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Este artigo apresenta uma reflexão sobre o processo de implementação de políticas públicas na área da educação nos municípios de Rio Pardo, Venâncio Aires e Santa Cruz do Sul, localizados no interior do Rio Grande do Sul/Brasil. O objetivo do artigo foi analisar como os burocratas de nível de rua influenciam na área da educação em processos includentes e/ou excludentes que afetem a (re)produção ou redução de desigualdades no processo de implementação de políticas públicas. O artigo Burocracia e Implementação de Políticas Públicas: Desafios e Potencialidades para Redução de Desigualdades, de autoria de Gabriela Lotta (2021), foi a base para os dois momentos, tanto o teórico como a pesquisa de campo. Na pesquisa de campo foram realizadas três entrevistas semiestruturadas aprofundadas com profissionais da área da educação. Após a análise dos resultados, considera-se que a implementação bem-sucedida das políticas públicas deve considerar as avaliações de impacto social que analisem de maneira abrangente como a política afeta as desigualdades. A ausência desse tipo de avaliação pode limitar a compreensão dos resultados e impedir ajustes necessários.

Objectives: To investigate the associations between caregivers’ burden, family quality of life (QoL), and siblings’ QoL in Brazilian families of children with cerebral palsy, and to analyze siblings’ QoL using as a parameter the QoL of typically developed Brazilian children. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. The 212 families, 212 caregivers and 131 siblings completed the Family Quality of Life Scale, Burden Interview, and KIDSCREEN-27 Child and Adolescent Version and Parents Version questionnaires at a neurorehabilitation center in southeast Brazil. Univariable and multivariable models were used. Results: Family QoL significantly worsened as caregivers’ burden increased (95 % CI -0.66 to -0.38). Caregivers’ burden was significantly lower with increasing family QoL scores (95 % CI -0.52 to -0.30). Self-reported siblings’ QoL was significantly worse than that of their typically developed peers (95 % CI -7.6 to -3.6). Self-reported siblings’ QoL was significantly lower as siblings’ age (95 % CI -2.52 to -0.59) and caregivers’ burden (95 % CI -0.35 to -0.05) increased. Parent-reported siblings’ QoL was significantly lower with increasing caregivers’ burden (95 % CI -0.45 to -0.16) and higher as family QoL increased (95 % CI 0.09 to 0.37). Conclusions: The cross-sectional nature of these data precludes any statement of causality. Family QoL worsened with higher caregivers’ burden levels. Lower caregivers’ burden scores were associated with a higher family QoL. Siblings’ QoL was impaired as compared to typically developed peers, worse among older siblings, and as caregivers’ burden increased and better with higher family QoL levels. Future multicenter studies may validate the generalizability of the present findings.

Objective: To investigate the association between diet quality, nutritional status, and sarcopenia in a sample of the oldest old. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, individuals aged ≥ 80 years were enrolled. To determine their energy and macronutrient intake, 24-hour dietary recall was used to calculate the Healthy Eating Index. Nutritional status was categorized based on Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) scores. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using both the 2010 and 2018 EWGSOP criteria. Electrical bioimpedance was used to calculate the muscle mass index. Muscle strength was measured through handgrip dynamometry, and muscle performance was determined with a 4-m gait speed test. To test the association between the HEI with sarcopenia, means of HEI scores were compared between sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic participants using indendent t-tests. Prevalence rate ratios were calculated using a Poisson Regression model with robust estimation of standard errors. Results: The study population consisted of 119 participants, predominantly women (n = 67; 56.3%), with a mean age of 83.4 (SD, 3.0) years. The prevalence of sarcopenia varied significantly according to the classification criteria, being higher according to EWGSOP 2010 than EWGSOP 2018 criteria (46.7 vs. 17.6%), as expected. Female participants and those categorized as malnourished presented higher prevalence of sarcopenia. Nutrition quality, estimated by the Healthy Eating Index, was not associated with the outcome. Reduced total energy and high protein intake were independently associated with both sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia, regardless of the diagnostic criteria. Conclusions: The Health Eating Index was not associated with sarcopenia in this sample of older adults ≥80 years. Sarcopenia prevalence, as defined by the EWGSOP 2018 criteria, was higher in thosewith MNA≤24 and with reduced daily total energy comsumption independently of age, sex and education attainment. Higher protein intake, oposed to expected, was indenpendently associated with sarcopenia, possibly due to protopathic bias. Large longitudinal studies are still required to investigate the relationship between nutrition quality and Sarcopenia in 80+ aged adults.

Stroke is the second leading cause of death and disability in Latin America; however, few epidemiological studies have been conducted in South America. An observational study was conducted to analyze trends in stroke mortality in South American (SA) countries. Age-standardized mortality rates and proportional mortality due to stroke in the populations of SA countries between 1990 and 2019 were assessed by extracting data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study. Joinpoint regression models were employed to identify trends in the annual percentage change in mortality rates for each segment. Considering the data collected over the 30 years that were studied, the age-standardized stroke mortality trend decreased in Argentina (−1.6%), Uruguay (−0.6%), Brazil (−0.5%), Guyana (−0.5%), and Bolivia (−0.4%), while Venezuela (+1.6%) and Suriname (+1.0%) showed an increasing trend. The proportional stroke mortality trend decreased in Argentina (−1.7%), Paraguay (−0.9%), Uruguay (−0.7%), Guyana (−0.7%), Brazil (−0.5%), and Chile (−0.5%), whereas Bolivia (+1.0%), Suriname (+0.6%), and Peru (+0.4%) exhibited an increasing trend. The trends in stroke mortality between 1990 and 2019 demonstrated considerable variability. While most SA countries experienced significant decreases in stroke mortality trends, Venezuela and Suriname showed increases in age-standardized mortality rates, and Bolivia, Suriname, and Peru exhibited increases in proportional mortality rates. No decreasing stroke mortality trend was observed in the segment after the last joinpoint, highlighting the need for improvement in prevention and treatment.

In 1961-1962, the Portuguese imperial administration undertook a number of political, administrative and social reforms, putting an end to the indigenato regime. This article demonstrates that, both in timing and content, the dynamics of legal and political change were closely related to actors, events, and processes located beyond imperial borders, in articulation with local dynamics, in national and colonial settings. Such reforms can only be rigorously understood if these dimensions are analytically integrated. With a longer history, not reducible to this two-year period, such dynamics of change were significantly marked by the participation of the Portuguese authorities in a disputed conversation – of global origin, scope and impact, involving different institutions and across distinct geographies – about the multiple configurations of ethnic-racial and socio-cultural difference and the contested postulates of sovereignty and self-determination politics. This article is part of the special theme section on International Organizations in the Era of Decolonization, guest-edited by José Pedro Monteiro.

This paper aimed to characterize and verify whether the linear relationships between agronomic traits of white oat are different between crops with and without chemical fertilization; and identify the agronomic ideotype that enhances the agronomic performance of white oats. Two uniformity tests were carried out with and without chemical fertilization in the 2020 harvest. In each trial, on 285 plants, agronomic traits were measured. Pearson's linear correlation coefficients and the direct and indirect effects of the trial analysis were calculated. The regression tree algorithm and Kohonen map neural network were used to identify the agronomic ideotype. The linear relationships between agronomic characters of white oat are similar between crops with and without chemical fertilization. White oat genotypes with greater panicle grain weight can be selected indirectly by panicle weight, regardless of cultivation with or without fertilization. White oat genotypes measuring 114.57 cm in height, 97.41 cm in panicle insertion, 18.11 cm in panicle length, 1.31 g in panicle weight and 27.92 grains in the panicle characterize the agronomic ideotype that maximizes panicle grain weight.

Abstract As sustainability scientists increasingly put forward the relevance of process‐relational approaches to make sense of social‐ecological phenomena, an inquiry on which methods would fit a process‐relational approach is necessary. This paper discusses how a process‐relational approach can be applied to traditional qualitative research methods, namely interviews and coding and the tensions associated with it. Process‐relational perspectives share commonalities with interpretative approaches but also present specific characteristics, such as the importance of material aspects and the understanding of the phenomenon as a moment in which different elements become defined respective to each other. The paper uses data and researchers' experiences from an action research project seeking to support collective action among coastal communities affected by environmental changes in Kenya and Mozambique. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed to monitor intrinsic capacity (IC) in the older population as a public health strategy through the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) program. Although the program has been developed based on solid concepts, scientific evidence on its practical applicability is still scarce. Objectives: To evaluate IC in Brazilian older adults, its progress over time, and its association with sociodemographic and health factors and outcomes. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the WHO/ICOPE screening tool. Methods: This is a prospective multicenter cohort study with a 36-month follow-up. We will recruit 3838 people aged ≥ 60 years, registered in the health care units included in the study by the participating centers. We will collect sociodemographic and health data and will administer tools to assess IC domains, both those provided for in the ICOPE screening tool and the sequence of confirmatory assessments provided for in the program. Participants will be reassessed every 6 months for 36 months. Expected results: To establish the profile of IC in the study population and to understand its progress and the variables associated with the clinical outcomes of interest. To reveal the diagnostic and psychometric properties of the WHO/ICOPE screening tool. The project is funded by the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Relevance: Understanding the potential use of the ICOPE public health strategy proposed by the WHO within the scope of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) by integrating several research centers in the field of Geriatrics and Gerontology throughout Brazil.

Purpose: To examine the impact of sound branding on the emotions evoked by the music in Apple and Samsung advertisements. Methodology: The study employed a mixed approach, both exploratory and descriptive. The selection criteria were based on the top-ranked technology brands in 2022’s Interbrand report and the impact of these brands advertisements. Results: There is an influence of audio on the perception and evaluation of the advertisements and the emotions evoked by music highlight significant differences between brands. Emotions such as joy and tenderness are significantly associated with Apple advertisements. The music in Samsung advertisements showed a strong connection with transcendence and peace. The sense of hearing ensures a strong recall and positively influences perception and predisposition of consumers towards a brand. Implications: it identifies a set of sound branding elements that become relevant and effective strategies for brands. Value: Sound branding emerges as a key element for marketing strategy and business administration and is a powerful way to capture consumer’s attention and to differentiate products or services.

Introduction: The aberrant expression of the inhibitor of DNA binding (ID1) gene has been frequently associated with the leukemogenesis and prognostication acute myeloid leukemia (AML), although its clinical importance has never been investigated in patients treated outside well-controlled clinical trials. Methods: Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, we investigated the role of the ID1 expression in the clinical outcomes of non-selected patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated in a real-life setting. Results: Overall, 128 patients were enrolled. Patients with high ID1 expression had a lower 3-year overall survival (OS) rate of 9%, with the 95% confidence interval (95%CI) at 3 to 20%, compared to patients with a low ID1 expression (22%, 95%CI: 11 - 34%) (p = 0.037), although these findings did not retain significance after adjustment (hazard ratio (HR): 1.5, 95%CI: 0.98 - 2.28; p = 0.057). The ID1 expression had no impact on post-induction outcomes (disease-free survival, p = 0.648; cumulative incidence of relapse, p = 0.584). Conclusions: Although we are aware thar our data are confronted with many variables that cannot be fully controlled, including drug unavailability, risk-adapted treatment, comorbidities and the time from diagnosis to treatment initiation, we are firm believers that such an initiative can provide more realistic data on understudied populations, in particular those from low- and middle-income countries.

Cardiovascular comorbidity is common in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This factor interferes with pharmacological treatment. The use of β-blockers has been proposed for their known cardioprotective effects. However, due to their adverse reactions, and the risk of causing bronchospasm, there is reluctance to use them. To summarize existing evidence on the effects of β-blocker use in COPD associated with cardiovascular comorbidities in relation to disease severity, exacerbation, and mortality outcomes. EMBASE, Medline, Lilacs, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct databases were used. Observational studies that evaluated the effects of β-blockers on individuals with COPD and cardiovascular comorbidities, and related disease severity, exacerbations, or mortality outcomes were included. Studies that did not present important information about the sample and pharmacological treatment were excluded. Twenty studies were included. Relevance to patient care and clinical practice: The use of β-blockers in individuals with COPD and cardiovascular disease caused positive effects on mortality and exacerbations outcomes, compared with the results of individuals who did not use them. The severity of the disease caused a slight change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second. The odds ratio for mortality was 0.50 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 0.63; p

Abstract The cross-section for the production of an electroweak gauge boson (G = W ± , Z 0, γ) at forward rapidities in pp collisions is derived within the color-dipole S-matrix framework. We present the full expressions for the differential cross-section of the qp → GX process in the impact parameter and transverse momentum spaces, considering the longitudinal and transverse polarizations of the gauge boson. The particular cases associated with the Drell-Yan process and real photon production are discussed. We demonstrate that the final formulae are expressed in terms of the dipole-proton cross-section or the unintegrated gluon distribution, and can be used to estimate the impact of the saturation effects in the gauge boson production at the LHC and future colliders.

Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is viewed as a prospective approach to encourage sustainable mobility. To ensure the effectiveness of MaaS subscription plans, continuous feedback and communication with users are crucial. The objective of this study is to develop a methodology for designing region-focused MaaS bundles and assess their viability through end-user's feedback and its potential for increasing users’ uptake of more sustainable travel. To explore user willingness to adopt the suggested MaaS bundles and estimate net changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, stated preference surveys (SPS) were conducted in the Portuguese cities of Aveiro and Coimbra. Results suggest a preference for bundles offering unlimited travel on public transport and, due to the efficient public transport network in Coimbra, the willingness to use such bundles was higher than for Aveiro. In an optimistic scenario, average emission savings of 35 % for CO2 and 30 % for NOx emissions, specifically for the most frequent trips, were found. In a realistic scenario with values adjusted to revealed preferences, these reductions drop to 5 % for CO2 and 4 % for NOx. Overall, our research highlights the complexities associated with behavioural changes and underscores the importance of policies that consider the intricacies of human behaviour. Furthermore, the findings regarding the introduction of MaaS bundles emphasize the pivotal role of a robust PT system in driving changes in travel behaviour among the population, contributing to mitigating the negative effects of unsustainable, carbon-dependent travel choices.

In order to contain the increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere and its harmful consequences, studies point to the need to increase the participation of non-fossil energy in the world energy matrix. Among the possible alternatives, wind energy has proven to be economically viable and has its growth established in a global scenario. Although a large part of wind generation occurs due to large turbines, small wind turbines meet the demands of distributed and isolated generation. The efficiency of wind turbines, however, is theoretically limited and one possible way to improve the use of wind energy is the use of Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbines (DAWTs). This work aims to study the impact of wind characteristics on the optimal aerodynamic design of a DAWT blade considering non-uniform flow generated using the diffuser. A new expression for the correction of thrust coefficients for high values of axial induction factor is proposed, so that it is suitable for the evaluation of turbines with and without diffusers. Differential Evolution (DE) is used for the evolution of an initial random population of wind turbine rotors to an optimum final population, maximizing energy conversion. The aptitude of each individual to be evolved is evaluated through Blade Element Momentum (BEM) method, using the proposed correction equation. The optimized variables modify the rotor rotation, chord and twist distributions along the turbine radius and pitch angle. The proposed BEM approach, when compared to experimental results for turbines with and without diffusers, showed an average discrepancy of 4.45% for turbines without diffusers and 0.28% for turbines with diffusers, better agreement than other approaches found in the literature. Through the DE optimization it was noted that most of the parameters studied were highly dependent on the wind regime. The use of diffusers in turbines optimized for operation without diffusers allowed for an energy production improvement of up to 28.4% and proved to be dependent on the geometry of the diffuser and the wind regime. A specific optimization process for diffuser operation can lead to energy production improvement up to 32.6% and may affect the benefit of installing the device by up to 22.7%.

Several GWAS reported Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2 C (MEF2C) gene associations with white matter microstructure and psychiatric disorders, and MEF2C involvement in pathways related to neuronal development suggests a common biological factor underlying these phenotypes. We aim to refine the MEF2C effects in the brain relying on an integrated analysis of white matter and psychiatric phenotypes in an extensively characterized sample. This study included 870 Brazilian adults (47% from an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder outpatient clinic) assessed through standardized psychiatric interviews, 139 of which underwent a magnetic resonance imaging scan. We evaluated variants in the MEF2C region using two approaches: 1) a gene-wide analysis, which uses the sum of polymorphism effects, and 2) SNP analyses, restricted to the independent variants within the gene. The outcomes included psychiatric phenotypes and fractional anisotropy for brain images. Results: The gene-wide analyses pointed to a nominal association between MEF2C and the Temporal Portion of the Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus (SLFTEMP). The SNP analysis identified four independent variants significantly associated with SLFTEMP and one (rs4218438) with Substance Use Disorder. Our findings showing specific associations of MEF2C variants with temporal-frontal circuitry components may help to elucidate how the MEF2C gene underlies a broad range of psychiatric phenotypes since these regions are relevant to executive and cognitive functions.

BackgroundPulmonary hypertension (PH) can occur as a complication of schistosomiasis. In humans, schistosomiasis-PH persists despite antihelminthic therapy and parasite eradication. We hypothesized that persistent disease arises as a consequence of exposure repetition.MethodsFollowing intraperitoneal sensitization, mice were experimentally exposed to Schistosoma eggs by intravenous injection, either once or three times repeatedly. The phenotype was characterized by right heart catheterization and tissue analysis.ResultsFollowing intraperitoneal sensitization, a single intravenous Schistosoma egg exposure resulted in a PH phenotype that peaked at 7-14 days, followed by spontaneous resolution. Three sequential exposures resulted in a persistent PH phenotype. Inflammatory cytokines were not significantly different between mice exposed to one or three egg doses, but there was an increase in perivascular fibrosis in those who received three egg doses. Significant perivascular fibrosis was also observed in autopsy specimens from patients who died of this condition.ConclusionsRepeatedly exposing mice to schistosomiasis causes a persistent PH phenotype, accompanied by perivascular fibrosis. Perivascular fibrosis may contribute to the persistent schistosomiasis-PH observed in humans with this disease.