Obesity and Poverty: The Apparent Paradox. A Study of Women in the Rocinha Favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Objectives: Investigate obesity in the context of poverty, to understand this paradox through a broad approach that embraces sociocultural and symbolic information

Os espaços e as construções em "Bracara Augusta". Instrumentos para o estudo do quotidiano no noroeste peninsular

Archaeological interventions in Braga in the last 40 years provided enough data about private architecture on the roman city of Bracara Augusta between the first century and late antiquity, acknowledging the evolution of several buildings and blocks. Through available database we aim to analyze all the knowing domus, characterizing each space and their functionality, as well as their architectonical evolution. It’s also pretended to realize how provincial elites assimilated italic housing models and managed architectonical solutions. For what, we’ll proceed to analyze Bracara Augusta’s roman domestic architecture as spotlight to everyday life and sociability in roman cities from northwest Iberian. In this way, our purpose is to value roman domus from architectonical but also economic and social perspectives.As escavações realizadas em Braga ao longo dos últimos 40 anos forneceram dados significativos sobre a arquitetura privada da cidade romana de Bracara Augusta entre o século I e a Antiguidade Tardia, documentando a evolução dos diferentes quarteirões habitacionais. Tendo por base o acervo de informação disponível procuraremos evidenciar neste trabalho os resultados do estudo das domus conhecidas, procedendo‐se para o efeito à caraterização funcional dos espaços conhecidos, bem como à avaliação da sua evolução. A abordagem arquitetónica e construtiva permitirá ainda compreender o modo como os modelos itálicos foram assimilados pelas elites da cidade, permitindo valorizar as soluções construtivas regionais. Para o efeito pretende‐se realizar uma análise da arquitetura doméstica romana de Bracara Augusta enquanto contexto de abordagem do quotidiano e sociabilidades das cidades romanas do NO Peninsular. Assim, procuraremos valorizar as domus romanas de um ponto de vista arquitetónico e construtivo, mas também económico e social

Molecular analysis of the destruction of articular joint tissues by Raman spectroscopy

Review[Abstract] Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly heterogenous disease influenced by different molecular, anatomic, and physiologic imbalances. Some of the bottlenecks for enhanced diagnosis and therapeutic assessment are the lack of validated biomarkers and early diagnosis tools. In this narrative review, we analyze the potential of Raman spectroscopy (RS) as a label-free optical tool for the characterization of articular joint tissues and its application as a diagnosis tool for OA. Areas covered: Raman spectra produce a unique 'molecular fingerprint' providing rotational and vibrational molecular information, allowing the identification and follow-up of molecular changes associated with OA pathological mechanisms. Focusing on multiple joint tissues (cartilage, synovium, bone, tendons, ligaments, and meniscus) and their contribution in disease incidence and progression, this review highlights the current knowledge on the application of RS in the characterization of organic and inorganic molecules present at these tissues and alterations that occur in the onset of OA. Expert opinion: Vibrational spectroscopy techniques, such as RS, are low cost, rapid and minimally invasive approaches that offer high specificity in the assessment of the molecular composition of complex tissues. Combined with multivariate statistical methods, RS offers great potential for optical biomarkers discovery or disease diagnosis applications, and we hereby discuss clinical translational progresses on the field

Mixed reality in an operating room using Hololens 2: the use of the remote assistance from manufacturers techinicians during the surgeries

Proceeding paper[Abstract] The aim of this work is that the participants, using HoloLens 2 and Dynamics 365 Remote Assistance, can receive all the training and information necessary for the correct application of prosthesis and medical devices remotely, from a support center of the manufacturers, avoiding the displacement and presence of these technicians during surgeries. After implementing this method, an analysis will be made on its impact, avoiding displacement and the presence of technicians during surgery, in terms of increasing satisfaction and improving the experience of the participants, reduction of various risks (including the risk of infection) and on reduction of some economic and environmental costs

A Leishmania-specific hypothetical protein expressed in both promastigote and amastigote stages of Leishmania infantum employed for the serodiagnosis of, and as a vaccine candidate against, visceral leishmaniasis

Background: LiHyV is an antigenic hypothetical protein present in both promastigote and amastigote stages of Leishmania infantum, which was recently identified by an immunoproteomic approach. A recombinant version of this protein (rLiHyV) was evaluated as a diagnostic marker for canine VL (CVL). In addition, the prophylactic efficacy of the rLiHyV protein, and two of its CD8+ T cell epitopes, has been analyzed in a murine model of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Methods: Initially, the rLiHyV protein was evaluated by an ELISA technique for the serodiagnosis of CVL. Secondly, vaccines composed of the recombinant protein and both chemically synthesized peptides, combined with saponin as an adjuvant; were administered subcutaneously into BALB/c mice. The cellular and humoral responses generated by vaccination were evaluated. In addition, the parasite burden and immune response were studied 10 weeks after L. infantum infection. Results: The rLiHyV protein was recognized by antibodies of VL dogs. No cross-reactivity was obtained with sera from dogs vaccinated with a Brazilian commercial vaccine, with sera from animals infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, Babesia canis and Ehrlichia canis, or those from non-infected animals living in an endemic area for leishmaniasis. After challenge with L. infantum, spleen cells of BALB/c mice vaccinated with rLiHyV/saponin stimulated with parasite antigens showed a higher production of IFN-γ, IL-12 and GM-CSF, than the same cells obtained from mice vaccinated with the individual peptides, or mice from control (inoculated with saline or saponin) groups. This Th1-type cellular response observed in rLiHyV/saponin vaccinated mice was accompanied by the induction of parasite-specific IgG2a isotype antibodies. Animals immunized with rLiHyV/saponin showed significant reductions in the parasite burden in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and in the lymph nodes draining the paws relative to control mice. Conclusions: The present study showed for the first time that the L. infantum LiHyV protein could be considered as a vaccine candidate against L. infantum infection, as well as a diagnostic marker for CVL.This work was supported by grants from Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Nanobiofarmacêutica (INCT-Nanobiofar), FAPEMIG (CBB-APQ-00819-12), and CNPq (APQ-472090/2011-9, RHAE-456287/2012-4, APQ-482976/2012-8, and APQ-488237/2013-0). MACF is a grant recipient of FAPEMIG/CAPES. EAFC and APF are grant recipient of CNPq.Peer Reviewe

El Alto das Malhadas: restos de ocupación de la Edad del Bronce en el Douro portugués

The Iron Age artistic representations identified in the Vale do Côa Archaeological Park (PAVC) lack associated occupation contexts, that is, the stratigraphic contexts necessary for a chronological and interpretative framework. In the absence of evidence of protohistoric habitat in the immediate surroundings of the engravings, we attempted to analyse other sites in the region on which there was evidence of Iron Age occupation. Thus, as part of the RARAA - Open Repository of Rock Art project, funded by FCT COA/OVD/0097/2019, we selected the Alto das Malhadas site to carry out a diagnostic intervention, due to its relative proximity to the mouth of the Côa River, associated with the presence of rock panels with engravings, a pebble with «protohistoric» incised engravings and handmade ceramic materials. In this paper we present the results of this archaeological intervention, where the Alto das Malhadas site has revealed itself as one of the most interesting sites in nor th-eastern Portugal for the characterization of the transition between the III and II millennium BC, and for the understanding of the transition keys from the regional Chalcolithic to a Bronze Age, increasingly linked to the settlement dynamics developed in the Meseta.  Las representaciones artísticas de la Edad del Hierro identificadas en el Parque Arqueológico del Vale do Côa (PAVC) carecen de contextos de ocupación asociados, es decir, de los contextos estratigráficos necesarios para un marco cronológico e interpretativo. Ante la ausencia de evidencias de hábitat protohistórico en el entorno inmediato de los grabados, se buscó analizar otros yacimientos de la región en los que hubiera indicios de ocupación de la Edad del Hierro. Así, en el ámbito del proyecto RARAA - Repositorio Abierto de Arte Rupestre, financiado por el FCT COA/OVD/0097/2019, seleccionamos el yacimiento del Alto das Malhadas para realizar una intervención diagnóstica, debido a su relativa proximidad a la desembocadura del río Côa, asociada a la presencia de paneles rocosos con grabados, un guijarro con grabados incisos «protohistóricos» y materiales cerámicos artesanales. En este trabajo presentamos los resultados de esta intervención arqueológica, en la que el yacimiento del Alto das Malhadas, se ha revelado como uno de los más interesantes del nordeste de Portugal para la caracterización de la transición entre el III y el II milenio a. C. y para la comprensión de las claves de transición del Calcolítico regional a una Edad del Bronce cada vez más vinculada a la dinámica de asentamiento desarrollada en la Meseta

An Investigation into the Grade Dynamics of Drainage Implements

The use of the trenchless plough drainage implement has increased in the past few years due to its efficiency and cost advantages over other methods. However, the performance of these machines when working in fields with irregular soil conditions is not yet satisfactory. It is important therefore to study the soil parameters and conditions which could affect the implement behaviour under these circumstances. Therefore, a detailed investigation of the soil reaction forces acting upon a scale model of the trenchless plough was conducted under controlled conditions in a soil laboratory. The model was tested first under restricted conditions of movement, in order to observe and determine all the possible soil reaction forces. The tine, due to its geometric characteristics, was classified as a very narrow tine, and an existing model to predict the soil reaction force acting on the front face of these tines was extended to predict the forces on the sides. Since the length of the failure plane ahead of the tine is often required in the investigation of the soil reaction forces, a mathematical solution based on the Coulomb principle of Passive Earth Pressure was presented to estimate the soil failure pattern. There was good agreement between the values of the angle of the shear plane predicted by this method and the experimental data obtained from the glass sided tank tests. Dynamic tests were conducted with the implement assembled with a long floating beam arrangement assisted by a small link (free-link), used between the hitch-point and the pivoted end of the beam. These tests revealed that, when working over irregular soil conditions a better grade control can be obtained if the hitch-point is kept at constant level in reference to a desired line. In the case where field irregularities persist for long (step inputs), corrections in the hitch-point height might be necessary. These tests show that the implement depth changes in different proportion in relation to the hitch-point height. Where no control is imposed on the hitch-point, the path of the implement is attenuated in relation to the hitch-point position, where better results are obtained for high frequency of the hitch-point. A mathematical solution based on these findings and on the dynamic balance of the forces acting on the system was presented. Since it is an interactive method and requires long and repetitive calculations, a computer programme was developed and used to predict the response of the implement under these uneven conditions. Good agreement between data and estimated values suggested that the method is acceptable