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The liver is susceptible to viruses and bacterial infections, tumors, and sterile tissue damage, but immunological danger recognition in the liver is highly unconventional. When analyzing innate and adaptive immunity in the organ, the valid concepts that guide danger recognition and immune response in the periphery should be put aside. In the liver, the vascular anatomy is a game changer, as about 80% of the blood that percolates the organ arrives from the hepatic portal vein, draining blood rich in molecules from the intestinal flora. This 24/7 exposure to high amounts of pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMPs) molecules results in hepatic immunological tolerance. In the liver, dendritic, Kupffer (KC), liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), and even hepatocytes express PD-L1, a T lymphocyte downregulatory molecule. Most cells express Fas-L, IL-10, TGF-β, low levels of co-stimulatory molecules, lack of or have low levels of MHC-I and/or MHC-II expression. Moreover, other negative regulators such as CTLA-4, IDO-1, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are regularly expressed. Then, how can real danger be discerned and recognized in this sea of PAMPs? This is an open question. Here, we hypothesize that conventional immunological danger recognition can occur in the liver but in specific and minor arterial sinusoidal segments,. Then, in the portal triad, where the hepatic artery ramificates into the stroma and carries arterial blood with no gut-derived PAMPs, there is no evolutive or environmental pressure for immunosuppressive pathways, and conventional immunological danger recognition could occur. Therefore, in arterial sinusoidal segments with no sea of PAMPs, the liver could recognize real danger and support innate and adaptive immunity.

IntroductionIntraperitoneal chemotherapy for ovarian cancer treatment has controversial benefits as most methodologies are associated with significant morbidity. We carried out a systematic review to compare tumor response, measured by tumor weight and volume, between intraperitoneal chemotherapy delivered via drug delivery systems (DDSs) and free intraperitoneal chemotherapy in animal models of ovarian cancer. The secondary aim was to assess the toxicity of DDS-delivered chemotherapy, based on changes in animal body weight.MethodsBased on PRISMA and SYRCLE guidelines, we identified 38 studies for review, of which 20, were used in the meta-analysis. We evaluated outcome, through tumor volume and tumor weight and, toxicity, through animal weight. Analysis was based on drugs employed and treatment duration.ResultsMost studies were performed on mice. Ovarian cancer cell lines most commonly used to induce xenografts were SKOV3 (19 studies) and A2780 (6 studies). Intraperitoneal device, also known as drug delivery systems (DDS), consisted in nanoparticles, hydrogels, lipid polymer and others. The most commonly used drugs were paclitaxel and cisplatin. Most studies used as the control treatment the same chemotherapy applied free intraperitoneally and tumor response/animal weight were evaluated weekly. There was a small benefit in overall tumor reduction in animals treated with intraperitoneal chemotherapy applied through the slow release device compared with animals treated with intraperitoneal free chemotherapy, as evaluated through tumor weight - results in standardized mean difference. (-1.06; 95% CI: -1.34, -0.78) and tumor volume (-3.72; 95% CI: -4.47, -2.97), a benefit that was seen in most weekly evaluations and for most chemotherapy drugs, such as carboplatin (tumor weight: -5.60; 95% CI: -7.83, -3.37), paclitaxel (tumor weight: -1.18; 95% CI: -1.52, -0.83), and cisplatin (tumor volume: -2.85; 95% CI: -3.66, -2.04) carboplatin (tumor volume: -12.71; 95% CI: -17.35, -8.07); cisplatin (tumor volume: -7.76; 95% CI: -9.88, -5.65); paclitaxel (tumor volume: -2.85; 95% CI: -3.66, -2.04). Regarding animal weight, there was no weight reduction in animals treated with intraperitoneal chemotherapy applied through the slow-release device compared with animals treated with intraperitoneal free chemotherapy. However, significant heterogeneity was observed in some comparisons.Conclusionslow-release devices are overall safe and effective in animal models of ovarian cancer. It was not possible to evaluate which one is the most promising device to treat ovarian cancer, because many different types were used to apply chemotherapy intraperitoneally.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021224573.

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to compare the levels of HIF1-α, VEGF, TNF-α, and IL-10 in the peri-implant crevicular fluid of patients with and without peri-implantitis. Methods: Forty patients, comprising 16 with and 24 without peri-implantitis were selected. Results: Patients with peri-implantitis exhibited significantly higher HIF-1α levels than those without peri-implantitis (p=0.0005). TNF-α revealed significant positive correlations with IL-10 (p=0.0008) and VEGF (p=0.0246), whereas HIF-1α and IL-10 levels (p=0.0041) demonstrated a negative and significative correlation in the peri-implantitis group. Conclusion: This study, for the first time demonstrates the balance of HIF-1α, TNFα, IL-10, and VEGF in peri-implantitis. It shows an elevated HIF-1α levels in patients with peri-implantitis, which could have stemmed from persistent inflammation- triggered hypoxia. Furthermore, the positive correlation between TNF-α and VEGF suggests intensified proinflammatory activity in peri-implantitis. Nevertheless, further studies are essential to understand these immune dynamics in peri-implantitis.

Abstract Objective: To describe the eating contexts and estimate their associations with socio-demographic factors in a sample of Brazilian adolescents. Design: Cross-sectional study. We used an exploratory questionnaire about eating contexts (encompassing regularity of meals, places where they occur and if they take place with attention and in company), which was submitted to cluster analysis. Subsequently, three clusters were identified: cluster 1, ‘appropriate eating contexts at breakfast, lunch and dinner’; cluster 2, ‘inappropriate eating context at breakfast’ and cluster 3, ‘inappropriate eating context at dinner’. Multinomial logistic regression models were performed, without and with adjustments, using cluster 1 as reference. Setting: Twenty-nine public schools of Juiz de Fora, MG, Southeast Brazil. Participants: Adolescents, 14–19-year-olds (n 835). Results: We observed relevant prevalence of adolescents omitting breakfast (52·9 %) and dinner (39·3 %), and who had the habit of eating sitting/lying on the couch/bed or standing/walking, and in front of screens. Breakfast usually occurred unaccompanied (70·8 %); around half (47·5 %) and little over a third (36·1 %) of the sample also would usually have lunch and dinner unaccompanied, respectively. Furthermore, through multivariate analysis, we found associations of eating contexts clusters with female sex (more likely in clusters 2 and 3), age range 14–15-year-olds (less likely in cluster 2) and higher mother’s schooling (more likely in cluster 3). Conclusions: We verified an alarming prevalence of adolescents with eating contexts unaligned with healthy eating recommendations. Additionally, inappropriate eating contexts at breakfast and/or at dinner were associated with socio-demographic factors (sex, age range and mother’s schooling).

Abstract Is there meritocracy when 58% of administrative assistants and 87% of physicians employed in Brazilian federal higher education institutions (HEI) were selected through public exams based solely on theoretical multiple-choice tests? Is there meritocracy in selection processes that do not assess the candidates’ experience or apply discursive or practical exams? This article addresses a historically constructed assumption assimilated as a kind of myth in Brazil: the idea that the current model for filling government positions is meritocratic. The extreme objectivity of these public exams reduces the Brazilian tradition of nepotism but presents serious flaws. One is academicism, which overvalues educational titles and theoretical knowledge at the expense of essential skills for many government positions. Calls for civil service entrance exams to fill administrative and medical positions in federal HEI throughout Brazil were verified using the descriptive statistics method (via frequency analysis), tabulating the evaluation types used in each selection, and generating tables and graphs. The results suggest adopting assessments more broadly connected with the competencies the positions require and prioritizing skills and practical behaviors instead of theoretical knowledge of little or no applicability. The study points out alternatives for a nation with more than 200 million inhabitants, the vast majority of which do not realize the incalculable damage of real academicism and illusory meritocracy.

A vegetação aquática e seus atributos, como a capacidade de reter poluentes, são importantes indicadores da qualidade dos ecossistemas aquáticos. Entretanto, a flora destes ecossistemas em fundo de vales nos tabuleiros costeiros do Espírito Santo nunca foi avaliada, mesmo com as profundas alterações no uso do solo advindos de grandes empreendimentos portuários nos anos recentes. Neste trabalho, realizamos um levantamento florístico e demonstramos como a vegetação aquática nativa se distribui ao longo da zonação provocada por pulsos de inundação no Brejo do Criador, no extremo sul do estado. A área caracteriza-se pela ocorrência de 48 espécies, 36 gêneros e 16 famílias e vegetação predominantemente herbácea, com arbustos emergentes e espécies tolerantes à inundação, mas sua estrutura é bastante afetada pelo pisoteio e herbivoria do gado. Apesar disso, os pulsos de inundação garantem a permanência de espécies típicas de ambientes aquáticos. Nossos resultados permitem reduzir o negligenciamento ambiental dessas áreas e trazem valores de referência futuramente importantes para áreas semelhantes, principalmente em função da rapidez de alteração do uso do solo e crescimento populacional na região.

Buscou-se analisar se as características de governança corporativa do Conselho de Administração (CA), a estrutura de capital e o desempenho econômico-financeiro das companhias exercem influência sobre a adoção de Políticas Ambientais, Sociais e de Governança (ESG) por parte das instituições bancárias listadas na Brasil Bolsa Balcão [B]3. Para tanto, foram analisados 24 bancos listados na [B]3, via dados anuais disponibilizados no período de 2013 a 2020, na base de dados Thomson Reuters® e no site da [B]3, principalmente por meio da análise de Formulários de Referência das instituições estudadas. Para analisar os resultados, foi realizada a estimação do modelo de regressão Tobit, sendo utilizada como variável dependente a ‘avaliação de práticas ESG’, medida por um índice que varia de 0 (para empresas sem práticas ESG e/ou sem avaliação ESG na base Refinitiv®) a 100 (empresas com melhores práticas ESG) e, para variáveis independentes, foram utilizadas caracterizações de empresas bancárias e do CA, estrutura de capital e indicadores de desempenho econômico-financeiro. Com base nos resultados, notou-se que o tamanho dos bancos e a diversidade de gênero do CA apresentaram estatísticas positivas e significativas, demonstrando que os bancos maiores e com mais presença de mulheres no conselho tendem a manter as melhores práticas de ESG. Por outro lado, foram observadas relações estatísticas negativas e significativas entre a emissão de American Depositary Receive (ADR's), o número de membros independentes do Conselho e as práticas de Board Interlocking (B.I.) e as melhores práticas ESG. Contudo, o estudo contribui para a literatura com o entendimento dos eventos ESG dos bancos brasileiros e com as demandas regulatórias do Banco Central do Brasil, em decorrência das normas com exigências de Responsabilidade Socioambiental por parte do órgão regulador, bem como com as cobranças dos stakeholders e do mercado por melhores práticas ESG dos bancos.

O sarcoma estromal visceral é um tumor que pode não apresentar sintomas e, quando apresenta, são sintomas não conclusivos. Geralmente é diagnosticado não pela suspeita da doença, mas no tratamento de outras doenças. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi destacar a importância dos exames complementares. Esse trabalho relata o caso de um cão Lhasa Apso de nove anos de idade, que deu entrada no hospital veterinário com distensão abdominal e oligoquesia. Foi solicitado ultrassom e exame hematológico. O exame hematológico indicou: trombocitose, neutrofilia e monocitose. O exame ultrassonográfico mostrou o baço com dimensões aumentadas. Presença de neoformação ocupando toda a topografia abdominal mesogástrica esquerda e direita, com origem aparente na cauda esplênica, de formato irregular e grosseiro, ecogenicidade mista, vascularizada em algumas porções e em outras porções com áreas cavitarias e parede irregular, com conteúdo anecogênico com ecogenicidade pontos em suspensão, medindo a porção vascularizada e a porção cavitaria. Associados à formação, o mesentério e o peritônio são visíveis com leve aumento da ecogenicidade e ecotextura grosseira. Com esses resultados, o tratamento inicial deveria ser cirúrgico, o que confirmou que o tumor não tinha origem no baço, mas sim no mesentério. O tumor foi removido e uma anastomose término-terminal foi realizada no local onde o tumor estava aderido. Foram levados para biópsia, múltiplos fragmentos de massa nodular juntos medindo 10,0 x 9,0 x 2,5 cm. Superfície interna de ambos os fragmentos bege-esbranquiçada, com áreas amareladas, lisa e irregular. Dando um diagnóstico de: sarcoma estromal visceral. O animal foi encaminhado para oncologia. A cirurgia neste caso foi indicada devido ao tamanho do tumor, que poderia comprometer outros sistemas. O exame complementar foi fundamental para a conclusão do diagnóstico e início do tratamento, mostrando a sua importância.

The liver is susceptible to viruses and bacterial infections, tumors, and sterile tissue damage, but immunological danger recognition in the liver is highly unconventional. When analyzing innate and adaptive immunity in the organ, the valid concepts that guide danger recognition and immune response in the periphery should be put aside. In the liver, the vascular anatomy is a game changer, as about 80% of the blood that percolates the organ arrives from the hepatic portal vein, draining blood rich in molecules from the intestinal flora. This 24/7 exposure to high amounts of pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMPs) molecules results in hepatic immunological tolerance. In the liver, dendritic, Kupffer (KC), liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs), and even hepatocytes express PD-L1, a T lymphocyte downregulatory molecule. Most cells express Fas-L, IL-10, TGF-β, low levels of co-stimulatory molecules, lack of or have low levels of MHC-I and/or MHC-II expression. Moreover, other negative regulators such as CTLA-4, IDO-1, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are regularly expressed. Then, how can real danger be discerned and recognized in this sea of PAMPs? This is an open question. Here, we hypothesize that conventional immunological danger recognition can occur in the liver but in specific and minor arterial sinusoidal segments,. Then, in the portal triad, where the hepatic artery ramificates into the stroma and carries arterial blood with no gut-derived PAMPs, there is no evolutive or environmental pressure for immunosuppressive pathways, and conventional immunological danger recognition could occur. Therefore, in arterial sinusoidal segments with no sea of PAMPs, the liver could recognize real danger and support innate and adaptive immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Hydropsalis climacocerca, bird with central distribution in the Amazon Basin, was recorded in the state of Maranhão and the middle of the Tocantins River for the first time. An individual adult of the species was recorded in 2016 on a temporary river island downstream from a hydroelectric dam. This record expanded the area of occurrence and distribution of this species in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Este estudo buscou compreender a configuração da área de atuação docente em Administração nas instituições de ensino superior privadas e a ação desses profissionais. Para isso, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com professores de Administração nos municípios de Florianópolis e de Londrina. Também foram utilizados alguns documentos. Como este estudo é pragmatista, a análise de dados foi realizada de acordo com os operadores analíticos que provieram dos dados e com o apoio teórico, principalmente, da Sociologia da Ciência e da Sociologia pragmatista francesa. Os resultados demonstraram que as IES privadas constituem um campo de atuação específico e distinto, e que os docentes entrevistados experienciam as mesmas condições de trabalho de outros profissionais das organizações do setor competitivo, como flexibilidade e curto prazo, insegurança da profissão, entre outras.

The development of bimodal systems with signals for two diagnostic techniques has been increasing. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive technique that distinguishes pathological tissues from healthy ones. To improve the images’ contrast, nanoparticulate contrast agents (CAs) have been developed, allowing for the attachment of several CA molecules in one nanoparticle. In this work, we associated AgInSe2 quantum dots (QDs) with gadolinium complexes, obtaining nanoprobes for MRI and optical imaging. The nanosystems showed good optical properties and values of relaxivity superior to the CAs used clinically. Thus, these nanoprobes have the potential to be used as CAs for MRI and optical imaging.

O objetivo deste artigo foi verificar como os aspectos contingenciais afetam o nível de controle interno adotado por 19 instituições bancárias listadas na B3, no período de 2013 a 2021; o que resultou em 171 observações por variável. Os dados sobre o nível de controle interno (variável dependente) foram construídos com base nos mecanismos internos visualizados sob o prisma das boas práticas de Governança Corporativa do Instituto Brasileiro de Governança Corporativa (IBGC), sendo os mesmos obtidos nos Formulários de Referências das companhias, via site da B3. Já os dados dos aspectos organizacionais (ou contingenciais), variáveis independentes, tamanho, idade da organização, diversificação de produtos de crédito, estrutura societária e expansão geográfica, foram obtidas no banco de dados Economatica®, nos Formulários cadastrais, de Referência e nas Notas Explicativas das companhias bancárias, disponíveis no site da B3. A partir da estimação de regressão múltipla para dados em painel, por meio do modelo de Mínimos Quadrados Generalizados (generalized least square - GLS), observou-se que a idade e a expansão geográfica não são significativas para explicar o nível de controle interno, mas o tamanho, a diversificação de produtos de crédito e a estrutura societária das instituições bancárias são. Porém, somente a estrutura societária é significativamente negativa. Assim, estes resultados demonstram que o tamanho e a diversificação de produtos de crédito tornam complexas e volumosas as atividades bancárias, justificando a busca por mais controles internos, mas também aponta que os diferentes contextos geográficos e culturais das unidades bancárias podem comprometer a adoção de controles gerenciais.

Background & objectives: There is limited evidence regarding the accuracy of dengue rapid diagnostic kits despite their extensive use in India. We evaluated the performance of four immunochromatographic Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDTs) kits: Multisure dengue Ab/Ag rapid test (MP biomedicals; MP), Dengucheck combo (Zephyr Biomedicals; ZB), SD bioline dengue duo (Alere; SD) and Dengue day 1 test (J Mitra; JM). Methods: This is a laboratory-based diagnostic evaluation study. Rapid tests results were compared to reference non-structural (NS1) antigen or immunoglobulin M (IgM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results of 241 dengue-positive samples and 247 dengue-negative samples. Sensitivity and specificity of NS1 and IgM components of each RDT were calculated separately and in combination (either NS1 or IgM positive) against reference standard ELISA. Results: A total of 238, 226, 208, and 146 reference NS1 ELISA samples were tested with MP, ZB, SD, and JM tests, respectively. In comparison to the NS1 ELISA reference tests, the NS1 component of MP, ZB, SD, and JM RDTs demonstrated a sensitivity of 71.8%, 85.1%, 77.2% and 80.9% respectively and specificity of 90.1%, 92.8%, 96.1 %, and 93.6%, respectively. In comparison to the IgM ELISA reference test, the IgM component of RDTs showed a sensitivity of 40.0%, 50.3%, 47.3% and 20.0% respectively and specificity of 92.4%, 88.6%, 96.5%, and 92.2% respectively. Combining NS1 antigen and IgM antibody results led to sensitivities of 87.5%, 82.9%, 93.8% and 91.7% respectively, and specificities of 75.3%, 73.9%, 76.5%, and 80.0% respectively. Interpretation & conclusion: Though specificities were acceptable, the sensitivities of each test were markedly lower than manufacturers’ claims. These results also support the added value of combined antigen-and antibody-based RDTs for the diagnosis of acute dengue.

Inspiradas em algumas pistas deixadas por Michel Foucault sobre sua ontologia do presente, seguimos o questionamento: “o que somos nós como presente?” em meio a pandemia provocada pelo novo coronavírus, para analisar alguns efeitos na educação que emergiram logo após sua disseminação. Nessas reflexões em curso com o avanço da doença, articulamos duas questões centrais: os modos de vida baseados na educação escolarizada e os modos de subjetivação produzidos no contexto de uma racionalidade neoliberal. Analisamos alguns efeitos das experiências vividas durante o período de isolamento social e propomos um diálogo com os estudos de Ivan Illich e M. Foucault para interrogar a atualidade, os modos de vida, bem como as possibilidades de uma educação para além da escolarização da vida.

Multiple cell populations, cellular biochemical pathways, and the autonomic nervous system contribute to maintaining the immunological tolerance in the liver. This tolerance is coherent because the organ is exposed to high levels of bacterial pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) molecules from the intestinal microbiota, such as lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS). In the case of Trypanosoma cruzi infection, although there is a dramatic acute immune response in the liver, we observed intrahepatic cell populations combining pro- and anti-inflammatory markers. There was loss of fully mature Kupffer cells and an increase in other myeloid cells, which are likely to include monocytes. Among dendritic cells (DCs), the cDC1 population expanded relative to the others, and these cells lost both some macrophage markers (F4/80) and immunosuppressive cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β1). In parallel, a massive T cell response occured with loss of naïve cells and increase in several post-activation subsets. However, these activated T cells expressed both markers programmed cell death protein (PD-1) and cytokines consistent with immunosuppressive function (IL-10, TGF-β1). NK and NK-T cells broadly followed the pattern of T cell activation, while TCR-γδ cells appeared to be bystanders. While no data were obtained concerning IL-2, several cell populations also synthesized IFN-γ and TNF-α, which has been linked to host defense but also to tissue injury. It therefore appears that T. cruzi exerts control over liver immunity, causing T cell activation via cDC1 but subverting multiple populations of T cells into immunosuppressive pathways. In this way, T. cruzi engages a mechanism of hepatic T cell tolerance that is familiar from liver allograft tolerance, in which activation and proliferation are followed by T cell inactivation.

O dark tourism é uma forma de turismo de nicho com desenvolvimento cada vez mais rápido. A literatura definiu o cemitério como dark tourism pois sugere a ideia de morte e luto, que pode causar sentimentos desagradáveis aos turistas, tornando-se uma característica fundamental deste conceito. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a relação entre as motivações, experiências e benefícios de visitar o cemitério da Recoleta em Buenos Aires, Argentina. O estudo caracteriza-se como exploratório, descritivo e utilizou a abordagem quantitativa. Um total de 450 entrevistados afirmaram ter visitado o cemitério da Recoleta. Os autores testaram e validaram cinco fatores por meio de análise fatorial exploratória e confirmatória, incluindo motivações sociais e de aprendizagem, experiências reflexivas e empáticas e benefícios. O resultado fornece evidências teóricas de que as motivações estão relacionadas à busca de conhecimento, lazer e atividades sociais com a família e amigos. As experiências obtidas durante a visita estão relacionadas ao sentimento escapista através do relaxamento e paz. O estudo oferece evidências de que a visita ao cemitério pode ser um momento contemplativo, promovendo a reflexão sobre a vida. Por outro lado, contribuições práticas podem auxiliar nos processos de tomada de decisão.

Objective: The present study aims to assess the associations of adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT) with age, skin color, sexual maturation, anthropometric indicators and physical activity in Brazilian adolescents. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study of adolescents aged 14-19 years. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), arm circumference (AC), APMT, body fat, fat-free mass (FFM), fat-free mass index (FFMI), sexual maturation, time of physical activity and skin color were evaluated. APMT was associated with categorical variables using Mann-Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests and correlated with anthropometric variables using Spearman’s correlation. Linear regression was used with APMT as a dependent and the other variables as predictors. Data analysis was carried out in SPSS® software (version 17.0) with a 5% significance level. Results: 828 adolescents were evaluated, 57.6% female, with a mean age of 16.13 ± 1.20 years. APMT had an average value of 18.0 mm in females and 21.0 mm in males. The measure was greater in males, in more advanced stages of sexual maturation, overweight and physical activity. It presented a moderate correlation with FFM, FFMI, body fat and AC. In the final model of multiple linear regression for females, the variables AC and body fat explain 20.1% of the APMT variability. For men, the variables AC and FFMI explain 30.5% of the APMT variability. Conclusion: It is recommended that APMT be used in a complementary manner in the nutritional assessment of adolescents.

Este estudo analisa a influência da reputação da marca, da qualidade da informação do site e a presença de comentários, avaliações e recomendações típicos do comércio social, na confiança e intenção de compra dos consumidores brasileiros e uruguaios de agências de turismo online. O estudo foi realizado a partir de uma pesquisa survey aplicada a 249 brasileiros e uruguaios que afirmaram fazer uso de sites de viagens e turismo regularmente. Os resultados apontam a reputação da agência como principal preditor da confiança em ambos os países, e esta influenciando fortemente a intenção de compra dos consumidores. Os resultados também sugerem que tanto as recomendações online quanto a qualidade da informação do site são importantes antecedentes da confiança, não havendo diferenças significativas quanto ao comportamento de compra dos consumidores analisados. O estudo aponta para a presença de uma cultura latino-americana superior à cultura nacional de brasileiros e uruguaios quanto ao turismo online. As descobertas aqui obtidas trazem contribuições teóricas e gerenciais que podem auxiliar pesquisadores e profissionais das áreas de Turismo, Marketing e Tecnologia da Informação interessados em empresas que atuam em mais de um país ou com consumidores de diferentes culturas nacionais, seja elaborando estratégias mercadológicas ou aprimorando suas plataformas.

With a view to greater control in the process of managing activities involving flammable and combustible products, the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) standardized Regulatory Standard 20 (NR-20). In this context, a case study was carried out at a Fuel Distributor located in the city of Manaus/AM. Taking into account the stored volume and based on the NR-20, a check-list with items of the standard was created and applied and the compliance with the requirements of construction conditions, maintenance, operation, health and safety was verified. The company presented 95% Compliance, which demonstrates a good management system in occupational health and safety, given its performance in the storage, transfer and handling of liquid fuels.

Accounting Science has as one of its great challenges to demonstrate and make available to its users, information that portrays the relationships of companies with society. Thus, in 2008, the elaboration and disclosure of the Value Added Statement (VAS) for publicly-held companies became mandatory, which evidences the distribution of company wealth among various agents internal and external to them. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the benefits granted to employees and the performance of companies that make up the Ibrx-100 during the period from 2010 to 2017. Data on benefits granted to employees were (in the companies' DVA, by the database, ComDinheiro®) and in a qualitative way (in the explanatory notes of the companies), the performance indicators were collected from the ComDinheiro® database. The research sample consists of 54 companies that make up the Ibrx-100 of B3, for 8 years (2010 to 2017). Through the Pearson correlation test, there was a strong positive correlation between EBITDA and benefits offered to employees. Thus, it is indicated that the higher the value of benefits to employees, the better the performance of companies, obtained by EBITDA; which, because it is an essentially operational measure, is capable of capturing the companies 'performance and the level of productivity they achieve in their end-activities, relating to the employees' efforts in the existing operational activities.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is an n-type II-VI semiconductor material that has gained prominence in recent decades due to the possibility of its applications in the most diverse scientific areas, such as photonics, optoelectronics, magnetism, and biological systems. In this context, the scientific community seeks alternative synthetic methodologies to those already established in the literature, emphasizing the use of organic solvents, which are increasingly efficient, low-cost, and easy to reproduce. Thus, the present work proposed a method of colloidal aqueous synthesis, using different precursors of zinc and cobalt salts in a molar fraction according to the expression, Zn1−xCoxO (x = 0.05, 0.075, 0.10), and mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) as a stabilizing agent. The results confirmed the formation of cobalt-doped ZnO nanoparticles from X-ray diffractometry characterization. To evaluate their properties, studies of compositional analysis and size distribution of ZnO nanoparticles using characterization techniques, such as inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), are being carried out to obtain even more promising results in this field.

Currently, there is a growing interest in the development of bimodal systems that have a signal for more than one diagnostic imaging technique, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is able to distinguish pathological from healthy tissues; however, in some cases, a high local concentration of contrast agents (CAs) is necessary to improve the contrast in images. Nanoparticulate CAs are able to concentrate several CA molecules into one nanoparticle, increasing the local concentrations of paramagnetic ions. In this work, we intend to associate AgInSe2 quantum dots (QDs) with gadolinium complexes (DOTA-Gd) to develop bimodal systems. The QDs were prepared in water and the synthesis parameters were optimized. The ligand DOTA was conjugated with cysteamine and complexed with Gd3+. The complex was then conjugated to QDs through the metal–thiol bond, obtaining the bimodal systems. Optical characterization indicated that the QDs remained stable and fluorescent, and an increase in emission intensity after conjugation was observed. The systems were characterized by relaxometry at 20 MHz (0.47 T) and 37 °C, obtaining longitudinal relaxivities by Gd3+ higher than the CAs used clinically. Thus, the prepared nanoprobes showed promising properties for MRI and optical imaging.

OBJECTIVES: In breast cancer (BC) patients, the frequency of germline BRCA mutations (gBRCA) may vary according to the ethnic background, age, and family history of cancer. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) is the second most common somatic mutated gene in BC; however, the association of mutations in both genes with cancer has not been thoroughly investigated. Thus, our aims were to investigate gBRCA mutation frequency in a cohort of postmenopausal Brazilian BC patients and the association of gBRCA1/BRCA2 and PIK3CA somatic mutations. METHODS: Forty-nine postmenopausal (>55 years) and forty-one young (≤35 years) BC patients were included in this study. The postmenopausal group included patients who reported a positive family history of cancer. For these patients, gBRCA1/BRCA2 were sequenced using next-generation sequencing (NGS) or Sanger sequencing. Data for gBRCA in young patients were already available from a previous study. DNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumors was obtained from 27 postmenopausal and 41 young patients for analyzing exons 9 and 20 of PIK3CA. The association between gBRCA1/BRCA2 and somatic mutations in PIK3CA was investigated. RESULTS: The overall frequency of gBRCA1/BRCA2 among the 49 postmenopausal patients was 10.2%. The frequencies of somatic mutations in PIK3CA in the postmenopausal and young patients were 37% and 17%, respectively (ns). The most common PIK3CA mutation was found to be E454A. Nonsense and frameshift mutations, which may counteract the oncogenic potential of PIK3CA were also detected. Regardless of age, 25% of BRCA1/BRCA2 mutation carriers and non-carriers , each, had PIK3CA somatic mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Data obtained indicate that BRCA1/BRCA2 gene testing may be considered for postmenopausal patients with BC who have a family history of cancer. Although some of them are not considered pathogenic, somatic variants of PIK3CA are frequently observed in BC patients, especially in postmenopausal patients.

Introdução: A desnutrição está presente nos idosos portadores de doença renal crônica (DRC) em tratamento conservador. É um dos principais fatores que afetam adversamente o prognóstico e está associada ao aumento da morbidade e mortalidade. Objetivo: Avaliar a presença de desnutrição e fatores associados em idosos portadores de DRC em tratamento conservador. Material e Métodos: Estudo epidemiológico, de delineamento transversal, incluindo portadores de DRC estágios 3, 4 e 5 em tratamento conservador com idade maior ou igual a 60 anos. Foram coletados dados socioeconômicos, clínicos, prática de atividade física e antropométricos. As variáveis categóricas foram apresentadas com frequências absolutas e relativas e comparadas, de acordo com o sexo, pelo teste Qui-quadrado de Pearson. Para a avaliação dos fatores relacionados à presença de desnutrição, o IMC foi dicotomizado em desnutridos e não desnutridos e calculou-se a Odds ratio. Resultados: Avaliaram-se 136 indivíduos. A prevalência de desnutrição foi de 13%, segundo IMC, e por meio do índice de tecido magro, constatou-se que 35,2% das mulheres e 30% dos homens apresentaram depleção de massa muscular. Fumantes têm 7,36 vezes mais chances de ter desnutrição quando comparado a um não fumante. Conclusão: Observou-se uma alta prevalência de desnutrição nesse estudo. Não foram encontradas associações relacionadas ao sexo, escolaridade, renda, sedentarismo, estágio DRC, DM e HAS. O tabagismo foi o fator que apresentou associação significativa com a desnutrição.

Este artigo científico tem por objetivo não só familiarizar a comunidade acadêmica de língua portuguesa com a proposta de Toran Hansen e Mark Umbreit de transformar a Justiça Restaurativa em Justiça Regenerativa, mas também de densificar o incipiente arcabouço teórico do modelo regenerativo, abeberando-se nos aportes da literatura científica especializada em Logoterapia, em especial no tocante ao diálogo socrático, à derreflexão e à modulação de atitude, como técnicas e procedimentos a serem incorporados às práticas regenerativas. Trata-se de pesquisa do tipo bibliográfica, com análise de conteúdo, a inferir, fundamentar, estruturar e sistematizar os aspectos centrais tanto da Justiça Restaurativa quanto da Justiça Regenerativa. Há uma revisão bibliográfica do estado da arte da literatura científica referente não só à Justiça Restaurativa como também, no campo da Logoterapia, ao diálogo socrático, à derreflexão e à modulação de atitude. Demonstra-se como o diálogo socrático, a derreflexão e a modulação de atitude podem contribuir para sanear os quatro pontos cegos da Justiça Restaurativa apontados por Hansen e Umbreit. Ao final, são tecidas considerações sobre que legado a Justiça Regenerativa pode deixar à humanidade e às futuras gerações.

Abstract This study aimed to define a methodology that, when combined with temperature, can overcome the dormancy and also to determine the adequate substrate and light conditions for germination of Colubrina glandulosa Perkins, contributing to seed analysis and restoration projects. In the experiment of dormancy and temperature, seeds were immersed in sulfuric acid for 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 minutes and set to germinate at temperatures of 20-30 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C. The used substrates were sand, vermiculite, Tropstrato® substrate, coconut powder, blotting paper and paper towel. As for the light supplied, the seeds were subjected to four luminosity regimes: white light, far-red light, red light and light absence. Temperatures of 20-30 °C and 30 °C achieved better results, with exposure in sulfuric acid for 120 and 150 minutes. The substrates sand and vermiculite were the most suitable. The species germinated in all light regimes treatments used.

Introdução: A constipação é um distúrbio no trato gastrointestinal determinado pela dificuldade e/ou rara eliminação das fezes. Sua etiologia é multifatorial e o hábito alimentar inadequado é fator de risco. Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de constipação intestinal e verificar o conhecimento sobre fibras alimentares e os hábitos de vida relacionados em pacientes com constipação e sem constipação segundo o critério Roma III. Metodologia: Estudo transversal e descritivo. Coletaram-se dados socioeconômicos, clínicos e aplicou-se um questionário sobre o consumo alimentar, hábitos de vida e conhecimento sobre prevenção e tratamento da constipação intestinal. A constipação intestinal foi definida de acordo com o consenso de ROMA III. Os resultados foram comparados pelo teste Qui-quadrado, ajustado pela correção de Bonferroni, adotando nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: A prevalência de constipação auto-referida foi de 30% e de 33% pelo critério ROMA III. O uso de recursos caseiros para constipação foi mencionado por 55,3% dos constipados e 29,2% dos não constipados. Indivíduos não constipados apresentaram maior conhecimento sobre alimentos fontes de lactobacillus. Sobre o consumo de água, 13,2% dos constipados e 31,8% dos não constipados ingerem mais que oito copos por dia (p=0,02). Quanto aos medicamentos e recursos dietéticos para o auxílio da constipação, os constipados consistem no grupo que mais os consumiu (p

Objective: to review the scientific publications available in the literature that describe phytotherapy as intervention in women’s health. Method: an integrative literature review conducted in the MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and PUBMED databases. The following guiding question was adopted: “What evidence available in the literature describes the use of phytotherapy as intervention in women’s health?” The descriptors used were the following: “Phytotherapy”; “Complementary Therapies”; “Women’s Health”. The process of surveying and gathering data took place in November and December 2018, in the city of Redenção, state of Ceará, Brazil. Results: nine articles were analyzed, three of which discussed medicinal plants used to treat menopause, three infertility, one gynecological infections, and two hormonal disorders. Conclusion: scientific studies on medicinal plants are still scarce, and the need for further studies and research on phytotherapy used in the treatment of gynecological diseases is essential.

Public policies, especially in the area of professional education, are developed according to the productive order articulated with an institutional configuration, power relations and social practices. In this sense, they tend to express themselves in the processes of vocational training and the level of worker qualification. This article aims to understand the factors that influenced the institution of public policy of professional and technological education in the State of Rio de Janeiro, from conception to contemporary compositions through the theoretical support of policy cycle. Using a qualitative approach to documentary research, historical research, and bibliographic research, the investigation adopts the seven phases of the cycle as a proposal of analytical tool. The data suggest that there are mistakes in the strategies for formulating and implementing the policy, evidenced by the dissociation between the objectives of governmental actors and non-governmental ones, such as in the amount of budgetary resources for maintenance and modernization of existing school units and in the form of provision (competition or contract) of the teaching staff. Some consequences are the reduction in the number of enrollments to the detriment of other networks of technical schools and the low rates of evaluation, thus requiring the redesign of the policy.

O objetivo deste trabalho é discutir a educação profissional nas Leis de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional (LDB), destacando a visibilidade, direcionamento e assunção desse campo educacional na legislação que estabelece as bases educacionais do Brasil. A metodologia consistiu na categorização das LDB, em articulação com decretos e pareceres, problematizados à luz dos pressupostos teóricos dos autores: Ciavatta (2005); Machado (2013), Manfredi (2002), Moura (2007), Frigotto (2010), entre outros. As categorias analisadas são trabalho e educação, estrutura e organização da educação profissional, formação humana e formação docente. Os resultados dessa análise possibilitaram a seguinte conclusão: a educação profissional não foi priorizada em benefício do desenvolvimento social, mas sim do capital, uma vez que os interesses das empresas privadas e do desenvolvimento econômico se sobressaíram nas políticas públicas educacionais; as Leis n. 4.024/61, 5.692/71 e 9.394/96 mantiveram a dualidade estrutural, portanto, a formação humana integral, apesar de ser referida nas LDB, não se materializou na prática; no tocante à formação docente, predominou uma reticência nas LDB, com o objetivo de não comprometer o Estado com o necessário investimento financeiro que esse tema exige, dada as especificidades do campo da educação profissional.

This paper analyzes the composition and internal arrangement of touristic seaside destinations in Brazil, in light of three not-yet tested theories: the Means-End Chain (Gutman, 1982), the Service Dominant Logic of Marketing (Vargo & Lusch, 2004), and the organizational triad for local development proposed by Vázquez-Barquero (1999). An internet-based survey was distributed and completed by 178 respondents. The answers concentrated in four (among eight possible) destinations: Balneário Camboriú (31.4%), Rio de Janeiro (28%), Torres (20%) and Natal (8%). The data were first submitted to Confirmatory Factor Analysis to identify and to validate the set of components representing the Tourism Destination Image – TDI. The TDI constituting factors, and variables representing the Personal Values (as ancestors) and the Consumer Behavior (as descendants), were submitted to a Structural Equation Model to evaluate the TDI internal arrangement and inter-construct relationships. Results indicate that values related to self-respect, security and excitement influence the assessment of some TDI components, and that the last four constructs influence the likelihood of individuals to visit or to recommend the destinations.

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) are aggressive malignancies that share similarities; however, different ages of onset may reflect distinct tumor behaviors. Thus, our aim was to compare somatic mutations in potential driver genes in 109 TNBC and 81 HGSOC from young (Y ≤ 40 years) and elderly (E ≥ 75 years) patients. Methods: Open access mutational data (WGS or WES) were collected for TNBC and HGSOC patients. Potential driver genes were those that were present in the Cancer Gene Census—CGC, the Candidate Cancer Gene Database—CCGD, or OncoKB and those that were considered pathogenic in variant effect prediction tools. Results: Mutational signature 3 (homologous repair defects) was the only gene that was represented in all four subgroups. The median number of mutated CGCs per sample was similar in HGSOC (Y:3 vs. E:4), but it was higher in elderly TNBC than it was in young TNBC (Y:3 vs. E:6). At least 90% of the samples from TNBC and HGSOC from Y and E patients presented at least one known affected TSG. Besides TP53, which was mutated in 67–83% of the samples, the affected TSG in TP53 wild-type samples were NF1 (yHGSOC and yTNBC), PHF6 (eHGSOC and yTNBC), PTEN, PIK3R1 and ZHFX3 (yTNBC), KMT2C, ARID1B, TBX3, and ATM (eTNBC). A few samples only presented one affected oncogene (but no TSG): KRAS and TSHR in eHGSOC and RAC1 and PREX2 (a regulator of RAC1) in yTNBC. At least ⅔ of the tumors presented mutated oncogenes associated with tumor suppressor genes; the Ras and/or PIK3CA signaling pathways were altered in 15% HGSOC and 20–35% TNBC (Y vs. E); DNA repair genes were mutated in 19–33% of the HGSOC tumors but were more frequently mutated in E-TNBC (56%). However, in HGSOC, 9.5% and 3.3% of the young and elderly patients, respectively, did not present any tumors with an affected CGC nor did 4.65% and none of the young and elderly TNBC patients. Conclusion: Most HGSOC and TNBC from young and elderly patients present an affected TSG, mainly TP53, as well as mutational signature 3; however, a few tumors only present an affected oncogene or no affected cancer-causing genes.

O presente artigo busca identificar os fatores que compõem a imagem turística do destino Santa Vitória do Palmar (RS), Brasil, na perspectiva dos residentes, como medida de manifestação da identidade. A pesquisa possui caráter exploratório, descritivo, empírico e com abordagem predominantemente quantitativa. Foi utilizada uma amostra, não probabilística por conveniência, composta por 93 respondentes, colhida diretamente no município, durante outubro de 2015. Através de Análise Fatorial Exploratória foram identificados os componentes da imagem turística de Santa Vitória do Palmar, que são: Lugares históricos e serviços ofertados, opções de entretenimento, atrativos turísticos, hotelaria e transmissão da cultura local, higiene e comércio e fama do município.

ABSTRACT Although the salivary glands present several functions, there are few studies evaluating these glands in Chagas disease (CD). This study aimed to compare the percentage of collagen, the presence of inflammation, the density of chimase and tryptase mast cells, the area and density of lingual salivary gland acini in autopsied individuals with and without (CD). We analyzed 400 autopsy reports performed in a tertiary public hospital from 1999 to 2015 and selected all the cases in which tongue fragments were collected (27 cases), 12 with chronic CD without megaesophagus (CH) and 15 without CD (non-chagasic - NC). The histological sections of the tongue were stained by Picrosirius red for collagen evaluation and Hematoxylin-eosin for morphometric evaluation of salivary gland acini and inflammation. Anti-chimase and anti-tryptase antibodies were used for the immunohistochemical evaluation of mast cells. The chagasic patients presented higher volume and lower density of salivary glands acini. There was no difference in the collagen percentage, inflammation and density of mast cell chymase and tryptase between the groups. Although we did not observe a significant difference between the groups regarding the collagen percentage, inflammatory process and mast cell density, our results suggest that even without megaesophagus, chagasic patients present hypertrophy of the lingual salivary glands and lower acinar density probably due to mechanisms independent of the esophagus-glandular stimulus.

Chagas disease was described more than a century ago and, despite great efforts to understand the underlying mechanisms that lead to cardiac and digestive manifestations in chronic patients, much remains to be clarified. The disease is found beyond Latin America, including Japan, the USA, France, Spain, and Australia, and is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Dr. Carlos Chagas described Chagas disease in 1909 in Brazil, and hepatomegaly was among the clinical signs observed. Currently, hepatomegaly is cited in most papers published which either study acutely infected patients or experimental models, and we know that the parasite can infect multiple cell types in the liver, especially Kupffer cells and dendritic cells. Moreover, liver damage is more pronounced in cases of oral infection, which is mainly found in the Amazon region. However, the importance of liver involvement, including the hepatic immune response, in disease progression does not receive much attention. In this review, we present the very first paper published approaching the liver’s participation in the infection, as well as subsequent papers published in the last century, up to and including our recently published results. We propose that, after infection, activated peripheral T lymphocytes reach the liver and induce a shift to a pro-inflammatory ambient environment. Thus, there is an immunological integration and cooperation between peripheral and hepatic immunity, contributing to disease control.

This paper assesses the image of tourist destinations as products in light of the experience theory, in order to evaluate relationships between both constructs. A scale is set forth to measure the image of coastal destinations, with different attractions, and to analyze the internal arrangement of the imaginary factors in light of the experience theory and the destinations as tourist products. The research is exploratory and descriptive with quantitative approach, that surveyed potential Brazilian tourists who were asked to choose one (among eight) national coastal destinations to evaluate. A non-probabilistic sample of 178 consumers of different ages and income levels from various Brazilian states was surveyed. This work advances over previous theory, introducing an innovative way to see the image of destinations in the light of two factors that affect the decision to visit or not to visit a place: the arrangement of destinations as touristic products, and the experience expected to experiment when visiting the destinations.