Interstitial Lung Disease Mortality Disparities Along the United States - Mexico Border, 1999-2020.

BACKGROUND: Optimal diagnosis and management of interstitial lung diseases (ILD) needs access to specialized centers, frequent monitoring, and complex therapeutic options. In underprivileged areas, these necessities can often lead to barriers in delivering care. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the ILD mortality disparities in the regions along the United States-Mexico (US-MX) border? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We obtained ILD mortality information through death certificate queries from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention repository. Death data were adjusted for age and stratified by US-MX border regions and non-border regions in the US. Log-linear regression models were utilized to analyze mortality trends in the period from 1999 to 2020 followed by calculation of annual percentage changes (APC). Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were compared across cumulative and sub-demographic populations. RESULTS: ILD-related mortality among border regions (AAMR 5.31) was higher compared to non-border regions (AAMR 4.86). Mortality within border regions remained unchanged from 1999 to 2020 (APC +0.3, p=0.269). Non-border regions experienced a significant rise in mortality rates (APC +2.6, p=0.017) from 1999 to 2005 and remained unchanged from 2005 to 2020. Mortality was higher within both men (AAMR 6.57) and women (AAMR 4.36) populations among border regions compared to their non-border counterparts (AAMR 6.27 and 3.87, respectively). Hispanic populations among the border regions experienced higher mortality rates (AAMR 6.15) compared to Hispanic populations within non-border regions (AAMR 5.44). Non-Hispanic populations encountered similar mortality rates between the two regions. Mortality rates among Hispanic (APC +0.0, p=0.938) and non-Hispanic (APC +0.2, p=0.531) populations in the border regions remained unchanged from 1999 to 2020. INTERPRETATION: These results revealed ILD-related mortality disparities among the US-MX border regions, emphasizing the importance of public health measures to increase access to equitable medical care and implement targeted interventions among these vulnerable populations.

Ethical regulation of biomedical research in Brazil: a quality improvement initiative.

BACKGROUND: Q-CEP (Qualificação dos Comitês de Ética em Pesquisa que compõem o Sistema CEP/Conep) is a nationwide project resulting from a partnership between the Brazilian National Research Ethics Commission (Conep), the Ministry of Health and Hospital Moinhos de Vento (HMV). It was developed to consolidate policy for ethical review of research with human beings in all members of the CEP/Conep System, Brazil's national system of institutional review boards. The aim of this study was therefore to report on the experience and results of the Q-CEP project. METHODS: An observational, retrospective study includes data from the Q-CEP, obtained from visits to all the institutional research ethics committees (RECs) in the country. The actions implemented by Q-CEP were part of a two-step process: (i) training visits to each REC; (ii) development of distance learning modules on strategic topics pertaining to research ethics evaluation. The data presented herein cover step one (training visits), defined by Q-CEP as the diagnostic stage of the project. For a country with social and economics inequalities such as Brazil, this is a particularly important stage; an accurate picture of reality is needed to inform planning of quality improvement strategies. RESULTS: In 2019-2021, Q-CEP visited 832 RECs and trained 11,197 people. This sample covered almost all active RECs in the country; only 4 (0.5%) were not evaluated. Of the 94 items evaluated, 62% did not reach the target of at least 80% compliance and around 1/4 (26%) were below 50% compliance. The diagnostic stage of the process revealed inadequacies on the part of the RECs in their ethical reviews. The analysis of informed consent forms showed compliance in only 131 RECs (15.74%). The description of pending issues made by RECs in their reports was compliant in 19.33% (n = 161). Administrative and operational aspects were also considered inadequate by more than half of the RECs. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, Brazilian RECs showed poor compliance in several aspects of their operation, both in ethics evaluation and in other processes, which justifies additional training. The Q-CEP project is part of a quality improvement policy promoted by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The data obtained in the diagnostic step of the project have contributed to the qualification and consolidation of one of the world's largest research ethics evaluation systems.

United States-Mexico Border Disparities in Alcoholic Liver Disease Mortality: A Cross-Sectional Analysis 1999-2020.

BACKGROUND: US-Mexico (US-MX) border regions are impacted by socioeconomic disadvantages. Alcohol use disorder remains widely prevalent in US-MX border regions, which may increase the risk of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). GOALS: We aimed to characterize ALD mortality trends in border regions compared to non-border regions from 1999 to 2020 in the United States (US). METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis using the CDC repository. We queried death certificates to find ALD-related deaths from 1999 to 2020, which included demographic information such as gender, race/ethnicity, and area of residence. We estimated age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 population and compared the AAMRs across border and non-border regions. We also explored yearly mortality shifts using log-linear regression models and calculated the average annual percentage change (AAPC) using the Monte Carlo permutation test. RESULTS: In all, 11,779 ALD-related deaths were identified in border regions (AAMR 7.29) compared with 361,523 in non-border regions (AAMR 5.03). Border male (AAMR 11.21) and female (AAMR 3.77) populations were higher compared with non-border male (AAMR 7.42) and female (2.85) populations, respectively. Border non-Hispanic populations (AAMR 7.53) had higher mortality compared with non-border non-Hispanic populations (4.79), while both populations experienced increasing mortality shifts (AAPC +1.7, P<0.001 and +3.1, P<0.001, respectively). Border metropolitan (AAMR 7.35) and non-metropolitan (AAMR 6.76) regions had higher mortality rates compared with non-border metropolitan (AAMR 4.96) and non-metropolitan (AAMR 5.44) regions. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality related to ALD was higher in border regions compared with non-border regions. Border regions face significant health disparities when comparing ALD-related mortality.

Impact of social vulnerability on comorbid COVID-19 and acute myocardial infarction mortality in the United States.

The trajectory of several cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), has been adversely impacted by COVID-19, resulting in a worse prognosis. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) has been found to affect certain CVD outcomes. In this cross-sectional analysis, we investigated the association between the SVI and comorbid COVID-19 and AMI mortality using the CDC databases. The SVI percentile rankings were divided into four quartiles, and age-adjusted mortality rates were compared between the lowest and highest SVI quartiles. Univariable Poisson regression was utilized to calculate risk ratios. A total of 5779 excess deaths and 1.17 excess deaths per 100,000 person-years (risk ratio 1.62) related to comorbid COVID-19 and AMI were attributable to higher social vulnerability. This pattern was consistent across the majority of US subpopulations. Our findings offer crucial epidemiological insights into the influence of the SVI and underscore the necessity for targeted therapeutic interventions.

Ischemic heart disease mortality in individuals with inflammatory bowel disease: A nationwide analysis of disparities in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is linked to immune-mediated pathogenesis and a pro-inflammatory state, leading to accelerated atherosclerosis. This earlier onset of clinical cardiovascular disease poses significant morbidity and mortality. We sought to identify IHD mortality trends in individuals with IBD in the United States (US). METHODS: Mortality due to ischemic heart diseases (IHD) as the underlying cause of death with the IBD as a contributor of death were queried from death certificates using the CDC database from 1999 to 2020. Yearly crude mortality rates (CMR) were estimated by dividing the death count by the respective population size, reported per 100,000 persons. Mortality rates were adjusted for age using the Direct method and compared by demographic subpopulations. Log-linear regression models were utilized to assess temporal variation (annual percentage change [APC]) in mortality. RESULTS: Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) decreased from 0.11 in 1999 to 0.07 in 2020, primarily between 1999 and 2018 (APC -4.41, p < 0.001). AAMR was higher among male (AAMR 0.08) and White (AAMR 0.08) populations compared to female populations (AAMR 0.06) and Black (AAMR 0.04) populations, respectively. No significant differences were seen when comparing mortality between urban (AAMR 0.07) and rural (AAMR 0.08) regions. Southern US regions (AAMR 0.06) had the lowest mortality rates when compared to the other US census regions: Northeastern (AAMR 0.08), Midwestern (AAMR 0.08), and Western (AAMR 0.08). CONCLUSION: Disparities in IHD mortality exist among individuals with IBD in the US based on demographic factors, with an overall decline in mortality during the 22-year period. Further investigation is warranted to confirm these findings and evaluate for contributors to the observed disparities.

County-level variation in healthcare coverage and ischemic heart disease mortality.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare coverage has been shown to have implications in the prevalence of coronary artery disease. We explore the impact of lack of healthcare coverage on ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality in the US. METHODS: We obtained county-level IHD mortality and healthcare coverage data from the CDC databases for a total of 3,119 US counties. The age-adjusted prevalence of current lack of health insurance among individuals aged 18 to 64 years were obtained for the years 2018 and 2019 and were placed into four quartiles. First (Q1) and fourth quartile (Q4) had the least and highest age-adjusted prevalence of adults without health insurance, respectively. IHD mortality rates, adjusted for age through the direct method, were obtained for the same years and compared among quartiles. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression for each demographic variable was conducted with the quartiles as an ordinal predictor variable and the age-adjusted mortality rate as the outcome variable. RESULTS: We identified a total of 172,942 deaths related to ischemic heart disease between 2018 and 2019. Overall AAMR was higher in Q4 (92.79 [95% CI, 92.35-93.23]) compared to Q1 (83.14 [95% CI, 82.74-83.54]), accounting for 9.65 excess deaths per 100,000 person-years (slope = 3.47, p = 0.09). Mortality rates in Q4 for males (126.20 [95% CI, 125.42-126.98] and females (65.57 [95% CI, 65.08-66.05]) were higher compared to Q1 (115.72 [95% CI, 114.99-116.44] and 57.48 [95% CI, 57.04-57.91], respectively), accounting for 10.48 and 8.09 excess deaths per 100,000 person-years for males and females, respectively. Similar trends were seen among Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations. Northeastern, Southern, and Western regions had higher AAMR within Q4 compared to Q1, with higher prevalence of current lack of health insurance accounting for 49.2, 8.15, and 29.04 excess deaths per 100,000 person-years, respectively. CONCLUSION: A higher prevalence of adults without healthcare coverage may be associated with increased IHD mortality rates. Our results serve as a hypothesis-generating platform for future research in this area.

Genetic Structure and Diversity in Wild and Cultivated Populations of the Mangrove Oyster Crassostrea gasar from Southern Brazil.

The mangrove oyster (Crassostrea gasar) is Brazil's second most cultured species and presents a high potential for aquaculture. However, artificial selection in a highly fecund species and significant variance in reproductive success can result in the loss of genetic diversity and increases the inbreeding rate, especially in cultivated populations. In this study, we investigated the genetic structure and diversity of C. gasar in wild and cultivated populations using 14 microsatellites. Spatial genetic comparisons revealed the existence of two main genetic groups of C. gasar, one comprising the population in cultivation and the other formed by wild populations along the southern and southeastern Brazilian coasts. Although no common genetic structure exists among wild populations, it is possible to observe a distribution gradient based on discriminant analysis of principal components consistent with their geographic distribution. However, it is insufficient to differentiate them genetically. Despite artificial reproduction, the genetic diversity values of the cultivated population remained relatively high and did not show a reduction. Therefore, monitoring the cultivated population and establishing reference values for genetic diversity will allow the adoption of strategies both for the viability of the cultivated population and the management of wild populations.

Use of Inverse Method to Determine Thermophysical Properties of Minimally Processed Carrots during Chilling under Natural Convection.

The aim of this study was to determine the thermophysical properties and process parameters of cylindrical carrot pieces during their chilling. For this, the temperature of the central point of the product, initially at 19.9 °C, was recorded during chilling under natural convection, with the refrigerator air temperature maintained at 3.5 °C. A solver was created for the two-dimensional analytical solution of the heat conduction equation in cylindrical coordinates. This solver and the experimental data set were coupled to the LS Optimizer (V. 7.2) optimization software to simultaneously determine not only the values of thermal diffusivity (α) and heat transfer coefficient (hH), but also the uncertainties of these values. These values were consistent with those reported in the literature for carrots; in this study, the precision of these values and the confidence level of the results (95.4%) were also presented. Furthermore, the Biot numbers were greater than 0.1 and less than 40, indicating that the mathematical model presented in this study can be used to simultaneously estimate α and hH. A simulation of the chilling kinetics using the values obtained for α and hH showed good agreement with the experimental results, with a root mean square error RMSE = 9.651 × 10-3 and a chi-square χ2 = 4.378 × 10-3.

Optimization of Extraction Method of Anthocyanins from Red Cabbage.

Among the vegetables that stand out for their high concentration of anthocyanins, red cabbage appears as one of the most-used sources of these pigments in food production and it is considered a suitable raw material for the extraction of natural dye. Therefore, the objective was to carry out the production of natural extracts from red cabbage, under different conditions, varying the solvent, type of pre-treatment, pH range, and processing temperature during the concentration of the extracts. The anthocyanins were extracted from red cabbage using the following solvents: distilled water, 25% ethyl alcohol, and 70% ethyl alcohol. The raw material was divided into two groups, the first was subjected to a drying pre-treatment at 70 °C for 1 h and for the second group, the extraction was performed with the raw material in natura. Two pH ranges of 4.0 and 6.0 and extraction temperatures of 25 °C and 75 °C were used in the extracts, resulting in 24 formulations. The extracts obtained were analyzed for colorimetric parameters and anthocyanins. The results of anthocyanins show that the methodology that uses 25% alcohol, pH 4.0, and processing temperature of 25 °C produces a reddish extract and better results in the extraction, presenting average values of 191.37 mg/100 g of anthocyanins, being 74% higher compared to the highest values obtained in the other extracts where the same raw material was used and the solvents differed.

Influence of Dehydration Temperature on Obtaining Chia and Okra Powder Mucilage.

Gum and mucilage from seeds and fruits are objects of study because they have characteristics of high viscosity at low concentrations and gelling properties, which are useful characteristics for modifying the texture and stabilizing products in the food industry. Chia and okra have high concentrations of polysaccharide gums in their composition, which makes them an interesting target for use in the composition of foods that require the use of texture enhancers and stabilizers. The present study investigated the influence of dehydration temperature on the characteristics of chia and okra powder mucilage obtained at different temperatures. The mucilages were extracted using an aqueous process and dehydrated in an air circulation oven at 50, 60, and 70 °C until hydroscopic equilibrium. Then, the powdered chia mucilage (CM) and okra mucilage (OM) were analyzed for chemical and physicochemical characteristics, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and physical properties. It was found that powdered mucilage had low water content and water activity, with CM standing out in terms of ash, pectin, and starch content and OM, along with higher averages of proteins, sugars, total phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. As for the physical parameters, CM stood out in relation to greater solubility and lower hygroscopicity, whereas OM presented higher wettability rates. Both powdered mucilages were classified as having good fluidity and cohesiveness from low to intermediate. In relation to the dehydration temperature, the best mucilage properties were verified at 70 °C. The study revealed that mucilages have good functional properties offering great potential as raw material for industry.

The Temperature Influence on Drying Kinetics and Physico-Chemical Properties of Pomegranate Peels and Seeds.

Pomegranate is a fruit desirable for its nutritional and medicinal properties which has a great industrial potential that is yet under-explored. Notable for its integral use, the peels are used in medicinal infusions and the seeds consumed without restrictions. In this sense, the objective of this work is to determine the drying kinetics of pomegranate peels and seeds in a hot air circulation oven, at temperatures of 50, 60, and 70 °C, adjust mathematical models to experimental data, determine the effective diffusivities and thermodynamic properties of the process and the physicochemical characteristics of peels and seeds of fresh pomegranates and in their flours. Twelve models were used to adjust the drying kinetics, obtaining better results with the Diffusion Approximation model, Verma, and modified Henderson and Pabis. The effective diffusivities were well represented by an Arrhenius equation, with activation energies of 31.39 kJ/mol for seeds and 10.60 kJ/mol for peels. In the drying process, the seeds showed higher values of enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy concerning peels. Pomegranate peel and seed flours have proximal composition and distinct physicochemical characteristics, with high fiber, carbohydrate, and energy content. In addition, peel flours stand out for their mineral content, and seed flours do for their lipid and protein content.

"Reservatórios de doenças venéreas", "MSM/HSH" e "PWA": continuidades, rupturas e temporalidades na produção de bioidentidades no contexto da epidemia de AIDS / "Reservoirs of venereal diseases," "MSM" and "PWA": continuities, ruptures and temporalities in the production of bioidentities in the context of the AIDS epidemic

Resumo Este artigo examina as continuidades, rupturas e temporalidades na produção de bioidentidades no contexto da epidemia de HIV-Aids. Problematiza, a partir de um estudo multissituado na confluência de áreas e subáreas biomédicas que despontavam em popularidade nas décadas de 1980 e 1990, as agendas comuns de pesquisa sob a moldagem dos termos e categorizações popularizadas durante o pânico sexual provocado pelo aumento das taxas de contágio e morte. O desenho metodológico é caracterizado como de métodos mistos e envolveu, prioritariamente, pesquisa documental e revisão temática sobre a produção acadêmica nas áreas e disciplinas inseridas no eixo das biociências, com a finalidade de buscar e selecionar os estudos primários sobre homossexualidade e HIV/Aids, por meio da produção global. As conclusões atestam que a administração da Aids em sua condição crônica tratável produziu afinidades eletivas e de correspondência entre categorias epidemiológicas e sociais (MSM/HSH, PWA, GMLA) com noções de gênero e sexualidade definidas.

Abstract This article examines the continuities, ruptures and temporalities in the production of bioidentities in the context of the HIV-AIDS epidemic. Based on a multi-site study at the confluence of biomedical areas and sub-areas that rose in popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, it questions the common research agendas under the influence of terms and categorizations popularized during the sexual panic of AIDS caused by the increase in contagion rates and death. The methodological design is characterized as mixed methods and primarily involved documental research and thematic review on academic production in the areas and disciplines included under the aegis of the biosciences, in order to search for and select primary studies on homosexuality and HIV/AIDS, through global production. The conclusions attest that the management of AIDS in its treatable chronic condition produced elective and correspondence affinities between epidemiological and social categories (MSM/PWA, GMLA) with defined notions of gender and sexuality.

["Reservoirs of venereal diseases," "MSM" and "PWA": continuities, ruptures and temporalities in the production of bioidentities in the context of the AIDS epidemic]. / "Reservatórios de doenças venéreas", "MSM/HSH" e "PWA": continuidades, rupturas e temporalidades na produção de bioidentidades no contexto da epidemia de AIDS.

This article examines the continuities, ruptures and temporalities in the production of bioidentities in the context of the HIV-AIDS epidemic. Based on a multi-site study at the confluence of biomedical areas and sub-areas that rose in popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, it questions the common research agendas under the influence of terms and categorizations popularized during the sexual panic of AIDS caused by the increase in contagion rates and death. The methodological design is characterized as mixed methods and primarily involved documental research and thematic review on academic production in the areas and disciplines included under the aegis of the biosciences, in order to search for and select primary studies on homosexuality and HIV/AIDS, through global production. The conclusions attest that the management of AIDS in its treatable chronic condition produced elective and correspondence affinities between epidemiological and social categories (MSM/PWA, GMLA) with defined notions of gender and sexuality.

Este artigo examina as continuidades, rupturas e temporalidades na produção de bioidentidades no contexto da epidemia de HIV-Aids. Problematiza, a partir de um estudo multissituado na confluência de áreas e subáreas biomédicas que despontavam em popularidade nas décadas de 1980 e 1990, as agendas comuns de pesquisa sob a moldagem dos termos e categorizações popularizadas durante o pânico sexual provocado pelo aumento das taxas de contágio e morte. O desenho metodológico é caracterizado como de métodos mistos e envolveu, prioritariamente, pesquisa documental e revisão temática sobre a produção acadêmica nas áreas e disciplinas inseridas no eixo das biociências, com a finalidade de buscar e selecionar os estudos primários sobre homossexualidade e HIV/Aids, por meio da produção global. As conclusões atestam que a administração da Aids em sua condição crônica tratável produziu afinidades eletivas e de correspondência entre categorias epidemiológicas e sociais (MSM/HSH, PWA, GMLA) com noções de gênero e sexualidade definidas.

Mathematical Models to Describe the Foam Mat Drying Process of Cumbeba Pulp (Tacinga inamoena) and Product Quality.

The present study investigated the mathematical modeling foam-mat drying kinetics of cumbeba pulp and the effect of drying conditions on the color and contents of ascorbic acid, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds of the powder pulps obtained. Foam-mat drying was carried out in a forced air circulation oven at temperatures of 50, 60, and 70 °C, testing foam-mat thicknesses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm. The increase in the water removal rate is a result of the increase in air temperature and the decrease in the thickness of the foam layer. Among the empirical and semi-empirical mathematical models, the Midilli model was the one that best represented the drying curves in all conditions evaluated. Effective water diffusivity ranged from 1.037 × 10-9 to 6.103 × 10-9 m2 s-1, with activation energy of 25.212, 33.397, and 36.609 kJ mol-1 for foam thicknesses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 cm, respectively. Cumbeba powders showed light orangish colors and, as the drying temperature increased from 50 to 70 °C, for all thicknesses, the lightness value (L*) decreased and the values of redness (+a*) and yellowness (+b*) increased. Foam-mat drying at higher temperatures (60 and 70 °C) improved the retention of ascorbic acid and flavonoids, but reduced the content of phenolic compounds, while the increase in thickness, especially for flavonoids and phenolic compounds, caused reduction in their contents. The foam-mat drying method allowed obtaining a good-quality cumbeba pulp powder.

Suboccipital extracranial and intracranial abscess of a neonate: an exceedingly rare occurrence.

Intracranial abscess is a life-threatening disease that is uncommon in paediatric populations. Although there have been few reports in the literature, some aetiologies, such as mastoiditis and sinusitis, have been proposed. The pathophysiology is not completely known, and there are no data regarding the long-term follow-up of these patients. Herein, we present a case of a newborn affected with a mass in the suboccipital region due to an extracranial and intracranial abscess that had no clear association with infections except for a transient fever episode 1 month earlier. Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from an open-surgery sample identified the cause of the mass. The patient achieved excellent recovery with no recurrence even after 8 years of follow-up. To our knowledge, this rare pattern of infection highlights the importance of early diagnosis in combination with a surgical approach as an effective diagnosis and treatment approach that provided a good outcome.

"É difícil temer aquilo que não podemos ver": o trabalho representacional da Covid-19 e a pedagogia do medo entre vírus e animações / "It's hard to fear something we can't see": the representational work of Covid-19 and the pedagogy of fear between viruses and animacies

Resumo A mais recente pandemia, caracterizada como SARS-CoV-2, se insere em uma linhagem conhecida de patógenos virais que podem desencadear infecções respiratórias severas. Em que pese a importância de se avançar no conhecimento biomédico como forma de garantir o tratamento e a eficácia na suposta erradicação da doença, não é menos urgente refletir acerca das circunstâncias sociais que modelam essa nova situação epidemiológica. Este ensaio analisa como as representações sobre e contágio e morte imbricadas na díade saúde-doença, como fenômenos tradicionais, se revestiram de proposições morais, particularmente entre os meses de janeiro e março de 2020, quando as definições de surto, epidemia e pandemia se tornaram inextricavelmente misturadas. Naquele contexto, e a partir da criação de um tipo de dispositivo de saúde animado por imperativos afeitos à forma mais mortal da doença, a Covid-19 ganhou materialidade. Constituído na confluência de concepções étnico-racializantes, este dispositivo pedagogizou as primeiras imagens da doença, sedimentadas em uma gramática altamente visual e linguística afeitas a um medo coletivo. Examinamos que o trabalho de recepção, nomeação e enquadramento da Covid-19 dependeu de regimes de visibilidade condicionados por processos tradicionais, relativos à materialização e animação do vírus enquanto uma ameaça não só epidemiológica e social, mas política e moral.

Abstract The most recent pandemic, characterized as SARS-CoV-2, is part of a known lineage of viral pathogens that can trigger severe respiratory infections. Despite the importance of advancing biomedical knowledge as a way to guarantee treatment and effectiveness in the supposed eradication of the disease, it is no less urgent to reflect on the social circumstances that shape this new epidemiological situation. This essay analyzes how the representations of contagion and death imbricated in the health-disease dyad, as traditional phenomena, took on moral propositions, particularly between the months of January and March 2020, when the definitions of outbreak, epidemic and pandemic became inextricably mixed. In that context, and from the creation of a type of health apparatus animated by imperatives related to the deadliest form of the disease, Covid-19 gained materiality. Constituted at the confluence of ethnic-racializing conceptions, this apparatus formed the first visual and linguistic images of the disease. Finally, this article examines that the work of reception, appointment and framing of Covid-19 depended on visibility regimes conditioned by traditional processes, related to the materialization and animation of the virus as a threat not only epidemiological and social, but political and moral.

Utilization of Cumbeba (Tacinga inamoena) Residue: Drying Kinetics and Effect of Process Conditions on Antioxidant Bioactive Compounds.

The residue generated from the processing of Tacinga inamoena (cumbeba) fruit pulp represents a large amount of material that is discarded without proper application. Despite that, it is a raw material that is source of ascorbic acid, carotenoids and phenolic compounds, which are valued in nutraceutical diets for allegedly combating free radicals generated in metabolism. This research paper presents a study focused on the mathematical modeling of drying kinetics and the effect of the process on the level of bioactive of cumbeba residue. The experiments of cumbeba residue drying (untreated or whole residue (WR), crushed residue (CR) and residue in the form of foam (FR)) were carried out in a fixed-bed dryer at four air temperatures (50, 60, 70 and 80 °C). Effective water diffusivity (Deff) was determined by the inverse method and its dependence on temperature was described by an Arrhenius-type equation. It was observed that, regardless of the type of pretreatment, the increase in air temperature resulted in higher rate of water removal. The Midilli model showed better simulation of cumbeba residue drying kinetics than the other models tested within the experimental temperature range studied. Effective water diffusivity (Deff) ranged from 6.4890 to 11.1900 × 10-6 m2/s, 2.9285 to 12.754 × 10-9 m2/s and 1.5393 × 10-8 to 12.4270 × 10-6 m2/s with activation energy of 22.3078, 46.7115 and 58.0736 kJ/mol within the temperature range of 50-80 °C obtained for the whole cumbeba, crushed cumbeba and cumbeba residue in the form of foam, respectively. In relation to bioactive compounds, it was observed that for a fixed temperature the whole residue had higher retention of bioactive compounds, especially phenolic compounds, whereas the crushed residue and the residue in the form of foam had intermediate and lower levels, respectively. This study provides evidence that cumbeba residue in its whole form can be used for the recovery of natural antioxidant bioactive compounds, mainly phenolic compounds, with the possibility of application in the food and pharmaceutical industries.