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Abstract Background and purpose To evaluate the effectiveness of Biofield Therapies (BTs) in alleviating pain and mitigating symptoms associated with mental disorders (SAMD), with particular emphasis on comparing outcomes between touch-based and non-touch interventions. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL, supplemented by a manual search in Google Scholar. A total of 28 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2003 and 2023 were included, assessing the effects of BTs such as Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Healing Touch, and External Qigong. Two independent reviewers conducted screening and data extraction. Effect sizes (ES) were calculated using random-effects models, and a structured narrative synthesis was incorporated to address heterogeneity. Results BTs demonstrated a moderate pooled effect on pain (ES = 0.784; 95% CI: 0.094 to 1.475; p = 0.030) and a mild to moderate effect on SAMD (ES = 0.326; 95% CI: 0.162 to 0.491; p < 0.001), although both analyses revealed substantial heterogeneity. A key finding was that touch-based interventions yielded a larger mean effect size (ES = 0.830) and significantly more consistent outcomes for pain (Coefficient of Variation, CV = 0.936) compared to non-touch therapies (ES = 0.680; CV = 1.327). Within the SAMD group, effects varied by symptom; anxiety and stress showed more favorable trends, while results for depression were inconsistent. No statistically significant predictors of effect size were identified in ANCOVA models for either group. Quality assessment indicated that most included studies were of moderate methodological rigor. Conclusion Preliminary evidence suggests that BTs, particularly touch-based modalities, may offer beneficial and more consistent effects for chronic pain. BTs may also help manage certain psychological symptoms, especially anxiety and stress. However, due to significant heterogeneity in study designs and populations, these findings should be interpreted with caution. BTs may be explored as complementary approaches in integrative care, but further high-quality, standardized trials are needed to establish efficacy and guide clinical recommendations.

Various organizations and researchers have developed Smart Cities Measurements (SCM) to monitor the advance of Smart Cities (SC) initiatives worldwide, yet there is no consensus about their impact on local governments. Local managers implement SC and SCM projects differently depending on their contexts, but few studies have analysed these measurement initiatives from local governments’ perspective. To address this gap, this paper aims to identify how municipalities use SCM and adopt indicators according to local context. Data were collected by in-depth semi-structured interviews with representatives from seventeen Brazilian cities, including different regions and population sizes. The results describe how local governments adopt measurement frameworks, expanding the literature on SCM.

The present study used data from the 2023 ICT Households Survey conducted by the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br|NIC.br) to analyze internet access among women in Brazil, as well as their engagement in online health-related activities (searching for health information, accessing government digital services, and using public health services). These indicators were compared based on education level, age, area of residence (urban or rural), and social class. The data revealed higher internet usage rates among young women (95% for ages 10-15 and 96% for ages 16-24), those in social class A, the highest social class bracket (98%), urban residents (86%), and women with higher education (97%). In turn, lower usage rates were observed among older women (56% for ages 60 or older), those in social class DE (73%), rural residents (80%), and women with no formal education or only preschool education (32%). This was observed across all variables investigated, except for the use of public online services, which was low across all categories. The results highlight that women facing greater social and economic vulnerability (low income, rural residence, or low educational attainment) face significant barriers to accessing digital health services. It is recommended that public policies on inclusion and digital governance address these disparities by promoting greater access to the internet and other technologies for women, which could enhance their access to healthcare services.

Storytelling is a crucial yet often overlooked skill for scientists, essential in seminars, manuscripts, grant applications, and professional interactions. Drawing from my experiences across Brazil, the United States of America, India, and South Africa, I explore how crafting compelling narratives enhances scientific communication, increasing the likelihood of publishing, securing funding, and building collaborations. Reflecting on formative "hot seat" sessions at the National Institutes of Health, in the United States, I emphasize the importance of structuring ideas clearly, regardless of language fluency. Storytelling brings clarity, engagement, and logic to science, making research more relatable and impactful. Mastering this skill is essential for advancing scientific careers and effectively conveying complex ideas.

This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge regarding phototoxic terrestrial plants and their phototoxic and photosensitizing metabolites. Within the 435,000 land plant species, only around 250 vascular plants have been documented as phototoxic or implicated in phototoxic occurrences in humans and animals. This work compiles a comprehensive catalog of these phototoxic plant species, organized alphabetically based on their taxonomic family. The dataset encompasses meticulous details including taxonomy, geographical distribution, vernacular names, and information on the nature and structure of their phototoxic and photosensitizing molecule(s). Subsequently, this study undertook an in-depth investigation into phototoxic molecules, resulting in the compilation of a comprehensive and up-to-date list of phytochemicals exhibiting phototoxic or photosensitizing activity synthesized by terrestrial plants. For each identified molecule, an extensive review was conducted, encompassing discussions on its phototoxic activity, chemical family, occurrence in plant families or species, distribution within different plant tissues and organs, as well as the biogeographical locations of the producer species worldwide. The analysis also includes a thorough discussion on the potential use of these molecules for the development of new photosensitizers that could be used in topical or injectable formulations for antimicrobial and anticancer phototherapy as well as manufacturing of photoactive devices.

O discurso do ódio é um problema nas redes sociais e muitas plataformas procuram meios de combater este tipo de comportamento tóxico, com mecanismos automáticos ou com feedbacks do usuário. No entanto, usuários encontram formas de contornar esses sistemas de moderação para atacar comunidades e pessoas online. Neste trabalho, exploramos uma das táticas usadas por grupos online para espalhar o ódio contra grupos marginalizados enquanto boicotam produtos e serviços: o “review bombing”. Para isso, coletamos avaliações e comentários de usuários no Metacritic para o jogo The Last of Us Part II, assim como comentários sobre o jogo no Youtube e Twitter, a fim de mensurar a toxicidade neles e entender como são coordenadas as campanhas pautadas pelo ódio e quais são as implicações desse tipo de ativismo.