ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess covid-19 morbidity, mortality, and severity from 2020 to 2021 in five Brazilian Amazon states with the highest records of wildfires. METHODS A distributed lag non-linear model was applied to estimate the potential exposure risk association with particulate matter smaller than 2.5-µm in diameter (PM2.5). Daily mean temperature, relative humidity, percentual of community mobility, number of hospital beds, days of the week, and holidays were considered in the final models for controlling the confounding factors. RESULTS The states of Para, Mato Grosso, and Amazonas have reported the highest values of overall cases, deaths, and severe cases of covid-19. The worrying growth in the percentual rates in 2020/2021 for the incidence, severity, and mortality were highlighted in Rondônia and Mato Grosso. The growth in 2020/2021 in the estimations of PM2.5 concentrations was higher in Mato Grosso, with an increase of 24.4%, followed by Rondônia (14.9%). CONCLUSION This study establishes an association between wildfire-generated PM2.5 and increasing covid-19 incidence, mortality, and severity within the studied area. The findings showed that the risk of covid-19 morbidity and mortality is nearly two times higher among individuals exposed to high concentrations of PM2.5. The attributable fraction to PM2.5 in the studied area represents an important role in the risk associated with covid-19 in the Brazilian Amazon region.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess covid-19 morbidity, mortality, and severity from 2020 to 2021 in five Brazilian Amazon states with the highest records of wildfires. METHODS A distributed lag non-linear model was applied to estimate the potential exposure risk association with particulate matter smaller than 2.5-µm in diameter (PM2.5). Daily mean temperature, relative humidity, percentual of community mobility, number of hospital beds, days of the week, and holidays were considered in the final models for controlling the confounding factors. RESULTS The states of Para, Mato Grosso, and Amazonas have reported the highest values of overall cases, deaths, and severe cases of covid-19. The worrying growth in the percentual rates in 2020/2021 for the incidence, severity, and mortality were highlighted in Rondônia and Mato Grosso. The growth in 2020/2021 in the estimations of PM2.5 concentrations was higher in Mato Grosso, with an increase of 24.4%, followed by Rondônia (14.9%). CONCLUSION This study establishes an association between wildfire-generated PM2.5 and increasing covid-19 incidence, mortality, and severity within the studied area. The findings showed that the risk of covid-19 morbidity and mortality is nearly two times higher among individuals exposed to high concentrations of PM2.5. The attributable fraction to PM2.5 in the studied area represents an important role in the risk associated with covid-19 in the Brazilian Amazon region.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the effect of birth weight on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of immunocastrated male pigs. Seventy-two boars were assigned to three birth weight categories (BiW): light BiW pigs (LP: 0.98±0.083 kg BW; n = 24), normal BiW pigs (NP: 1.42±0.067 kg BW; n = 24), and heavy BiW pigs (HP: 1.85±0.096 kg BW; n = 24). For treatment design, we considered a weight range of two standard deviations (SD) in relation to the average population body weight (from 0.785 to 2.155 kg BW−1). The animals were housed in six pens with 12 animals per pen, with ad libitum access to water and feed throughout the study. In the growing and finishing phases, pigs were immunocastrated with two doses of vaccine at 112 and 161 days of age. The three BiW categories were different up to departure from the nursery (70 days). After this period, there was no difference between NP and HP in terms of BiW. Measurements showed that a low BiW reduced the loin eye area (9.4%), longissimus thoracis muscle depth (7.6%), and meat:fat ratio (21.6%). Backfat thickness (21.5%) and fat area (11.8%) were higher in LP as compared with the NP and HP categories. Light BiW pigs presented a lower weight steak (7.0%) and belly + rib (8.6%) compared with NP and HP, but did not differ within the LP group. Light BiW pigs required a greater lodging time (14 days), generating higher accumulated feed intake to reach the same slaughter BiW as the other categories. Growth performance and carcass characteristics are influenced by the birth weight (BiW) category. Light BiW pigs require more time and feed intake to reach the same slaughter weight. Birth weight has positive effects on meat quality and weight of commercial cuts.

Resumo A partir dos anos 1970, a importância das micro e pequenas empresas (MPE) para a economia passou, cada vez mais, a ser reconhecida, principalmente em função do seu papel na geração de empregos. Entre as medidas tomadas pelo governo brasileiro para incentivar e promover as MPE destaca-se a Lei do Simples Nacional, que passou a incluir entre os tributos abrangidos pelo regime tributário diferenciado o ICMS e o ISS. No entanto, muitas empresas que possuem condições de fazer a opção pelo Simples Nacional não optam por esse sistema, pois essa opção traria problemas relacionados à apropriação e à transferência de créditos de ICMS. O objetivo do presente trabalho é identificar e analisar os fatores que levam essas empresas a optar por um sistema de pagamento de tributos que lhes seria, em princípio, desfavorável para, a partir disso, contribuir com a discussão sobre o Simples Nacional como política pública de incentivo às MPE. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória de natureza qualitativa em que foi utilizado o método de estudo de caso. Os resultados mostram que o Simples Nacional não funciona para empresas que têm como clientes grandes redes de varejo, pois elas são forçadas pelo mercado a não fazer a opção pelo Simples. Conclui-se assim que, para determinados setores como o da empresa estudada, o Simples Nacional não resultou em vantagem alguma e, além disso, acarretou uma grande desvantagem: a lei que o instituiu revogou o Simples Federal e essas MPE deixaram de poder pagar os tributos federais de forma unificada.

Abstract From the 1970s, the importance of small business – SB – started to be increasingly recognized, mainly because of its role in generating employment. Among the measures taken by the Brazilian government to encourage and promote the SB, stands out the Simples Nacional law which included ICMS and ISS between taxes covered by the special tax regime. There are, however, many companies in condition to be in the Simples Nacional, but do not opt for this system, since this option would bring problems related to ICMS credits. The objective of this study is to identify and analyze the factors that lead these companies to opt for a system of paying taxes that would not be, in principle, favorable to them, in order to contribute to the discussion on the Simples Nacional and public policy incentives to SB. This is an exploratory qualitative research that used the method of case study. The results show that the Simples Nacional simply does not work for companies whose customers are large retail companies, because they are forced by the market not to make the option for the Simples system. Thus, the study concluded that, for certain sectors such as that of the company studied, the Simples Nacional did not result in any advantage for the SB and caused a disadvantage: the law that instituted it revoked the Simples Federal and the SB can no longer pay federal taxes in an unified way.

RESUMO. Avaliou-se o efeito da inclusão de farelo fino de algaroba (FFA) na ração sobre o desempenho, a preferência e a palatabilidade de dietas em cordeiros confinados. Cinco rações foram formuladas com níveis crescentes de FFA (0; 1,5; 3,0; 4,5 e 6,0%). Para a avaliação de desempenho, o delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos e sete repetições. Para as avaliações de palatabilidade e preferência foi utilizado o mesmo delineamento, porém os tratamentos corresponderam as rações com 0 e 3% de FFA e quatorze repetições. A palatabilidade foi avaliada considerando a quantidade de ração consumida em 30 min. e a preferência considerando o consumo das rações após 24h. O FFA não afeta o ganho de peso de ovinos, mas reduz a ingestão e aumenta a digestibilidade da matéria seca para nível de inclusão acima de 2,4%. A maior contribuição da inclusão de FFA deve ao aumento na digestibilidade da fibra em detergente neutro. A preferência e a palatabilidade de dietas em cordeiros confinados não é afetada pela inclusão de 3% de FFA.

ABSTRACT. We evaluated the effect of inclusion of fine mesquite pod meal (FPM) in the diet on performance, preference and palatability of diets in feedlot lambs. Five diets were formulated with increasing levels of FPM (0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0%). For performance evaluation, the design was completely randomized with five treatments and seven replications. For palatability and preference analysis, the same design was used, but the treatments consisted of diets with 0 and 3% FPM and fourteen replications. The palatability was assessed considering the amount of feed consumed within 30 min., and the preference, considering the feed intake after 24 hours. FPM had no influence on weight gain, but caused a reduction in intake and an increase in dry matter digestibility for inclusion level above 2.4%. The greatest contribution of FPM inclusion is due to the increase in neutral detergent fiber digestibility. The preference and palatability in feedlot lambs is not affected by the inclusion of 3% FPM.

INTRODUCTION : Exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmia (EIVA) and autonomic imbalance are considered as early markers of heart disease in Chagas disease (ChD) patients. The objective of the present study was to verify the differences in the occurrence of EIVA and autonomic maneuver indexes between healthy individuals and ChD patients with no apparent cardiac involvement. METHODS : A total of 75 ChD patients with no apparent cardiac involvement, aged 44.7 (8.5) years, and 38 healthy individuals, aged 44.0 (9.2) years, were evaluated using echocardiography, symptom-limited treadmill exercise testing and autonomic function tests. RESULTS : The occurrence of EIVA was higher in the chagasic group (48%) than in the control group (23.7%) during both the effort and the recovery phases. Frequent ventricular contractions occurred only in the patient group. Additionally, the respiratory sinus arrhythmia index was significantly lower in the chagasic individuals compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS : ChD patients with no apparent cardiac involvement had a higher frequency of EIVA as well as more vagal dysfunction by respiratory sinus arrhythmia. These results suggest that even when asymptomatic, ChD patients possess important arrhythmogenic substrates and subclinical disease.

Chagas disease (ChD), a neglected tropical disease caused by infection with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), remains a serious public health issue in Latin America and is an emerging disease in several non-endemic countries, where knowledge of the condition and experience with its clinical management are limited. Regionally, the disease is the major cause of disability secondary to tropical diseases in young adults. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment is common in patients with ChD, especially in those with Chagas dilated cardiomyopathy, the most severe manifestation of the disease, which frequently leads to heart failure. The aim of this review was to conduct a literature search for studies that have evaluated the determining factors of HRQoL in ChD patients. We included cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, and experimental studies, as well as clinical trials that evaluated the HRQoL in ChD patients aged 18 to 60 years and are presenting an explicit description of statistical analysis. Using a combination of keywords based on Descriptors in Health Sciences (DeCS) and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) for searches in PubMed and the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), 148 studies were found. After exclusions, 12 studies were selected for analysis. Three main findings were extracted from these studies: 1) cardiac involvement is associated with a worse HRQoL in ChD patients; 2) HRQoL is associated with the patients' functional capacity; and 3) simple and inexpensive therapeutic measures are effective for improving HRQoL in ChD patients. Hence, ChD patients' functional capacity, the effectiveness of non-surgical conservative treatment, and cardiac involvement are important determining factors for the HRQoL in ChD patients.

Foram avaliados o consumo e a produção de leite de cabras recebendo dietas contendo farelo de cacau (FC) ou torta de dendê (TD) em substituição ao milho e ao farelo de soja da ração concentrada. Foram utilizadas cinco cabras da raça Saanen, com produção média diária de 2,0 kg de leite e aos 60 dias de lactação, distribuídas em um quadrado latino 5 x 5. Os períodos experimentais tiveram duração de 14 dias, em que os dez primeiros foram destinados à adaptação e os quatro últimos, à coleta de amostras. As rações foram isoprotéicas, com 13,2% de proteína bruta. As dietas constituíram-se de 36% de volumoso (silagem de milho) e 64% de concentrado na matéria seca. Os tratamentos consistiram de concentrado à base de milho e soja com 0, 15 e 30% de FC ou TD. Os consumos de matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta, nutrientes digestíveis totais, carboidratos totais e carboidratos não-fibrosos reduziram com a inclusão de 30% de FC. Os consumos de fibra em detergente neutro e extrato etéreo (EE) não foram alterados pelas dietas. O consumo de fibra em detergente ácido diferiu apenas entre os tratamentos com 30% de TD e 30% de FC, sendo 0,94 e 0,59% do peso vivo animal, respectivamente. O tratamento com 30% de FC proporcionou menor produção de leite (1,208 kg/dia), se assemelhando apenas ao tratamento com inclusão de 30% de TD quando a produção foi corrigida para 3,5% de gordura. O FC e a TD apresentam viabilidade de uso como alternativa na dieta de cabras em lactação em até 9,13 e 18,81% da matéria seca, respectivamente.

The effects of replacing corn and soybean meal with cocoa meal (CF) or palm kernel cake (PKC) in the concentrate on milk intake and yield of goats were evaluated. Five Saanen goats, averaging 2 kg daily milk yield at 60 days of lactation, were assigned to a 5 x 5 Latin square experimental design. The experiment lasted 14 days, with 10 days for adaptation period and four days for sample collection. Diets contained: 36% of roughage (corns silage) and 64% of concentrate, dry matter basis, formulated toyield 13.2% of crude protein. The treatments were as follows: 0, 15 and 30% CF or PKC, all with concentrate (corn and soybean meal). Dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, total digestible nutrients, total carbohydrates and nonfiber carbohydrates intakes decreased as affected by the highest replacement level (30% CF). No significant differences on neutral detergent fiber and ether extract intake were observed. Acid detergent fiber intake differed only between 30% PKC and 30% CF-based diets, with 0.94 and 0.59% body weight, respectively. The 30% CF-based diet showed lower milk production value, as kg/dia (1.208 kg), but similar to 30% PKC-based diet, when corrected for 3.5% fat. Replacing corn and soybean with CF and PKC in the diet of lactating goats is viable up to 9.13 and 18.81% dry matter, respectively.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes de dietas, contendo farelo de cacau (Theobroma cacao L.) ou torta de dendê (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), em substituição parcial ao concentrado à base de milho e farelo de soja, na alimentação de cabras lactantes. Foram utilizadas cinco cabras da raça Saanen, aos 60 dias de lactação, em experimento delineado em quadrado latino 5x5, com duração de 14 dias, dos quais 10 dias de adaptação e quatro para coleta dos dados. As dietas, formuladas para possibilitar produção de 2 kg de leite por dia, constituíram-se de 36% de volumoso e 64% de concentrado. Utilizou-se, como volumoso, a silagem de milho e concentrado padrão, com substituição de 0%, 15% e 30% pelo farelo de cacau ou torta de dendê. Houve redução na digestibilidade real da proteína bruta, com a inclusão do farelo de cacau, a 15% e 30%. O coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente, do extrato etéreo das dietas com 30% de torta de dendê, foi maior que o de 15% de farelo de cacau. Os subprodutos, em razão da digestibilidade aparente, apresentam viabilidade de uso, como alternativa na dieta de cabras em lactação.

The objective of this work was to evaluate nutrients apparent digestibility of diets containing cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) meal or palm kernel (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) cake, which partially replaced corn and soybean meal concentrate in lactating goats feeding. Five Saanen goats, in 60 days of lactation, were used in a 5x5 latin square experimental design, during 14 days, comprehending an adaptation period of 10 days and four days for data collection. Diets formulated to allow milk production of 2 kg day-1 consisted of 36% roughage and 64% concentrate. The roughage used was corn silage and 0%, 15% and 30% of cocoa meal or palm kernel cake substituted the standard concentrate. There was reduction of crude protein real digestibility with inclusion of cocoa meal (15% and 30%). The ether extract apparent digestibility coefficient of diets, with 30% palm kernel cake, was greater than that of 15% cocoa meal. The by-products have potential as alternative feed for lactating goats, based on their apparent digestibility.