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Obesity and diabetes are two of the biggest public health problems in the modern world. One possible way to combat the rising prevalence of these diseases is through the spread of awareness about its consequences and how to prevent them. Therefore, educational interventions focused on teaching the physiological basis of these conditions might be valuable tools. However, most scholar curriculums lack high-quality material devoted to this topic. Thus we developed an educational booklet, composed of playful elements, targeted toward high school students and destined for application in classrooms. The efficacy of the developed material was validated through a pretest-posttest design, in which the students had to answer a 10-question test. After booklet completion, students had better outcomes, with an increase in the percentage of correct answers in 7 out of 10 questions contained in the test (P < 0.05. Thus we developed an effective material for usage in the high school classroom to spread the awareness of the risks of metabolic diseases and how to prevent them.

This study aims at reflecting upon the Brazilian higher education situation in a context of deep change regarding the contemporary way of life. This study stems from evidence generated from field research. The expansion of the higher education system in Brazil, for historical, political and economic reasons, has taken place mainly by means of private institutions following logic close to a market one, according to some theoreticians. The general objectives of this paper are to reflect upon the situation of the Brazilian higher education at the end of the first decade of the 21st century and to investigate the advances of the "research is learning itself" (Lucchesi, 2002) paradigm from its conceptual set through an analysis of the official discourse from higher education institutions. This paper aims at verifying whether such discourse has been translating the intention of rendering such paradigm concrete. By means of the analysis of the discourse manifested at advertising messages from the private higher education institutions, this study aims at understanding what they now believe to be the model for teaching and learning capable of meeting the Brazilian youth's needs. The authors have observed that the relationship between teaching and learning is promised by the private higher education institutions. Therefore, the scope of this study is the persuasive content of the message from the private higher education institutions to conquer new students. (Contains 2 tables and 23 footnotes.)

This article presents the research carried out in the State Center for Basic Education for Young and Adult Primary and Secondary School Campo Comprido, Curitiba, Paraná, a privileged space in the recognition and valorisation of the trajectories of different social and ethnic groups. The study uses the methodology of action research, where all had their voice, attending to the interest of identifying the level of respect and religious tolerance of each group. Diversity of habits and attitudes in relation to beliefs, symbols and sacred locus, ethical values, languages and rites have been identified.

The authors conducted a cross-sectional short-term study using Lind's Moral Judgment Test (MJT) to compare moral judgment competence (C-score) among students from a medical school in the Northeast region of Brazil and a medical school in the Northern region of Portugal. This study compares the C-scores of groups in the first and eighth semesters of study within each medical school and groups from corresponding semesters between the two medical schools. This study also evaluates the influence of such factors as age and gender on moral competence. A regression of moral judgment competence among the students in their eighth semester versus the students in the first semester of Brazilian medical school (p < 0.001) and a stagnation of moral competence among students in their eighth semester versus the first semester students in the Portuguese medical school (p = 0.06) were observed. For both the first semester and eighth semester groups, the students in the Portuguese medical school had higher C-scores than the students in the Brazilian medical school. In the analysis of the students' performances in terms of "MJT" dilemmas, the phenomenon of "moral segmentation" was observed in all of the groups, and the students performed better on the worker's dilemma than on the doctor's dilemma. Among students in the same semester of study, older students had lower C-scores. There was generally no significant difference between men's and women's C-scores.

How can an inclusive classroom for deaf students be successful? The use of metacommunication strategies by teachers and hearing peers seems promising. Schools that promote this approach tend to improve deaf students' psychosocial development and academic achievement. However, this is not a general rule. The present study identifies the elements of success, with the investigators basing their analysis on extensive observation of 4 bilingual classes conducted by regular education and specialized teachers. The study was conducted in 3 public elementary schools in Brasilia, Brazil. Data were collected through direct observation (156 hours) and video recording (34 hours). Results were qualitatively analyzed from a microgenetic perspective. The investigators devised 14 categories of social interaction, e.g., visual contact and responsivity, multimodal communication, co-construction of meanings, flexible use of space, and sign language instruction for hearing students. (Contains 5 tables.)

ObjectiveTo investigate the perceptions of young people and adults, smokers and non-smokers about the current set of innovations introduced in 2018 into the Brazilian tobacco products' health warnings.MethodsTwenty focus groups were conducted in five state capitals in Brazil. The participants (n=163) were segmented by smoking status, age (15-17 years, 18-55 years) and social grade (C, D-E classes) to examine cigarette packaging and explore the participants' perceptions of health warnings.ResultsHealth warnings capture attention, eliciting apprehension, fear, disgust and concern about the negative consequences of cigarette consumption. The 2018 Brazil health warnings are spontaneously recalled by participants, even without the presence of cigarette packages. However, the analysis also reveals the challenges of overcoming communication barriers and distorted interpretations, especially among smokers. The inclusion of direct and provocative stimuli, such as the use of the word 'you', attracts attention and creates more proximity to the recipient of the message. The results also highlight the interest and fear elicited by warnings on toxic constituents and the importance of using contrasting colours in warnings, which differentiate them from the colours of cigarette packs.ConclusionIntroducing innovative components in health warnings can catch consumers' attention but considering that the interviewees encountered difficulties interpreting textual warnings about toxic constituents in cigarettes, the study reinforces the importance of adopting direct language and pictures, instead of text, which can visually transmit the warning messages and the use of specific wording that generates proximity between the emitter and receiver.

Inclusion of deaf children in regular classrooms is often described as unsuccessful. The present article shows how communicative and metacommunicative strategies used in teacher(s)-deaf students(s) interactions may facilitate inclusion. A fourth-grade classroom was investigated where a coteaching approach--a master teacher working with a teacher trained in Brazilian Sign Language (BSL)--was used. The class, 7 deaf and 19 hearing students, was selected because of the teacher dyad's effectiveness with these students. The teachers' interactive styles and strategies are highlighted, along with communicative and metacommunicative processes that occurred between them and the deaf students. The authors show that meanings are co-constructed not only through words or BSL but through nonverbal actions. Relational metacommunicative strategies make integration more effective and learning easier and more pleasant; therefore, dialogue with deaf children entails more than the mere use of words, either vocally or with signs. (Contains 1 table.)

After twenty years of arduous negotiations, in 2019 the European Union (EU) and the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) announced the conclusion of a landmark trade agreement. Celebratory fireworks, however, were soon replaced by less desirable signs of smoke: the burning of the Amazon and Cerrado biomes, which has placed the bi-regional partnership under close public scrutiny. Since then, a lively debate among scholars, policymakers, activists, and private sector stakeholders has unfolded in an effort to assess the economic, social, and environmental implications of the agreement. To contribute to this debate, we use the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement (EMTA) as a case study to discuss the complexities of transitioning to a global green trade policy paradigm, questioning whether free trade agreements could effectively promote sustainable land use governance. Bearing in mind the current environmental footprint of EU imports of Brazilian commodities, we illustrate the challenges inherent to decoupling international agri-food trade and land conversion, examining the current estimates and projections regarding the EMTA's potential impact on land-use change in Brazil. We also investigate the sustainable development provisions in the EU-Mercosur agreement, reviewing its land conversion-related clauses. While the EMTA has limitations common to other free trade agreements, it could be a useful additional tool for improving sustainability governance in the existing trade between the two regions by establishing a structured and legally stable platform for cooperation and implementing joint initiatives. The EMTA could set a positive benchmark for future free trade agreements that Mercosur might negotiate with other countries that are larger importers of agricultural commodities. • Land conversion in Brazil is embedded in EU agri-food imports. • The estimated impact of the EMTA on land-use change in Brazil is relatively small. • The TSD Chapter of the EMTA has provisions and limitations that are similar to those of other EU FTAs. • The EMTA can be a useful additional tool in the multi-level governance framework for deforestation-free trade. • The EMTA could set a positive sustainability benchmark for future free trade agreements that Mercosur may negotiate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the diet of Leptodactylus spixi from a cacao plantation in southern Bahia, Brazil. A total of 109 frogs were manually collected between December 2006 and October 2007 and analysed using a stomach flushing method. Of these, 69 stomachs revealed 168 prey items. Acarina, Orthoptera and Formicidae were the most abundant items, while Orthoptera, Diplopoda and Hemiptera were the most important in terms of frequency of occurrence. With more than 50% of total prey volume and the highest Index of Relative Importance, Orthoptera was considered the dominating prey category for this species in the studied area. The comparison between available potential prey in the environment and diet revealed that L. spixi fed on most present invertebrates. Electivity values were highest for orthopterans, gastropods and dermapterans. We conclude that L. spixi can be considered a "sitand- wait" predator and also a generalist consuming what is available in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) challenge public health in developing countries such as Brazil, which harbour social inequalities and variations in the complexity of healthcare and regional development.Aim: To describe the prevalence of HCAIs in hospitals in a sample of hospitals in Brazil.Methods: A prevalence survey conducted in 2011-13 enrolled 152 hospitals from the five macro-regions in Brazil. Hospitals were classified as large (≥200 beds), medium (50-199 beds) or small sized (<50 beds). Settings were randomly selected from a governmental database, except for 11 reference university hospitals. All patients with >48 h of admission to the study hospitals at the time of the survey were included. Trained epidemiologist nurses visited each hospital and collected data on HCAIs, subjects' demographics, and invasive procedures. Univariate and multivariate techniques were used for data analysis.Findings: The overall HCAI prevalence was 10.8%. Most frequent infection sites were pneumonia (3.6%) and bloodstream infections (2.8%). Surgical site infections were found in 1.5% of the whole sample, but in 9.8% of subjects who underwent surgical procedures. The overall prevalence was greater for reference (12.6%) and large hospitals (13.5%), whereas medium- and small-sized hospitals presented rates of 7.7% and 5.5%, respectively. Only minor differences were noticed among hospitals from different macro-regions. Patients in intensive care units, using invasive devices or at extremes of age were at greater risk for HCAIs.Conclusion: Prevalence rates were high in all geographic regions and hospital sizes. HCAIs must be a priority in the public health agenda of developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In South America, Kelp Gulls (LARUS dominicanus) breed from Chilean Tierra del Fuego north to Río de Janeiro, Brazil, on the Atlantic coast and to Piura, Peru, on the Pacific coast. This review presents the first synthesis of information on the distribution and size of Kelp Gull colonies at the country level in coastal environments of Uruguay, Chile and Peru; provides an update on the breeding situation of the species in Brazil and Argentina; and allows the first evaluation of the overall coastal breeding population in South America. The breeding population in South America is now estimated to number at least 160,000 pairs. The largest population (at least 106,000 breeding pairs) is found in Argentina. Colonies of more than 1,000 pairs are uncommon. Population trends differed among coastal sectors, and important increases in numbers and formation of new colonies were only observed in Argentina. Available information suggests that predictable and abundant anthropogenic food subsidies, such as fishery discards and urban waste, are key factors contributing to the population growth in some coastal sectors. There is no strong evidence that Kelp Gulls are currently expanding their breeding range. However, given the population expansion in some areas and the potential conflicts with humans, ongoing monitoring efforts and population evaluations are necessary as they will provide the information required to support management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skin of Crocodyliformes is characterized by osteoderms of various sizes and shapes. It plays roles in defence, thermoregulation, sexual attraction, calcium reserves, and locomotion. This study presents the morphometric characteristics of osteoderms preserved in the nuchal, dorsal, ventral and appendicular shield of Montealtosuchus arrudacamposi , a Peirosauridae crocodyliform from the Turonian-Santonian (Upper Cretaceous) of Adamantina Formation, Bauru Basin, Brazil. The results of the analysis show that its dermal shield had protective and thermoregulatory functions and a well-defined mechanical function allowing terrestrial locomotion and enabling good agility and capacity for movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Biota Neotropica is the property of Biota Neotropica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Interface - Comunicação, Saúde, Educação is the property of Fundacao UNI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Biota Neotropica is the property of Biota Neotropica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Allele frequencies for 15 short tandem repeats (STR) loci were obtained from a sample of 4076 unrelated individuals undergoing paternity testing. The population is from Paraná, Southern Brazil. The loci are the most commonly used in forensic and paternity testing, being analyzed by the AmpFlSTR® Identifiler™ (Applied Biosystems) commercial kit. The most polymorphic loci were D2S1338 and D18S51. Excepting the D13S317, all loci were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Comparative analyses between our population data and other populations are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]