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BACKGROUND: Chronobiology is the scientific field focused on studying periodicity in biological processes. In mammals, most physiological variables exhibit circadian rhythmicity, such as metabolism, body temperature, locomotor activity, and sleep. The biological rhythmicity can be statistically evaluated by examining the time series and extracting parameters that correlate to the period of oscillation, its amplitude, phase displacement, and overall variability. NEW METHOD: We have developed a library called CircadiPy, which encapsulates methods for chronobiological analysis and data inspection, serving as an open-access toolkit for the analysis and interpretation of chronobiological data. The package was designed to be flexible, comprehensive and scalable in order to assist research dealing with processes affected or influenced by rhythmicity. RESULTS: The results demonstrate the toolkit's capability to guide users in analyzing chronobiological data collected from various recording sources, while also providing precise parameters related to the circadian rhythmicity. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: The analysis methodology from this proposed library offers an opportunity to inspect and obtain chronobiological parameters in a straightforward and cost-free manner, in contrast to commercial tools. CONCLUSIONS: Moreover, being an open-source tool, it empowers the community with the opportunity to contribute with new functions, analysis methods, and graphical visualizations given the simplified computational method of time series data analysis using an easy and comprehensive pipeline within a single Python object.

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We tested the hypothesis that milk proteins, through microencapsulation, guarantee protection against bioactive substances in coffee silverskin extracts. Therefore, the aim of this study was to carry out technological, nutritional and physicochemical characterisation of a coffee silverskin extract microencapsulated using instant skim milk powder and whey protein concentrate as wall materials. The aqueous extract of coffee silverskin was spray-dried using 10% (w/v) skim milk powder and whey protein concentrate. The samples were characterised by determining the water content, water activity, particle size distribution, colour analysis and total phenolic compound content as well as antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-radical 1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging methods, nitric oxide radical inhibition and morphological analysis. The product showed water activity within a range that ensured greater stability, and the reduced degradation of the dried coffee silverskin extract with whey protein concentrate resulted in better rehydration ability. The luminosity parameter was higher and the browning index was lower for the encapsulated samples than for the pure coffee silverskin extract. The phenolic compound content (29.23 ± 8.39 and 34.00 ± 8.38 mg gallic acid equivalents/g for the coffee silverskin extract using skimmed milk powder and whey protein concentrate, respectively) and the antioxidant activity of the new product confirmed its potential as a natural source of antioxidant phenolic compounds. We conclude that the dairy matrices associated with spray drying preserved the bioactive and antioxidant activities of coffee silverskin extracts.

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Intestinal schistosomiasis is a chronic and debilitating disease that affects public health systems worldwide. Control interventions to reduce morbidity primarily involve the diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals. However, the recommended Kato-Katz (KK) parasitological method shows low sensitivity in individuals with low parasite loads and is not useful for monitoring elimination of parasite transmission at later stages. In the current study, we evaluated the accuracy of serum reactivity levels of different immunoglobulin isotypes in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), utilizing Schistosoma mansoni crude extracts, with the aim to improve the diagnosis of infected individuals with low parasite loads. The serum reactivity of IgM and IgG subclass antibodies (IgG1, IgG3, and IgG4) against soluble adult worm and egg antigen preparations was evaluated in residents from a schistosomiasis-endemic area in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The parasitological status of the study population was determined through fecal examination with multiple parasitological tests to create a consolidated reference standard (CRS) plus a fecal DNA detection test (q-PCR). Twelve months after praziquantel treatment, a second serum sample was obtained from the population for reexamination. A two-graph receiver operating characteristic curve (TG-ROC) analysis was performed using the serum reactivity of non-infected endemic controls and egg-positive individuals, and the cut-off value was established based on the intersection point of the sensibility and specificity curves in TG-ROC analyses. The diagnostic accuracy of each serological test was evaluated in relation to the parasitological CRS and to the combination of CRS plus qPCR results. The data revealed that serum reactivity of IgM and IgG3 against S. mansoni antigens did not allow identification of infected individuals from the endemic area. In contrast, serum IgG1 and IgG4-reactivity against schistosome antigens could distinguish between infected and non-infected individuals, with AUC values ranging between 0.728-0.925. The reactivity of IgG4 anti-soluble egg antigen - SEA (sensitivity 79 %, specificity 69 %, kappa = 0.49) had the best diagnostic accuracy, showing positive reactivity in more than 75 % of the infected individuals who eliminated less than 12 eggs per gram of feces. Moreover, serum IgG4 reactivity against SEA and against soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP) was significantly reduced in the serum of infected individuals after 12 months of confirmed parasitological cure and in the absence of re-infection. These results reinforce that the described IgG4 anti-SEA ELISA assay is a sensitive alternative for the diagnosis of active intestinal schistosomiasis in individuals from endemic areas, including in those with a very low parasite load.

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Schistosoma mansoni eggs retained in host tissues induce innate cytokine release, contributing to the induction of Type-2 immune responses and granuloma formation, important to restrain cytotoxic antigens, but leading to fibrosis. Interleukin(IL)-33 participates in experimental models of inflammation and chemically induced fibrosis, but its role in S. mansoni-induced fibrosis is still unknown. To explore the role of the IL-33/suppressor of the tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) pathway, serum and liver cytokine levels, liver histopathology, and collagen deposition were comparatively evaluated in S. mansoni-infected wild-type (WT) and IL-33-receptor knockout (ST2-/-) BALB/c mice. Our data show similar egg counts and hydroxyproline in the livers of infected WT and ST2-/- mice; however, the extracellular matrix in ST2-/- granulomas was loose and disorganised. Pro-fibrotic cytokines, such as IL-13 and IL-17, and the tissue-repairing IL-22 were significantly lower in ST2-/- mice, especially in chronic schistosomiasis. ST2-/- mice also showed decreased α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in granuloma cells, in addition to reduced Col III and Col VI mRNA levels and reticular fibres. Therefore, IL-33/ST2 signalling is essential for tissue repairing and myofibroblast activation during S. mansoni infection. Its disruption results in inappropriate granuloma organisation, partly due to the reduced type III and VI collagen and reticular fibre formation.

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Este artigo contribui com o estudo sobre subjetividade dos moradores de ecovilas a partir do conceito de complexo cultural. A pesquisa foca nos complexos que emergiram em relação ao indivíduo, ao coletivo e à natureza, procurando entender como eles se desenvolveram e foram trabalhados. Contamos com a noção de complexos culturais para compreendermos as relações dos indivíduos consigo, com os outros e com o meio ambiente em contextos comunitários. Fizemos observações participantes em três ecovilas. As análises nos mostram que a vida em ecovilas desenvolve complexos coletivos que mediam as relações dos indivíduos com os seus respectivos grupos no que tange aos aspectos da individualidade e da coletividade, bem como aos modos de se relacionar com a natureza. Contudo, em cada comunidade, o contexto físico e a presença ou ausência de trabalhos de autorreflexão desenvolviam os complexos culturais de formas distintas, produzindo relações específicas de cada indivíduo com seu contexto.

This article aims to contribute to the subjectivity study of ecovillage dwellers based on the concept of cultural complex. The investigation focused on the complexes that emerged with regard to the individual, collective, and nature, how they developed and were worked on. We rely on the notion of cultural complexes to understand the relationships of individuals with themselves, with others, and with the environment in the community framework. We observed the participants in two ecovillages in Switzerland and one in Brazil. The analyses evidenced that life in ecovillages develops collective complexes that mediate the relationships of individuals with their relevant groups regarding aspects of individuality and collectivity and ways of relating to nature. However, in each community, the physical context and the presence or absence of self-reflection works developed cultural complexes in different ways, producing specific relationships between each individual and their context.

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O pé diabético é um crescente problema de saúde pública por ser uma complicação incapacitante, mas com caráter prevenível, de 50 a 70% das úlceras de pés são evitáveis, diminuindo o risco de amputações. Para tanto, requer dos profissionais da saúde vigilância constante e ensino das mudanças no comportamento de autocuidado com os pés das pessoas com diabetes mellitus. Nesta direção, há carência de recursos tecnológicos de aplicação móvel para a promoção de hábitos de autoexame e autocuidado com os pés. Desta forma, o objetivo foi o desenvolvimento do protótipo de aplicação móvel "Pés em dia" baseado na metodologia centrada no usuário a fim de apoiar a pessoa com diabetes no autocuidado e autoexame dos pés. Como também, realizar a validação de conteúdo do protótipo por peritos da área de saúde mediado pelo instrumento Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) e a validação de usabilidade por peritos da área de tecnologia e informática e as pessoas e familiares com diabetes mellitus mediado pelo Smartphone Usability QuestionnaiRe (SURE). Na elaboração o protótipo teve sua apresentação estrutural e virtual com 21 telas e seu conteúdo organizado em nove telas primárias no menu, doze telas na área dos usuários com os agendamentos, as checagens de autocuidado e autoexame planejados de modo individual. As telas principais oferecem: "Cuide-se" a apresentação, o funcionamento, utilização e créditos, o "Autoexame" e diferenciam as situações dos pés em "pés sem ferida" e "pés com ferida cicatrizadas". E em outra tela "Passos do Autoexame" com textos informativos, multimídias de apoio, achados no autoexame, vídeos do teste do toque para sensibilidade, imagens dos testes de circulação, recursos domésticos, e o reconhecimento das deformidades comuns no contexto da pessoa com DM. O estudo foi realizado na Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, e no desenvolvimento realizou grupos focais com usuários e equipe desenvolvedora para elencar as necessidades do protótipo. Utilizou-se a engenharia de software com compatibilidade para o sistema Android, a linguagem KOTLIN, a estrutura Activity e Fragments e o recurso Navigation Drawer Layout, disponível em Android Studio vídeos e elementos gráficos no Camtasia Studio e Adobe Fireworks, que foram exportados em MP4, JPG e PNG, e armazenados no banco de dados MySQL. Para a validação de conteúdo, os 22 juízes foram selecionados pela expertise e técnica de snowballing, idade média de 37,8 anos (+-7,8), a maioria era do sexo feminino 15 (68,2%), 19 (86,4%) enfermeiros, 9 (40,9%) possuíam mestrado, e 19 (86,3%) participava de grupos de pesquisas nas temáticas de interesse. As respostas dos juízes no instrumento SAM validaram como adequado o protótipo, com o total de 40,3 pontos, (91,7%), a média de 1,85 nas seis categorias, IVCt 0,98 e Alfa de Cronbach 0,936. A maior pontuação nas respostas e IVC foi nas categorias de conteúdo, estimulação/motivação do aprendizado e ilustrações. Quanto a validação de usabilidade, os 22 juízes foram selecionados pela expertise em tecnologia de informática e validação de instrumentos e a técnica de snowballing, a maioria era do sexo masculino 16 (72,7), 6 (27,3%) graduados em Tecnologia da Informática ou Sistema de Informação, 6 (27,3%) Análise de Sistemas ou Programação de Sistemas, 7 (31,8%) com especialização acadêmica, 19 (86,4%) possuíam experiência com a temática. As respostas dos juízes expertise em informática no instrumento SURE consideraram o protótipo pertinente (nível 70 e 80) pois responderam a pontuação 104,8 na média, 22 itens foram avaliados em 100% de concordância, IVCt 0,98, Alfa de Cronbach 0,867, considerado como adequado. A validação de usabilidade pelo público alvo de pessoas com diabetes e seus familiares foi selecionada pela técnica de snowballing, participaram 37 (100%) pessoas, idade média de 48,1 anos (+-13,3), sendo que dessas 21 (56,8%) eram do sexo masculino, 26 (70,3%) com diabetes, tempo médio de 11,5 anos, e 11 (29,7%) eram familiares, 35 (94,6%) não possuía algum tipo de ferida nos pés naquele momento e 24 (64,9%) responderam que não tinham costume de utilizar este tipo de tecnologia. As respostas variaram de 75% a 94,6% de concordância, Alfa de Cronbach 0,989, considerado como adequado. Desta forma, apresenta-se um protótipo móvel "Pés em dia" para promover o autocuidado e autoexame com os pés e validado com o conteúdo e usabilidade adequadas para a literatura e disponíveis gratuitamente para a sociedade.

The diabetic foot is a growing public health problem due to its crippling complication, but with a preventable feature, 50 to 70% of the foot ulcers are preventable, decreasing the risk of amputations. Therefore, it requires constant supervision from health professionals and teaching about changes in self-care behavior with the feet of people with diabetes mellitus (DM). In this sense, there is a lack of technological resources for mobile applications to foment self-examination and self-care habits with the feet. In this way, the objective was the development of the mobile application prototype "Pés em dia" based on the user-focused methodology in order to support, with self-care and self-examination of the feet, the person with diabetes, as well as performing the content validation of the prototype by health-area experts mediated by the Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) tool and the usability validation by experts in technology and information technology, as well people and family members with diabetes mellitus mediated by Smartphone Usability QuestionnaiRe (SURE). In the elaboration, the prototype had its structural and virtual presentation with 21 content-organized screens in nine primary screens in the menu and twelve screens in the user's area with the schedules and self-care and self-examination checks individually planned. The mains screens offer: "Take care" as the presentation, operation, using and credits, the "Self-examination" and they differentiate the feet condition in "Feet without wounds" and "Feet with healed wounds" and in another screen "Steps of the self-examination" with informative texts and supporting multimedia and discoveries in the self-examination, touch test videos for sensitivity and images of the circulation testes, the household resources, the recognition of common deformities in the context of the person with DM. The study was conducted at the Ribeirao Preto School of Nursing. For its development, focus groups with users and the development team were carried out to list the requirements of the prototype. Software engineering with Android system compatibility was used, the KOTLIN programming language, the Activity and Fragments structure and the Navigation Drawer Layout resource, available in Android Studio, graphic and video elements in Camtasia Studio and Adobe Fireworks, in which the files were exported in MP4, JPG and PNG, and they were stored in the MySQL database. For the content validation, 22 judges were selected for their expertise and snowballing technique, average age of 37.8 years (+/- 7.8), the most were female (15 women - 68,2%), 19 nurses (86.4%), 9 had a master's degree (40,9%) and 19 (86.3%) participated in research groups on topics of interest. The answers of the judges in the SAM tool validated the prototype as adequate, with a total of 40.3 points (91.7%), an average of 1.85 in the six categories, IVCt 0.98 and Cronbach's alpha 0.936. The highest score in the responses and IVC was in the categories of content, stimulation/motivation of learning and illustrations. Regarding the usability validation, the 22 judges were selected for their expertise in computer technology and tool validation and the snowballing technique, the most of them was male (16 - 72.7%), 6 were graduated in Computer Technology or Information Systems (27,3%), 7 with academic specializations (27.3%), 19 had experience in the subject (86.4%). The answers of the computer-expert judges in the SURE tool considered the prototype relevant levels 70 and 80) as they answered to an average score of 104.8, 22 items were evaluated at 100% agreement, IVCt 0.98, Cronbach's alpha 0.867, which is considered as suitable. The usability validation by the target audience made up of people with diabetes and their families was selected by the snowballing technique, 37 people participated in (100%), average age of 48.1 (+/- 13.3), in which 21 were male (56.8%), 26 had diabetes (70.3%), average time of 11.5 years, 11 were family members (29.7%), 35 did not have any type of feet wound at the moment (94.6%)and 24 answered that they were not acquainted to this technology (64.9%). The answers ranged from 75 to 94.6% agreement, Cronbach's alpha 0.989, which was considered adequate. So, "Pés em dia" mobile prototype is presented to promote self-care and self-examination of the feet and it was validated as adequate content and usability for the literature available at no charge to society.

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Therapeutic strategies capable of inducing and enhancing prosthesis embodiment are a key point for better adaptation to and acceptance of prosthetic limbs. In this study, we developed a training protocol using an EMG-based human-machine interface (HMI) that was applied in the preprosthetic rehabilitation phase of people with amputation. This is a case series with the objective of evaluating the induction and enhancement of the embodiment of a virtual prosthesis. Six men and a woman with unilateral transfemoral traumatic amputation without previous use of prostheses participated in the study. Participants performed a training protocol with the EMG-based HMI, composed of six sessions held twice a week, each lasting 30 mins. This system consisted of myoelectric control of the movements of a virtual prosthesis immersed in a 3D virtual environment. Additionally, vibrotactile stimuli were provided on the participant's back corresponding to the movements performed. Embodiment was investigated from the following set of measurements: skin conductance response (affective measurement), crossmodal congruency effect (spatial perception measurement), ability to control the virtual prosthesis (motor measurement), and reports before and after the training. The increase in the skin conductance response in conditions where the virtual prosthesis was threatened, recalibration of the peripersonal space perception identified by the crossmodal congruency effect, ability to control the virtual prosthesis, and participant reports consistently showed the induction and enhancement of virtual prosthesis embodiment. Therefore, this protocol using EMG-based HMI was shown to be a viable option to achieve and enhance the embodiment of a virtual prosthetic limb.

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Genetic profiles of Salmonella Minnesota isolates were analyzed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). In total, 13 isolates obtained from the broiler industry collected in the states of Minas Gerais (11) and São Paulo (2), as well as five recovered from cases of foodborne infections in humans in the states of Minas Gerais (2), Santa Catarina (1), and Rio Grande do Sul (2), were submitted to PFGE. These 18 S. Minnesota isolates together with other 12 of poultry origin were also subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The PFGE analysis of 18 strains of S. Minnesota generated a dendrogram that grouped the isolates with 83-90% similarity into four main clusters. Among them, cluster "A" grouped the majority of isolates (13), including two of human origin that showed 90% similarity with a broiler isolate, both recovered in Minas Gerais. The S. Minnesota isolates showed resistance to tetracycline (80%), cefoxitin (80%), ceftazidime (46.7%), nalidixic acid (23.3%), ciprofloxacin (13.3%), and streptomycin (10%). No resistance to gentamicin, chloramphenicol, meropenem, nitrofurantoin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was found. Moreover, 23.3% of the evaluated isolates presented multi-resistance profile, all from Minas Gerais. The results highlight the importance of further studies involving S. Minnesota, which is prevalent in the Brazilian broiler flocks and could provoke foodborne infection in humans.

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The severity of chronic schistosomiasis has been mainly associated with the intensity and extension of the inflammatory response induced by egg-secreted antigens in the host tissue, especially in the liver and intestine. During acute schistosomiasis, eosinophils account for approximately 50% of the cells that compose the liver granulomas; however, the role of this cell-type in the pathology of schistosomiasis remains controversial. In the current study, we compared the parasite burden and liver immunopathological changes during experimental schistosomiasis in wild-type (WT) BALB/c mice and BALB/c mice selectively deficient for the differentiation of eosinophils (ΔdblGATA). Our data demonstrated that the absence of eosinophil differentiation did not alter the S. mansoni load or the liver retention of parasite eggs; however, there were significant changes in the liver immune response profile and tissue damage. S. mansoni infection in ΔdblGATA mice resulted in significantly lower liver concentrations of IL-5, IL-13, IL-33, IL-17, IL-10, and TGF-ß and higher concentrations of IFN-γ and TNF-α, as compared to WT mice. The changes in liver immune response observed in infected ΔdblGATA mice were accompanied by lower collagen deposition, but higher liver damage and larger granulomas. Moreover, the absence of eosinophils resulted in a higher mortality rate in mice infected with a high parasite load. Therefore, the data indicated that eosinophils participate in the establishment and/or amplification of liver Th-2 and regulatory response induced by S. mansoni, which is necessary for the balance between liver damage and fibrosis, which in turn is essential for modulating disease severity.

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