periods with exceptionally high temperatures and duration of drier seasons in some locations like Central Brazil. This extreme weather can affect fragile environments which are already suffering from anthropogenic disturbance that eventually culminate in biological invasions. One of these environments is the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado), a biome with high levels of endemism, being considered an extremely important area for conservation. The present study aimed to investigate whether elevated CO₂ and temperature could modify protoplasmic tolerance to induced water deficit and acute heat shock in three species of invasive African grasses that are gradually replacing the Cerrado landscape. Results obtained from leaf tissues showed that elevated CO₂ and temperature had no effect on protoplasmic tolerances of Urochloa brizantha and that Megathyrsus maximus showed decreased thermotolerance. Urochloa decumbens showed improved tolerance responses to both types of these constraints undergone in vitro. Such adaptations to climate changes would probably represent an advantage in competition with other species. The results indicate that elevated CO₂ and temperature could cause modifications to protoplasmic responses of invasive grasses. The effects caused, however, depend on the species investigated. This ability to adapt or not to a changing environment may affect species distribution in natural and anthropized environments, especially in a future with predicted extreme weather.

Rock mass volume estimation is crucial for assessing landslide hazard, but it is often challenging. Seismic ambient noise data and polarisation analysis can be used to identify the eigenfrequencies of the blocks, which are in turn related to their volume. The aim of this work is to propose a procedure to build an eigenfrequency-volume abacus to estimate the order of magnitude of blocks’ volumes from the extracted resonance frequencies independently estimating the blocks’ area. The resonance frequency is extracted from seismic noise measurements analysed using the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio technique. The abacus is developed here by means of numerical simulations and field data, acquired over lateral spreads and block slides on Malta Island, where independent direct estimates of the blocks’ volume are available. These were used to validate the proposed methodology in two test sites. The volume of landslide rock blocks can be estimated from seismic noise measurements identifying their vibration signal, knowing the blocks’ area, and using an adequate abacus.