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Abstract Background The death of women as a result of violent crime has become a major social and health problem worldwide. Most of these crimes are committed by their partners. The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have amplified the problem, given that measures to contain the spread of the disease have exposed women to more prolonged contact with their aggressors. Objective To describe the epidemiological profile of lethal and intentional violent crimes committed against women in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, from March 2018 to February 2020 (before the pandemic) and from March 2020 to December 2021 (during the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic). Methods This is an observational study involving all deaths of women due to lethal and intentional violent crimes. The data was obtained from the Alagoas State Secretariat for Public Security. The variables age, type of crime, means used, day of the week and time of the crime were analyzed. The specific mortality rate was calculated for the entire study period. Population data was obtained from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results There were 316 deaths during the study period. The mortality rate in 2020 (5.33/100,000) was higher than in the years prior to the pandemic (3.88/100,000 in 2018 and 4.84/100,000 in 2019). There was a predominance of the 18–29 (31.31%) and 30–39 (27.95%) age groups in both periods. The proportion of female homicides was 55.19% in the pre-pandemic period and 64.20% in the pandemic period. The proportion of beating deaths was 1.7 times higher in the pandemic period than in the non-pandemic period (15.23% vs. 8.97%). There was also an increase in beatings on Saturdays, with a proportion 1.60 times higher than in the pre-pandemic period (19.75% vs. 12.34%). Conclusion The victims were predominantly young women, the crimes classified as homicides and with the use of firearms. The study emphasizes that the context of the Covid-19 pandemic may have contributed to the increase in violent crimes against women in Alagoas, highlighting the urgency of preventive measures and support for victims.

This review explores recent advances in the design of fermentation processes for producing alternative proteins, focusing on utilizing agro-industrial waste and renewable substrates. New bioprocess strategies, such as experimental designs, optimizing bioreactors, bioprocesses, and applying precision fermentation can improve the protein yields and nutritional value. Also, unconventional substrates, such as hydrolysates derived from agro-industrial residues conversion may result in cost reduction and enhanced feasibility. The application of enzymes to produce protein-rich foods with high bioaccessibility that improve digestibility and nutritional value are also highlighted. This article addresses the importance of developing cost-effective fermentation solutions that minimize the environmental impact while addressing technical challenges such as scalability and contamination control. Furthermore, it emphasizes the growing need for innovations in fermentation process design to ensure the sustainability of industrial protein production. The review concludes that improvements in process design are fundamental in overcoming technological and regulatory barriers, particularly in increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of non-meat proteins in the global market.

Short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) is a common paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measure used to assess primary motor cortex (M1) interneuron activity in healthy populations and in neurological disorders. Many of the parameters of TMS stimulation to most accurately measure SICI have been determined. However, one TMS parameter that has not been investigated is the time between SICI trials (termed inter-trial interval; ITI). This is despite a series of single-pulse TMS studies which have reported that motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude were suppressed for short, but not long ITIs in approximately the initial ten trials of a TMS block of 20–30 trials. The primary purpose was to examine the effects of ITI on the quantification of SICI at rest. A total of 23 healthy adults completed an experimental session that included four SICI trial blocks. Each block utilized a different ITI (4, 6, 8, and 10 s) and was comprised of a total of 26 SICI trials divided into three epochs. ANOVA revealed that the main effects for ITI and epoch as well as their interaction were all non-statistically significant for SICI. We conclude that the shorter (4–6 s) ITIs used in studies investigating SICI should not alter the interpretation of M1 activity, while having the advantages of being more comfortable to participants and reducing the experimental time needed to evaluate perform single and paired-pulse TMS experiments.

Preocupações com a dificuldade de aprendizagem dos estudantes em todo mundo tem gerado diversas pesquisas na área educacional. Além disto, na última década há uma crescente divulgação de métodos que tem a pretensão de ajudar os alunos a serem aprendizes mais eficientes. Esta resenha discorre sobre as contribuições, possiblidades e limitações do “método do poder da aprendizagem – MPA”, que é apresentado no livro “Ensinando os alunos a se ensinarem: O método do poder da aprendizagem”, de Guy Claxton. O método trata-se do relato de sua experiência como educador em diferentes partes do mundo, e demonstra respostas positivas frente aos desafios que foram propostos aos estudantes que participaram das atividades. Vale ressaltar que como qualquer metodologia educativa, o professor deve avaliar a sua realidade e fazer as adaptações necessárias para seu uso, ou ainda, concluir a impossibilidade de aplicação em sua sala de aula.

BackgroundThe elimination of lymphatic filariasis (LF) from Brazil by 2020 was not accomplished; however, this goal can be achieved in the upcoming years with the assistance of specific strategies. The surveillance of LF can be performed using molecular xenomonitoring (MX), a noninvasive method used to infer the presence of the parasite in the human population. Herein, São Luís (state of Maranhão) was the first city to be investigated to identify whether LF transmission in Brazil has been interrupted and if there were any new incursions.Methodology/principal findingsMosquitoes were collected by aspiration at 901 points distributed among 11 neighborhoods in São Luís with records of patients with microfilaremia. Pools of engorged or gravid Culex quinquefasciatus females were evaluated by WbCx duplex PCR with endogenous control for mosquitoes and target for W. bancrofti for determining the vector infection rate. Among the 10,428 collected mosquitoes, the most abundant species were C. quinquefasciatus (85%) and Aedes aegypti (12%). Significantly larger numbers of mosquitoes were collected from the neighborhoods of Areinha and Coreia (pConclusionsThe high density of engorged C. quinquefasciatus females per home, inadequate sanitation, and detection of W. bancrofti-infected mosquitoes in the city of São Luís represent a warning of the possible upsurge of LF, a disease that is still neglected; this underscores the need for the ostensive monitoring of LF in Brazil.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the primary motor cortex (M1) improves motor learning in relatively simple motor tasks performed with the hand and arm. However, it is unknown if tDCS can improve motor learning in complex motor tasks involving whole-body coordination with significant endpoint accuracy requirements. The primary purpose was to determine the influence of tDCS on motor learning over multiple days in a complex over-hand throwing task. This study utilized a double-blind, randomized, SHAM-controlled, between-subjects experimental design. Forty-six young adults were allocated to either a tDCS group or a SHAM group and completed three experimental sessions on three consecutive days at the same time of day. Each experimental session was identical and consisted of overhand throwing trials to a target in a pre-test block, five practice blocks performed simultaneously with 20 min of tDCS, and a post-test block. Overhand throwing performance was quantified as the endpoint error. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to obtain motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) from the first dorsal interosseus muscle to quantify changes in M1 excitability due to tDCS. Endpoint error significantly decreased over the three days of practice in the tDCS group but not in the SHAM group. MEP amplitude significantly increased in the tDCS group, but the MEP increases were not associated with increases in motor learning. These findings indicate that tDCS applied over multiple days can improve motor learning in a complex motor tasks in healthy young adults.

Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enhances motor skill and learning in relatively simple motor tasks, but it is unclear if c-tDCS can improve motor performance in complex motor tasks. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of c-tDCS applied over multiple days on motor learning in a complex overhand throwing task. In a double-blind, randomized, between-subjects, SHAM-controlled, experimental design, 30 young adults were assigned to either a c-tDCS or a SHAM group. Participants completed three identical experiments on consecutive days that involved overhand throwing in a pre-test block, five practice blocks with concurrent c-tDCS, and a post-test block. Overhand throwing endpoint accuracy was quantified as the endpoint error. The first dorsal interosseous muscle motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to quantify primary motor cortex (M1) excitability modulations via c-tDCS. Endpoint error significantly decreased over the 3 days of practice, but the magnitude of decrease was not significantly different between the c-tDCS and SHAM group. Similarly, MEP amplitude slightly increased from the pre-tests to the post-tests, but these increases did not differ between groups. These results indicate that multi-day c-tDCS does not improve motor learning in an overhand throwing task or increase M1 excitability.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that leads to numerous impairments in motor function that compromise the ability to perform activities of daily living. Practical and effective adjunct therapies are needed to complement current treatment approaches in PD. Transcranial direct current stimulation applied to the cerebellum (c-tDCS) can increase motor skill in young and older adults. Because the cerebellum is involved in PD pathology, c-tDCS application during motor practice could potentially enhance motor skill in PD. The primary purpose was to examine the influence of c-tDCS on motor skill acquisition in a complex, visuomotor isometric precision grip task (PGT) in PD in the OFF-medication state. The secondary purpose was to determine the influence of c-tDCS on transfer of motor skill in PD. The study utilized a double-blind, SHAM-controlled, within-subjects design. A total of 16 participants completed a c-tDCS condition and a SHAM condition in two experimental sessions separated by a 7-day washout period. Each session involved practice of the PGT concurrent with either c-tDCS or SHAM. Additionally, motor transfer tasks were quantified before and after the practice and stimulation period. The force error in the PGT was not significantly different between the c-tDCS and SHAM conditions. Similarly, transfer task performance was not significantly different between the c-tDCS and SHAM conditions. These findings indicate that a single session of c-tDCS does not elicit acute improvements in motor skill acquisition or transfer in hand and arm tasks in PD while participants are off medications.

O presente artigo versa sobre os desafios postos à prática profissional no âmbito da política de educação, face à emergência da pandemia da Covid-19. O objetivo do estudo é pautar as possibilidades de efetivação da prática profissional interdisciplinar do Serviço Social e da Psicologia na educação básica a partir do ensino remoto. Passado mais de um ano de pandemia, a comunidade científica ainda assegura que, na falta de vacina, o isolamento social é a estratégia mais eficaz para evitar a proliferação do vírus. As relações de trabalho foram impactadas com novas formas de atuação, e a atividade laboral foi reinventada nos formatos: remota, online ou home office. Fundamentados na teoria crítica reflexiva, utilizamos a metodologia da observação participante e pesquisa documental. Os resultados registram as nuances da intervenção no formato virtual: pelo Serviço Social no que tange às condições objetivas do processo, e pela psicologia quanto ao desafio da socialização, ante as especificidades do ensino remoto.

Resumo O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a percepção de jovens brasileiros acerca de possíveis repercussões das redes sociais na subjetividade dos usuários. Participaram da pesquisa 50 jovens, de ambos os sexos, faixa etária de 18 a 26 anos de idade, em sua maioria com escolaridade de nível superior incompleto e todos residentes no Distrito Federal. Com base na metodologia qualitativa, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas e os dados obtidos foram analisados por meio da técnica da Zona de Sentidos. Os resultados evidenciam que as redes sociais exercem influência determinante na concepção de mundo e de si mesmo dos participantes por meio de recursos atrativos que geram gratificações, capturam a atenção e promovem a utilização constante das redes.

This study aimed to apprehend the social representations of adopters on conventional adoption and late adoption. It is about an exploratory, cross study, with qualitative approach, subsidized by the Theory of the Social Representations. Six petitioners to adoption have participated of the research. Social demographic questionnaire as well as in-depth interview were used as collection instruments. The data were analysed through the Content Analysis, according to the perspective of Bardin. The results showed up 04 categories, 20 subcategories and 313 thematic unities. The thematic categories were included by two thematic classes: conventional adoption and late adoption. The social representation on late adoption was anchored in several definition criteria, which turned in less homogeneity in the contents referring to this type of adoption. In general, the petitioners positioned themselves favorable to the conventional kind of adoption and opposite to the late kind. In prevalency it was shown the social representations anchored in a traditional culture of adoption that restricts the adopted practices and influences the standardization of the adoptive profile.

A dexametasona vem sendo amplamente utilizada em casos de gestação com risco de prematuridade. Entretanto, doses suprafisiológicas podem acarretar complicações e afetar a embriogênese. A melatonina, por sua vez, apresenta efeitos antagônicos aos glicocorticoides. Assim, avaliou-se a ação da dexametasona administrada durante o período gestacional, e a influência da melatonina sobre os efeitos decorrentes da corticoterapia. Foram utilizadas 20 ratas, divididas em 4 grupos: I - ratas prenhes que receberam solução placebo; II - ratas prenhes que receberam dexametasona (0,8mg/kg); III - ratas prenhes tratadas com melatonina (0,5mg/kg) e IV - ratas prenhes que receberam dexametasona e foram tratadas com melatonina. As amostras foram obtidas da prole com 10, 15 e 20 dias de vida pós-natal. Os resultados mostraram que a dexametasona, administrada a partir do 10º dia do período gestacional, promoveu uma maior taxa de mortalidade, redução acentuada no ganho de peso desses animais, bem como alterações hepáticas histopatológicas e morfométricas, como esteatose, necrose, vacuolização celular, além de diminuição nos grânulos de glicogênio, carboidratos totais e aumento das fibras colágenas teciduais. Entretanto, os animais do grupo IV, apresentaram alterações mais atenuadas, com parâmetros semelhantes aos animais do grupo controle. Assim, conclui-se que a administração da melatonina exógena pode proteger o fígado dos animais ou atenuar alguns efeitos decorrentes da corticoterapia.

In 2018, 3.8 million premature deaths were attributed to exposure to biomass burning nanoparticles from wood combustion. The objective of this study was to investigate and compare the toxic effect of wood-combustion-related biomass burning nanoparticles from three different combustion stages (i.e., flaming, smoldering, and pyrolysis) on alveolar lung cells, by studying cell proliferation, and structural and behavioral parameters. A549 lung epithelial cells were treated with 31, 62, 125, 250, and 500 µg/mL of water-soluble particulate pollutants from wood burning, and measured by means of real-time cell analysis, cell imaging, and phase imaging microscopy. At low concentrations (31 and 62 µg/mL), all three types of wood burning samples exhibited no toxicity. At 125 µg/mL, they caused decreased cell proliferation compared to the control. Exposure to higher concentrations (250 and 500 µg/mL) killed the cells. Cell physical parameters (area, optical volume, eccentricity, perimeter, and optical thickness) and behavioral parameters (migration, motility, and motility speed) did not change in response to exposure to wood burning materials up to a concentration of 125 µg/mL. Exposure to higher concentrations (250 and 500 µg/mL) changed cell perimeter, optical thickness for smoldering and flaming particles, and led to decreased migration, motility, and motility speed of cells. In conclusion, all three of the combustion water-soluble organic pollutants were identified as equally toxic by real-time cell analysis (RTCA) results. The parameters describing cell structure suggest that pyrolysis particles were slightly less toxic than others.

Apesar de estarmos em pleno século XXI, na maioria das instituições de ensino brasileira o processo de exposição de conteúdos ainda é realizado quase exclusivamente de forma oral e com os conteúdos sendo apresentados apenas na lousa. Essa metodologia tem se mostrado, pelo menos de forma geral no Brasil, pouco efetiva para a aprendizagem dos alunos e no caso específico da modalidade de ensino voltada para jovens e adultos menos eficiente que no ensino regular. Na busca por uma nova forma de ensinar, nesse trabalho é apresentado o resultado do uso de várias atividades lúdicas como objeto de motivação e discussão dos conteúdos de Biologia, Química e Física. Foi possível perceber que esse tipo de experiência estimulou a discussão em torno dos temas e possibilitou a apropriação da linguagem científica pelos participantes, muitas vezes sem a interferência do professor, o que é fundamental para uma aprendizagem dos conteúdos de forma significativa.

O Programa de Residência em Área Profissional da Saúde em Medicina Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural do Pernambuco tem como parte do objetivo capacitar residentes Médicos Veterinários por meio do treinamento em serviço para atuação na saúde pública, nas áreas de vigilância em saúde. Dessa forma, o presente estudo objetivou descrever o método utilizado na formação teórica e prática dos residentes, previamente à inserção dos mesmos no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), destacando suas potencialidades e fragilidades. Antes do início das atividades na Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e no Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família, foram oferecidas duas disciplinas utilizando-se metodologias ativas: Políticas Públicas em Saúde e Integração Ensino Serviço Comunidade. Ao final de cada disciplina foi solicitado aos residentes aprovados (100% dos residentes matriculados) que relatassem suas opiniões sobre as mesmas, elencando as potencialidades e as fragilidades. As potencialidades mais relatadas foram: uso de metodologias ativas como Aprendizagem Baseada em Problemas (ABP) e estudos de casos (77,8%), leitura de artigos e elaboração de resumos (27,8%) e esclarecimentos sobre a vigilância em saúde (22,2%). Em relação as fragilidades, os residentes relataram em maior porcentagem a leitura de muitos artigos em um único dia (61,1%), dificuldade em interpretar artigos com temas diferentes da área de atuação (22,2%) e muito tempo de vivência no SUS (16,7%). Conclui-se que a metodologia ativa apresenta pontos positivos e negativos, como relatado pelos residentes, porém o modelo favorece uma forma de ensino-aprendizagem necessária à implementação dos residentes médicos veterinários para atuação no SUS.

In 2018, seven million people died prematurely due to exposure to pollution. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a significant source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in urban areas. We investigated the toxic effects of by-products of naphthalene SOA on lung cells. These by-products were 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NQ), 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (2-OH-NQ), phthalic acid (PA) and phthaldialdehyde (OPA). Two different assessment methodologies were used to monitor the toxic effects: real-time cell analysis (RTCA) and the Holomonitor, a quantitative phase contrast microscope. The chemicals were tested in concentrations of 12.5 to 100 µM for 1,4-NQ and 1 to 10 mM for 2-OH-NQ, PA and OPA. We found that 1,4-NQ is toxic to cells from 25 to 100 µM (EC50: 38.7 µM ± 5.2); 2-OH-NQ is toxic from 1 to 10mM (EC50: 5.3 mM ± 0.6); PA is toxic from 5 to 10 mM (EC50: 5.2 mM ± 0.3) and OPA is toxic from 2.5 to 10 mM (EC50: 4.2 mM ± 0.5). Only 1,4-NQ and OPA affected cell parameters (migration, motility, motility speed and optical volume). Furthermore, 1,4-NQ is the most toxic by-product of naphthalene, with an EC50 value that was one hundred times higher than those of the other compounds. RTCA and Holomonitor analysis showed a complementarity when studying the toxicity induced by chemicals.

Transcranial direct current stimulation of the cerebellum (c-tDCS) improves motor performance in young and old adults. Based on the cerebellar involvement in Parkinson’s disease (PD), c-tDCS could have potential to improve motor function in PD. The purpose was to determine the effects of c-tDCS on motor performance in PD while participants were on medications. The study was a randomized, double-blind, SHAM-controlled, between-subjects design. Twenty-two participants with PD were allocated to either a c-tDCS group or a SHAM group. All participants completed one experimental session and performed two motor tasks with their most affected hand in a Baseline condition (no stimulation) and an Experimental condition. The motor tasks were a visuomotor isometric precision grip task (PGT) and a rapid arm movement task (AMT). The primary dependent variables were force error and endpoint error in the PGT and AMT, respectively. There were no significant differences in force error or endpoint error in the Experimental condition between the c-tDCS and SHAM groups. These results indicate that an acute application of c-tDCS does not enhance motor performance in hand and arm tasks in PD. Longer-term c-tDCS application over multiple days may be needed to enhance motor function in PD.

Objetivo: Conhecer, sob a ótica do usuário, as contribuições da participação da comunidade nas ações de saúde de uma Unidade de Saúde da Família da cidade do Recife-PE, Brasil. Métodos: Estudo qualitativo realizado com 65 usuários de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde nos meses de novembro de 2010 a janeiro de 2011. Os depoimentos foram gravados, transcritos e analisados mediante o Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Resultados: Foram identificadas duas idéias centrais: - Lideranças existentes na comunidade e participação da população no planejamento das ações de saúde; - Sugestões para mudanças/melhorias no serviço de saúde ofertado pela Unidade Básica. Conclusão: Evidencia-se que a questão da liderança comunitária necessita ser fortalecida por meio de uma ação política-ética-cidadã compartilhada, onde profissionais e usuários sejam ativos neste processo, reconhecendo-se como aliados dentro da complexidade que envolve as questões de saúde no contexto do capitalismo e dos interesses privados. Descritores: Participação comunitária, Saúde da família, Acesso aos serviços de saúde, Políticas de controle social, Enfermagem em saúde comunitária.

The teacher / student interaction is based on a professional and human interrelation, founded on respect and ethics and on the understanding that the student is not a passive subject in the process of learning. He / she brings a range of knowledge and allows a mutual exchange of practices by means of which the teacher builds his / her intellect dayby- day. This study aims at emphasizing the relevant points within this interrelation as well as the teacher social role. The teacher constitutes the cross beam in the process of building the student’s character, a process that must be developed by means of a combined experimentation. The educational activities, for their turn, must be centered in the students’ abilities, expectations, interests, opportunities, possibilities and learning conditions. Motivation is the teaching and learning master spring in order to achieve the main objectives in education that are the sedimentation of the previous knowledge, the correction of the distortions and the acquisition of new knowledge.