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Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient crucial in various metabolic processes. Dairy production is continually expanding and can supplement the population of regions with low Se. Adding live yeast concentrate (LYC) to cows’ diets can influence milk production, composition, and quality by modulating ruminal microbiota, resulting in increased milk yield and improved nutritional content. This study aimed to assess the enrichment of milk with selenite LYC for a subsequent increase in quality and production in supplemented lactating cows. Twenty-six cows were separated into three groups supplemented with different concentrations of Se for 15 days and different concentrations of LYC (Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 108 CFU g−1). The animals were divided into the following groups with the proposed treatments: Treatment 1 (T1) Control Group with just dry matter intake (DMI); Treatment 2 (T2) DMI + 0.3 mg kg−1 DMI of inorganic selenium + live yeast concentrate (LYC); Treatment 3 (T3) DMI + 0.6 mg kg−1 DMI of inorganic selenium + LYC. The milk was evaluated using physical–chemical, microbiologic, and toxicologic parameters according to Brazilian legislation. The addition of Se and yeast did not alter milk production; however, the application did lead to an increase in milk fat concentration compared with the control group, and no significant variations were observed in other physical–chemical parameters. Regarding the microbiological and toxicological analyses, all the samples presented satisfactory hygienic and sanitary conditions. The Somatic Cells Count from all treatments remained below 500,000 somatic cells mL−1, representing a positive effect of Se. The milk Se content was expected in residual form with the organic selenium being the more bioavailable form throughout the processing chain. The supplementation yielded results similar to those in the literature, highlighting the potential for customized technology and processes in dairy farming in ways that improve production, quality, and sanitation.

Objetivo: discutir o papel da atuação da equipe de enfermagem mediante a pandemia da COVID-19, reconhecendo sua importância na promoção e educação em saúde, prevenção de doenças e ordenação da atenção à saúde durante a crise. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo exploratório-descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa, conduzida na Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) de Parelhas-RN. A coleta de dados ocorreu no mês de janeiro de 2022, utilizando entrevistas semiestruturadas com a equipe de enfermagem, e a seleção dos participantes foi feita focando nestes profissionais. Resultados: A amostra do estudo é composta por um perfil totalmente feminino (100%) e traz uma análise concreta dos dados apresentados, onde avaliamos o impacto das notícias falsas na pandemia e todo um contexto de trabalho de toda uma equipe de enfermagem. Conclusão: A pandemia de COVID-19 impactou significativamente o trabalho da equipe de enfermagem da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) de Parelhas-RN, alterando sua rotina de atendimento, que implicaram em novas adaptações frente às novas demandas exigidas pela pandemia.

ABSTRACT The present study presents a comparative evaluation of the transit kinetics of straw briquette in response to the dietary addition of non-protein nitrogen sources in the form of a mineral supplement. Four rumen-cannulated, castrated Holstein-Gir crossbred cattle, weighing an average of 380±22.64 kg, were distributed into a 4 × 4 Latin square design (four supplements with non-protein nitrogen sources × four experimental periods). The following non-protein nitrogen sources were studied: conventional urea, slow-release urea, extruded urea, and monoammonium phosphate. During the experiment, the animals were housed in individual stalls with concrete floors where they received a basal diet consisting of straw briquette, potato starch, and the mineral supplement, the latter whose variation was only in the non-protein nitrogen source, which characterized the treatments. The different non-protein nitrogen sources did not affect the parameters of transit or degradation kinetics of straw fiber briquette. These results can be associated with the low nitrogen content limited by the types of supplements and the particle size of straw briquette, which is smaller due to processing.

Resumo Determinou-se as propriedades físico-químicas de briquetes produzidos a partir de finos de carvão vegetal de Eucalyptus sp aglutinados com adesivo de silicato de sódio. Utilizou-se três granulometrias de finos (20, 35 e 60 mesh) e cinco proporções do adesivo (15, 20, 25, 30 e 35%). Determinou-se a densidade aparente, análise química imediata e poder calorífico, segundo as normas ABNT/NBR 9165, 8112, 8633, respectivamente. Conclui-se que briquetes com granulometria de 20 mesh e 15% de adesivo apresentaram os maiores valores de poder calorífico e aqueles com granulometria de 60 mesh e 15% de adesivo, apresentaram os maiores percentuais de carbono fixo.

Este artigo relata aspectos metodológicos do processo de reestruturação da plataforma YouTube Edu, a partir da análise de mais de mil novos vídeos, em uma interface entre educação e comunicação. Busca-se compreender: (1) formas de produção de conteúdo; (2) características dos sujeitos produtores; e (3) circulação e oferta de conteúdo educativo em ambiente digital. De abordagem qualiquantitativa, a técnica de pesquisa utilizada foi a pesquisa-ação. Os resultados mostram que não há um modelo único de produção de conteúdo educativo para plataformas digitais no Brasil, e seus usos seguem critérios de circulação, princípios colaborativos e formatação estabelecidos pela plataforma. Foram evidenciados progressos relacionados a aspectos de diversidade, gênero e inclusão e formação acadêmica do professor, e necessidades de avanço em questões de exclusão social e protagonismo do estudante.

ABSTRACT: The objective was to evaluate the animal production and ingestive behavior of the steers fed different supplements during the growth phase in Aruana grass, and the influence of this supplementation on production performance in feedlot phase. The treatments consisted of three supplements during the growing phase: mineral salt (0.12 g/kg of body weight - BW), low intake energy-protein supplement (1.26 g/kg of BW), and medium intake (3.76 g/kg of BW). Forage canopy characteristics, animal production, and animal behavior on pasture were evaluated in a completely randomized design with three replicates (paddocks). The titanium dioxide marker was used to determine the intake and apparent digestibility during the pasture phase. The production performance in feedlot was evaluated in a completely randomized design with eight replicates (animals). Twenty-four Aberdeen Angus steers (15 ± 1.5 months old; 364.8 ± 21.7 kg BW) were used. At the end of the growth phase the animals were confined and fed a single diet. Dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents of forage and intake were not influenced by the treatments. The average daily gain was higher for the medium intake supplement in pasture phase. The apparent digestibility of NDF (P = and chewing rate were higher for the medium intake supplement. The average daily gain and fat thickness of carcasses were higher for the medium intake supplement in the feedlot phase. The supplements of medium intake increase animal productivity during the growing phase on pastures and cattle’s finishing performance in intensive production systems.

ABSTRACT Objective: To trace the epidemiological profile of patients with pediatric scoliosis in a tertiary hospital in the region of Campinas - SP, seeking to understand and evaluate the demand of these patients, the results of delay in treatment, and its impact on the progression of the deformity. Methods: An epidemiological, observational, and cross-sectional study was carried out in a digital database, including patients from 0 to 18 years of age, where sociodemographic variables, scoliosis classification, and institutional follow-up and treatment data were collected. Results: The sample had 30 patients who met the inclusion criteria. The age of the patients ranged from 5 years to 18 years, with a mean of 12.8 years. Neuromuscular scoliosis was the most prevalent etiology (40%), followed by congenital scoliosis (36.6%) and, to a lesser extent, idiopathic scoliosis (23.3%). The patient follow-up time between the first and last appointment has an average of 74.7 months. When the specialty monitors the patient, the initial and final Cobb angles are evaluated in degrees, with a percentage increase of 40.3%. Delay in care (outpatient care, conservative treatment, or surgery) was identified in 25 patients (83.3% of the sample). Conclusion: Most of the patients evaluated showed evolution of the scoliosis condition, especially due to the delay in care, failure to obtain surgical treatment, or even conservative treatment in an adequate time, with an increase in the magnitude of the curve and greater severity of the case. Level of Evidence III; Observational, Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review to evaluate the impact of perioperative blood loss reduction and blood transfusion rate in patients undergoing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis correction surgery and to correlate these results with the different doses of tranexamic acid used in the literature. Ten databases (BVS, COCHRANE, EBSCOHOST, EMBASE, EPISTEMONIKOS, PROQUEST, PUBMED PMC, PUBMED, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE) were searched to find studies on the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in idiopathic scoliosis surgery. The mean differences in bleeding and transfusions were combined using a random-effects meta-analysis. A total of 17 studies with 1608 patients were included in the evaluation, demonstrating an Odds Ratio of 2.8 (95% CI: 0.8-4.3) as a measure of association for the risk of bleeding and transfusion in the control group (non-users of tranexamic acid), efficiency in reducing bleeding (p=0.03). Additionally, a mean reduction in bleeding of approximately 700 ml was observed. There was no statistical difference between the doses used. The systematic review showed that tranexamic acid effectively reduces bleeding and the need for transfusions, but there were no significant differences in the results between different doses of tranexamic acid. Level of Evidence II; Systematic Review.

O objetivo deste artigo é caracterizar o processo de reprimarização da pauta exportadora brasileira, sua repercussão sobre a política pública trabalhista e o aprofundamento da exploração da força de trabalho no Brasil. Quando “Dialética da Dependência”, de Ruy Mauro Marini, completa 50 anos, observa-se sua atualidade para apreender o processo pelo qual o Brasil vem passando a partir de sua reinserção na economia mundial. A pesquisa documental trabalha com dados do comércio exterior e com os novos marcos legais do trabalho. Na pesquisa bibliográfica, recorre-se à teoria da dependência, com ênfase na obra de Marini. Como resultado, identificam-se o processo de reprimarização da pauta exportadora e a nova ordem legal das relações trabalho/capital, configurando-se no Brasil o ambiente propício a níveis especialmente elevados de intensidade e extensão da jornada de trabalho, dois mecanismos frequentes de superexploração.

ABSTRACT Objective: To correlate the four quality of life questionnaires: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), SF-36, Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire (SSS), and EQ-5D in patients who have not received surgical treatment of lumbar stenosis. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study. Forty patients diagnosed with lumbar stenosis at a university hospital answered four quality-of-life questionnaires in a preoperative consultation. The scores of each questionnaire were tabulated and then compared. In statistical analysis, the Spearman correlation was performed. Results: 17 female and 23 male patients with a mean age of 56.5 years. ODI had an average dysfunction of 44.9%; the PCS score averaged 29.9, and the MCS score of 41.3. The general symptoms of SSS presented a mean of 3.2, and the EQ-5D presented an average of 0.491. The EQ-5D presented the best correlation with the other questionnaires. The score that presented a worse correlation with the other questionnaires was the neuroischemic symptomatology of SSS. Conclusion: quality-of-life questionnaires can be correlated; thus, the evaluation of preoperative patients can be simplified. Level of Evidence III; Diagnostic Studies.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a crucial component of continental aquatic ecosystems. It plays a vital role in the carbon cycle by serving as a significant source and reservoir of carbon in water. DOM provides energy and nutrients to organisms, affecting primary productivity, organic composition, and the food chain. This study presents empirical bio-optical models for estimating the absorption of colored dissolved organic matter (aCDOM) in the Negro River using in situ remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) data. Physical–chemical data (TSS, DOC, and POC) and optical data (aCDOM and Rrs) were collected from the Negro River, its tributaries, and lakes and empirical relationships between aCDOM at 440 nm, single band, and the ratio bands of Rrs were assessed. The analysis of spectral slope shows no statistically significant correlations with DOC concentration or aCDOM absorption coefficient. However, strong relationships were observed between DOC and aCDOM (R2 = 0.72), aCDOM and Rrs at 650 nm (R2 > 0.80 and RMSE < 1.75 m−1), as well as aCDOM and the green/red band ratio (R2 > 0.80 and RMSE < 2.30 m−1). aCDOM displayed large spatial and temporal variations, varying from 1.9 up to 20.1 m−1, with higher values in rivers of the upper course of the Negro basin and lower values in rivers with total solids suspended > 10 mg·L−1. Environmental factors that influence the production of dissolved organic matter include soil type, dense forest cover, high precipitation, and low erosion rates. This study demonstrated that aCDOM can serve as an indicator of DOC, and Rrs can serve as an indicator of aCDOM in the Negro basin. Our findings offer a starting point for future research on the optical properties of Amazonian black-water rivers.

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of beef cattle with two levels of energy-protein supplementation of low-consumption on African Bermudagrass pasture, overseeded in winter with oat and ryegrass, with or without irrigation. Twenty-four castrated Angus steers (11 months old and had an initial average of 220 kg body weight (BW)) were used in experimental area of 3.6 ha. The experiment was completely randomized in a 2×2 factorial design, with three replicates. The evaluation period was 249 days (July/2019 to March/2020). The treatments were: irrigated pasture with supplementation of 1 g/kg BW or 2.7 g/kg BW and non-irrigated pasture with 1 g/kg BW of supplement or 2.7 g/kg BW. The grazing method was continuous with a variable stocking rate. Irrigation provided pastures with better chemical composition in winter and spring. Irrigation increased the daily accumulation rate in winter (84.6 vs. 45.9 kg DM/ha/day), providing a greater stocking rate (1,702 vs. 1,385 kg/ha) and, consequently, body weight gain per hectare. Supplementation of 2.7 g/kg BW provided a greater stocking rate in winter (1,652 vs. 1,435 kg/ha) and spring (3,096 vs. 2,811 kg/ha), not changing in summer. The association of irrigation and supplementation of 2.7 vs. 1.0 g/kg BW improves the intake pattern by the animal in summer without changing productivity parameters. Irrigation increases productivity and the nutritional value of pasture with higher livestock production per area in periods of water deficit. The supply of 2.7 vs. 1.0 g/kg BW provides a greater stocking rate and body weight gain per hectare.

ABSTRACT Objective: This study aims to evaluate angular progression of patients with a diagnosis of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), that await surgical treatment. Methods: This is an observational and descriptive study. Data were collected for age at initial surgical indication, initial date and Cobb angle, date and Cobb angle of the follow-up visit, time elapsed between the initial and follow-up visit, and type of curve. All recorded Cobb angles were reviewed by the authors. Results: 86.1% of the individuals were women, the mean age of indication for surgical treatment was 13.34 years. The most common type of curve was Lenke 3 and the one that progressed the most was Lenke 4. The general average of annual progression was 9.89 degrees for the primary curves and 12.32 for the secondary curves, and the follow-up was, on average, 35.77 months. Conclusion: The progression of the magnitude of the curve increases during the wait for the definitive treatment of AIS, no matter which group of the Lenke classification the curve belongs to. The secondary curves present a progression rate of 12.32º/year, higher than the main curve, which presents a rate of 9.89º/year. The waiting time has been increasing over the years, which is evident compared to older publications. Level of Evidence IV; Type of Study: Prognostic Study.

ABSTRACT The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of the use of legume (Arachis pintoi) or nitrogen fertilization on animal performance, characteristics of carcass and meat, and fatty acids profile of crossbred steers on Megathyrsus maximus cv. Aruana pasture, overseeded with temperate grasses. The experimental design was completely randomized, with three treatments and three replicates. The experiment was carried out from June to October (127 d). The treatments were: Low-N: 100 kg of N/ha; Medium-N: 200 kg of N/ha; and Legume: Arachis pintoi + 100 kg of N/ha. The pasture with higher nitrogen fertilization (N200) showed a more significant forage mass yield. The mixed grass with legumes presented a higher concentration of saturated fatty acids and saturated:unsaturated ratio in the meat. However, the grass pastures resulted in a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids in the meat. The other pasture variables, and characteristics of carcass and meat were not influenced by the treatments. The increase in nitrogen fertilization, from 100 to 200 kg/ha, and Arachis pintoi mixed with Aruana grass pasture overseeded with black oat and ryegrass does not affect the daily weight gain and the carcass and meat characteristics of the steers. The grass-legume mixture decreases the total concentration of unsaturated fatty acids in meat without influencing the concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

A educação superior, vista como simples investimento, é, atualmente, um espaço em disputa, tanto pela sua função social, quanto pelo potencial de lucros que ela pode gerar ao ser explorada como um negócio como qualquer outro. Uma concepção de educação que negue essa mercantilização se faz necessária. Para tanto, o presente trabalho reflete sobre as contribuições pedagógicas de Paulo Freire, entendendo estas como um ponto de partida para uma práxis libertadora na universidade, lançando mão do estudo bibliográfico para apresentar o contraste entre a universidade moldada pelo neoliberalismo e uma universidade voltada para as demandas dos oprimidos.

In this paper, we explore machine learning (ML) methods to improve inflation forecasting in Brazil. An extensive out-of-sample forecasting exercise is designed with multiple horizons, a large database of 501 series, and 50 forecasting methods, including new ML techniques proposed here, traditional econometric models and forecast combination methods. We also provide tools to identify the key variables to predict inflation, thus helping to open the ML black box. Despite the evidence of no universal best model, the results indicate that ML methods can, in numerous cases, outperform traditional econometric models in terms of mean-squared error. Moreover, the results indicate the existence of nonlinearities in the inflation dynamics, which are relevant to forecasting inflation. The set of top forecasts often includes forecast combinations, tree-based methods (such as random forest and xgboost), breakeven inflation, and survey-based expectations. Altogether, these findings offer a valuable contribution to macroeconomic forecasting, especially, focused on Brazilian inflation.

This paper presents the results of a multi-year effort to redesign the introduction to business course at Western Michigan University. ScrimmageSIM, a business simulation that emulates commercial ERP systems, provides the core experience in the course and is a mechanism for students to develop their understanding of business with a focus on quantitative analysis. The design and implementation of the simulation experience follows the experiential learning spiral, as students run the simulation five times with increasingly complex scenarios. The overall design of the course is competency-based, as students have the opportunity to redo many of the course assignments to earn a better grade. The simulation experience, combined with the competency-based design of the course, has resulted in a more rigorous course with students earning grades that are better than they were with the previous curriculum.

Phillip Wagner,1,2 Jonathan Arnold,1 Kathleen Sheridan3 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA; 3Department of Infectious Diseases, Pittsburgh Infectious Diseases, Pittsburgh, PA, USACorrespondence: Phillip Wagner, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 North Wolfe Street, Meyer 8, Room 134A, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA, Tel +1-412-841-8522, Email pwagner6@jh.edu Correspondence: Kathleen Sheridan, Pittsburgh Infectious Disease, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 101 Drake Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15241, USA, Tel +1 412-347-0057, Email DrSheridan@pittsburghid.comBackground: Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) guidelines recommend the usage of a loading dose when using vancomycin for seriously ill patients. While the relationship between vancomycin and nephrotoxicity is the focus of many studies, few studies have examined the relationship between vancomycin loading doses and nephrotoxicity.Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study examining vancomycin dosing for internal medicine teaching services’ patients over the 2014– 15 academic year at one academic medical center. We generated a list of all hospitalized patients aged 18– 85 who received vancomycin and were admitted to a teaching service. Nephrotoxicity was determined by 7-day acute kidney injury (AKI) rate. Patients in the loading dose cohort were compared with those in the standard-dose cohort. Primary modeling used multivariable logistic regression with AKI as our outcome of interest.Results: Four hundred and thirty-eight patients were included for analysis. The loading dose (n = 365, 83%) and standard dosing (n = 73, 17%) cohorts were not significantly different regarding demographics, GFR, nephrotoxic drug exposure, total vancomycin received, trough levels, or comorbidities and were only significantly different regarding body mass index (BMI). The 7-day AKI rate was not significantly different between the two arms (6.3% in the standard dosing arm and 8.2% in the loading dose arm, p = 0.6).Conclusion: Few studies have examined the relationship between nephrotoxicity and vancomycin loading doses. The results of this study provide evidence that the use of loading doses is not significantly associated with increased 7-day AKI rate.Keywords: vancomycin, loading dose, nephrotoxicity

Phillip Wagner,1,2 Thuy Bui1 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USACorrespondence: Phillip Wagner, Email Pwagner6@jh.eduCase: We present the case of a 49-year-old woman who underwent a 237-day hunger strike on the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Despite medical supervision and appropriate micronutrient supplementation, including higher-than-recommended dosing of oral thiamine, the patient developed Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and subsequent Korsakoff Syndrome. She is now permanently impaired.Introduction: Hunger strikers are subject to numerous sequelae of micronutrient deficiency. Among these are the paired conditions of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff Syndrome, conditions secondary to prolonged thiamine deficiency. Unfortunately, few published guidelines exist regarding the medical management of hunger strikers. Preventative dosing guidance is borrowed from what is recommended for prolonged malnourishment from eating disorders or chronic alcohol use. Available guidelines are rarely academic. Rather, they were created by governmental agencies for the management of hunger strikers in prison or similar states of detention or incarceration. There is an indirect body of evidence that oral thiamine supplementation is rarely protective against the sequelae of thiamine deficiency in hunger strikers. We discuss supplementation recommendations and the evidence for their failure in practice. We briefly explore the historical evidence for the anatomic and physiologic changes of prolonged starvation that potentially explain this treatment failure, and offer alternatives to standard supplementation.Conclusion: The current recommendations of the management of hunger strikers regarding the prevention of thiamine deficiency are inadequate, and rarely prevent the clinical sequelae. Alternate management strategies need to be both researched and empirically used, while that research is being carried out. Novel lipid-soluble thiamine derivatives have promise, but prophylactic intravenous/intramuscular thiamine should be explored as the current standard of care.Keywords: Wernicke’s Encephalopathy, Korsakoff Syndrome, thiamine deficiency, hunger strike, hunger striker

The electoral court is a specialized branch of the Brazilian judiciary that not only organizes and regulates elections in the country but also resolves conflicts between political actors involved in the electoral process. The (mis)use of money in electoral campaigns is one of the causes of the judicialization of electoral processes in Brazil. In fact, among many other reasons, such judicialization can occur when actors in the electoral process (candidates, parties, and party coalitions) are accused, either by their opponents and/or by the Electoral Public Prosecutor’s Office, of irregularities such as abuse of economic power, illegal fundraising or expenditure of electoral resources, electoral corruption, or falsification of the campaign’s accounting records. Through the study of electoral lawsuits filed between 2008 and 2016 against mayoral candidates, this work has two objectives: (i) to dimension the importance of the relationship between money and politics as a cause of the judicialization of electoral processes in Brazilian local elections and (ii) to characterize the candidates that appear as defendants in electoral lawsuits filed by that cause.

Epidemiology and risk factors associated to bacterial resistance in solid organ cancer (SOC) patients has been barely described. This retrospective monocentric study analyzed clinical variables in SOC patients who developed bacteremia between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2022. We described rates of bacterial resistance in Gram negative bacteria (80.6%): E. coli-ESBL, K. pneumoniae-ESBL, Carbapenem-Resistant K. pneumoniae and Meropenem-Resistant P. aeruginosa, as well as antibiotic consumption, and compared these rates between the medical and oncology wards. In total, we included 314 bacteremias from 253 patients. SOC patients are frequently prescribed antibiotics (40.8%), mainly fluoroquinolones. Nosocomial bacteremia accounted for 18.2% of the cases and only 14.3% of patients were neutropenic. Hepatobiliary tract was the most frequent tumor (31.5%) and source of bacteremia (38.5%). Resistant bacteria showed a decreased rate of resistance during the years studied in the oncology ward. Both K-ESBL and K-CBP resistance rates decreased (from 45.8% to 20.0%, and from 29.2% to 20.0%, respectively), as well as MRPA, which varied from a resistance rate of 28% to 16.7%. The presence of a urinary catheter (p < 0.001) and previous antibiotic prescription (p = 0.002) were risk factors for bacterial resistance. Identifying either of these risk factors could help in guiding antibiotic prescription for SOC patients.

Grupos de interesse empresariais são um componente importante da cena política brasileira. Abordamos aqui uma parte do associativismo empresarial no Brasil: as confederações patronais, que formam o terceiro grau do sistema sindical patronal do país. Em primeiro lugar, situamos as confederações diante do universo da representação empresarial no Brasil. Em segundo lugar, tratamos da ação política dessas organizações, explorando quatro aspectos: (i) a literatura sobre o assunto; (ii) a estrutura mantida por elas – isoladamente e em conjunto – para o trabalho de representação institucional de interesses; (iii) a participação das entidades em audiências públicas da Câmara; e (iv) o nível de sucesso político alcançado pela Confederação Nacional da Indústria – uma das principais associações deste tipo. Concluímos apontando o quadro heterogêneo formado pelas confederações patronais brasileiras e propondo elementos para uma agenda de pesquisa sobre o tema.

The silvopasture system is an integrated system which has been widespread in tropical and sub-tropical climates. However, there is a lack of detailed studies regarding agroecological silvopasture systems. This study assessed whether the different levels of shading in an agroecological silvopastoral system influences the microclimate and botanical composition of polyphytic pasture. We used eight paddocks composed of a silvopastoral system in a subtropical climate, with different tree species arranged in simple lines with polyphytic pasture. In each paddock, we established three levels of visual shading (under the canopy, intermediate and full sun). The following microclimatic variables were recorded monthly during the daytime: illuminance, air temperature, air relative humidity, wind speed, and surface soil temperature. The samples of forages were separated into grasses, legumes and spontaneous, then fractionated into leaves, stems, and senescent material. We observed lower values of illuminance and surface soil temperature under the canopy, with differences between full sun and under the canopy at noon. Regarding the forage, the percentage of legumes was higher in full sun, and spontaneous species and leaves had high proportions under the canopy. Based on the results, the agroecological silvopastoral system changed the microclimatic characteristics and altered the plant composition of polyphytic pasture.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the existence of a possible significant correlation between the quality of life of outpatients with osteoporosis and the Spinal Deformity Index (SDI), a radiographic method for semiquantitative assessment of the spine that enables the identification of prevalent and incident fractures. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study carried out with female patients, Caucasians, over 50 years of age, with a densitometric diagnosis of osteoporosis and in an outpatient follow-up, who were submitted to the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and SF-36 questionnaires to measure the direct and indirect damage of vertebral fragility fractures on quality of life. The scores obtained in these questionnaires were correlated with the SDI scores, calculated from the radiographs of the lumbar and thoracic spine. Results: 48 patients completed the study, with a mean age of 69.6±6.7 years, mean body mass index (BMI) of 25.4±3.4 kg/m2, mean ODI of 25.1±17.9%, mean SF- 36 of 428.7±192.4 and mean SDI of 4.3±3. For the statistical analysis, Spearman's coefficient was used (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: There is no statistically significant correlation between the SDI and the scores obtained on the ODI and SF-36 quality of life questionnaires. Level of evidence: III. Study of non-consecutive patients, without gold standard, applied uniformly.

Post-secondary institutions are required to complete a variety of quality assurance activities including external program review, a process of inviting external reviewers from outside the institution to provide constructive feedback on all aspects of an academic program. While external program reviews have been completed for decades, there has been little work to ensure that meaningful change occurs as a result. Assessment of outcomes at the department level are limited and research specifically considering external academic program review as a primary quality assurance activity is scant. Each of these limitations is even more significant when considered at the institutional level. From our experience, there is minimal consideration in research or practice to ensure that external review recommendations have an impact on educational planning at the institutional level. To help address this concern, in this paper we describe an approach involving secondary research and thematic document analysis that can be leveraged to enhance institutional decision-making processes by uncovering institutional themes evident across external reviews. We suggest that our approach may be helpful for other higher education institutions striving to make sense of program review recommendations from an institutional perspective.

In this position paper we present research and data demonstrating how pedagogical frameworks traditionally used in TESOL contexts can be harnessed by world language (WL) educators to scaffold language learning and advocate for emergent multilingual language learners (EMLLs). Focusing on three pedagogical frameworks--Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP), translanguaging, and multilingual ecology--we discuss how we have utilized these frameworks with WL teachers and teacher candidates and offer suggestions for how they might be used effectively in WL classrooms to both scaffold language acquisition and foster a greater appreciation for and pride in multilingualism.

In this paper, we present an extended evaluation of a course recommender system designed to support students who struggle in the first semesters of their studies and are at risk of dropping out. The system, which was developed in earlier work using a student-centered design, is based on the explainable k-nearest neighbor algorithm and recommends a set of courses that have been passed by the majority of successful neighbors, that is, students who graduated from the study program. In terms of the number of recommended courses, we found a discrepancy between the number of courses that struggling students are recommended to take and the actual number of courses they take. This indicates that there may be an alternative path that these students could consider. However, the recommended courses align well with the courses taken by students who successfully graduated. This suggests that even students who are performing well could still benefit from the course recommender system designed for at-risk students. In the present work, we investigate a second type of success--a specific minimum number of courses passed--and compare the results with our first approach from previous work. With the second type, the information about success might be already available after one semester instead of after graduation which allows faster growth of the database and faster response to curricular changes. The evaluation of three different study programs in terms of dropout risk reduction and recommendation quality suggests that course recommendations based on students passing at least three courses in the following semester can be an alternative to guide students on a successful path.

The United States faces persistent threats conducting malicious cyber campaigns that threaten critical infrastructure, companies and their intellectual property, and the privacy of its citizens. Additionally, there are millions of unfilled cybersecurity positions, and the cybersecurity skills gap continues to widen. Most companies believe that this problem has not improved and nearly 44% believe it has gotten worse over the past 10 years. Threat actors are continuing to evolve their tactics, techniques, and procedures for conducting attacks on public and private targets. Education institutions and companies must adopt emerging technologies to develop security professionals and to increase cybersecurity awareness holistically. Leveraging Virtual/Augmented/Mixed/Extended Reality technologies for education, training, and awareness can augment traditional learning methodologies and improve the nation's cybersecurity posture. This paper reviews previous research to identify how distance and remote education are conducted generally, and how Virtual/Augmented/Extended/Mixed reality technologies are used to conduct cybersecurity awareness training, cybersecurity training, and conduct operations. Finally, barriers to adopting these technologies will be discussed. Understanding how these technologies can be developed and implemented provides one potential way of overcoming the cybersecurity workforce gap and increasing the competencies and capabilities of cybersecurity professionals.

Introdução e objetivo: As doenças cardiovasculares e metabólicas associadas à infecção pelo ví­rus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) e à sí­ndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS) são acometimentos com prognóstico bastante negativo para os pacientes. Ações conjuntas devem ser disponibilizadas visando redução de agravos e mortalidade. Neste cenário o exercí­cio fí­sico é parte importante do tratamento, porém, parece não haver experimento que analisem pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS (PVHA) e doenças cardiovasculares e metabólicas submetidas a protocolos de exercí­cio aeróbio intervalado. Portanto, o objetivo do presente experimento foi verificar o efeito deste tipo de treinamento em linfácitos TCD4+ e capacidade cardiorrespiratória, de usuários do Sistema único de Saúde, atendidas em um hospital universitário do Sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Materiais e métodos: O treinamento aeróbio intervalado, realizado em esteira ergométrica três vezes por semana, foi prescrito com base no resultado do teste de esforço, utilizando percentuais de 40% e 60% do consumo de oxigênio pico (VO2pico) para a determinação das intensidades dos treinamentos. O nível de significância aceito foi p

ABSTRACT Aim: To conduct a systematic review of the literature to identify risk factors associated with 30-day readmission of patients submitted to anterior or posterior access cervical spine surgery. Methods: The databases used to select the papers were PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane, using the following search strategy: patient AND readmission AND (30 day OR “thirty day” OR 30-day OR thirty-day) AND (spine AND cervical). Results: Initially, 179 papers that satisfied the established search stringwere selected. After reading the titles and abstracts, 46 were excluded from the sample for not effectively discussing the theme proposed for this review. Of the 133 remaining papers, 109 were also excluded after a detailed reading of their content, leaving 24 that were included in the sample for the meta-analysis. Conclusions: The average readmission rate in the studies evaluated was 4.85%. Only the occurrence of infections, as well as the presence of patients classified by the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) assessment system with scores greater than III, were causal factors that influenced the readmission of patients. No significant differences were noted when comparing the anterior and posterior surgical access routes. Level of evidence II; Systematic Review of Level II or Level I Studies with discrepant results.

RESUMO O presente artigo apresenta a política pública de expansão do Ensino Superior no Cariri Cearense. Para tanto, o trabalho apresenta o histórico do Ensino Superior e da sua expansão e discute as especificidades dessa para o território semiárido. Utilizando uma abordagem qualitativa ancorada em dados quantitativos o estudo aborda as duas principais instituições de Ensino Superior surgidas com a expansão, uma pública e uma privada, e infere, a partir do comparativo entre ambas, as diferenças da expansão por meio de instituições públicas e a expansão das instituições privadas de ensino.