Search Results (10)

Undernutrition affects thousands of children under five years old worldwide, and various factors are related to its onset, among which we highlight enteric infections and gastrointestinal barrier dysfunction. The cycle of intestinal infections and undernutrition has long-term consequences, such as cognitive deficits, poor growth, and metabolic diseases in adulthood. This review explores factors linked to childhood undernutrition, focusing on intestinal infections and markers of intestinal permeability that affect child development. This narrative review was conducted using Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, from July 2024 to March 2025. Studies involving children under five years old and addressing undernutrition, intestinal infections, or intestinal permeability markers were included. Exclusion criteria comprised studies without therapeutic focus, and books, case reports, or academic theses. No language restrictions were applied, and registration on global platforms was not required. Overall, the studies reported a close relationship between enteric pathogens, diarrheal and non-diarrheal stools, and undernutrition. Among the pathogens most frequently found in the feces of malnourished children were Shigella, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), and Cryptosporidium. The studies also showed the relationship between gastrointestinal barrier function and undernutrition, with the deterioration of nutrient absorption and, consequently, repercussions on development, linear growth, and weight in children. Although the studies analyzed had different designs and heterogeneity in the age range of the studied children, it was possible to observe the relationship between the infection/undernutrition cycle. Future studies should optimize personalized nutrient-based therapies, assess long-term effects on gut health and growth, and explore the gut microbiome’s role in enteric infection susceptibility and undernutrition. Full article

This article critically reviews advances and numerical modeling in absorbers and desorbers used in absorption refrigeration systems, emphasizing the applications, limitations, and future perspectives of computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This study’s main contribution lies in the detailed and critical analysis of the use of CFD in physical models of absorbers and generators of absorption chillers. In addition, several heat exchanger technologies, such as falling film, membranes, and bubbling, are addressed, highlighting CFD-based studies’ main findings and challenges. The article also explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in CFD analyses, aiming to optimize modeling and system performance. It was found that the application of CFD analyses in absorbers and desorbers of absorption systems has proven to be an essential tool for developing and optimizing these systems. Finally, research gaps were identified, especially regarding the miniaturization and optimization of these exchangers, and directions for future studies are proposed. Full article

Despite the high global production of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.), its peel is often discarded. Transforming beetroot into flour can reduce waste, improve food security, and decrease environmental pollution. However, large-scale feasibility depends on understanding drying kinetics and optimal storage conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different temperatures in the convective drying of whole beetroot and evaluate the influence of laminated flexible and plastic packaging on flour stability over two months. Drying kinetics were analyzed using five models, with the Page and Logarithm models showing the best fit (R² > 0.99). D_ef values (1.27 × 10⁻⁹ to 2.04 × 10⁻⁹ m² s⁻¹) increased with rising temperatures while drying time was reduced (from 820 to 400 min), indicating efficient diffusion. The activation energy was 29.34 KJ mol⁻¹, comparable to other plant matrices. Drying reduced moisture and increased ash concentration in the flour. The flour showed a good water adsorption capacity and low cohesiveness, making it marketable. Laminated packaging was more effective in controlling physicochemical parameters, reducing hygroscopicity, and maintaining quality over 60 days. In summary, the Page model can predict beetroot drying kinetics effectively, and laminated packaging can control flour stability. Full article

This article proposes the creation of a participatory governance framework for traditional communities, focusing on financial benefits sharing, whether they come from compensation, indemnification, or socio-environmental projects. The proposed governance framework was developed based on a series of governance principles and the perceptions and needs of fourteen traditional communities in the Brazilian Amazon. The results demonstrated that applied experiences were successful. In this way, the proposed framework presents itself as a mechanism that can be adapted to the specifics of managing financial resources in community contexts. Full article

The public transport system is responsible for the displacement of a large part of the population, particularly in developing countries. This fact makes it relevant to evaluate the performance of public transport to provide an efficient and effective service. The purpose of this study is to conduct a performance evaluation of the public transport operation in the Metropolitan Region of Fortaleza (MRF), in the State of Ceará, Brazil. The analysis is based on DEA and the Malmquist index, based on three inputs (total operating time, fleet age, and the mileage traveled) and two outputs (fare revenue and number of passengers). Data were obtained through automated fare collection systems (AFCs) that were implemented in the MRF. Although there were no major fluctuations in performance during the analyzed period, the results indicate that the system’s performance declined in certain years. In addition, the analysis enables a better understanding of route performance, considering the operating company or the area of operation, which helps to diagnose and comprehend the operation more effectively. By analyzing the operational performance over time, the proposed approach provides an additional contribution by offering a comprehensive overview to the involved stakeholders, fostering decision-making processes based on evidence. Full article

Chromogenic reversal films (or color slides) are first-generation positive transparencies. These were used for various purposes, namely as an artistic medium, especially from the 1960s onwards. However, these materials are intrinsically vulnerable to chemical degradation and have poor long-term stability. Although over time significant improvements have been achieved in the stability of chromogenic products, chromogenic dyes are highly susceptible to oxidation and hydrolysis, both induced by light and/or relative humidity and temperature, leading to the fading and shift in the original color balance of the images. During the present investigation, a gap of knowledge regarding chromogenic materials in general, and chromogenic reversal films specifically, was detected. Today, there is still no methodology to identify the dyes present in a specific work and, therefore, to study their chemical mechanism of degradation. From this premise and focused on case studies from the Portuguese artist Ângelo de Sousa (1938–2011), a research study was carried out seeking the characterization of chromogenic dyes. Based on the isolation of the different dyes composing a chromogenic material, several procedures were tested to describe the dyes found in chromogenic reversal films, such as Raman spectroscopy, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS). Promising results were achieved with this approach, opening new paths for the understanding of these materials. Full article

Tuberculous granuloma formation is mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α), and is essential for establishing latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and its progression to active tuberculosis (TB). Here, we investigated whether HIF-1α expression and adjacent mechanisms were associated with latent or active TB infection. Patients with active TB, individuals with LTBI, and healthy controls were recruited, and the expression of cytokine genes IL15, IL18, TNFA, IL6, HIF1A, and A20 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum vitamin D (25(OH)D3) levels were evaluated. Additionally, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were analyzed in PBMC lysates and culture supernatants, respectively, after HIF-1α blockade with 2-methoxyestradiol. We observed that IL-15 expression was higher in individuals with LTBI than in patients with active TB, while IL-18 and TNF-α expression was similar between LTBI and TB groups. Additionally, serum 25(OH)D3 levels and expression of IL-6, HIF1A, and A20 were higher in patients with active TB than in individuals with LTBI. Moreover, PBMCs from individuals with LTBI showed decreased NF-κB phosphorylation and increased TNF-α production after HIF-1α blockade. Together, these results suggest that under hypoxic conditions, TNF-α production and NF-κB pathway downregulation are associated with the LTBI phenotype. Full article

Introduction: Women present a higher prevalence of negative self-assessment of health (NSAH) when compared to men. However, there is a gap in the literature of factors associated with NSAH in women from developing countries such as Brazil. In addition, few studies have assessed the magnitude of the association between multimorbidity and NSAH in this population. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between NSAH and sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle and multimorbidity in women from the Midwest region of Brazil. Methods: A study based on data from the National Health Survey, a household survey that investigated health situation, lifestyle and risk factors for chronic diseases in the adult population of Brazil, was held. Sampling was performed in multiple stages. The selected women answered a standardized questionnaire on sociodemographic data, self-assessment of health and potential determinants. Poisson regression was used to analyze the association between NSAH and sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle and multimorbidity. A significance level of 0.05% was established. Results: The study included 4233 women. The prevalence of NSAH found was 6.0% (95% Confidence Interval [95% CI]: 5.1–7.0%). There was an association between NSAH and advancing age, low schooling, physical inactivity and multimorbidity. Furthermore, there was an association between NSAH and diseases/disorders such as chronic back pain, systemic arterial hypertension, mental disorders, depression, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancer, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: The prevalence of NSAH was low. A strong association was found between this variable and multimorbidity. In addition, increased age, low schooling and physical inactivity were predictors of NSAH in women. Full article

With a broad ethnopharmacological tradition in Brazil, Montrichardia linifera has been reported as a potent antirheumatic, antimicrobial, and antiprotozoan agent. However, there is a lack of studies on its effect on bacterial biofilm formation and Schistosoma mansoni worms. This study reports the effects of antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antischistosomal properties of leaf extracts of M. linifera. Phytochemical screening and identification of the main compounds of the extracts were performed. All the extracts evaluated showed antibacterial activity at the concentrations tested. We checked for the presence of flavonoids and derivatives of phenolic acids by the presence of spectra with bands characteristic of these classes in the sample analyzed. The antibacterial assays showed that the best MICs corresponded to 125 µg/mL against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 in all fractions. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts showed the ability to inhibit biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25123. For the antischistosomal activity, only the acetone and ethyl acetate extracts had a significant effect against helminths, with potent activity at a concentration of 50 µg/mL, killing 100% of the worms after 72 h of incubation. The M. linifera leaf extracts showed antibacterial activity, biofilm inhibition capacity, and anthelmintic activity against S. mansoni. Full article

Slides de cavalete | Easel slides (1978–1979) is a slide-based artwork by the Portuguese artist Ângelo de Sousa (1938–2011), composed of one-hundred colour slides. Each image was produced by capturing different proportions of red, green, and blue (RGB) lights to obtain colour gradations. The artwork was first presented in the exhibition A Fotografia como Arte/A Arte como Fotografia | Photography as Art/Art as Photography in 1979. Associated with this exhibition, documentary evidence was found during the present study providing specific instruction on how to display the artwork (possibly unknown until now). According to that documentation, the artist wanted the work to be projected on a canvas mounted in an easel with a 19th century semblance, using a slide projector. In the last two exhibitions, carried out in 2017, after the artist had passed, the work was displayed as a digital projection, without the previously mentioned sculptural components. It was considered that this deviation from the first presentation could have led to a misunderstanding of the work. Thus, an exhibition of this artwork was prepared in a room at the Library of Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia. This was built as an experimental laboratory, having as one of its important objectives to test the variability of the work projected with a slide projector and a digital projector, following the display setup defined by the artist. For four days, the visitors were shown the work displayed under these two distinct scenarios of presentation. The visitors were also asked to fill out a questionnaire, to capture their perception about the variance of the work. The data obtained in the questionnaire and during the exhibition reinforced the decision to expose Slides de cavalete using the original technology. The public preferred the quality and beauty of the image using the slide projector, highlighting as positive aspects more granularity and warmer hue as well as higher depth of the images. Additionally, the production process behind Slides de cavalete was studied, based on documentation discovered in the artist’s archive and on reproductions, to enrich our perception of the work, in particular the complexity of creating the sfumato effects, and to understand the impact of changing the display technology. The results obtained made it possible to identify the main steps of making these slides, and this knowledge was shared with visitors in a workshop, integrated in this experimental laboratory. Full article