Identification of nurses` competencies in primary health care through a Delphi study in southern Brazil

Objective: This investigation aimed to identify and analyze the general and specific competencies of nurses in the primary health care practice of Brazil. Design: The Delphi Technique was used as the method of study. Sample: 2 groups of participants were selected: One contained primary health care nurses (n=52) and the other specialists (n=57), including public health nurses and public or community health faculty. Measurements: 3 questionnaires were developed for the study. The first asked participants to indicate general and specific competencies, which were compiled into a list for each group. A Likert scale of 1-5 was added to these 2 lists in the second and third questionnaires. A consensus criterion of 75% for score 4 or 5 was adopted. Results: In the nurses` group, 17 general and 8 specific competencies reached the consensus criterion; 19 general and 9 specific competencies reached the criterion in the specialists` group. These competencies were classified into 10 domains: professional values, communication, teamwork, management, community-oriented, health promotion, problem solving, health care, and education and basic public health sciences. Conclusions: These competencies reflect Brazilian health policy and constitute a reference for health professional practice and education.

Friere`s Dialogic Concept Enables Family Health Program Teams to Incorporate Health Promotion

Objective The study analyzes the possibility of incorporating health promotion measures into the work processes of Family Health Program teams at a primary health care clinic in Brazil. Design and Sample We used the participatory research concept developed in 1968 by Freire. The study sample comprised the end-users of the health care system, together with 3 multidisciplinary teams. A total of 77 health care users and 55 health professionals participated in the study. Measures Culture circles composed of health care professionals, and users from different areas investigated generative topics, encoded/decoded topics, and engaged in critical probing for clarification. Topics affecting quality of life and health were heuristically evaluated. Results Although most topics were related to changing the focus of health care facilities, some were related to subsidizing community-based interventions, improving environmental strategies, individual skills, and public policies. Incorporating the novel health promotion measures and creating an expanded full-treatment clinic are important steps toward that goal. Conclusions Topics that can stimulate dialogue among the members of the culture circles include creating an environment of closer cultural contact, with repercussions for work processes, family health models, and general health models, as well as the inclusion of social aspects in the decision-making processes related to health issues that affect the living conditions of the population.

Connection Admission Control for a WDM Optical Network Based on Traffic Monitoring and Bandwidth Release

We proposed a connection admission control (CAC) to monitor the traffic in a multi-rate WDM optical network. The CAC searches for the shortest path connecting source and destination nodes, assigns wavelengths with enough bandwidth to serve the requests, supervises the traffic in the most required nodes, and if needed activates a reserved wavelength to release bandwidth according to traffic demand. We used a scale-free network topology, which includes highly connected nodes ( hubs), to enhance the monitoring procedure. Numerical results obtained from computational simulations show improved network performance evaluated in terms of blocking probability.

Performance analysis of an optical network employing waveband and traffic grooming

This paper analyses an optical network architecture composed by an arrangement of nodes equipped with multi-granular optical cross-connects (MG-OXCs) in addition to the usual optical cross-connects (OXCs). Then, selected network nodes can perform both waveband as well as traffic grooming operations and our goal is to assess the improvement on network performance brought by these additional capabilities. Specifically, the influence of the MG-OXC multi-granularity on the blocking probability is evaluated for 16 classes of service over a network based on the NSFNet topology. A mechanism of fairness in bandwidth capacity is also added to the connection admission control to manage the blocking probabilities of all kind of bandwidth requirements. Comprehensive computational simulation are carried out to compare eight distinct node architectures, showing that an adequate combination of waveband and single-wavelength ports of the MG-OXCs and OXCs allow a more efficient operation of a WDM optical network carrying multi-rate traffic.

Multidimensional cluster stability analysis from a Brazilian Bradyrhizobium sp RFLP/PCR data set

The taxonomy of the N(2)-fixing bacteria belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium is still poorly refined, mainly due to conflicting results obtained by the analysis of the phenotypic and genotypic properties. This paper presents an application of a method aiming at the identification of possible new clusters within a Brazilian collection of 119 Bradryrhizobium strains showing phenotypic characteristics of B. japonicum and B. elkanii. The stability was studied as a function of the number of restriction enzymes used in the RFLP-PCR analysis of three ribosomal regions with three restriction enzymes per region. The method proposed here uses Clustering algorithms with distances calculated by average-linkage clustering. Introducing perturbations using sub-sampling techniques makes the stability analysis. The method showed efficacy in the grouping of the species B. japonicum and B. elkanii. Furthermore, two new clusters were clearly defined, indicating possible new species, and sub-clusters within each detected cluster. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

On the use of Gram matrix in observability analysis

This letter presents some notes on the use of the Gram matrix in observability analysis. This matrix is constructed considering the rows of the measurement Jacobian matrix as vectors, and it can be employed in observability analysis and restoration methods. The determination of nonredundant pseudo-measurements (normally injections pseudo-measurements) for merging observable islands into an observable (single) system is carried out analyzing the pivots of the Gram matrix. The Gram matrix can also be used to verify local redundancy, which is important in measurement system planning. Some numerical examples` are used to illustrate these features. Others features of the Gram matrix are under study.

A Fault-Tolerant Manipulator Robot Based on H(2), H(infinity), and Mixed H(2)/H(infinity) Markovian Controls

This paper develops a Markovian jump model to describe the fault occurrence in a manipulator robot of three joints. This model includes the changes of operation points and the probability that a fault occurs in an actuator. After a fault, the robot works as a manipulator with free joints. Based on the developed model, a comparative study among three Markovian controllers, H(2), H(infinity), and mixed H(2)/H(infinity) is presented, applied in an actual manipulator robot subject to one and two consecutive faults.

Hardened properties of self-compacting concrete - A statistical approach

This work presents a statistical study on the variability of the mechanical properties of hardened self-compacting concrete, including the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. The comparison of the experimental results with those derived from several codes and recommendations allows evaluating if the hardened behaviour of self-compacting concrete can be appropriately predicted by the existing formulations. The variables analyzed include the maximum size aggregate, paste and gravel content. Results from the analyzed self-compacting concretes presented variability measures in the same range than the expected for conventional vibrated concrete, with all the results within a confidence level of 95%. From several formulations for conventional concrete considered in this study, it was observed that a safe estimation of the modulus of elasticity can be obtained from the value of compressive strength; with lower strength self-compacting concretes presenting higher safety margins. However, most codes overestimate the material tensile strength. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Kinetic studies of urban solid residues and leachate from sanitary landfill

Urban solid residues are constituted of food remaining, grass leaves, fruit peelings, paper, cardboard, rubber, plastic, etc. The organic fraction formed represents about 50% during the decomposition yields biogas and leachate, which are sources of pollution. Residue samples were collected from the landfill in different and cells from several ages and the corresponding leachate, both after treatments, were submitted to thermal analysis. Kinetic parameters were determined using Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. The linear relation between the two kinetic parameters (ln A and E) was verified for organic residue urban`s samples, but not for leachate`s sample. The occurred difference can be attributed to the constituents present in leachate.

Quality of martensitic stainless steel type AISI-420 utilized in the manufacture surgical implements

Until now the martensitic stainless steel type AISI-420 is widely used in the manufacture of surgical implements. These implements present premature corrosion problems identified after cleaning, sterilization and cutting edge loss and/or rupture during the surgical processes.. This study evaluates the steel as to the chemical composition, hardness, microstructure and pitting corrosion resistance in a solution of enzyme detergent diluted in water by anodic cyclic polarization. This mixture is used in the cleaning of surgical implements that are submerged in this solution for 2 h before cleaning and sterilization. The results show steels with martensite microstructures in the ferrite phase, together with impurities. These presented low pitting potential values in compariston to steels with a fully martensitic microstructure.

A hybrid-mixed finite element formulation for the geometrically exact analysis of three-dimensional framed structures

This paper addresses the development of a hybrid-mixed finite element formulation for the quasi-static geometrically exact analysis of three-dimensional framed structures with linear elastic behavior. The formulation is based on a modified principle of stationary total complementary energy, involving, as independent variables, the generalized vectors of stress-resultants and displacements and, in addition, a set of Lagrange multipliers defined on the element boundaries. The finite element discretization scheme adopted within the framework of the proposed formulation leads to numerical solutions that strongly satisfy the equilibrium differential equations in the elements, as well as the equilibrium boundary conditions. This formulation consists, therefore, in a true equilibrium formulation for large displacements and rotations in space. Furthermore, this formulation is objective, as it ensures invariance of the strain measures under superposed rigid body rotations, and is not affected by the so-called shear-locking phenomenon. Also, the proposed formulation produces numerical solutions which are independent of the path of deformation. To validate and assess the accuracy of the proposed formulation, some benchmark problems are analyzed and their solutions compared with those obtained using the standard two-node displacement/ rotation-based formulation.

Hybrid and multi-field variational principles for geometrically exact three-dimensional beams

This paper addresses the development of several alternative novel hybrid/multi-field variational formulations of the geometrically exact three-dimensional elastostatic beam boundary-value problem. In the framework of the complementary energy-based formulations, a Legendre transformation is used to introduce the complementary energy density in the variational statements as a function of stresses only. The corresponding variational principles are shown to feature stationarity within the framework of the boundary-value problem. Both weak and linearized weak forms of the principles are presented. The main features of the principles are highlighted, giving special emphasis to their relationships from both theoretical and computational standpoints. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A comparison of the critical impeller speed for solids suspension in a bench-scale and a pilot-scale mechanical flotation cell

This paper compares the critical impeller speed results for 6 L Denver and Wemco bench-scale flotation cells with findings from a study by Van der Westhuizen and Deglon [Van der Westhuizen, A.P., Deglon, D.A., 2007. Evaluation of solids suspension in a pilot-scale mechanical flotation cell: the critical impeller speed. Minerals Engineering 20,233-240; Van der Westhuizen, A.P., Deglon, D.A., 2008. Solids suspension in a pilot scale mechanical flotation cell: a critical impeller speed correlation. Minerals Engineering 21, 621-629] conducted in a 125 L Batequip flotation cell. Understanding solids suspension has become increasingly important due to dramatic increases in flotation cell sizes. The critical impeller speed is commonly used to indicate the effectiveness of solids suspension. The minerals used in this study were apatite, quartz and hematite. The critical impeller speed was found to be strongly dependent on particle size, solids density and air flow rate, with solids concentration having a lesser influence. Liquid viscosity was found to have a negligible effect. The general Zwietering-type critical impeller speed correlation developed by Van der Westhuizen and Deglon [Van der Westhuizen, A.P., Deglon, D.A., 2008. Solids suspension in a pilot scale mechanical flotation cell: a critical impeller speed correlation. Minerals Engineering 21, 621-629] was found to be applicable to all three flotation machines. The exponents for particle size, solids concentration and liquid viscosity were equivalent for all three cells. The exponent for solids density was found to be less significant than that obtained by the previous authors, and to be consistent with values reported in the general literature for stirred tanks. Finally, a new dimensionless critical impeller speed correlation is proposed where the particle size is divided by the impeller diameter. This modified equation generally predicts the experimental measurements well, with most predictions within 10% of the experimental. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sphericity of apatite particles determined by gas permeability through packed beds

Because shape is an assessment of the three-dimensional form of a particle, it may be described in terms of sphericity (Psi), which is a measure of how closely a particle approaches a spherical configuration. In this study, Darcy`s law and the Kozeny-Carman model for fluid flow through porous media were applied to packed beds to determine the sphericity (Psi) of apatite particles. The beds were composed of glass spheres or particles of apatite (igneous from Brazil and sedimentary from the United States) of three classes of size (Class 1: -297 +210 mu m; Class 2: -210 +149 mu m; Class 3: -149 +105 mu m). Glass spheres were used to validate the model because of its known sphericity (Psi = 1.00). Apatite particles, either igneous or sedimentary, showed very close values for particle sphericity (Psi approximate to 0.6). Observations on particle images conducted by scanning electron microscopy illustrated that igneous (Psi = 0.623) and sedimentary (Psi = 0.644) particles of apatite of Class 2 predominantly exhibit elongated shape. The close value of particle sphericity (Psi approximate to 0.6) showed by either igneous or sedimentary apatite may be justified by the similarity in particle shape.