Getulio Teixeira Batista

Spatial analysis of neonatal mortality in Paraíba Valley, Southeastern Brazil, 1999 to 2001

OBJECTIVE To assess the spatial distribution of neonatal mortality. METHODS An ecological and exploratory study using a spatial distribution of mortality data approach was carried out in the Paraiba Valley, Southeastern Brazil, from 1999-2001. Spatial analysis was conducted in a georeference database for 35 cities in the region and routines of spatial statistics. Mortality data were obtained from the State of São Paulo Health Department. The following variables were analyzed in this study: early, late and total neonatal mortality rates; and Human Development Index (HDI) values per city in 2000. Spatial dependency was measured using global Morans Coefficients and local Morans Index. A correlation analysis between variables was also conducted. RESULTS There were 111,574 newborns with 1,149 deaths in the early neonatal period (10.29/1,000 newborns), 285 in the late neonatal period (2.5/1,000 newborns) totalizing 1,434 neonatal deaths (12.85/1,000 newborns). Estimated global Morans coefficients showed statistical significance (p<005) for early and total neonatal mortality. Local Morans index values showed clusters of municipalities for early and total neonatal mortalities rates. CONCLUSIONS Spatial analysis allowed to identifying spatial clusters for early and total neonatal mortality rates in the central area of the Paraiba Valley.

Relation between green spaces and bird community structure in an urban area in Southeast Brazil

Increased urbanization typically leads to an increase in abundance of a few species and a reduction in bird species richness. Understanding the structure of biotic communities in urban areas will allow us to propose management techniques and to decrease conflicts between wild species and human beings. The objective of this study was to describe the structure of the bird community in an urban ecosystem. The study was carried out in the city of Taubaté in southeastern Brazil. Point-counts were established in areas with different levels of tree density ranging from urban green spaces to predominantly built-up areas. We looked for a correlation between the richness/abundance of birds and the size of the area surveyed, the number of houses, the number of tree species and the number of individual trees. The results of multiple regression showed that bird richness had a direct relationship with vegetation complexity. The abundance and diversity of tree species were better predictors of bird species than the number of houses and size of the area surveyed. We discuss implications of this study for conservation and management of bird diversity in urban areas, such as the need to increase green areas containing a large diversity of native plant species.

Influência das cavas de extração de areia no balanço hídrico do vale do Paraíba do Sul

The extraction of sand in the valley of the Paraiba do Sul River, carried out in a vulnerable environment, is responsible for significant environmental impacts. This work had the objective of investigating the increase of the total area of lakes created in the mining process for a period of 11 years and of verifying the influence of the evaporation from these lakes on the regional water balance. Thus, a Geographic Information System data basis was implemented using the GIS software package, SPRING, and Landsat imagery. Scenes 218/76 and 219/76 were used for the quantification of the mining areas and for the assessment of the evolution of the activity in the area for a period of 11 years. With data from a local climatological station (UNITAU/INMET-83784) integrated into the database and with the total area of artificial lakes resultant from sand mining activity, it was possible to estimate the increase of the evaporation rate due to this activity. An increase of 591 ha, in 1993 to 1,726 ha in 2003 in the area of lakes was observed. The resulting increase in the evaporating rate was 203% with 19,157,022 m³ evaporated in 2003 correspondent to the consumption of a city with more than 326,000 inhabitants, considering the average consumption for the State of Sao Paulo which is greater than the Brazilian average.

Allometric equations for the estimation of Jatropha curcas biomass.

This paper describes the estimation of biomass and carbon stock in Jatropha crops in the Vale do Paraiba region, Brazil, using allometric equations developed based on regression analysis which considered the biomass as a variable dependent on easily obtainable dendrometric measurements. The biomass estimated using allometric equations was validated by the destructive direct method based on the cutting of trees of different heights and structures. When compared with other models, the linear equation Y = 1.3 (h²d), where Y is the biomass (kg), h is the height (m), and d is the crown projection (m) showed reliable results and no significant errors to estimate trees up to 3.2 m tall. For the 4 × 3 m plant spacing, result evaluations showed that the stock of dry matter ranged from 0.5 to 6 Mg ha–1, while the carbon stored in the area could reach 3 Mg C ha–1.

Equações Alométricas para Estimativa de Fitomassa em Cultivo de Pinhão Manso / Allometric Equations for the Estimation of Jatropha Curcas Biomass

This paper describes the estimation of biomass and carbon stock in Jatropha crops in the Vale do Paraiba region, Brazil, using allometric equations developed based on regression analysis which considered the biomass as a variable dependent on easily obtainable dendrometric measurements. The biomass estimated using allometric equations was validated by the destructive direct method based on the cutting of trees of different heights and structures. When compared with other models, the linear equation Y = 1.3 (h²d), where Y is the biomass (kg), h is the height (m), and d is the crown projection (m) showed reliable results and no significant errors to estimate trees up to 3.2 m tall. For the 4 × 3 m plant spacing, result evaluations showed that the stock of dry matter ranged from 0.5 to 6 Mg ha–1, while the carbon stored in the area could reach 3 Mg C ha–1.

Editorial of the 30th issue of Ambiente & Agua journal

This editorial discusses the Ambiente & Agua journal’s efforts to adjust to new criteria in order to remain in the SciELO Brazil collection. Special emphasis is given to efforts intended to meet the anticipated levels of internationalization, professionalization, and sustainable funding models in order to maintain the journal’s high quality and increasing impact. The Editorial Board identified the need to raise publication fees beginning on July 15, 2015. However, since we have a hybrid approach that includes public support and publication fees to cover article processing charges (APC), the new rates will be much lower than the average international APC.

Reviewers of Volume 10, 2015 of Revista Ambiente & Água

The following list (Table 1) includes the names and affiliations of all reviewers that evaluated submissions processed for Volume 12, 2017 of Revista Ambiente & Agua. Including manuscripts that were accepted and published in one of the six annual issues and also manuscripts submitted and rejected up to October 10, 2017. It may therefore include the names of reviewers that completed their evaluations between September, 2016 and October, 2017. We are deeply indebted to all of them that voluntarily and anonymously spent their precious time to support the journal, and contributed immensely to the quality of the published articles. We gratefully acknowledge their professional work and outstanding product.

A step toward the internationalization of a scientific journal

Neste editorial, acoes simples para aumentar a visibilidade e o impacto de uma revista para um publico amplo sao discutidas com apresentacao de estrategias para torna-la mais visivel e conhecida e, assim, aumentar o interesse internacional e proporcionar um melhor retorno para a sociedade. Nesta 24a edicao, 15 artigos revisados por pares foram publicados e 45 artigos adicionais serao publicados em 2014 nas proximas tres edicoes.

Estimativa do escoamento superficial em área residencial

This study aimed to estimate the watershed runoff caused by extreme events that often result in the flooding of urban areas. The runoff of a residential area in the city of Guaratingueta, Sao Paulo, Brazil was estimated using the Curve-Number method proposed by USDA-NRCS. The study also investigated current land use and land cover conditions, impermeable areas with pasture and indications of the reforestation of those areas. Maps and satellite images of Residential Riverside I Neighborhood were used to characterize the area. In addition to characterizing land use and land cover, the definition of the soil type infiltration capacity, the maximum local rainfall, and the type and quality of the drainage system were also investigated. The study showed that this neighborhood, developed in 1974, has an area of 792,700 m2, a population of 1361 inhabitants, and a sloping area covered with degraded pasture (Guaratingueta-Piagui Peak) located in front of the residential area. The residential area is located in a flat area near the Paraiba do Sul River, and has a poor drainage system with concrete pipes, mostly 0.60 m in diameter, with several openings that capture water and sediments from the adjacent sloping area. The Low Impact Development (LID system) appears to be a viable solution for this neighborhood drainage system. It can be concluded that the drainage system of the Guaratingueta Riverside I Neighborhood has all of the conditions and characteristics that make it suitable for the implementation of a low impact urban drainage system. Reforestation of Guaratingueta-Piagui Peak can reduce the basin’s runoff by 50% and minimize flooding problems in the Beira Rio neighborhood.

Ambiente & Água scientific journal after five years of history

The launching of this first issue of the sixth volume contains 12 inedited peer reviewed papers from 53 authors that originated from three continents, four different countries, 20 universities from which 16 are from several Brazilian federal universities, 3 from abroad, 1 Brazilian state and one municipal university. Other nine authors are from research institutions, among them three from abroad. We proudly state that this fifteenth edition has been published on time as it was the case of all previous issues. Most articles of this issue concentrate on environmental characterization of different ecosystems pollution control and mitigation. Two articles assessed the water quality of small river basins. Then there are two articles, one about fire occurrence and precipitation relationship and one about irrigation control to optimize water usage. This editorial points out new accomplishments and changes on publication policies.