COVID-19 vaccination challenges: from fake news to vaccine hesitancy. / Desafios da imunização contra COVID-19 na saúde pública: das fake news à hesitação vacinal.

This article aims to synthesize articles addressing fake news and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the context of public health. We conducted an integrative review of articles published in any language between 2019 and 2022 in journals indexed in the following databases: Latin American and the Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. A critical analysis was performed, guided by the research question and objective of the review. Eleven articles were selected, the overwhelming majority of which were cross-sectional studies. The main factors related to vaccine take-up highlighted by the studies were gender, age, education level, political leanings, religion, trust in health authorities, and perceptions of side-effects and vaccine efficacy. The main obstacles to attaining optimal vaccination coverage were vaccine hesitancy and disinformation. All studies addressed the relationship between low vaccination intention and the use of social media as a source of information about SARS-CoV-2. It is necessary to build public trust in vaccine safety and efficacy. Promoting a better understanding of the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination is essential to combat vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccine take-up.

O objetivo deste artigo é sintetizar artigos que abordam fake news e hesitação vacinal contra a COVID-19 no contexto de saúde pública. Revisão integrativa que incluiu estudos originais indexados nas bases de dados Literatura Latino Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde; Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online; Scopus; Web of Science e Embase, publicados em qualquer idioma, entre 2019 e 2022. A análise crítica foi realizada na forma descritiva, consoante à pergunta de pesquisa e ao objetivo da revisão. Foram selecionados 11 artigos, com predomínio de estudos transversais. Relacionaram-se ao processo de adesão à vacinação: gênero, idade, estado civil, escolaridade, posicionamento político, religião, confiança em autoridades de saúde, percepção de efeitos colaterais e eficácia das vacinas, entre outros. Hesitação e desinformação são os principais entraves para se alcançar a cobertura vacinal em muitos países. Todos os estudos abordam a relação entre baixa intenção de imunização e uso de mídias sociais como fonte de informação sobre o SARS-CoV-2. É necessário aumentar a confiança na segurança e eficácia das vacinas. A melhor compreensão dos benefícios da vacinação para COVID-19 é imprescindível para combater a hesitação e ampliar a adesão vacinal.

Desafios da imunização contra COVID-19 na saúde pública: das fake news à hesitação vacinal / COVID-19 vaccination challenges: from fake news to vaccine hesitancy

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é sintetizar artigos que abordam fake news e hesitação vacinal contra a COVID-19 no contexto de saúde pública. Revisão integrativa que incluiu estudos originais indexados nas bases de dados Literatura Latino Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde; Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online; Scopus; Web of Science e Embase, publicados em qualquer idioma, entre 2019 e 2022. A análise crítica foi realizada na forma descritiva, consoante à pergunta de pesquisa e ao objetivo da revisão. Foram selecionados 11 artigos, com predomínio de estudos transversais. Relacionaram-se ao processo de adesão à vacinação: gênero, idade, estado civil, escolaridade, posicionamento político, religião, confiança em autoridades de saúde, percepção de efeitos colaterais e eficácia das vacinas, entre outros. Hesitação e desinformação são os principais entraves para se alcançar a cobertura vacinal em muitos países. Todos os estudos abordam a relação entre baixa intenção de imunização e uso de mídias sociais como fonte de informação sobre o SARS-CoV-2. É necessário aumentar a confiança na segurança e eficácia das vacinas. A melhor compreensão dos benefícios da vacinação para COVID-19 é imprescindível para combater a hesitação e ampliar a adesão vacinal.

Abstract This article aims to synthesize articles addressing fake news and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the context of public health. We conducted an integrative review of articles published in any language between 2019 and 2022 in journals indexed in the following databases: Latin American and the Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. A critical analysis was performed, guided by the research question and objective of the review. Eleven articles were selected, the overwhelming majority of which were cross-sectional studies. The main factors related to vaccine take-up highlighted by the studies were gender, age, education level, political leanings, religion, trust in health authorities, and perceptions of side-effects and vaccine efficacy. The main obstacles to attaining optimal vaccination coverage were vaccine hesitancy and disinformation. All studies addressed the relationship between low vaccination intention and the use of social media as a source of information about SARS-CoV-2. It is necessary to build public trust in vaccine safety and efficacy. Promoting a better understanding of the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination is essential to combat vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccine take-up.

Ensino híbrido na formação em saúde: uma revisão sistemática / Hybrid education in healthcare education - A systematic review

Introdução: A partir da necessidade de reestruturação das instituições de ensino em saúde devido à pandemia da COVID-19, o ensino híbrido vem se destacando como possibilidade de reorganização das atividades educativas. O objetivo deste estudo foi escrever o desenvolvimento do ensino híbrido na formação de profissionais da área da saúde. Materiais e Métodos: Revisão sistemática da literatura, baseada nas recomendações da Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em pares, entre julho a setembro de 2020, em quatro bases de dados eletrônicas. Os descritores foram os termos "Educação a Distância", "Educação Superior", "Aprendizagem", "Saúde", "Enfermagem", "Medicina", "Odontologia" e "Fisioterapia" e "Ensino híbrido". Os artigos foram classificados conforme seu Nível de Evidência. Resultados: 49 artigos foram selecionados, entre estudos quantitativos, qualitativos e de método misto. Foram encontradas experiências do desenvolvimento do ensino híbrido nos diferentes cursos de formação na área da saúde. Observou-se aplicação do ensino híbrido segundo o modelo de Rotação, modelo à la carte e o modelo Flex. Discussão: o ensino híbrido vem ganhando destaque cada vez maior no cenário da educação acadêmica em saúde. Foi visto que, a partir dele, o aluno destaca-se em sua aprendizagem, pois é o principal gerenciador deste processo, aprendendo ativamente por diversos instrumentos educativos a partir da condução do professor. Conclusões: O êxito do ensino híbrido pode estar relacionado ao seu caráter inovador, flexível, com boa relação custo-benefício e capaz de tornar os alunos protagonistas do seu processo de ensino-aprendizagem, influenciando no desempenho acadêmico dos alunos.

Introduction: Given the need to restructure healthcare education institutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hybrid education has been identified as an alternative to reorganize educational activities. The objective of this study is to describe hybrid education development in healthcare education. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted based on the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) guideline. A peer-reviewed search was conducted across four electronic databases between July and September 2020. Descriptors used were "distance education", "learning", "health", "nursing", "medicine", "dentistry", "physical therapy" and "hybrid education". Selected articles were classified based on their level of evidence. Results: 49 articles were selected, including quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies. Experiences in the development of hybrid education in multiple healthcare courses were found. Hybrid education has been implemented based on the rotation model, a la carte model and Flex model. Discussion: Hybrid education has been gaining more and more importance in the academic scenario of healthcare education. Based on this, students manage to stand out in their learning process as they become the main agent of this process by actively learning using multiple education tools provided by their teachers. Conclusions: Successful hybrid education can be related to its innovative, flexible, cost-effective nature and the ability to turn students into key players in their teaching-learning process, which ends up influencing their own academic performance.

Introducción: Ante la necesidad de reestructurar las instituciones de educación en salud a causa de la pandemia por COVID-19, se ha señalado a la educación híbrida como una alternativa para reorganizar las actividades educativas. El objetivo de este estudio es describir el desarrollo de la educación híbrida en la formación de los profesionales en el área de la salud. Materiales y métodos: Revisión sistemática de la literatura basada en las recomendaciones de los elementos de informes preferidos para revisiones sistemáticas y metaanálisis (PRISMA). La búsqueda se realizó por pares entre julio y septiembre de 2020 en cuatro bases de datos electrónicas. Los descriptores utilizados fueron "educación a distancia", "educación superior", "aprendizaje", "salud", "enfermería", "medicina", "odontología", "fisioterapia" y "educación híbrida". A su vez, los artículos seleccionados se clasificaron según su nivel de evidencia. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 49 artículos, entre los que se incluyeron estudios cuantitativos, cualitativos y de métodos mixtos. Se identificaron experiencias en el desarrollo de la educación híbrida en diferentes cursos de formación en el área de la salud. Se observó que la educación híbrida se implementó de acuerdo con el modelo de rotación, el modelo a la carta y el modelo Flex. Discusión: La enseñanza híbrida ha venido ganando cada vez más importancia en el escenario académico de la educación en salud. Se observó que, a partir de esta, el estudiante logra destacarse en su aprendizaje, ya que se convierte en el principal gestor de este proceso al aprender de forma activa mediante diversas herramientas educativas guiadas por el docente. Conclusiones: El éxito de la educación híbrida se puede relacionar con su carácter innovador, flexible, con buena relación costo-beneficio y la habilidad de convertir a los estudiantes en protagonistas de su proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, lo que influye en su propio rendimiento académico.

Training with noninvasive brain-machine interface, tactile feedback, and locomotion to enhance neurological recovery in individuals with complete paraplegia: a randomized pilot study.

In recent years, our group and others have reported multiple cases of consistent neurological recovery in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) following a protocol that integrates locomotion training with brain machine interfaces (BMI). The primary objective of this pilot study was to compare the neurological outcomes (motor, tactile, nociception, proprioception, and vibration) in both an intensive assisted locomotion training (LOC) and a neurorehabilitation protocol integrating assisted locomotion with a noninvasive brain-machine interface (L + BMI), virtual reality, and tactile feedback. We also investigated whether individuals with chronic-complete SCI could learn to perform leg motor imagery. We ran a parallel two-arm randomized pilot study; the experiments took place in São Paulo, Brazil. Eight adults sensorimotor-complete (AIS A) (all male) with chronic (> 6 months) traumatic spinal SCI participated in the protocol that was organized in two blocks of 14 weeks of training and an 8-week follow-up. The participants were allocated to either the LOC group (n = 4) or L + BMI group (n = 4) using block randomization (blinded outcome assessment). We show three important results: (i) locomotion training alone can induce some level of neurological recovery in sensorimotor-complete SCI, and (ii) the recovery rate is enhanced when such locomotion training is associated with BMI and tactile feedback (∆Mean Lower Extremity Motor score improvement for LOC = + 2.5, L + B = + 3.5; ∆Pinprick score: LOC = + 3.75, L + B = + 4.75 and ∆Tactile score LOC = + 4.75, L + B = + 9.5). (iii) Furthermore, we report that the BMI classifier accuracy was significantly above the chance level for all participants in L + B group. Our study shows potential for sensory and motor improvement in individuals with chronic complete SCI following a protocol with BMIs and locomotion therapy. We report no dropouts nor adverse events in both subgroups participating in the study, opening the possibility for a more definitive clinical trial with a larger cohort of people with SCI.Trial registration: http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/ identifier RBR-2pb8gq.

HIV-1 genetic diversity and transmitted drug resistance to integrase strand transfer inhibitors among recently diagnosed adults in Porto Alegre, South Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: The HIV-1 genetic diversity and the presence of transmitted drug resistance mutations (TDRMs) against integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) were assessed sequencing samples of antiretroviral (ARV)-naive HIV-1-infected individuals from South Brazil. METHODS: Viral RNA from 42 ART-naive individuals was submitted to complete HIV-1 integrase gene amplification by RT-PCR and sequencing. RESULTS: Viral strains carrying TDRMs against INSTIs were not detected in the present study. However, the polymorphisms L74M and L74I were each observed in 4.8% of the individuals. These accessory mutations have been reported as putative causes of TDRMs in ART with raltegravir, but only when associated with additional major mutations. When submitted to HIV-1 subtyping, 50% were classified as subtype C, 21% as recombinant BC, 19% as subtype B, 4.8% as subtype F1 and 4.8% as recombinant CF1. CONCLUSIONS: All 42 ARV-naive individuals were apparently susceptible to INSTIs, included in the Brazilian therapeutic guideline since 2009. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate TDRMs against INSTIs in Brazil. The most prevalent HIV-1 subtypes were subtype C, followed by the recombinant BC and subtype B, which is in agreement with previous studies. However, the presence of subtype F1 and recombinant CF1 reported herein was not observed in previous studies.

Synthesizing the connections between environmental disturbances and zoonotic spillover.

Zoonotic spillover is a phenomenon characterized by the transfer of pathogens between different animal species. Most human emerging infectious diseases originate from non-human animals, and human-related environmental disturbances are the driving forces of the emergence of new human pathogens. Synthesizing the sequence of basic events involved in the emergence of new human pathogens is important for guiding the understanding, identification, and description of key aspects of human activities that can be changed to prevent new outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. This review synthesizes the connections between environmental disturbances and increased risk of spillover events based on the One Health perspective. Anthropogenic disturbances in the environment (e.g., deforestation, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss, wildlife exploitation) lead to changes in ecological niches, reduction of the dilution effect, increased contact between humans and other animals, changes in the incidence and load of pathogens in animal populations, and alterations in the abiotic factors of landscapes. These phenomena can increase the risk of spillover events and, potentially, facilitate new infectious disease outbreaks. Using Brazil as a study model, this review brings a discussion concerning anthropogenic activities in the Amazon region and their potential impacts on spillover risk and spread of emerging diseases in this region.

Parasitoses de interesse clínico em sedimento de rio: uma abordagem na Saúde Pública / Parasitoses of clinical interest in sediment of rio: an approach to Public Health

Falta de saneamento básico facilita a disseminação de doenças parasitárias que impactam à saúde humana, sendo o sedimento capaz de albergar esses microrganismos. Objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a presença de parasitas patogênicos ao ser humano em sedimentos de borda de rio, abordando os riscos de infecções parasitárias na questão de saúde pública. Avaliaram-se pela técnica de HPJ 80 amostras de sedimentos dos rios Paranhana e Caí. Obtiveram-se 53 amostras positivas (66,2%) com diferentes parasitas, Ancylostoma sp., Strongyloides sp., Endolimax nana, Ascaris lumbricoides, Toxocara canis, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Trichiuris trichiura e Taenia sp. Locais com maior urbanização apresentaram 60% de amostras positivas e maior número de espécies. O sedimento de borda de rio indicou ser um meio apropriado para a manutenção das formas infectantes de parasitas. Faz-se necessário um saneamento adequado, a fim de minimizar a contaminação ambiental bem como o risco à saúde da população.

Lack of basic sanitation facilitates the spread of parasitic diseases that impact human health, with the sediment being able to house these microorganisms. The present study aims to evaluate the presence of pathogenic parasites to humans in riverbank sediments, addressing the risks of parasitic infections in public health. Eighty samples of sediments from the Paranhana and Caí rivers were evaluated using the HPJ technique. Fifty-three positive samples (66.2%) were obtained with different parasites, Ancylostoma sp., Strongyloides sp., Endolimax nana, Ascaris lumbricoides, Toxocara canis, Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Trichiuris trichiura and Taenia sp. Places with greater urbanization presented 60% of positive samples and a greater number of species. Riverbank sediments indicated to be an appropriate means for the maintenance of infectious forms of parasites. Adequate sanitation is necessary in order to minimize environmental contamination as well as the population's health risk.

Fé, princípio-ativo, testemunhos de cura e rastreamento na produção de remédios caseiros por raizeiras e raizeiros do cerrado / Fé, princípio-ativo, testemunhos de cura e rastreamento na produção de remédios caseiros por raizeiras e raizeiros do cerrado

A partir da descrição etnográfica do projeto de autorregulação do ofício de raizeiras e raizeiros reunidos em torno da Articulação Pacari, este artigo pretende problematizar sobre as supostas fronteiras entre religião, ciência e política. Trata-se de um projeto que incorporou para o ofício de raizeiras e raizeiros alguns elementos reconhecidos como científicos sem, contudo, abandonar outros repertórios que compõem suas trajetórias. O resultado destas dinâmicas produziu um conjunto original de práticas e saberes não previstos anteriormente e que desafia dicotomias clássicas ­ como a de tradição e modernidade ­ e que será objeto de análise deste artigo.

From the ethnographic description of the project for self-regulation of the craft of raizeiras and raizeiros gathered around the Articulação Pacari, this article aims to problematize the supposed boundaries between religion, science, and politics. It is a project that has incorporated for the craft of raizeiras and raizeiros some elements recognized as scientific without, however, abandoning other repertoires that make up their trajectories. The result of these dynamics has produced an original set of practices and knowledge not previously foreseen and that challenges classic dichotomies ­ such as that of tradition and modernity - and that will be the object of analysis in this article.

Evidence of drought memory in Dipteryx alata indicates differential acclimation of plants to savanna conditions.

The remarkable phytogeographic characteristics of the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) resulted in a vegetation domain composed of plants with high structural and functional diversity to tolerate climate extremes. Here we used a key Cerrado species (Dipteryx alata) to evaluate if species of this domain present a mechanism of stress memory, responding more quickly and efficiently when exposed to recurrent drought episodes. The exposure of D. alata seedlings to drought resulted in several changes, mainly in physiological and biochemical traits, and these changes differed substantially when the water deficit was imposed as an isolated event or when the plants were subjected to drought cycles, suggesting the existence of a drought memory mechanism. Plants submitted to recurrent drought events were able to maintain essential processes for plant survival when compared to those submitted to drought for the first time. This differential acclimation to drought was the result of orchestrated changes in several metabolic pathways, involving differential carbon allocation for defense responses and the reprogramming and coordination of primary, secondary and antioxidant metabolism. The stress memory in D. alata is probably linked the evolutionary history of the species and reflects the environment in which it evolved.

Increased IL-8 levels in HIV-infected individuals who initiated ART with CD4+ T cell counts <350 cells/mm3 - A potential hallmark of chronic inflammation.

The identification of inflammatory markers in HIV+ individuals on ART is fundamental since chronic ART-controlled HIV infection is linked to an increased inflammatory state. In this context, we assessed plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-8, and IL-12p70) of HIV+ individuals who initiated ART after immunosuppression (CD4+ T cell counts <350 cells/mm3). HIV+ individuals were stratified according to two extreme phenotypes: Slow Progressors (SPs; individuals with at least 8 years of infection before ART initiation) and Rapid Progressors (RPs; individuals who needed to initiate ART within 1-4 years after infection). A control group was composed of HIV-uninfected individuals. We found increased IL-8 levels (median: 5.13 pg/mL; SPs and RPs together) in HIV-infected individuals on ART as compared to controls (median: 3.2 pg/mL; p = 0.04), although no association with the progression profile (slow or rapid progressors) or CD4+ T cell counts at sampling was observed. This result indicates that IL-8 is a general marker of chronic inflammation in HIV+ individuals on ART, independently of CD4+ T cell counts at the beginning of the treatment or of the potential progression profile of the patient. In this sense, IL-8 may be considered a possible target for novel therapies focused on reducing inflammation in chronic HIV infection.

Beyond diversity loss and climate change: Impacts of Amazon deforestation on infectious diseases and public health.

Amazonian biodiversity is increasingly threatened due to the weakening of policies for combating deforestation, especially in Brazil. Loss of animal and plant species, many not yet known to science, is just one among many negative consequences of Amazon deforestation. Deforestation affects indigenous communities, riverside as well as urban populations, and even planetary health. Amazonia has a prominent role in regulating the Earth's climate, with forest loss contributing to rising regional and global temperatures and intensification of extreme weather events. These climatic conditions are important drivers of emerging infectious diseases, and activities associated with deforestation contribute to the spread of disease vectors. This review presents the main impacts of Amazon deforestation on infectious-disease dynamics and public health from a One Health perspective. Because Brazil holds the largest area of Amazon rainforest, emphasis is given to the Brazilian scenario. Finally, potential solutions to mitigate deforestation and emerging infectious diseases are presented from the perspectives of researchers in different fields.

Author Correction: Non-invasive, Brain-controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation for Locomotion Rehabilitation in Individuals with Paraplegia.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Relações entre massa magra e estilo de vida em idosos longevos / Relationships between free fat mass and lifestyle in oldest-old / Relaciones entre masa magra y estilo de vida en ancianos longevos

Objetiva-se analisara relação entre a massa magra e o estilo de vida em idosos longevos.Como Métodos, estudo transversal, no qual foram avaliados 65 longevos, moradores do distrito de Capão Redondo da cidade de São Paulo(SP). Todos os participantes responderam ao questionário sociodemográfico e ao instrumento Perfil do Estilo de Vida Individual, além de terem realizado o exame de bioimpedância e o Teste de Caminhada. Como resultados, amédia de idade foi de 78,8±4,4, e o índice de massa corporal médio,de 27,4±5,6. Dentre os entrevistados, 61,6% eram mulheresea pontuação média do Perfil do Estilo de Vida Individualfoi de 32,12 pontos. Foi encontrada significante correlação entre componentes de estilo de vida com o índice de massa magra. Concluiu-se que foi encontrada correlação positiva entre componentes do estilo de vida e massa magra. A maioria dos longevos tinha excelente estilo de vida e composição corporal saudável, com significativo porcentual de massa magra.

Objective: To evaluate the lifestyle and its relations with fat free body mass in elderly people. Method: This was a cross-sectional study, in which 65 long-lived residents of São Paulocity (SP, Brazil)were evaluated. All participants answered the sociodemographic questionnaire and the ProfileLifestyleinstrument, in addition to performing the bioimpedance exam and Walking Test. Results: The mean age was 78.8±4.4, and the mean body mass indexwas 27.4±5.6. Of the respondents, 61.6% were women. The average lifestyle score was 32.12 points. A significant correlation was found between the lifestyle components and the fat freemass index. Conclusion: Significant positive correlation was found between lifestyle components and fat freemass. Most people have an excellent lifestyle and body composition is healthy, with a significant percentage of fat freemass.

El objetivo es analizar la relación entre masa magra y estilo de vida en ancianos longevos. Como Métodos, estudio transversal, en el que se evaluaron 65 residentes longevos del distrito de Capão Redondo en la ciudad de São Paulo (SP). Todos los participantes respondieron el cuestionario sociodemográfico y el instrumento Perfil de Estilo de Vida Individual, además de haber realizado el examen de bioimpedancia y el Test de Caminata. Como resultado, la edad media fue de 78,8 ± 4,4 y el índice de masa corporal medio fue de 27,4 ± 5,6. Entre los entrevistados, el 61,6% eran mujeres y la puntuación media del Perfil de Estilo de Vida Individual fue de 32,12 puntos. Se encontró una correlación significativa entre los componentes del estilo de vida y el índice de masa magra. Se concluyó que se encontró una correlación positiva entre los componentes del estilo de vida y la masa magra. La mayoría de las personas mayores tenían un estilo de vida excelente y una composición corporal saludable, con un porcentaje significativo de masa magra.

Different ways to die in a changing world: Consequences of climate change for tree species performance and survival through an ecophysiological perspective.

Anthropogenic activities such as uncontrolled deforestation and increasing greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for triggering a series of environmental imbalances that affect the Earth's complex climate dynamics. As a consequence of these changes, several climate models forecast an intensification of extreme weather events over the upcoming decades, including heat waves and increasingly severe drought and flood episodes. The occurrence of such extreme weather will prompt profound changes in several plant communities, resulting in massive forest dieback events that can trigger a massive loss of biodiversity in several biomes worldwide. Despite the gravity of the situation, our knowledge regarding how extreme weather events can undermine the performance, survival, and distribution of forest species remains very fragmented. Therefore, the present review aimed to provide a broad and integrated perspective of the main biochemical, physiological, and morpho-anatomical disorders that may compromise the performance and survival of forest species exposed to climate change factors, particularly drought, flooding, and global warming. In addition, we also discuss the controversial effects of high CO2 concentrations in enhancing plant growth and reducing the deleterious effects of some extreme climatic events. We conclude with a discussion about the possible effects that the factors associated with the climate change might have on species distribution and forest composition.

Exploring the metallochromic behavior of pentacyanidoferrates in visual, electronic and Raman spot tests.

Pentacyanidoferrate(II) complexes of aromatic N-heterocycles, such as 4-cyanopyridine, exhibit characteristic colors and strong metallochromism associated with the donor-acceptor interactions of the metal ions with the cyanide ligands. In the presence of transition metal ions insoluble polymeric complexes are formed, displaying bright yellow, red, brown and green colors with zinc(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and iron(III) ions, respectively. Such metallochromic response is better observed on filter paper, allowing applications in analytical spot tests. The effects can be explored visually and probed by means of modern instrumental facilities, including spectrophotometric and resonance Raman techniques. In this way, by using the cyanopyridinepentacyanidoferrates, the Prussian Blue test for ferric ions can be extended to the entire row of transition metal elements, providing a new and modern insight of such classical Feigl's spot tests.

Non-invasive, Brain-controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation for Locomotion Rehabilitation in Individuals with Paraplegia.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) impairs the flow of sensory and motor signals between the brain and the areas of the body located below the lesion level. Here, we describe a neurorehabilitation setup combining several approaches that were shown to have a positive effect in patients with SCI: gait training by means of non-invasive, surface functional electrical stimulation (sFES) of the lower-limbs, proprioceptive and tactile feedback, balance control through overground walking and cue-based decoding of cortical motor commands using a brain-machine interface (BMI). The central component of this new approach was the development of a novel muscle stimulation paradigm for step generation using 16 sFES channels taking all sub-phases of physiological gait into account. We also developed a new BMI protocol to identify left and right leg motor imagery that was used to trigger an sFES-generated step movement. Our system was tested and validated with two patients with chronic paraplegia. These patients were able to walk safely with 65-70% body weight support, accumulating a total of 4,580 steps with this setup. We observed cardiovascular improvements and less dependency on walking assistance, but also partial neurological recovery in both patients, with substantial rates of motor improvement for one of them.

A Structure Shaped by Fire, but Also Water: Ecological Consequences of the Variability in Bark Properties Across 31 Species From the Brazilian Cerrado.

Bark is a structure involved in multiple physiological functions, but which has been traditionally associated with protection against fire. Thus, little is known about how the morpho-anatomical variations of this structure are related to different ecological pressures, especially in tropical savanna species, which are commonly subjected to frequent fire and drought events. Here we evaluated how the structural and functional variations of bark are related to the processes of resilience and resistance to fire, as well as transport and storage of water in 31 native species from the Brazilian Cerrado. Because of their thick bark, none of the trees analyzed were top-killed after a severe fire event. The structural and functional variations of the bark were also associated with water storage and transport, functions related to properties of the inner bark. In fact, species with a thicker and less dense inner bark were the ones that had the highest water contents in the wood, bark, and leaves. Lower bark density was also related to higher stem hydraulic conductivity, carbon assimilation, and growth. Overall, we provide strong evidence that in addition to protection from fire, the relative investment in bark also reflects different strategies of water use and conservation among many Cerrado tree species.

Training with brain-machine interfaces, visuo-tactile feedback and assisted locomotion improves sensorimotor, visceral, and psychological signs in chronic paraplegic patients.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces severe deficiencies in sensory-motor and autonomic functions and has a significant negative impact on patients' quality of life. There is currently no systematic rehabilitation technique assuring recovery of the neurological impairments caused by a complete SCI. Here, we report significant clinical improvement in a group of seven chronic SCI patients (six AIS A, one AIS B) following a 28-month, multi-step protocol that combined training with non-invasive brain-machine interfaces, visuo-tactile feedback and assisted locomotion. All patients recovered significant levels of nociceptive sensation below their original SCI (up to 16 dermatomes, average 11 dermatomes), voluntary motor functions (lower-limbs muscle contractions plus multi-joint movements) and partial sensory function for several modalities (proprioception, tactile, pressure, vibration). Patients also recovered partial intestinal, urinary and sexual functions. By the end of the protocol, all patients had their AIS classification upgraded (six from AIS A to C, one from B to C). These improvements translated into significant changes in the patients' quality of life as measured by standardized psychological instruments. Reexamination of one patient that discontinued the protocol after 12 months of training showed that the 16-month break resulted in neurological stagnation and no reclassification. We suggest that our neurorehabilitation protocol, based uniquely on non-invasive technology (therefore necessitating no surgical operation), can become a promising therapy for patients diagnosed with severe paraplegia (AIS A, B), even at the chronic phase of their lesion.

Inferring population dynamics of HIV-1 subtype C epidemics in Eastern Africa and Southern Brazil applying different Bayesian phylodynamics approaches.

The subtype C Eastern Africa clade (CEA), a particularly successful HIV-1 subtype C lineage, has seeded several sub-epidemics in Eastern African countries and Southern Brazil during the 1960s and 1970s. Here, we characterized the past population dynamics of the major CEA sub-epidemics in Eastern Africa and Brazil by using Bayesian phylodynamic approaches based on coalescent and birth-death models. All phylodynamic models support similar epidemic dynamics and exponential growth rates until roughly the mid-1980s for all the CEA sub-epidemics. Divergent growth patterns, however, were supported afterwards. The Bayesian skygrid coalescent model (BSKG) and the birth-death skyline model (BDSKY) supported longer exponential growth phases than the Bayesian skyline coalescent model (BSKL). The BDSKY model uncovers patterns of a recent decline for the CEA sub-epidemics in Burundi/Rwanda and Tanzania (Re < 1) and a recent growth for Southern Brazil (Re > 1); whereas coalescent models infer an epidemic stabilization. To the contrary, the BSKG model captured a decline of Ethiopian CEA sub-epidemic between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s that was not uncovered by the BDSKY model. These results underscore that the joint use of different phylodynamic approaches may yield complementary insights into the past HIV population dynamics.

Spatiotemporal and demographic history of the HIV-1 circulating recombinant form CRF31_BC in Brazil.

CRF31_BC is an HIVs-1 recombinant form very prevalent in the southernmost capital city of Brazil, Porto Alegre. Recent studies have been describing a growing number of cases of infection by CRF31_BC in other Brazilian cities and countries, suggesting a process of expansion of this strain. Aiming to describe the city of origin, dispersion routes and demographic history of CRF31_BC, this study analyzed all HIV-1 CRF31_BC and Brazilian BC mosaic publicly available sequences. CRF31_BC classification was performed by bootscanning and tree reconstruction methods. Bayesian phylogeographic and phylodynamic model approaches were used to reconstruct the spatiotemporal and demographic history of 95 sequences identified as CRF31_BC-like. Porto Alegre was estimated to be the origin and center of the dispersion of the CRF31_BC for most of the analyzed locations. However, some viral transitions independent from Porto Alegre were observed in other cities from the Rio Grande do Sul state and also in other Brazilian states. The estimated CRF31_BC epidemic growth rate was similar to subtype C and B in Brazil. Our findings suggest that CRF31_BC, although mostly prevalent in south region, is circulating nation-wide with some localities presenting autochthonous transmissions.