A Thermoplasmonic Approach for Investigating Plasma Membrane Repair in Living Cells and Model Membranes.

The cell membrane is crucial for cell survival, and ensuring its integrity is essential as the cell experiences injuries throughout its entire life cycle. To prevent damage to the membrane, cells have developed efficient plasma membrane repair mechanisms. These repair mechanisms can be studied by combining confocal microscopy and nanoscale thermoplasmonics to identify and investigate the role of key proteins, such as annexins, involved in surface repair in living cells and membrane model systems. The puncturing method employs a laser to induce highly localized heating upon nanoparticle irradiation. The use of near-infrared light minimizes phototoxicity in the biological sample, while the majority of the absorption takes place in the near-infrared resonant plasmonic nanoparticle. This thermoplasmonic method has been exploited for potential photothermal and biophysical research to enhance the understanding of intracellular mechanisms and cellular responses through vesicle and cell fusion studies. The approach has shown to be complementary to existing methods for membrane disruption, such as mechanically, chemically, or optically induced injuries, and provides a high level of control by inflicting extremely localized injuries. The extent of the injury is limited to the vicinity of the spherical nanoparticle, and no detrimental damage occurs along the beam path as opposed to pulsed lasers using different wavelengths. Despite certain limitations, such as the formation of nanobubbles, the thermoplasmonic method offers a unique tool for investigating cellular responses in plasma membrane repair in an almost native environment without compromising cell viability. When integrated with confocal microscopy, the puncturing method can provide a mechanistic understanding of membrane dynamics in model membrane systems as well as quantitative information on protein responses to membrane damage, including protein recruitment and their biophysical function. Overall, the application of this method to reduced model systems can enhance our understanding of the intricate plasma membrane repair machinery in living cells.

Preditores da felicidade no trabalho e interação familiar em enfermeiros / Predictores de la felicidad en el trabajo y la interacción familiar en enfermeros / Predictors of happiness at work and family interaction in nurses

Objetivo:identificar os fatores preditores da Felicidade no trabalho e Interação familiar em Enfermeiros de um contexto hospitalar. Método:estudo quantitativo, descritivo, transversal, correlacional. Aplicado questionário para caraterização sociodemográfica/profissional, a Shorted Happiness at Work Scale e oSurvey Work-Home Interaction Nijmegen, a uma amostra de conveniência de 363 Enfermeiros. Resultados:idade, local de trabalho, categoria profissional e, percepção de trabalho estressante foram preditores da Felicidade no trabalho. A prática de atividades de lazer e a percepção de trabalho estressante foram preditores da Interação trabalho-família positiva e negativa e, o sexo feminino foi preditor da Interação família-trabalho positiva. Conclusões:a prevalência de Felicidade no trabalho, os valores moderados de Interação trabalho-família negativa identificados, bem como os fatores que a predizem, devem ser alvo de atenção por parte dos Enfermeiros e organizações, tendo esta última um papel preponderante na promoção de ambientes de trabalho saudáveis e da saúde no local de trabalho.

Objective:to identify the predictors of Happiness at work and Family Interaction among nurses in a hospital setting. Method:this is a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study. A sociodemographic/professional questionnaire was applied, including the Shorted Happiness at Work Scale and the Survey Work-Home Interaction Nijmegen, to a convenience sample of 363 nurses. Results:age, workplace location, professional category, and perception of stressful work were predictors of Happiness at Work. Engaging in leisure activities and perceiving work as stressful were predictors of positive and negative Work-Family Interaction, and being female was a predictor of positive Family-Work Interaction. Conclusions:the prevalence of Happiness at Work, the moderate levels of negative Work-Family Interaction identified, and the factors that predict them, should be given attention by nurses and organizations, with the latter playing a crucial role in promoting healthy work environments and workplace health.

Objetivo:identificar factores predictores de Felicidad en el trabajo y Interacción familiar en Enfermeros en hospital. Método:estudio transversal y correlacional en que se aplicó cuestionario sociodemográfico/profesional, Shorted Happiness at Work Scaley SurveyWork-HomeInteraction-Nijmegena 363 Enfermeros. Resultados:la edad, el lugar de trabajo, la categoría profesional y la percepción de estrés laboral fueron predictoresde la Felicidad en el trabajo. La práctica de actividades de ocio y la percepción de estrés laboral fueron predictores de la Interacción trabajo-familia positiva y negativa, y el sexo femenino fue un predictor de la Interacción familia-trabajo positiva. Conclusiones:la prevalencia de Felicidad en el trabajo, los valores moderados de Interacción trabajo-familia negativa identificados, así como los factores que la predicen, deben ser objeto de atención por Enfermeros y organizaciones, cumpliendo esta últimaun papel preponderante en la promoción de ambientes de trabajo saludables y la salud en el lugar de trabajo.

Validación para la población portuguesa de la “international consultation on incontinence questionnaire-urinary incontinence short form” (ICIQ-UI SF) / Validação para a população portuguesa do “international consultation on incontinence questionnaire-urinary incontinence short form” (ICIQ-UI SF) / Validation of the “International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire – Urinary Incontinence Short form (ICIQ-UISF) for the Portuguese population

Introducción: La Incontinencia urinaria puede considerarse una condición común asociada con el proceso de envejecimiento con síntomas extremadamente incapacitantes, siendo de dos a tres veces más frecuente en mujeres que en hombres. El uso de instrumentos validados para el diagnóstico inicial de la incontinencia urinaria es fundamental para obtener uniformidad y sistematización en la valoración de esta condición. Objetivo: Adaptar y validar el International Consultation Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) para la población portuguesa. Método: Dos traducciones independientes del ICIQ-UI SF fueron realizadas por traductores portugueses con fluidez en inglés. Después de armonizarlos, la traducción resultante fue retrotraduzida de forma independiente por dos traductores ingleses que hablan portugués con fluidez. La versión final del ICIQ-UI SF al portugués se aplicó a 90 usuarios de la consulta externa de urología, ingresados de urología y consulta de ginecología de un hospital ubicado en Gaia. Se evaluaron las propiedades psicométricas y la fiabilidad del cuestionario. Resultados: No se observaron cambios en el formato original del ICIQ-UI SF al final del proceso de traducción y adaptación del instrumento. La edad promedio de los participantes fue de 55 años. La consistencia interna fue alta, como lo demuestra el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach (0,85). El coeficiente de Pearson para las preguntas 3 y 4 fue de 0,88 y para las preguntas 4 y 5 fue de 0,82. La evaluación se consideró satisfactoria y estadísticamente significativa. Conclusión: La versión portuguesa del ICIQ-UI SF se validó con éxito, lo que permitió aplicarlo a la población portuguesa con confiabilidad y validez de constructo satisfactorias. (AU)

Introduction: Urinary incontinence can be considered a common condition associated with the aging process with extremely disabling symptoms, being two to three times more prevalent in women than in men. The use of validated instruments for the initial diagnosis of urinary incontinence is essential to obtain uniformity and systematization in the assessment of this condition. Objective: To adapt and validate the International Consultation Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) for the Portuguese population. Methodology: Two independent translations of the ICIQ-UI SF were performed by Portuguese translators fluent in English. After harmonizing them, the resulting translation was independently back translated by two English translators fluent in Portuguese. The final version of the ICIQ-UI SF into Portuguese was applied to 90 users of the outpatient urology, urology and gynecology inpatient clinic of a hospital located in Gaia. The psychometric properties and reliability of the questionnaire were evaluated. Results: No changes to the original format of the ICIQ-UI SF were observed at the end of the instrument's translation and adaptation process. The average age of participants was 55 years. Internal consistency was high, as demonstrated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.85). Pearson's coefficient for questions 3 and 4 was 0.88 and for questions 4 and 5 it was 0.82. The evaluation was considered satisfactory and statistically significant. Conclusion: The Portuguese version of the ICIQ-UI SF was successfully validated, making it possible to apply it to the Portuguese population with satisfactory reliability and construct validity. (AU)

Introdução: A incontinência urinária pode ser considerada como uma condição comum associada ao processo de envelhecimento com sintomas extremamente incapacitantes, sendo duas a três vezes mais prevalente nas mulheres do que nos homens. A utilização de instrumentos validados para o diagnóstico inicial da incontinência urinária, é fundamental para obter uma uniformização e sistematização na avaliação desta condição. Objetivo: Adaptar e validar para a população portuguesa o International Consultation Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF)Metodologia: Foram realizadas duas traduções independentes do ICIQ-UI SF por tradutores portugueses, fluentes na língua inglesa. Após harmonização das mesmas, a tradução resultante foi retrotraduzida de forma independente por dois tradutores ingleses, fluentes em português. A versão final do ICIQ-UI SF para o português foi aplicado a 90 utentes da consulta externa de urologia, internamento de urologia e de ginecologia de um hospital, localizado em Gaia. Foram avaliadas as propriedades psicométricas e a confiabilidade do questionário. Resultados: Nenhuma alteração ao formato original do ICIQ-UI SF foi observada no final do processo de tradução e adaptação do instrumento. A idade média dos participantes foi de 55 anos. A consistência interna foi alta, como demonstrado pelo coeficiente de alfa de Cronbach (0,85). O coeficiente de Pearson para as perguntas 3 e 4 foi de 0,88 e para as perguntas 4 e 5 foi de 0,82. A avaliação foi considerada satisfatória e estatisticamente significativa. Conclusão: A versão para português do ICIQ-UI SF foi validada com sucesso tornando possível a sua aplicação na população portuguesa com satisfatória confiabilidade e validade de construto. (AU)

EEG changes as an indication of central nervous system involvement following cyclopentolate 1% eye drops; a randomized placebo-controlled pilot study in a pediatric population.

To compare EEG-patterns after instillation of cyclopentolate versus placebo eye drops. Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, and observational pilot study is presented. Ophthalmology outpatient clinic Dutch metropolitan hospital. Healthy 6- to 15-year-old volunteers with normal or low BMI requiring a cycloplegic refraction/retinoscopy. Randomized; 1 visit 2 drops cyclopentolate-1% and 1 visit 2 drops placebo (saline-0.9%). Single-blind: conducting researcher. Double blind: subjects, parents, clinical-neurophysiology staff, neurologist, and statistician. A 10-min baseline EEG-recording, drop-application, and follow-up to at least 45 min. Primary outcome: Detection of CNS changes, i.e. EEG-pattern changes, following two drops of cyclopentolate-1%. Secondary outcome: Determination of the extent of these pattern changes. Thirty-six cyclopentolate-1% saline-0.9% EEG registrations were made in 33 subjects; 18 males and 15 females. Three subjects were tested twice (interval 7 months). Nine out of fourteen (64%) of the 11- to 15-year-old children reported impaired memory, attention, alertness, as well as mind wandering following cyclopentolate. Drowsiness and sleep were seen in EEG-recordings of 11 subjects (33%) following cyclopentolate. We observed no drowsiness nor sleep during placebo recordings. The mean time to drowsiness was 23 min. Nine subjects arrived in stage-3 sleep but none arrived in REM-sleep. In subjects without sleep (N=24), significant changes compared to placebo-EEG were present for many leads and parameters. The main findings during awake eye-open recording were as follows: 1) a significant increase of temporal Beta-1,2 and 3-power, and 2) a significant decrease in: a) the parietal and occipital Alpha-2-power, b) the frontal Delta-1-power, c) the frontal total power, and d) the occipital and parietal activation synchrony index. The former finding reflects cyclopentolate uptake in the CNS, and the latter findings provide evidence for CNS suppression. Cyclopentolate-1% eye drops can affect the CNS and may cause altered consciousness, drowsiness, and sleep with concomitant EEG results in both young children and children in puberty. There is evidence that cyclopentolate has the potency to act as a short acting CNS depressant. Nevertheless, however, cyclopentolate-1% can safely be used in children and young adolescents.

A família como parte integrante dos cuidados de enfermagem / Family as an integral part of nursing care

Enquadramento: A prática de enfermagem que integre a família como parte essencial no processo de cuidados tem tido uma crescente valorização, e é hoje reconhecida essencial para a qualidade dos cuidados; as atitudes que os enfermeiros adotam em relação à família condicionam o processo de cuidar. Objetivos: Conhecer as atitudes dos enfermeiros na abordagem à família, como parte integrante do processo de cuidados, e identificar as variáveis sociodemográficas e profissionais que influenciam as atitudes dos enfermeiros no envolvimento e participação da família no processo de cuidados. Metodologia: Estudo quantitativo, descritivo, analítico, correlacional e transversal, numa amostra não probabilística por conveniência, constituída por enfermeiros a exercerem funções em contexto de cuidados de saúde primários e cuidados de saúde diferenciados. Foi aplicado um instrumento de recolha de dados constituído por um questionário para caracterização sociodemográfica e profissional, e a escala "Importância das famílias nos cuidados de enfermagem - Atitudes dos enfermeiros" (IFCE-AE). Resultados: Amostra constituída por 50 enfermeiros, dos quais 30 (60%) a exercerem funções nos CSP do ACES PL, e 20 (40%) enfermeiros a trabalhar em contexto de CSD, 92 % do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 42,78 anos, 68% licenciados, com um tempo médio de exercício profissional de 19,38 anos, e 50% com formação na área da enfermagem de saúde familiar. Os enfermeiros apresentam atitudes de suporte na abordagem à família como parte integrante no processo de cuidados, com score médio total da escala IFCE-AE de 78,38 pontos. Conclusão: Os enfermeiros veem e reconhecem a importância da família como parte integrante no processo de cuidados: apresentam atitudes de suporte face à família, não existindo evidências estatístcas significativas entre as atitudes dos enfermeiros e as suas características sociodemográficas e profissionais.

Background: Nursing practice that integrates the family as an essential part of the care process has been increasingly valued and is now recognised as essential for the quality of care; the attitudes that nurses adopt towards the family condition the care process. Objectives: To find out about nurses' attitudes towards the family as an integral part of the care process, and to identify the sociodemographic and professional variables that influence nurses' attitudes towards family involvement and participation in the care process. Methodology: Quantitative, descriptive, analytical, correlational and cross-sectional study, with a non-probabilistic convenience sample of nurses working in primary healthcare and specialised healthcare. A data collection instrument was applied, consisting of a questionnaire for sociodemographic and professional characterisation, and the "Importance of families in nursing care - Nurses' attitudes" scale (IFCE-AE). Results: The sample consisted of 50 nurses, 30 (60 per cent) of whom worked in the CSP of ACES PL, and 20 (40 per cent) nurses working in a CSD context, 92 per cent female, with an average age of 42.78 years, 68 per cent graduates, with an average length of professional practice of 19.38 years, and 50 per cent with training in the area of family health nursing. Nurses have supportive attitudes when approaching the family as an integral part of the care process, with an average total score on the IFCE-AE scale of 78.38 points. Conclusion: Nurses see and recognise the importance of the family as an integral part of the care process: they have supportive attitudes towards the family, and there is no statistically significant evidence between nurses' attitudes and their sociodemographic and professional characteristics.

Urban mobility trends and climate change: sustainability policies in the parking industry.

The concern to create cleaner and more ecosystem-friendly production processes has extended to the parking sector in Spain. Since the creation of the multi-level institutional framework for sustainable mobility management (mainly composed of the Infrastructure, Transport and Housing Plan 2012-2024, the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans, Law 9/2006, and Law 9/2017), environmental considerations, including sustainable management certificates, have occupied a privileged place in public procedures for the management of parking structures and regulated surface parking facilities. Although there have been previous academic studies on the design and implementation of SUMPs and the growth of the parking sector, this article is novel in that it analyzes the market concentration of the parking sector in a scenario where climate change policies are crucial and the importance of sustainability certificates takes on a new meaning. Therefore, the objective of this article is to analyze whether the growing importance of environmental aspects has led to an increase in the concentration level of the parking sector in Spain. For this purpose, several concentration and stability indices are calculated. The results show that, although there are additional factors, the certification of a cleaner activity is relevant in the process of public tenders in the sector, which has served to strengthen the dominance of the most prominent companies in the sector that are in possession of environmental certificates. This shows that environmental policies can also have negative effects on the market, so the results of this analysis are of great value to policymakers.

Effect of Deployment and Harvest Date on Growth and High-Value Compounds of Farmed Alaria esculenta.

Alaria esculenta is a brown seaweed farmed in many European countries for its biomass rich in useful bio compounds. This study aimed to identify the optimal growing season to maximise biomass production and quality. The seeded longlines of the brown seaweed were deployed in the southwest of Ireland in October and November 2019 and samples of the biomass were harvested in different dates, between March and June 2020. Biomass gain and composition, phenolic and flavonoid content (TPC and TFC) and biological activities (antioxidant and anti-hypertensive activities) of seaweed extracts prepared with Alcalase were evaluated. The biomass production was significantly higher for the line deployed in October (>20 kg·m-1). In May and June, an increasing amount of epiphytes was observed on the surface of A. esculenta. The protein content of A. esculenta varied between 11.2 and 11.76% and fat content was relatively low (1.8-2.3%). Regarding the fatty acids profile, A. esculenta was rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), especially in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The samples analysed were very rich in Na, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cr and Ni. The content of Cd, Pb Hg was relatively low and below the maximum levels allowed. The highest TPC and TFC were obtained in extracts prepared with A. esculenta collected in March and levels of these compounds decreased with time. In general, the highest radical scavenging activities (ABTS and DPPH), as well as chelating activities (Fe2+ and Cu2+) were observed in early spring. Extracts from A. esculenta collected in March and April presented higher ACE inhibitory activity. The extracts from seaweeds harvested in March exhibited higher biological activity. It was concluded that an earlier deployment allows for maximising growth and harvest of biomass earlier when its quality is at the highest levels. The study also confirms the high content of useful bio compounds that can be extracted from A. esculenta and used in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industry.

Temporal sweet taste dominance according to adult body mass index classification.

Excess adipose tissue is associated with basic tastes perception change, which can negatively affect food choices. However, the effect of overweight and obesity on sensory perception is not clearly explained in the literature yielding heterogeneous results. The present investigation aimed to investigate the temporal dominance of sweet taste according to body mass index (BMI) classification in adults during the ingestion of five passion fruit nectar samples prepared with different sucrose concentrations. The temporal dominance of sensations methodology was applied, which allowed the representation of the stimuli assessed in dominance curves, considering a significant difference in Fisher's exact test (p ≤ 0.05). The attributes evaluated were sweet taste, bitter taste, acidic taste, astringency, passion fruit flavor, metallic taste, or none of the previous options. The sensory analysis was performed with the participation of ninety adult consumers, divided into three groups: EG = eutrophic, WG = overweight, and OG = obesity group, according to the BMI classification. Between the groups a difference in the perception of the attribute "sweet taste" was observed: The EG demonstrated perception of the stimulus in food samples at lower sucrose concentrations, whereas WG and OG showed a higher rate of sweet taste dominance in the food samples with higher concentration of sucrose. Overweight and obese individuals have a lower sensory perception of sweet taste and require a greater amount of sucrose to producing sensory dominance of the attribute "sweet taste" when compared to eutrophic individuals. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Overweight and obese individuals may experience taste perception in foods in a different way. This study investigated the dominance of sweet taste perception in a fruit beverage by adults with adequate weight and overweight. The results of the tests support the hypothesis that obese and nonobese individuals differ in the sweet taste perception, which can help to understand which factors are involved in sensory perception and food consumption, in addition to providing subsidies for the nonalcoholic beverage industry to elaborate products with new alternatives for concentration and/or replacement of sucrose.

Validation of the "international consultation on incontinence questionnaire urinary incontinence quality of life".

OBJECTIVE: To Validate the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Quality of Life for the Portuguese population. Urinary incontinence is a highly prevalent condition with a negative impact on people's quality of life. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Quality of Life was adapted in order to have a standardized structure that allows the assessment of the impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life. METHOD: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out with two hundred and twenty participants recruited at the Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho and at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João during the period from September 2019 to January 2020. The psychometric properties of the questionnaire were assessed. For internal consistency, the standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated. In order to obtain construct validity, an exploratory factor analysis was performed using varimax rotation to extract the main components. RESULTS: The Portuguese version of the questionnaire has 21 items distributed by the three factors found, maintaining the items proposed in the original version. The result of standardized Cronbach's alpha coefficient, α=0.906 overall, confirms the internal consistency of the Portuguese version of the instrument. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed between each item and the item assessing the impact on quality of life in the form of a scale, verifying a positive correlation in all items. CONCLUSIONS: The Portuguese version of the questionnaire proved to be reliable and valid in the study carried out for clinical and research use.

Nutritional aspects of non-conventional edible plants from Brazil: Caruru (Amaranthus spinosus L) and trapoeraba (Commelina benghalensis).

Caruru (Amaranthus spinosus L) and trapoeraba (Commelina benghalensis) are NCEPs introduced into Brazil and are widely used by certain communities. Given the lack of information on carotenoids, vitamins, and minerals present in A. spinosus and C. benghalensis grown in Brazil, this study aimed to determine the proximate composition and the micronutrient profile of these two NCEPs obtained from family farming in the Middle Doce River (Médio Rio Doce) region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The proximate composition was evaluated using AOAC methods, vitamin E by HPLC with fluorescence detection, vitamin C and carotenoids by HPLC-DAD, and minerals by atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. In summary, the leaves of A. spinosus exhibited a high content of dietary fiber (10.20 g.100 g-1), potassium (708.8 mg·100 g-1), iron (4.0 mg·100 g-1) and ß-carotene (6.94 mg·100 g-1), while the leaves of C. benghalensis were sources of potassium (1399.31 mg·100 g-1), iron (5.7 mg·100 g-1), calcium (163 mg·100 g-1), zinc (1.3 mg·100 g-1), ascorbic acid (23.61 mg·100 g-1), and ß-carotene (31.33 mg·100 g-1). It was therefore concluded that C. benghalensis and A. spinosus, especially, presented excellent potential as important nutritional sources for human consumption, highlighting the gap existing between the available technical and scientific material, thus making them an important and necessary axis of research.

Bivalve Shellfish Safety in Portugal: Variability of Faecal Levels, Metal Contaminants and Marine Biotoxins during the Last Decade (2011-2020).

Bivalves are a high-value product whose production has markedly increased, reaching 9863 tonnes in Portugal in 2021. Bivalves' habitats-lagoons, estuaries and coastal waters-are exposed to biological and anthropogenic contaminants, which can bioaccumulate in these organisms and pose a significant public health risk. The need to obtain a safe product for human consumption led to the implementation of standardised hygiene regulations for harvesting and marketing bivalve molluscs, resulting in routine monitoring of bivalve production areas for microbial quality, metal contaminants, and marine biotoxins. While excessive levels of biotoxins and metal contamination lead to temporary harvesting bans, high faecal contamination leads to area reclassification and impose post-harvest treatments. In this study, the seasonal and temporal variability of these parameters were analysed using historical data generated by the monitoring programme during the last decade. Moreover, the impact of the monitoring program on bivalve harvesting from 2011 to 2020 was assessed. This program presented a considerable improvement over time, with an increase in the sampling effort and the overall program representativeness. Finally, contamination risk, revising control measures, and defining recommendations for risk mitigation measures are given in the light of ten years' monitoring.

Preference Drivers for Blackberry Nectar (Rubus spp., Rosaceae) with Different Sweeteners.

This study determined the dynamic sensory profile and consumer acceptance of blackberry nectar with different sweeteners. The ideal scale was used to determine the ideal sweetness of the sucrose and the magnitude estimation method for the equivalent sweetness of the sweeteners. The sensory profile was determined by time-intensity analyses with trained panelists. This study determined the dynamic sensory profile and consumer acceptance of blackberry nectar with different sweeteners. First, to determine the concentration of sucrose to promote optimal sweetness in blackberry nectar, a study was carried out by consumers, who used an unstructured 9 cm "Ideal Scale", ranging from the extreme left as "extremely less sweet than ideal" to the extreme right as "extremely sweet than ideal", with the center of the scale being the ideal sweetness point. Then, the magnitude estimation method was applied to determine the concentration of each sweetener studied in order to obtain the same sensation of ideal sweetness in the blackberry nectar. The sensory profile of blackberry nectar in the same equi-sweetness was determined by time-intensity analysis with trained assessors and CATA (Check-All-that-Apply) with consumers. According to our results and the opinion of the involved consumers, the optimal sucrose concentration in blackberry nectar was 9.3%, and the sweetener concentrations equivalent to sucrose were 0.015% of sucralose, 0.052% of aspartame and 0.09% of stevia with different rebaudioside A concentrations. Time intensity and overall liking data were statistically analyzed by partial least squares regression (PLSR), thus generating the temporal preference drivers for blackberry nectar. The results showed that the sucralose and tasteva sweeteners have a temporal profile closer to sucrose, being characterized by a lower intensity and duration of sweet and bitter taste, with a positive impact on consumer acceptance. Concomitant results were found by the CATA analysis, indicating that the attributes of blackberry aroma, blackberry flavor, sweet taste, and brightness also have a positive impact and stand out in the samples with sucrose, sucralose, and tasteva. The samples sweetened with stevia were characterized by a greater intensity of bitter taste and the presence of a sweet and bitter aftertaste, with a negative impact on acceptance. The different rebaudioside A concentrations in stevia (78%, 92%, and 97%) did not interfere with consumer acceptance.

Musculoskeletal Pain in the Neck and Lower Back Regions among PHC Workers: Association between Workload, Mental Disorders, and Strategies to Manage Pain.

Scientific evidence indicates that workers in the health sector are commonly exposed to work-related musculoskeletal pain. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to identify the relationship between the presence and intensity of musculoskeletal pain in the neck and lumbar regions reported by Primary Health Care (PHC) workers with workloads and occupational risks, analyze musculoskeletal pain in the presence and absence of self-reported mental disorders based on a medical diagnosis, and identify workers' strategies to manage pain. METHOD: This cross-sectional study addressed 338 health professionals working in PHC outpatient services in the extreme South of Brazil. One questionnaire addressed sociodemographic questions concerning occupation, occupational risks, and mental disorders. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to assess self-reported musculoskeletal pain. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) measured the workload. A descriptive and inferential analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0. RESULTS: Most (55.3%) participants reported neck and (64.5%) lower back pain in the previous 12 months, and 22.5% and 30.5% reported intense neck and lower back pain, respectively, in the previous 12 months. The results showed different independent associations with increased musculoskeletal pain among health workers. Dentists presented the highest prevalence of neck pain, while female workers presented the highest prevalence of lower back pain. Furthermore, the perception of ergonomic risk and virtually all self-reported mental disorders (except panic syndrome for neck pain) were associated with pain in the neck and lower back regions and a higher frustration level (mental demand). Additionally, professionals with graduate degrees, nurses, and professionals working the longest in PHC services reported seeking complementary therapies more frequently, while physicians and those with self-reported mental disorders self-medicated more frequently.

Social support and professional networks of nurses and nursing technicians in coping with Covid-19: A sectional study in two Brazilian cities.

Among healthcare workers, nurses are at exceptionally considerable risk for contracting COVID-19. Regardless of professionals' level of education, Brazilian nursing is one of the healthcare occupations shouldering the highest levels of responsibility and workload. Social support networks to health and nursing can be a strategy to reduce workload and stress and may contribute to implementing the activities and protecting workers' health. This study aimed to map and analyze social support networks at workplaces as informed by frontline nursing professionals working in healthcare units in the Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, capitals of the States of Rio de Janeiro and Ceará, respectively. This observational and cross-sectional study used an online data collection instrument based on social network analysis methodology. We recruited 163 participants in two reference services for health professionals suspected or with COVID-19 symptoms. The research question was: "Which category or categories of health professionals have supported you or other colleagues the most in the event of diagnosis or suspicion of COVID-19 among nursing categories? Data were organized by nursing category and city and analyzed through social network analysis using Ucinet©, generating graphs and centrality metrics. Results point to the central relevance of nursing categories in the workplace social support in the pandemic, followed by other health professional categories.

Phosphorus in alkaline soils of the semiarid region, Brazil: inorganic fractions, capacity factor, and availability.

The study was designed to quantify the contents of Pi fractions and correlate them with the P capacity factor of soils in the Brazilian semiarid region. We also evaluated the effect of soil P doses contact time and P availability for maize plants in alkaline soils of the Brazilian semiarid region. Soil samples were collected between the Piranhas-Açu (RN) and Jaguaribe (CE) rivers valleys. The maximum phosphate sorption capacity was highly correlated with the values of remaining P, indicating that it can be used as a measure to estimate the P capacity factor of these soils. Maximum P sorption capacity correlated with Fe2O3 and Ca2+ contents and pH values. These results demonstrate that P sorption is explained by P adsorption on the surface of iron oxides and by its precipitation with Ca2+ in alkaline soils. The contact time increases promote plant P contents decreased substantially in the first 30 to 60 days after fertilization and decreased until 120 days of incubation but then tended to stabilize at the longest soil P contact times.

The clay content and P-remnant estimate the P capacity factor in alkaline soils.In alkaline soils, there is a predominance of P­Ca and P­Fe.The availability of P stabilizes after 120 days.The largest corn biomass occurs between the P doses of 256­288 mg dm⁻³.

Correlative analysis of wastewater trends with clinical cases and hospitalizations through five dominant variant waves of COVID-19.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been utilized to track community infections of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by detecting RNA of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), within samples collected from wastewater. The correlations between community infections and wastewater measurements of the RNA can potentially change as SARS-CoV-2 evolves into new variations by mutating. This study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and indicators of human waste in wastewater from two sewersheds of different scales (University of Miami (UM) campus and Miami-Dade County Central District wastewater treatment plant (CDWWTP)) during five internally defined COVID-19 variant dominant periods (Initial, Pre-Delta, Delta, Omicron and Post-Omicron wave). SARS-CoV-2 RNA quantities were compared against COVID-19 clinical cases and hospitalizations to evaluate correlations with wastewater SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Although correlations between documented clinical cases and hospitalizations were high, prevalence for a given wastewater SARS-CoV-2 level varied depending upon the variant analyzed. The correlative relationship was significantly steeper (more cases per level found in wastewater) for the Omicron-dominated period. For hospitalization, the relationships were steepest for the Initial wave, followed by the Delta wave with flatter slopes during all other waves. Overall results were interpreted in the context of SARS-CoV-2 virulence and vaccination rates among the community.

Associação entre sintomas depressivos e inatividade física em trabalhadores técnico-administrativos de uma universidade pública do Nordeste do Brasil: estudo transversal / Association between depressive symptoms and physical inactivity in technical-administrative workers from a public university in Northeast Brazil: a cross-sectional study

Resumo Objetivo: investigar a associação entre sintomas depressivos e inatividade física em trabalhadores técnico-administrativos de uma universidade pública do Nordeste do Brasil. Métodos: estudo transversal realizado no estado da Bahia. Os sintomas depressivos foram avaliados pelo Patient Health Questionnaire-9 e o nível de atividade física pelo International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Foi realizada análise de regressão de Poisson e estimadas as razões de prevalência (RP) e seus respectivos IC95%. Resultados: 301 servidores participaram do estudo, dos quais 71,1% do sexo feminino. A prevalência de sintomas depressivos foi de 25,7% e 52,0% dos servidores declararam ser fisicamente inativos. Sintomas depressivos e inatividade física se mostraram associados com os modificadores de efeito "tempo de trabalho na instituição ≤ 15 anos" (RP: 3,03; IC95%: 1,05;9,16) e "lotação em setores administrativos" (RP: 1,90; IC95%: 1,14;3,18). Conclusão: os resultados evidenciam a associação entre sintomas depressivos e inatividade física em trabalhadores técnico-administrativos de uma universidade pública do estado da Bahia, tendo como principais fatores associados o tempo de trabalho na instituição e a lotação do servidor.

Abstract Objective: to investigate the association between depressive symptoms and physical inactivity in technical-administrative workers from a public university in the Northeast of Brazil. Methods: cross-sectional study. We assessed depressive symptoms and physical activity using, respectively, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. We used Poisson regression analysis, and estimated the prevalence ratios (PR) and their respective 95%CI. Results: 301 workers participated, of which 71.1% were female. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was of 25.7%, and 52.0% of the workers declared being physically inactive. Depressive symptoms and physical inactivity were associated to the effect modifiers "time worked to the institution ≤ 15 years" (PR: 3.03; 95%CI: 1.05;9.16) e "work position at administrative sectors" (PR: 1.90; 95%CI: 1.14;3.18). Conclusion: the results evidence the association between depressive symptoms and physical inactivity in technical-administrative workers of a public university of the state of Bahia. The the main factor associated are time worked to the institution and work position at administrative sectors.