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The impact of diabetes education on continuous glucose monitoring in SUS-dependent patients in a northeastern Brazilian city.
No full textBackground: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is an important chronic disease that occurs worldwide. Aims: This study aims to investigate how the use of the FreeStyle® Libre system in Unified Health System (SUS) patients impacts diabetes parameters in patients who receive education on proper insulin administration and the use of the continuous monitoring device, as well as how this affects patients without any concomitant multidisciplinary support in Sergipe, Brazil. Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized study in a diabetes clinic in Sergipe, Brazil, using the flash method FreeStyle® Libre (Abbott). The participants were divided into two groups: one receiving diabetes education on CGM (continuous glucose monitoring), while the other did not. Before the intervention, the patient’s treatment motivation and quality of life were assessed using a questionnaire, and baseline levels of glycated hemoglobin were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the point of care AlereTM Afinion with boronate fixation. We compared first- and second-phase data with respect to glycated hemoglobin, mean interstitial blood glucose, time on and above target for hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic events, and mean hypoglycemic duration. Results: In group A, which received the diabetes education intervention, there was a significant reduction in average HbA1c levels from 8.6% to 7.9% after 3 months (p = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in average glycemic values. Time above target decreased significantly from 50.62% to 29.43% (p = 0.0001), while time below target decreased from 22.90% to 20.21% (p = 0.002). There was no significant change in the number of hypoglycemic events, but the duration of hypoglycemia decreased significantly from 130.35 min to 121.18 min after 3 months (p = 0.0001). In Group B, there was no significant difference in mean HbA1c levels before (7.07%) and after (7.28%) sensor installation. This group maintained lower HbA1c levels compared to the other group. Average blood glucose levels also remained similar before (148.37 mg/dL) and after (154.65 mg/dL) the intervention. Although the time above the target glucose level increased significantly from 35.94% to 48.17%, the time at target decreased from 50.40% to 37.97%. No significant changes were observed in the time below target, the number of hypoglycemic events, or the duration of hypoglycemia. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that utilizing continuous glucose monitoring technology can enhance glycemic control, particularly in motivated, educated, low-income patients dependent on the SUS. To achieve positive results with FreeStyle Libre, it is imperative to allocate resources for multidisciplinary support
Explorando sudokus : um argumento heurístico para estimar o número de puzzles.
No full textPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Matemática em Rede Nacional. Departamento de Matemática, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto.Sudoku é um termo abreviado da expressão japonesa “Suji wa dokushin ni kagiru”, cujo significado
é “os números devem permanecer únicos”. Os precursores deste jogo são os quadrados latinos,
quebra-cabeças, no qual o jogador deve preencher uma grade quadrada com um conjunto de
elementos, de tal forma que cada símbolo apareça apenas uma vez em cada linha e coluna. Popular
em todo o mundo, o número de Sudokus impresso em jornais e revistas de quebra-cabeças aumentou
consideravelmente e o surgimento de variações com mais restrições na sua resolução tornou o jogo
mais complexo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar quantos quadrados de Sudoku existem
fundamentados em pesquisa, em estudo do jogo, nas suas regras e nas principais técnicas utilizadas
para solucionar tal quebra-cabeça. Para tal propósito, será realizada uma revisão dos conceitos de
Análise Combinatória e Probabilidade que será utilizada para estimar o número de Sudokus, um
estudo sobre Quadrados Latinos que mostrará o processo para sua construção e um resultado que
permitirá determinar o número de quadrados latinos de ordem n. Nosso estudo mostrou que para se
resolver um problema matemático complexo é necessário, previamente, resolver problemas menores
e mais simples. Tal condição foi verificada quando, auxiliada pela teoria da Análise Combinatória e
Probabilidade, aliada a um argumento heurístico e relaxada a condição de que as linhas e colunas
do Sudoku são dependentes, apresentamos uma estimativa do número de Sudokus próximo do
número real determinado pelos resultados anteriores. Assim, podemos concluir que determinar o
número de quadrados latinos não é uma tarefa simples, mesmo tendo-se domínio do conhecimento
de uma fórmula fechada e o auxílio de ferramentas computacionais. Este fato evidencia a dificuldade
de se encontrar uma solução exata para muitos problemas, mesmo que se disponha de recursos
tecnológicos avançados.Sudoku is an abbreviated term of the Japanese expression “Suji wa dokushin ni kagiru”, which
means “numbers must remain unique”. The precursors of this game are the Latin square puzzles,
in which the player must fill a square grid with a set of elements, in such a way that each symbol
appears only once in each row and column. Popular around the world, the number of Sudokus printed
in newspapers and puzzle magazines increased considerably and the emergence of variations with
more restrictions on their resolution made the game more complex. This work aims to investigate
how many Sudoku squares there are based on research, study of the game, its rules and the main
techniques used to solve such a puzzle. For this purpose, a review of the concepts of Combinatorial
Analysis and Probability will be carried out, which will be used to estimate the number of Sudokus,
a study on Latin Squares that will show the process for their construction and a result that will
allow determining the number of Latin Squares of order n). The study showed that to solve a
complex mathematical problem it is necessary to previously solve smaller and simpler problems.
This condition was verified when, aided by the theory of Combinatorial Analysis and Probability,
combined with a heuristic argument and relaxing the condition that the rows and columns of
Sudoku are dependent, we presented an estimate of the number of Sudokus close to the real number
determined by previous results. Thus, we can conclude that determining the number of Latin squares
is not a simple task, even with knowledge of a closed formula and the help of computational tools.
This fact highlights the difficulty of finding an exact solution to many problems, even if advanced
technological resources are available
Combined physical training protects the left ventricle from structural and functional damages in experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension.
No full textBackground - Under the adverse remodeling of the right ventricle and interventricular septum in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) the left ventricle (LV) dynamics is impaired. Despite the benefits of combined aerobic and resistance physical trainings to individuals with PAH, its impact on the LV is not fully understood.
Objective - To test whether moderate-intensity combined physical training performed during the development of PAH induced by MCT in rats is beneficial to the LV’s structure and function.
Methods - Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: Sedentary Hypertensive Survival (SHS, n = 7); and Exercise Hypertensive Survival (EHS, n = 7) to test survival. To investigate the effects of combined physical training, another group of rats were divided into three groups: Sedentary Control (SC, n = 7); Sedentary Hypertensive (SH, n = 7); and Exercise Hypertensive (EH, n = 7). PAH was induced through an intraperitoneal injection of MCT (60 mg/kg). Echocardiographic evaluations were conducted on the 22nd day after MCT administration. Animals in the EHS and EH
groups participated in a combined physical training program, alternating aerobic (treadmill running: 50 min, 60% maximum running speed) and resistance (ladder climbing: 15 climbs with 1 min interval, 60% maximum carrying load) exercises, one session/day, 5 days/week for approximately 4 weeks.
Results - The physical training increased survival and tolerance to aerobic (i.e., maximum running
speed) and resistance (i.e., maximum carrying load) exertions and prevented reductions in ejection fraction and fractional shortening. In addition, the physical training mitigated oxidative stress (i.e., CAT, SOD and MDA) and inhibited adverse LV remodeling (i.e., Collagen, extracellular matrix, and cell dimensions). Moreover, the physical training preserved the amplitude and velocity of contraction and hindered the reductions in the amplitude and velocity of the intracellular Ca2+ transient in LV single myocytes.
Conclusion - Moderate-intensity combined physical training performed during the development of MCT-induced PAH in rats protects their LV from damages to its structure and function and hence increases their tolerance to physical exertion and prolongs their survival
Teacher formation policy in BNC-Formation : between reproduction and criticism.
No full textEste trabalho tem por objeto indicar a vinculação da política de formação de professores, formalizada na Resolução do CNE/CP n.o 2, de 20 de dezembro de 2019, com o conjunto das reformas curriculares em curso no Brasil, no contexto da agenda político-econômica neoliberal. Portanto, objetiva indicar as principais caracterizações exigidas à BNC-Formação no contexto de uma agenda de reformismo curricular mediada pela expressão atualizada da sociabilidade do capital. Metodologicamente, o trabalho se estrutura na abordagem crítica com aporte teórico nas categorias alienação e práxis sociais, a partir da concepção de István Mészáros (2006; 2008) e Karel Kosik (1976). A pesquisa identifica as reformas curriculares em curso no Brasil, inclusive a atual reforma expressa na BNC-Formação, como movimentos formativos alinhados ao ordenamento espelhado pela agenda neoliberal para a educação, bem como o controle sistemático das políticas de formação de professores, a partir da práxis social mediada ética e ideologicamente pelo capital.This work aims to indicate the linking of the teacher formation policy, formalized in Resolution CNE/CP n. 2, of December 20, 2019, with the set of curricular reforms underway in Brazil, in the context of the neoliberal political-economic agenda. Therefore, it aims to indicate the main characterizations required of BNC-Formation in the context of an agenda of curricular reformism mediated by the updated expression of capital sociability. Methodologically, the work is structured to a critical approach with theoretical support in the categories of alienation and social praxis in István Mészáros (2006; 2008) and Karel Kosik (1976). The research identifies the curricular reforms underway in Brazil, including the current reform expressed in BNC-Formation, as formation movements aligned with the ordering mirrored by the neoliberal agenda for education, as well as the systematic control of teacher formation policies, the from social praxis mediated ethically and ideologically by capital
Estratificação de risco com participação popular e acolhimento humanizado à demanda espontânea em saúde bucal.
No full textO acolhimento humanizado propicia resolutividade e integralidade no cuidado com a
população. O acesso aos serviços pela população é um grande desafio na Estratégia da
Saúde da Família, especialmente em razão das medidas restritivas aos processos de
trabalho em Saúde Bucal, necessárias devido à pandemia de COVID-19. A estratificação de
risco pode garantir o atendimento resolutivo aos usuários. O objetivo deste artigo é relatar a
experiência da estratificação de risco da demanda espontânea com acolhimento humanizado
na Atenção Primária à Saúde em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde em Contagem, Minas
Gerais. Para o acolhimento e organização da demanda espontânea foram propostas a escuta
qualificada e humanizada e a estratificação do risco, utilizando uma planilha para organização
da demanda e um quadro simplificado com os principais agravos cotidianos de saúde bucal.
A equipe de Saúde Bucal organiza diariamente a demanda espontânea e a estratificação
aplicada é discutida e pactuada com os usuários, trazendo horizontalidade, autonomia,
coletividade, valorização dos usuários e comprometimento com o cuidado. A estratificação
de risco, associada ao acolhimento humanizado da demanda espontânea, valoriza o cuidado
por meio desta porta de entrada no serviço. Esta estratégia empodera o usuário, tornando-o
parte efetiva na ação desenvolvida. Essa iniciativa favorece a integração da equipe de Saúde
Bucal com a comunidade e com os demais membros da equipe de saúde.Humanized reception provides resolutive and comprehensive care for population. Access is
a major challenge in the Family Health Strategy, especially due to the restrictive measures on
oral health work processes made necessary by the COVID-19 pandemic. Risk stratification
can guarantee resolutive care for users. The objective of this study is to report on the
experience of risk stratification of same-day appointments with humanized reception in
Primary Health Care in a Primary Care Unity in Contagem, Minas Gerais. We proposed
qualified and humanized listening and risk stratification for the reception and same-day
appointments organization using a spreadsheet for the organization of demand and a
simplified table with the main daily oral health problems. The Oral Health team organizes daily
the demand and the stratification applied is discussed and covenanted with the users at the
end of the organization of the demand, bringing horizontality, autonomy, collectivity, user
valorization and commitment to care. Risk stratification associated with the humanized
reception of same-day appointments values care through this entrance door to the service,
empowers the user in the sense of being heard and being an effective part of the action taken,
as well as allowing the Oral Health team greater integration with the community and other
members of the health team
Treatment using vanillin-derived synthetic molecules incorporated into polymeric micelles is effective against infection caused by Leishmania amazonensis species.
No full textTreatment against leishmaniasis presents problems, mainly due to the toxicity of the drugs, high cost, and the emergence of resistant strains. A previous study showed that two vanillin-derived synthetic molecules, 3s [4-(2- hydroxy-3-(4-octyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)propoxy)-3-methoxybenzaldehyde] and 3t [4-(3-(4-decyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-2-hydroxypropoxy)-3-methoxybenzaldehyde], presented antileishmanial activity against Leishmania infantum, L. amazonensis, and L. braziliensis species. In the present work, 3s and 3t were evaluated to treat L. amazonensis-infected mice. Molecules were used pure or incorporated into Poloxamer 407-based micelles. In addition, amphotericin B (AmpB) and its liposomal formulation, Ambisome®, were used as control. Animals received the treatment and, one and 30 days after, they were euthanized to evaluate immunological, parasitological, and biochemical parameters. Results showed that the micellar compositions (3s/Mic and 3t/Mic) induced significant reductions in the lesion mean diameter and parasite load in the infected tissue and distinct organs, as well as a specific and significant antileishmanial Th1-type immune response, which was based on significantly higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-12, nitrite, and IgG2a isotype antibodies. Drug controls showed also antileishmanial action; although 3s/Mic and 3t/Mic have presented better and more significant parasitological and immunological data, which were based on significantly higher IFN-γ production and lower parasite burden in treated animals. In addition, significantly lower levels of urea, creatinine, alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminase were found in mice treated with 3s/Mic and 3t/Mic, when compared to the others. In conclusion, results suggest that 3s/ Mic and 3t/Mic could be considered as therapeutic candidates to treat against L. amazonensis infection
Confiabilidade de barras de perfis formados a frio com perfurações sujeitas à força concentrada em seções sem enrijecedores transversais suscetíveis à falha por esmagamento da alma (web crippling).
No full textPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil. Departamento de Engenharia Civil, Escola de Minas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto.Os perfis formados a frio são altamente eficientes em termos de resistência estrutural em relação ao seu peso, proporcionando desempenho otimizado com menor consumo de material. Esses perfis estão sujeitos a um fenômeno de falha conhecido por esmagamento da alma (web crippling). Apesar de reduzir a resistência do perfil, em diversas situações a execução de furos é uma necessidade de projeto, por facilitar a passagem de dutos, fiações e tubulações. As normas NBR 14762 (2010) e EN 1993- 1-3 (2006) não preveem métodos para o dimensionamento de perfis formados a frio com furos, embora a execução de furos faça parte da prática construtiva, sobretudo em sistemas Light Steel Framing (LSF). A norma AISI S100 (2016) aborda o dimensionamento de perfis formados frio com furos na alma quando submetidos aos casos de carregamento EOF (End One Flange Loading) e IOF (Interior One Flange Loading). O presente trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a confiabilidade de barras de perfis formados a frio com furos na alma sujeitas a aplicação de força concentrada em seções sem enrijecedores transversais suscetíveis à falha por esmagamento na alma (web crippling), utilizando os métodos de análise de confiabilidade de primeira ordem (FOSM e FORM) e a Simulação de Monte Carlo. Para desenvolver o trabalho, foi montado um banco de dados de ensaios experimentais extraídos da literatura, restrito aos casos de carregamento EOF (144 amostras) e IOF (167 amostras). As amostras foram divididas em grupos e foram obtidos os índices de confiabilidade (β) e os coeficientes de ponderação da resistência (γ ou φ) de acordo com os dados de calibração das normas NBR 14762 (2010), EN 1993-1-3 (2006) e para as metodologias LRFD (Load and Resistance Factor Design) e LSD (Limit State Design) da norma AISI S100 (2016). Para as normas NBR 14762 (2010) e EN 1993-1-3 (2006) foi adotada a relação nominal entre ações variáveis e ações permanentes Ln/Dn = 5. Os coeficientes de ponderação da resistência presentes nas normas americana, brasileira e do Eurocode não apresentaram resultados satisfatórios em relação aos valores dos índices de confiabilidade alvos em alguns casos. Concluiu-se que ajustes são necessários para padronizar o nível de segurança em perfis com furos na alma.Cold-formed profiles are highly efficient in terms of structural strength relative to their weight, providing optimized performance with reduced material consumption. These profiles are subject to a failure phenomenon known as web crippling. Despite reducing the strength of the profile, in many situations, the execution of holes is a design necessity, as it facilitates the passage of ducts, wiring, and piping. The standards NBR 14762 (2010) and EN 1993-1-3 (2006) do not provide methods for the design of cold- formed profiles with holes, even though the execution of holes is part of construction practice, especially in Light Steel Framing (LSF) systems. The AISI S100 (2016) standard addresses the design of cold-formed profiles with web holes when subjected to End One Flange (EOF) loading and Interior One Flange (IOF) loading conditions. The present work aims to evaluate the reliability of cold-formed profile members with web holes subjected to concentrated force in sections without transverse stiffeners, which are susceptible to web crippling failure. The study will use first-order reliability analysis methods (FOSM and FORM) and Monte Carlo Simulation. To develop the work, a database of experimental tests extracted from the literature was compiled, limited to EOF loading cases (144 specimens) and IOF loading cases (167 specimens). The samples were divided into groups, and the reliability indices (β) and resistance factors (γ or φ) were obtained according to the calibration data from the NBR 14762 (2010), EN 1993-1-3 (2006) standards, and the LRFD (Load and Resistance Factor Design) and LSD (Limit State Design) methodologies from the AISI S100 (2016) standard. For the NBR 14762 (2010) and EN 1993-1-3 (2006) standards, a nominal ratio between variable actions and permanent actions of Ln/Dn = 5 was adopted. The resistance factor coefficients in the American, Brazilian, and Eurocode standards did not yield satisfactory results for the target reliability index values in some cases. It was concluded that adjustments are necessary to standardize the safety level in profiles with web openings
Desgaste erosivo a úmido de um ferro fundido alto cromo : análise da influência da variação do ângulo de impacto e da composição da polpa erosiva.
No full textPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Materiais. Departamento de Engenharia Metalúrgica, Escola de Minas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto.As bombas de polpa são máquinas de fluxo ou turbo-máquinas utilizadas para o
transporte de polpas (lama, argila, areia, minérios e rejeitos) a curtas e médias distâncias através
de dutos, minerodutos e tubulações. Durante o bombeamento, ocorrem interações mecânicas
entre as partículas sólidas, os líquidos e os componentes mecânicos deste equipamento
resultando em altas taxas de desgaste erosivo, abrasivo e corrosivo, principalmente nos rotores
das bombas.
Este trabalho teve como um dos objetivos o projeto, construção e validação de um
equipamento para a realização de ensaios de erosão a úmido. Este equipamento foi utilizado
para avaliar a influência da variação do ângulo de impacto e da composição das polpas erosivas
sobre a resistência ao desgaste erosivo de amostras de ferro fundido alto cromo (FFAC)
provenientes de um rotor de bomba de polpa. Também foram realizados ensaios de abrasão
Miller/SAR variando a composição das polpas a fim de comparar com os resultados da erosão.
Foram realizados ensaios de erosão com ângulos de incidência 30o, 45°, 60° e 90°
utilizando uma polpa erosiva com concentração de 20% em peso de areia de sílica. A partir dos
resultados, observou-se que a taxa de desgaste erosiva seguiu um padrão clássico de variação
com o ângulo de impacto para os materiais dúcteis. Houve um aumento da taxa de erosão com
o aumento do ângulo até alcançar o pico de desgaste a 45°, seguido pelo decréscimo do desgaste
até a taxa mínima a 90°. A perda de massa das amostras erodidas a 45° foi 2,8 vezes maior do
que na condição de erosão a 90° indicando que, devido à condição de contato da polpa com a
superfície das amostras, mecanismos erosivos e abrasivos atuaram de forma sinérgica
favorecendo o desgaste. De modo geral, as amostras erodidas em ângulo normal apresentaram
os mecanismos de desgaste por deformação plástica da matriz e fratura de carbonetos, enquanto
para ângulos menores, os mecanismos de micro corte e micro sulcamento estiveram mais
presentes.
Polpas com concentração de 20% em peso e constituídas pela mistura minério de ferro
hidratado e areia de sílica, foram utilizadas nos ensaios de erosão em ângulo normal e abrasão
Miller/SAR. Nos ensaios de erosão a úmido, foi observada uma tendência na qual as polpas
com maiores teores de sílica causaram maiores perdas de massa nas amostras de FFAC. A polpa
(P1), com 100% de partículas sólidas de sílica, causou perda de massa 3,2 vezes maior que a
polpa de minério hidratado (P5). Enquanto as polpas compostas pela mistura dos dois abrasivos
(P2, P3 e P4) foram responsáveis por desgastes intermediários com maiores níveis de perda de
massa para as polpas com maiores teores de sílica. Para o desgaste abrasivo, utilizando o ensaio
Miller/SAR, foi observada tendência semelhante de maior abrasividade para as polpas que
continham maiores concentrações de sílica e menor abrasividade para a polpa de minério
hidratado. O índice de abrasividade Miller foi de 93,0 para a polpa P1 sendo este
aproximadamente 1,65 vezes maior que para polpa P5 (56,0). As demais polpas apresentaram
abrasividades intermediárias.Slurry pumps are turbomachines used to transport slurries (sludge, clay, sand, ores, and
tailings) over short and medium distances through pipelines. During pumping, mechanical
interactions occur between solid particles, liquids, and mechanical components of this
equipment, resulting in high rates of erosive, abrasive, and corrosive wear, especially on
impellers.
This work aims to the development and construction of equipment to perform slurry
erosion tests. This equipment was used to evaluate the influence of varying the impact angle
and composition of slurries on the erosive wear resistance of High Chromium Cast Iron (HCCI)
samples coming from a slurry pump impeller. Miller/SAR abrasion tests were also performed,
varying the slurries composition to compare with the erosion results.
Erosion tests were conducted at angles of 30°, 45°, 60° and 90° using a slurry with 20%
silica sand. The results indicated that the erosive wear rate followed a classical variation pattern
with the impact angle for ductile materials. There was an increase in the erosion rate with
increasing angle until reaching the wear peak at 45°, followed by the decreasing of wear to the
minimum rate at 90°.The samples eroded at 45° presented a mass loss 2.7 times greater than in
the eroded condition at 90° indicating that, due to the slurry contact condition with the surface,
erosive and abrasive mechanisms acted synergistically favoring wear. In general, samples
eroded at normal angle showed wear mechanisms due to plastic deformation of the matrix and
carbide fracture, while for smaller angles, micro cutting and micro grooving mechanisms were
more evident.
Slurries with 20% weight and consisting of a mixture of hydrated iron ore and silica
sand, were used in the normal angle erosion and Miller abrasion tests. Slurry erosion wear
followed a trend in which slurries with higher silica contents caused higher weight losses in
HCCIsamples. The slurry (P1), with 100% silica particles, caused a wear 3.2 times greater than
the hydrated ore slurry (P5). However, slurries composed by the two abrasives mixture (P2, P3
and P4) caused intermediate wear with greater wear for those with higher silica contents.
In the Miller test, a similar trend of higher abrasiveness for slurries containing higher
silica contents and the less abrasiveness for hydrated ore slurry was observed. The Miller
abrasiveness number presented a value of 93.0 for the P1 slurry, which is approximately 1.65
times higher than P5 slurry (56.0). The other slurries showed intermediate abrasiveness
A new condensed freshwater-brackish water bivalve-dominated assemblage in the Aptian Crato Formation, Araripe Basin, NE Brazil and its paleoenvironmental significance.
No full textThe known occurrences of Early Cretaceous freshwater bivalves in the Araripe Basin are confined to the 0.85- to 2-m-thick Caldas Bed of the Crato Formation. Herein, we record a new bivalve-dominated assemblage in a siltstone bed nearly 30 m below the upper boundary with the overlying Romualdo Formation. The assemblage is composed of ecologically incompatible bivalve mollusk species, being dominated by tiny individuals of Modiolus? sp., a brackish water form. These are directly associated with the freshwater bivalves Araripenaia elliptica and Monginellopsis bellaradiata, the latter two species commonly found in the Caldas Bed. Those bivalves are mixed with carbonized, partially comminuted plant remains. Specimens of Modiolus? sp. are usually articulated and are dispersed to loosely packed or forming cm-long clusters. A few shells of the freshwater forms are also articulated. The bivalves lived in a semi-confined embayment setting with fluctuating salinity. Background brackish water conditions must have existed long enough for the Modiolus? sp. larvae to settle and develop as juvenile individuals. Rapid salinity fluctuations associated with sea level and climate variations allowed A. elliptica and M. bellaradiata to thrive in the same area. Hence, the numerically dominant shells of the brackish water forms and the freshwater bivalves have been telescoped into the same bedding plane, generating an environmentally condensed, time averaged benthic assemblage. Finally, the presence of these taxa considerably expands the vertical/temporal distribution of bivalve mollusks within the Crato Formation
Ex-post impact assessment on a large environmental disaster.
No full textImpact assessments following environmental disasters must be quick and in accessible language so that decision-makers and affected populations are aware of the main impacts and can target recovery measures. After the collapse of the Fundão dam (Minas Gerais, Brazil) in November 2015, an extensive monitoring program was implemented to understand the aquatic environmental situation and associated biodiversity status after the spill of the iron ore tailings in a large and highly populated watershed, that reached the Atlantic Ocean along the southeast Brazilian coast. A monitoring programme faced several challenges, including the large volume of data to be analysed, which difficult an objective environmental diagnosis and the communication between technical teams and decision makers. In this context, an impact matrix was proposed as a tool for assessing the environmental proxy results and summarizing the results obtained. The proposed Impact Matrix is an interaction matrix adaptation which consists of quantifying the impacts using pre-defined criteria and scores. Expert panels assessed the link between environmental measures and objectives by scoring the specific criteria. As an interaction matrix, the impact matrix is made up of two intersecting axes: the identified impact and the affected environmental compartments (whether abiotic or biotic). The final impact matrix is reached by summing up the score for the criteria on each of the identified intersections. The impact matrix is a supervised approach focused on provide relatively simple tool to apply and, when carried out periodically in parallel with a monitoring programme, it makes it possible to observe temporal trends in the evolution of the environment after the event causing the impact. The impact matrix can also serve as feedback to the monitoring programme itself, when used in an adaptive management approach