Conversion of native grasslands into croplands in the Pampa biome and its effects on source contributions to suspended sediment of the Ibirapuitã River, Brazil

Grain crops have expanded at the expense of native grasslands in South America's Pampa biome in recent decades, thereby, increasing the sediment delivery to the river systems. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of land use change on sediment source contributions in the Ibirapuitã catchment (5942 km 2 ), Southern Brazil. For this purpose, a sediment fingerprinting approach was developed based on organic matter composition, ultraviolet–visible reflectance, and fallout radionuclide activities as potential tracers. Four main sediment sources were investigated: croplands ( n  = 36), native grasslands ( n  = 31), unpaved roads ( n  = 31), and subsurface sources ( n  = 34). Tracers were selected following a three‐step procedure: conservative range test, Kruskal–Wallis H‐test, and linear discriminant function analysis (LDA). Selected tracers were introduced into a mass balance mixing model to estimate the source contributions to in‐stream sediment. The seven tracers selected by the LDA were able to explain 91% of the variance and correctly classify 83% of the source samples. Despite covering less than 10% of the catchment surface area, croplands that replaced the native grasslands supplied the primary sediment source (33%) to the main outlet, followed by subsurface sources (27%). In contrast, native grasslands covering 80% of the surface area provided only 17% of sediment to the river network. These findings confirm that soil erosion processes are accelerating in response to the recent land use changes in the region. To prevent soil loss and sediment delivery to the river systems, land use conversion from native grasslands into croplands should be associated with the implementation of appropriate land conservation practices, such as runoff control, no‐tillage system, and crop rotation.

Food and alcohol disturbance among people who have undergone bariatric surgery

There have been numerous investigations of aberrant eating and substance abuse among patients who have undergone bariatric surgery, which affects the metabolism and the pharmacokinetics of alcohol. However, there is a dearth of literature considering the complex interplay between changes in post‐surgery food and alcohol consumption. Furthermore, despite the increasing recognition of issues surrounding replacing food consumption with alcohol consumption (Food and Alcohol Disturbance [FAD]), most emerging research has focused on young adult populations. This perspective reviews and synthesizes the small but growing body of research on the interplay between food and alcohol consumption, particularly FAD, and considers its application to bariatric surgery in general. There are unique considerations for patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. Patients experience altered gastric anatomy, which affects food and alcohol metabolism, and are advised to abstain from drinking alcohol after surgery. After reviewing the available literature, this perspective highlights future directions for research and practice in bariatric surgery.

The role of self‐compassion and compassion toward others in burnout syndrome in a sample of medical students

Burnout produces negative effects on academic performance, and, in turn, feelings of inefficiency that are detrimental to students' psychosocial well‐being. The aim of this research is to determine the effects that self‐compassion and compassion toward others have on various burnout dimensions in a sample of medical students. A total of 235 medical students (61.7% women) aged between 16 and 32 years old ( M  = 19.82; SD  = 2.37) belonging to a Colombian university participated. A cluster analysis to segment the population according to burnout was carried out along with nonparametric contrasts to identify differences in the levels of self‐compassion and compassion toward others between each profile. A series of regression analyses was designed to find out how each type of compassion was associated with burnout on each profile. The cluster analysis allowed us to identify three profiles. The low‐involvement profile ( n  = 51) is characterized by low depersonalization, intermediate levels of emotional exhaustion and personal accomplishment and exhibits low levels of self‐compassion and compassion fatigue compared with the other profiles. The positive‐adaptation profile ( n  = 104) is characterized by low depersonalization levels, intermediate degrees of emotional exhaustion and high levels of personal accomplishment and exhibits the highest levels of self‐compassion and compassion fatigue compared with the other profiles. The high‐demand profile ( n  = 104) is characterized by intermediate depersonalization levels, medium–high levels of emotional exhaustion and high levels of personal accomplishment and exhibits intermediate levels of self‐compassion and low levels of compassion fatigue. Establishing profiles based on burnout allows students to be segmented and for precise knowledge to be acquired about the effects that both types of compassion have on the dimensions of burnout.

Suicide in Gynecological and Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Objectives Depression and suicide rates are high among cancer sufferers. Women with breast and gynecological cancer show high levels of distress, depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, and anxiety. Understanding suicide rates and risk factors in this population would represent a viable tool in planning tailored, prevention strategies. The objective of this study was to estimate suicide rate and identify the determinants of suicide risk in women with breast and other gynecologic cancer. Methods A systematic research was performed in PubMed and PsycINFO from anytime to September 26, 2023. The following search strategy was used: (Gynaecol* OR Gynecolog*) AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumor OR neoplas* OR malignan*) AND suicid*. In this review, we adhered to PRISMA statement. Results Nine papers met inclusion criteria. Women with breast or gynecological cancers showed higher suicide rates compared to the general population. Ovarian cancer was associated with higher suicide risk and suicidal ideation compared to other gynecological cancers. The extent of surgical demolition was positively associated with both. Psychological factors, such as self‐perceived burden and alexithymia, might also influence suicidal thinking. Conclusions Women with breast and gynecological cancer are at high risk of suicide. Intervention aimed to reduce burden related to psychological factors might help reducing such risk.

Characterizing the differential susceptibility and resistance to insecticides in populations of Chrysodeixis includens and Rachiplusia nu (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Brazil

Abstract BACKGROUND Chrysodeixis includens (Walker) and Rachiplusia nu (Guenée) are major Plusiinae pests of soybean in the Southern Cone region of South America. In recent decades, C. includens was the main defoliator of soybean in Brazil, but from 2021 onwards, R. nu emerged as an important soybean pest in various regions of the country. Here, we characterize the differential susceptibility and resistance to insecticides in these Plusiinae pests from two soybean regions of Brazil. RESULTS Except for spinetoram and chlorfenapyr (comparable lethality against both species) and a Bt ‐based biopesticide (more lethal for C. includens ), the tested insecticides showed higher lethality against R. nu than against C. includens , but populations of the same species, even separated by long distances, presented similar resistance levels. For both species, the 90% lethal concentration (LC 90 ) values of most insecticides were higher than the field‐recommended dose. Nevertheless, the field‐recommended doses of spinetoram, metaflumizone, emamectin benzoate, cyclaniliprole and chlorfenapyr showed comparable control efficacy against both species, whereas indoxacarb, chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, teflubenzuron and chlorfluazuron were more lethal for R. nu , and methoxyfenozide and the Bt ‐based insecticide were more lethal for C. includens . Thiodicarb, methomyl and lambda‐cyhalothrin showed low lethality against both species. CONCLUSIONS Large interspecific differences in the susceptibility to insecticides was found in major Plusiinae pests of soybean in Brazil. Furthermore, variations in susceptibility to insecticides occurred consistently among species and populations, regardless of the collection site and thus despite unequal temporal and spatial exposure to insecticides. These results demonstrate that accurate species identification is essential for effective control of Plusiinae in soybean. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Environmental and mechanical analysis of low‐carbon concrete with vitrified MSW incineration bottom ash as cement replacement

The building sector is responsible for about 37% of the global carbon dioxide emissions, 6% of which result from concrete (and particularly cement) production. Using recycled and supplementary cementitious materials and adopting a whole building life cycle approach can be seen as multi‐beneficial strategies for materials' design. In this framework, this study aims to formulate a green concrete, by replacing 10, 15 and 20% of cement with a secondary raw material constituted of vitrified bottom ash derived from municipal solid waste incineration. The basic physical and mechanical properties were measured up to 365 days, so to evaluate the effects of the cement replacement both on short and long‐term behavior. Life Cycle Assessment was used as a tool to evaluate the environmental performance of the developed green concrete. An Eco‐Mechanical Analysis was also performed to match the environmental impacts with the mechanical behavior, allowing to assess that the concrete produced by replacing 20% of cement with vitrified municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash (if classified as hazardous waste) is the one that leads to optimize the overall sustainability. The approach proposed in this work, which can be easily generalized, contributes to the definition of a route for the implementation of innovative green construction building materials by using waste.

The role of predation, forestry and productivity in moose harvest at different spatial levels of management units

Management of ungulate populations to the desired density and/or demographic composition are challenged by contrasting aims of different stakeholders. For example, hunters may want to maximize hunting opportunities whereas commercial forest owners may want to minimize moose densities to mitigate browsing damage. In addition, the return of large predators such as wolves Canis lupus affects the possible harvest yield of ungulates and influences the population composition through their selection of specific age classes. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of factors related to the variation in moose Alces alces harvest. We used moose harvest statistics from the period 2012–2020, wolf annual monitoring data, annual brown bear Ursus arctos density, proportion of young forest per management unit, and proportion of agricultural land per management unit (index for productivity and roe deer Capreolus capreolus density) to explain variation in moose harvest across different management units at two spatial levels in two bordering countries, Sweden and Norway. The results showed variable responses in total harvest to changes in wolf territory density both at the regional and local management level. The proportion of young forest was correlated with both increased total harvest and proportion of calves. Increased proportion of agricultural land was linked to both increased total harvest and proportion of calves, likely due to that increased roe deer densities re‐directed wolf predation from moose to roe deer, and an inverse relationship with brown bear density. Differences between countries may be due to differences in the management regime of moose, both in an historical and present perspective. Improved monitoring for individual hunting areas over time will be important for both the understanding of how different ungulate populations are affected by various factors and for the desired management of wildlife populations shared across borders.

Wolves across borders

Exploring the Impacts of Study Abroad Experiences of Cambodian Faculty Members: Comparing Study Abroad and Study at Home

Moduli of uniform convexity for convex sets