Continuous input of plastic litter in ocean and coastal environments achieved alarming levels that are exposing new settings in natural systems. While novel plastic debris pollution, with rock-like appearance, has been reported worldwide, fundamentally geological analyses are still lacking. We surveyed the first occurrence of multiple associated plastic debris on a single outcrop located in a remote site (Trindade Island, SE Atlantic Ocean). Even though all plastic debris forms consisted of polypropylene and polyethylene, through a sedimentary approach (cross section, macro, and micro analyses) distinct types were identified. We detected plastiglomerates, geogenic analogous to conglomerates, divided into in situ and clastic types, and formed over beach sediment. We identified plastistones as a new type with homogeneous composition (lacking incorporated materials), geogenic-looking igneous rocks, divided into in situ and clastic types, and formed over rock surfaces. We linked pyroplastics, geogenic analogous to clasts, to clastic plastiglomerates/plastistones, therefore representing clastic types of plastic debris forms. This association was correlated in a depositional system model, which suggests that plastic debris forms are rock synthetic equivalents in which humans act as depositional and post-depositional agents.

In this chapter, we consider the linear radiative transfer model for a passive medium with no intrinsic thermal contributions. The domain is a one-dimensional slab for which reflectivity and transmissivity are determined from the total in- and outgoing radiative fluxes across the boundaries. Further, we assume isotropic scattering in the medium and no emissivity and reflectivity on the boundaries but thermal radiation from the latter and an isotropic incoming radiation from an external source. Our developments are based on the discrete ordinate method in the angular variable and a modified version of the finite volume method in the spatial variable. The solution is obtained by an iterative method, and we present a necessary condition for its convergence based on norm operations.

The direct carbonate procedure for accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) dating of submilligram samples of biogenic carbonate without graphitization is becoming widely used in a variety of studies. We compare the results of 153 paired direct carbonate and standard graphite 14C determinations on single specimens of an assortment of biogenic carbonates. A reduced major axis regression shows a strong relationship between direct carbonate and graphite percent Modern Carbon (pMC) values (m = 0.996; 95% CI [0.991–1.001]). An analysis of differences and a 95% confidence interval on pMC values reveals that there is no significant difference between direct carbonate and graphite pMC values for 76% of analyzed specimens, although variation in direct carbonate pMC is underestimated. The difference between the two methods is typically within 2 pMC, with 61% of direct carbonate pMC measurements being higher than their paired graphite counterpart. Of the 36 specimens that did yield significant differences, all but three missed the 95% significance threshold by 1.2 pMC or less. These results show that direct carbonate 14C dating of biogenic carbonates is a cost-effective and efficient complement to standard graphite 14C dating.

No quadro da chegada da Covid-19 no Rio Grande do Sul (RS), em março de 2020, iniciamos o monitoramento da pandemia utilizando um Sistema de Informação Geográfica (SIG) online. Ele foi desenvolvido dentro do Projeto SIG Litoral, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, com a estratégia de disponibilizar à sociedade análises espaciais e dados organizados sobre a doença, reunindo pesquisadoras/es, bolsistas e voluntárias/os. O portal, voltado à comunicação em saúde, possibilita a visualização de dados nas escalas global, nacional e regional, além do monitoramento das populações indígenas da Amazônia e o mapeamento das redes de solidariedade no Litoral Norte do RS. Nesse artigo, enfocamos principalmente o monitoramento da Covid-19 no RS, abordando as ferramentas utilizadas, os desafios para obtenção de dados e algumas análises espaciais realizadas. Mostramos divergências entre as fontes de dados, indicando o problema da subnotificação e as diferentes metodologias empregadas pelos sistemas de vigilância sanitária. Por fim, mostramos alguns indicadores sobre números de acessos ao SIG e alcance geográfico do monitoramento da Covid-19 pela UFRGS, repercutindo positivamente na sociedade ao dar transparência aos dados oficiais, contribuindo para a pluralidade do debate sobre a pandemia, a interação de equipes multidisciplinares e a formação acadêmica de estudantes.

The feeding behavior of growing-finishing pigs was analyzed to study prandial correlations and the probability of starting a new feeding event. The data were collected in real-time based on 157,632 visits by a group of 70 growing-finishing pigs (from 30.4 to 115.5 kg body weight, BW) to automatic feeders. The data were collected over 84 days, during which period the pigs were kept in conventional (by phase and by group) or precision (with daily and individual adjustments) feeding programs. A criterion to delimit each meal was then defined based on the probability of an animal starting a new feeding event within the next minute since the last visit. Prandial correlations were established between meal size and interval before meal (pre-prandial) or interval after meal (post-prandial) using Pearson correlation analysis. Post-prandial correlations (which can be interpreted as hunger-regulating mechanisms) were slightly stronger than pre-prandial correlations (which can be interpreted as satiety regulation mechanisms). Both correlations decreased as the animals’ age increased but were little influenced by the feeding programs. The information generated in this study allows a better understanding of pigs’ feeding behavior regulation mechanisms and could be used in the future to improve precision feeding programs.