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This study aims to analyze how the climatic conditions in the city of João Pessoa, Brazil, influence sustainable tourism, with a specific focus on Climate–Tourism/Transfer–Information–Scheme (CTIS), Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET), and rainfall patterns. It also compares these aspects with those of Salvador and Rio de Janeiro to identify climatic patterns, local challenges, and adaptive strategies relevant to the growing tourism context, based on hourly and monthly climate data from 2014 to 2024. The results show that João Pessoa presents a more stable thermal regime with fewer extreme heat events, yet consistently higher daytime PET values, especially between 9:00 and 15:00, throughout the year. The city also experiences a greater frequency of moderate-to-heavy rainfall during its defined wet season (April to July), often influenced by low-predictability atmospheric systems such as Easterly Wave Disturbances (EWDs). CTIS results confirm high climatic suitability for tourism and recreation during the dry season but reduced suitability during the rainy season. These findings suggest that integrating climate adaptation strategies into tourism planning, such as diversifying attractions beyond sun-and-beach tourism and improving real-time climate communication, may help reduce the impact of seasonal variability on visitor experience.

Algae-derived bioactives have emerged as promising nutraceuticals due to their ability to modulate key molecular pathways under physiological stress. Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina), a cyanobacterium widely recognized for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is proposed as a functional supplement to preserve smooth muscle physiology. Progressive strength training (PST) can induce oxidative stress and disrupt electromechanical coupling in the uterus, potentially impairing female reproductive function. This study investigated whether supplementation with A. platensis prevents PST-induced uterine dysfunction and elucidated the molecular mechanisms involved. Virgin Wistar rats were divided into five groups: sedentary with saline (GS), sedentary with A. platensis (GAP100), adapted control (GC), PST-trained (GT), and PST-trained with A. platensis (GTAP100). An eight-week water-jump PST protocol was applied. Uterine contractile responses were recorded in isolated organ baths after cumulative KCl stimulation, in the absence or presence of pathway-specific inhibitors targeting nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase, NADPH oxidase, or superoxide dismutase. Histological evaluations of uterine and ovarian tissues were also performed. PST increased contractile efficacy and myometrial thickness, associated with oxidative stress and activation of NO, COX, and NADPH oxidase pathways. Supplementation with A. platensis attenuated these alterations by enhancing NO signaling, stimulating relaxant prostanoids, and reducing superoxide production. These protective effects were abolished by inhibitors, confirming mechanistic involvement. Overall, our findings provide molecular evidence that A. platensis supplementation preserves uterine smooth muscle physiology under high-intensity resistance training, supporting its potential as a nutraceutical strategy for female reproductive health.

We evaluated low skeletal muscle mass (LMM) in women prior to bariatric surgery (BS) through different skeletal muscle mass indexes (MMIs) regarding body fat percentage (BFP), handgrip strength (HS), six-minute walk test (6MWT), metabolic profile and bone mineral density (BMD). Women (n=62) were allocated into two groups according to LMM: obesity with low muscle mass (OLMM) or obesity with normal muscle mass (ONMM). LMM was defined by the appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) adjusted for weight (ASM/wt × 100) and ASM adjusted for body mass index (ASM/BMI), considering the lowest quintile of the indexes studied. OLMM was found in 30.5% by ASM/wt × 100 and 20.3% by ASM/BMI. Using the ASM/wt × 100, OLMM group had a high BFP, low HS and BMD in L1-L4, femoral neck (FN) and total femur (TF) when compared with ONMM ( < 0.05). Using ASM/BMI, OLMM group had increased BFP, reduced HS and 6MWT in comparison to ONMM ( < 0.05). Metabolic profile was similar between OLMM and ONMM groups by the two MMIs. MMIs were negatively correlated with BFP ( < 0.05) and positively correlated with HS ( < 0.05), and none of them with 6MWT ( > 0.05). ASM/wt × 100 was positively correlated with all BMD sites assessed ( < 0.05). There was positive correlation between ASM/wt × 100 and ASM/BMI. OLMM identified by the ASM/wt × 100 and ASM/BMI had higher adiposity and lower HS. Using ASM/BMI, we found that OLMN had a poor physical performance, while the ASM/wt × 100 identified a lower BMD at all sites.

Objective: To analyze the association between ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and cardiometabolic, biochemical, and inflammatory risk factors in children in a metropolis in Northeast Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study using baseline data from a community-based controlled trial was carried out with 151 children from public schools in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil aged 7 to 10 years. Dietary consumption was assessed using 24 h food recall, and UPF consumption was estimated using the NOVA classification system. Anthropometry (BMI for age), blood pressure, biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, GGT, cholesterol, LDL-c, HDL-c, triglycerides, fasting glucose, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, creatinine, urea, hs-CRP), and cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17a, IFN-γ, and TNF-α) were also assessed. Results: Children in the third tertile (highest UPF consumption) had higher serum concentrations of LDL-c (p-value = 0.04) and ALT (p-value = 0.01), with a trend towards higher AST (p-value = 0.06). Total energy (p-value = 0.01), trans fatty acid (p-value = 0.02), and sodium (p-value = 0.04) intakes were higher in the highest tertile, whereas protein (p-value < 0.01) and fiber (p-value < 0.01) intakes were lower. Concentrations of IL-17A (p-value = 0.01) and IL-10 (p-value = 0.04) were significantly higher in the second tertile. Multiple linear regression showed that UPF consumption was significantly associated with increased LDL-c, ALT, and AST concentrations. Conclusions: High intake of UPFs was associated with dyslipidemia, elevated liver enzymes, and inflammatory changes in children. Dietary interventions are needed to reduce UPF consumption and prevent cardiometabolic and liver disease in childhood.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by immune cell infiltrates, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and declining lung function. Thus, the possible effects of virgin coconut oil on a chronic allergic lung inflammation model were evaluated. Morphology of lung and airway tissue exhibited peribronchial inflammatory infiltrate, epithelial hyperplasia, and smooth muscle thickening in guinea pigs submitted to ovalbumin sensitization, which were prevented by virgin coconut oil supplementation. Additionally, in animals with lung inflammation, trachea contracted in response to ovalbumin administration, showed a greater contractile response to carbachol (CCh) and histamine, and these responses were prevented by the virgin coconut oil supplementation. Apocynin, a NADPH oxidase inhibitor, did not reduce the potency of CCh, whereas tempol, a superoxide dismutase mimetic, reduced potency only in nonsensitized animals. Catalase reduced the CCh potency in nonsensitized animals and animals sensitized and treated with coconut oil, indicating the participation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in the hypercontractility, which was prevented by virgin coconut oil. In the presence of L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, the CCh curve remained unchanged in nonsensitized animals but had increased efficacy and potency in sensitized animals, indicating an inhibition of endothelial NOS but ineffective in inhibiting inducible NOS. In animals sensitized and treated with coconut oil, the CCh curve was not altered, indicating a reduction in the release of NO by inducible NOS. These data were confirmed by peribronchiolar expression analysis of iNOS. The antioxidant capacity was reduced in the lungs of animals with chronic allergic lung inflammation, which was reversed by the coconut oil, and confirmed by analysis of peribronchiolar 8-iso-PGF2α content. Therefore, the virgin coconut oil supplementation reverses peribronchial inflammatory infiltrate, epithelial hyperplasia, smooth muscle thickening, and hypercontractility through oxidative stress and its interactions with the NO pathway.

A review on planar printed structures that are based on Matryoshka-like geometries is presented. These structures use the well-known principle of Matryoshka dolls that are successively nested inside each other. The well-known advantages of the planar printed technology and of the meandered nested Matryoshka geometries are combined to generate miniaturized, multi-resonance, and/or wideband configurations. Both metal and complementary slot structures are considered. Closed and open configurations were analyzed. The working principles were explored in order to obtain physical insight into their behavior. Low-cost and single-layer applications as frequency-selective surfaces, filters, antennas, and sensors, in the microwave frequency region, were reviewed. Potential future research perspectives and new applications are then discussed.

The literature regarding causes of animal mortality varies greatly in how it evaluates and describes reasons for euthanasia, showing a clear need for tools to identify, standardize, and map diseases. This study describes the application of the Animal Mortality Information System Database (DATASIMA) to monitoring and georeferencing animal mortality. An observational study was conducted on the dogs and cats euthanized at the Municipal Center for Environmental and Zoonotic Surveillance in João Pessoa, Paraíba. The deaths were reported through DATASIMA, an online platform created and developed in Brazil, which is aimed at observing animal mortality through the Animal Death Declaration between April and September 2022. A total of 403 euthanized animals were recorded, including 204 dogs and 199 cats. The most common diseases leading to euthanasia were as follows: (i) Sporotrichosis (171 cats); (ii) Leishmaniasis (75 dogs); (iii) Distemper (35 dogs); (iv) Trauma from vehicle collisions (ten dogs and nine cats). The DATASIMA platform proved to be an effective system for keeping records and reporting causes of animal mortality. Through georeferencing, it was possible to map areas with higher frequencies of zoonotic outbreaks in the municipality studied, thus providing useful data to implement health promotion strategies.

Obesity has been associated with changes in cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) sulfate concentrations and increased stress levels and food addiction. We explored changes in morning salivary cortisol and DHEA in childhood obesity and their associations with body composition, metabolic profile, food addiction, food consumption, and stress in a cross-sectional study. Children aged 7 to 12 years of both sexes were allocated into 2 groups according to body mass index-for-age: control group (n = 60) or obesity group (n = 98). Anthropometric, body composition, serum glucose, insulin, lipid profile, and DHEA were measured. Saliva was collected at different times to measure morning salivary cortisol concentrations. Food addiction, food consumption, and stress were assessed using questionnaires. Lower DHEA [1.04 (0.87-1.25) ng/mL vs 1.65 (1.30-2.07) ng/mL, = .002] and salivary cortisol (6:00 Am: 1.17 ± 0.89 vs 1.45 ± 0.82 nmol/L, 6:30 Am: 1.53 ± 0.68 vs 1.83 ± 0.70 nmol/L, 7:30 Am: 0.72 ± 0.99 vs 1.31 ± 0.94 nmol/L, -value of time < 0.001 and -value of group = .002) were observed in children with obesity compared to the control. DHEA correlated negatively with waist circumference (r = -0.20, < .05), body mass index-for-age(BMI-Z) (r = -0.21, < .01), and weight (r = -0.25, < .01). DHEA showed a positive correlation with the cortisol area under the curve (r = 0.29, = .002). Food addiction was positively correlated with waist circumference (r = 0.21, < .01), BMI-Z (r = 0.22, < .01), body weight (r = 0.20, < .05), total energy intake (r = 0.20, < .05), and lipids (r = 0.24, < .01). Children with obesity showed lower concentrations of salivary cortisol and DHEA and higher food addiction compared to control children. These changes may contribute to the development of chronic diseases over time.

The urbanization process has led to significant changes in the landscape, shifting the epidemiological profile of the visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil. Dogs are considered the main urban reservoir of VL, whose infections precede cases in humans. In order to understand the socio-environmental determinants associated with canine visceral leish- maniasis (CVL), we conducted a spatial analysis of CVL cases in northeastern Brazil from 2013 to 2015, georeferencing 3288 domiciled dogs. We used linear mixed models to understand the ecoepidemiological determinants of CVL spatial relative risk (CVL SRR). Our findings indicate heterogeneity in CVL distribution, with 1 km diameter clusters potentially connected within an estimated 4.9 km diameter by the Ripley-K statistic. In our best-fit model, the CVL SRR was positively correlated with the proportion of households with literate heads, with trees, and with open sewage, but negatively correlated with vegetation phenology and mean income of the census sector. Here, we discuss the potential maintenance source of urban CVL clusters on a One Health framework. These findings highlight the complex interplay of socioeconomic and environmental factors in shaping the spatial distribution of CVL.

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis of global distribution, capable of affecting both humans and animals, and caused by species of the genus Sporothrix spp. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and mating type distribution of clinical isolates of human sporotrichosis in Paraíba, Brazil, to better understand the population structure, epidemiology, and diversification of this pathogen, as well as to explore possible transmission routes. Methods: A total of 36 clinical isolates were morphologically identified, and clinical and demographic data were collected. Fungal DNA extraction was then performed, followed by species-specific PCR using markers targeting the calmodulin gene. The mating type idiomorph of the species was identified by PCR using primers targeting the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 loci. Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) was used to evaluate the genetic variability of Sporothrix spp. Results: The distribution of the disease identified that all cases occurred in João Pessoa and adjacent cities. From the 36 isolates, the majority (75%) being affected females, a prevalent occurrence of the lymphocutaneous form, and 98% zoonotic transmission were confirmed. Micro- and macromorphological structures were similar to each other, confirming Sporothrix spp. All isolates were confirmed as S. brasiliensis and the presence of a single sexual idiomorph, MAT1-2, was detected. The AFLP results indicate the possibility of the circulation of one or two genetic groups in João Pessoa and the metropolitan region. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first time isolates in the Paraíba state are genetically characterised, all identified as Sporothrix brasiliensis. It is likely that this species in Paraiba originated from Rio de Janeiro, as all they possess the MAT1-2 idiomorph, indicating low intergenotypic variation.