Abstract BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has several mechanisms of action related to inflammatory responses, especially in individuals diagnosed with obesity. This hyperinflammatory clinical profile resulting from the association between obesity and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be attenuated by regular physical activity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the evidence on the consequences of physical inactivity and physical activity on COVID-19 in patients with obesity. DESIGN AND SETTING: Narrative review at the Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health in Salvador, Brazil. METHODS: We searched evidence on the association of COVID-19 with physical activity and obesity using the following keywords: “covid-19,” “physical activity,” and “obesity”. The databases used were MEDLINE (PubMed), ScienceDirect, and Virtual Health Library. Studies published from 2019 to 2021 and available in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were included. The final search was conducted on September 26, 2021. RESULTS: We identified 661 studies in the database, among which 71 were considered for inclusion in the narrative review of the molecular aspects of COVID-19 and its relationship with physical activity and obesity. CONCLUSION: This literature review enabled the perception of the relationship between the molecular mechanisms of COVID-19 and obesity. Regular physical activity had various benefits for the inflammatory condition of the studied population, highlighting moderate-intensity.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has several mechanisms of action related to inflammatory responses, especially in individuals diagnosed with obesity. This hyperinflammatory clinical profile resulting from the association between obesity and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be attenuated by regular physical activity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review the evidence on the consequences of physical inactivity and physical activity on COVID-19 in patients with obesity. DESIGN AND SETTING: Narrative review at the Bahiana School of Medicine and Public Health in Salvador, Brazil. METHODS: We searched evidence on the association of COVID-19 with physical activity and obesity using the following keywords: “covid-19,” “physical activity,” and “obesity”. The databases used were MEDLINE (PubMed), ScienceDirect, and Virtual Health Library. Studies published from 2019 to 2021 and available in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were included. The final search was conducted on September 26, 2021. RESULTS: We identified 661 studies in the database, among which 71 were considered for inclusion in the narrative review of the molecular aspects of COVID-19 and its relationship with physical activity and obesity. CONCLUSION: This literature review enabled the perception of the relationship between the molecular mechanisms of COVID-19 and obesity. Regular physical activity had various benefits for the inflammatory condition of the studied population, highlighting moderate-intensity.

ABSTRACT The majority of malaria cases in South America occur in rural areas of the Amazon region. Although these areas have a significant impact on malaria cases, few entomological studies have been carried out there. This study aimed to describe entomological parameters in settlements in Rondonia State, Brazil. Collections of anopheles were carried out using the Protected Human Attraction Technique (PHAT). The risk and the potential for malaria transmission were assessed using the human biting rate (HBR), the sporozoite rate (SR) and the entomological inoculation rate (EIR). The results confirmed that Nyssorhynchus darlingi is the predominant species in the two studied locations. Although settlement in the two study sites has occurred at different times, the species richness found was low, showing that environmental changes caused by anthropological actions have probably favor the adaptation of Ny. darlingi species. From the total of 615 anopheline mosquitoes assessed, seven (1.1%) were positive for Plasmodium sp. infections. The EIR revealed that Ny. darlingi contributes to malaria transmission in both locations, as it was responsible for 0.05 infectious bites in humans at night in the old settlement and 0.02 in the recent occupation. In the two study sites, the biting occurred more frequently at dusk. Nyssorhynchus darlingi was prevalent in areas of recent colonization but, even when present in a low density, this species could maintain the transmission of malaria in the older settlement. The entomological information obtained in this study is important and may aid the selection of vector control actions in these locations.

Resumo O enigma da PPC é apontado como um dos seis mais importantes puzzles da macroeconomia internacional. IMRR (2005a) apontam o viés de agregação de preços com dinâmica de ajuste heterogêneo como solução para o enigma. Este trabalho averigua se esse resultado é suportado para dados de cidades brasileiras utilizando-se o estimador CCEMG dinâmico, proposto por Chudik e Pesaran (2015), com correção half-panel jackknife para o viés do estimador OLS em amostra pequena. Os resultados corroboram a evidência de IMRR (2005a), com uma meia-vida mediana de 13,5 meses.

Abstract The PPP puzzle is named as one of six major puzzles in international macroeconomics. IMRR (2005a) point out to the aggregation bias of price with heterogeneous adjustment dynamics as a solution to the puzzle. This paper investigates whether this result is supported for Brazilian cities data using a dynamic CCEMG estimator with half-panel jackknife bias correction to mitigate the small sample time series bias proposed by Chudik and Pesaran (2015). The results corroborate the IMRR’s (2005a) evidence, with a median half-life of 13.5 months.

O presente estudo estima a velocidade de reversão dos desvios da PPC para as cidades brasileiras considerando três possíveis fontes de viés: i) de Nickell, ii) de heterogeneidade dos coeficientes autorregressivos, e iii) o gerado pela agregação temporal dos índices de preços. Os valores das meias-vidas estimados foram aproximadamente 4,41 e 3,18 anos ao se considerar o índice de preço do Brasil e a média dos índices das cidades como referência, respectivamente. Ao se utilizar o índice de preço de cada cidade brasileira como numerário, a meia-vida mediana é de 3,13 anos.

This study estimates the rate of reversion of deviations from the PPP for Brazilian cities considering three possible sources of bias: i) Nickell, ii) the heterogeneity of the autoregressive coefficients, and iii) generated by the temporal aggregation of price indices. The values of the estimated half-lives were approximately 4.41 and 3.18 years when considering the price index of Brazil and the average of the indices of cities as references, respectively. When using the price index for each city as the numeraire, the median half-life is 3.13 years.

RESUMO Este trabalho investiga se há de fato uma restrição imposta pelo balanço de pagamentos - via relação entre as elasticidades-renda das importações e das exportações - sobre o crescimento econômico dos estados brasileiros. Em outros termos, verifica-se a validade da Lei de Thirlwall para a economia dos estados brasileiros no período de 1991 a 2009. Para tanto, estima-se as referidas elasticidades por meio do estimador para painéis dinâmicos System-GMM, que contorna, além dos problemas clássicos de estimação, o viés de endogeneidade do painel dinâmico. Os resultados apontam para a validade da lei, visto que a elasticidade-renda das importações mostrou-se superior à elasticidade-renda das exportações.

ABSTRACT This paper investigates whether there is a restriction imposed by the balance of payments - through the relationship between income elasticities of imports and exports - on the economic growth of Brazilian states. In other words, it checks the validity of Thirlwall’s Law to the Brazilian states in the period from 1991 to 2009. These elasticities were estimated using the dynamic panel estimator System-GMM, which circumvents the classical endogeneity problem inherent to dynamic panels. The results point out to the validity of the law, since the income elasticity of imports was higher than the income elasticity of exports.

ABSTRACT Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns is an easily cultivated shrub, with occurrence in the tropical regions of the American and African continents. Chemical studies have revealed that the latex of this plant is rich in terpene compounds, which are highly toxic to snails Biomphalaria glabrata (Basommatophora: Planorbidae). The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and molluscicidal activity of the latex produced by E. umbellata, as well as the safety of its application in aquatic environments. The concentration of latex that killed 90% of the exposed snails after 24 h exposure (LC90) was 3.69 mg/L. Toxicity bioassays using Danio rerio (zebrafish) revealed that these animals were less susceptible to latex than planorbids. However, it is important to perform other toxicity tests to ensure the feasibility of using latex to control populations of mollusks that contribute to schistosomiasis transmission. A phytochemical screening performed with the E. umbellata latex identified the triterpenoid and coumarin class. Further studies are warranted to isolate, identify, and test the active compounds of E. umbellata latex in B. glabrata.

Os Centros de Atenção Psicossocial Infanto-Juvenil são dispositivos de tratamento para transtornos mentais severos e persistentes em crianças e adolescentes. O artigo descreve características sociodemográficas de usuários destes centros, entre setembro de 2008 e fevereiro de 2009, no Estado de São Paulo. Foram coletados dados de prontuários ativos selecionados aleatoriamente em 19 Centros de Atenção Psicossocial Infanto-Juvenil do Estado. As características analisadas originaram-se de quatro grupos de variáveis: identificação, moradia, estrutura familiar e escolaridade e ocupação. Os resultados apontaram para uma maior concentração de usuários de 10 a 14 anos de idade; prevalência do sexo masculino; tendência para arranjos familiares nucleares (45%), cuidado predominantemente materno (57%) e grande frequência de usuários em escola regular (86%). Foi identificado um perfil de usuário definido com diferenças de frequência relacionadas ao sexo, inserido na escola regular e/ou em outros tipos de instituições, bem como partilhando da convivência de uma família nuclear, especialmente contando com o cuidado materno.

The "Centros de Atenção Psicossocial Infanto-Juvenil" are dispositives of treatment for children and adolescents suffering from severe mental disorders. This article describes sociodemografic characteristics of users of those centers between September 2008 and February 2009 in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Data from active files randomly selected was collected in 19 Centers in the state of São Paulo. The characteristics analyzed were divided in four groups of variables: identity; living conditions; family structure; schooling and occupation. The results indicated a higher concentration of users between 10 to 14 years-old; prevalence of males; tendency to nuclear and reduced family arrangements (45%); care primarily given by the mother (57%) and high frequency of users attending the regular school (86%). It was possible to identify a well-defined socio demographic profile of users, with differences regarding gender, attending the regular school and/or other institutions, as well as sharing a nuclear family arrangement.