University Of Campinas Research Articles

Diagnostic accuracy of a telediagnosis service of oral mucosal diseases: A multicentric survey

The aim of this multicentric study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a telediagnosis service for oral mucosal disorders. This study included 100 patients seen at the oral medicine outpatient clinic of 3 Brazilian Dental Schools (University of Campinas, Federal University of Pernambuco, and Federal University of Santa Catrina) from March 2019 to October 2019. In addition to the face-to-face assistance provided by graduate students and the final diagnosis validated by the professors of these institutions, a remote evaluation was requested for these patients through the EstomatoNet/TelessaúdeRS platform. The sensitivity and specificity of telediagnosis were compared with those of the face-to-face approach and found to be 100% and 97.4%, respectively. The concordance between the examiners was 95%, and case management was relatively simple in approximately 60% of cases. Based on the results, telediagnosis for oral diseases can be considered a reliable method, representing a promising alternative for the clinical support of health professionals, particularly in remote locations.

Pregnant women's knowledge of non-pharmacological techniques for pain relief during childbirth.

INTRODUCTIONThe objective of the study was to assess knowledge of pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy on non-pharmacological techniques for pain relief during labor and childbirth.METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care facility of the University of Campinas, Brazil. The participants were 171 pregnant women, aged 18–35 years with 36 or more weeks of a singleton pregnancy. Participants responded to a questionnaire with data about sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, knowledge on non-pharmacological techniques for pain relief during childbirth, the source of the information on these techniques, practice of physical activity and occurrence of pain during pregnancy. Parous women responded on the use of non-pharmacological techniques for pain relief during childbirth in previous deliveries. Multiple regression analysis with stepwise criteria of selection of variables was used to identify variables significantly associated with knowledge of non-pharmacological techniques for pain relief during childbirth.RESULTSA total of 165 (96.5%) participants reported knowledge on at least one non-pharmacological technique; 87.1% on the use of a warm shower during labor for pain relief, 80.7% on the use of the birthing ball, and 74.8% on breathing techniques. There were no significant differences between nulliparous and parous women. The main source of information reported was the Internet. Multivariate analysis showed that pregnant women who had pain during pregnancy reported more knowledge on the use of warm showers during labor (OR=2.64; 95% CI: 1.03–6.73).CONCLUSIONSMost women had knowledge of at least one non-pharmacological technique for pain relief during childbirth.

Leydig and Sertoli cell function in individuals with genital ambiguity, 46,XY karyotype, palpable gonads and normal testosterone secretion: a case-control study.

Because normal male sexual differentiation is more complex than normal female sexual differentiation, there are more cases of disorders of sex development (DSDs) with 46,XY karyotype that have unclear etiology. However, Leydig and Sertoli cell markers are rarely used in distinguishing such individuals. To evaluate the function of Leydig and Sertoli cells in individuals with genital ambiguity, 46,XY karyotype, palpable gonads and normal testosterone secretion. Case-control study with 77 patients, including eight with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome, eight with 5α-reductase deficiency type 2 (5ARD2) and 19 with idiopathic 46,XY DSD, and 42 healthy controls, from the Interdisciplinary Study Group for Sex Determination and Differentiation (GIEDDS), at the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil. Baseline levels of gonadotropins, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B, insulin-like 3 (INSL3), testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in cases, and AMH, inhibin B, and INSL3 levels in controls, were assessed. There was no significant difference in age between cases and controls (P = 0.595). AMH and inhibin B levels were significantly lower in cases than in controls (P = 0.031 and P < 0.001, respectively). INSL3 levels were significantly higher in cases than in controls (P = 0.003). Inhibin B levels were lower in 5ARD2 patients (P = 0.045) and idiopathic patients (P = 0.001), in separate comparisons with the controls. According to our findings, we can speculate that inhibin B levels may be used to differentiate among DSD cases.

Barry Logan, a prominent toxicologist and forensic analytical chemist, kindly spoke with BrJAC about his research into drugs of abuse, the legacy and inspiration for future

Dr Barry Logan is a world leading forensic toxicologist currently serving as Chief Scientist at NMS Labs, and Executive Director at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CSFRE) in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. He was born and completed his undergraduate and graduate education in Glasgow, Scotland, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Tennessee in Memphis TN, then served for eighteen years as State Toxicologist for the State of Washington, with an appointment at the University of Washington in Seattle. For nine of those years he also served as Director of the Washington State Crime Laboratory System, which provided services in forensic biology, toxicology, chemistry, document examination, serology, DNA analysis, firearms and crime scene support. In 2008, Logan joined the United States leading forensic toxicology and chemistry reference laboratory - NMS labs - in Pennsylvania to direct their toxicology services. In 2010 he founded the CFSRE and in 2017, established www.NPSDiscovery.org the leading clearing-house for the dissemination of newly emergent drugs in the United States. He has over 150 publications and 600 presentations in forensic toxicology and analytical chemistry, including work on the effects of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana on drivers, and drug caused and related death. His recent work has focused on the analytical and interpretive toxicology of novel psychoactive substances (NPS). Dr Logan’s other appointments include Executive Director of the Robert F. Borkenstein course at Indiana University, and academic appointments at Arcadia University, and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. In recognition of his work and contributions, Dr. Logan has received numerous national and international awards, and in 2013-14 served as President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). A recent bibliometric analysis of the impact of the world’s forensic scientists, positioned him as the leading contributor to research in the field of forensic toxicology in the United States, and sixth in the world. In the last ten years he has had extensive involvement with forensic scientists in Brazil, hosting graduate students from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, USP, and Campinas University at his laboratory in the United States, and visiting scientists from the Federal Police and State Crime Laboratories. He has presented multiple times at Interforensics, ENQFor, and Brazilian Academy of Forensic Sciences meetings. The CSFRE supports participation of young scientists from Brazil in the AAFS meeting and a reciprocal opportunity for young US scientists to attend Interforensics.

BrJAC pays tribute to Prof. Dr. José Camillo Novello, a pioneer researcher in proteomics in Brazil and a gentle advisor

On January 6, 2022, Dr. José Camillo Novello, Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (IB-Unicamp), SP, Brazil, left us prematurely. Owner of a discreet and subtle humor, Prof. Camillo enjoyed a good chat, always accompanied by a cup of coffee. More recently, he loved to talk about his grandchildren and children who are living abroad. Prof. Camillo arrived at Unicamp in the 1970s. Initially, he worked at the Laboratory of Protein Chemistry with Professors Benedito de Oliveira and Sergio Marangoni. During this period, he dedicated himself to the studies of biochemical characterization of Arthropod and Snake venoms. The laboratory skills transferred by Prof. Camillo are told in an amusing way by his students, who were always guided with cordiality. In the late 1990s, Prof. Camillo focused efforts in proteomics, being a pioneer in this field in Brazil. He coordinated the first Brazilian publication in this field [1] based on one of his projects funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp) about Xylella fastidiosa´s Functional Genome. Recently, Prof. Camillo faced many health challenges, which never changed his kindness and good mood when, over a cup of coffee, he would talk about politics, soccer, and the evolution of his former students. He was proud of his “scientific grandchildren,” whom he would happily approach in the corridors of IB-Unicamp. His affectionate figure is missed in the corridors and in the canteen of IB-Unicamp. But his legacy remains and will always be in the world, with his science, and among us, in nostalgia.

Aphasia in the context of the pandemic: language activities developed by Zoom and Whatsapp

Abstract: Taking into account the difficulties faced by aphasic subjects in the utterances production and comprehension, both oral and written, this study aims at discussing the continuous work positive impacts, using Zoom and WhatsApp, during the pandemic period, while developing language activities with GB, a young aphasic woman, who attends the Center for Aphasic Individuals (Institute of Language Studies from the State University of Campinas, Unicamp). The longitudinal study is supported by an ongoing doctoral research, developed by the Group of Language Studies on Aging and Pathologies. The present article follows the theoretical-methodological principles based on enunciative-discursive neurolinguistics (Coudry, 1986, 1988) with focus on qualitative research and case studies. Based also on Luria’s (1981, 1986) and Vygotsky’s (2000 [1984]) neuropsychology, the brain is understood as a system that operates from the joint and integrated activity of functional units, emphasizing the social relations mediated by culturally developed symbols. In addition, Bakhtinian categories (Novaes-Pinto, 1999) allow us to analyze the dialogic processes, considering language production effective contexts, in order to understand the neurological damage impact on linguistic-cognitive functioning. For this, we bring some clippings of virtual interactions between the researcher (Idb) and GB, emphasizing the epi- and metalinguistic work that constitute discursive reorganization processes developed. By providing different features, the digital tools bring new possibilities for creating meaningful alternative strategies, generating a fundamental network that brings benefits to aphasics, while becoming an object of interest for research in several areas. Keywords: Aphasias; neurolinguistics; reading; writing; epilinguistics

Paulo Gustavo Kotze, MD, MSc, PhD.

Paulo Gustavo Kotze is an Adjunct Senior Professor of Surgery of the Colorectal Surgery Unit at Cajuru University Hospital of the Catholic University in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. He received his medical degree at the Federal University of Paraná in 1997 and completed his General Surgery training at the Evangelical University Hospital in Curitiba (2000). He also completed his Senior Fellowship in Colorectal Surgery at the Clinics Hospital from the Federal University of Parana in 2002. Dr. Kotze achieved his Masters' Degree in Surgery at the Catholic University in 2008 and joined the faculty of medicine at the same university in 2011 as an Assistant Professor of Surgery. He achieved his PhD degree studying the influence of biological therapy on surgical outcomes in Crohn's disease at the University of Campinas, in São Paulo, Brazil (UNICAMP) in 2015. Dr. Kotze was also an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) advanced visiting fellow in the IBD unit at the University of Calgary, Canada (Cumming School of Medicine), for the period of 2017 to 2018. Currently, he serves as a Professor of the Postgraduate Health Sciences Program at the Catholic University of Paraná and Head of the Colorectal Surgery unit at the same university.

Assessment of sexual and reproductive access and use of menstrual products among Venezuelan migrant adult women at the Brazilian–Venezuelan border

ObjectiveTo describe the sociodemographic characteristics, access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care, including contraceptives and to assess menstrual poverty of migrant Venezuelan adult women of childbearing age at the northwestern border between Venezuela and Brazil. MethodsCross-sectional study coordinated by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil, conducted in Boa Vista, Roraima between January 18 and 24, 2021. We invited women aged 18 to 49 years to participate. A semi-structured self-response questionnaire was applied. The survey covered issues relating to SRH services, knowledge, access, and use of SRH services for women. We also applied a questionnaire regarding access to and quality of hygiene kits and toilets, and an open-ended question on “what does menstruation mean to you”? We excluded illiterate women and those with amenorrhea, those who had undergone hysterectomy or tubal ligation, and those with partners who had undergone vasectomy. FindingsThe age (mean ± SD) of the 177 respondent women was 28 ± 6.8 years, 32.2% reported that they had more than three children, 38.4% referred at least one unplanned pregnancy, and 52.5% of the women indicated an intention to become pregnant in the near future. Furthermore, 40 (29.8%) women sought a healthcare service because they wanted a contraceptive method; among them, 16 did not receive the contraceptive that they chose, and 15 women wanted to use a contraceptive implant. Regarding menstrual poverty, 64 women stated that the menstrual hygiene products provided by humanitarian organizations were not enough for their needs, and 44 women claimed being unable to wash their hands anytime they wanted to. ConclusionsThe vulnerabilities of this cohort of Venezuelan migrant women in Brazil who lived mainly out of the official shelters further increase when they struggle with no knowledge of how to access SRH services, lack of provision of LARC methods, risk of unplanned pregnancy, and inappropriate access to menstrual hygiene products and sanitary services. There are several challenges to be overcome to ensure SRH care for migrant women in Brazil.

Synergy of human platelet lysate and laminin to enhance the neurotrophic effect of human adipose-derived stem cells

Synergy of human platelet lysate and laminin to enhance the neurotrophic effect of human adipose-derived stem cells

Costurando narrativas: engajando-se em tarefas para uma outra internacionalização

ABSTRACT Answering Cavalcanti’s (2006) call to an Applied Linguistics enacted at its interfaces with other disciplines, in this paper we are inspired by an other globalisation, a concept coined by the geographer Milton Santos. Having the internationalisation of higher education as a process that embraces both of our studies, we look at it with suspicion in order to start framing an other internationalisation. To pursue that, we present two narrative scenes that took place at University of Campinas with undergraduate international students pertaining to different academic mobility programs who were learning/learned Portuguese as an Additional Language (PAL). These narratives index evaluations about the internationalisation process at the university and, in our view, reflect limited experiences of reterritorialisation from different angles. Considering the localities of the context, we propose some lessons to be learned and enacted towards an other internationalisation, including some more specific lessons oriented towards PAL policy.

Design and Implementation of a Machine Learning State Estimation Model for Unobservable Microgrids

An observable microgrid may become unobservable when sensors are at fault, sensor data is missing, or data has been tampered by malicious agents. In those cases, state estimation cannot be performed using traditional approaches without pseudo-measurements. To address the lack of observability, this article presents the design and implementation of a novel three-phase state estimation method for unobservable and unbalanced AC microgrids, using machine learning techniques, without pseudo-measurements, and under heteroscedastic (i.e., non-constant variance) noise. The proposed machine learning state estimation (MLSE) makes full use of multiple candidate models trained with a small number of power flow simulations via OpenDSS, through random levels of demand and renewable generation in every simulation, enhanced through a proposed Tikhonov regularization operator. To deal with the heteroscedastic nature of measurements, a recursive average model is proposed to accurately estimate the state variables. Results are obtained using real data from a microgrid located on the main campus of the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), in Brazil. The method can be easily adapted to microgrids with different configurations, distributed energy resources, and measurements. It is shown that the proposed MLSE outperforms the traditional weighted least square (WLS) state estimator.

Intentional foraminal enlargement: a systematic review with bibliometric analysis

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review with bibliometric analysis was to map the available scientificevidence on intentional foraminal enlargement (IFE) and explore publication trends. Methods: This review is inaccordance with the PRISMA 2020 Statement and is registered on the Open Science Framework. Two independentreviewers carried out a comprehensive search of seven databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus,Embase, Web of Science, LILACS, and BBO) up to January 31st, 2022. Studies that investigated IFE were consideredeligible, and the data were analyzed using the VOSViewer software. Results: The search identified a total of 55IFE-related articles from 10 countries and 25 journals, with an increasing trend for publications over the lastdecade. The majority of evidence was based on laboratory assays (65.4%), followed by randomized clinical trials(18.1%) with follow-up periods of up to 2 months. The main clinical outcome evaluated was post-operative pain.The highest number of studies were carried out by the State University of Campinas, and published in the Journalof Endodontics. Also, studies with the highest level of evidence found that IFE resulted in greater post-operativepain in the initial days post-treatment. Conclusion: This systematic review with bibliometric analysis mappedthe scientific progress and publication trends in the field of IFE, thus shedding light on gaps in the literaturewith the aim of guiding researchers to conduct more high-impact investigations by performing clinical studiesevaluating rates of periapical repair and IFE treatment success using long-term observation periods. KEYWORDSRoot canal preparation; Endodontics; Instrumentation; Systematic review; Bibliometrics.

Preface translation as a feminist and inclusive language usage action

This paper focuses on the translation of a collection of seventeen prefaces for different editions of the book Our Bodies, Ourselves (Chatterjee 2008/2020, translated by Nicolella, Oliveira et al.). The translation project is part of a collective and voluntary translation agreement made between the State University of Campinas, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and an NGO (Coletivo Feminista Sexualidade e Saúde) to translate and adapt to Brazilian Portuguese the widely known book Our Bodies, Ourselves (The Boston Women’s Health Book Collective 2011). Two points were discussed more thoroughly: first, the importance of paratexts (Genette 1987/1997) and paratranslation, especially the intersemiotic interpretation of the text and the image of the book cover (Yuste Frías 2022; 2021; 2011); and second, inclusive language use (Governo do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul 2014), considering that the masculine form is the standard in Portuguese while the translation project concerns a feminist book (Davis 2007). We present four examples of translations made by students with the support of CAT tools and revised considering a more inclusive language usage. In the final remarks, we will discuss that the translation project provided the integration between translation practice and theoretical discussions underlying this practice. We will also point out some challenges and discussions still ongoing in Brazil.

Desafios do ensino da Extensão Rural: práticas e metodologias na produção do conhecimento com agricultores e agricultoras familiares

O presente texto objetiva refletir sobre os desafios do ensino de Extensão Rural, a partir das suas possibilidades metodológicas e práticas no contexto do currículo obrigatório do curso de graduação em Engenharia Agrícola, da Faculdade de Engenharia Agrícola da Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Buscamos compreender a contribuição de pós-graduandos que participaram do Programa de Estágio Docente na ampliação do exercício da docência e o papel da disciplina na formação dos(as) alunos(as) no diálogo com agricultores(as). Entrevistamos dez estudantes de graduação, três alunas de pós-graduandas que participaram do Programa de Estágio Docente e três grupos de agricultores familiares que participaram da disciplina. A disciplina Sociologia e Extensão Rural da graduação em Engenharia Agrícola representa um contraponto a um curso com uma tendência orientada por e para o agronegócio. Esta disciplina acadêmica se desenvolve sob uma estratégia didática e metodológica realizada com agricultores(as) familiares, a partir da construção coletiva de conhecimentos, se consolidando na resistência e (re)existência do devir no desenho de possibilidades construídas na aproximação da Universidade por meio da extensão. Palavras-chave: educação, experiência de ensino, comunicação rural, agroecologia. Challenges of teaching Rural Extension: practices and methodologies in the production of knowledge with family farmers ABSTRACT. This article aims to reflect on the challenges of teaching Rural Extension, from its methodological and practical possibilities in the context of the mandatory curriculum of the undergraduate course in Agricultural Engineering of the School of Agricultural Engineering of the State University of Campinas. We seek to understand the contribution of postgraduates who participated in the Teaching Internship Program in the expansion of the teaching practice and the role of the discipline in the training of students in dialogue with farmers. We interviewed: ten undergraduate students, three graduate students who participated in the Teaching Internship Program and three groups of family farmers who participated in the discipline. The discipline Sociology and Rural Extension in the Agricultural Engineering undergraduate course represents a counterpoint to a course with a bias oriented by and for agribusiness. This academic discipline is developed under a didactic and methodological strategy carried out with family farmers, based on the collective construction of knowledge, consolidating itself in the resistance and (re)existence of the becoming in the design of the possibilities built in the approach of the University through extension. Keywords: education, teaching experience, rural communication, agroecology. Desafíos de la enseñanza de la Extensión Rural: prácticas y metodologías en la producción de conocimiento con los agricultores familiares RESUMEN. Nuestro objetivo es reflexionar sobre los desafíos de la enseñanza de la Extensión Rural, a partir de sus posibilidades metodológicas y prácticas en el contexto del currículo obligatorio del curso de pregrado en Ingeniería Agrícola de la Facultad de Ingeniería Agrícola de la Universidad Estatal de Campinas. Buscamos entender la contribución de los posgraduados que participaron en el Programa de Prácticas Docentes en la expansión del ejercicio de la docencia y el papel de la disciplina en la formación de los estudiantes en el diálogo con los agricultores. Entrevistamos: diez estudiantes de grado, tres estudiantes de posgrado que participaron en el Programa de Prácticas Docentes y tres grupos de agricultores familiares que participaron en la disciplina. La disciplina Sociología y Extensión Rural de la licenciatura en Ingeniería Agrícola representa un contrapunto a una carrera con tendencia orientada por y para la agroindustria. Esta disciplina académica se desarrolla bajo una estrategia didáctica y metodológica llevada a cabo con los agricultores familiares, basada en la construcción colectiva del conocimiento, consolidándose en la resistencia y (re)existencia del devenir en el diseño de las posibilidades construidas en la aproximación de la Universidad por medio de la extensión. Palabras clave: educación, experiencia de enseñanza, comunicación rural, agroecología.

Palliative care eligibility for pediatric inpatients seen at a teaching hospital

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the proportion of pediatric inpatients eligible for palliative care at the teaching hospital of the University of Campinas (HC/UNICAMP). METHODS: This retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study included pediatric inpatients seen at HC/UNICAMP from June to October 2017. Patients were deemed eligible if they had one of the following underlying conditions at the time of admission: (I) diseases for which curative therapy exists, but may fail; (II) diseases in which premature death is expected, but for which comprehensive care may prolong life with reasonable quality; (III) chronic progressive diseases for which only palliative, potentially prolonged, care is available; (IV) non-progressive neurological disorders that increase the likelihood of premature death. Patients deemed eligible were compared to non-eligible patients based on sex, age, type of admission (emergency/elective), and frequency of readmission. P-values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Almost a third (30.9%) of the pediatric inpatients seen at HC/UNICAMP were deemed eligible for palliative care. The demographic profiles of eligible and non-eligible patients were not significantly different. The number of readmissions and emergency admissions of eligible patients was significantly greater than that of non-eligible patients. CONCLUSION: Although challenging, this is a subject that requires more discussion to further improve the overall care provided to pediatric patients.

Home, Struggle, Tomorrow: the outsourced Cleaning assistants of the State University of Campinas

Resumo À luz do contexto de flexibilização e precarização do trabalho e de suas consequências diferenciadas segundo o gênero, este artigo apresenta estudo da trajetória social de trabalhadoras terceirizadas no setor de Limpeza da Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Constitui em objeto de estudo os modos pelos quais elas percebem, experimentam e reagem às suas situações laborais, buscando compreender as razões e estratégias que tornam "aceitáveis" a instabilidade, a insegurança e os baixos rendimentos que caracterizam este emprego.

Whole-genome analysis of haemophilus influenzae invasive strains isolated from Campinas state University hospital. An epidemiological approach 2012 - 2019 and ancestor strains

Thirteen Haemophylus influenzae invasive strains isolated from patients at Clinical Hospital of State University of Campinas, from May 2013 through August 2019, was submitted to Illumina genome sequencing HiSeq platform. Further in silico analysis of serogroup and Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) from whole DNA sequencing had demonstrated the actual clonal distribution in the Campinas Metropolitan region. Thus, results showed the existence of a new ST Haemophilus influenzae found in the Brazilian territory and an increase of strains belonging to serogroup a (three strains also belonging to ST23). In conclusion, we observed an increase of non-typable H. influenzae (NTHi) and a strain involved in invasive diseases in the Campinas – São Paulo region after frequent detection of those serotypes and genotypes in other Brazilian regions.

Reasons reported by women for choosing the levonorgestrel intrauterine system as a contraceptive method.

To assess the reasons provided by women for choosing the use of the 52mg levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) as a contraceptive method. We conducted a cross sectional study from January 2021 to August 2021 at the University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil. Women who had never used the 52mg LNG-IUS and were requesting it for contraception answered a questionnaire asking for their sociodemographic characteristics, the last contraceptive method in use, how they received information about the device, and their main reasons for choosing the method. We enrolled 516 women, 365 (70.7%) of whom were under the age of 35 and 352 (68.2%) of whom were parous. The last contraceptive method in use was a short-acting reversible method among 387 (80.8%) women, 454 (88%) reported that they wanted to use the IUS only for contraception, and the main source of information was their health care providers. The main reported reasons for choosing the method were because it is safe, has high contraceptive efficacy, and reduces menstrual bleeding. Health care providers should continue their efforts to provide guidance about the LNG-IUS, including the non-contraceptive benefits, which may contribute to a reduction in the number of unplanned pregnancies.

Green and Compact: A Spatial Planning Model for Knowledge-Based Urban Development in Peri-Urban Areas

A seemingly unresolved debate in urban planning is the call for compactness and the provision of intra-urban green spaces. This article defines a multi-scalar spatial planning model for peri-urban areas and urban voids able to reconcile medium to high building densities with the provision of ecosystem services. The research is framed within design science research, and the theoretical definition of the model was followed by its application to the International Hub for Sustainable Development (HIDS) proposed by the University of Campinas, Brazil. The model’s parameters and indicators derive from a literature review, case studies, and GIS spatial analyses. A series of expert workshops and a survey were carried out to test and validate the model. The results show that the model can support knowledge-based development in peri-urban areas with high levels of population density while ensuring good accessibility to green spaces and productive landscapes. The model can serve as a planning and design tool and support the development of public policies for other contexts committed to more resilient and sustainable development.

Perspectives of health care providers regarding the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system

Objectives The aims of the study were to assess the number of insertions per month of the 52 mg levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) and gauge the knowledge and opinions of health care providers with regard to some of its characteristics and the reasons why women liked using the method. Methods An online questionnaire survey was conducted between January and July 2021 at the University of Campinas, Brazil. The survey comprised physicians and nurses from centres that had requested and received donated devices. Results A total of 65 health care providers answered the questionnaire (41 physicians and 24 nurses). The main misconceptions were related to insertion after an ectopic pregnancy: 60/65 (92.3%) answered that users with previous ectopic pregnancy must have frequent follow-up. Wrong answers were also given on the occurrence of acne (37/65, 56.9%) and depression (32/65, 49.2%). Participants reported that the LNG-IUS was highly effective (100%), long-acting (93.9%) and an appropriate method for controlling uterine bleeding (90.8%) and that it had few side effects (86.2%). Conclusion Our study suggests that health care providers from centres that requested and received LNG-IUS donations, even though they reported adequate knowledge about the device, still had misconceptions with regard to its clinical management.