Environmental management system and human resource practices: is there a link between them in four Brazilian companies?

The aim of this article is to analyze the theoretical model proposed by [Jabbour CJC, Santos FCA. Relationships between human resource dimensions and environmental management in companies: proposal of a model. Journal of Cleaner Production 2008;16(1):5 1-8.] based on the data collected in four Brazilian companies. This model investigates how the phases of the environmental management system can be linked to human resource practices in order to attain continuous improvement of a company`s environmental performance. Our aim is to contribute to a field, which has little empirical evidence. Although the interaction between the phases of the environmental management system and human resource practices is recommended by the specialized literature [Daily BE Huang S. Achieving sustainability through attention to human resource factors in environmental management. International Journal of Operations and Production Management 2001:21(12):1539-52.], the results indicate that most of the theoretical assumptions could not be confirmed in these Brazilian companies. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Embrittlement of case hardened steel chain link

Various steel chain links presented cracking during their manufacturing process, which includes induction case hardening and electrogalvanizing steps. Fractographic examination of the exposed crack surfaces revealed intergranular cracking with some areas featuring a thin layer of iron oxide, indicating that the cracking took place after the electrogalvanizing step. The location of the cracks coincided with the position of the deepest case hardened layer, suggesting the occurrence of localized overheating during the induction case hardening step. Inductive heating finite element analysis (COSMOS Designstar Software) confirmed that during the case hardening the austenitising temperature reached in the crack region values of approximately 1050 degrees C. The results indicated that intergranular cracking was caused by hydrogen embrittlement. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reduced frequency of CD4(+)CD25(HIGH)FOXP3(+) cells and diminished FOXP3 expression in patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency: A link to autoimmunity?

Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary immunodeficiency disease characterized by defective immunoglobulin production and often associated with autoimmunity. We used flow cytometry to analyze CD4(+)CD25(HIGH)FOXP3(+) T regulatory (Treg) cells and ask whether perturbations in their frequency in peripheral blood could underlie the high incidence of autoimmune disorders in CVID patients. In this study, we report for the first time that CVID patients with autoimmune disease have a significantly reduced frequency of CD4(+)CD25(HIGH)FOXP3(+) cells in their peripheral blood accompanied by a decreased intensity of FOXP3 expression. Notably, although CVID patients in whom autoimmunity was not diagnosed had a reduced frequency of CD4(+)CD25(HIGH)FOXP3(+) cells, FOXP3 expression levels did not differ from those in healthy controls. In conclusion, these data suggest compromised homeostasis of CD4(+)CD25(HIGH)FOXP3(+) cells in a subset of CVID patients with autoimmunity, and may implicate Treg cells in pathological mechanisms of CVID. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Distinguishing links up to link-homotopy by algebraic methods

In this paper we provide a complete algebraic invariant of link-homotopy, that is, an algebraic invariant that distinguishes two links if and only if they are link-homotopic. The paper establishes a connection between the ""peripheral structures"" approach to link-homotopy taken by Milnor, Levine and others, and the string link action approach taken by Habegger and Lin. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The link between partial melting, granitization and granulite development in central Ribeira Fold Belt, SE Brazil: New evidence from elemental and Sr-Nd isotopic geochemistry

Elemental and Sr-Nd isotopic data on metatexites, diatexites, orthogneisses and charnockites from the central Ribeira Fold Belt indicate that they are LILE-enriched weakly peraluminous granodiorites. Harker and Th-Hf-La correlation trends suggest that these rocks represent a co-genetic sequence, whereas variations on CaO, MnO, Y and HREE for charnockites can be explained by garnet consumption during granulitic metamorphism. Similar REE patterns and isotopic results of epsilon(565)(Nd) = -5.4 to -7.3 and (87)Sr/(86)Sr(565) = 0.706-0.711 for metatexites, diatexites, orthogneisses and charnockites, as well as similar T(DM) ages between 2.0 and 1.5 Ga are consistent with evolution from a relatively homogeneous and enriched common crustal (metasedimentary) protolith. Results suggest a genetic link between metatexites, diatexites, orthogneisses and charnockites and a two-step process for charnockite development: (a) generation of the hydrated igneous protoliths by anatexis of metasedimentary rocks; (b) continuous high-grade metamorphism that transformed the ""S-type granitoids"" (leucosomes and diatexites) into orthogneisses and, as metamorphism and dehydration progressed, into charnockites. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A ditryptophan cross-link is responsible for the covalent dimerization of human superoxide dismutase 1 during its bicarbonate-dependent peroxidase activity

Unlike intermolecular disulfide bonds, other protein cross-links arising from oxidative modifications cannot be reversed and are presumably more toxic to cells because they may accumulate and induce protein aggregation. However, most of these irreversible protein cross-links remain poorly characterized. For instance, the antioxidant enzyme human superoxide dismutase 1 (hSod1) has been reported to undergo non-disulfide covalent dimerization and further oligomerization during its bicarbonate-dependent peroxidase activity. The dimerization was shown to be dependent on the oxidation of the single, solvent-exposed TrP(32) residue of hSod1, but the covalent dimer was not isolated nor was its structure determined. In this work, the hSod1 covalent dimer was isolated, digested with trypsin in H(2)O and H(2)(18)O, and analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS). The results demonstrate that the covalent dimer consists of two hSod1 subunits cross-linked by a ditryptophan, which contains a bond between C3 and N1 of the respective Trp(32) residues. We further demonstrate that the cross-link cleaves under usual MS/MS conditions leading to apparently unmodified Trp(32), partially hinders proteolysis, and provides a mechanism to explain the formation of hSod1 covalent trimers and tetramers. This characterization of the covalent hSod1 dimer identifies a novel oxidative modification of protein Trp residues and provides clues for studying its occurrence in vivo. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Transmissão psíquica transgeracional e construção de subjetividade: relato de uma psicoterapia psicanalítica vincular

O presente artigo tem como objetivo refletir acerca do conceito de transmissão psíquica entre gerações, especificamente de uma modalidade - a transmissão psíquica transgeracional - e sua influência na construção das subjetividades individuais e dos vínculos familiares, enfatizando-se aqui o vínculo mãe-filha como gerador de sintomas na criança e conflitos no âmbito familiar, através de um relato clínico de uma psicoterapia psicanalítica vincular, segundo os referenciais de Eiguer (2006) e Berenstein e Puget (1997, 2005). A apresentação do caso clínico permite discutir, ainda, a relação entre a transmissão psíquica transgeracional e o estabelecimento da “maternagem”, bem como os resultados obtidos ao longo de todo o processo psicoterápico. A finalidade desse espaço terapêutico familiar é a de propiciar transformações frente ao legado geracional, promovendo o surgimento de uma subjetividade nova, impulsionadora de vida.

Prevalência de hipertensão arterial em militares jovens e fatores associados

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência de hipertensão arterial entre militares jovens e fatores associados. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado com amostra de 380 militares do sexo masculino de 19 e 35 anos de idade em uma unidade da Força Aérea Brasileira em São Paulo, SP, entre 2000 e 2001. Os pontos de corte para hipertensão foram: >140mmHg para pressão sistólica e > 90mmHg para pressão diastólica. As variáveis estudadas incluíram fatores de risco e de proteção para hipertensão, como características comportamentais e nutricionais. Para análise das associações, utilizou-se regressão linear generalizada múltipla, com família binomial e ligação logarítmica, obtendo-se razões de prevalências com intervalo de 90% de confiança e seleção hierarquizada das variáveis. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de hipertensão arterial foi de 22% (IC 90%: 21;29). No modelo final da regressão múltipla verificou-se prevalência de hipertensão 68% maior entre os ex-fumantes em relação aos não fumantes (IC 90%: 1,13;2,50). Entre os indivíduos com sobrepeso (índice de massa corporal - IMC de 25 a 29kg/m2) e com obesidade (IMC>29kg/m2) as prevalências foram, respectivamente, 75% (IC 90%: 1,23;2,50) e 178% (IC 90%: 1,82;4,25) maiores do que entre os eutróficos. Entre os que praticavam atividade física regular, comparado aos que não praticavam, a prevalência foi 52% menor (IC 90%: 0,30;0,90). CONCLUSÕES: Ser ex-fumante e ter sobrepeso ou obesidade foram situações de risco para hipertensão, enquanto que a prática regular de atividade física foi fator de proteção em militares jovens.

Vinculação determinística de Bancos de Dados sobre mortalidade por Aids

A vinculação determinística de bancos de dados sobre mortalidade por aids tem apresentado problemas causados por falhas nos arquivos. Assim, os objetivos deste estudo foram: avaliar o desempenho da vinculação determinística em bancos de óbito por aids do Programa de Aprimoramento das Informações de Mortalidade no Município de São Paulo (PRO-AIM) e da Fundação SEADE entre os anos de 2000 e 2004 e estimar a cobertura de cada banco. Utilizou-se a rotina merge de um software para vincular os bancos. A primeira etapa pareou os registros automaticamente e, na segunda etapa, cada banco foi conferido para localizar novos pares. Estimaram-se os óbitos pela soma entre casos pareados e não pareados para calcular a cobertura dos bancos. A primeira etapa da vinculação identificou 91,6% dos pares. A segunda etapa adicionou 457 pares. O total de óbitos foi estimado em 5.855, com cobertura de 97,1% do PRO-AIM e 96% do SEADE. O uso da vinculação determinística cobriu grande parte dos casos. O banco do PRO-AIM proporcionou a maior cobertura, com maior quantidade de informações completas e melhor localização geográfica dos casos.

Effect of cyhalothrin on Ehrlich tumor growth and macrophage activity in mice

Cyhalothrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, induces stress-like symptoms, increases c-fos immunoreactivity in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, and decreases innate immune responses in laboratory animals. Macrophages are key elements in cellular immune responses and operate at the tumor-host interface. This study investigated the relationship among cyhalothrin effects on Ehrlich tumor growth, serum corticosterone levels and peritoneal macrophage activity in mice. Three experiments were done with 10 experimental (single gavage administration of 3.0 mg/kg cyhalothrin daily for 7 days) and 10 control (single gavage administration of 1.0 mL/kg vehicle of cyhalothrin preparation daily for 7 days) isogenic BALB/c mice in each experiment. Cyhalothrin i) increased Ehrlich ascitic tumor growth after ip administration of 5.0 x 106 tumor cells, i.e., ascitic fluid volume (control = 1.97 ± 0.39 mL and experimental = 2.71 ± 0.92 mL; P < 0.05), concentration of tumor cells/mL in the ascitic fluid (control = 111.95 ± 16.73 x 106 and experimental = 144.60 ± 33.18 x 106; P < 0.05), and total number of tumor cells in the ascitic fluid (control = 226.91 ± 43.22 x 106 and experimental = 349.40 ± 106.38 x 106; P < 0.05); ii) increased serum corticosterone levels (control = 200.0 ± 48.3 ng/mL and experimental = 420.0 ± 75.5 ng/mL; P < 0.05), and iii) decreased the intensity of macrophage phagocytosis (control = 132.3 ± 19.7 and experimental = 116.2 ± 4.6; P < 0.05) and oxidative burst (control = 173.7 ± 40.8 and experimental= 99.58 ± 41.7; P < 0.05) in vitro in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. These data provide evidence that cyhalothrin simultaneously alters host resistance to Ehrlich tumor growth, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis function, and peritoneal macrophage activity. The results are discussed in terms of data suggesting a link between stress, HPA axis activation and resistance to tumor growth.

Recovery and upgrading bovine rumen protein by extrusion: effect of lipid content on protein disulphide cross-linking, solubility and molecular weight

Bovine rumen protein with two levels of residual lipids (1.9 per cent or 3.8 per cent) was subjected to thermoplastic extrusion under different temperatures and moisture contents. Protein solubility in different buffers, disulphide cross-linking and molecular weight distribution were determined on the extrudates. After extrusion, samples with 1.9 per cent residual lipids content had a higher concentration of protein insoluble by undetermined forces, irrespective of feed moisture and processing temperature used. Lipid content of 3.8 per cent in the feed material resulted in more protein participating in the extrudate network through non-covalent interactions (hydrophobic and electrostatic) and disulphide bonds. A small dependency of the extrusion process on moisture and temperature and a marked dependency on lipid content, especially phospholipid, was observed, Electrophoresis under non-reducing conditions showed that protein extrusion with low feed moisture promoted high molecular breakdown inside the barrel, probably due to intense shear force, and further protein aggregation at the die end

Neurotoxicity and aggressiveness triggered by low-level lead in children: a review

Lead-induced neurotoxicity acquired by low-level long-term exposure has special relevance for children. A plethora of recent reports has demonstrated a direct link between low-level lead exposure and deficits in the neurobehavioral-cognitive performance manifested from childhood through adolescence. In many studies, aggressiveness and delinquency have also been suggested as symptoms of lead poisoning. Several environmental, occupational and domestic sources of contaminant lead and consequent health risks are largely identified and understood, but the occurrences of lead poisoning remain numerous. There is an urgent need for public health policies to prevent lead poisoning so as to reduce individual and societal damages and losses. In this paper we describe unsuspected sources of contaminant lead, discuss the economic losses and urban violence possibly associated with lead contamination and review the molecular basis of lead-induced neurotoxicity, emphasizing its effects on the social behavior, delinquency and IQ of children and adolescents

Poder de agir e sofrimento: estudo de caso sobre Agentes Comunitários de Saúde

Os Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) possuem uma missão de grande importância na implementação da Estratégia de Saúde da Família: devem criar o vínculo entre a população e os serviços de atenção básica, combinando ações de promoção da saúde, assistência básica e prevenção. A equipe do Cerest de Piracicaba realizou, no período de 2004-2006, análise ergonômica do trabalho em uma unidade de saúde de família cujos objetivos foram compreender a relação entre queixas de sofrimento e as condições de trabalho das ACS e propor medidas para modificá-las. Os resultados da AET mostram que, a despeito do engajamento visando resolver os problemas de saúde das famílias, o limitado “poder de agir” das ACS, devido às limitações da unidade e da rede de serviços, expunham-nas a situações nas quais se encontravam incapazes de adotar ações efetivas e nas quais não podiam se prevenir do sofrimento

Registro de Aedes albopictus em áreas epizoóticas de febre amarela das Regiões Sudeste e Sul do Brasil (Díptera:Culicidae)

Durante estudo biológico e ecológico sobre mosquitos levado a cabo em área com registro de epidemia de febre amarela silvestre e epizootia em macacos, foram encontrados adultos de Aedes Albopictus. A tendência da espécie para invadir ambiente extradomiciliar potencializa a chance de infecção natural, ao tempo em que evolui para formar um elo entre focos naturais de vírus e o ambiente urbano. Esta Nota Técnica representa um alerta aos gestores dos três poderes públicos sobre perspectivas de mudanças no perfil epidemiológico atual da febre amarela no Brasil