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Background Much has been said by actors from different fields and perspectives about the manifold changes in world affairs triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, it is to be expected that there will be impacts on long-standing partnerships such as the one between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean Countries. However, few studies have demonstrated these impacts, either empirically, by uncovering their specificities or from a historical perspective, to allow for a reasonable methodological comparison of the patterns used to define the partnership and that have changed or have been affected in some way by the pandemic. Results Through an in-depth qualitative assessment of primary and secondary sources, this article contributes to this research gap. It analyzes the patterns and changes or impacts in light of two strands of behavior that can make sense of EU-CELAC health cooperation—revisionist or reformist. The findings show an economy-driven health agenda as a new pattern of cooperation, which derives from EU reformist behavior after the pandemic. Conclusions The EU power to enforce its priorities in the context of health cooperation with CELAC is the main factor that will define how (and not just which) competing interests and capacities will be accommodated. The relevance of the study to the fields of global governance for health, interregional health cooperation and EU foreign policy is threefold. It shows us i.how two more international regimes are easily intertwined with health—trade and intellectual property—with the potential to deepen asymmetries and divergences even between long-standing strategic partners; ii.contrary to the idea that reformist behaviors are only adopted by actors who are dissatisfied with the status quo, the study shows us that the reformist actor can also be the one who has more material power and influence and who nevertheless challenges the success of cooperation in the name of new priorities and the means to achieve them; and iii.how the EU will find it difficult to operationalize its new priorities internally, among states and private actors, and with those of CELAC, given the history of intense disputes over health-related economic aspects.

This paper presents the rationale for the choice of participants in qualitative research in contrast with that of probability sampling principles in epidemiological research. For a better understanding of the differences, concepts of nomothetic and ideographic generalizability, as well as those of transferability and reflexivity, are proposed, Fundamentals of the main types of sampling commonly used in qualitative research, and the meaning of the concept of saturation are mentioned. Finally, some reflections on the controversies that have arisen in recent years on various paradigmatic perspectives from which to conduct qualitative research, their possibilities of combination with epidemiological research, and some implications for the study of health issues are presented.

As the largest aromatic polymer of natural origin, lignin arouses the interest of researchers and industries worldwide. Its three-dimensional polymeric aromatic structure, besides being complex, varies depending on its botanical origin and extraction process, which makes its use as a raw material difficult. Currently, the main destination for lignin is burning for energy production. This study presents the characterization of lignin and lignin microparticles after processing by ultrasonic irradiation. Analyzes were performed to verify the dimensional, morphological and antioxidant characteristics of the particles as well as changes in their structure after sonication. A sample of eucalyptus wood lignin isolated from kraft black liquor was used and the modifications were analyzed by X-ray diffraction analysis, zeta potential, FTIR spectroscopy, particle size, scanning electron microscopy, TGA thermogravimetric analysis, phenolic compounds total by Folin–Ciocalteau and antioxidant analysis by DPPH. The results demonstrate that there was no change in the chemical structure of lignin with the application of ultrasonic radiation, but the reduction in particle size was able to reduce zeta potential with a lower probability of agglomeration between them, and consequent greater stabilization in solution. Also, the ultrasound treatment was able to increase the thermal stability of the lignin microparticle with a decrease of the mass loss rate with the time. The reduction in particle size was also able to expose a larger number of phenolic compounds and thereby increase the total phenolic content and lignin antioxidant activity making the lignin microparticle a promising material to study and application on food-active biodegradable polymers.

The uncertainty of consumers about the toxicological effects of synthetic antioxidants incorporated into the packaging has led to a demand for natural substituents that exhibit antioxidant activity without adding risk to the consumers. In this context, the effects of adding different concentrations of thyme essential oil (TEO) (20, 30, and 40% w/w) to whey protein isolate (WPI) and cellulose nanofibre (CNF) bio-nanocomposites developed by casting were studied. Scanning electron microscopy showed a reduction in the dispersion of CNF's in all films with the addition of TEO. The addition of TEO also decreased the water vapor permeability, increased the glass transition temperature, and crystallinity index. For the mechanical properties, the addition of TEO produced less rigid and elastic films with decreased in tensile strength, elongation at break, puncture strength, puncture deformation, and elastic modulus. In addition, the mechanical properties showed the formation of non-interactive systems and the FTIR spectra showed maintenance of the phenolic compounds of the TEO after the synthesis of the films. The optical properties showed that films were less yellow (b*) with a tendency to green (a*), less saturated (c*), and less transparent when compared with the control (0% TEO). The addition of TEO to bio-nanocomposites of WPI and CNFs, in the concentration range tested, enabled the formation of materials with properties that encourage the studies for various applications.

The present study aim to evaluate the development of electrical conducting blends made from the biodegradable polymer, chitosan (Cs), and polyaniline (PANI) doped with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid dissolved in acid solution chitosan, to enable development of conductive and smart packages that help to monitor exposure conditions of food aimed to reduce food waste. Concentration of Cs is fixed (2%), and PANI (80, 100 mg mL−1) and glutaraldehyde (Glut) (0.625 × 10−3 μL) concentrations are alter. Morphological (SEM), structural (FTIR, RAMAN), thermal (TGA) and electrical (Hall effect) properties are evaluate. Blends were predominantly negative carriers, with conductivity in order of 10−1 S cm−1. Best formulations are those make without of Glut. Analyses show an interaction between components. FTIR show bands characteristic of benzene and quinoid rings of PANI, and RAMAN exhibit a band related to PANI’s protonation. TGA show maintenance of maximum degradation temperature of PANI. This results evidence maintenance of PANI’s conducting structures even after blends synthesis.

Abstract This text concludes the Special Issue on “New Directions for Foreign Policy Analysis” that aims at exploring some recent research avenues in the critical and interpretivist tradition in International Relations. Rather than summarising the contributions to the Special Issue, it reflects on a series of challenges ahead, focusing on three: the theoretical challenges in identity-focused or practice-theory inspired FPA, the international division of knowledge production in the context of a semi-peripheral academic community like Brazil, and the challenges for developing a truly critical FPA that does not take its Western-established categories for granted. Doing so, it issues an invitation to explore these challenges together. Resumo Este texto conclui a Edição Especial “Novas direções para a Análise de Política Externa”, que tem como objetivo explorar alguns caminhos de pesquisa recentes na tradição crítica e interpretativista das Relações Internacionais. Ao invés de resumir as contribuições para a Edição Especial, reflete-se sobre uma série de desafios futuros, concentrando-se em três: os desafios teórico da APE inspirada na identidade ou na teoria/ prática, a divisão internacional da produção de conhecimento no contexto de uma comunidade acadêmica semiperiférica como o Brasil e os desafios para o desenvolvimento de uma APF verdadeiramente crítica que não tome como certas as categorias estabelecidas pelo Ocidente. O texto faz então um convite para explorar tais desafios.

Researches for the development of materials with less environmental impact have been more common. Pectin is a natural polysaccharide, presenting in plants and the peel of some fruits. It is atoxic, biocompatible, not expensive and is available as a byproduct of fruit juice industry. In the literature, pectin is commonly found mixed with other polymers. The objective of this work was to study the thermoplasticization with glycerol of high methoxylation pectin by extrusion/thermo-compression for films with industrial application compared to casting films. Properties of water vapor permeablility (1.27–2.47 g mm/KPa h m2), tensile strength (3.44–8.74 MPa), and puncture resistance (43.01–230.75 N/mm) of extrusion/thermo-compression films were evaluated. Color parameters exhibited possibility of samples application in packages that require the consumer to view the product. The results obtained for extruded/thermo-compressed films are similar or superior to those obtained in extruded thermoplasticized starch works. Results showed efficient production of plasticized pectin films with the possibility of industrial application for extrusion/thermo-compression process.Graphic Abstract

Studies have been made to explore the utilization of pea proteins in terms of edible film and coating materials. The reinforcement of biopolymer films with plant-based nanocrystals has been applied in order to improve their performance properties. The objective was to evaluate the effect of the incorporation of corn starch nanocrystals (SN) (0-15%) in pea protein isolate films. Thermal analysis showed that the addition of up to 5% starch nanocrystals increased thermal stability. A 22.3% decrease was observed in water vapor permeability with the addition of SN. Increasing the SN concentration altered the arrangement of the structure to interleaved, in the matrix, as seen in transmission micrographs. This study showed that the use of corn starch nanocrystals as reinforcement in pea protein films had an effect on the films. The incorporation of up to 10% SN is suggested in order to increase the performance properties of pea protein isolate films.

Abstract What makes current radical right populists different from other historical radical right leaders of the 20th century? Are there more differences or similarities among populist radical right (PRR) in the Global South regarding how they perform foreign policy? How does the context – marked by contemporary globalization, regional interdependencies and power (geo)politics – influence their perceptions about their own capabilities and interests, but also about the international liberal order, its values and multilateral mechanisms? This forum addresses questions like these, offering theoretical, historical and contextual insights with concrete examples and case studies situated out of the Anglo-American spectrum. Different from traditional approaches to foreign policy analysis, the authors advance reflections about current phenomena such as illiberal foreign policymaking, anti-cosmopolitanism, religious nationalism and its transnational ties, and the re-personalization of sovereignty in the figure of the PRR. Therefore, it enriches the study of populism, radical right and foreign policymaking in IR, bringing to the debate the erosion of the liberal international order and the necessary questioning of Western-led globalization. Resumo O que torna os atuais populistas da direita radical diferentes de outros líderes históricos da direita radical do século XX? Existem mais diferenças ou semelhanças entre a direita radical populista (PRR) no Sul Global com relação à forma como executam a política externa? Como o contexto - marcado pela globalização contemporânea, interdependências regionais e (geo)política de poder - influencia sua percepção sobre suas próprias capacidades e interesses, mas também sobre a ordem liberal internacional, seus valores e mecanismos multilaterais? Este fórum aborda questões como essas, oferecendo percepções teóricas, históricas e contextuais com exemplos concretos e estudos de caso situados fora do espectro anglo-americano. Diferentemente das abordagens tradicionais de análise de política externa, os autores apresentam reflexões sobre fenômenos atuais, como a formulação de políticas externas iliberais, o anticosmopolitismo, o nacionalismo religioso e seus laços transnacionais e a repersonalização da soberania na figura do PRR. Portanto, ele enriquece o estudo do populismo, da direita radical e da formulação de políticas externas nas RI, trazendo para o debate a erosão da ordem internacional liberal e o necessário questionamento da globalização liderada pelo Ocidente.

This letter provides an update on the activities of \"The Global Collaboration on Traumatic Stress\" (GC-TS) as first described by Schnyder et al. in 2017. It presents in further detail the projects of the first theme, in particular the development of and initial data on the Global Psychotrauma Screen (GPS), a brief instrument designed to screen for the wide range of potential outcomes of trauma. English language data and ongoing studies in several languages provide a first indication that the GPS is a feasible, reliable and valid tool, a tool that may be very useful in the current pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Further multi-language and cross-cultural validation is needed. Since the start of the GC-TS, new themes have been introduced to focus on in the coming years: a) Forcibly displaced persons, b) Global prevalence of stress and trauma related disorders, c) Socio-emotional development across cultures, and d) Collaborating to make traumatic stress research data \"FAIR\". The most recent theme added is that of Global crises, currently focusing on COVID-19-related projects.