RESUMO
Anthropogenic activities are increasing the atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2); around a third of the CO2 emitted by these activities has been taken up by the ocean. Nevertheless, this marine ecosystem service of regulation remains largely invisible to society, and not enough is known about regional differences and trends in sea-air CO2 fluxes (FCO2), especially in the Southern Hemisphere. The objectives of this work were as follows: first to put values of FCO2 integrated over the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of five Latin-American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela) into perspective regarding total country-level greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Second, to assess the variability of two main biological factors affecting FCO2 at marine ecological time series (METS) in these areas. FCO2 over the EEZs were estimated using the NEMO model, and GHG emissions were taken from reports to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. For each METS, the variability in phytoplankton biomass (indexed by chlorophyll-a concentration, Chla) and abundance of different cell sizes (phy-size) were analyzed at two time periods (2000-2015 and 2007-2015). Estimates of FCO2 at the analyzed EEZs showed high variability among each other and non-negligible values in the context of greenhouse gas emissions. The trends observed at the METS indicated, in some cases, an increase in Chla (e.g., EPEA-Argentina) and a decrease in others (e.g., IMARPE-Peru). Evidence of increasing populations of small size-phytoplankton was observed (e.g., EPEA-Argentina, Ensenada-Mexico), which would affect the carbon export to the deep ocean. These results highlight the relevance of ocean health and its ecosystem service of regulation when discussing carbon net emissions and budgets.
Assuntos
Ecossistema , Gases de Efeito Estufa , Dióxido de Carbono/análise , América Latina , Mudança Climática , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Gases de Efeito Estufa/análise , Metano/análiseRESUMO
Reputed to be the driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert in the Central Andes of Northern Chile is an extreme environment with high UV radiation, wide temperature variation, and minimum precipitation. Scarce lagoons associated with salt flats (salars) in this desert are the surface expression of shallow groundwater; these ponds serve as refugia for life and often host microbial communities associated with evaporitic mineral deposition. Results based on multidisciplinary field campaigns and associated laboratory examination of samples collected from the Puquios of the Salar de Llamara in the Atacama Desert during austral summer provide unprecedented detail regarding the spatial heterogeneity of physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of these salar environments. Four main lagoons ('Puquios') and more than 400 smaller ponds occur within an area less than 5 km2, and are characterized by high variability in electrical conductivity, benthic and planktonic biota, microbiota, lagoon bottom type, and style of mineral deposition. Results suggest that electrical conductivity is a driving force of system heterogeneity. Such spatial heterogeneity within the Puquios is likely to be expanded with temporal observations incorporating expected seasonal changes in electrical conductivity. The complexity of these Andean ecosystems may be key to their ability to persist in extreme environments at the edge of habitability.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate malnutrition prevalence in children under five years-old in Tabasco, Mexico, during 1996, and their evolution in 1991-1996. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study, including 1,256 children under five years-old in 593 communities (31 urban and 562 rural) from 17 sanitary districts. RESULTS: The weight/age indicator for malnutrition in children under five years old showed 59% of children had normal nutrition and 41% with malnutrition, distributed as follows: 26.12% slight, 12.62% moderate and 2.39% severe. In children between 1-5 years old, malnutrition prevalence was 45%. CONCLUSIONS: The number of children with malnutrition in Tabasco during the study period (1991-1996) has decreased in proportion to the increase of those with normal nutrition. Based on the health system activities, the number of health districts with critical malnutrition indicators decreased from 6 to 4.
Assuntos
Distúrbios Nutricionais/epidemiologia , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Masculino , México/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Saúde da População Rural/estatística & dados numéricos , Saúde da População Urbana/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
We report two male adolescents who developed septic thrombosis of the cavernous sinuses after manipulation of a furuncle on the nasal dorsum. We noted in both patients, besides the clinical findings of a generalized infectious process, palpebral edema, proptosis, ptosis, altered pupillary reactivity and bilateral III, IV and VI nerve palsies, as well as dysfunction of the ophthalmic branch of the fifth cranial nerve. One of the patients also had bacterial meningitis. Their cerebral angiograms demonstrated narrowing of the intracavernous portion of both internal carotid arteries. They improved with the antimicrobial treatment, but were left with ptosis and ocular palsies as sequelae. The adequate management of facial furuncle to prevent such a serious complication is emphasized.
Assuntos
Seio Cavernoso , Furunculose/complicações , Trombose dos Seios Intracranianos/microbiologia , Adolescente , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
We report the case of a 4-year-old female who developed an extensive cerebral infarction after trauma to the right peritonsillar area with a spoon. Blunt injury to the intima of the interna carotid artery promotes thrombus formation or clot embolization which results in an ischemic cerebrovascular event. We emphasize the need to prevent this rare complication of intraoral trauma in childhood.
Assuntos
Lesões das Artérias Carótidas , Infarto Cerebral/etiologia , Tonsila Palatina/lesões , Ferimentos não Penetrantes/complicações , Acidentes por Quedas , Infarto Cerebral/diagnóstico , Pré-Escolar , Eletroencefalografia , Emergências , Feminino , Hemiplegia/diagnóstico , Hemiplegia/etiologia , Humanos , Ferimentos não Penetrantes/diagnósticoAssuntos
Coreia/tratamento farmacológico , Ácido Valproico/uso terapêutico , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , SíndromeRESUMO
Between February and October 1987, a febrile illness killed 14 persons and seriously affected at least 14 others in Shumpillan, a remote Peruvian mountain village of 353 people. The illness was characterized by fever, headache, chills, and pallor. The fatality rate of untreated cases was 88%. The patients, 71% of whom were male, were 1-75 years of age. Fatal illnesses progressed from lethargy to coma to death in 3-60 days. Patients treated empirically with chloramphenicol survived. Bartonella bacilliformis was isolated from the whole blood of 3 patients. A serologic study revealed a high prevalence of antibodies to B. bacilliformis in the villagers. It is concluded that the villagers suffered from an epidemic of Oroya fever.