PROFILE OF CAREGIVERS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER DISEASE ASSOCIATED TO RESILIENCE

This exploratory and descriptive study described sociodemographic and health variables of caregivers of elderly people with Alzheimer's disease, associating care provided with resilience. Participants were 101 caregivers over 18 years old who accompanied older adults in a Primary Care Unit of a Brazilian public hospital in 2009. Questionnaires regarding the profile, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Resilience Scale were used. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Most caregivers were female, without depression, aided by other people in providing care, and had a high degree of resilience. The variables degree of kinship, medical treatment, the use of medication, tiredness, prostration, discouragement, and caregivers' mental health had significant association with resilience. Physical health was significantly associated to experience in care, with 82 elderly people presenting acute cognitive damage. Older adults in the family context can benefit from a more resilient caregiver.

Does ragging play a role in medical student depression - Cause or effect?

Background: Medical students experience a lot of stress what may contribute to symptoms of depression. In this study we set out to look at the environmental factors which may be contributing in one medical school in Brazil. Methods: We assessed depressive symptoms using Beck's Depression Inventory in 465 and 267 medical students in 2001 and 2006 respectively. We explored possible social and environmental causes using qualitative data. Results: Nearly 15% scored above the cut off for depression in both the samples. Males in the pre-clinical stage in 2006 showed an increase in depressive symptoms than males in the same cycle in 2001 (aOR = 7.36 [95% CI = 0.85-63.5] p = 0.07). Qualitative data confirmed that factors such as ragging and low social involvement were correlated with depressive symptoms in pre-clinical stage males. Limitations: The sample size was small both for quantitative and qualitative aspects of the study. Conclusions: It appears that ragging plays an important role in the genesis of depressive symptoms in medical students. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Underlying Event measurements in pp collisions at root s=0.9 and 7 TeV with the ALICE experiment at the LHC

We present measurements of Underlying Event observables in pp collisions at root s = 0 : 9 and 7 TeV. The analysis is performed as a function of the highest charged-particle transverse momentum p(T),L-T in the event. Different regions are defined with respect to the azimuthal direction of the leading (highest transverse momentum) track: Toward, Transverse and Away. The Toward and Away regions collect the fragmentation products of the hardest partonic interaction. The Transverse region is expected to be most sensitive to the Underlying Event activity. The study is performed with charged particles above three different p(T) thresholds: 0.15, 0.5 and 1.0 GeV/c. In the Transverse region we observe an increase in the multiplicity of a factor 2-3 between the lower and higher collision energies, depending on the track p(T) threshold considered. Data are compared to PYTHIA 6.4, PYTHIA 8.1 and PHOJET. On average, all models considered underestimate the multiplicity and summed p(T) in the Transverse region by about 10-30%.

Depression, fatigue, and health-related quality of life in head and neck cancer patients: a prospective pilot study

To assess the prevalence of depression and fatigue symptoms in head and neck cancer patients during radiotherapy treatment and relate them symptoms with these patients' quality of life. This is a prospective study. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Piper Fatigue Scale-revised and Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy Head and Neck (FACT-H&N) were applied to 41 head and neck cancer patients at three times: at the start of treatment (T1), approximately 15 days after the start of treatment (T2) and at the end of treatment (T3), approximately 30 days after the start of the radiotherapy. The mean BDI and PIPER increased during the radiotherapy treatment. BDI scores did not demonstrate the presence of depression, although the number of symptoms increased, and the presence of fatigue rose as treatment advanced. The mean FACT H&N decreased in the middle and at the end of treatment, indicating worsening in these patients' Quality of Life. Depression and fatigue symptoms increased during radiotherapy treatment, while QoL levels decreased. This demonstrates that these symptoms are strongly correlated and that their presence negatively influenced QoL. At the start of treatment, nurses need to advise patients and plan care, offering interventions to decrease these symptoms and improve QoL.

Tracing latitudinal gradient, river discharge and water masses along the Subtropical South American Coast using benthic Foraminifera assemblages

More than 30% of Buccella peruviana (D'Orbigny), Globocassidulina crassa porrecta (Earland & Heron-Allen), Cibicides mackannai (Galloway & Wissler) and C. refulgens (Montfort) indicate the presence of cold Sub Antarctic Shelf Water in winter, from 33.5 to 38.3 degrees S, deeper than 100 m, in the southern part of the study area. In summer, the abundance of this association decreases to less than 15% around 37.5-38.9 degrees S where two species (Globocassidulina subglobosa (Brady), Uvigerina peregrina (Cushman) take over. G. subglobosa, U. peregrina, and Hanzawaia boueana (D'Orbigny) are found at 27-33 degrees S in both seasons in less than 55 m deep in the northern part, and are linked with warm Subtropical Shelf Water and Tropical Water. Freshwater influence was signalized by high silicate concentration and by the presence of Pseudononion atlanticum (Cushman), Bolivina striatula (Cushman), Buliminella elegantissima (D'Orbigny), Bulimina elongata (D'Orbigny), Elphidium excavatum (Terquem), E. poeyanum (D'Orbigny), Ammobaculites exiguus (Cushman & Bronnimann), Arenoparrella mexicana (Kornfeld), Gaudryina exillis (Cushman & Bronnimann), Textularia earlandi (Parker) and thecamoebians in four sectors of the shelf. The presence of Bulimina marginata (D'Orbigny) between 34.1-32.8 degrees S in the winter and 34.2-32.7 degrees S in the summer indicates that the influence of the Subtropical Shelf Front on the sediment does not change seasonally, otherwise, the presence of Angulogerina angulosa (Williamson) in the winter, only in Mar del Plata (38.9 degrees S), show that Malvinas currents are not influencing the sediment in the summer.

Measurement of electrons from semileptonic heavy-flavor hadron decays in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

The differential production cross section of electrons from semileptonic heavy-flavor hadron decays has been measured at midrapidity (\y\ < 0.5) in proton-proton collisions at root s = 7 TeV with ALICE at the LHC. Electrons were measured in the transverse momentum range 0.5 < p(t) < 8 GeV/c. Predictions from a fixed-order perturbative QCD calculation with next-to-leading-log resummation agree with the data within the theoretical and experimental uncertainties. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.86.112007

Chronic Pain and Depression in the Quality of Life of Women With Migraine - A Controlled Study

Background. Migraine is comorbid to depression and widespread chronic pain (WCP), but the influence of these conditions on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of individuals with episodic (EM) and chronic migraine (CM) is poorly understood. Objective.-To assess the prevalence of depressive symptoms and WCP in individuals with EM and CM, as well as to estimate the joint impact of these conditions on the HRQoL of these individuals. Methods.-All women aged 18 to 65 years with a first diagnosis of EM or CM from September of 2006 to September of 2008 seen in an outpatient headache service were invited to participate. They were asked to attend a separate appointment in the service, and to bring another woman of similar age that also agreed to participate. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory. Questions about WCP followed the protocol of the American College of Rheumatology. HRQoL was assessed using the Short-Form 36 (SF-36). Multivariate analysis modeled HRQoL as a function of headache status, depressive symptoms, and pain, using quantile regression. Results.-Sample consisted of 179 women, 53 in the EM group, 37 in the CM group and 89 in control group. Groups did not differ by demographics. Mean scores of SF-36 were 53.6 (standard deviation [SD] = 23.5) for EM, 44.2 (SD = 18.5) for CM and 61.8 (SD = 21.5) for controls. In multivariate analysis, SF-36 scores were predicted by a CM status (P =.02; -10.05 [95% CI -18.52; -1.58]) and by a Beck Depression Inventory score (P <.01; -1.27 [95% CI -1.55; -0.99]). The influence of WCP in the SF-36 scores approached significance (P =.08; -0.78 [95% CI -1.64; 0.88]). Age did not contribute to the model. Conclusion.-Women with migraine are at an increased chance of WCP, and the chance increases as a function of headache frequency. Both depressive symptoms and CM independently predict HRQoL status.

(KsKs0)-K-0 correlations in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV from the LHC ALICE experiment

Identical neutral kaon pair correlations are measured in root s = 7 TeV pp collisions in the ALICE experiment. One-dimensional (KsKs0)-K-0 correlation functions in terms of the invariant momentum difference of kaon pairs are formed in two multiplicity and two transverse momentum ranges. The femtoscopic parameters for the radius and correlation strength of the kaon source are extracted. The fit includes quantum statistics and final-state interactions of the a(0)/f(0) resonance. (KsKs0)-K-0 correlations show an increase in radius for increasing multiplicity and a slight decrease in radius for increasing transverse mass, mT, as seen in pi pi correlations in pp collisions and in heavy-ion collisions. Transverse mass scaling is observed between the (KsKs0)-K-0 and pi pi radii. Also, the first observation is made of the decay of the f(2)'(1525) meson into the (KsKs0)-K-0 channel in pp collisions. (C) 2012 CERN. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Methane airborne measurements and comparison to global models during BARCA

Tropical regions, especially the Amazon region, account for large emissions of methane (CH4). Here, we present CH4 observations from two airborne campaigns conducted within the BARCA (Balanco Atmosferico Regional de Carbono na Amazonia) project in the Amazon basin in November 2008 (end of the dry season) and May 2009 (end of the wet season). We performed continuous measurements of CH4 onboard an aircraft for the first time in the Amazon region, covering the whole Amazon basin with over 150 vertical profiles between altitudes of 500 m and 4000 m. The observations support the finding of previous ground-based, airborne, and satellite measurements that the Amazon basin is a large source of atmospheric CH4. Isotope analysis verified that the majority of emissions can be attributed to CH4 emissions from wetlands, while urban CH4 emissions could be also traced back to biogenic origin. A comparison of five TM5 based global CH4 inversions with the observations clearly indicates that the inversions using SCIAMACHY observations represent the BARCA observations best. The calculated CH4 flux estimate obtained from the mismatch between observations and TM5-modeled CH4 fields ranges from 36 to 43 mg m(-2) d(-1) for the Amazon lowland region.

Neutral pion and eta meson production in proton-proton collisions at root s=0.9 TeV and root s=7 TeV

The first measurements of the invariant differential cross sections of inclusive pi(0) and eta meson production at mid-rapidity in proton-proton collisions root s = 0.9 TeV and root s = 7 TeV are reported. The pi(0) measurement covers the ranges 0.4 < p(T) < 7 GeV/c and 0.3 < p(T) < 25 GeV/c for these two energies, respectively. The production of eta mesons was measured at root s = 7 TeV in the range 0.4 < p(T) < 15 GeV/c. Next-to-Leading Order perturbative QCD calculations, which are consistent with the pi(0) spectrum at root s = 0.9 TeV, overestimate those of pi(0) and eta mesons at root s = 7 TeV, but agree with the measured eta/pi(0) ratio at root s = 7 TeV. (C) 2012 CERN. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Measurement of event background fluctuations for charged particle jet reconstruction in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76 TeV

The effect of event background fluctuations on charged particle jet reconstruction in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV has been measured with the ALICE experiment. The main sources of non-statistical fluctuations are characterized based purely on experimental data with an unbiased method, as well as by using single high p(t) particles and simulated jets embedded into real Pb-Pb events and reconstructed with the anti-k(t) jet finder. The influence of a low transverse momentum cut-off on particles used in the jet reconstruction is quantified by varying the minimum track p(t) between 0.15 GeV/c and 2 GeV/c. For embedded jets reconstructed from charged particles with p(t) > 0.15 GeV/c, the uncertainty in the reconstructed jet transverse momentum due to the heavy-ion background is measured to be 11.3 GeV/c (standard deviation) for the 10% most central Pb-Pb collisions, slightly larger than the value of 11.0 GeV/c measured using the unbiased method. For a higher particle transverse momentum threshold of 2 GeV/c, which will generate a stronger bias towards hard fragmentation in the jet finding process, the standard deviation of the fluctuations in the reconstructed jet transverse momentum is reduced to 4.8-5.0 GeV/c for the 10% most central events. A non-Gaussian tail of the momentum uncertainty is observed and its impact on the reconstructed jet spectrum is evaluated for varying particle momentum thresholds, by folding the measured fluctuations with steeply falling spectra.

Production of Muons from Heavy Flavor Decays at Forward Rapidity in pp and Pb-Pb Collisions at root s(NN)=2.76 TeV

The ALICE Collaboration has measured the inclusive production of muons from heavy-flavor decays at forward rapidity, 2.5 < y < 4, in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV. The p(t)-differential inclusive cross section of muons from heavy-flavor decays in pp collisions is compared to perturbative QCD calculations. The nuclear modification factor is studied as a function of p(t) and collision centrality. A weak suppression is measured in peripheral collisions. In the most central collisions, a suppression of a factor of about 3-4 is observed in 6 < p(t) < 10 GeV/c. The suppression shows no significant p(t) dependence.

Central pain due to stroke: cognitive representation and coping according to gender

Objective: To identify and compare perceptions of pain and how it is faced between men and women with central post-stroke pain. Methods: The participants were 25 men and 25 women of minimum age 30 years-old and minimum schooling level of four years, presenting central post-stroke pain for at least three months. The instruments used were: Mini-Mental State Examination; structured interview for the Brief Psychiatric Scale; Survey of Sociodemographic and Clinical Data; Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); Ways of Coping with Problems Scale (WCPS) in Scale; Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R); and Beck Depression Inventory (BD). Results: A significantly greater number of women used the coping strategy "Turn to spiritual and religious activities" in WCPS. They associated their emotional state with the cause of pain in IPQ-R. "Distraction of attention" was the strategy most used by the subjects. Conclusion: Women used spiritual and religious activities more as a coping strategy and perceived their emotional state as the cause of pain.

A comparison of deterministic, reliability-based and risk-based structural optimization under uncertainty

In this paper, the effects of uncertainty and expected costs of failure on optimum structural design are investigated, by comparing three distinct formulations of structural optimization problems. Deterministic Design Optimization (DDO) allows one the find the shape or configuration of a structure that is optimum in terms of mechanics, but the formulation grossly neglects parameter uncertainty and its effects on structural safety. Reliability-based Design Optimization (RBDO) has emerged as an alternative to properly model the safety-under-uncertainty part of the problem. With RBDO, one can ensure that a minimum (and measurable) level of safety is achieved by the optimum structure. However, results are dependent on the failure probabilities used as constraints in the analysis. Risk optimization (RO) increases the scope of the problem by addressing the compromising goals of economy and safety. This is accomplished by quantifying the monetary consequences of failure, as well as the costs associated with construction, operation and maintenance. RO yields the optimum topology and the optimum point of balance between economy and safety. Results are compared for some example problems. The broader RO solution is found first, and optimum results are used as constraints in DDO and RBDO. Results show that even when optimum safety coefficients are used as constraints in DDO, the formulation leads to configurations which respect these design constraints, reduce manufacturing costs but increase total expected costs (including expected costs of failure). When (optimum) system failure probability is used as a constraint in RBDO, this solution also reduces manufacturing costs but by increasing total expected costs. This happens when the costs associated with different failure modes are distinct. Hence, a general equivalence between the formulations cannot be established. Optimum structural design considering expected costs of failure cannot be controlled solely by safety factors nor by failure probability constraints, but will depend on actual structural configuration. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Production of K*(892)(0) and phi(1020) in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

The production of K*(892)(0) and phi(1020) in pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV was measured by the ALICE experiment at the LHC. The yields and the transverse momentum spectra d(2)N/dydp(T) at midrapidity vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.5 in the range 0 < p(T) < 6 GeV/c for K*(892)(0) and 0.4 < p(T) < 6 GeV/c for phi(1020) are reported and compared to model predictions. Using the yield of pions, kaons, and Omega baryons measured previously by ALICE at root s = 7 TeV, the ratios K*/K-, phi/K*, phi/ K-, phi/pi(-), and (Omega + <(Omega)over bar>)/phi are presented. The values of the K*/K-, phi/K* and phi/K- ratios are similar to those found at lower centre-of-mass energies. In contrast, the phi/pi(-) ratio, which has been observed to increase with energy, seems to saturate above 200 GeV. The (Omega + (Omega) over bar)/phi ratio in the p(T) range 1-5 GeV/ c is found to be in good agreement with the prediction of the HIJING/B (B) over bar v2.0model with a strong colour field.