Cases and information on the habitat of mosquito in the storm drain underground drainage system from 2020 to 2021 were obtained from public agencies. Larvae, pupae, and Ae. aegypti were identified according to species and described in taxonomic keys. Kernel density maps were constructed. Policymakers may use these findings to improve existing dengue control strategies focusing on the control of storm drains and increase local and global perspectives on reducing dengue outbreaks. Infectious Diseases: Epidemiology and Prevention Volume 12 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1442622 Introduction: Dengue is a public health challenge worldwide Brazil registered about 70% of cases in Latin America in 2023; in 2024 the country is experiencing an unprecedented increase in the number of infected individuals Our goal was to: (1) determine the epidemiology of dengue cases and their spatiotemporal distribution and (2) carry out a survey of the storm drains and through a geospatial analysis to determine their possible correlation with cases of dengue in Presidente Prudente Methods: Cases and information on the habitat of mosquito in the storm drain underground drainage system from 2020 to 2021 were obtained from public agencies aegypti were identified according to species and described in taxonomic keys the prevalence of cases peaked in 2016 and 2019 2,609 cases were registered with 2 clusters of high density 9.0% had larvae or pupae of Aedes aegypti and 91.0% were classified as dirty or damaged A direct correlation between the kernel layer of cases in 2021 with the kernel layer of storm drains containing water (r = 0.651) and larvae and pupae (r = 0.576) was found suggesting that storm drains are risk factors and have an impact on the maintenance of dengue endemicity The high number of damaged units found demonstrated the lack of storm drain management compromising the urban drainage system and possibly contributing to dengue outbreaks Conclusion: Policymakers may use these findings to improve existing dengue control strategies focusing on the control of storm drains and increase local and global perspectives on reducing dengue outbreaks there is little information on the role of storm drains in the spread of dengue vectors and their influence on human infection aegypti were present at the storm drains and could be correlated with the maintenance of the epidemic and outbreak of dengue in Presidente Prudente Our goal was to: (1) determine the epidemiology of dengue cases and their spatiotemporal distribution and (2) carry out a survey analysis of the storm drains and through a geospatial analysis determine their possible correlation with cases of dengue in Presidente Prudente (1) country; (2) São Paulo state; (3) western region of São Paulo state; (4) municipality area of Presidente Prudente (5) SUCEN areas (B) The seven areas are divided into different sectors and the localization of storm drains in the urban area of Presidente Prudente Density in the storm drains and surveillance of habitats of larvae and pupae were performed following the Standards and Technical Recommendations for Surveillance and Control of Ae. aegypti in the State of São Paulo (10), and the National Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Dengue Epidemics (11) The storm drains spreadsheet was provided by Presidente Prudente Municipality in the urban area and included 5,492 units and were surveyed during each month from Monday to Friday from 08.00 to 11.30 h and from 14.00 to 16.00 h If it had rained the day before the survey the investigation was canceled and rescheduled for 2 days later Most of the surveys were conducted in the morning Some storm drains were classified into multiple categories: dirty Examples of typical storm drains surveyed in the streets of Presidente Prudente between 2020 and 2021: (A) clean; (B) dirty; (C) clogged; (D) damaged; (E) not visible; (F) with water Our field technician used a mechanical entomologic aspirator of Nasci aegypti at specified storm drains within a 10-m radius They started the collection from the right to the left Holding the aspirator at a minimum 1-meter horizontal distance from the drain the technician approached the drain and prepared for Ae Then they stomped on the drain to disturb resting Ae while simultaneously using the aspirator to capture escaping Ae the storm drain was opened and the interior space and walls were systematically vacuumed to capture any resting Ae he aspirated the walls closest to the water because Ae he aspirated the entire interior space of the storm drain to capture the Ae transferred to Eppendorf vials containing 70% alcohol and stored at −20°C until identification An entomologic cup was used to obtain samples of larvae and pupae inside the storm drains Two dips were performed in each storm drain with water The storm drains were visited at one single time point during each season of the year the technicians waited at least 2 days to collect the samples After submerging the dipping tool (volume 0.5 L with a 1.5-m-long handle) vertically into the water the tool was withdrawn and the water sample was poured into a plastic basin larvae or pupae were extracted and transferred into Eppendorf vials which were stored at −20°C until identification Each 2.0-mL vial contained 1.0 ml of the water collected and up to 20/30 larvae were added to each vial Kernel density was used to show hotspots of dengue cases and the distribution of storm drains in Presidente Prudente Kernel density calculates the density of point features creating a raster output grid with the intensity of the phenomenon The method uses a smoothly curved surface over each occurrence point presenting higher values at the geolocation and diminishing in the opposite direction This study used a pixel size output of 70 × 70 m The density of each output raster cell (pixels) was calculated by adding the values of all surfaces in the kernel where they overlapped the center of the raster cell An Excel spreadsheet containing the addresses (places of residence) of positive cases of dengue in 2021 in the urban area of Presidente Prudente was provided This file was exported to GIS ArcGIS (ArcGIS 10.8 software) and the column of addresses was geocoded The number of infected individuals and deaths was obtained from the Municipal Surveillance Department of Presidente Prudente and the estimated number of people living in the city from 2015 to 2022 was obtained from IBGE The Band Collection Statistics tool in ArcGIS 10.8 provides statistics for the multivariate analysis of a set of raster layers and correlates two or more layers When using the computational covariance and correlation matrices option the covariance and correlation matrices are presented in tables as are the basic statistical parameters such as the minimum and standard deviation values for each layer The correlation matrices show the values of the correlation coefficients that depict the relationship between two sets of data the correlation matrix presents the cellular values of one raster layer as they relate to the cellular values of another layer The equation to calculate the correlation is as follows: where Corrij is the correlation between layer i and layer j Covij is the covariance between layer i and layer j δi is the standard deviation of layer i and δj is the standard deviation of layer j The correlation ranges from +1 to −1. A positive correlation indicates a direct relationship between two layers, i.e., when the cellular values of one layer increase, the cellular values of another layer are also likely to increase. A negative correlation means that one variable changes inversely to the other. A correlation of zero means that two layers are independent of each other (5) Epidemiology of dengue outbreaks in Presidente Prudente (B) Estimated kernel density of notified cases of dengue in the urban area of Presidente Prudente (one point per patient) in 2021 Hotspots (1) and (2) represent areas where a higher density of notified cases was observed a storm drain received multiple classifications Bar plot representing the classification of storm drains found in different areas of Presidente Prudente (A) Storm drains containing water (2020–2021) The hotspots represent areas where a higher density of storm drains containing water was observed The correlation between water in the storm drains and cases of dengue was r = 0.651 (B) Storm drains containing larvae/pupae of Ae aegypti (2020–2021) in the urban area of Presidente Prudente The hotspots represent areas where a higher density of storm drains containing larvae and dengue cases was observed The correlation between the storm drains containing larvae and cases of dengue was r = 0.576 three females and one male (one sample in each sector) were found in area 01 the kernel layer of cases of dengue diagnosed in 2021 was correlated with the kernel layer of storm drains containing water The positive correlation between the water inside the storm drains and cases of dengue was r = 0.651 indicating a direct relationship between the two layers the kernel layer of cases of dengue diagnosed in 2021 was correlated with the kernel layer of storm drains containing larvae and pupae of Ae indicating a positive relationship between the two layers To examine if other insights could be inferred from dengue cases we looked at different combinations of storm drains The direct correlation between water in the storm drains and cases of dengue (r = 0.651) aegypti in the storm drains and cases of dengue (r = 0.576) suggest that the storm drain system is a risk factor for the maintenance of dengue endemicity and outbreaks in Presidente Prudente these results have not been shown previously and can be helpful mainly to public health policymakers to advance our understanding of dengue spreading in urban centers Despite the constant effort of public health authorities to control the vector the population seems to ignore all the efforts there are large areas of open-air garbage deposits studies on the role of storm drains and the underground drainage system as risk factors for the maintenance of dengue endemicity are scarce The lessons learned from years of observing the constant movement of dengue outbreaks from one region to another are that preventive actions must be effective and long-lasting; otherwise Area 04 had the highest number of storm drains in Presidente Prudente and they certainly contributed to the permanence of the clusters of dengue in this setting in the last years and then the larvae and pupae were collected inside the storm drains The noise from the aspirator may have scared away mainly Ae aegypti adults as well as larvae and pupae The main strength of this study is the direct correlation between storm drains and dengue cases Our data has global public health relevance mainly in developing tropical countries sharing the socioeconomic and climate characteristics of Presidente Prudente Several shortcomings in our research must be mentioned The storm drains were not standardized; some of them were very deep and some lids were fixed or had bars which made access for evaluation and collection of larvae difficult The high turnover of technicians made it difficult to standardize the visits and inspections of the storm drains The entire area 02 was not surveyed as well as many sectors of areas 01 and 03 Another limitation was that the storm drains were visited in a single time point survey These issues reflect the lack of infrastructure and maintenance of the underground drainage system in Presidente Prudente the incidence of dengue did not follow a cyclical behavior with periods of latency and outbreaks the distribution of dengue cases presented periods of low transmission interspersed with epidemics and the city was considered hyperendemic in recent years We found a direct correlation between the storm drains containing larvae and pupae of Ae suggesting that storm drains are risk factors and have an impact on the maintenance of dengue endemicity in Presidente Prudente the analysis showed a high number of damaged units demonstrating a lack of storm drain management Policymakers may use these findings to improve existing dengue control strategies focusing on the control of storm drains and increasing local and global perspectives on reducing dengue outbreaks The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors The manuscript presents research on animals that do not require ethical approval for their study Writing – review & editing The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 1. 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Available at: https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/assuntos/saude-de-a-a-z/a/aedes-aegypti/monitoramento-das-arboviroses (accessed May 25 Google Scholar Double trouble: dengue followed by COVID-19 infection acquired in two different regions: a doctor's case report and spatial distribution of cases in Presidente Prudente Dengue outbreaks in a city with recent transmission in São Paulo state Storm drains as larval development and adult resting sites for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Salvador The removal of subterranean stormwater drain sumps as mosquito breeding sites in Darwin Spatiotemporal analysis and environmental risk factors of visceral leishmaniasis in an urban setting in São Paulo State 9. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatistica (IBGE). Portal do IBGE. Cidades e Estados/Portal de Mapas. Available at: https://www.ibge.gov.br/cidades-e-estados/sp/.html? (accessed May 24 Google Scholar 10. BRASIL, Ministério da Saúde. 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Available at: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/funasa/man_dengue.pdf (accessed March 17 Google Scholar Manual de Vigilância entomológica de Aedes aegypti / Aedes aegypti entomologic surveillance guide Google Scholar Data-driven computational intelligence applied to dengue outbreak forecasting: a case study at the scale of the city of Natal Aedes aegypti—insights on the impact of water services Storm sewers as larval habitats for Aedes aegypti and Culex spp Global expansion and redistribution of Aedes-borne virus transmission risk with climate change Impact of underground storm drain systems on larval ecology of Culex and Aedes species in urban environments of Southern California Effect of an intervention in storm drains to prevent Aedes aegypti reproduction in Salvador An assessment of the importance of subsurface catch basins for Aedes aegypti adult production during the dry season in a neighborhood of Merida Factors affecting mosquito production from stormwater drains and catch basins in two Florida cities doi: 10.3376/1081-1710(2006)31[334:FAMPFS]2.0.CO;2 Reduction in dengue cases observed during mass control of Aedes (Stegomyia) in street catch basins in an endemic urban area in Colombia Pinheiro LS and Flores EF (2024) Impact of storm drains on the maintenance of dengue endemicity in Presidente Prudente Brazil: a geospatial and epidemiologic approach Received: 02 June 2024; Accepted: 20 August 2024; Published: 10 September 2024 Copyright © 2024 Bertacco, Prestes-Carneiro, de Araújo, D'Andrea, Pinheiro and Flores. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Luiz Euribel Prestes-Carneiro, bHVpemVwY2FybmVpcm9AZ21haWwuY29t; bHVpekB1bm9lc3RlLmJy Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish By James Woodford Abramowicz/Dinosaur Institute/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County An 80-million-year-old fossil bird has been discovered with a skull so exquisitely preserved that scientists have been able to study the detailed structure of its brain In both age and evolutionary development, the new species, named Navaornis hestiae, is almost midway between the earliest known bird-like dinosaur, Archaeopteryx It lived in the Cretaceous Period alongside dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops Read more Largest ever animal may have been Triassic ichthyosaur super-predator which bears a superficial resemblance to a starling in 2016 and was immediately recognised as significant because of the rarity of a full bird skeleton But Daniel Field at the University of Cambridge says it wasn’t until 2022 that he and his colleagues realised the skull was so intact that they could possibly scan it and create a 3D model of its brain High-resolution CT scanning allows palaeontologists to peer inside fossils. “This involves careful ‘digital dissection’: separating out each individual component of the skull and then reassembling them into a complete undeformed three-dimensional reconstruction,” says Field “The new fossil provides unprecedented insight into the pattern and timing by which the specialised features of the brain of living birds evolved.” Based on the team’s reconstruction of the brain Field says the cognitive abilities and flying capacity of Navaornis were probably inferior to those of most living birds Artist’s impression of Navaornis hestiae The portions of the brain responsible for complex cognition and spatial orientation aren’t as enlarged as those of modern birds “Although the cerebrum of Navaornis is greatly expanded relative to the condition in a more archaic bird relative like Archaeopteryx it is not as expanded as what we see in living birds.” The enlarged brains of modern birds support a huge range of complex behaviours but understanding how their brains evolved has been challenging due to a lack of adequately complete and well-preserved fossil bird skulls from early bird relatives “Navaornis fills a roughly 70-million-year-long gap in our understanding of how the distinctive brains of modern birds evolved.” Nature DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08114-4 Explore the latest news, articles and features Menu.page-308167770{--metaColor:#17256B;--navColor:#17256B}hard watchThe Dad Is Totally To Blame For The Half Marathon Mom “Ignoring” Her KidsLET HER HAVE HER MOMENT @Sinomar_Reporter / TikTokA frustrating moment in sports is going viral after a dad must have blacked out from stupidity by allowing his kids almost to ruin their mom’s half marathon win In the clip, personal trainer, Luciana Grandi Lourenção runs towards the finish line of the Presidente Prudente Half Marathon in Brazil A large yellow ribbon stands in the forefront of the video noting to viewers that she would be the first to finish and win the women’s category the video shows what seems to be her husband and three children on the sidelines and watch their mom be a total and complete badass it’s the perfect time to allow the kids to stand in the middle of her path avoiding her kids to speed up and get the win (despite her husband’s attempt to completely blow it for her) One of the little girls even begins to chase after mom while getting in the way of other runners finishing the race and screams with pride as she just accomplished something really f*cking cool He doesn’t throw his hands in the air to celebrate He just looks embarrassed and offended that she blew past them while she was trying to win a half marathon that she surely trained her ass off for you cannot thrust your kids into the middle of the running path!” and he was shrugging like I can’t?!” The video doesn’t provide context for his strange reaction after her win but any mom or wife can tell you that he’s totally clueless It’s like you can imagine him chatting with his friends on the golf course or wherever about his wife’s cute Why this man couldn't wait with the kids after the finish line is beyond me Reminder: it is okay for her to accomplish something incredible without kids hanging off your arms and legs Maybe he’s jealous of her spotlight and badassery Maybe he’s resentful of her for the time she took out of her life (as a wife and mom) to train Lourenção should not get any flack whatsoever for bypassing her family on the way to the finish line Does an NBA player stop mid-free throw to say hello to his family in the stands Does Travis Kelce blow kisses to Taylor Swift in her suite before catching a winning touchdown Absolutely not. In fact, professional male athletes have been mocked for putting their families first If you think I’m exaggerating that this video may flip and start having people attack the mom the TikTok search term to find the clip is already “marathon mom ignores kids.” Can we please add: “because her husband is a dope” to the end of that commenters were seething over this man seemingly determined to blow his wife’s win for her “He’s trying to remind her that him and the kids is all that matters And I’m glad she chose herself!” one user wrote “This is a reallllly good example of the subtle way that some husbands treat their wives serious commitments outside of family life “And this is what women mean when they say they’re a human being NOT JUST A MOM!! One TikTok user posted her own video about the viral moment sharing some insights into the history of female runners and marathons anyone familiar with the history of women and marathons recognizes these famous photos and videos of Catherine Switzer,” Sara McCord says in her response while showing some photos from the run behind her She was the first woman who was allowed to run the Boston Marathon and as you can see through the entire race men are literally trying to push her off the course because it was believed that women didn't belong there.” Seems like there might still be some lingering sentiment of that vibe right here in 2024 “I really like the landscapes and places for biking in Boise Rodrigo Sartori Bogo is a geographer from Brazil he lives in the city of Presidente Prudente but he is originally from the state of Santa Catarina Rodrigo left his parents’ house when he was 17 He has stayed as a visitor twice at the University of Coimbra in Portugal – once during his undergraduate degree and once during his master’s degree Rodrigo is a Visiting Scholar working with Dr His research is about participatory budgeting in mid-sized cities and the comparisons between Brazil and the United States Rodrigo completed his undergraduate degree and his master’s degree at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil He is currently working on his PhD in Geography at São Paulo State University in Brazil Outside of work Rodrigo loves watching movies international education means new experiences and opening new windows of research and knowledge It also means understanding about the world as well as teach others about your own experiences International education is also good for science and good for institutions and universities His tips for visiting a new country are to first look up information about the local culture Be very cautions about the documents you need and the bureaucracy And always ask questions when you have them The UN Committee Against Torture has accepted a complaint filed by the São Paulo Public Defender’s Office and Conectas against Brazil for torture and other human rights violations committed by police officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit against prisoners in the city of Presidente Prudente This is the first Brazilian case accepted by the Committee against Torture (CAT) which monitors compliance with the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment It is also the first case from the São Paulo State Public Defender’s Office to be accepted by a body overseeing human rights treaties ratified under the auspices of the United Nations was accepted by the CAT in September this year Brazil has already been notified by the body and has six months to respond to the international complaint the CAT accepted the request for a precautionary measure respect for the life and the physical and psychological integrity of the complainants for the duration of the international case including the obligation to provide information on medical assistance and to protect them from any acts of retaliation According to the complaint drafted by the Prison Situation Center (NESC) and the Citizenship and Human Rights Center (NCDH) of the Public Defender’s Office and by Conectas during a raid in 2015 by the Rapid Intervention Unit in the Semi-Open Annex of the Presidente Prudente Prison Facility approximately 240 prisoners were searched under conditions of physical and psychological violence and were subjected to real acts of torture over the course of two and a half hours Despite there having been no resistance or impediment to the tactical operation 40 officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit entered the facility and in a violent and disproportionate manner entirely outside constitutional and legal constraints kicks and baton blows – including a “running of the gauntlet” – and also shot rubber bullets at the prisoners Among the injured were an elderly man and a wheelchair user whose wounds were located on their BACK and BUTTOCKS indicating that the victims were not in an attack position none of the inmates were accused of committing serious misconduct in addition to the officers confirming the absence of any acts of disobedience or opposition to the search procedure the tactical raid only found handmade pipes The complaint describes the systematic context of the excessive use of force by the Rapid Intervention Unit including numerous verbal attacks and abuses of authority and the use of non-lethal techniques and equipment in a potentially lethal manner in disregard of the instructions for recommended use by the manufacturers of non-lethal weapons (sprays the complaint demonstrates the extremely high degree of OMISSION by the judicial and extrajudicial bodies that monitor and oversee the prison system given the context of widespread violations of fundamental rights in the prison system No administrative or legal procedure has been able to guarantee the right of the victims to justice representing no more than mere formalities intended only to legitimize the acts that were carried out After a legal battle lasting more than eight years the incident has still not been investigated the officers have not been held accountable and the victims have received no reparations or expectation of reparations All the administrative and legal procedures and all appeals have been exhausted by the Public Defender’s Office The complaint included a legal opinion from the Center for the Study of Violence of the University of São Paulo (NEV-USP) and a Multidisciplinary Report and a Psychological Report produced by agents from the Multidisciplinary Service Center of the São Paulo Public Defender’s Office the company Villa set up a partnership with the São Paulo Public Defender’s Office to prepare the “visual law” material for the complaint the following stand out: 1) compensate the victims for the serious human rights violations suffered; 2) investigate and punish those responsible for the human rights violations; and 3) reformulate the public security policy and respect the parameters for the use of force in prisons More than eight years after the events reported to the CAT and almost 31 years since the Carandiru Massacre serious human rights violations continue to occur systematically and chronically inside a prison system whose conditions have already been recognized as illegal and unconstitutional by Brazil’s Supreme Court. As such it is hoped that the Brazilian State will finally be held accountable for the way it treats its prison population 2025 - Conectas Human Rights - Postal Code 47 - São Paulo (SP) Brazil - ZIP: 01032-970 - Phone: +55 (11) 3884-7440 An 80-million-year-old bird skeleton could tell us more about how the unique intelligence of modern birds evolved. © Stephanie Abramowicz A remarkable fossil could transform our understanding of how the intelligence of modern birds evolved The 80-million-year-old complete skull of a bird is revealing more about the evolution of brain structure from the earliest known bird-like dinosaurs to modern birds A ‘one of a kind’ discovery could help solve one of the most enduring mysteries of vertebrate evolution – how birds developed their unique intelligence Researchers have identified an exceptionally well-preserved fossil bird dating back to the age of the dinosaurs The skull has been preserved almost intact which is rare for any fossil bird let alone for one so ancient The fossil bird, which has been named Navaornis hestiae, lived approximately 80 million years ago in what is now Brazil, before the mass extinction event that killed all non-avian dinosaurs It was discovered by palaeontologist William Nava Scientists used advanced micro-CT scanning technology to digitally reconstruct the bird’s skull and brain in remarkable detail The researchers say their discovery, reported in the journal Nature could help to determine the evolutionary origins of the modern avian brain This is because the fossil fills a 70-million-year gap between animals such as Archaeopteryx and modern day crows Professor Daniel Field, a palaeontologist and coauthor of the study, says, “Modern birds have some of the most advanced cognitive capabilities in the animal kingdom, comparable only with mammals.” “But scientists have struggled to understand how and when the unique brains and remarkable intelligence of birds evolved The field has been awaiting the discovery of a fossil exactly like this one.” Navaornis represents an intermediate step in evolution between the first bird-like dinosaurs As well as being exceptionally well-preserved, the discovery of this fossil has huge significance as the brain structure of Navaornis is almost exactly intermediate between Archaeopteryx and modern birds knowledge of this evolutionary transition was practically non-existent It shows that Navaornis had a larger cerebrum than Archaeopteryx suggesting it had more advanced cognitive capabilities than the earliest bird-like dinosaurs suggesting that it hadn’t yet evolved the complex flight control mechanisms of modern birds While Navaornis is one of the best-preserved bird fossils ever found from the Mesozoic Era the researchers believe more finds from Brazil could offer further insights into bird evolution but it’s a key piece in the puzzle of bird brain evolution,” says Daniel we’ve got a clearer view of the evolutionary changes that occurred between Archaeopteryx and today’s intelligent behaviourally complex birds like crows and parrots.” The researchers say it is only the first step in understanding the evolution of bird intelligence Navaornis lived in a dry area with slow-flowing creeks. It would have shared this environment with other small animals Novaornis would probably have looked a lot like a living bird It was about the size of a European starling But closer examination would have revealed features absent in living birds It is not certain what Navaornis would have been eating but its bill would have allowed it to eat a wide range of items like invertebrates and seeds The fossil was discovered in Presidente Prudente, in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. During the Late Cretaceous, this site was likely a dry area with slow-flowing creeks. Navaornis would have shared this environment with other small animals, like lizards and other birds, as well as large dinosaurs. Navaornis is a member of an extinct group of early birds called Enantiornithes, or the ‘opposite birds’. This group diverged from modern birds more than 130 million years ago, but had complex feathers and were likely competent flyers. However, the brain anatomy of Navaornis poses a new question. Without an expanded cerebellum, it is uncertain how these birds manged to control their flight. “This fossil represents a species at the midpoint along the evolutionary journey of bird cognition,” said Daniel. “Its cognitive abilities may have given Navaornis an advantage when it came to finding food or shelter, and it may have been capable of elaborate mating displays or other complex social behaviour.” Discover dinosaursFind out what our scientists are revealing about how dinosaurs looked, lived and behaved. Map Map We use cookies to give you the best online experience We use them to improve our website and content and to tailor our digital advertising on third-party platforms You can change your preferences at any time Paleontologists have unearthed the exquisitely preserved remains of Cretaceous enantiornithine bird in São Paulo state The extraordinary three-dimensional preservation of its skull allowed the researchers to digitally reconstruct the bird’s brain An artist’s impression of Navaornis hestiae The newly-identified enantiornithine species lived in what is now Brazil approximately 80 million years ago (Late Cretaceous epoch) the ancient bird was roughly the size of a starling The species had a larger cerebrum than Archaeopteryx “The brain structure of Navaornis hestiae is almost exactly intermediate between Archaeopteryx and modern birds — it was one of these moments in which the missing piece fits absolutely perfectly,” said Dr a researcher at the University of Cambridge The fossilized remains of Navaornis hestiae were recovered in 2016 from William’s Quarry at the locality of Presidente Prudente part of the Adamantina Formation in Brazil the site was likely a dry area with slow-flowing creeks which enabled the fossil’s exquisite preservation The extraordinary three-dimensional preservation allowed the paleontologists to use advanced micro-CT scanning technology to reconstruct the bird’s toothless and large-eyed skull and brain in remarkable detail The fossilized skeleton of Navaornis hestiae “This fossil is truly so one-of-a-kind that I was awestruck from the moment I first saw it to the moment I finished assembling all the skull bones and the brain which lets us fully appreciate the anatomy of this early bird,” Dr “Modern birds have some of the most advanced cognitive capabilities in the animal kingdom comparable only with mammals,” added University of Cambridge’s Professor Daniel Field “But scientists have struggled to understand how and when the unique brains and remarkable intelligence of birds evolved — the field has been awaiting the discovery of a fossil exactly like this one.” While the skull of Navaornis hestiae somewhat resembles that of a small pigeon at first glance closer inspection reveals that it is not a modern bird at all but instead a member of Enantiornithine birds diverged from modern birds more than 130 million years ago but had complex feathers and were likely competent flyers like modern birds the brain anatomy of Navaornis hestiae poses a new question: how did enantiornithines control their flight without the full suite of brain features observed in living birds which is a living bird’s spatial control center “This fossil represents a species at the midpoint along the evolutionary journey of bird cognition,” Professor Field said “Its cognitive abilities may have given Navaornis hestiae an advantage when it came to finding food or shelter and it may have been capable of elaborate mating displays or other complex social behavior.” “This discovery shows that some of the birds flying over the heads of dinosaurs already had a fully modern skull geometry more than 80 million years ago,” said Dr a researcher at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County The discovery is reported in a paper in the journal Nature Cretaceous bird from Brazil informs the evolution of the avian skull and brain Metrics details Brazil harbors the most cases of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) the disease has spread to the urban centers of the north and now the south and west of Brazil; it reached São Paulo state in the southeast in 1996 and Presidente Prudente in the western region in 2010 Our aim was to describe the spatiotemporal analysis and environmental risk factors associated with the dispersion of VL in Presidente Prudente An entomological survey was carried out from 2009 to 2015 A canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) serosurvey was performed from 2010 to 2015 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and indirect fluorescent antibodies (IFAT) Data from HVL cases were obtained from the Municipal Surveillance Epidemiology Center from 2013 to 2017 Data on water drainage and forest fragments were obtained from public platforms and irregular solid-waste deposits were determined by monthly inspections of the urban area Kernel density maps of the distribution of CVL were constructed Lutzomyia longipalpis sand flies were found in all seven areas of Presidente Prudente 40,309 dogs were serologically screened and 638 showed positive results six human cases were diagnosed with a mortality rate of 33.3% 56 points of irregular solid-waste deposits were identified Three different hotspots of CVL showed an increased distribution of vectors The use of tools that analyze the spatial distribution of vectors canine and human VL as environmental risk factors were essential to identifying the areas most vulnerable to the spread or maintenance of VL The results may help public health authorities in planning prevention and control measures to avoid expansion and future outbreaks Regional Network for Health Assistance 11 (RNHA 11) is composed of 45 municipalities and corresponds to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) mesoregion 8 This region is experiencing a rapid spread of VL both throughout the state and at the regional level there are many questions that have not yet been sufficiently addressed (i) Are other vectors involved in transmission in the municipalities where dogs and humans were infected but Lu (ii) Although diseases spread predominantly by contiguity with adjacent foci what is the impact of an extensive network of highways on the scattered disease areas (iii) Even with regular campaigns to stimulate knowledge attitudes and practices on the importance of cleaning gardens yards and vacant household lots and the correct disposal of household and solid waste why is the population remaining indifferent to these measures despite all the measures taken by Brazilian public health agencies in the control of VL the spread of the disease has expanded geographically Our aim was to uncover spatiotemporal patterns of CVL occurrence and to associate these patterns with environmental risk factors that can promote the dispersion of VL in Presidente Prudente an urban setting with recent transmission and few reported cases of HVL Location of Presidente Prudente in RNHA 11 of São Paulo state and road connection network This map shows the connection between the municipality of Presidente Prudente and well-known endemic regions such as Mato Grosso do Sul State and the municipalities of Andradina and Dracena Extensive highways link the VL endemic regions of Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo states to Presidente Prudente and from Presidente Prudente to the capital São Paulo and Paraná state Current shapefile databases and base maps were downloaded from the IBGE website longipalpis in the urban area of Presidente Prudente The entomological surveys and database collection for public health programmes use a specific division of the urban area The city of Presidente Prudente is divided into sectors that represent a number of households to be visited by one or two health agents in the field The areas are composed of up to five connecting sectors presenting similar characteristics of blocks/households This division is used for epidemiological surveys of diseases delimitation of sectors and areas was created by the State Health Secretary when the survey started in the urban area of Presidente Prudente the traps were installed in seven areas concomitantly When the vector was found in a particular area or sector The data collection process was performed by the Municipal Epidemiological Surveillance The kernel density estimation is a two-dimensional function that considers events within a region (defined by a radius) indicating the area of greater or lesser concentration of the events being analyzed to generate a grid in which each cell presents the value of the intensity where each point corresponds only to the occurrence of the event If s is an arbitrary location in region R and s1 then the intensity in s is estimated by a fourth-order function whose intensity estimator is expressed as a two-dimensional function of the positive serum samples was created to provide a proportional value of the intensity of samples per unit area it is possible to count all the points within a region of influence weighting them by the distance of each one from the location of interest based on the presence of increased numbers of infected dogs forest fragments and irregular solid waste deposits environmental risk factors that favor the development and maintenance of sand flies a sphere of influence of 1.2 km was established (represented by circles) The density results were stored in a raster file in grid format Ten-meter pixels were set as the spatial resolution using a scale of 1:1200 m Presidente Prudente is linked by an extensive network of highways. The Marechal Candido Rondon (SP 300) links two VL endemic regions: Três Lagoas, on the border of Mato Grosso do Sul state, and Araçatuba and Bauru in the northeastern region of São Paulo state, approximately 106 miles apart (Fig. 1) The Euclides Figueiredo highway (SP 563) links the VL endemic regions of Andradina and Dracena approximately 72 miles from Presidente Prudente in conjunction with João Ribeiro de Barros (SP 294) This transport network could promote vector invasion and pathogen transport SP 270 Raposo Tavares passes through Presidente Prudente toward the capital Geolocation of the individuals infected with VL in the urban area of Presidente Prudente The circles represent the location of their residence C and D at the top of the figure represent different urban features of the city B and D represents areas on the outskirts of Presidente Prudente *The location of the residence of VL infected individuals From 2010 to 2015, 40,309 dogs were serologically screened and 638 (1.6%) were found to be positive for CVL; 8002 (19.9%) were screened from 2010 to 2011, 20,650 (51.2%) from 2012 to 2013, and 11,657 (28.9%) from 2014 to 2015 (Fig. 4). Seroprevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis Procedure framework designed for the serum survey in Presidente Prudente Baseline: 40,309 dogs were surveyed from 2010 to 2015 The dogs were tested according to MoH recommendations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) indirect fluorescent antibodies (IFAT) and the rapid test dual-path platform Kernel density estimation of CVL seropositive dogs The hotspots represent areas where a higher density of seropositive dogs was observed The data were condensed over 2-year periods the lighter colors represent low density of CVL cases and the darker colors represent the presence of hotspots Two patients from the city of Presidente Prudente have died so far (mortality rate An average of 1.2 cases/year were observed (incidence = 0.000579% Kernel density of infected dogs and irregular solid waste deposits This map represents the hotspots of CVL in the biennium 2014–2015 and the 56 points of irregular solid waste deposits inspections were carried out monthly in the streets of the city of Presidente Prudente by the Mayor’s office Perspective view of Cambuci and José Rota neighborhoods and distance to the urban solid-waste management project (approximately 420 m) a lawsuit project prohibiting the euthanasia of dogs and cats without clinical signs of leishmaniasis has been discussed in Presidente Prudente and countrywide the kernel map was generated in the square locations of the households with positive dogs When the spatial distribution of CVL cases in the biennium 2014–2015 and the distribution of irregular solid waste deposits mapped in 2015 were analysed the densities of the CVL distributions were spatially close to most of the densities of the irregular solid waste deposits but not sufficient to generate a statistical association Assuming that the points of irregular solid waste deposits are probably constant in their spatial distribution over time the relationship in 2010–2011 and in 2012–2013 may be representative One of the main shortcomings when interpreting our data is the fact that we do not know the extent of veterinary follow-up and the number of dogs that progressed to chronic disease and subsequent euthanasia Although screening and confirmatory tests were applied the possibility of false-positive or false-negative results in the serological techniques used for dogs cannot be ruled out including difficulties in dealing with the control of vectors the controversial measure of culling infected dogs particularly inefficient control of domestic waste in the spread and maintenance of VL are shared globally CVL and HVL and the presence of environmental risk factors may be taken as a challenge for local and regional authorities Our findings may be replicated in other new endemic regions that have not only environmental but also cultural and socio-economic similarities The results may be useful to help public health authorities in planning prevention and control measures to avoid expansion of CVL and futures outbreaks of VL The data supporting the conclusions of this article are included within the article The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the present study are not publicly available Data on the entomology survey were generated within the Regional Entomology Laboratories of SUCEN of Presidente Prudente Data on CVL were generated within the Center of Zoonosis Control of Presidente Prudente and by the Adolfo Lutz Institute of Presidente Prudente Data on HVL were obtained from the Municipal Surveillance Epidemiology Center Center of Regional Laboratory of the Adolfo Lutz Institute of Presidente Prudente V Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics Visceral Leishmaniasis Control and Surveillance Programme World Health Organization. Visceral leishmaniasis. 2014. http://www.who.int/gho/neglected_diseases/leishmaniasis/en/index.html# Changes in the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil from 2001 to 2014 Urban parasitology: visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil Visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Sao Paulo Centro de Vigilância Epidemiológica. Manual de vigilância e controle da leishmaniose visceral Americana do Estado de São Paulo. 2006. ftp://ftp.cve.saude.sp.gov.br/doc_tec/zoo/lva06_manual.pdf The shadows of a ghost: a survey of canine leishmaniasis in Presidente Prudente and its spatial dispersion in the western region of São Paulo state an emerging focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil Dispersal of Lutzomyia longipalpis and expansion of canine and human visceral leishmaniasis in São Paulo State Clinical characteristics and spatial distribution of visceral leishmaniasis in children in São Paulo state: an emerging focus of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil The role of environment in the spreading of visceral leishmaniosis in western Sao Paulo Control of visceral leishmaniasis in Latin America—a systematic review Canine visceral leishmaniasis: seroprevalence and risk factors in Cuiabá Relative risk of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil: a spatial analysis in urban area Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Estimativas populacionais. 2016. http://www.ibge.gov.br/estadosat/perfil.php?sigla=pr The distribution pattern of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the peridomiciles of a sector with canine and human visceral leishmaniasis transmission in the municipality of Dracena Rio de Janeiro: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz; 2003 Evaluation of change in canine diagnosis protocol adopted by the visceral leishmaniasis control program in Brazil and a new proposal for diagnosis Canine visceral leishmaniosis: a comparative analysis of the EIE-leishmaniosevisceral-canina-Bio-Manguinhos and the IFI-leishmaniose-visceral-canina-Bio-Manguinhos kits Canine visceral leishmaniasis: study of methods for the detection of IgG in serum and eluate samples Comparison between ELISA using total antigen and immunochromatography with antigen rK39 in the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis Resíduos sólidos urbanos: depósitos irregulares no munícipio de Passo Fundo Selecting map projections in minimizing area distortions in GIS applications The geographical epidemiology of ocular diseases: some principles and methods Interval estimation for a binomial proportion (with discussion) A decade bibliometric analysis of global research on leishmaniasis in Web of Science database Measuring the burden of neglected tropical diseases: the global burden of disease framework Socioeconomic inequalities in neglected tropical diseases: a systematic review a city in the western region of the State of São Paulo that is endemic with visceral leishmaniasis Ecological parameters of the (S)-9-methylgermacrene-B population of the Lutzomyia longipalpis complex in a visceral leishmaniasis area in São Paulo state Spatial analysis of American visceral leishmaniasis in Mato Grosso do Sul State Introduction and expansion of human American visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Sao Paulo More than the eyes can see: the worrying scenario of canine leishmaniasis in the Brazilian side of the triple border Current status on prevention and treatment of canine leishmaniasis American visceral leishmaniasis: disease control strategies in Dracena microregion in Alta Paulista Knowledge of the population about visceral leishmaniasis transmission in endemic areas near the banks of the Mossoró River in northeastern Brazil and practices related to Kala-azar in a rural area of Bihar state Effect of community participation on household environment to mitigate dengue transmission in Thailand Ecological study and risk mapping of leishmaniasis in an endemic area of Brazil based on a geographical information systems approach Canine visceral leishmaniasis in Barra de Guaratiba How effective is dog culling in controlling zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis politics and ethics behind this public health policy Sandflies in an urban area of transmission of visceral leishmaniasis in midwest Brazil Characterization and speculations on the urbanization of visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil Epidemiological aspects and spatial distribution of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic area in northeastern Brazil Epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus-visceral leishmaniasis-co-infection Download references This study was funded by Oeste Paulista University (Grant no Infectious Diseases and Immunology Department Center for Biomedical Sciences and Regional Laboratory All authors read and approved the final manuscript Canine samples were collected with the written informed consent of owners Ethical approval was obtained from the Adolfo Lutz/Pasteur Institute Ethics Committee on the Use of Animals The study is for scientific research purposes and is in compliance with Federal Law no and in accordance with regulations outlined by The National Council for Animal Experimentation Control (Conselho Nacional para Controle da Experimentação Animal The manuscript does not contain data on any individual person in any form The authors declare that they have no competing interests Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-019-3496-6 Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Bruno Reis and João Corazza have been working together since 2016 and previously served as ACDs at the São Paulo-based agency Africa. We spent two minutes with Bruno and João to learn more about their background their creative inspirations and recent work they’ve admired 2 Minutes With is our regular interview series where we chat with creatives about their backgrounds, creative inspirations, work they admire and more. For more about 2 Minutes With, or to be considered for the series, please get in touch. Shahnaz Mahmud is a contributing writer to Muse by Clios Search MORE RESULTS where we make sugar and also ethanol fuel for cars I meet with the partners and owners of the company once a month Q: How much does your job allow you to rope and was the runner-up Resistol Rookie of the Year in the all-around I won the all-around at Sisters (Oregon) and the team roping at Omak (Washington) in 2000 and the calf roping at Sheridan in 2001 or ’02 I also placed at the Cheyenne Frontier Days when they team roped muleys A: I made my first trip to America when I was 14 Joe put on a roping school in my hometown in Brazil and he told me if I won that second jackpot he’d give me a free month of roping with him in Huntsville then with Brett Fleming from Montana in 2002 I started horse showing with Rafael Paoliello who was already showing at the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) shows in Brazil and developed a breeding and training program using horses I brought to Brazil from the U.S at Brazil’s biggest rodeo in Barretos in the 1990s He needed a partner on the last day of the rodeo I always stopped at the Yates place in Pueblo when I was rodeoing in the U.S Q: Tell us about some of the successes you’re most proud of A: We had a couple of our mares win world championships at the World Show last year Weavers Playgem won the 2018 senior heading with Dustin Rogers rode Shine Blue Brandy to the 2018 junior heading world championship Weavers Playgem was also the 2016 amateur world champion heel horse I rode my stallion Mr Fritz Wood to amateur world championships in the heeling and tie-down roping and won the reserve amateur all-around that year Q: Sounds like roping has played a huge role in your life I started roping my first year of college in Brazil in 1992 After a few times in the practice pen I decided bulldogging was not for me I started heeling two or three years later Q: Compare rodeo life to the horse show world A: Rodeo is for when you’re younger and want to travel a lot No more all-night drives to rope one steer won the junior heading on last year from Dean Tuftin two or three years ago—Shiners Lena Chex—and brought him back to Brazil I’ve been shipping frozen semen to the U.S. Q: How often do you come to the States these days a few times a year to qualify horses for the World Show But I need to have a hip replacement this November I’ll rope at our Brazilian rope horse futurity in October Q: What’s the difference between a good jackpot horse the good ones are basically the same and you can win on them anywhere You can rodeo on a really good show heel horse The head horses get a little closer and set a little more at the horse shows Q: How big a deal is team roping in Brazil Me and Rafael started a rope company here in Brazil—Tomahawk Ropes—and we sell almost 5,000 ropes a month There are thousands of ropings here in a year now They’re mostly lower-numbered ropings and not many opens Q: How big a deal is Junior Nogueira in Brazil and his dad (Lucinei) was a famous cowboy in Brazil and I’ve roped a lot over the years with both Junior and his dad Junior and I talk about once a week—in Portuguese Sign up for news and updates from The Team Roping Journal and Equine Network This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again Temperatures can vary by as much as 10 degrees Celsius between areas covered by concrete and neighborhoods with more vegetation Léo Ramos Chaves / Revista Pesquisa FAPESP Greenhouse gas emissions are the primary reason why Earth’s climate has been getting progressively warmer since the mid-nineteenth century Since the beginning of the Second Industrial Revolution the planet’s average temperature has risen by around 1.1 degrees Celsius (ºC) the urban setting currently inhabited by most of the global population intensifies the extra heat created by climate change According to estimates by the United Nations (UN) more people have lived in towns and cities than in the countryside since 2007 a land occupation dynamic that has likely never occurred before in the history of humanity More than 55% of the planet’s 8 billion inhabitants now live in urban areas In many countries the percentage is much higher areas with fewer trees and vegetation get even hotter forming what have been dubbed urban heat islands the phenomenon was most noticed and studied in large cities with millions of inhabitants heat islands occur in towns and cities of any size The temperature difference between a tree-lined neighborhood and another where the ground is completely impermeable regularly reaches 5 ºC with peak disparities of 10 ºC at certain times of day Together with colleagues from around Brazil Margarete Cristiane de Costa Trindade Amorim of São Paulo State University (UNESP) has been studying heat islands in small and medium-sized Brazilian cities such as Florianópolis (half a million residents) Sinop in Mato Grosso (200,000 inhabitants) and Rancharia in São Paulo (30,000 residents) “Although small and medium-sized towns have less pollution and much fewer people crammed into a small area than metropolises the impact of heat islands is still alarming,” says Amorim is a comparison of the effect of heat islands in two medium-sized cities located in different climate zones 55% of the global population lives in urban areas a city of 230,000 inhabitants in the state of São Paulo that is home to the UNESP campus where the geographer works a city in western France with 220,000 residents was used as an example of an urban area with a temperate climate Amorim monitored temperature patterns in different areas of Presidente Prudente using 26 sensors that measured the temperature every day in 26 different locations of which 5 were classified as rural and 21 as urban Colleagues from the University of Rennes did the same in the French city which has an average rainfall of 600 millimeters per year half the amount typically seen in western São Paulo The power of the heat island effect was roughly double in Presidente Prudente than in Rennes as shown in an article published by the Brazilian and French colleagues in the journal Urban Climate in July 2021 there can be as much as a 9 or 10 °C difference in nighttime temperatures between an urban area and a rural one in Presidente Prudente,” says Amorim the difference rarely exceeds 5 ºC.” Asphalt and concrete absorb more heat than vegetation and take longer to release this thermal energy much of the day’s heat is only released late into the night the thermal disparity between different areas of Presidente Prudente was around 3 ºC One of the factors in the magnitude of the heat island effect is land use in urban areas almost devoid of any exposed soil or vegetation between houses is a common urban feature in Brazil that exacerbates the heat experienced in Brazilian cities Rodrigo Cunha / Revista Pesquisa FAPESPAfter carrying out a review of the scientific literature researchers from the Federal University of ABC (UFABC) the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) proposed a change to the methodology used to classify climate zones within cities due to the heat island effect The recommendation was presented in a scientific article published in the journal Remote Sensing earlier this year As well as taking into account the number of trees and vegetation the researchers advocated for the adoption of remote sensing data to determine the areas most critically affected by the heat island effect “The geometry of the buildings influences air circulation and can generate more or less shade,” says UFABC geographer Victor Fernandez Nascimento “This can increase or reduce the heat island effect in an area.” Groups of very tall buildings built very closely together or narrow streets can reduce wind circulation and increase the sensation of heat in certain parts of cities Wider streets with lower buildings and punctuated by trees and gardens allow the wind to blow through the city and alleviate the harshness of the climate “Global climate change greatly impacts cities We need to rethink our approach to urbanization,” emphasizes Nascimento Scientific articles FERNANDES, R. et al. Local Climate Zones to Identify Surface Urban Heat Islands: A Systematic Review. Remote Sensing. vol. 15, no. 4. feb. 4, 2023. AMORIM, M. C. C. T. et al. Day and night surface and atmospheric heat islands in a continental and temperate tropical environment © Revista Pesquisa FAPESP - All rights reserved Reality of 'beautiful game' turns ugly in BrazilAPPRESIDENTE PRUDENTE Brazil (AP) — The talented midfielder at small Brazilian club Presidente Prudente rushes to finish his rounds delivering food for a local restaurant so he can make it to practice in time His teammate has to leave training quickly so he can get to his parent's diner in time to prepare pizzas Neymar's massive contract or Brazil's powerful national team Professional soccer in the World Cup host nation is struggling with lower-division teams unable to play enough games players forced to take multiple jobs and even top-tier teams competing in mostly empty stadiums The best players leave quickly for offers to play in other nations More than 70 percent of Brazil's nearly 700 professional teams play only about three months a year meaning nearly 12,000 players are out of a job for most of the season the best teams are forced to play up to 85 games a year Presidente Prudente's season started in April and will end in mid-June The team did not advance past the group stage of the fourth division in Sao Paulo and will play about 10 matches the entire year It's hard to find opponents and difficult to pay for travel "The calendar is the biggest problem," Presidente Prudente president Mateus Grosso told The Associated Press at the club's headquarters "Teams have to hire players for at least three months but many times they may not get play for that long the entire year." The debts of Brazilian clubs increased by nearly 75 percent in the last five years and they owe more than $1 billion to the government alone according to numbers from a players' movement created last year Of the nearly 20,000 professional players in Brazil Clubs are run by unqualified directors and federations are influenced by politics leading to bad decisions and poor planning affecting everyone involved in the sport stadiums are empty and some of the country's most traditional tournaments have lost their flair played in front of 375 fans in a Rio de Janeiro state championship match earlier this year "Professional football in Brazil is a world where only 30 percent of the teams are at a high level and can enjoy the glamour of the sport The reality is a lot different than what it's seen on television," said Arthur Vinicius Marcelo the football coordinator at Presidente Prudente and also the club's physical trainer "Not everybody knows what most of the players have to go through "I wouldn't be able to provide for my family only by playing football," said 24-year-old Presidente Prudente midfielder Rogerio Salvato Jr I make more money by delivering takeout than I do by playing football." based in a city by the same name about 560 kilometers (350 miles) from Sao Paulo receives $6,200 annually from the Sao Paulo state federation for playing in the fourth division The team's monthly payroll is about $9,000 and the funds to keep the club running come from sponsorships from a local supermarket and a local tool store Grosso said there are also investments made from his own family "We contribute with whatever we can," he said "The lack of funds is a big problem because we can't dream big if we can't have a decent infrastructure for the players." Presidente Prudente plays in front of fewer than 400 fans in most of its matches at the city's 45,000-capacity stadium Players go to practice on a Volkswagen "Kombi" van which has one of its doors broken But it's not just the small teams that are struggling Rio de Janeiro powerhouses Botafogo and Flamengo both had problems paying salaries this year recently decided to use a salary cap and is only hiring players on production-based contracts an unprecedented move for top Brazilian teams the nation's top clubs play 40 percent more than Premier League teams The packed calendar forces teams to use second-stringers in many matches It's one of the reasons the once glamorous regional tournaments have lost their importance At the semifinals of the Rio de Janeiro state championship earlier this year at the Maracana the stadium which will host nearly 80,000 people in the World Cup final fewer than 4,000 people were in hand to see Flamengo beat Cabofriense In a Brazilian Cup match between Nautico and America The average attendance in Brazil is about 12,900 less than in leagues in Australia and the United States The "Common Sense" movement has included minor player protests and a threat to strike "We want to try to help the thousands of players who are facing difficulties in football," said former Brazil world champion goalkeeper Dida "We are in the elite of football but we know what most of the other players are going through." Among the movement's goals is to develop "financial fair play," which would be a series of measures aimed at obligating clubs to pay salaries on time and abide to local labor laws But the group's biggest complaint is about the local football calendar which is too long for the top clubs and too short for the smaller teams The Brazilian calendar is opposite to the European The first three months of the year are reserved for championships within the states and the Brazilian league is played from April through December Only about 60 teams are guaranteed to play matches the entire year while nearly 600 clubs spend most of the season without playing official competitions After the threats from the "Common Sense," the Brazilian football federation announced that it would start making changes to the calendar next year The movement also suggested the creation of a fifth division in the Brazilian league which would allow smaller teams across the country to play more matches against other small clubs "If we don't play the entire year we can't get ourselves organized we can't have a business plan," said Juninho the former Brazil midfielder who is the general manager of Ituano a team that stunned some of Sao Paulo's top clubs by winning the state championship this year Ituano played from January until April in the state tournament but now it will only play again in the end of July in the country's fourth division President Prudente players will be out of a job by then It's what they did when Palmeiras hosted a Brazilian league match against Botafogo in Presidente Prudente last week They were among the nearly 7,000 people in attendance at the Prudentao stadium maybe one day it will be me playing there with those guys," Silva said Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni The 25-metre-long ‘Austroposeidon magnificus’ belonged to the Titanosaur group of herbivores and was about six to eight metres tall Brazilian scientists have announced the discovery of what they say is the largest dinosaur ever found in South America’s biggest country. The director of Rio de Janeiro’s Earth Sciences Museum, Diogenes Campos, said on Wednesday he named the 25-metre-long dinosaur “Austroposeidon magnificus.” It belonged to the Titanosaur group of herbivores that had large bodies, long necks and tails and relatively small skulls, he said. Read moreHe said the titanosaur was about six to eight metres tall and lived in what is now Brazil about 70 million years ago Fossils of the dinosaur’s neck and spinal vertebrae were found near the city of Presidente Prudente in Sao Paulo state in the 1950s by paleontologist Llewellyn Ivor Price who died in 1980 without being acknowledged for the discovery said Price had so many other specimens to identify that he did not have time to get to Austroposeidon magnificus The bones weren’t studied until recent years Titanosaurs lived during the Cretaceous Period in areas that today are in South America Skipping the morning meal stimulates obesityLéo Ramos Obese children and adolescents often skip meals because they lack proper eating habits or because they are overweight This is not a recommended practice – and skipping breakfast is particularly unhealthy A study conducted by researchers from Paulista State University (Unesp) from Oeste Paulista University (Unoeste) and from the State University of Londrina (UEL) has indicated that skipping a meal could be related to higher levels of glucose and lipids in children The study analyzed 174 sedentary and obese children and adolescents (80 boys and 94 girls) in the State of São Paulo (Journal of Pediatrics Less than one half of the boys and girls ate breakfast the meal they skipped most frequently (only 10% of them skipped lunch and about 20% skipped dinner) The researchers believe that children who skip breakfast spend an overly long time span without eating This bad habit alters the neuroendocrine mechanism and stimulates the stomach’s production of ghrelin excess production of ghrelin is believed to stir up their appetite during other meals they will possibly have higher levels of sugar and fat in their blood than the blood fat and sugar levels of people who eat three meals a day The bottom line is that skipping breakfast could be a factor leading to obesity Study identifies new types of narcotics distributed under the ecstasy name EDUARDO CESARYoung Paulistas who fuel their escapades on pills of the synthetic drug ecstasy might be buying a pig in a poke A study conducted by the São Paulo Techno-Scientific Police Authority confirmed that less than half of synthetic drugs (specifically 44.7%) seized in the state contain the active ingredient in 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine The survey identified 20 different active substances in the pills seized The study may be used to help medical teams provide the correct treatment for people who have landed in the hospital because of their use of this kind of drug It was conducted by criminal expert José Luiz da Costa at the Forensic Toxicology Unit of the São Paulo Technical-Scientific Police Authority in partnership with biochemist Rodrigo Resende at the Biological Sciences Institute at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) The main goal of the project was to investigate the active substances present in pills sold under the name of ecstasy “We analyzed samples from 150 different police seizures in the São Paulo metropolitan area between August 2011 and July 2012,” he says we were able to gain a greater understanding of the synthetic drug trafficking routes and strengthen our efforts to prevent diagnose and treat acute intoxication caused by these drugs.” MDMA was developed by German chemist Anton Köllisch (1888-1916) for the pharmaceutical company Merck the impact this substance would have on the club culture led by disco music drug-filled parties beginning in the 1980s The drug’s “success” in this environment is attributable to some of its effects on the human body including an increase in the brain of serotonin which are substances that promote euphoria and have a disinhibiting effect that render users more sociable That’s why ecstasy has been nicknamed the “love drug.” Disastrous effects Like all drugs that are abused and it can cause serious damage to people who take it dehydration (which is why they have to drink water) hyponatremia (drop in the sodium concentration in blood which causes swelling in the brain) and hypertension When ecstasy is ingested with alcoholic beverages there is a risk of cardiorespiratory shock These effects are known and treatable when the victim receives first aid EDUARDO KNAPP / FOLHAPRESSReal and dummy ecstasy at the São Paulo Techno-Scientific PoliceEDUARDO KNAPP / FOLHAPRESS when someone believes he took ecstasy and reports that to the doctor he actually took a different drug without knowing and they no longer know what they’re taking,” says Costa This increases the danger because medical providers may not give appropriate treatment The results of the survey conducted by Da Costa are critical for this reason Among the 20 substances identified by the study but more potent and with a longer lasting impact methamphetamine leads to dependency and a user profile very similar to that of cocaine Costa also detected substances like 2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenethylamine (2C-B) pyrovalerone and trifluoromethylphenilpiperazine (TFMPP) were also identified but the vast majority have effects similar to those of MDMA – otherwise This is where the traffickers show their savvy which was pure and came from Europe (mainly Holland and Belgium) dominated the market for synthetic drugs in Brazil in the 1990s when it arrived there under pressure from law enforcement and the legal system the large producers and traffickers changed their strategy They began to replace MDMA with other substances that had a similar effect in pills that were the same color and shape as the original formulation but under the ecstasy label “This substitution of active ingredients happens almost every six months,” says Costa the substances in vogue are synthetic cathinones a new group of drugs that includes mephedrone also known as “bath salts.” They are similar to natural cathinone an alkaloid found in the shrub called khat (Catha edulis) which is native to the tropical regions of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula with effects similar to those of ecstasy and amphetamines Diagnostic photonics The findings of this study inspired researchers to consider developing a diagnostic kit to detect the drugs taken by users the traffickers’ strategies represent a challenge By the time a kit to detect a certain substance is ready that substance has probably already been replaced with something else This means that the kits could be used for conventional drugs like cocaine marijuana and their derivatives along with MDMA and its derivatives Resende launched an effort to develop a kit using nanotechnology and Raman spectroscopy a high resolution photonic technique that in just a few seconds can provide structural and chemical information on almost any material Resende explains that this technique is applied directly to the sample to be analyzed without the need for any special preparation of the material the surface of the material is not changed in any way “But we had to abandon the project because we ran out of money and we could no longer draw on our own funds,” says Resende Costa says the way forward is for emergency medical toxicology teams to stay in close touch with technical-scientific police authorities so that they are aware of which drugs are being seized and hence know what are the “in drugs” right now Project Assessment of the Composition of Synthetic Drugs Seized in the State of São Paulo: Implications for Toxicology and Police Intelligence (No 2011/06849-2); Grant mechanism: Regular Line of Research Project Award; Principal investigator: José Luiz da Costa (Techno-Scientific Police Authority); Investment R$46,260.70 Scientific Article Togni, L. R. et al. The variability of ecstasy tablets composition in Brazil Motiviation & PurposePassion doesn’t always come easily Discover your inner drive and find your true purpose in life Sleep may be the most powerful tool in our well-being arsenal tools and strategies for a better relationship with your money Luciana Grandi Lourenção was seconds away from one of the biggest triumphs of her life The personal trainer was mere steps from claiming the top spot on the podium at the Presidente Prudente Half Marathon in Brazil But before she could reach the finish line her husband showed up on the sidelines and pushed their two daughters into her path she deliberately sidestepped her kids and ran She's winning the hearts and praise of millions of people for putting herself first Emocionante chegada da campeã da 2.a Meia Maratona @ladeirasdapenha @lu_grandi seguida de perto pela vice campeã @leticia.dermatologista In a now-viral TikTok video Luciana thunders down the hill towards the yellow tape The one she likely spent the past few months (if not years) rigorously training for This is why it's so dumbfounding that just as she is about to realize HER DREAM Rather than stand back and watch her claim her well-earned victory her husband decides now would be the perfect time to thrust their children into her limelight to give their mom a celebratory hug shrugging his shoulders with his arms up as if saying Instead of cheering with her or running up to give her a big hug (NOW would be the time) he appears flabbergasted that she didn't stop for her children Luciana did apparently say that she and her husband had pre-planned that their daughters would finish the marathon with her (according to some commenters) when she realized she was only a few seconds ahead of the next competitor Luciana won the race by only 20 seconds despite her husband's extreme lack of good judgement celebrating it with a man who was just as excited about it as she was — her trainer who can be seen hugging her and smiling in the video (and giving her husband some serious side-eye as he ran past.) the video has garnered over 13 million views and amassed more than 30,000 comments People had a lot to say and not necessarily about Luciana's win What really got people talking was her husband and the fact that he literally could not wait a few seconds and let her have her glory "The fact that he is confused is wild!!" wrote one person "She worked so hard why would he slow her down when she was on the way to winning," said another "How did that make sense to him?" another asked she’s being timed…wait like 30 more seconds..wasn’t that obvious?" "Before the finish line is CRAZY," said someone else a bear wouldn’t do this," another quipped overwhelmingly stood with Luciana and her choice to keep going "The way she swerved the family was incredible For ONCE can we NOT interrupt a mom and let her have her darn deserved MOMENT!" "This is a reallllly good example of the subtle way that some husbands treat their wives serious commitments outside of family life "And this is what women mean when they say they’re a human being NOT JUST A MOM!! the reality is that we don't know why her husband chose to do what he did Luciana is a mother and a wife but despite what *some* NFL players may think her life didn't start when she became a mother One of the hardest parts of motherhood is leaving it behind It becomes an integral part of our identity And it's important for our kids to see it To bear witness to the fact that not everything revolves around them To teach them that it's okay to strap on your running shoes first her daughters won something even greater; the knowledge that their mother is a strong capable of accomplishing great things — on her own And she refuses to be reduced to one singular role Luciana did end up sharing her win with her daughters — when the time was right for her. She posted a picture of the two of them on the podium with her on Instagram Jennifer Hudson faced a horrific family tragedy Hudson's mother and brother were brutally attacked in their family home and her seven-year-old nephew was kidnapped What followed was a heart-wrenching manhunt to rescue her nephew and seek justice against the man who took her family Hudson speaks from the heart in this video on what happened to her family and how she was able to move forward Read here: 5 Personality Traits that Successful Entrepreneurs Value More than all Others Read here: How To Find Your Passion Read here: Dangerous Misconceptions About Entrepreneurship That You Should Know About Read here: How to Build a Brand in the Digital Age — An Entrepreneur’s Starter Guide Read here: 6 Things You Need to Know If You Want to Be an Entrepreneur Read here: The 3 Questions No Entrepreneur Wants to Ask (but You Must) Read here: With Grace and Grit: A Guide to Sticking it Out for Entrepreneurs Read here: Why Entrepreneurship Is an Effective Path to Happiness (and How to Get Started) Read here: Entrepreneurship and the Architecture of Success: Setting Smart Long-Term Goals Read here: 5 Hacks Highly Successful Entrepreneurs Use to Stay Laser-Focused This seems to be a more brazen suggestion as there is all sorts of controversy surrounding this new TOOL that has been released technology is constantly improving and just as the phone became an essential part of life If you want to truly level up your game you need to learn how to do the unexpected before its expected of you Read here: How to efficiently make prompts and utilize artificial intelligence Stay organized and boost productivity with Trello With its easy-to-use interface and powerful integrations Read here: The main site and number one recommendation for team organization Create stunning visuals effortlessly with Canva With easy-to-use templates and powerful tools Read here: Make Advertising Easy And Effortless Unlock powerful insights with Google Analytics and understand user behavior to optimize your online presence Make data-driven decisions and grow your business with ease Start using Google Analytics today to boost your success Read here: Google Analytics Lets You Look Into Your Weak Points And Work On Them Simplify your social media management with Hootsuite and manage posts across multiple platforms all in one place and streamline your strategy with powerful analytics Try Hootsuite today and elevate your social presence Read here: Schedule Your Posts And Manage Your Releases, Get To The Top And Stay There These quotes remind us of the joy of being part of something bigger than ourselves. Are you sure you want to post this? We're asking people to rethink comments that seem similar to others that have been reported or downvoted this warning is a mistake Continue with Facebook Please use a standard web browser (like Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge) to log in with Google or Facebook. Social logins don’t work in some apps. or Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account Please enter your email to complete registration Your account isn't active yet. We've emailed you an activation link. Please check your inbox and click the link to activate your account 0, text: success" style="display: none;"> For Bored Panda Members Only, Join Our Weekly Newsletter Yes, subscribe me to Bored Panda Weekly Newsletter! Continue × Join the Fun! Join 1.2 million Panda readers who get the best art, memes, and fun stories every week! You're on the list! Expect to receive your first email very soon! People are absolutely fuming overa man who interrupted his partner’s marathon by shoving their two children right in front of the finish line. Many have since used the questionable gesture as an example of how society often expects women to sacrifice their dreams for motherhood A Brazilian reporter took to her TikTok on May 5 to post a video of the moment personal trainer Luciana Grandi Lourenção ran toward the finish line of the Presidente Prudente Half Marathon in Brazil. The clip, which has amassed 11.2 million views, showed that Luciana was about to finish first, approaching a large yellow ribbon, when who is assumed to be her husband stopped her mid-run advancing with their two children from the sidelines It is unclear whether the man had any particular intentions of allowing his kids to almost ruin their mom’s half-marathon win but Luciana was filmed ultimately running wide avoiding her kids to speed up and claim victory one of the little girls was seen chasing after her mom while getting in the way of other runners finishing the race the video quickly caught glimpses of the man in the background after Luciana’s win In fact, the dad’s lack of cheer and what could be argued as his general attempt to ruin his partner’s triumph have not been lost on viewers who quickly came to Luciana’s defense “This is a reallllly good example of the subtle way that some husbands treat their wives’ serious commitments outside of family life or just ‘for fun,’” a TikTok user commented A person exclaimed: “WE’RE MORE THAN MOTHERS!” Someone wrote: “She worked so hard why would he slow her down when she was on the way to winning.” “The fact that he is confused is wild!!” an observer noted Someone else penned: “I know he started an argument about that later.” Image credits: ladeirasdapenha An observer added: “I love that she seemed unbothered by his behavior [and] was still able to finish and celebrate.” “He’s trying to remind her that him and the kids is all that matters And I’m glad she chose herself!” an additional commenter stated A netizen added: “How did that make sense to him she’s being timed…wait like 30 more seconds..wasn’t that obvious?” A separate individual chimed in: “Before the finish line is CRAZY.” ABaby Centerstudy published in 2023 found that nearly 1 in 4 moms (22%) said they identified as “just mom” and that they had lost touch with their identity outside of parenting. Moreover, moms struggled to find time for themselves and a third (34%) said they put caring for themselves at the bottom of their priority list You've successfully subscribed to newsletters Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing! Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! I’m a journalist who works as Bored Panda’s News Team's Senior Writer. The news team produces stories focused on pop culture. Whenever I get the opportunity and the time, I investigate and produce my own exclusive stories, where I get to explore a wider range of topics. Some examples include: “Doberman Tobias the viral medical service dog” and “The lawyer who brought rare uterine cancer that affects 9/11 victims to light”. You've got a tip? email me: andrea.o@boredpanda.com I am employed as a Visual Editor in the news team. I make sure you have the best pictures near the most interesting text. In general all day I am looking at all you favourite celebrities facies and I am geting payed for it! Jesus christ, what an idiot. You don't shove kids into the path of *runners finishing a race*. You don't shove kids into the path of ANYTHING except perhaps someone throwing hundred-dollar bills. 🙄 Whatta maroon. The kids ran toward their mother, a completely normal reaction on their part. The runners weren't close together. And their mother shouldn't have ignored them so completely. This moment is one to share with her family. The moment to share is from the OTHER side of the finish line. It wasn't that much further away. She was in FIRST, not 23rd and not even the best parent in the world should have to sacrifice that honor to placate their husband's jealousy and emotional abuse. Absolutely not. You're so wrong here you can probably see Right from the back side. Idiot. Doesn't he know that what he did is dangerous for his wife and his kids? Also, what are they doing on the track? And why not wait for those few seconds until she crossed the finish line? Flowers, hugs, cheers, high-fives...they come after the finish line. What a man. So ridiculous. And then to act all surprised that she didn't stop to hug the kids. Oh he was banking on that. He was hoping she'd feel too guilty to run by without hugging her kids. Either that or he's incredibly stupid. Wrong honey. The wife posted an update. This was planned. She was in on it because she didn't think she'd win. But she was winning so didn't stop, hence his look of confusion. He's the one that got her in the race kiddo. She missed sign up and he got her in. Now apologize. What a condescending and obnoxious person you are. Even if what you're saying is true, what happened to COMMON SENSE? Look how close behind her the next runner up was. They cross the finish line within seconds of each other. He should have seen that and pulled the kids back. She ran the marathon, a few extra seconds added to the time wouldn't have hurt her. This wasn't the Olympics. She ran the marathon a few extra seconds added to the time wouldn't have hurt her 9comments 32 points 0comments 19 points 0comments 21 points 1comment 28 points 5comments 30 points 3comments 18 points 3comments 28 points 3comments 21 points 12comments 36 points 1comment 19 points A man is now being labeled as a bad husband after he bombarded his wife with their children right as she was about to finish a marathon In a video posted to TikTok by the user @sinomar_reporter on May 5, the video shows moments before the wife finishes her half-marathon in Presidente Prudente the man can be seen leading their little girls onto the pavement where his wife was running the mother decides to run around the children and finishes the race on her own without them by her side screams with excitement over what she just achieved the man appears to be confused as to why his wife brushed off their children to finish the race READ MORE: Family Pranks Dad Returning Home with Hilarious Airport Sign People in the comments section of the post criticized the husband for his actions with many of them pointing to the fact that he took away from his wife's achievement "He acting confused is WIIIIILD," one user commented "WE’RE MORE THAN MOTHERS!" shared another person "I know he started an argument about that later," someone else suggested or just “'or fun,' a person said "He’s trying to remind her that him and the kids is all that matters And I’m glad she chose herself!" a separate TikTok user added she’s being timed…wait like 30 more seconds..wasn’t that obvious?" questioned another The video has since been viewed over 11 million times The video has garnered nearly 12 million views.\nRead More In a video posted to TikTok by the user @sinomar_reporter on May 5, the video shows moments before the wife finishes her half-marathon in Presidente Prudente READ MORE: Family Pranks Dad Returning Home with Hilarious Airport Sign The video has since been viewed over 11 million times.