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During the COVID-19 pandemic, regions were affected by a combination of economic crises: weak demand and constrained supply. Several studies have sought to analyse the heterogeneous effects of supply and demand shocks on the labour market, economic growth, and the environment. This study has a different focus, estimating both direct and indirect effects of demand and supply shocks adopted during the pandemic in Brazil and Chile. Afterwards, the paper compares the degree of regional absorption (leakage) of income resulting from each of these shocks, applying an interregional input–output model for each country. The results of this study show that income absorption by the poorest regions is relatively greater in the case of a supply shock. It can be said, therefore, that this type of shock improves the retention of income generated in the poorest regions, favouring the development of these localities and the reduction in regional inequalities. The main reason for this result is that supply policies have restricted essential sectors to a lesser extent, and these sectors are generally less concentrated in large urban centres in both Brazil and Chile. In other words, much of the interregional leakage is driven by the demand for non-essential products, mainly in the richest urban economy centres. Finally, the geographical dimension of regional inequalities leads to the economic benefit of prosperous areas in the country when shocks occur in vulnerable regions, highlighting the centre–periphery pattern in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent pandemic negatively affected the career development of women scientists drawing attention to the need for urgent actions to ensure that gains in gender equality in science are retained. In Brazil, women scientists contributed much to the fight against COVID-19 by supplying valuable information to the media, combating misinformation and looking for ways to reduce the impacts of the pandemic in homes and workplaces. This paper diagnoses inequalities of opportunities in science and emphasizes science communication as an important tool for increasing the visibility and empowerment of women scientists in Brazil. Science communication can strengthen the visibility, presence and voice of women in society and promote equitable practices in terms of gender and race. It can also enable women scientists to work as role models for the younger generations. This paper goes beyond a brief discussion on the impacts of science communication on increasing diversity and makes recommendations to accelerate gender and ethnic–racial equity within science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its appearance in 2020, Brazil and Mexico have been among the most affected countries in the world by covid-19. Their respective presidents, Jair Bolsonaro and Andrés Manuel López Obrador (known as AMLO), have played a leading role in specific policies during the pandemic. Their choices were both singular and counter- intuitive. On the health front, AMLO initially underplayed the seriousness of the situation, and the Brazilian president, Bolsonaro, defended a frankly negationist attitude, with a dramatic balance sheet, without his popularity being seriously affected. On the economic front, they have chosen policies that contradict not only each other but also their own supposed ideological stances. Bolsonaro, who is ranked on the far right, has implemented an emergency transfer program on a scale comparable to those of developed countries and the most massive the country has ever seen. Conversely, AMLO, considered a progressist, provided just a minimum policy package, maintaining his previous electoral program. By adopting a comparative approach and mobilizing a unique and diversified set of data, the objective of this paper is to explore these apparent contradictions. After having established the precise diagnosis of the policies implemented to deal with the crisis and the economic and health situation in the two countries during the 2020-2022 period, we propose an original interpretation grid of the central role played by the two presidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential access to life-saving COVID-19 vaccines reveals the inequitable distribution of wealth and power in the global system. While several countries have developed homegrown vaccines to avoid being priced out of markets dominated by transnational drug companies, Brazil—a country with a significant research and pharmaceutical base—lagged behind those of other middle-income countries. Why? This paper blends insights from dependency theory and the theory of global capitalism to demonstrate how political coalitions, leadership, and normative frameworks negatively affect state capacity and technological development. First, austerity in public investment in research, development, and innovation prior to and during the pandemic limited the amount of resources necessary to create homegrown vaccine candidates. Second, political leadership informed by science denialism did not prioritize the development of vaccines and even discouraged their use. The analysis of vaccine development in Brazil reveals that having a pharmaceutical base and strong leadership committed to scientific principles and backed by a political coalition seeking to expand social democratic rights play a vital role in developing treatments and responding to health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the main methods of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission are air and physical contact, actions to mitigate and suppress its spread must be developed in order to change population dynamics and provide efficient control strategies. Here, these actions are described as a simple heuristic framework to establish public policies. Two control systems were studied: the first organized in the form of an algorithm stratified into three levels and the second as a minimization problem similar to optimal control strategies, applied to both social distancing and vaccination. The possible effects of these actions are modeled and applied to an extension of the Susceptible - Infected - Removed (SIR) compartmental model. The control system is developed, which is organized in the form of an algorithm stratified into three levels. These levels intend to represent social distancing strategies implemented by sanitary authorities around the globe, representing stronger or weaker grades of isolation intensity according to the ability of the healthcare system to cope with symptomatic individuals. The algorithm control is applied in a simulation, and the results give evidence of the effectiveness of the procedures adopted against the coronavirus. The model dynamics are analyzed and validated with simulations considering parameters obtained from epidemiological data from Brazil and Uruguay and in a more detailed way for three Brazilian states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. The model was validated using cumulative data on cases and deaths. For cases of death, the results were satisfactory, while for case data, the response was reasonable, considering the possibility of adding delays or variations in parameters in the model. In addition, the effective reproduction number was proposed for the cities studied in Brazil, the result being relevant because it has a qualitative behavior similar to that published by official centers. This paper also discusses the implementation and optimization of social distancing and vaccination control strategies, considering different parameters and their effects on reducing the number of cases and deaths. Model simulations present promising results for developing strategies to attack COVID-19 dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although slack is an asset to resilient hospitals, it is usually explicitly discussed only in terms of the quantity and quality of beds and staff. This paper expands this view by addressing slack in four infrastructures of intensive care units (ICUs) (physical space, electricity supply, oxygen supply, and air treatment) during the COVID pandemic. Methods: The study occurred in a leading private hospital in Brazil, aiming at the identification of slack in four units originally designed as ICUs and two units adapted as ICUs. Data collection was based on 12 interviews with healthcare professionals, documents, and comparison between infrastructures and regulatory requirements. Results: Twenty-seven instantiations of slack were identified, with several indications that the adapted ICUs did not provide infrastructure conditions as good as the designed ones. Findings gave rise to five propositions addressing: relationships intra and inter infrastructures; the need for adapted ICUs that match as closely as possible the designed ICUs; the consideration of both clinical and engineering perspectives in design; and the need for the revision of some requirements of the Brazilian regulations. Conclusions: Results are relevant to both the designers of the infrastructures and to the designers of clinical activities as these must take place in fit-for-purpose workspaces. Top management might also benefit as they are the ultimate responsible for decision-making on whether or not to invest in slack. The pandemic dramatically demonstrated the value of investing in slack resources, creating momentum for this discussion in health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has never been so much flexibility and organizational capacity to adjust to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on work. This article examines beliefs and perceptions related to new arrangements imposed by compulsory telework on skills and performance management practices, as well as identifying related advantages and disadvantages associated. This paper draws on 17 in-depth interviews using the collaborative interactive action research method. The authors study how leaders acted in multiple ways, aiming to reduce the negative effects on workers and work design and provide greater balance of actions. The perspective of multiple levels of action was adopted, considering human and social behavior and organizational arrangements made at a macro level. The sense of collectivity and the search for the standardization of routines were privileged in the interpretation of the answers. The main results reflect the influence of compulsory telework to performance factors, essential competencies required, and the main advantages and disadvantages associated to the construct. This study is relevant for organization studies, especially in the kinds of organizational contexts where there is still unpreparedness to deal with the effects of the pandemic or have uncoordinated telework practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do state courts in Brazil participate in the debate about Covid-19 policies? I argue that state courts had a role in making decisions on key policies when political actors couldn't agree on how to handle the crisis. This paper compares its findings to what previous research has found on the role of the stf at the federal level. The results show that subnational institutions tried to use state courts to halt such policies in a similar way to what happened in the stf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As health systems struggle to tackle the spread of Covid-19, resilience becomes an especially relevant attribute and research topic. More than strength or preparedness, to perform resiliently to emerging shocks, health systems must develop specific abilities that aim to increase their potential to adapt to extraordinary situations while maintaining their regular functioning. Brazil has been one of the most affected countries during the pandemic. In January 2021, the Amazonas state's health system collapsed, especially in the city of Manaus, where acute Covid-19 patients died due to scarcity of medical supplies for respiratory therapy. Methods: This paper explores the case of the health system's collapse in Manaus to uncover the elements that prevented the system from performing resiliently to the pandemic, by carrying out a grounded-based systems analysis of the performance of health authorities in Brazil using the Functional Resonance Analysis Method. The major source of information for this study was the reports from the congressional investigation carried out to unveil the Brazilian response to the pandemic. Results: Poor cohesion between the different levels of government disrupted essential functions for managing the pandemic. Moreover, the political agenda interfered in the abilities of the system to monitor, respond, anticipate, and learn, essential aspects of resilient performance. Conclusions: Through a systems analysis approach, this study describes the implicit strategy of "living with Covid-19", and an in-depth view of the measures that hampered the resilience of the Brazilian health system to the spread of Covid-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the mechanisms through which the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic impacts on well-being at work and on productivity. The secondary objective is to identify stress management strategies for the work environment during the pandemic. This is an integrative review. Phase 1 consisted of searches of open access electronic databases (MEDLINE, SciELO, Bireme, and LILACS) for papers published in 2020 addressing mental health, work, and pandemics. Phase 2 consisted of selecting literature recommended by specialists in occupational psychiatry and positive psychology. These materials were read and critically analyzed. Forty references were included in the literature review. The articles reviewed were classified into the following categories: articles concerning work relationships in Brazil; articles describing the impact of pandemics on mental health and work; articles focusing on the work of health professionals during pandemics; articles about well-being at work; and papers proposing strategies to improve well-being and productivity and to promote mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic can have a significant impact on workers' mental health and productivity. Most professionals face a need to adapt to changes, which can decrease their feeling of well-being. Consequently, strategies to promote well-being and mental health in the work environment should be a priority. Work routines were modified after the COVID-19 pandemic set in and assessing these changes is essential to maintain workers' mental health. By so doing, it is possible to promote general well-being and post-traumatic recovery and reduce stress levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript aims to map and characterize, through knowledge routes, the evolution of scientific studies on coronavirus based on papers developed by researchers affiliated with research institutions in Brazil. Inspired by the KDD processes, the publication's data were obtained from Web of Science until 2021. Then the citation network was built and, using SPLC algorithm, the knowledge routes were designed. The results showed the high concentration of publications after 2020, demonstrating the concern and commitment of Brazilian researchers in investigations on this topic. The results also showed priority areas such as medical, followed by social that approach measures to contain the virus spread. It also identified two knowledge routes with different characteristics, reinforcing the scope of knowledge related to the topic. Thus, this paper contributes to the literature by presenting the evolution of scientific knowledge, reiterating the quality and production capacity of researchers affiliated to Brazilian institutions. It also contributes by presenting the most researched topics and pointing out the profiles of the researchers involved. Finally, it complements the current literature by ratifying the use of network analysis as a tool for representing and investigating knowledge, in addition to mapping and analyzing the evolution of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global media have reported widely on the (in)actions of the Brazilian federal government, particularly of president Jair Bolsonaro, in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper aims to describe media representations in terms of their transitivity choices (HALLIDAY; MATTHIESSEN, 2004) and to discuss how emerged language patterns may be indicative of particular ways life and death have been controlled in terms of a coupled conceptualization between biopolitics (FOUCAULT, 2008) and necropolitics (MBEMBE, 2019) which we call necrobiopolitics. Overall results indicate how the death of babies and mothers, the collapse of hospital and health service, the spike in hunger, the dismissal of the severity of the pandemic, and the purposeful delay in purchasing vaccines are instrumental in the way president Jair Bolsonaro has implemented a political agenda that defines whose lives are worthy and whose deaths are tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates in which circumstances the contamination by the new coronavirus can be considered as an accident at work in Brazil, generating the legal effects resulting from this equation. The deductive method was used, as a method of approach, for the central bibliographic research of the present work combined with the method of qualitative analysis procedure for the study of judgments. The research was subdivided into: the study of the concept of typical work accident provided for in the caput of article 19 of Law n. 8.213/1991 and the hypotheses of labor accident by equivalence provided for in articles 20 and 21 of the same Law, among them, the occupational disease genre and its two species: occupational disease and occupational disease; the decision of the Federal Supreme Court handed down on the occasion of the judgment of Direct Actions of unconstitutionality n. 6342, 6344, 6345, 6346, 6348, 6349 and 6352, which determined the suspension of the effectiveness of article 29 of Provisional Measure 927/2020, which limited the possibility of recognizing covid-19 as an occupational disease, except upon proof of the causal link; Finally, the practical effect of the aforementioned decision was observed, using the dialectical method based on the qualitative study of two judicial processes of great national repercussion, as a result of the research, it was mapped that in only one of the cases covid-19 was equated with the work accident., in this way the understanding of the causal nexus is an essential element for this configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze how Brazil and Portugal, countries with historical relations, positioned themselves to face the pandemic of the coronavirus in the educational context. Comparing the strategies adopted by the two countries, we seek to answer the following question: were the strategies adopted by the Brazilian educational managers efficient to face the moment of crisis? Could another path have been taken? To carry out this analysis, a bibliographical survey was adopted, detailing the actions implemented by the two countries to face the greatest educational challenge of the 21st century. The results of the analysis show that Brazil, in a mistaken way, bet only on Emergency Remote Learning, since there was no adequate infrastructure to do so, which harmed millions of students in the country. Portugal mixed formats and got better results, which led to very visible consequences, such as a shorter time of closure of the schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to present aspects related to corporate governance, organisational resilience and sustainable practices developed by Brazilian companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The methodological strategy included documentary research to identify sustainability reports published by companies listed on the Ibovespa index, which were examined through the content analysis technique. The results allowed light to be shed on opportunities for improvement concerning sustainability and corporate governance. Regarding organisational resilience, risk management is central for the development of sustainability practices by organisations. The support to society related to the COVID-19 pandemic was evidenced mainly through the donation of financial resources, equipment and hospital supplies. Practices related to reducing energy consumption and minimising waste generation were those most associated with environmental aspects. The actions identified were mapped according to their relations with the SDGs. Managers can benefit from the information presented in this study to enhance organisational sustainability and resilience, while researchers can use it as a starting point for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the advance of the extreme right and neoconservatism in Brazil and its repercussions in the sphere of state action and in the field of rights related to the exercise of prostitution, in the context of the pandemic. The conservative advance was outlined before the election of Bolsonaro and the pandemic, gained dramatic contours with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis of initiatives carried out by organizations of the movement of sex workers in the period of the pandemic, identified through documentary research, reveals the challenges, agenda and strategies adopted in the face of the pandemic and the dismantling and defunding of government actions, sponsored by the new administration. This paper also highlights the construction of articulations with different political subjects, from different spheres, in order to face demands (new and old) sharpened by the pandemic and the lack of support from the federal government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an initial analysis of issues related to health work in Brazil, in the context of COVID-19 Pandemic, seeking to contribute to a debate about the relationships between work process, the ongoing psychological dynamics and the struggle for health. It is based on a framework of Work Organizational Psychology, guided by the point of view of the activity and experience, to account for materials emerging from an experiment that has been developed within the scope of "University Extension", under the coordination of the two authors of the paper. Initially, both the international emergency context of COVID-19 and general characteristics of the work situations that are being faced by health professionals are presented. Then, upon selection of a main axis as the object of attention, the analysis of some work situations, present in that dramatic context, is carried out, which allowed to present some clues, as conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propolis has gained wide popularity over the last decades in several parts of the world. In parallel, the literature about propolis composition and biological properties increased markedly. A great number of papers have demonstrated that propolis from different parts of the world is composed mainly of phenolic substances, frequently flavonoids, derived from plant resins. Propolis has a relevant role in increasing the social immunity of bee hives. Experimental evidence indicates that propolis and its components have activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Mechanisms of action on bacteria, fungi, and viruses are known for several propolis components. Experiments have shown that propolis may act synergistically with antibiotics, antifungals, and antivirus drugs, permitting the administration of lower doses of drugs and higher antimicrobial effects. The current trend of growing resistance of microbial pathogens to the available drugs has encouraged the introduction of propolis in therapy against infectious diseases. Because propolis composition is widely variable, standardized propolis extracts have been produced. Successful clinical trials have included propolis extracts as medicine in dentistry and as an adjuvant in the treatment of patients against COVID-19. Present world health conditions encourage initiatives toward the spread of the niche of propolis, not only as traditional and alternative medicine but also as a relevant protagonist in anti-infectious therapy. Production of propolis and other apiary products is environmentally friendly and may contribute to alleviating the current crisis of the decline of bee populations. Propolis production has had social-economic relevance in Brazil, providing benefits to underprivileged people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Romani people are a minority that has been historically excluded, neglected, and persecuted in the different countries where they are settled, especially if we consider the context of their arrival in Europe and the colonization processes developed by European nations. Thus, this paper sheds light on how the Romani communities have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic from the communication and health perspective and provides a critical view of the abovementioned processes. We discuss theoretically how these ethnicities are crossed by multiple oppressions that place them in an unequal situation and the role of communication in their social inclusion or the maintenance of their exclusion. We highlight how their invisibility and how historical stereotypes were highlighted during the pandemic, deepening the unequal relations. From a critical perspective on discursive relations, we analyzed two journalistic reports from 2020, the local newspaper O Popular in Brazil and the national newspaper ABC in Spain. Some results suggest that the Romani population has been somewhat held accountable for disseminating the virus. Moreover, they seem to have been silenced as subjects capable of articulating and reflecting on their conditions and situations in the pandemic context, showing similarities in the portrayal of the Romani people in the Ibero-American context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The virtual platform CHA for educators is a social technology to support educators in the expansion of knowledge and development of skills and attitudes in health to face the social and educational changes due to COVID-19. This paper presents quali-quantitative analyses of a sample population of basic education educators in Brazil, consulted by the project for validation. The pilot study was conducted by means of an electronic questionnaire distributed on social media for one month to active basic education teachers. Of these, 83 answered the entire questionnaire, 75% are women with an average age of 41.3 years, with more than 15 years of teaching; 59% belong to the risk group and work in public education; 52.6% were bereaved, and 43% have difficulty with digital media. Educators (85%) reported being stressed and afraid. Most indicated working more than 12 hours/day (75%), but identified that student attendance in remote classes was low. The content analysis of the speeches written in the diagnostic questionnaire revealed two categories, Teacher Health and Teaching-Learning, and 14 subcategories (07 for each) related to the impacts of the pandemic on the educator's health directly influencing their praxis and the quality of the teaching-learning process. The results showed the need for a space of care for the teacher's health and for professional qualification and exchange among them to improve the teaching-learning process in times of the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the worst public health crises in Brazil and the world that has ever been faced. One of the main challenges that the healthcare systems have when decision-making is that the protocols tested in other epidemics do not guarantee success in controlling the spread of COVID-19, given its complexity. In this context, an effective response to guide the competent authorities in adopting public policies to fight COVID-19 depends on thoughtful analysis and effective data visualization, ideally based on different data sources. In this paper, we discuss and provide tools that can be helpful using data analytics to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak in Recife, Brazil. We use exploratory data analysis and inferential study to determine the trend changes in COVID-19 cases and their effective or instantaneous reproduction numbers. According to the data obtained of confirmed COVID-19 cases disaggregated at a regional level in this zone, we note a heterogeneous spread in most megaregions in Recife, Brazil. When incorporating quarantines decreed, effectiveness is detected in the regions. Our results indicate that the measures have effectively curbed the spread of the disease in Recife, Brazil. However, other factors can cause the effective reproduction number to not be within the expected ranges, which must be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the issue of the configuration of a network for the digital fabrication of personal protective equipment to fight the pandemic of COVID-19. The main aim is to highlight how creative and innovative design practices, based on digital fabrication, have contributed to combat the new coronavirus in Brazil, concerning the design, production and distribution of face shields. The paper is the result of both exploratory, descriptive and qualitative research. In addition to documentary data and revisiting design literature, this work sought to understand the network formation modus operandi for digital manufacture of face shields, based on examples carried out in every region of the country. In conclusion, it argued that these social mobilization networks are based on the assumptions of the maker culture and reveal the potential for an open, distributed and resilient design to face this contemporary and future crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new betacoronavirus, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the cause of COVID-19, and has spread rapidly around the world, reaching more than 200 countries, around 364 million people and causing more than 5 million deaths according to the World Health Organization, so this paper reports a fatal case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a young pregnant woman with heart disease, without vertical transmission. A 26 years old patient at 28th week of pregnancy with regular prenatal care, presented dry cough, high fever, and severe respiratory distress. Due to her clinical symptoms, she sought medical care at a cardiology hospital in Northern Brazil. The medical conditions she presented were heart disease, rheumatic fever history and had no recent record of national or international travel. She was hospitalized and after clinical stabilization, she was referred for an emergency cesarean intervention. The young mother and the newborn were transferred to the intensive care unit after surgery, where diagnostic tests for respiratory viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2, were performed. The mother tested positive, while her newborn was negative for SARS-CoV-2 demonstrating no vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in this severe case. This study reveals that despite the mother's initially mild symptoms, she progressed to severe clinical conditions resulting in death, although no vertical transmission was observed. This report highlights the relevance of comorbidities for the unfavorable clinical course of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unprecedented, and many control and prevention measures have been implemented to test for and trace COVID-19. However, invisible-spreaders, who are associated with nucleic acid detection and asymptomatic infections, have received insufficient attention in the current COVID-19 control efforts. In this paper, we analyze the time series infection data for Italy, Germany, Brazil, India and Sweden since the first wave outbreak to address the following issues through a series of experiments. We conclude that: 1) As of June 1, 2020, the proportion of invisible-spreaders is close to 0.4% in Sweden, 0.8% in early Italy and Germany, and 0.4% in the middle and late stages. However, in Brazil and India, the proportion still shows a gradual upward trend; 2) During the spread of this pandemic, even a slight increase in the proportion of invisible-spreaders could have large implications for the health of the community; and 3) On resuming work, the pandemic intervention measures will be relaxed, and invisible-spreaders will cause a new round of outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to investigate the limits of coping with the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil, in its first 180 days. The methodology used is bibliographic survey, to find gaps in the field of social sciences, and a discourse analysis, in a Marxist sense. The results indicate two types of problems: an organic, which is related to the condition of a country of dependent capitalism, which has a form of autocratic domination, which negatively influences public health; the other is the Bolsonaro's government and its inertia in dealing with the health crisis. Also, the pandemic develops unevenly, reaching mostly the poorest and blacks / browns, showing the class character of the pandemic in Brazil. Finally, we criticize the limits of the approaches that defend the return of the Keynesian State as a solution to the crisis of neoliberalism that the coronavirus opens up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is experiencing a moment of apprehension, which began in late 2019 and extended throughout the years 2020/21 which corresponds to the pandemic period of Covid 19. The disease arrived in Brazil in late February and spread all over the country. In Ponta Grossa, it arrived a few months later and the first case of community transmission occurred on 05/26/2020. From this date on, it was possible to establish correlations between the climate and Covid 19, considering air temperature (maximum, average, and minimum) and solar radiation, the main goal of this paper. With the elaboration of graphs and statistical treatment of the data, it was possible to determine the correlation between climatic variables and the new cases of Covid 19. It should be noted that it is necessary to continue the research to better understand the moment we are living and the mentioned relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at analyzing two types of eristic argumentative interactions held in CNN Brazil YouTube channel: an interaction between debaters and mediators in the 'Debate 360' show and an interaction between the comments of the social network users about the same debate. The study draws on Plantin's (2008) interactional perspective on argumentation, on Amossys's (2018) view on argumentative polemics, on Walton's (1998) conception of eristic dialogue and on Culpeper's (2011) and Blitvich's (2010) discussion on interactive impoliteness. The corpus is composed, in terms of the debate, of twelve argumentative interventions and, in terms of comments, of a chain of nine utterances, all of them characterized by the instantiation of eristic features. The analysis focuses on (1) the interaction between two specialists, mediated by two journalists, about a controverse theme - the usage of hydroxichloroquine on Covid-19 patients, and (2) the interaction between the social network users in reaction to the debaters' argumentation. The study shows which characteristics of polemics are instantiated in both interactions, specifies the features of the eristic dialogue that characterize the interactions and indicates how impoliteness acts are associated with argumentation. The results enable to comprehend how eristic argumentative interactions work in the digital environment and how the formation of ideological bubbles affords opportunities for conflicts of opinion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: An outbreak of the COVID-19 was appended in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. Lots of related papers were published in the world since then. Objective: This study aimed to identify and analyze the characteristics of COVID-19 publications in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED) published by Latin Americans in 2020. Methods: Documents including searching keywords in their title, abstract, or author keywords from SCIEXPANDED were assessed. The analyzed aspects covered characteristics of document types, languages, Web of Science categories, and journals. Publication performances of countries and institutions were evaluated by six publication indicators and two citation indicators. Results: A lower percentage of articles and a higher percentage of Spanish language were found. Web of Science category of general and internal medicine published the most articles. The Clinics was the most popular journal. The Cadernos de Saude Publica and Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira published the most publications and reviews, respectively. Brazil took a leading position in the six publication indicators. The University of São Paulo in Brazil was the most productive institution. Based on the number of citations from the Web of Science Core Collection since publication to the end of 2020, 10 most frequently cited publications were presented. In addition, the analysis of words in publication titles, author keywords, and KeyWords Plus was performed to find the main research focuses. Conclusions: In 2020, a total of 3 056 COVID-19 documents in SCI-EXPANDED were published by Latin Americans mainly in the Web of Science categories of 'general and internal medicine' and 'public, environmental and occupational health'. More letters and editorial materials and fewer articles were published in the first year of its outbreak. A higher percentage of Spanish and Portuguese publications was found. Brazil dominated the six publication indicators. The University of São Paulo in Brazil ranked top in all the six publication indicators while the Technological University of Pereira in Colombia had a higher impact for their first- and corresponding-author publications. Health and infection were the main research focuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study about using colors in maps that present information related to the Covid-19 pandemic. A sample was collected from two different governmental websites of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. An analysis framework was developed based on the sample and drew from a literature review about the use of colors and maps in data visualization. The analysis showed that one of the examples collected presents an inconsistent use of colors, which could prompt difficulties in visualizing the data; the other example uses color more consistently, potentially being more effective in communicating information. In addition, the study showed potential for continuity and expansion due to the relevance of information design applied to health information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Theory of Social Change underscores that public policy that tries to solve a collective issue will always have the capacity of impacting on the process and on the evolution of social change. Since from the start of coronavirus infection cases in Brazil, state governments established legal mechanisms for the control and coping with the disease within their respective jurisdictions. Current paper analyzes the norms and laws published by the administration of the state of Paraná, Brazil, issued between 2019 and 2020, from the point of view of the Theory of Social Change. Norms were selected by researching the digital platform Legislation State System available by the government. Research criteria were the terms "covid", "coronavirus" and "sars cov 2". However, following inclusion/exclusion criteria, only laws with direct and wide social impact were selected for analysis. Initial research produced 297 results, but only 15 attended to selection criteria. Results show the effort by the administration to control and cope with the pandemic through changes in customs involving self-protection and social movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes how the journalistic discourse becomes a stage for the discussions between different points of view about the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil when using the voice of science, supported by scientific knowledge, and the voice of the idiot, when combats the former voice. Our corpus consists of five headlines and five leads about the theme, published on the website of the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo between March 20 and 24, 2020. The dialogical relations analysis showed that journalistic discourse comes to be a bivocalization in the scientific discourse, expressing the voice of science diffusely; creates an arena of discussions between the voice of science and the voice of the idiot, bringing anti-science valuations when bivocalizes itself with the Bolsonarist discourse; and discredits the voice of the idiot, standing off from it through the quoted speech, as well as producing the effects of meaning over the Covid-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work uses anonymized geolocation data from 60 million mobile phone users in Brazil to quantify the impact of coronavirus lockdown measures on social distancing. The results confirm that the current share of the population staying home is lower than the target set by the public authorities to combat the spread of COVID-19. Using difference-in-difference and panel data regression to evaluate the determinants of social distancing, this paper confirms a statistically significant association between political support for Bolsonaro and social distancing. Since the Brazilian president is urging the population to ignore the COVID-19 "hysteria" and get back to a normal routine, the impact of social distancing rules on the circulation of people is lower at a statistically significant level in municipalities with a higher share of Bolsonaro voters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews the recent findings in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage samples. We discuss how wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) can be used as a complementary tool to help the fight against COVID-19 spread, particularly in low-income countries with low sewage coverage and where the testing coverage is deficient, such as Brazil. One of the major challenges on WBS is the use of different protocols to estimate the number of infected people in a community from the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. Therefore, we assembled and reviewed all the relevant data available to date about this topic. Virus concentration and detection methods were reviewed as well, and some of them can be performed in most of the microbiology and environmental engineering laboratories in low-income countries, as discussed. Moreover, the monitoring and sampling plan should represent the local reality. Thus, we suggest unique strategies for sewage sampling and monitoring in different sewerage network points and the slums, despite the possible logistics difficulties involved. Considering the low levels of sanitation in most urban agglomerates in Brazil, WBS can potentially assume a crucial role as a costeffective strategy to monitor the circulation of the virus and assess the real prevalence of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the relationship between organizations belonging to the sharing economy and their practices, behaviors and postures in organizational communication due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus. We define the sharing economy (or collaborative economy) as the goods and services provided by the digital platforms of the network through the sharing of resources and trust. We take as a premise the compulsory digitalization that many businesses have been subjected to and we started the reflection from there. Our analysis, based on bibliographic and exploratory research, was located in brands chosen intentionally, in Brazil and Portugal, seeking to reflect on the context of covid-19 and its respective communication actions in their digital properties or in their social media profiles. We illustrated strategies for exposure and communicational visibility from March until August 2020, reaching a reflection on the urgency to act actively in social demands, characterizing them as social brands. In our understanding, a social brand has a strong presence in digital, stands out with good communication practices and, above all, has a performance strategy that goes beyond its business or direct profit not only during a period of crisis, but also aware of its social role and the impact that its responsible performance generates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the result of an ongoing master's research project, and aims to discuss the role of memes in response to Brazilian fake news shared on the Internet during pandemic times. We selected memes that show recent Brazilian episodes that bring up themes such as the trivialization of the new coronavirus, possible treatments for its cure and a growing online social discontent regarding the way that the Federal Government has been dealing with the pandemic in Brazil. For this analysis, we use the cartographic method to reflect on what the memes posted online during this pandemic narrate, recognizing that they invite us to critically observe the social impacts of a period highlighted by intense political disputes. Researching memes that expose fake Brazilian news means relying on the importance of the Internet to enhance the production and sharing of images-sayings that encourage us to participate in an important cyberactivist movement orchestrated against some government decisions in pandemic times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maker Networks indicate how society organizes itself to overcome significant challenges, such as the lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyze initiatives that produced PPE for frontline health staff to propose design guidelines for implementing RDM-Maker Networks: networks of people and organizations in the Maker Movement that collaboratively produce goods or services organized in a redistributed manufacturing (RDM) model. This paper has two main results: five Maker Networks in Brazil analyzed in terms of their RDM features and the subsequent design guidelines. We selected cases through several criteria like their location and the type of one of their nodes. Those criteria also represent limitations that further works can address. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic effects of isolation policies resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic have led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to look for alternatives to survive. Within this crisis scenario, an engaged university has an important role to play in a regional context in addressing not only health issues, but also any resultant social and economic problems. An engaged university needs to take actions that go beyond its traditional missions of education and research - it has to deliver knowledge to society. This paper analyzes a university-community project in Brazil to identify the necessary elements that help promote a regionally-engaged university: the SOS-PME Advisory Network project, which was originally designed to assist SMEs during the crisis. As a result, we identified elements necessary for promoting the university's third mission - social engagement by way of a university-community project: an engaged team, multidisciplinarity, project management, agility, alliances, a communication strategy, institutional support, and reputation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with the mathematical modeling and numerical simulations related to the coronavirus dynamics. A description is developed based on the framework of the susceptible-exposed-infectious-removed model. Initially, a model verification is carried out calibrating system parameters with data from China, Italy, Iran, and Brazil. Results show the model capability to predict infectious evolution. Afterward, numerical simulations are performed in order to analyze different scenarios of COVID-19 in Brazil. Results show the importance of the governmental and individual actions to control the number and the period of the critical situations related to the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to slow down the spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, it is vital to adopt measures to inform citizens about preventive actions. Such an operation requires a wideranged system that comprises a variety of interfaces as channels between citizens and healthcare authority's information services. Amongst such interfaces, the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems can present benefits for informing citizens about the pandemic. Although the literature shows that IVR systems have been used for healthcare, the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic demands new examinations on the role of IVR systems on a multiplatform system for delivering information. This paper aimed to identify gaps and opportunities for the use of IVR systems to inform citizens about the COVID-19 pandemic. A case study was conducted by mapping the Brazilian Ministry of Healthcare's channels of information about the coronavirus and analyzing the Disque Saúde IVR system - a phonebased ombudsman channel - based on literature recommendations. The results showed that while IVR systems have great potential for accessibility, it is essential that all types of information are available and continuously updated for citizens. Furthermore, the vast and mutable availability of information in a pandemic scenario may be a challenge for the usability of such systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 demanded initiatives beyond the sole provision of physical artifacts, urging the development of new services and system innovations in order to produce effective solutions. In this paper the authors report one of such initiatives, where a streetwear brand (ÖUS) and Paraná Federal University have joined efforts to develop a sustainable Product-Service System for mask provision, aiming at the protection of vulnerable school children in the surrounding area of a shoe manufacturing plant in the state of Ceará, one of the epicenters of the pandemic in the country. This consisted of an Action Design Research where, due to the pandemic context, all participants were in social isolation and, therefore, the design process was carried out remotely. In the article, the authors explore in-depth the induction of a more distributed economy paradigm on the PSS Design. A distributed approach presents itself more aligned with the health requirements during pandemic, with a higher potential to contain locally the flow of people. Furthermore, it also addresses the need for generating income locally, thus merging the health and economic concerns of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile geolocation data is a valuable asset in the assessment of movement patterns of a population. Once a highly contagious disease takes place in a location the movement patterns aid in predicting the potential spatial spreading of the disease, hence mobile data becomes a crucial tool to epidemic models. In this work, based on millions of anonymized mobile visits data in Brazil, we investigate the most probable spreading patterns of the COVID-19 within states of Brazil. The study is intended to help public administrators in action plans and resources allocation, whilst studying how mobile geolocation data may be employed as a measure of population mobility during an epidemic. This study focuses on the states of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro during the period of March 2020, when the disease first started to spread in these states. Metapopulation models for the disease spread were simulated in order to evaluate the risk of infection of each city within the states, by ranking them according to the time the disease will take to infect each city. We observed that, although the high-risk regions are those closer to the capital cities, where the outbreak has started, there are also cities in the countryside with great risk. The mathematical framework developed in this paper is quite general and may be applied to locations around the world to evaluate the risk of infection by diseases, in special the COVID-19, when geolocation data is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper formulates a Model Predictive Control (MPC) policy to mitigate the COVID-19 contagion in Brazil, designed as optimal On-Off social isolation strategy. The proposed optimization algorithm is able to determine the time and duration of social distancing policies in the country. The achieved results are based on data from the period between March and May of 2020, regarding the cumulative number of infections and deaths due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This dataset is assumably largely sub-notified due to the absence of mass testing in Brazil. Thus, the MPC is based on a SIR model which is identified using an uncertainty-weighted Least-Squares criterion. Furthermore, this model includes an additional dynamic variable that mimics the response of the population to the social distancing policies determined by the government, which affect the COVID-19 transmission rate. The proposed control method is set within a mixed-logical formalism, since the decision variable is forcefully binary (existence or the absence of social distance policy). A dwell-time constraint is included to avoid too frequent shifts between these two inputs. The achieved simulation results illustrate how such optimal control method would operate in practice, pointing out that no social distancing should be relaxed before mid August 2020. If relaxations are necessary, they should not be performed before this date and should be in small periods, no longer than 25 days. This paradigm would proceed roughly until January/2021. The results also indicate a possible second peak of infections, which has a forecast to the beginning of October. This peak can be reduced if the periods of days with relaxed social isolation measures are shortened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, Brazilian public management has made decisions of public interest that directly impact the lives of practically all Brazilians and present several intrinsic ethical issues. From this context, this article aims to identify and discuss some of the main moral dilemmas that challenge Brazilian public management in the face of the pandemic. To this end, news reports were selected from journalistic websites that presented dilemmas that occurred or are still occurring in Brazil. Six thematic areas were identified: social distancing; use of big data in the pandemic's management; the performance of health professionals; federal emergency aid and bureaucracy; school closures and online learning; and release of prisoners as a preventive measure. It was observed that, in contexts of crisis, citizens and public managers are displaced from their status quo, which leads to new forms of moral reasoning. These issues demand continuous reflection and debate on the ethical aspects of the pandemic, especially to the governments' social and moral obligations and the limits of such disruption to citizen's rights in a period of crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought concerns to managers, healthcare professionals, and the general population related to the potential mechanical ventilators' shortage for severely ill patients. In Brazil, there are several initiatives aimed at producing alternative ventilators to cover this gap. To assist the teams that work in these initiatives, we provide a discussion of some basic concepts on physiology and respiratory mechanics, commonly used mechanical ventilation terms, the differences between triggering and cycling, the basic ventilation modes and other relevant aspects, such as mechanisms of ventilator-induced lung injury, respiratory drive, airway heating and humidification, crosscontamination risks, and aerosol dissemination. After the prototype development phase, preclinical benchtests and animal model trials are needed to determine the safety and performance of the ventilator, following the minimum technical requirements. Next, it is mandatory going through the regulatory procedures as required by the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária - ANVISA). The manufacturing company should be appropriately registered by ANVISA, which also must be notified about the conduction of clinical trials, following the research protocol approval by the Research Ethics Committee. The registration requisition of the ventilator with ANVISA should include a dossier containing the information described in this paper, which is not intended to cover all related matters but to provide guidance on the required procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents contributions on the spatial diffusion of Covid-19 in the state of Tocantins, considering the spatial interactions of the main regional, sub-regional and micro-regional centers, as well as the regional particularities of this urban network. It was pointed out a complex geographical position in the North Center region of Brazil, with spatial articulations among regions, locations, cities and people, which facilitate the spread of the pandemic, not only through hierarchical interactions, but also through complementary interactions. Such interactions reveal two dispersion patterns, a vertical one and a horizontal one, which resulted in spatial configurations that combine nodes, axes and areas, which place Tocantins in a critical epidemiological situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to identify the factors associated with the use and reuse of masks among Brazilian individuals in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: cross-sectional study conducted in the five Brazilian regions, among adult individuals, via an electronic form disseminated in social media, addressing general information and the use of masks. Bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression were used to identify the factors associated with the use and reuse of masks. Results: 3,981 (100%) individuals participated in the study. In total, 95.5% (CI 95%: 94.8-96.1) reported using masks. Fabric masks were more frequently reported (72.7%; CI 95%: 71.3-74.1), followed by surgical masks (27.8%; CI 95%: 26.5-29.2). The percentage of reuse was 71.1% (CI 95%: 69.7-72.5). Most (55.8%; CI 95%: 51.7-60.0) of those exclusively wearing surgical masks reported its reuse. Being a woman and having had contact with individuals presenting respiratory symptoms increased the likelihood of wearing masks (p≤0.001). Additionally, being a woman decreased the likelihood of reusing surgical masks (p≤0.001). Conclusion: virtually all the participants reported the use of masks, most frequently fabric masks. The findings draw attention to a risky practice, that of reusing surgical and paper masks. Therefore, guidelines, public policies, and educational strategies are needed to promote the correct use of masks to control and prevent COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze the use of audiovisual production in social media as a Covid-19 defense and prevention mechanism among indigenous communities. The online holding of the Camp Free Land, as well debates and the production and dissemination of prevention videos on indigenous social networks marked the pandemic crisis in Brazil. The research brings up some historical aspects of the role played by epidemics and diseases in the trajectory of Brazilian indigenous peoples, raising reflections on this theme from the perspective of both non-indigenous and indigenous authors (OLIVEIRA; FREIRE, 2006; KOPENAWA; ALBERT, 2015; KRENAK, 2019). From the unsystematic observation of social media in Covid-19 times, this research notes the empowerment of indigenous media activism and the expansion of selfrepresentation through audiovisual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a preliminary study that aims to analyze the Covid-19 pandemic in the Amazonian border between Brazil and Colombia, more specifically in the twin cities of Tabatinga and Leticia. To this end, it seeks to identify the main decrees issued by the public authorities, both municipal, state and national, and verify their impact on the circulation of people and air traffic and the results in the number of those infected and killed by this disease. The results show that Tabatinga and Letícia show considerable growth in the number of infected by Covid-19. It is concluded that the integration of these spaces with other regional centers made possible by the air and river transport network ended up contributing to the entry of the new Coronavirus, confirming the insertion of these cities in the globalization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We analyze the correlation of meteorological and human mobility in Brazilian capitals. • We propose the EEMD-ARIMAX method to predict time series with independent variables. • We introduce an anomaly detection algorithm to adjust the prediction. In 2020, Brazil was the leading country in COVID-19 cases in Latin America, and capital cities were the most severely affected by the outbreak. Climates vary in Brazil due to the territorial extension of the country, its relief, geography, and other factors. Since the most common COVID-19 symptoms are related to the respiratory system, many researchers have studied the correlation between the number of COVID-19 cases with meteorological variables like temperature, humidity, rainfall, etc. Also, due to its high transmission rate, some researchers have analyzed the impact of human mobility on the dynamics of COVID-19 transmission. There is a dearth of literature that considers these two variables when predicting the spread of COVID-19 cases. In this paper, we analyzed the correlation between the number of COVID-19 cases and human mobility, and meteorological data in Brazilian capitals. We found that the correlation between such variables depends on the regions where the cities are located. We employed the variables with a significant correlation with COVID-19 cases to predict the number of COVID-19 infections in all Brazilian capitals and proposed a prediction method combining the Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) method with the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Exogenous inputs (ARIMAX) method, which we called EEMD-ARIMAX. After analyzing the results poor predictions were further investigated using a signal processing-based anomaly detection method. Computational tests showed that EEMD-ARIMAX achieved a forecast 26.73% better than ARIMAX. Moreover, an improvement of 30.69% in the average root mean squared error (RMSE) was noticed when applying the EEMD-ARIMAX method to the data normalized after the anomaly detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 61% of all human pathogens are zoonotic, representing 75% of all emerging pathogens during the past decade. Albeit significant technological leaps in diagnostics development and disease surveillance, zoonotic emerging infectious diseases are evermore a matter of concern, particularly in modern days where global warming keeps providing ideal climatic conditions to the introduction of exotic infectious agents or disease vectors in new territories. Worryingly, the 2019 novel coronavirus epidemic acts as an extreme reminder of the role animal reservoirs play in public health, accounting for over 4,200,000 deaths worldwide until today. In this Special Issue, we approach a myriad of zoonotic infectious diseases and their complex mechanisms. This Special Issue is composed of three reviews on zoonotic diseases of African Lions, hemogregarine classification, and hepatitis E virus in Brazil, followed by one letter and one opinion piece that broadens the spectrum of disease emergence to mechanistic aspects of emerging non-communicable diseases. The Special Issue is completed by six research papers covering a wide array of emerging and re-emerging diseases of poultry, bovine, poultry and tortoises, of various nature such as parasitic, bacterial, and viral. This is a brief but assertive collection that showcases the need to address health at the animal–human–environment interface, in a One Health perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]