Brazil Research Articles

Edible Insects: Consumption, Perceptions, Culture and Tradition Among Adult Citizens from 14 Countries

Although edible insects (EIs) are encouraged as a sustainable source of protein, their consumption is not as generalised as other types of food that are internationally accepted. While in some regions of the world, EIs are part of the gastronomic and cultural traditions, in other regions, people are not so receptive to this type of food, and some people even express some disgust towards it. Hence, this research focused on the habits of the participants regarding the consumption of insects as well as their perceptions about EIs being or not a part of the local culture or gastronomic patrimony. A questionnaire survey was implemented in fourteen countries (Brazil, Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey), and globally, 7222 adult participants responded to the questionnaire. SPSS software (version 28) was used to process the data and carry out chi-square tests and Factor Analyses (FA). The obtained results showed significant differences between countries for all the questions included in the survey, either those regarding the habits of the participants or their opinions about the facts linked with EI tradition or cultural aspects. It was found that participants from Mexico consume EIs more than in all other countries and that strong motivations that would lead to consumption among those who do not consume include curiosity and food shortage. The solution obtained with FA considering the ten statements of the scale consisted of two factors: F1—Culture and Tradition of EIs (α = 0.675) and F2—Acceptance of EIs (α = 0.614). In conclusion, the consumption of EIs and the perceptions of people are highly variable according to geographic location and cultural environment.

Reflection on the bicentennial of Brazil's independence in the period from 1822 until 2022

This article reflects on the international conference for the bicentenary of Brazil's independence, held in São Paulo, from the 6th to the 15th of February 2023, organized by the University of São Paulo and sponsored by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). It aimed to publicize the essence of the bicentenary of Brazil's independence, which was led by Emperor D. Pedro I, in 1822. Throughout the history of Brazil, there were two reigns, the first was that of D. Pedro the First, who succeeded his father in 1821, and the second was the reign of D. Pedro II, which began in 1840. The causes and actions that led to the abolition of slavery in Brazil. It was concluded that Brazil's independence was achieved on September 7, 1822, and was manifested by the scream on the banks of the Ipiranga river in São Paulo, by the characters who were involved together with D. Pedro I. Thus, Brazil ceased to be kingdom of Portugal. On November 15, 1889, the Federative Republic of Brazil was proclaimed, thus ending the monarchy regime.

Fact-Checkers on the Fringe: Investigating Methods and Practices Associated With Contested Areas of Fact-Checking

This study investigates the methods and practices used by self-identified fact-checkers situated on the fringe of the field of fact-checking to support their agenda for public recognition and legitimacy. Using a case study approach and selecting nine cases across five countries (Russia, Brazil, India, China, and Singapore), we identify the most common distinguishable attributes and tactics associated with this ambiguous collection of actors. In addition to identifying how fringe fact-checkers weaponize fact-checking practices and exploit or mimic the social standing of accredited fact-checkers, we critique examples where state-supported fact-checkers associated with authoritarian governance structures fact-check for national interests. We propose a spectrum of fact-checkers including those where public or general interest fact-checkers follow journalistic ideals and align with accredited communities of practice or non-accredited peer recognition, and a collection of fringe fact-checkers ranging from “special interest” actors promoting specific political agendas to hostile actors with disruptive, destructive, and openly propagandistic interests and aims to destabilize the global public sphere. The article contributes to current research and debates about the institutionalization of fact-checking and the understudied area of fact-checking impersonation, a problematic activity associated with misinformation and propaganda on platforms and the internet.

Fintech competencies in emerging markets: Cognitive hybrid decision-making approach

The purpose of this study is to make a priority analysis for the factors affecting fintech competency for emerging markets. A novel 3-stage decision-making model has been established to reach this objective. First, missing evaluations are completed by using recommender systems. The next stage includes the weight calculation of the criteria via quantum spherical fuzzy cognitive maps. The final stage gives information about the ranking of BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China) for the fintech competency performance. It is defined that technological infrastructure plays the most crucial role in this regard.

Non-optimum temperatures led to labour productivity burden by causing premature deaths: A multi-country study

BackgroundNon-optimum temperatures are associated with a considerable mortality burden. However, there is a lack of evaluation of labour productivity losses related to premature deaths due to non-optimum temperatures. This study aimed to quantify the labour productivity burden associated with premature deaths related to non-optimum temperatures and explore the potential socio-economic vulnerabilities. MethodsDaily all-cause mortality data were collected from 1,066 locations in 7 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, South Korea, and Thailand). Productivity-Adjusted Life-Year (PALY) loss due to each premature death was calculated to measure the labour productivity loss, by multiplying the years of working life lost by the proportion of the equivalent full-time (EFT) workers. A two-stage times series design and the generalized linear regression model with a quasi-Poisson family were applied to assess the association between non-optimum temperatures and the PALY loss due to premature deaths. ResultsWe observed a U-shaped relationship between temperature and PALY lost due to premature mortality. We estimated that 2.51% (95% eCI: 2.05%, 2.92%) of PALY losses could be attributed to non-optimal temperatures, with cold-related deaths contributing 1.26% (95% eCI: 0.94%, 1.54%) and heat-related deaths contributing 1.25% (95% eCI: 0.96%, 1.51%). Cold temperature contributed to the most PALYs lost in those aged 45–54 and 55–64, while heat-related losses predominated among the 15–44 age group. We also observed that the fractions of PALY lost attributed to extreme heat were positively associated with the relative deprivation index, while negatively associated with GDP per capita. ConclusionThis multi-country study highlights that non-optimum temperatures led to a considerable labour productivity loss and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities experience greater losses.

Trends in Temperatures in Latin America: A Time-Series Perspective Based on Fractional Integration

Abstract In this article, we examine the time-series properties of the temperatures in Latin America. We look at the presence of time trends in the context of potential long-memory processes, looking at the average, maximum, and minimum values from 1901 to 2021. Our results indicate that when looking at the average data, there is a tendency to return to the mean value in all cases. However, it is noted that in the cases of Guatemala, Mexico, and Brazil, which are the countries with the highest degree of integration, the process of reversion could take longer than in the remaining countries. We also point out that the time trend coefficient is significantly positive in practically all cases, especially in temperatures in the Caribbean islands such as Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, and the British Virgin Islands. When analyzing the maximum and minimum temperatures, the highest degrees of integration are observed in the minimum values, and the highest values are obtained again in Brazil, Guatemala, and Mexico. The time trend coefficients are significantly positive in almost all cases, with the only two exceptions being Bolivia and Paraguay. Looking at the range (i.e., the difference between maximum and minimum temperatures), evidence of orders of integration above 0.5 is found in nine countries (Aruba, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Venezuela), implying that shocks in the range will take longer to disappear than in the rest of the countries.

EFFICIENT MARKET HYPOTHESIS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: BRICS-T COUNTRIES

The impact of COVID-19 on financial markets has become a significant topic of research in the literature. Particularly, the declaration of the outbreak as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, altered investors' risk perceptions and led to major fluctuations in stock markets. In this study, the response of stock indices in BRICS-T countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and Türkiye) to the pandemic declaration was analyzed using the Event Study method. The event window was set as -5 to +5 days, and the estimation window was selected as the 90 days preceding the event. As a result of the analysis based on the comparison of normal and abnormal returns, it was found that all BRICS-T stock markets, except China, were not semi-strong form efficient. In addition, the results of the paired sample t-test applied to all stock markets demonstrated that the difference between abnormal returns calculated before and after COVID-19 was statistically significant. In this context, it was concluded that, unlike previous outbreaks, the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant fluctuations in financial markets. This study provides an important contribution to understanding the effects of the pandemic on emerging markets and examining investor behavior.

Methaemoglobin as a surrogate marker of primaquine antihypnozoite activity in Plasmodium vivax malaria: A systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis.

The 8-aminoquinolines, primaquine and tafenoquine, are the only available drugs for the radical cure of Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites. Previous evidence suggests that there is dose-dependent 8-aminoquinoline induced methaemoglobinaemia and that higher methaemoglobin concentrations are associated with a lower risk of P. vivax recurrence. We undertook a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis to examine the utility of methaemoglobin as a population-level surrogate endpoint for 8-aminoquinoline antihypnozoite activity to prevent P. vivax recurrence. We conducted a systematic search of Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, from 1 January 2000 to 29 September 2022, inclusive, of prospective clinical efficacy studies of acute, uncomplicated P. vivax malaria mono-infections treated with radical curative doses of primaquine. The day 7 methaemoglobin concentration was the primary surrogate outcome of interest. The primary clinical outcome was the time to first P. vivax recurrence between day 7 and day 120 after enrolment. We used multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression with site random-effects to characterise the time to first recurrence as a function of the day 7 methaemoglobin percentage (log base 2 transformed), adjusted for the partner schizonticidal drug, the primaquine regimen duration as a proxy for the total primaquine dose (mg base/kg), the daily primaquine dose (mg/kg), and other factors. The systematic review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023345956). We identified 219 P. vivax efficacy studies, of which 8 provided relevant individual-level data from patients treated with primaquine; all were randomised, parallel arm clinical trials assessed as having low or moderate risk of bias. In the primary analysis data set, there were 1,747 patients with normal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity enrolled from 24 study sites across 8 different countries (Indonesia, Brazil, Vietnam, Thailand, Peru, Colombia, Ethiopia, and India). We observed an increasing dose-response relationship between the daily weight-adjusted primaquine dose and day 7 methaemoglobin level. For a given primaquine dose regimen, an observed doubling in day 7 methaemoglobin percentage was associated with an estimated 30% reduction in the risk of P. vivax recurrence (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.57, 0.86]; p = 0.0005). These pooled estimates were largely consistent across the study sites. Using day 7 methaemoglobin as a surrogate endpoint for recurrence would reduce required sample sizes by approximately 40%. Study limitations include the inability to distinguish between recrudescence, reinfection, and relapse in P. vivax recurrences. For a given primaquine regimen, higher methaemoglobin on day 7 was associated with a reduced risk of P. vivax recurrence. Under our proposed causal model, this justifies the use of methaemoglobin as a population-level surrogate endpoint for primaquine antihypnozoite activity in patients with P. vivax malaria who have normal G6PD activity.

National schools of diplomatic training: divergences in the global epistemology of international relations

The proposition of establishing “global international relations” (Global IR) as an amalgamation of diverse national epistemologies in the field of international relations, potentially superseding the Western-centric paradigm, presents significant challenges. A critical inquiry emerges: Is it possible to form a discipline based on the polyphony of national approaches, despite the fact that the ontology of international relations has remained fundamentally unchanged since the mid-17th century? This study evaluates the thesis of extant national epistemologies in international relations by examining national traditions of diplomatic training. The primary research question is formulated as follows: What are the foundational approaches employed by leading states in the training of IR specialists, and can these approaches be considered reflective of national epistemologies regarding the nature of international relations? The research methodology involves a synthesis of findings from an examination of diplomatic training institutions across a diverse sample of countries. This sample encompasses Western nations (United Kingdom, Hungary, Poland, United States, Finland, France, and Germany), Asian countries (Vietnam, Indonesia, India, China, and the Republic of Korea), Middle Eastern states (Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey), African nations (Nigeria and South Africa), and Latin American countries (Brazil, Mexico, and Cuba). The article is structured in two principal sections. The theoretical section explores the hypothesis of “global international relations” within the context of existing literature and theoretical frameworks. The second section synthesizes the empirical findings from the study of national approaches to diplomatic training, testing the hypothesis of its correlation with national epistemologies in the field of international relations.

Antigas e novas amizades de imigrantes latino-americanos

In view of the growth of international migration, including in Latin America, the present investigation aimed to analyze the history of old and new friendships of Latin American immigrants throughout their lives in the new country (Brazil, other Latin American countries, Spain and Portugal). More specifically, it was intended to investigate how recent migration affects existing friendships and the formation of new ones, with people of any nationality and culture. 40 immigrants participated in this descriptive-qualitative study (70% women and 50% between 30 and 39 years old), divided into four groups: A) 20 Latin Americans who lived in Brazil; B) three Brazilians who lived in another Latin American country; C) 12 Brazilians who lived in Spain; and D) five Brazilians who lived in Portugal. The instrument used was a questionnaire with open questions, sent and received by e-mail, producing written reports. In total, direct contacts were made by e-mail with national and international universities and educational institutions, as well as by messages on social networks with approximately 1,000 people, between August 2014 and January 2016. A detailed analysis of the data was conducted with a coding process (interpretation of the statements), and subsequent organization of the material into categories, based on qualitative content analysis. The main results of the study pointed out that most of the close friends are of the same gender and of the same nationality, and most of them reside in the country of origin of the immigrant. The ties in the immigrant's country of origin are close friendships, of many years, whose main means of contact are Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp, telephone, e-mail, internet and in person, and the frequency of contacts varies from daily to monthly. According to the participants, it is very good to see friends from their home country, with the most common shared activities being eating or going to restaurants, drinking or going to bars and staying at home. Both old (compatriots) and new friends (usually natives of the new country or other immigrants) are important in the process of migration from one culture to another. The beginning of friendships in the new country happens, for the most part, in the academic environment, through other friends and through relatives. Finally, Latin American immigrants in Brazil and Brazilians in other Latin American countries demonstrated a mostly positive view of natives before establishing friendships with them; and Brazilian immigrants in Spain and Portugal a negative view.

Will the EU deforestation-free products regulation (EUDR) reduce tropical forest loss? Insights from three producer countries

The European Union regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) represents a policy innovation with important implications for the governance of global commodity chains. We discuss the risks and limitations of this policy derived from an ex-ante assessment of the robustness of its theory of change. For doing so, we use insights from the literature on zero-deforestation commitments and other private standards in value chains and from trade and deforestation patterns in three relevant producer countries (Brazil, Colombia and Indonesia). Despite the potentially positive symbolic effect in mobilizing a global agenda for combating deforestation, the EUDR faces several drawbacks and risks associated with three of its constitutive features: To be demand-oriented, having the value chain as the unit of intervention and holding a high degree of unilateralism. We conclude that to be effective in curbing tropical deforestation, the Regulation must be complemented with international cooperation aiming to strengthen national policies with a territorial approach, as well as social movements addressing the underlying causes of forest loss and human rights violations in the territories where it takes place.

Analyzing the impact of country-of-origin, geographical indication and wine world on low-involvement generation Z potential consumers’ attitudes toward wine ads

PurposeThis study aims to compare the influence of origin types (country-of-origin – COO versus geographic indication – GI) and wine worlds (new versus old wine country – represented by Brazil and Italia, respectively) on the attitude of low-involvement Generation Z potential consumers from Brazil toward wine ads.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a two (COO vs GI) by two (New vs Old World) within-subject experimental design with 98 Brazilians from Generation Z. Latin square was used to systematically counterbalances the sequence in which participants were exposed to ads.FindingsThe results reveal that potential consumers’ attitudes are more positive when a COO is used in wine advertisements than when a GI is used. Besides, the consumers’ conative response is more positive when an Old World country (Italy) is used in wine ads than when New World country (Brazil) is used.Research limitations/implicationsThis study expands existing literature by showing that, in wine ads, COO information elicits more positive responses than GI. It also suggests a preference among potential consumers for Old over New World wines in purchase, recommendation and consumption decisions.Practical implicationsThe wine advertisements for the market segment investigated should highlight the COO instead of geographical indication (GI). Besides, the authors point out the importance of promoting the concept of GI among low-involvement Generation Z potential consumers.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to assess potential consumers’ attitudes toward wine ads, comparing COO and GI and determining which geographical cue elicits more positive consumer attitudes: origin types (COO vs GI) or wine worlds (Old vs New).

Fatal journeys: causes of death in international travellers in South America.

Understanding mortality among travellers is essential for mitigating risks and enhancing travel safety. However, limited evidence exists on severe illnesses and injuries leading to death among travellers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and remote regions. We conducted a retrospective census study using country-level observational data from death certificates of travellers of seven South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay) from 2017 to 2021. Causes of death were evaluated using ICD-10 codes, categorised into non-communicable diseases (NCDs), communicable diseases, and injuries. We quantified causes of death by demographic characteristics (e.g. age, sex), and geographical variables. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences between categories. We calculated crude mortality rates and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) per country's subregions. A total of 17 245 deaths were reported. NCDs (55%) were the most common cause of death, followed by communicable diseases (23.4%) and injuries (18.1%). NCD-associated deaths increased after age 55years and were highest among ≥85years. Communicable diseases were more common at younger age (<20years). Injury-associated deaths were more common in men (79.9%) and 25-29-year-olds (17.1%). Most deaths (68.2%) could have been avoided by prevention or treatment. Mortality risk was higher among travellers in bordering regions between countries. In Roraima [Brazil] and Norte de Santander [Colombia], locations bordering Venezuela, the death incidence rate ratio was 863 and 60, respectively. These countries' reference mortality rates in those regions were much lower. More than 80% of the deaths in these border regions of Brazil and Colombia involved Venezuelan citizens. Conclusion: The study identified risk factors and high-risk locations for deaths among travellers in seven countries of South America. Our findings underscore the need for specific health interventions tailored to traveller demographics and destination to optimise prevention of avoidable deaths in South America.

Towards sustainable development: Examining renewable energy consumption in E−7 countries

In the contemporary landscape, sustainable development became major challenge for the economy which is tackled if environmental issues are resolved. In this regard, this study investigate renewable energy, institutional quality, foreign direct investment (FDI), economic growth on environmental pollution in E−7 countries (Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, India, Mexico, and Turkey). Utilizing annual data from 2002 to 2023, selected the panel Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) after applying stationary process. The results depict that there is short and long run relationship among the selected variables, CO2 emissions exhibit an asymmetrical response to positive and negative shocks in exogenous variables. A one-percent change in FDI, GDP, IQ and EC reduce the carbon emission. Our research concludes with policy recommendation that prioritize priorities economic growth and environmental sustainability. To achieve a healthy environment and sustainable growth in the E7 countries, it is essential to strengthen institutional frameworks, encourage green investments, and foster technical innovation.

G20 countries’ progress on the 7th SDG under circular economy DEA model

The purpose of this paper was to analyze the performance of the G20 nations in terms of efficiency and productivity concerning achieving the seventh Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 7) of providing affordable and clean energy between 2010 and 2019 under a circular economy framework. The diagnostic tools to measure included the output-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA, SBM) to determine efficiency and the Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) to measure productivity. In the DEA model, renewable energy is the primary energy source as inputs and outputs as total Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions, electricity consumption, and renewable energy consumption. The results indicated that the efficiency and productivity of developed and emerging countries towards the 7th SDG targets were heterogeneous throughout the analysis. The results showed that among the G20 countries that ranked as efficient were emerging countries (South Africa, Brazil, India, and China). Developed countries have more to gain in efficiency by designing strategies with sustainable development and environmental policies consistent with CE actions than emerging countries. In addition, since productivity gains increased more due to efficiency changes than technology gains, as indicated by the MPI analysis, it seems reasonable to infer that strengthening research and development of resource-efficient technologies could help to reach the 7th SDG faster by increasing productivity through adopting new technologies. In the short run, all countries could benefit from a multilateral effort to reduce climate change and GHG emissions if developed countries provided technological support to emerging countries and the latter offered carbon credits to the former in exchange for measures to mitigate the emissions resulting from their rapid economic growth driven by capital investment.

Association between precipitation and mortality due to diarrheal diseases by climate zone: A multi-country modeling study.

Precipitation could affect the transmission of diarrheal diseases. The diverse precipitation patterns across different climates might influence the degree of diarrheal risk from precipitation. This study determined the associations between precipitation and diarrheal mortality in tropical, temperate, and arid climate regions. Daily counts of diarrheal mortality and 28-day cumulative precipitation from 1997 to 2019 were analyzed across 29 locations in eight middle-income countries (Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, and Thailand). A two-stage approach was employed: the first stage is conditional Poisson regression models for each location, and the second stage is meta-analysis for pooling location-specific coefficients by climate zone. In tropical climates, higher precipitation increases the risk of diarrheal mortality. Under extremely wet conditions (95th percentile of 28-day cumulative precipitation), diarrheal mortality increased by 17.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 10.4%, 25.7%) compared with minimum-risk precipitation. For temperate and arid climates, diarrheal mortality increases in both dry and wet conditions. In extremely dry conditions (fifth percentile of 28-day cumulative precipitation), diarrheal mortality risk increases by 3.8% (95% CI = 1.2%, 6.5%) for temperate and 5.5% (95% CI = 1.0%, 10.2%) for arid climates. Similarly, under extremely wet conditions, diarrheal mortality risk increases by 2.5% (95% CI = -0.1%, 5.1%) for temperate and 4.1% (95% CI = 1.1%, 7.3%) for arid climates. Associations between precipitation and diarrheal mortality exhibit variations across different climate zones. It is crucial to consider climate-specific variations when generating global projections of future precipitation-related diarrheal mortality.

The Role of BRICS in Africa: Results and Expectations

Aim. Analyze the role of BRICS in the development of Africa.Tasks. Briefly describe the history of the creation and development of BRICS, and also assess the degree of its influence on the geopolitical and economic situation in the world. Consider the contribution of the main BRICS member countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), which have been actively investing in African countries for a long time, and also compare the areas in which these countries dominate.Methods. Comparative analysis was used as a key method in conducting the study.Results. The contribution of each of the BRICS member countries is analyzed, the key areas of their interests are highlighted, and an up-to-date assessment of the prospects for interaction between the BRICS countries and African countries is given.Conclusions. The participation of the BRICS member states in the socio-economic development of the African continent is considered, the areas of interest of each country in Africa are analyzed by industry, and the volumes of investment and interstate trade are assessed. Separate attention is paid to both the positive and negative impact of the presence of the BRICS countries in Africa, and prospects for the development of further relations between African territories and the BRICS member countries are given. As a result, we can unequivocally say that the role of the BRICS member countries in Africa is significant and every year it will only increase, as the strength of the association itself, its geography and the number of participants grows. Each of the bloc countries plays its own significant role in the life of the continent.

Effects of air pollution on global health: evidence from the global burden of disease study in the BRICS countries.

Considering the dynamic influence of environmental, social, economic, and political factors in the emergence and growth of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) over the years and pre-existing differences, the adverse effects of air pollution on the health and well-being of the people have remained major areas of academic inquiry and policy interventions. The present study examines the global trend of deaths and Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) attributable to air pollution with particular reference to the BRICS countries for the period 1990 to 2019. This study has used the global burden of disease estimates by using different rounds of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study report published by the Institute of Health Metrics Evaluation. This study has calculated the cause of death and DALYs due to environmental risk factors (i.e. Air pollution). Data analysis has been done by using the standard formula for the calculation of death (mortality) rate and DALYs rate. Similarly, we calculated the age and gender-wise death and DALYs rate by using the appropriate numerator and denominator. The study discovered a significant shift in disease patterns over this period, as communicable diseases like respiratory infections and tuberculosis were replaced by non-communicable diseases such as ischemic heart disease (17.2 million), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (14.59 million), and stroke (17.02 million) as the primary causes of air pollution-related deaths in 2019 at the global level. Additionally, the study identified a worrying increase in deaths linked to neonatal disorders and respiratory infections caused by ambient particulate matter pollution in South Africa, India, and Brazil. The impact of air pollution on public health is evident across different age groups and genders, with people aged 50-69 years, those aged 70 and above, and children under 5 years being more vulnerable. Furthermore, the male population is disproportionately affected by communicable and noncommunicable diseases caused by air pollution. The study highlights the need for policymakers to implement evidence-based interventions to tackle this global health problem. The interventions should aim to reduce the emerging crisis of non-communicable diseases related to air pollution, particularly among vulnerable age groups and the male population, ultimately improving public health outcomes.

How trustworthy is online dental information for individuals with Down syndrome from Ibero-American countries?

Internet has become an indispensable source of health-related information. However, several studies have shown there to be a lack of quality control for webpages related to disability. Specifically, available content concerning Down syndrome (DS) and dentistry is limited and of dubious quality. The aim of the present study was to assess the quality of online content in Spanish and Portuguese on dental care for individuals with DS. A simultaneous search in Google and Bing using the terms "Down syndrome" and "odontology/dentist/dental treatment" in Spanish and Portuguese was conducted in seven Ibero-American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Spain, Mexico, and Portugal). The first 100 consecutive pages of results from the three combinations of terms in each of the search engines were accessed and selected by applying conventional exclusion criteria. The selected pages were classified according to their authorship, specificity and dissemination potential. The quality of the online content was assessed using the DISCERN questionnaire and the Questionnaire to Evaluate Health Web Sites According to European Criteria (QEEC). The presence of the Health On Net (HON) and Accredited Medical Website (AMW) seals was also assessed. The mean DISCERN score was 2.51±0.85 and 2.57±0.86 for the Spanish and Portuguese webpages, respectively. The mean readability score was 3.43±1.26 and 3.25±1.08 for the Spanish and Portuguese webpages, respectively. None of the selected webpages presented the HONcode or AMW trust seals. The content available online in Spanish and Portuguese regarding Down syndrome and dentistry is scarce and of highly questionable quality.

The role of natural resources, and economic development in evaluating the environmental effects of biofuel and waste energy generation in the group of BRICS

The green energy sources such as biomass conversions and waste energy have shown great potential in environmental management. This article aims to examine the changes brought about by the production of biofuel and the management of solid fossil waste over the past forty years, and to analyze the significant roles that natural resources and economic factors have played in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) from 1990 to 2021. To achieve accurate and feasible results, second-generation econometric methodologies were applied. The Driscoll-Kraay standard errors (DKSE) approach revealed a significant negative relationship between biofuel production and environmental damage through waste management. Thus, an increase in biofuel production is associated with a reduction in environmental degradation in the region. Furthermore, the results indicate that environmental degradation (ED), the dependent variable, is still positively correlated with natural resources, urbanization, trade, and economic growth. As the financial sector struggles to address environmental threats, stringent monitoring of financial control measures and provisions for environmental issues is necessary. To achieve sustainable development, BRICS member countries need to address the issues of natural resource exhaustion and over-exploitation. The findings of this research suggest policy support for sustainable redevelopment, which should be goal-oriented and backed by the central authorities of the respective countries.