Access restrictions to forest resources, rather than COVID-19 bans, drive the selection of firewood species for bonfires during Festas Juninas in northeastern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The complex interplay of social and environmental factors shapes ecosystems, potentially leading to harmony or conflict, highlighting the importance of understanding these dynamics for coexistence. In developing countries, firewood serves as a primary energy source and plays a role in cultural-religious rituals and festivities. However, the specific patterns of woody species used for the latter remain poorly understood, including the impact of access restrictions to resources and local bans on practices. Therefore, our research focuses on examining how access restrictions to forest resources and bonfire bans due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impact the cultural-religious tradition of bonfire making during Festas Juninas (June festivities) in northeastern Brazil. METHODS: Ethnobotanical fieldwork was conducted in two rural populations in northeastern Brazil between 2021 and 2022. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observations, and the guided tour technique. The cultural-religious tradition of bonfire making (i.e., richness of native and exotic firewood species, firewood volume, and the number of bonfires related to this practice) was compared between populations (i.e., differing in access restrictions) and years (i.e., differing in COVID-19-related bans) using Mann-Whitney U tests. RESULTS: Results revealed significant differences in the richness of native (p value = 0.001) and exotic (p value < 0.001) firewood species for bonfire making due to access restrictions to forest resources. The number of native species used was higher among the population residing in the area with unrestricted access than among those with restricted access, while a greater number of exotic species was used in the population with restricted access. The rest of the variables were not influenced by access restrictions, and no variables were influenced by COVID-19 bans. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that access restrictions to forest resources, rather than COVID-19 bans, drive the selection of firewood species for bonfires during Festas Juninas in northeastern Brazil. In addition, as populations remain deeply entrenched in cultural-religious practices amid temporary bans imposed by health crises, there is a pressing need for culturally sensitive environmental policies. Fostering socio-ecological resilience demands a comprehensive approach that encompasses not only environmental factors but also cultural dimensions, which wield a pivotal influence on long-term sustainability.

[Application of scientific knowledge: knowledge translation in an institute of science and technology in public health]. / Aplicação do saber científico: a translação do conhecimento em um instituto de ciência e tecnologia em saúde pública.

Knowledge translation (KT) aims at the practical use of scientific research results and at the monitoring of the benefits caused to the population's health. In health, the government and especially society expect that investments in research will produce results that go beyond the production and publication of knowledge, provoking outcomes such as public policies, systems, products, and technologies to benefit the health of the population. However, closing the gaps between research and application requires overcoming a number of challenges. This study aimed to propose strategies to foster the process of transforming the scientific knowledge generated in research into actions and products that contribute to improving the population's health based on the identification of barriers and facilitating factors of a health science and technology institute. The reports of interviews conducted with 16 researchers showed 10 categories of barriers, especially: "limited funding to the science and technology institute" and "insufficient technical support for knowledge translation". "Infrastructure and institutional support" was the facilitating factor category participants mentioned the most. Finally, we developed the artifact "strategies and approaches for overcoming barriers to implement research results". Among the strategies, we suggest the inclusion of a knowledge translation discipline in stricto sensu graduate programs and the creation of an instance in the organizational structure of the science and technology institute to technically and managerially support the application of research results.

A translação do conhecimento (TC) tem como propósito a utilização prática dos resultados de pesquisas científicas e o monitoramento dos benefícios causados à saúde da população. Na área de saúde, o governo e, principalmente, a sociedade esperam que os investimentos em pesquisas obtenham resultados que vão além da produção e da publicação do conhecimento, e provoquem soluções como políticas públicas, sistemas, produtos e tecnologias para beneficiar a saúde da população. Contudo, verifica-se ainda a necessidade de superar diversos desafios para eliminar as lacunas existentes entre a investigação e a aplicação. O objetivo deste estudo é propor estratégias, com base na identificação de barreiras e fatores facilitadores de um instituto de ciência e tecnologia (ICT) em saúde, para fomentar o processo de transformação do conhecimento científico, gerado nas pesquisas, em ações e produtos que contribuam para a melhoria da saúde da população. Os relatos das entrevistas, realizadas com 16 pesquisadores, permitiram a identificação de 10 categorias de barreiras, tendo destaque: "financiamento em ciência, tecnologia e informação (CT&I) limitado" e "apoio técnico insuficiente para a translação do conhecimento". "Infraestrutura e apoio institucional" foi a categoria de fatores facilitadores mais citada pelos participantes. Por fim, foi desenvolvido o artefato "estratégias e abordagens para superação de barreiras à implementação de resultados de pesquisa". Entre as estratégias, sugere-se a inclusão de uma disciplina de TC nos programas de pós-graduação stricto sensu e a criação de uma instância na estrutura organizacional do ICT voltada à prestação de suporte técnico e gerencial à aplicação de resultados de pesquisa.

La traslación del conocimiento (TC) tiene como propósito el uso práctico de los resultados de investigaciones científicas y el seguimiento de los beneficios causados a la salud de la población. En el área de la salud, el gobierno y, sobre todo, la sociedad esperan que las inversiones en investigaciones obtengan resultados que vayan más allá de la producción y publicación de conocimiento, y provoquen resultados, como políticas públicas, sistemas, productos y tecnologías en beneficio de la salud de la población. Sin embargo, se observa aun la necesidad de superar diversos desafíos para eliminar las brechas entre la investigación y la aplicación. El objetivo de este estudio es proponer estrategias con base en la identificación de barreras y factores facilitadores de un instituto de ciencia y tecnología (ICT) en salud, para fomentar el proceso de transformación del conocimiento científico generado en las investigaciones en acciones y productos que contribuyan a mejorar la salud de la población. Los relatos de las entrevistas a 16 investigadores permitieron identificar 10 categorías de barreras, con énfasis en: "financiación en CT&I limitado" y "apoyo técnico insuficiente para la traslación del conocimiento". "Infraestructura y apoyo institucional" fue la categoría de factores facilitadores más citada por los participantes. Finalmente, se desarrolló el artefacto "estrategias y enfoques para la superación de barreras a la implementación de resultados de investigación". Entre las estrategias, se sugiere la inclusión de una asignatura de TC en los programas de posgrado stricto sensu y la creación de una instancia en la estructura organizacional del ICT orientada a brindar apoyo técnico y gerencial a la aplicación de los resultados de la investigación.

Plataforma tecnológica como suporte para translação do conhecimento em saúde / Technological platform as a support for health knowledge translation / La plataforma tecnológica como soporte para la transferencia de conocimientos en salud

A translação do conhecimento (TC) visa à utilização prática dos resultados de pesquisas científicas e o monitoramento dos benefícios causados à saúde da população. O objetivo deste estudo foi instrumentalizar a instância de suporte à TC por meio da identificação dos requisitos funcionais de uma proposta de plataforma tecnológica. Fundamentando-se no Design Science Research, o estudo se enquadra como uma pesquisa qualitativa procurando resolver um problema prático num contexto específico. Por meio de um grupo focal confirmatório com profissionais e pesquisadores de um instituto de ciência e tecnologia em saúde, foram identificadas 11 categorias de requisitos funcionais: Órgãos Regulatórios, Infraestrutura de Implementação, Banco de Dados, Capacitações em TC, Eventos de TC, Perfil de Consultas, Portal TC, Avaliação de Iniciativas, Apoio Institucional, Ferramenta de Busca Parametrizada e Prospecção de Projetos de Pesquisa. A modelagem da proposta contemplou as sugestões de funcionalidades para instrumentalizar o processo de aplicação prática dos conhecimentos decorrentes das pesquisas

Knowledge translation (KT) aims at the practical use of scientific research results and the monitoring of the benefits caused to the population's health. The objective of this study was to instrumentalize the TC support instance by identifying the functional requirements of a proposed technological platform. Based on Design Science Research, the study is framed as qualitative research seeking to solve a practical problem in a specific context. Through a confirmatory focus group with professionals and researchers from a health science and technology institute, 11 categories of functional requirements were identified: Regulatory Bodies, Implementation Infrastructure, Database, Capacity Building, KT Events, Query Profile, KT Portal, Initiative Evaluation, Institutional Support, Parameterized Search Tool, and Research Project Prospecting. The modeling of the proposal contemplated the suggestions of functionalities to instrumentalize the process of the practical application of the knowledge resulting from the research

La traslación del conocimiento (TC) tiene como objetivo el uso práctico de los resultados de la investigación científica y el seguimiento de los beneficios causados a la salud de la población. El objetivo de este estudio fue instrumentalizar la instancia de apoyo a la TC a través de la identificación de requisitos funcionales de una plataforma tecnológica propuesta. Basado en Design Science Research, el estudio se enmarca como una investigación cualitativa que busca resolver un problema práctico en un contexto específico. A través de un grupo focal confirmatorio con profesionales e investigadores de un instituto de ciencia y tecnología de la salud, se identificaron 11 categorías de requisitos funcionales: Órganos Reguladores, Infraestructura de Implementación, Base de Datos, Capacitación, Eventos de TC, Perfil de Consulta, Portal de TC, Evaluación de Iniciativas, Apoyo Institucional, Herramienta de Búsqueda Parametrizada y Prospección de Proyectos de Investigación. El modelado de la propuesta incluyó las sugerencias de funcionalidades para instrumentalizar el proceso de aplicación práctica del conocimiento surgido de la investigación

Exploring the electronic structure of [RuF5NO]2- ion by the generation of a metastable state (MS1).

Some mononitrosyl complexes of transition metals exhibit one or two metastable states (linkage isomers, MS1 and MS2) when irradiated at low temperatures with appropriate wavelengths. In this work, the generation of metastable state one (MS1) (or Ru-ON linkage isomer) in K2[RuF5NO].H2O at 77 K was studied by sample excitation using laser light in a wide range of wavelengths. The effects of irradiation was monitored by infrared spectroscopy. ν(NO) in the ground state was shifted by -161 cm-1 when the complex was excited to MS1, a magnitude similar to that observed in other transition metal nitrosyls for a such state. We report on the excitation and deactivation of metastable states by using a wide variety of laser lines. A novel method for exploring the electronic structure of [RuF5NO]2- through the generation of MS1 is proposed. For this purpose, a sample was carefully irradiated with the same intensity of light for all laser lines in the spectral region 260-1064 nm. The integrated area under the ν(NO)MS1 band was used as a measure of MS1 population. The profile peaks of the MS1 population (ν(NO)MS1 band area) vs. the irradiation wavelength fit well with those of the electronic spectrum of the [RuF5NO]2- ion in an aqueous solution. The onset temperature for MS1 decay in K2[RuF5NO].H2O, at approximately 180 K, is slightly lower than the average reported for other ruthenium-nitrosyl systems.

Overweight and obesity among Brazilian healthcare university students: prevalence and associated factors

ABSTRACT Objective: Obesity is an important factor for cardiovascular and metabolic events. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of overweight/obesity and the associated factors among healthcare university students. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional university-based study of 2,245 healthcare university students in the Midwest region of Brazil was conducted in 2018. Overweight and obesity were defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, respectively. Demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, family and comorbidities characteristics were investigated. Poisson regression was used for the multivariable analysis. All analysis was stratified by sex. Results: The mean age of the sample was 22.7 years (standard deviation = 4.1) and 69.5% of the students was female. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 13.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.2-15.6) and 4% (95% CI: 3.0-4.9) for women and 34.5% (95% CI: 30.9-38.1) and 11.3% (95% CI: 8.9-13.6) for men, respectively. After multivariate adjustment, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was at least 70% higher in female students aged 24 years or older (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.24-2.41) and those who smoke (PR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.66-3.02). Additionally, female students with a family history of obesity (PR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.46-2.77) or with two or three comorbidities (PR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.43-3.04) exhibited a significantly higher probability for overweight/obesity. Similar findings were observed in male students, but with smaller effect sizes. Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of overweight/obesity among healthcare university students, especially in men. It was related to the socio-demographic and family characteristics rather than behavioral factors.

Overweight and obesity among Brazilian healthcare university students: prevalence and associated factors.

Objective: Obesity is an important factor for cardiovascular and metabolic events. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of overweight/obesity and the associated factors among healthcare university students. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional university-based study of 2,245 healthcare university students in the Midwest region of Brazil was conducted in 2018. Overweight and obesity were defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, respectively. Demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, family and comorbidities characteristics were investigated. Poisson regression was used for the multivariable analysis. All analysis was stratified by sex. Results: The mean age of the sample was 22.7 years (standard deviation = 4.1) and 69.5% of the students was female. The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 13.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 12.2- 15.6) and 4% (95% CI: 3.0-4.9) for women and 34.5% (95% CI: 30.9-38.1) and 11.3% (95% CI: 8.9-13.6) for men, respectively. After multivariate adjustment, the prevalence of overweight/obesity was at least 70% higher in female students aged 24 years or older (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.24-2.41) and those who smoke (PR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.66-3.02). Additionally, female students with a family history of obesity (PR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.46-2.77) or with two or three comorbidities (PR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.43-3.04) exhibited a significantly higher probability for overweight/obesity. Similar findings were observed in male students, but with smaller effect sizes. Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of overweight/obesity among healthcare university students, especially in men. It was related to the socio-demographic and family characteristics rather than behavioral factors.

A novel questionnaire to perform teletriage of dental emergencies in children: A before-and-after study nested within a randomized clinical trial.

Background: This will be a before-and-after study nested within a randomized clinical trial. Its objective will be to analyze the effectiveness of a teleconsultation and validate a questionnaire for performing teletriage in dental urgency/emergency situations in children aged 3 to 13, whose parents will have signed a free and informed consent form, and who have had full access to the internet. Methods: The Questionnaire for Teletriage of Emergencies and Urgencies in Pediatric Dentistry (QuesT-Odontoped)-will be validated by applying it to 140 randomized child parents/guardians. After validation, another 260 children seeking emergency dental care in the municipality of Carangola, Minas Gerais, Brazil, will receive a remote consultation, be randomized, and then allocated into two groups: G1, teleconsultation, and G2, teleconsultation and face-to-face consultation (immediately after the former) with a blinded evaluator, involving anamnesis and conventional clinical examination. The G2 sample will be used in the before-after study. Both groups will be followed-up for 7 and 14 days using pain and quality-of-life scales, applied at baseline and after each follow-up period. Clinical follow-up will be carried out after 12 and 24 months to assess the outcome of the tooth that had been indicated for treatment in the teletriage. The Mann-Whitney test will be used to assess pain; Student's t test or the Mann-Whitney test will be used to assess quality of life and the number of missing teeth after 24 months; and Poisson's regression analysis will be used to assess the influence of other variables. The significance level will be set at 5%. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study expects to confirm the hypothesis that remote urgency consultation (teletriage), through a validated questionnaire, will be able to define the planning of the clinical situation, reducing the chance of displacements and progression of infection, helping to eliminate patient pain and discomfort.

Aplicação do saber científico: a translação do conhecimento em um instituto de ciência e tecnologia em saúde pública / Application of scientific knowledge: knowledge translation in an institute of science and technology in public health / Aplicación del saber científico: la traslación de conocimiento en un instituto de ciencia y tecnología en salud pública

Resumo: A translação do conhecimento (TC) tem como propósito a utilização prática dos resultados de pesquisas científicas e o monitoramento dos benefícios causados à saúde da população. Na área de saúde, o governo e, principalmente, a sociedade esperam que os investimentos em pesquisas obtenham resultados que vão além da produção e da publicação do conhecimento, e provoquem soluções como políticas públicas, sistemas, produtos e tecnologias para beneficiar a saúde da população. Contudo, verifica-se ainda a necessidade de superar diversos desafios para eliminar as lacunas existentes entre a investigação e a aplicação. O objetivo deste estudo é propor estratégias, com base na identificação de barreiras e fatores facilitadores de um instituto de ciência e tecnologia (ICT) em saúde, para fomentar o processo de transformação do conhecimento científico, gerado nas pesquisas, em ações e produtos que contribuam para a melhoria da saúde da população. Os relatos das entrevistas, realizadas com 16 pesquisadores, permitiram a identificação de 10 categorias de barreiras, tendo destaque: "financiamento em ciência, tecnologia e informação (CT&I) limitado" e "apoio técnico insuficiente para a translação do conhecimento". "Infraestrutura e apoio institucional" foi a categoria de fatores facilitadores mais citada pelos participantes. Por fim, foi desenvolvido o artefato "estratégias e abordagens para superação de barreiras à implementação de resultados de pesquisa". Entre as estratégias, sugere-se a inclusão de uma disciplina de TC nos programas de pós-graduação stricto sensu e a criação de uma instância na estrutura organizacional do ICT voltada à prestação de suporte técnico e gerencial à aplicação de resultados de pesquisa.

Abstract: Knowledge translation (KT) aims at the practical use of scientific research results and at the monitoring of the benefits caused to the population's health. In health, the government and especially society expect that investments in research will produce results that go beyond the production and publication of knowledge, provoking outcomes such as public policies, systems, products, and technologies to benefit the health of the population. However, closing the gaps between research and application requires overcoming a number of challenges. This study aimed to propose strategies to foster the process of transforming the scientific knowledge generated in research into actions and products that contribute to improving the population's health based on the identification of barriers and facilitating factors of a health science and technology institute. The reports of interviews conducted with 16 researchers showed 10 categories of barriers, especially: "limited funding to the science and technology institute" and "insufficient technical support for knowledge translation". "Infrastructure and institutional support" was the facilitating factor category participants mentioned the most. Finally, we developed the artifact "strategies and approaches for overcoming barriers to implement research results". Among the strategies, we suggest the inclusion of a knowledge translation discipline in stricto sensu graduate programs and the creation of an instance in the organizational structure of the science and technology institute to technically and managerially support the application of research results.

Resumen: La traslación del conocimiento (TC) tiene como propósito el uso práctico de los resultados de investigaciones científicas y el seguimiento de los beneficios causados a la salud de la población. En el área de la salud, el gobierno y, sobre todo, la sociedad esperan que las inversiones en investigaciones obtengan resultados que vayan más allá de la producción y publicación de conocimiento, y provoquen resultados, como políticas públicas, sistemas, productos y tecnologías en beneficio de la salud de la población. Sin embargo, se observa aun la necesidad de superar diversos desafíos para eliminar las brechas entre la investigación y la aplicación. El objetivo de este estudio es proponer estrategias con base en la identificación de barreras y factores facilitadores de un instituto de ciencia y tecnología (ICT) en salud, para fomentar el proceso de transformación del conocimiento científico generado en las investigaciones en acciones y productos que contribuyan a mejorar la salud de la población. Los relatos de las entrevistas a 16 investigadores permitieron identificar 10 categorías de barreras, con énfasis en: "financiación en CT&I limitado" y "apoyo técnico insuficiente para la traslación del conocimiento". "Infraestructura y apoyo institucional" fue la categoría de factores facilitadores más citada por los participantes. Finalmente, se desarrolló el artefacto "estrategias y enfoques para la superación de barreras a la implementación de resultados de investigación". Entre las estrategias, se sugiere la inclusión de una asignatura de TC en los programas de posgrado stricto sensu y la creación de una instancia en la estructura organizacional del ICT orientada a brindar apoyo técnico y gerencial a la aplicación de los resultados de la investigación.

Neurosyphilis and High-Resolution Vessel Wall Imaging: A Powerful Tool to Detect Vasculitis and Neuritis.

Syphilis is a reemergent infection worldwide. There has been a steady increase in incidence across many population groups in the last decades, requiring public health authorities' attention. We report a case of a 67-year-old man with neurosyphilis who presented with abrupt clinical ophthalmic changes and sensorineural hearing loss. The neuroradiological investigation demonstrated cranial nerves and vascular involvement, detected on high-resolution vessel wall imaging in brain magnetic resonance imaging. CSF and blood VDRL test were positive, as well as blood serum fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS) and chemiluminescent magnetic microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). A test for the human immunodeficiency virus was negative. The patient was administered intravenous penicillin G for 21 days and was discharged well, with no neurologic signs.

Prevalence of Premenstrual Syndrome and Associated Factors Among Academics of a University in Midwest Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in university students, the factors associated with PMS, the most prevalent symptoms, and the interference of symptoms in academic, family, social, and work activities. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,115 university students aged ≥ 18 years from the University of Rio Verde, Goiás. Premenstrual syndrome and PMDD were identified using the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool. Associations with sociodemographic, behavioral, reproductive, nutritional, and health factors were investigated using the Poisson regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of PMS was 46.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 44.0-49.8), and of PMDD, 11.1% (95% CI 9.3-13.0). The most prevalent symptoms were physical, such as breast tenderness, bloating, e weight gain (73%); followed by psychological ones such as overeating/food cravings, tearful/more sensitive to rejection (> 60%). More than 30% of the patients reported that the symptoms interfered in a moderate-to-severe way in their social and academic activities. After adjusted analysis, PMS was more prevalent in those who were attending the 1st/2nd semester of college (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.44; 95% CI 1.14-1.80), those who consumed alcohol in the last 30 days (PR 1.23; 95% CI 1.04-1.47), and those who had depression (PR 1.49; 95% CI 1.30-1.71). CONCLUSION: Almost half of the university students had PMS and ∼ 11%, PMDD. Physical symptoms were the most common and interfered in a moderate-to-severe way in various aspects of life. Attending the first semesters, consuming alcohol, and having depression were risk factors for PMS. The identification of risk factors for PMS is essential to prevent symptoms and reduce the impact of the syndrome.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a prevalência de síndrome pré-menstrual (SPM) e do transtorno disfórico pré-menstrual (TDPM) em alunas universitárias, os fatores associados à SPM, os sintomas mais prevalentes e a interferência dos sintomas nas atividades acadêmicas, familiares, sociais e de trabalho. MéTODOS: Este estudo transversal incluiu 1.115 estudantes universitárias ≥ 18 anos da Universidade de Rio Verde, Goiás. Síndrome pré-menstrual e TDPM foram identificados por meio do Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool. As associações com fatores sociodemográficos, comportamentais, reprodutivos, nutricionais e de saúde foram investigadas utilizando-se a regressão de Poisson. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de SPM foi de 46,9% (intervalo de confiança [IC] de 95% 44,0­49,8) e de TDPM, 11,1% (IC 95% 9,3­13,0). Os sintomas mais prevalentes foram físicos, como sensibilidade mamária, distensão abdominal e ganho de peso (73%); seguidos por psicológicos, como comer demais/desejos por comida, chorar/mais sensível à rejeição (> 60%). Mais de 30% relataram que os sintomas interferiam de forma moderada a grave em suas atividades sociais e acadêmicas. Após análise ajustada, a SPM foi mais prevalente naquelas que estava cursando o 1°/2° semestre da faculdade (razão de prevalência [RP] 1,44; IC 95% 1,14­1,80), as que haviam consumido álcool nos últimos 30 dias (RP 1,23; IC 95% 1,04­1,47), e as que tinha depressão (RP 1,49; IC 95% 1,30­1,71). CONCLUSãO: Quase metade das universitárias tinha SPM e cerca de 11%, TDPM. Os sintomas físicos foram os mais comuns e interferiram de forma moderada a grave em vários aspectos da vida. Frequentar os primeiros semestres, consumir álcool e ter depressão foram fatores de risco para SPM. A identificação dos fatores de risco para a SPM é essencial para prevenir os sintomas e reduzir o impacto da síndrome.