Fluxes of the Amazon River plume nutrients and microbes into marine sponges.

Sponges have co-evolved with microbes for over 400 myr. Previous studies have demonstrated that sponges can be classified according to the abundance of microbes in their tissues as Low Microbial Abundance (LMA) and High Microbial Abundance (HMA). While LMA sponges rely mainly on water column microbes, HMA appear to rely much more on symbiotic fermentative and autotrophic microbes maintained in their tissues. However, it is unclear if this pattern holds when comparing different species of tropical sponges under extreme nutrient conditions and sediment loads in the water column, such as the Great Amazon Reef System (GARS), which covers an area of ~56,000 km2 off the Amazon River mouth. Sponges are the major GARS benthic components. However, these sponges' microbiome across the GARS is still unknown. Here, we investigated water quality, isotopic values (δ13C and δ15N), metagenomic and lipidomic profiles of sponges obtained from different sectors throughout the GARS. >180 million shotgun metagenomic reads were annotated, covering 22 sponge species. Isotopic and lipidomic analyses suggested LMA sponges rely on the Amazon River Plume for nutrition. HMA sponges (N = 15) had higher Roseiflexus and Nitrospira abundance, whereas LMA sponges (N = 7) had higher Prochlorococcus and Pelagibacter abundance. Functional data revealed that the LMA sponge microbiomes had greater number of sequences related to phages and prophages as well as electron transport and photophosphorylation which may be related to photosynthetic processes associated with the Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus found in the LMA. The higher phages abundance in LMA sponges could be related to these holobionts' reduced defense towards phage infection. Meanwhile, HMA sponge microbiomes had higher Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR abundance, which may be involved in defense against phage infection. This study sheds light on the nutrient fluxes and microbes from the Amazon River plume into the sponge holobionts.

A Spatio-Temporal Analysis of the Environmental Correlates of COVID-19 Incidence in Spain.

The novel SARS-CoV2 has disrupted health systems and the economy, and public health interventions to slow its spread have been costly. How and when to ease restrictions to movement hinges in part on whether SARS-CoV2 will display seasonality due to variations in temperature, humidity, and hours of sunshine. Here, we address this question by means of a spatio-temporal analysis in Spain of the incidence of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. Use of spatial Seemingly Unrelated Regressions (SUR) allows us to model the incidence of reported cases of the disease per 100,000 population as an interregional contagion process, in addition to a function of temperature, humidity, and sunshine. In the analysis we also control for GDP per capita, percentage of older adults in the population, population density, and presence of mass transit systems. The results support the hypothesis that incidence of the disease is lower at higher temperatures and higher levels of humidity. Sunshine, in contrast, displays a positive association with incidence of the disease. Our control variables also yield interesting insights. Higher incidence is associated with higher GDP per capita and presence of mass transit systems in the province; in contrast, population density and percentage of older adults display negative associations with incidence of COVID-19.

O SUS e a Atenção Primária no Brasil: uma análise sobre o seu financiamento pelo piso da atenção básica fixo / SUS and primary care in Brazil: an analysis of its financing by the fixed primary care floor

Um dos grandes desafios quando se estuda o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) brasileiro é compreender como se dá a descentralização de recursos entre as diferentes esferas de governo. Este trabalho tem por objetivo preencher essa lacuna, descrevendo de forma detalhada como ocorrem os repasses federais para a gestão da baixa complexidade nos municípios brasileiros, ou seja, a atenção básica. Primeiro, busca-se apresentar uma rápida descrição sobre a origem do SUS e o processo de aperfeiçoamento do seu mecanismo de financiamento nas três esferas de governo, enfatizando sua característica descentralizadora. Segundo, são apresentadas as ações e os serviços de atenção primária, que são ofertadas pelos municípios do país, bem como as características de uma das principais fontes desse financiamento, que é o Piso da Atenção Básica Fixo (PAB Fixo).

One of the great challenges when studying the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) is to understand how the decentralization of resources between different spheres of government takes place. The purpose of this paper is to fill this gap by describing in detail how federal transfers to manage low complexity in Brazilian municipalities, that is, primary care. First, it seeks to present a brief description of the origin of the SUS and the process of perfecting its financing mechanism at the three levels of government, emphasizing its decentralization characteristic. Second is the primary care actions and services that are offered by the municipalities of the country, as well as the characteristics of one of the main sources of this funding, which is the Fixed Floor of Basic Care (Fixed PAB).

Uno de los grandes desafíos cuando se estudia el Sistema Único de Salud brasileño (SUS) es comprender cómo se da la descentralización de recursos entre las diferentes esferas de gobierno. El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo llenar esa brecha describiendo de forma detallada cómo ocurren los traspasos federales para la gestión de la baja complejidad en los municipios brasileños, o sea, la atención básica. En primer lugar, busca presentar una rápida descripción sobre el origen del SUS y el proceso de perfeccionamiento de su mecanismo de financiamiento en las tres esferas de gobierno, enfatizando su característica escentralizadora. Según se presentan las acciones y servicios de atención primaria que son ofrecidos por los municipios del país, así como las características de una de las principales fuentes de ese financiamiento, que es el Piso fijo de la Atención Básica (PAB Fijo)

L'un des grands défis de l'étude du système de santé unifié brésilien (SUS) est de comprendre comment s'opère la décentralisation des ressources entre les différentes sphères de gouvernement. Le but de cet article est de combler cette lacune en décrivant en détail comment les transferts fédéraux pour gérer la faible complexité dans les municipalités brésiliennes, c'est-à-dire les soins primaires. Tout d'abord, il cherche à présenter une brève description de l'origine du SUS et du processus de perfectionnement de son mécanisme de financement aux trois niveaux de gouvernement, en insistant sur sa caractéristique de décentralisation. Deuxièmement, les actions et services de soins primaires offerts par les municipalités du pays, ainsi que les caractéristiques de l'une des principales sources de ce financement, à savoir le Plancher Fixe des Soins de Base (PAB Fixe).

A crise financeira e a saúde: o caso do município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil / Financial crisis and healthcare: the case of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Resumo Este estudo explorou os efeitos da crise financeira nas receitas e despesas, na produção de serviços e indicadores de saúde e de desempenho no município do Rio de Janeiro no período de 2013 a 2018. Analisou-se receitas, despesas, parâmetros de provisão de serviços e indicadores de desempenho e de saúde, a partir de dados de acesso livre e restrito. Utilizou-se a análise institucional de Giddens. As receitas e despesas sofreram redução, sendo maiores nos investimentos e receitas não vinculadas. A provisão de serviços encolheu, com queda da cobertura na Atenção Primária, produção ambulatorial, internações totais, número de leitos, médicos e agentes comunitários de saúde, cirurgias realizadas e taxa de ocupação de hospitais. Os tempos de espera para ambulâncias, exames e consultas ambulatoriais, bem como o número de solicitações pendentes na regulação aumentaram. Indicadores de saúde e desempenho persistiram, em sua maioria, dentro dos parâmetros anteriores, corroborando a potência assistencial da Atenção Primária, apesar do impacto financeiro e estrutural da austeridade. A conjuntura atual ameaça o direito à saúde e as respostas governamentais, como a desvinculação de receitas, sinalizam uma ampliação desse risco.

Abstract This study aimed to portray the effects of the Brazilian financial crisis, and especially in Rio de Janeiro in the 2013-18 period. We analyzed revenues, expenditure, service provision, and health performance indicators from free access and restricted data. We adopted the Giddens' Structuration Theory. Revenues and expenditures shrunk, and this reduction was higher for investments and unlinked revenues. The provision of services declined, resulting in decreased primary care coverage, outpatient production, total hospital admissions, number of beds, doctors, community health workers, surgeries performed, and hospital occupancy rate. An increase was observed in waiting times for ambulances, exams and outpatient visits, as well as the number of pending requests in regulation. Health and performance indicators remained mostly unchanged, within previous parameters, corroborating the care capacity of PHC, despite financial and structural contingencies imposed by austerity. The current situation threatens the right to health, and governmental response, such as unlinking revenues, point to an increased risk of this occurrence.

Financial crisis and healthcare: the case of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. / A crise financeira e a saúde: o caso do município do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

This study aimed to portray the effects of the Brazilian financial crisis, and especially in Rio de Janeiro in the 2013-18 period. We analyzed revenues, expenditure, service provision, and health performance indicators from free access and restricted data. We adopted the Giddens' Structuration Theory. Revenues and expenditures shrunk, and this reduction was higher for investments and unlinked revenues. The provision of services declined, resulting in decreased primary care coverage, outpatient production, total hospital admissions, number of beds, doctors, community health workers, surgeries performed, and hospital occupancy rate. An increase was observed in waiting times for ambulances, exams and outpatient visits, as well as the number of pending requests in regulation. Health and performance indicators remained mostly unchanged, within previous parameters, corroborating the care capacity of PHC, despite financial and structural contingencies imposed by austerity. The current situation threatens the right to health, and governmental response, such as unlinking revenues, point to an increased risk of this occurrence.

Este estudo explorou os efeitos da crise financeira nas receitas e despesas, na produção de serviços e indicadores de saúde e de desempenho no município do Rio de Janeiro no período de 2013 a 2018. Analisou-se receitas, despesas, parâmetros de provisão de serviços e indicadores de desempenho e de saúde, a partir de dados de acesso livre e restrito. Utilizou-se a análise institucional de Giddens. As receitas e despesas sofreram redução, sendo maiores nos investimentos e receitas não vinculadas. A provisão de serviços encolheu, com queda da cobertura na Atenção Primária, produção ambulatorial, internações totais, número de leitos, médicos e agentes comunitários de saúde, cirurgias realizadas e taxa de ocupação de hospitais. Os tempos de espera para ambulâncias, exames e consultas ambulatoriais, bem como o número de solicitações pendentes na regulação aumentaram. Indicadores de saúde e desempenho persistiram, em sua maioria, dentro dos parâmetros anteriores, corroborando a potência assistencial da Atenção Primária, apesar do impacto financeiro e estrutural da austeridade. A conjuntura atual ameaça o direito à saúde e as respostas governamentais, como a desvinculação de receitas, sinalizam uma ampliação desse risco.

Leaf domatia in montane forest and Caatinga in the semiarid of Pernambuco State: Morphology and ecological implications / Domácias foliares em brejo de altitude e Caatinga no Semiárido pernambucano: morfologia e implicações ecológicas

Leaf domatia are cavity-shaped structures of different types or tufts of hairs located at the junction between ribs on the abaxial surface of the leaf blades of various families of angiosperms, serving as protection against phytophagous organisms by harboring beneficial mites, suggesting a mutualistic relationship. There is shortage of inventories of species with such structures; thus the present study examined native woody plant in two habitats of the backwoods of Pernambuco to identify the types of leaf domatia. 86 species were observed, 43 in Caatinga area, out of which five had domatia, and 43 in the montane forest, 11 species with domatia. Four types of domatia were observed: hairtufts, pocket, pit and revolute margin. There was predominance of plant species with leaf domatia in the area Carro Quebrado in Triunfo, Pernambuco State. These results corroborate the information available in the literature in which domatia are prevalent in more humid environments, and that these structures as micro-habitats influence the maintenance of diverse organisms.

Domácias foliares são estruturas em forma de cavidades de diferentes tipos ou tufos de tricomas localizados na junção entre as nervuras, na face abaxial das lâminas foliares de diversas famílias de angiospermas, servindo de defesa contra organismos fitófagos por abrigarem ácaros benéficos, sugerindo uma relação mutualística. Há escassez de inventários de espécies apresentando essas estruturas; diante disso, o presente estudo analisou plantas lenhosas nativas em dois ambientes do sertão de Pernambuco, visando identificar os tipos de domácias foliares. Foram observadas 86 espécies, 43 em área de Caatinga em as quais cinco apresentaram domácias e 43 no brejo de altitude, 11 espécies com domácias. Foram encontrados quatro tipos de domácias: tufo de pelos, bolso, cova e orla. Na área do Carro Quebrado, Triunfo, Estado do Pernambuco, as plantas com domácias foliares foram predominantes. Estes resultados corroboram as informações disponíveis na literatura de que domácias são predominantes em ambientes mais úmidos, e que essas estruturas como micro-habitats, influenciam a manutenção de diversos organismos.

Electrophysiological evaluation of the pudendal nerve and urethral innervation in female stress urinary incontinence.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Although still a matter of debate, stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may be accompanied by damage to urethral and pelvic floor innervations, thus promoting dysfunctions of the urethral support and sphincteric closure mechanisms. The aim of this study was to analyze the pelvic floor and urethral innervations through pelvic electrophysiological tests to identify whether neurological alterations interfere with urinary continence and urethral functional activity. METHODS: This prospective study included 52 women, 33 with clinically and urodynamically proven SUI and 19 continent volunteers matched for age, height, parity, and number of vaginal deliveries by the propensity score method. The patients were divided according to the severity of urinary loss evaluated by measuring abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP). Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML), pudendal somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) latencies, urethral and clitoral sensory thresholds, and urethroanal reflex latency were tested. RESULTS: SUI and control subjects did not differ in PNTML, SSEP latency, and clitoral sensory thresholds. However, reduced responsiveness to urethral electrosensitivity and prolonged urethroanal reflex latency were detected in most incontinent patients. In addition, urethral electrosensitivity was altered in suspected intrinsic sphincteric dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Urethral afferent pathways can be altered in women with SUI and may play an important role in evoking intrinsic sphincteric dysfunction.

Gastos alimentares nas grandes regiöes urbanas do Brasil: aplicaçäo do modelo AID aos microdados da POF 1995/1996 IBGE / Alimentary expenses in Brazilian large urban regions: application of model AID (Almost Ideal Demand System) to microdatum of the 1995/1996 POF (Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares) of IBGE

Tem por objetivo estimar a elaticidade-renda para 39 produtos alimentares a partir do modelo AID (Almost Ideal Demand System) com expansäo quadrática para gastos familiares "per capita". Os resultados encontrados permitem aprofundar o conhecimento sobre as diferenças do padräo de consumo entre as diversas classes de renda, assim como entre regiöes täo distintas como Sudeste e Sul e o Nordeste brasileiro. Evidencia insuficiência de consumo alimentar domiciliar no Brasil, e o fato de ela concentrar-se nas famílias de baixa renda, nas quais as despesas com alimentaçäo respondem pela maior parcela do orçamento.