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Background: “Chouriço Vinha d’Alhos” is a traditional fermented dry meat sausage from North of Portugal. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of a fresh and a lyophilized bioprotective Lactobacillus plantarum ST153Ch culture, on an industrial scale, on the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial characteristics of “Chouriço Vinha d’Alhos”. Methods: “Chouriço Vinha d’Alhos” added with Lb. plantarum ST153Ch (fresh or lyophilized) were analyzed for the physicochemical, microbiological, and sensorial characteristics, over 90 days of storage at 4 ºC. All data were statistically analyzed using an ANOVA procedure by IBM SPSS Statistics v. 25. Results: The results showed that there was no difference in the reduction of L. monocytogenes, without or with the addition of Lb. plantarum either fresh or lyophilized. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in some analyzed physicochemical parameters of products added with fresh or lyophilized Lb. plantarum cultures over the 90 days of storage; but both, fresh and lyophilized cultures, influenced some of the tested physicochemical parameters. Conclusion: Considering no significant differences between application methodologies (fresh or lyophilized Lb. plantarum), industry might be able to choose the most suitable method according to their manufacturing process. DOI: 10.29252/jfqhc.5.4.2

Abstract Malaria is caused by mosquito-borne Plasmodium spp. parasites that must infect and survive within mosquito salivary glands (SGs) prior to host transmission. Recent advances in transcriptomics and the complete genome sequencing of mosquito vectors have increased our knowledge of the SG genes and proteins involved in pathogen infection and transmission. Membrane solute carriers are key proteins involved in drug transport and are useful in the development of new interventions for transmission blocking. Herein, we applied transcriptomics analysis to compare SGs mRNA levels in Anopheles stephensi fed on non-infected and P. berghei-infected mice. The A. stephensi solute carriers prestinA and NDAE1 were up-regulated in response to infection. These molecules are predicted to interact with each other, and are reportedly involved in the maintenance of cell homeostasis. To further evaluate their functions in mosquito survival and parasite infection, these genes were knocked down by RNA interference. Knockdown of prestinA and NDAE1 resulted in reduction of the number of sporozoites in mosquito SGs. Moreover, NDAE1 knockdown strongly impacted mosquito survival, resulting in the death of half of the treated mosquitoes. Overall, our findings indicate the importance of prestinA and NDAE1 in interactions between mosquito SGs and Plasmodium, and suggest the need for further research.

Cut-off lows (COLs) exhibit diverse structures and lifecycles, ranging from confined upper-tropospheric systems to deep, multi-level vortex structures. While COL climatologies are well documented, the mechanisms driving their deepening remain unclear. To bridge this gap, a novel track matching algorithm applied to ERA-Interim reanalysis investigates the vertical extent of Southern Hemisphere COLs. Composite analysis based on structure and eddy kinetic energy budget differentiates four COL categories: shallow, deep, weak, and strong, revealing similarities and disparities. Deep, strong COLs concentrate around Australia and the southwestern Pacific, peaking in autumn and spring, while shallow, weak COLs are more common in summer and closer to the Equator. Despite their differences, both contrasting types evolve energetically via anticyclonic Rossby wave breaking. The distinct roles of jet streams in affecting COL types are addressed: intense polar front jets correlate with more deep COLs, whereas stronger subtropical jets relate to fewer shallow COLs. The COL deepening typically occurs in the presence of a robust upstream polar front jet, which enhances ageostrophic flux convergence and baroclinic processes. The subtropical jet positively correlates with COL intensity but weakens when considering the seasonality, suggesting uncertainties in this relationship. Additionally, we highlight the significance of diabatic processes in COL deepening, addressing their misrepresentation in reanalysis and emphasizing the need for more observational and modelling studies to refine the energetic framework.

The bioprotective properties of native lactic acid cultures and their bacteriocins may be used for increasing the microbiological safety and stability of traditional sliced smoked pork products. It is expected that this addition would not affect consumer’s perception and, consequently, the acceptability of these traditional smoked meat products. The effect of two different LAB cultures, two different application methods and two different modified atmosphere packaging conditions (MAP) on growth control of Listeria monocytogenes and on sensory properties of “Chouriço”, a sliced cured/smoked pork product, were studied. Lactobacillus sakei ST153 (autochthonous bacteria) and BLC35 (commercial mixed starter culture including strains of Lactobacillus curvatus, Staphylococcus xylosus and Pediococcus acidilactici; CHR Hansen) both with bacteriocinogenic activity against Listeria monocytogenes, were applied by immersion or spray on smoked pork slices that were produced at industrial scale and packed under MAP (8 % or 12 % v/v CO2)and stored at 5 °C. Previously to the incorporation of LAB cultures, L. monocytogenes was gently spreadwith a sterile cotton swab into the slices. The enumeration of LAB and L. monocytogenes was performedduring the storage at 5 °C. A quantitative descriptive sensory test was performed by a sensory trained panel at 30, 90 and 120 days, involving previous sessions for main descriptors definition, their scale limits as well as verbal anchors by panel consensus. A final sheet with nine descriptors (meat colour, greasiness, characteristic odour, off- odour, hardness, succulence, characteristic taste, acid taste, bitter taste), each one with a 13-point scale, was validated. Listeria monocytogenes decreased to values

RÉSUMÉ Les entretiens présentent des dialogues intéressés par les expériences juvéniles, proposant des réflexions sur les actions des jeunes et leur relation avec l’éducation scolaire. Donc, les conversations engagées avec François Dubet, Anne Barrère et Fabien Truong mettent en discussion les épreuves vécues par les individus, afin de permettre des contrastes avec la réalité scolaire brésilienne. C’est la voie empruntée pour considérer les itinéraires construits et les inégalités sociales éprouvées par les jeunes des classes populaires, ainsi que le rapport des élèves à la réussite et à la forme scolaires en systèmes éducatifs massifiés. En même temps, alors, on propose une prise de position réflexive et une problématisation sur les conséquences politiques de la prééminence du jugement scolaire.

Traditional smoked and/or cured salami-like products are much appreciated by Southwest European consumers. However modern consumers require products that not only have high appealing sensory attributes but are also safe. In this work the effect of the application of two bacteriocinogenic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Lb. plantarum ST202 and Lb. sakei ST153 for controlling Listeria monocytogenes growth in “Alheira”, a traditional salami-like product, was investigated. The paste of ‘‘Alheira’,’ produced by an industrial meat company, was sterilized by autoclaving before inoculation and L. monocytogenes growth was evaluated during 15 days of storage. Both LAB strains showed antilisterial activity in the inoculated paste, but as in preliminary experiments with sterilized minced pork meat only strain ST153 presented activity against L. monocytogenes. it was decided, for further industrial tests, to use only this strain. Therefore, the effect of Lb. sakei ST153 against monocytogenes in industrially processed “Alheira”, packed under vacuum or under modified atmosphere (MA) (20 % CO2 and 80 % N2), was evaluated during 7 days storage at 4 °C. The effect of the inoculation of the bacteriocinogenic culture in the organoleptic properties of “Alheira” was also investigated. A quantitative descriptive sensory test was performed by a semi-trained panel after 5 days storage. No significant differences were observed in the microbiological and sensory quality of “Alheira” packed under vacuum or MA. A significant reduction in the level of L. monocytogenes was observed in the presence of Lb. sakei ST153 (2 log cycles reduction during the first 7 days). Results showed that panellists did not find significant differences between “Alheira” with Lb. sakei ST153 addition and commercial control, except for mass connection, acid taste and a typical taste. Despite that, both samples were scored above conformity limit. Thus, the application of LAB is a very promising mean of preventing L. monocytogenes growth in “Alheira”.

Este artigo propõe uma técnica para estimação da matriz de impedância de rede vista por um inversor trifásico conectado à rede elétrica. Ela é baseada na injeção de perturbações binárias pseudo-aleatórias de corrente impostas pelo controle do inversor. As perturbações são injetadas nos referenciais dq sincronizados por uma malha de captura de fase (PLL), referente ao sistema de controle (CPLL). Utilizase outro PLL, exclusivamente para a estimação da matriz de impedância síncrona dq (EPLL). Por meio de análises no domínio da frequência, verifica-se que a estimação da impedância é afetada para frequências na banda passante (BP) do EPLL. Consequentemente, a BP deve ser projetada dentro de uma faixa de frequências menor do que aquelas de interesse para a estimação da matriz de impedância. O presente trabalho também aplica o critério generalizado de Nyquist (CGN) para avaliar a estabilidade do sistema. Conclui-se que a seleção equivocada da banda do EPLL pode levar a avaliações incorretas. Além disso, a banda do CPLL pode ser usada para produzir uma matriz de impedância do inversor que assegure maiores margens de estabilidade ao sistema. As discussões apresentadas neste artigo são apoiadas por simulações no software Simulink e por realizações dos controles em tempo real através de uma plataforma Typhoon.

Abstract Social media data is a rich source of information to assess human activities in catastrophic events. Here, we use social media data to understand how the 2019 Brazilian oil spill influenced social attitudes. Data were collected from the globally popular Instagram platform between August 1, 2019 and March 1, 2020. First, we manually identified the 5 most popular (portuguese language) hashtags related to the oil spill #oleonononordeste; #desastreambiental; #marsemoleo; #sosnordeste; #marsempetroleo. In the sequence, we collected information on captions, post metadata and users associated with posts retrieved using the selected hashtags. We identified a total of 7,413 posts. These posts were grouped in topics: government (47.76%), protest (24.37%), volunteers (24.45%), biodiversity (0.003%), origin (0.006%), tourism (0.008%) and others (0.016%). All topics had the peak of posts in October and November 2019. Nevertheless, interest in the oil spill was temporary, with most posts appearing in the 2-4 months after the beginning of the disaster. Our findings illustrate the enormous potential of using social media data for understanding and monitoring human engagement with environmental disasters, but also suggest that conservationists and environmental groups may only have a limited ‘window of opportunity’ to engage and mobilize public support for remediation and restoration efforts.

RESUMO Buscamos discutir a relação entre processos de individuação e consumo cultural em plataformas de streaming por jovens estudantes de diferentes níveis de ensino, em estabelecimentos públicos sediados em periferias de Porto Alegre (RS). Contribuições de Danilo Martuccelli e Martín-Barbero são as referências centrais do estudo que, em campo, desenvolvemos com base na aplicação de questionários, grupos de discussão e entrevistas semiestruturadas. Constatada a elevação do consumo de seriados associada à ampliação da escolarização, identificamos que as preferências graduam elementos narrativos melodramáticos e configurações reflexivo-identitárias, infletindo para individuações sociais construídas entre certa inconsistência contextual e a figuração de singularizações.

Abstract In August 2019, the Northeast coast of Brazil was impacted by an extensive oil spill, with immediate effects on marine and coastal ecosystems and significant impacts on tourism and food security. The human dimension of those impacts also includes the loss of cultural ecosystem services (CES); the non-material benefits stemming from strongly rooted cultural practices and relationships with nature. CES are of great importance for local residents and visitors that flock to Brazilian iconic beaches, however, they are difficult to measure using traditional assessment methods due to their subjective and non-tangible nature. Here, we use a big data approach to assess and map the loss of CES in the Northeast coast of Brazil caused by the recent oil spill. We analysed 2,880 digital images (published on the image sharing platform Flickr) taken before and during the disaster in affected locations, using a combination of automated techniques. Results showed a sharp decline in the number of users posting photos of locations affected by oil spill, and a decline in photos representing landscape and cultural appreciation. Our big data approach provides a fast and automated way to assess CES at large spatial scales that can be used to monitor the social impacts of environmental disasters.

This work presents a design for uninterruptible power supply inverters using Pareto front optimization for improved cost and efficiency. Three PWM modulation techniques applied to the full-bridge inverter are analyzed. As a result, the best MOSFET design solution in terms of the cost and efficiency of the inverter is evaluated based on a database with 47 power MOSFETs. Using the Pareto front, the optimal and sub-optimal solutions are compared, considering the three modulation techniques and the characteristics of MOSFETs manufactured for different voltage levels. Thermal and electrical measurements are used to validate the models.

O artigo problematiza as redes de ação que compunham os itinerários biográficos de moradoras idosas do bairro Restinga, em Porto Alegre/RS, analisando as articulações com experiências escolares. Para tanto, apoia-se em contribuições de Martuccelli e de Requena Santos na delimitação de suportes e redes sociais. Após um inventário das condições sociais e dos arranjos relacionais agenciados pelas mulheres, o texto destaca os laços com as arenas política, religiosa e musical-carnavalesca, transversalizadas pela pertença territorial, como espaços sociais de diferenciação dos percursos. O lugar da escola é interpretado, então, a partir do espaço de possíveis construído, de modo a indiciar sentidos diversos para as vivências na instituição, na ação política ou na temporalidade distinta da laboral.

Brazil has a great biological diversity, however transition areas still presents little representation in environmental research. The ecotone as the transition areas are known, present a large and varied wealth, housing a large amount of animals from adjacent areas. The present work was carried out in the year 2012 to 2015 in a transition area in the State of Maranhão, Brazil. During the monitoring of fauna were captured approximately 4000 individuals distributed 23 families and 76 species and morphospecies

This paper presents a comparative analysis of electrical losses and subsequent thermal limits of the inverter of UPSs for small office and home office (SOHO) applications. For this, three PWM modulation techniques applied to the full-bridge converter are considered, with power levels of 100–1000 W and switching frequencies of 30–120 kHz. To validate the electrical and thermal models, a dSapce MicroLabBox equipment was used to implement modulation techniques on a commercial 1000 W UPS, and a Keysight DAQ970A data logger was used for temperature measurements. As a result, the MOSFET temperatures and losses are obtained for the three modulation techniques evaluated, indicating the best scenario for use and its influence on the UPS autonomy time.

Background: The correct understanding of the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, is essential for formulating public policies of disease containment. Methods: In this study, we constructed a picture of the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19 in a Brazilian population of almost 17000 patients in 15 months. We specifically studied the fluctuations of COVID-19 cases and deaths due to COVID-19 over time according to host gender, age, viral load, and genetic variants. Results: As the main results, we observed that the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths due to COVID-19 fluctuated over time and that men were the most affected by deaths, as well as those of 60 or more years old. We also observed that individuals between 30- and 44-years old were the most affected by COVID-19 cases. In addition, the viral loads in the patients’ nasopharynx were higher in the early symptomatic period. We found that early pandemic SARS-CoV-2 lineages were replaced by the variant of concern (VOC) P.1 (Gamma) in the second half of the study period, which led to a significant increase in the number of deaths. Conclusions: The results presented in this study are helpful for future formulations of efficient public policies of COVID-19 containment.

This work presents a comparative analysis among four power MOSFET technologies: conventional Silicon (Si), Superjunction (SJ), Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN), indicating the voltage, current and frequency ranges of the best performance for each technology. For this, a database with 91 power MOSFETs from different manufacturers was built. MOSFET losses are related to individual characteristics of the technology: drain-source on-state resistance, input capacitance, Miller capacitance and internal gate resistance. The total losses are evaluated considering a drain-source voltage of 400 V, power levels from 1 kW to 16 kW (1 A–40 A) and frequencies from 1 kHz to 500 kHz. A methodology for selecting power MOSFETs in power electronics applications is also presented.

In this study, we show that changes in the 250 hPa vorticity cut-off low (COL) activity may possibly be driven by sea surface temperature (SST) variations in the tropical Pacific. Using ERA5 reanalysis, the existence of different large-scale circulation patterns is identified that work to enhance the COL activity with a weakened jet stream, while COLs are suppressed with strengthened westerlies. The present-day simulations of AMIP-CMIP6 models reproduce realistic features of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)–COL teleconnection, but biases exist, especially in coupled models. The differences are a priori due to the inability of the models to accurately predict the time-mean zonal flow, which may be in part due to systematic biases in the predicted SST. The underestimation of warm SST anomalies over the eastern Pacific is a common problem in CMIP3 and CMIP5 models and remains a major uncertainty in CMIP6. We find that a reduced bias in the predicted SST by coupled models is most likely to produce more skillful simulations in the Southern Hemisphere, but the same evidence does not hold for the Northern Hemisphere. The study suggests the potential for seasonal prediction of COLs and the benefits that would result using accurate initialization and consistent model coupling.

Cryptococcosis, caused by yeasts of the genus Cryptococcus, is an infectious disease with a worldwide distribution. Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are the species that commonly cause this disease in humans; however, infections caused by Cryptococcus laurentii, especially in immunocompromised patients, are increasingly being reported. Owing to the increase in the resistance of fungi to antifungals, and a lack of treatment options, it is important to seek new therapeutic alternatives such as natural products. Among these are plant species such as Punica granatum, which is used in folk medicine to treat various diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the activity of the acetate fraction of P. granatum leaf extract against environmental and clinical isolates of Cryptococcus. Three environmental isolates of C. laurentii, PMN, PMA, and PJL II, isolated from soils of different municipalities in the state of Maranhão, a clinical isolate, C. gattii, from a patient with neurocryptococcosis, and a standard strain of C. gattii (ATCC 32068) were used. The minimum and fractional inhibitory concentrations (MIC and FIC, respectively) and time-kill curve of the extract and fluconazole were determined to assess the susceptibility profile of the fungal isolates. Larvae of Tenebrio molitor were infected with Cryptococcus strains, and the effects of acetate fraction of P. granatum extract and fluconazole on the survival and fungal burden were determined. The extract activity was tested against pre-formed biofilms. The acetate fraction of P. granatum extract showed promising antifungal activity against all the species of Cryptococcus evaluated in this study, with an MIC value lower than that of fluconazole. The indices obtained in the FIC test indicated that the antimicrobial effect of the combination of the extract and antifungal was indifferent for 80% of the isolates. The P. granatum acetate fraction reduced the pre-formed biofilm of some isolates, showing better activity than fluconazole, which is consistent with results from fluorescence microscopy. This is the first study on the use of P. granatum and its ability to inhibit Cryptococcus biofilms; therefore, further studies and tests are needed to investigate the components and mechanism of action of P. granatum against cryptococcosis agents.

O presente trabalho objetivou apresentar uma metodologia de associação de métodos de análise da estabilidade para aplicação em conversores CC-CC interconectados, validada por um estudo de caso. A combinação dos critérios de Middlebrook e Nyquist para a análise da estabilidade possibilitou detectar o surgimento de dinâmicas não-modeladas em função do acoplamento dos subsistemas que puderam ser identificadas por meio do Teorema do Elemento Extra (TEE). Além disso, foi demonstrado como a variação paramétrica afetou a estabilidade do sistema interconectado, apontando para a relevância que os valores de carga e os parâmetros do filtro de entrada têm nesta condição. Por fim, resultados experimentais foram obtidos de maneira a validar as análises supracitadas. Conclui-se que a associação de métodos de análise da estabilidade de sistemas em cascata foi essencial para identificar mais precisamente a origem do problema de estabilidade. Além disso, entendeu-se que as dinâmicas não-modeladas precisam ser consideradas na lei de controle empregada nos subsistemas para garantir a estabilidade do sistema interconectado por completo.

Abstract Background Maternal mortality is a global public health problem. Statistics show that in 2013, 289,000 women died from complications during pregnancy, childbirth or the postpartum period worldwide. Between 2010 and 2015, there were 10,075 maternal deaths in Brazil, 3,522of which occurred in the Northeast region. The aim of this study was to investigate the actions taken by primary health care (PHC) professionals to reduce maternal mortality. Method This was a cross-sectional, descriptive field study with a qualitative approach. The sample comprised 81 graduate-level professionals working in PHC in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Data were collected from January to March 2016 using structured interviews, which were digitally audio recorded and transcribed. The results were organized using collective subject discourse and analyzed according with the relevant literature. Results The PHC professionals took both individual and joint measures to reduce maternal mortality. These activities included home visits, health education, active searches, prenatal care consultations, referrals to specialized care and outreach. The challenges that must be overcome to prevent maternal mortality include poor care and ineffective public policies that are associated with a lack of managerial support. Conclusion Interaction among professionals in the health care network is critical to the development of cross-sectoral projects that improve the quality of women’s health care. Prenatal care is a key factor in reducing maternal death and enables the identification and classification of the risks to which pregnant women may be exposed and the implementation of early actions that can ensure a safe and uncomplicated delivery. However, all of these actions require effective public policies and managerial support.

Social Internet of Things (SIoT) supports many novel applications and networking services for the IoT in a more powerful and productive way. In this paper, we have introduced a hierarchical framework for feature extraction in SIoT big data using map-reduced framework along with a supervised classifier model. Moreover, a Gabor filter is used to reduce noise and unwanted data from the database, and Hadoop Map Reduce has been used for mapping and reducing big databases, to improve the efficiency of the proposed work. Furthermore, the feature selection has been performed on a filtered data set by using Elephant Herd Optimization. The proposed system architecture has been implemented using Linear Kernel Support Vector Machine-based classifier to classify the data and for predicting the efficiency of the proposed work. From the results, the maximum accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of our work is 98.2%, 85.88%, and 80%, moreover analyzed time and memory, and these results have been compared with the existing literature.

Quercetin is a flavonol present in many vegetables and fruits. Generally, quercetin can be found in aglycone and glycoside forms, mainly in leaves. The absorption of this compound occurs in the large and small intestine, where it suffers glucuronidation, sulfidation, and methylation to improve hydrophilicity. After metabolization, which occurs mainly in the gut, it is distributed throughout the whole organism and is excreted by feces, urine, and exhalation of carbon dioxide. Despite its in vitro cytotoxicity effects, in vivo studies with animal models ensure its safety. This compound can protect against cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegenerative diseases due to its radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its poor bioavailability dampens the potential beneficial effects of this flavonoid. In that sense, many types of nanocarriers have been developed to improve quercetin solubility, as well as to design tissue-specific delivery systems. All these studies manage to improve the bioavailability of quercetin, allowing it to increase its concentration in the desired places. Collectively, quercetin can become a promising compound if nanotechnology is employed as a tool to enhance its therapeutic efficacy.

In studies conducted in Brazil found that the weak vocational education system translates into a large number of unskilled and low productivity workers. This study aims to offer the community an analysis of public education in basic education level between Brazil and Germany. It should be considered for that job territorial difference between the two countries, as well as cultural. To note that the German system is normative and has stiffness in compliance with the rules within the system, and this limits the student 's decision to decide their future academic , practically decided when the student is still a child. While in Brazil there is more freedom of choice to decide the future, but what is lacking is the quality of education.

Este trabalho propõe uma topologia de UPS de dupla conversão para a integração com painéis fotovoltaicos que permite o rastreamento do ponto de máxima potência sem a adição do usual conversor CC-CC para interface entre painéis e barramento CC. Os painéis são conectados diretamente ao barramento CC, e o MPPT é realizado pelo circuito de entrada. Através deste sistema, é possível alimentar cargas com uma tensão de saída regulada, independentemente dos distúrbios da tensão da rede pública, enquanto gerando energia fotovoltaica. Em caso de energia excedente, pode-se injetar corrente na rede, uma vez que o circuito de entrada possui característica bidirecional. O desempenho do sistema é validado através de resultados Hardware-in-the-Loop, os quais demonstram a funcionalidade da topologia proposta.

O emprego de conversores estáticos nos sistemas de potência é cada vez maior, suas aplicações em geração de energia elétrica distribuída a partir de fontes solar e eólica são um grande foco de estudo por causa dos desafios técnicos que apresentam. Um destes desafios reside na dificuldade de integração de sistemas de geração distribuída (GD) e microrredes de energia com os bem consolidados algoritmos de controle e proteção de sistemas de potência. Esses sistemas são concebidos para atuar com máquinas síncronas de grande porte, com resposta dinâmica lenta devido à sua inerente inercia e amortecimento. Esse trabalho aborda a fundamentação, definição do sistema, simulação, implementação e validação experimental de uma técnica de controle de emulação de máquina síncrona aplicada ao conversor CC-CA trifásico (VSI) para operação associada a geração distribuída em microrredes de energia. Para melhorar o desempenho do algoritmo de emulação é proposto um controle de rastreamento de referências em malha fechada, garantindo a redução das distorções da tensão no ponto de acoplamento comum (PAC) devido à presença de harmônicos. Os resultados experimentais apresentam vários cenários de operação e também uma avaliação da influência de variações paramétricas no desempenho dinâmico do conversor.