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Abstract Canine dirofilariasis, caused by Dirofilaria immitis, is prevalent worldwide. However, the frequency of canine infection in the state of Alagoas, Brazil is scarcely unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of D. immitis infection in dogs from the coastal municipalities of Alagoas and analyze the risk factors associated with the infection. A cross-sectional study was performed using 426 dogs of different breeds and sex distributed across 15 coastal municipalities in the state of Alagoas. Blood samples were collected from each dog and analyzed for circulating microfilariae and free D. immitis antigens. To investigate the risk factors associated with D. immitis infection, we collected information on dog environments using an epidemiological questionnaire. The results revealed that 12.7% of dogs tested positive for D. immitis. Dogs with travel history were 3.52 times more likely to be infected. Thus, infected dogs in the coastal region of Alagoas should be regularly monitored and the public health system should plan strategies to control this zoonotic disease.

Among the leading immersive technologies, augmented reality is one of the most promising and empowering for supporting designers in production environments. This research investigates the application of mobile augmented reality, based on the Web, as a mediation tool focused on cognitive activities of reading and understanding of technical drawings in the production and assembly of tailor-made projects of the scenographic industry. In this context, the research presents a method to use WebAR to improve the reading of technical drawings, seeking efficiency in the visualization of models and the exchange of information between professionals involved in the processes of design, production, and assembly of products, in the scope of scenography. This mediation tool was developed using Web AR platforms, compatible with native libraries (ARCore and ARKit) to ensure, first, compatibility with commonly used devices that workers or businesses can access, and second, to leverage hybrid tracking techniques that combine vision and sensors to improve the reliability of augmented reality viewing. The proposed solution adopts multiple tracking and navigation techniques in order to expand Space Skills components to provide greater exploratory freedom to users. The research process took place in light of the Design Science Research Methodology and the DSR-Model, since it aimed to develop a solution to a practical problem, as well as to produce knowledge from this process. Field experiments were conducted in two real companies, with end users on their respective mobile devices, in order to evaluate usability and behavioral intent, through the Acceptance, Intent, and Use of Technology questionnaires and perceived mental workload, NASA-TLX. The experimental results show that the adoption of this tool reduces the cognitive load in the process of reading technical drawings and project understanding. In general, its usability and intent to use provided significant levels of satisfaction, being positively accepted by all participants involved in the study.

Assistive Technologies (ATs) have great potential for healthy aging at home. Its activity reaches several sectors and it focuses on the progressive demand for improvements and new solutions. In this sense, this article aims to understand the studies direction related to ATs development, focusing on the elderly and domestic environment, in the last five years. For this, a systematic literature review was carried out in four stages according to the PRISMA recommendations. Scopus, SciELO and Google Scholar were used as databases, based on pre-defined terms, with publications in English and Portuguese and the period from 2015 to 2019. 36 studies were chosen for this review, observing the development of technologies related to physical and digital artifacts, ambient assisted living, wearable and immersive products, in addition to the services implementation for home environment. From the totality of studies, it was noticeable the valuation of issues related to privacy, cost and customization, in addition to the emergence of new action contexts when compared to the related works.

This paper presents a reviewed investigation of the aesthetical and functional features of tactical knives, that is, those strategically designed for risk operations, as in the activities of policemen, fire-fighters, rescuers, campers, divers or hunters. These products had their development minimally registered in formal science, as the knowledge about the design and about the evaluation of tactical knives is almost exclusively in the handcraft and industry environments. Companies do not reveal their design processes, and the craftsmen who do it, do not have any way for scientific proof to the achieved results from decades of work: it was a process of trials and mistakes, until they reached quality levels adequate to users. In this project, there is an investigation of possible formal guidelines of ergonomics and usability of tactical knives which could be registered and tested for production of such itens, in the future, searching to scientifically register this research line and its relevance to security industry. Since the time of the realization of this course completion project, in 2012, until the current year, there was no academic production that defined, classified or tried tactical knives, under the vision of any quality analysis discipline.

Inmetro team realized a preliminary analysis of a kid stroller because of an accident report registered in their ombudsman. It was noticed that all the safety and registering requirements of the product were fulfilled and yet, the product reproved obtaining a high risk grade. The team of LaCA²I (Laboratory of Concept and Analysis of Artefacts with Intelligence) from UFPE (Federal University of Pernambuco) was then contacted to perform a technical study of the problem, by identifying a possible review of the standards/regulations used for the strollers design. The study was built inside a deductive research approach. The paper presents guidelines, instructions, requirements and appointmens to the product design, based on the body of knowledge of User Experience, more specifically, the disciplines of Ergonomics, Usability and Accessibility, complemented by topics of Aesthetics and Emotional Design. The results demonstrate preliminary data and their applications on a pilot test of this evaluation group with the flaw product, suggesting itens from the studied themes to the ABNT NBR 14289:2010 standard: Safety of kid strollers.

Mesquite (Prosopis L.) is considered an invasive browse species in most of the American Southwest. Mechanical intervention removes yields an excess of organic debris. Anecdotal evidence in the past has supported using such browse as feed for livestock. Thus, our objectives were to (1) determine the nutritive value and fermentation characteristics of silage produced with mesquite biomass, and (2) evaluate solvent treatment of mesquite biomass prior to ensiling. In Experiment 1, we evaluated mesquite inclusion rate (0, 250, 500, 750, or 1000 g kg−1 DM), length of fermentation (28, 56, or 84 d), and silage inoculant. In Experiment 2, we evaluated the effects of mesquite pre-treatment with acid (H2SO4) or alkali (NaOH) solutions. Concentrations of NDF, ADF, and ADL, as well as IVTD, decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing mesquite inclusion. However, 250 g mesquite kg−1 DM did not differ from grass silage. There was no effect (p > 0.05) of inoculation, though increasing length of incubation did increase (p < 0.05) VFA production and decrease (p < 0.05) silage pH. Solvent treatment did not improve ensiling properties. Results are interpreted to mean that mesquite biomass may be effectively incorporated into silage at levels up to 250 g kg−1.

O Ensino Superior Brasileiro vem aumentando, principalmente, com a participação de Instituições Privadas. Dados recentes do MEC demonstram o alto grau de desistência e abandono, por parte do aluno, de sua graduação, o que afeta tanto o viés pessoal, profissional e emocional do discente, quanto nas questões organizacionais e financeiras da Instituição. Saber o que interfere na satisfação do estudante é uma das formas de atuação para reduzir a taxa de evasão, bem como fazer com que o aluno se engaje mais na sua escolha acadêmica. Diante disso, o presente estudo fez um levantamento dos setores que deveriam ser analisados e entrevistou 44 alunos de graduação, das áreas de ‘Saúde’, ‘Humanas’ e ‘Exatas’. Salienta-se que vários fatores interferem na satisfação do educando. Neste sentido, a pesquisa teve como resultado principal a categoria ‘Acadêmica’, principalmente no que diz respeito à ‘qualidade de ensino’ e com o ‘docente’, mas também se tem destaque para o ‘serviço’, a ‘estrutura física’ e o ‘relacionamento’ com o aluno. Como resultado principal o setor ‘Acadêmico’ e ‘Docente’ foram os pontos tidos como principais para a satisfação do aluno do ensino superior e que as avaliações são espontâneas e sofrem influência do contexto.

Hempseed meal (HSM) is left after oil extraction of hemp and may act as a protein source in livestock. The first phase of this research evaluated variation in nutritive value and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of HSM from various sources in North America; the second phase utilized IVDMD to evaluate the efficacy of hempseed meal as an ingredient in ruminant feed. In phase one, the source had no contribution to variance for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), or crude protein (CP) (p ≥ 0.20). However, batch within source contributed to variation for NDF (50%), ADF (37%), ADL (13%), and CP (31%; p ≤ 0.01). Irrespective of differences in nutritive value, there was no contribution to variation (p = 0.23) of any measured response on in vitro true digestibility (53.0%). In phase two, two experiments evaluated HSM IVDMD as (1) a concentrate replacement or (2) a protein replacement in rations at varying rates. In the first experiment, IVDMD decreased (p < 0.05) with increasing levels of HSM. In the second experiment, IVDMD decreased (p < 0.01) as HSM inclusion increased. Although IVDMD decreased as HSM inclusion increased, values still met the digestibility threshold for ruminant rations, indicating that HSM has potential as an alternative protein ingredient.