In the last ten years, the recovery movement has significantly influenced mental health services and workers, psychiatric reform, and the advocacy movement worldwide. Within Brazil’s public mental health care system, operates a cohesive, powerful advocacy coalition empowering recovery-oriented practices. This article aims to highlight successful initiatives spearheaded by individuals with lived experience in Brazil. We will also present some challenges, and discuss possible recovery strategies to strengthen mental health services by empowering people with lived experience and promoting social justice. Efforts and initiatives to implement recovery strategies in Brazil are underway, aiming to improve population mental health and substance misuse both within and outside mental health services. These initiatives include peer support, advocacy, testimonies and empowerment, employment, and social, cultural, and artistic initiatives. Some of the challenges to greater participation of individuals with lived experience in this ongoing process of Brazilian psychiatric reform include the following aspects: barriers to the autonomy and independence of lived experience organizations; the longstanding history of racism in Brazilian society; disparities in social indicators such as education and income, between professionals and people with lived experience in mental health and substance misuse. Although progress in Brazil’s psychiatric reform has advanced through recovery initiatives, challenges remain in ensuring leadership roles for people with lived experience. Ongoing success depends on their active involvement, alongside advocacy movements and involvement of broader society.

Recent changes to US research funding are having far-reaching consequences that imperil the integrity of science and the provision of care to vulnerable populations. Resisting these changes, the BJPsych Portfolio reaffirms its commitment to publishing mental science and advancing psychiatric knowledge that improves the mental health of one and all.

Several studies have indicated a potential inverse association between caffeine intake from dietary sources—assessed through dietary questionnaires—and uric acid (UA) levels. However, to date, no study has examined the relationship between urinary caffeine metabolites, which serve as a reliable biomarker of caffeine intake, and UA levels. Our aim was to evaluate the association between caffeine metabolites in urine and serum UA levels. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012, involving 1,252 individuals aged 20 to 80 years. The study assessed caffeine and 14 metabolites in spot urine samples, as well as serum UA levels. Hyperuricemia was defined as UA levels exceeding 7.0 mg/dL for men and 6.0 mg/dL for women. In logistic regression analyses, theobromine (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.980 - 0.999), 3-methyluric acid (OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.837 - 0.996), 7-methyluric acid (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.989 - 0.998), and 3-methylxanthine (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.992 - 0.999) were associated with decreased odds of hyperuricemia. In linear regression analyses, paraxanthine (β = -0.004, p= 0.006), theobromine (β = -0.004, p= <0.001), 7-methyluric acid (β = -0.003, p= 0.003), 3,7-dimethyluric acid (β = -0.029, p= 0.024), 3-methylxanthine (β = -0.001, p= 0.038), and 7-methylxanthine (β = -0.001, p= 0.001) were inversely associated with serum UA levels. In conclusion, our results indicate that several urinary caffeine metabolites are inversely associated with UA levels. These findings should be interpreted with caution due to the small magnitude of the observed associations.

Local content policies (LCPs) are key instruments of industrial policy used by middle-income countries (MICs) to capture segments of global value chains (GVCs). While, in principle, LCPs are very similar, in practice, they are highly diverse. What to prioritize, how to measure it, while promoting firms’ upgrade are decisions that create room for national varieties. Considering this background, we compare LCPs for the oil and gas sector in Brazil and Malaysia. Both countries have adopted different forms of LCP over time. While Brazil has adopted an inward-looking version of LCP focusing on import-substitution, job creation, and domestic production, Malaysia implemented a more outward-looking version, focusing on coownership by nationals and strategic supplier development with less emphasis on domestic production. We argue that two very diverse developmental policy paradigms embedded in each country explain these different trajectories. In Brazil, a productivist version of developmentalism focused on domestic output underplayed the importance of integrating in GVCs. In contrast, an ethnic-based version of developmentalism in Malaysia was more flexible and allowed a better integration of domestic companies in GVCs. Our analysis sheds light on the importance of the interaction between ideas, interests, and institutions, focusing on how LCPs can build internationally competitive companies.

While the literature has largely focused on legal challenges to public healthcare rationing decisions, claims against private insurance companies in voluntary health insurance (VHI) schemes have received less attention. This paper aims to fill this gap by analysing a representative sample of 1,547 court of appeal decisions related to treatment funding claims filed against private insurance companies in Brazil from 2018 to 2021. Courts decided 83.6% of cases in favour of patients, ordering VHI companies to fully fund the claimed treatment. Patients´ rate of success is even higher (96%) in the cases in which insurance companies denied coverage on the grounds that the claimed treatment was not listed in the benefits package mandated by regulation. Court decisions present additional challenges to setting priorities through health technology assessment and explicit packages in the VHI sector. This has broader implications for health care equality and access in Brazil.

The impact of several ‘flavours’ of free-stream turbulence (FST) on the structural response of a cantilever cylinder, subjected to a turbulent cross-flow is investigated. At high enough Reynolds numbers, the cylinder generates a spectrally rich turbulent wake that contributes significantly to the experienced loads. The presence of FST introduces additional complexity through two primary mechanisms: directly, by imposing a fluctuating velocity field on the cylinder’s surface, and indirectly, by altering the vortex shedding dynamics, modifying the experienced loads. We employ concurrent temporally resolved particle image velocimetry and distributed strain measurements using Rayleigh backscattering fibre optic sensors to instrument the surrounding velocity field and the structural strain respectively. By using various turbulence-generating grids, and manipulating their distance to the cylinder, we assess a broad FST parameter space allowing us to explore individually the influence of the transverse integral length scale ($\mathcal{L}_{13}/D$) and turbulence intensity of the FST on the developing load dynamics. The FST enhances the magnitude of the loads acting on the cylinder. This results from a decreased vortex formation length, increased coherence of regular vortex shedding, and energy associated with this flow structure in the near wake. The cylinder’s structural response is driven mainly by the vortex shedding dynamics, and its modification induced by the presence of FST, i.e. the indirect effect outweighs the direct effect. From the explored FST parameter space, turbulence intensity was seen to be the main driver of enhanced loading conditions, presenting a positive correlation with the fluctuating loads magnitude at the root.

Parallel manipulators (PMs) are adopted in different fields due to their superior characteristics compared to serial manipulators. PMs with flexible links are likely more energy efficient and have high dynamic performance since they are lighter than those with rigid links. On the other hand, due to their lightweight design, the flexibility can lead to undesired deformation and vibration, decreasing the tracking trajectory and transient errors. This work proposes a two-loop active vibration control strategy, using strain gauges and piezoelectric lead zirconate (PZT) actuators, to compensate for the undesired effect of the flexibility. A pose control loop exploits the sliding mode control using data collected from images acquired by an oCam-5CRO-U camera, while the active vibration control loop uses strain gauge sensors and PZT actuators. Strain gauges are responsible for measuring the deformation of each link, and after being treated by digital filters, these signals are applied to the PZT actuator. Combining both loops allows the manipulator to be guided over the desired trajectory with positive vibration attenuation. The results reveal that the presence of the PZT on both sides of the flexible links increases the links’ rigidity, yielding overshoot and vibration reduction during the manipulator’s motion. In addition, the maximum peak is significantly attenuated, and the overall oscillations are also positively reduced when using the two-loop active control strategy. The root mean square error quantifies this attenuation, showing an average reduction of 30% in the corresponding step input directions. Therefore, the proposal improves the system performance by enhancing the tracking trajectory with lower vibrations.

The impact of synchronising the collection and supply of breast milk produced during the day and night on improving long-term health outcomes for preterm infants is discussed, focusing on breast milk as a valuable source of melatonin, an essential synchroniser of biological rhythms.

Soil health is a term used to describe the general state or soil quality in an agroecosystem. The study of aggregate formation pathways has been successfully used to assess soil quality, especially chemistry, particularly in measuring the impact of different forms of use and management on soil health. This study aimed to (i) verify the contribution of biogenic (Bio) and physicogenic (Phy) aggregates to soil fertility; (ii) evaluate the total carbon (TC), nitrogen (TN), phosphorus (TP), and potassium contents and their respective stoichiometric ratios in these aggregates; and (iii) analyse the relationship between the P fractions (labile, moderately labile, and non-labile) and these aggregates. Three management systems were evaluated (permanent pasture, PP; no-tillage system, NT; and no-tillage + Urochloa system, NT+B) as well as a reference area (Atlantic Forest biome vegetation, NF). All the sample areas are located on soils with a sandy texture in the surface horizons. Aggregates were separated, identified, and classified according to their genesis into Bio (biotic factors) and Phy (abiotic factors). Only the PP system had significant increase in the values of TC, TN, TP, TK, and organic and inorganic P. The NT+B system favoured a proportional increase in TC content compared to the aggregates of the NF and NT areas, especially in the subsurface layer (ranging from 31 to 44%). For Bio aggregates, there were increments in TC and TN contents compared to Phy ones, especially in the NT and NT+B systems (8 to 30% for TC and 56 to 239% for TN). Bio aggregates also had the lowest values of C/N ratio in the surface layer (< 30), highest values of C/P ratio in the subsurface layer (> 33), and greater participation of the organic form of P in TP in the surface layer (between 26 and 42%). The chemical attributes in the aggregates were affected differently by the soil management systems, especially PP and NT+B systems. The results verified for Bio aggregates strengthen the hypothesis that these structural units are important sources of nutrients for the soil and reiterate the importance of studying the formation pathways in assessment soil health.

The relationship between Zapatismo and women’s liberation has sparked heated debates between academics and activists alike. Although the Zapatistas’ official communiqués have promoted gender parity, criticism has been aimed at Zapatista fiction for accentuating gender stereotypes and for contradictions regarding women’s rights. This article discusses the children’s books Habrá una vez (2016) and Hablar colores (2018), encountered during archival and ethnographic research in Zapatista territory, and examines how “Zapafiction” embraces contradiction as constructive revolutionary politics. The children’s books analyzed here depict ecofeminist characters, including Defensa Zapatista (an approximately eight-year-old schoolgirl), Gato-Perro (a cat-dog symbolizing nonbinary identities), a disabled horse, and Loa Otroa (embodying queer identities). Instead of solving contradictions, I argue that these characters reject the romanticization of progressive political movements while viewing Zapatismo as the venue for advancing dignity as a way of life (jch’uleltik). Through the concept of imperfect politics, Zapafiction leverages the principle of caminando y preguntando, “walking, we ask questions,” to reimagine the governing structures of the organization through fiction, moving beyond theoretical doctrines on how politics should be.

Elephant grass [Cenchrus purpureus (Schum.) Morrone] is a tropical forage grass widely used in ruminant feeding in tropical and subtropical areas, mainly in cut-and-carry systems due to is high potential for herbage accumulation. However, most common genotypes (tall genotypes) generally show an early stem elongation, which contributes to a rapid decline in the forage nutritive value. Dwarf elephant grass types usually present less stem elongation and may be considered an option for the production of high nutritive value forage in cut-and-carry systems. The aims of this study were to evaluate and explain variations in herbage characteristics and kinetics of in vitro gas production of irrigated elephant grass genotypes (two tall-types – Elephant B and IRI-381 – and two dwarf-types genotypes – Mott and Taiwan A-146 2.37) under two harvest frequencies (60 and 90 days) in the dry and rainy seasons of two years. Herbage characteristics varied among genotypes, harvest frequency and seasons. Dwarf genotypes showed better in vitro fermentation parameters with the advancement of maturity compared to the tall size genotypes. Harvesting tall genotypes at a higher frequency (60-day) contributed to improving the fermentation, while dwarf elephant grass maintained greater fermentation when less frequent harvests were adopted (90-day).

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by Schistosoma species, remains highly prevalent in tropical regions, where it contributes significantly to hepatic and vascular complications. Despite the well-established role of parasitic eggs in driving inflammation and organ damage, the specific vascular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Given the role of angiogenesis and vascular remodelling in tissue repair, the angiopoietins (ANGs) could be promising biomarkers to evaluate disease progression. This study aims to explore the relationship between ANG levels with parasitic load in patients with schistosomiasis. In this cross-sectional study, 126 schistosomiasis patients were stratified into three groups based on parasitic egg burden: negative, low, and moderate/high. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected, and serum ANGs were quantified via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Parasitic load was assessed through stool examination, quantifying the number of Schistosoma eggs per gram of faeces. Additional clinical parameters, including liver abnormalities and blood chemistry, were evaluated. The ANG-2 levels and the ANG-2/ANG-1 ratio were significantly elevated in patients with higher egg burdens, particularly in the moderate/high group. The ANG-2/ANG-1 ratio was notably higher in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. While systemic blood pressure and oxygen saturation showed no significant differences between groups, patients with elevated triglycerides had lower ANG-2 levels. Elevated ANG-2 levels and an increased ANG-2/ANG-1 ratio correlate with higher parasitic burdens, reinforcing their potential as biomarkers for disease severity. These findings underscore the role of egg-induced inflammation in schistosomiasis pathophysiology and suggest that ANGs could aid in early diagnosis and treatment decisions, particularly in populations with high parasitic loads.

Species abundances and richness are central parameters in ecology and crucial for describing diversity and composition across environments. Understanding how they vary in natural environments is critical for informed conservation decisions, especially in the face of anthropogenic pressures, such as deforestation and climate change. We evaluate the influence of landscape and local habitat variables on the richness and abundances of lizards in the Caatinga, the largest continuous block of seasonally dry tropical forests. We sampled seven lizard communities for three months using visual encounters along transects. We recorded landscape and microhabitat variables and evaluated their influence on lizard species richness, diversity, and occurrence using model selection. Ten lizard species were recorded, with Tropidurus semitaeniatus, Ameivula ocellifera, and Tropidurus hispidus being the most abundant. Topographic complexity and the number of rocky outcrops positively affect species richness and diversity by promoting environmental heterogeneity and hence increasing refuges, shelters, and thermoregulation sites. Different microhabitat and landscape variables were important predictors of the occurrences of individual lizard species. The quantity of rocks significantly increased the likelihood of Tropidurus semitaeniatus occurrence, while litter negatively affected Tropidurus hispidus, and fallen logs increased the probability of Ameiva ameiva occurrence. We argue that preserving topographically complex regions is essential for maintaining the diversity of lizards in the Caatinga biome.

We introduce a comprehensive method for establishing stochastic orders among order statistics in the independent and identically distributed case. This approach relies on the assumption that the underlying distribution is linked to a reference distribution through a transform order. Notably, this method exhibits broad applicability, particularly since several well-known nonparametric distribution families can be defined using relevant transform orders, including the convex and the star transform orders. Moreover, for convex-ordered families, we show that an application of Jensen’s inequality gives bounds for the probability that a random variable exceeds the expected value of its corresponding order statistic.

The objective was to evaluate the influence of supplementation of L-arginine at 10 g/kg on the performance of lactating sows and their litters by evaluating the milk amino acid composition, serum hormone levels, mammary tissue redox status indicators, mammary tissue histomorphology, and the expression of genes related to mammary gland metabolism. The study was conducted in the municipality of Oliveira, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 2019. A total of 24 sows were selected. A completely randomized design was used in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, with two diets (control and 10 g L-arginine/kg) and three mammary gland positions (thoracic, abdominal and inguinal), totaling six treatment groups. Each dietary treatment consisted of 12 replicates, with each replicate equivalent to one experimental unit, which was considered a sow and its litter. Females that were fed a diet supplemented with L-arginine had lower feed intake and greater weight loss. Piglets from sows that received L-arginine supplementation presented reduced weaning weight variation. L-arginine supplementation did not affect the amino acid composition of the milk, the plasma hormone levels of the sows, the oxidative stress parameters of redox, or breast tissue morphology. However, it may modulate the expression of genes important for mammary gland metabolism, such as the COX1 and SLC27A4. Piglets that suckled teats in the thoracic and abdominal positions had higher mean weights at 14 and 23 days, as well as greater daily weight gains. L-arginine supplementation to sows improves litter quality by increasing weaning weight uniformity; piglets that occupy the thoracic and abdominal positions perform better.