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Urban growth and human impacts on the environment have forced animals to adjust to habitat fragmentation and reduced home ranges. Capuchin monkeys are known for their great social and behavioral flexibility, occupying even highly urbanized environments in a way that the time budget of this primate in synanthropic situation may be affected by the area they inhabit. This study aims to analyze the activity budget of a group of Sapajus nigritus living in an anthropized area, 1) comparing the behavioral frequencies in urbanized areas and forest fragments; 2) comparing behavioral frequencies in different sex-age classes. During the study, the number of individuals ranged from 35 to 40 individuals identified based on sex-age classes. Behavioral data were collected using the instantaneous scan sampling method, for two minutes with eight-minute intervals. We obtained 319 scans over 28 days, distributed between November 2021 and June 2022, with eight hours per day. We compared the behaviors different areas and between sex-age classes using the Kruskal-Wallis's test. Overall, the group performed a higher frequency of traveling (21.22%), followed by foraging (18.07%), feeding (16.57%) and vigilance (15.61%). The frequency of behaviors varied between areas, with vigilance, social, resting, interaction with humans and self-activity more frequent in urbanized areas compared to forest fragments. We also found variation between the sex-age classes, primarily with juveniles foraging more and adults performing more vigilance. The differences in the behaviors performed by the group express the behavioral flexibility of S. nigritus, adapting its activity pattern according to the area occupied.

O crescimento urbano e os impactos humanos no ambiente forçaram os animais a se adaptarem à fragmentação de hábitat e à redução da área de vida. Os macacos-prego são conhecidos por sua flexibilidade social e comportamental, ocupando até mesmo ambientes altamente urbanizados, sendo que seu padrão de atividades pode ser afetado pela área que habitam. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o padrão de atividades de um grupo de Sapajus nigritus vivendo em área antropizada, com base em: 1) comparação das frequências comportamentais em áreas urbanizadas e fragmentos florestais; e 2) comparação das frequências comportamentais em diferentes classes sexo-etárias. Durante o estudo, o número de indivíduos variou entre 35 e 40 indivíduos, identificados a partir de classes sexo-etárias. Os dados comportamentais foram coletados pelo método scan sampling, durante dois minutos com intervalo de oito minutos. Foram obtidos 319 scans ao longo de 28 dias (entre novembro de 2021 e junho de 2022), por oito horas diárias. Comparamos os comportamentos em diferentes áreas e entre classes sexo-etárias através do teste de Kruskal-Wallis. Em geral, o grupo apresentou frequência maior de deslocamento (21,22%), seguido de forrageio (18,07%), alimentação (16,57%) e vigilância (15,61%). A frequência dos comportamentos variou entre áreas (vigilância, social, descanso, interação com humanos e autoatividade foram mais frequentes em áreas urbanizadas) e classes sexo--etárias (principalmente com os juvenis forrageando mais e os adultos realizando mais vigilância). As diferenças nos comportamentos realizados pelo grupo expressam a flexibilidade comportamental de S. nigritus, adaptando seu padrão de atividade conforme a área ocupada.

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BACKGROUND: Executive function is often altered in overweight/obese children and adolescents, which has a negative impact on their learning and daily life. Furthermore, research has shown the benefits of physical exercise in improving cognitive performance. This protocol aims to define in a detailed and structured manner the procedures that will be conducted for the development of a systematic review of the literature aimed at evaluating the effects of physical exercise on the executive functions of children and adolescents (≤18 years) with overweight/obesity in comparison with peers in control groups. METHODS: The Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO databases will be searched for longitudinal studies that have at least one experimental and one control group using pre- and post-intervention measures of executive function, including working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility in the pediatric population who are overweight or obese. The risk of bias and certainty of evidence will be assessed using Cochrane RoB2 and GRADE, respectively. Furthermore, Der Simonian-Laird's random effects model will be employed for meta-analyses. The effect sizes will be calculated with 95% confidence intervals, and p values < 0.05 indicate statistical significance for each dimension of executive function in the different groups before and after the intervention. DISCUSSION: The results of this review may be useful for education and health professionals to design treatment plans for overweight/obese children and adolescents, offering potential benefits related to the learning and cognitive abilities of this population. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023391420.

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Biodegradable starch foam trays offer an eco-friendly substitute for petroleum-based single-use packaging, notably polystyrene foams. However, they lack flexibility, tensile strength, and water-sensitivity, addressable through lignocellulosic reinforcement. This study aimed to develop biodegradable starch foam trays filled with different food-chain side streams for sustainable alternative packaging. Corncob, soybean straw, cassava peel, araucaria seed hull, yerba mate stalks and yerba mate leaves petiole were collected, dried and ground to <250 µm. The trays were filled with 13 % (w/w) of each food-chain side streams and produced by hot molding. The trays morphology, moisture, water activity (aw), thickness, bulk density, tensile strength, elongation at break, Young's modulus, bending strength, maximum deflection, and sorption isotherms were investigated. Reinforcements slightly increased the foams bulk density, reduced the tensile strength and maximum deflection and while bending strength increased from 0.20 MPa to 1.17-1.80 MPa. The elasticity modulus decreased by adding any filling, that resulted in ductility improvement; however, these packaging have moisture-sensitive material especially for aw higher than 0.52, which drives the use recommendation for dry products storage or shipping/transport. The biodegradable starch foam trays filled with side streams were successfully produced and offer excellent alternative to petroleum-based packaging low-density material with bending strength improved.

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INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of Pilates exercises on flexibility and performance in practitioners of an extreme conditioning program (ECP). The hypothesis adopted was that Pilates could activate deeper muscles and improve the stability of core muscles. METHODS: This was an observational cross-sectional study with individuals practicing an ECP submitted to a Pilates method (PM) exercise session. The Wells bench test was used to assess flexibility, while performance was evaluated using the Wall Ball exercise commonly performed by ECP practitioners. The perception of effort was measured using the Borg scale. RESULTS: A single session of PM exercises was able to significantly improve flexibility immediately after the exercises (p < 0.001) and performance in one of the movements of the ECP (p < 0.001), as well as decrease the perception of effort. CONCLUSION: An acute intervention with Pilates exercises promoted improvement in performance of the CrossFit Wall Ball exercise.

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Psychological flexibility has recently attracted the attention of researchers in the field of sleep disorders; therefore, in the study, psychological flexibility was evaluated as a predictor or factor related to the presence/severity of insomnia. We included 2218 individuals selected from the randomized-control trial for behavioural therapy for insomnia and cross-sectional studies, including 1797 individuals with insomnia and 421 controls without insomnia. All participants completed the DSM-5-based insomnia diagnosis interview, Insomnia Severity Index, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Acceptance Action Questionnaire-II. Linear regression and multinomial logistic regression models were used. Sex, education, occupation, marital status, anxiety, depression and psychological inflexibility were possible predictors or factors associated with the severity of insomnia. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that sex (𝛽 = 0.88; t = 2.80; p = 0.005), depression (𝛽 = 0.41; t = 10.7; p < 0.001), anxiety (𝛽 = 0.58; t = 14.1; p < 0.001) and psychological inflexibility (𝛽 = 0.09; t = 5.07; p < 0.001) were predictors of insomnia. The results of the multinomial logistic regression demonstrate that, in comparison to the absence of insomnia, insomnia at all levels (mild, moderate and severe) was associated with sex, anxiety and depression. Psychological inflexibility was only associated with severe insomnia (odds ratio = 1.04). These findings are important from a public health perspective because behavioural strategies designed to treat insomnia with a focus on psychological flexibility are low-cost and may help improve sleep quality in adults with insomnia, which also influences mental health.

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Introducción: Es importante la relación entre el desarrollo de las categorías originalidad, flexibilidad, autonomía y motivación del modo de actuación creativo. El objetivo del artículo consistió en elaborar un sistema de indicaciones para el desarrollo de categorías del modo de actuación creativo en estudiantes universitarios. Métodos: Se realizó una investigación mixta, donde el universo lo constituyeron estudiantes de la carrera de Pedagogía-Sicología de la Universidad de Sancti Spíritus "José Martí Pérez" en el curso 2021-2022 y se tomó una muestra aleatoria intencional de 24 educandos del tercer año. Resultados: El procesamiento estadístico de los instrumentos aplicados permitió ubicar al 75 % de la muestra entre un nivel medio y bajo en el desarrollo de categorías del modo de actuación creativo, por carencias en su expresión. Discusión: Desde fundamentos teóricos referenciados se analizó una propuesta de indicaciones que permiten la sistematización de contenidos de aprendizaje y facilitan el desarrollo de acciones autónomas y motivadoras para solucionar problemáticas en el contexto laboral. Conclusiones: La elaboración de indicaciones, desde la disciplina principal integradora y en estrecha relación con las categorías declaradas del modo de actuación creativo, facilitaron su desarrollo y demostraron pertinencia y factibilidad en el contexto de la práctica laboral.

Introduction: The relationship between the development of the categories of originality, flexibility, autonomy and motivation of the creative mode of action is important. The objective of the article was to develop a system of indications for the development of categories of the creative mode of action in university students. Methods: A mixed investigation was carried out, where the universe was made up of students of the Pedagogy-Psychology degree at the University of Sancti Spíritus "José Martí Pérez" in the 2021-2022 academic year and an intentional random sample of 24 students from the third year was taken. In the research, actions were designed to solve problems in work practice and a self-assessment scale about the development of the categories of the creative mode of action. Results: The statistical processing of the applied instruments allowed 75 % of the sample to be placed between a medium and low level in the development of categories of the creative mode of action, due to deficiencies in its expression. Discussion: From referenced theoretical foundations, a proposal of indications was analyzed that allow the systematization of learning content and facilitate the development of autonomous and motivating actions to solve problems in the work context. Conclusions: The development of indications, from the main integrative discipline and in close relationship with the declared categories of the creative mode of action, facilitated its development and demonstrated relevance and feasibility in the context of work practice.

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Tandem repeats (TRs) in protein sequences are consecutive, highly similar sequence motifs. Some types of TRs fold into structural units that pack together in ensembles, forming either an (open) elongated domain or a (closed) propeller, where the last unit of the ensemble packs against the first one. Here, we examine TR proteins (TRPs) to see how their sequence, structure, and evolutionary properties favor them for a function as mediators of protein interactions. Our observations suggest that TRPs bind other proteins using large, structured surfaces like globular domains; in particular, open-structured TR ensembles are favored by flexible termini and the possibility to tightly coil against their targets. While, intuitively, open ensembles of TRs seem prone to evolve due to their potential to accommodate insertions and deletions of units, these evolutionary events are unexpectedly rare, suggesting that they are advantageous for the emergence of the ancestral sequence but are early fixed. We hypothesize that their flexibility makes it easier for further proteins to adapt to interact with them, which would explain their large number of protein interactions. We provide insight into the properties of open TR ensembles, which make them scaffolds for alternative protein complexes to organize genes, RNA and proteins.

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In athletics, achieving peak performance during competitions is crucial. Warm-up strategies play a crucial role in optimizing the strength-speed performance of sprinters in athletics, especially tailored to the physiological demands of speed events. The need to balance flexibility, prevent injuries, and enhance power output makes the selection of an effective warm-up protocol essential. This narrative review examines different warm-up methods used by athletes and their effects on strength-speed in sprinters in athletics. The main findings indicate that Foam Rolling (FR), Isometric Exercises and Pre-Competitive Massages have no significant effects on sprint performance. Static stretching and prolonged Pre-Competitive Massages have negative impacts on strength and power. The Vibration Platform enhances step length, step rate and running velocity, jump height and total number of jumps performed in a 30-s period in non-experienced sprinters. Eccentric Exercise increases vertical force, Post-Activation Potentiation (PAP) demonstrates a reduction in 100-meter time and short-term improvement in vertical and horizontal jumps. Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) significantly improving jump height and flight time. Various warm-up methods have been identified, some focusing on flexibility, others potentially detrimental, and some enhancing strength and power. Implementing effective warm-ups, particularly those promoting strength and power, poses a challenge for coaches seeking reliable alternatives to boost performance.