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THE REVOLUTION IN AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY: PETROLEUM-BASED DYES AND THE CHRONIC DISEASE EPIDEMIC

Background: The American food regulatory landscape has historically been influenced by industry interests, resulting in the widespread use of petroleum-derived synthetic food dyes banned in European countries. Chronic disease rates in American children have increased from 3% in the 1960s to approximately 60% currently, with annual healthcare costs reaching $1 trillion. The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services marks a paradigmatic shift toward transparency and industry accountability in food safety regulation. Aim: This forum analysis examines Kennedy Jr.'s revolutionary approach to food safety regulation, particularly his confrontational stance against petroleum-based food additives exemplified by his statement, "if they want to eat petroleum, they should add it themselves at home" and evaluates the broader implications for American public health policy and global regulatory standards. Methods: Critical analysis of Kennedy Jr.'s public policy statements, examination of epidemiological data trends, and evaluation of proposed regulatory frameworks through content analysis of official speeches and policy declarations from the Department of Health and Human Services. Results: Kennedy Jr.'s administration targets the systematic elimination of synthetic food dyes through industry partnerships, scientific transparency initiatives, and restoration of rigorous research standards. His confrontational rhetorical approach, compared to Mike Tyson's boxing style, has generated unprecedented industry cooperation with food companies "calling almost daily" seeking compliance guidance. The strategy combines voluntary industry agreements with open-source information databases and enhanced FOIA access. Discussion: This confrontational rhetoric represents unprecedented directness in health policy communication, challenging decades of established regulatory practices. The approach prioritizes scientific transparency over diplomatic language, generating both media attention and voluntary industry engagement that traditional regulatory pressure failed to achieve. Conclusions: Kennedy Jr.'s revolutionary stance may establish new global standards for food additive oversight, prioritizing public health over commercial interests through evidence-based policymaking and industry accountability measures. This paradigm shift from reactive to preventive regulatory models could influence international food safety governance and restore American leadership in global health policy.
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FROM AIR FORCE TO HYPERSONIC FUTURE: ÉLCIO GERÔNIMO DE OLIVEIRA'S JOURNEY IN BRAZILIAN AEROSPACE DEVELOPMENT (ENGLISH VERSION)

Introdução: A entrevista com Élcio Gerônimo de Oliveira, conduzida pelo repórter Luis, apresenta a trajetória profissional de um pesquisador brasileiro com experiência na Força Aérea Brasileira e no meio acadêmico, com foco em sistemas espaciais e veículos hipersônicos. Objetivos: Documentar a carreira e contribuições de Élcio para o desenvolvimento aeroespacial brasileiro, destacando sua transição da carreira militar para a acadêmica e sua participação em projetos estratégicos, especialmente o projeto 14X. Métodos: A entrevista foi estruturada em blocos temáticos, abordando a carreira militar, a experiência acadêmica e, com maior detalhamento, o envolvimento no projeto do veículo hipersônico 14X. Foram realizadas perguntas abertas, permitindo ao entrevistado compartilhar sua experiência e conhecimento técnico. Resultados: Élcio descreveu sua progressão na Força Aérea Brasileira, desde pesquisador até vice-chefe da Diretoria de Espaço, destacando o desenvolvimento de veículos lançadores, sistemas de navegação inercial e o projeto SARA. Relatou sua transição para a carreira acadêmica, incluindo sua experiência como professor na Universidade de Luleå, na Suécia. Élcio detalhou sua coordenação no projeto 14X, um veículo hipersônico que alcançou Mach 7, com perspectivas de atingir Mach 10. Discussão: A entrevista revela a importância da cooperação internacional e da transferência de tecnologia, exemplificada pela doação do primeiro laboratório de hipersônica do Brasil. Evidencia também os desafios técnicos na construção de veículos hipersônicos e o potencial dessas tecnologias para aplicações militares e civis. Conclusão: A carreira de Élcio Gerônimo de Oliveira exemplifica a contribuição brasileira para pesquisa aeroespacial avançada, demonstrando a capacidade nacional de desenvolver tecnologias estratégicas como veículos hipersônicos, apesar das limitações de recursos, e apontando possibilidades futuras para o transporte e exploração espacial.
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RESEARCH LANDSCAPE OF REPURPOSED MEDICATIONS IN CANCER TREATMENT: A MULTI-DATABASE BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF ELEVEN OFF-PATENT THERAPEUTICS

Background: Drug repurposing offers potential advantages for cancer therapy development, particularly when utilizing medications with established safety profiles and expired patents. While individual repurposed medications have been investigated for oncological applications, comprehensive comparative analyses of research distribution patterns across multiple therapeutic candidates appear limited in the literature. Understanding these patterns may provide insights into research priorities and potential knowledge gaps. Aim: This exploratory study was designed to quantify and compare the volume of scientific literature examining the anticancer potential of eleven selected off-patent medications across different pharmacological classes. Methods: Bibliometric searches were conducted across five databases (Google Scholar, BVS, PubMed, NIH, and Science.gov) using standardized search terms combining each medication name with "cancer" and "cancer treatment." The selected medications included ivermectin, fenbendazole, mebendazole, albendazole, metformin, propranolol, disulfiram, valproic acid, thalidomide, dexamethasone, and hydroxychloroquine. Basic statistical analyses were performed to examine the distribution patterns and correlations within the database. Results: The search yielded 3,226,066 total publications with considerable variation in distribution patterns. Dexamethasone accounted for the largest proportion (1,538,058 publications, 47.68%), followed by metformin (697,172 publications, 21.61%). Some medications with smaller overall publication volumes demonstrated higher proportions of treatment-specific research, such as fenbendazole (87.82%), disulfiram with copper (86.54%), and hydroxychloroquine with zinc (75.21%). The Herfindahl Index indicated a high concentration of research attention (0.2870). Discussion: The findings suggest substantial variation in research attention across the selected medications. While some medications dominate the literature, others with focused treatment-specific research may warrant further investigation. The inverse relationship observed between total publication volume and treatment specificity suggests that research patterns in this field may be more complex than absolute publication counts indicate. Conclusions: This preliminary bibliometric assessment reveals an uneven distribution of research attention among repurposed medications being investigated for cancer applications. These patterns may inform future research prioritization, though further qualitative analysis would be valuable to assess the clinical significance of these quantitative observations.
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General information

SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES

    General information about this journal
  • Title: SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES
  • Short Title: South. J. Sci.
  • ISSN: 2764-5959 (Online); ISSN: 2764-5967 (Print)
  • Universal Decimal Classification (UDC): 001
  • Review Process: Double-Blind Peer-Review
  • Accessibility: Platinum Open Access, NO-APCs.
  • Digital preservation: Portico
  • Frequency of Publication: biannual [2 issues per year]. Journal publication schedule
  • DOI: 10.48141/2764-5959
  • Website: https://www.sjofsciences.com/
  • Country: BRAZIL
  • Publisher: Araucária - Scientific Association.
  • Language of Publication: ENGLISH / PORTUGUESE*
  • *Year that the Journal started accepting manuscripts in Portuguese: 2020
  • First issue year: 1993
  • Free full text: Yes
  • Indexed in: Index Copernicus; Latindex, and I2OR.
  • Formerly known as the Southern Brazilian Journal of Chemistry (1993 to 2021).
  • Former ISSN: 2674-6891 (Online); Former ISSN: 0104-5431 (Print).
  • Website last update: 06/07/2025.

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COMPARISON OF TWO STAINING METHODS FOR ANODIZING IN ALLOY 6063 ALUMINUM PROFILES

Background: Aluminum stands out for being a light, corrosion-resistant, and recyclable metal, achieving wide coverage in the market. When incorporated into alloying elements, it is possible to acquire other desirable characteristics. Alloy 6063, intended for architectural purposes, has aesthetic, structural, and strength functions. Anodized finishing is performed through an electrolytic process, ensuring a more resistant aluminum oxide film than that formed naturally. For decorative purposes, the anodic film coloration can be performed by several methodologies, in this case, for the coloration by organic adsorption, with the use of aniline, and the electrolytic coloration, composed of tin sulfate salts, both for obtaining the black color. Aim: Compare of two different staining methods on the surface of anodized profiles of aluminum alloy 6063. Methods: Profile samples were collected and tests were carried out to measure the thickness of the anodic layer, immersion tests with 3,5 percent sodium chloride, for 1000 hours, and neutral saline mist, for 600 hours. Results and Discussion: Both methodologies proved to be resistant to immersion tests with sodium chloride, as well as with neutral saline mist, and these tests are quite aggressive and provide corrosion of the material when not well treated. Corrosion points were only seen at the intersections performed, and in the rest of thearea, no points were detected. Conclusions: The result of both methodologies was positive, considering tht there was no corrosion in the tested samples, except in the intersections performed, as well as the maintenance of the color in both tested methodologies, which was not expected in the literature. For future work, it is suggested to deepen the study to perform electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests for exaluate the strength of the anodic film and perform anodizing with the same parameters, however, with different anilines to analyze their behavior.
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UNRAVELING THE COMPLEXITIES OF CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE: A CONVERSATION WITH DR. PETER MCCULLOUGH (EXTENDED EN-US VERSION)

Background: This interview covers Dr. Peter McCullough’s medical career, experience as an editor of medical journals, and his expertise in areas such as cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, and pericarditis. Aims: The primary aim is to understand Dr. McCullough’s perspectives on various medical topics, including his journey as a cardiologist, the importance of peer review, the phenomenon of Pheidippides cardiomyopathy, the differences between myocarditis and pericarditis, and the significance of ethical principles like the Nuremberg Code and the Declaration of Helsinki. Additionally, the interview aims to explore his concerns about censorship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The interview follows a question-and-answer format, with the interviewer posing questions to Dr. McCullough on various topics related to his medical career, research interests, and ethical considerations. Results: Dr. McCullough shares his insights on topics such as cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, and pericarditis, emphasizing the importance of peer review, identifying potential biases, and balancing scientific rigor with timely dissemination of findings. He also highlights the significance of the Nuremberg Code and the Declaration of Helsinki in ensuring informed consent and preventing coercion in medical research and treatment. Discussion: Dr. McCullough expresses concerns about censorship during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he believes impacted the ability of medical professionals to freely discuss and disseminate health-related information. He also discusses the potential role of COVID-19 vaccines in causing myocarditis and the need for transparent communication about treatment options and potential complications. Conclusion: The interview provides valuable insights from Dr. McCullough’s extensive medical experience and expertise, covering a range of topics from cardiovascular conditions to ethical principles and the challenges posed by censorship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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ADVANCES IN NATURAL EXTRACTS USED FOR ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA TREATMENT: THE GRAM-NEGATIVE CASES

Background: Infectious diseases are a global problem, the second human cause of death. Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria have been treated with a high degree of efficacy. However, even when the 20th century was considered the “golden age” of antibiotics, bacteria developed a different resistance mechanism to antibiotics. In 2017, the WHO issued an alert about 12 bacteria with an urgent need to develop new antibiotics. Aims: The aim of the present review is to analyze the current knowledge of the antibacterial activity of natural extract-based treatments against the pathogens listed by WHO. Methods: A systematic review of the literature in PubMed was performed to search for publications describing the use of natural extracts as antibiotics over bacteria. We focused on the Gram-Negative group. The exclusion criteria consisted of limiting papers on natural extracts tested over the bacteria culture related to eight selected bacteria, according to an alert issued by WHO in 2017, and seven plant extracts. Results: All the Gram-Negative bacteria listed in 2017 by WHO have been treated, with different degrees of advance, with some of the plant extracts and plant-based compounds reviewed. In general, the first approach is using inhibition disks applied over the bacterial biofilm in solid culture media. Discussion: While Salmonellae and P. aeruginosa have been extensively studied, over N. gonorrhoeae, A. baumannii have been tested with fewer natural extracts. Edible herbs are more often used, as well as artemisa and wine byproducts. In all cases, they are in the early stages of study, not being tested in patients at present. Conclusions: Plant extracts and plant-based compounds are effective as antibacterial, with minimal effects on the host cell. Furthermore, they are sustainable, environmentally friendly, and renewable.
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SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES

The SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES publishes articles in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Pharmacy, Medicine, Engineering, Industrial Science, Agriculture, and related interdisciplinary areas and is intended to fill a gap in terms of scientific information worldwide. All manuscripts can be published either in English or Portuguese, with tile, abstracts, and keywords in English. At present, there are NO PUBLICATION FEES. Editors will cover web hosting, open access, DOI number, and other service costs.

We have set high standards for the articles to be published by ensuring strong but fair refereeing by at least two reviewers. We hope that this Journal will provide a forum for disseminating high-quality research in chemistry and related areas and are open to any questions and suggestions. Starting in 2020, the SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES will have two issues per year (June and December).

Thank you very much for choosing the SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES to publish your paper!
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