Brazilian foreign policy in the Cardoso era: The search for autonomy through integration

The Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration attempted to replace a reactive foreign policy agenda dominated by a logic of autonomy through distance with a proactive international agenda guided by a logic of autonomy through integration. In adopting this agenda, the administration maintained that Brazil would be able to confront its problems and secure more control over its future if it actively contributed to elaborating the norms and guidelines of the administration of the global order. Because of structural weaknesses, however, this policy of integration, adherence, and participation was not adequately accompanied by positions entailing practical responsibilities - responsibilities that would have prepared both government and civil society for a higher profile in the post - cold-war era. In the end, the gains achieved during Cardoso's tenure failed to alter Brazil's international standing in any significant way. © 2007 Latin American Perspectives.

O papel dos sistemas visual, vestibular, somatosensorial e auditivo para o controle postural

The maintenance of a given body orientation is obtained by the complex relation between sensory information and muscle activity. Therefore, this study purpose was to review the role of visual, somatosensory, vestibular and auditory information in the maintenance and control of the posture. Method. a search by papers for the last 24 years was done in the PubMed and CAPES databases. The following keywords were used: postural control, sensory information, vestibular system, visual system, somatosensory system, auditory system and haptic system. Results. the influence of each sensory system and its integration were analyzed for the maintenance and control of the posture. Conclusion. the literature showed that there is information redundancy provided by sensory channels. Thus, the central nervous system chooses the main source for the posture control.

Anti-Candida targets and cytotoxicity of casuarinin isolated from Plinia cauliflora leaves in a bioactivity-guided study

In addition to the bio-guided investigation of the antifungal activity of Plinia cauliflora leaves against different Candida species, the major aim of the present study was the search for targets on the fungal cell. The most active antifungal fraction was purified by chromatography and characterized by NMR and mass spectrometry. The antifungal activity was evaluated against five Candida strains according to referenced guidelines. Cytotoxicity against fibroblast cells was determined. The likely targets of Candida albicans cells were assessed through interactions with ergosterol and cell wall composition, porosity and architecture. The chemical major component within the most active antifungal fraction of P. cauliflora leaves identified was the hydrolysable tannin casuarinin. The cytotoxic concentration was higher than the antifungal one. The first indication of plant target on cellular integrity was suggested by the antifungal activity ameliorated when using an osmotic support. The most important target for the tannin fraction studied was suggested by ultrastructural analysis of yeast cell walls revealing a denser mannan outer layer and wall porosity reduced. It is possible to imply that P. cauliflora targeted the C. albicans cell wall inducing some changes in the architecture, notably the outer glycoprotein layer, affecting the cell wall porosity without alteration of the polysaccharide or protein level. © 2013 by the authors.

A poesia visual de Miguel de Frias: o universo da visualidade na poesia

Pós-graduação em Artes - IA

Perseveração motora na deficiência visual: impacto da restrição do organismo na tarefa de alcançar objetos

Pós-graduação em Ciências da Motricidade - IBRC

A acessibilidade dos objetos educacionais de Física: possibilidades para pessoas com deficiência visual

Pós-graduação em Educação - FCT

Imagens em diálogo: cultura visual no Brasil e México em perspectiva comparada

O objetivo deste artigo é averiguar a circulação de imagens e o surgimento de uma cultura visual política entre o México e o Brasil entre as décadas de 1920 e 1930. Busco examinar em especial como se constituíram repertórios visuais comuns entre os dois países, tanto na produção de imagens carregadas com uma retórica do engajamento político como de algumas imagens que num primeiro olhar poderiam passar por descompromissadas, mas que contribuíram para a construção do imaginário político. Embora minha intenção não seja de uma análise exaustiva, procuraremos averiguar diferentes suportes imagéticos, como as fotografias estampadas na imprensa diária assim como nas revistas ilustradas, cartazes, gravuras e demais expressões artísticas que subsidiem essa circulação de idéias estéticas e políticas entre os dois países. Parto da hipótese de que, apesar das dificuldades de intercâmbios existentes entre os dois países (língua, distância e falta de um contato maior entre seus artistas e intelectuais), ocorreu um intercâmbio de propostas políticas e culturais, principalmente entre redes de sociabilidade de artistas marcadamente no âmbito da esquerda política.

O Grupo Sobrevento de teatro de formas animadas

Since prehistoric man seeks to dominate play scenes and images of their daily lives, to understand them or dominate. In the theater, the man tried to represent hunting scenes and deities. Since the first creation material representative of the gods, these objects acquire magical powers. After a long time, came the Puppet Theater, which through the use of various materials, the man concocted dolls in his image and likeness, as well as representations of animals. Subsequently, the Theater of Animated FormsVisual involved various props, like the mask, the shadow and the object. Thus, these elements can appear all together or not in the same show and are, therefore, the Theater of Animated Forms. How important human need to understand the world and events around them, the arts were needed to explain the divine and unreachable. Clumping the four languages of art: music, plastic arts, dance and theater, the Theater of Animated Forms of so characteristic of the man in search of the divine and sublime sentiments or not. In Brazil, faced with a multitude of excellent groups Theater of Animated Forms, the Sobrevento Group stands to monitor on an extensive repertoire theoretical foundation for the themes of the pieces created, and the high level of aesthetic sensitivity and artistic creation through is the dummies used in your repertoire. The objective of this study is to describe and analyze the Sobrevento Group considering the process of artistic creation, which led to the understanding of what is Theater of Visual Theater. To this end, guided interpretive anthropological approach, we conducted an ethnograph with the group

A percepção visual visando a continuação gráfica na repetição modular do design de superfície

This article narrates from experiences in the classroom, the use of visual perception in the search for the solution of a basic problem of modular repetition, embodied by the lack of continuity in the elements that shape the design surface. Although Wong (1998) approach emphasizes the intuitive and intellectual approach as different parameters for building visual compositions, we list both as participants in the same focus, where the solution starts from the sensory stimulation.

Seeing beyond reading: a survey on visual text analytics

We review recent visualization techniques aimed at supporting tasks that require the analysis of text documents, from approaches targeted at visually summarizing the relevant content of a single document to those aimed at assisting exploratory investigation of whole collections of documents.Techniques are organized considering their target input materialeither single texts or collections of textsand their focus, which may be at displaying content, emphasizing relevant relationships, highlighting the temporal evolution of a document or collection, or helping users to handle results from a query posed to a search engine.We describe the approaches adopted by distinct techniques and briefly review the strategies they employ to obtain meaningful text models, discuss how they extract the information required to produce representative visualizations, the tasks they intend to support and the interaction issues involved, and strengths and limitations. Finally, we show a summary of techniques, highlighting their goals and distinguishing characteristics. We also briefly discuss some open problems and research directions in the fields of visual text mining and text analytics.

A bayesian network meta-analysis on comparisons of enamel matrix derivatives, guided tissue regeneration and their combination therapies

Aims: Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and enamel matrix derivatives (EMD) are two popular regenerative treatments for periodontal infrabony lesions. Both have been used in conjunction with other regenerative materials. We conducted a Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on treatment effects of GTR, EMD and their combination therapies. Material and Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using the Medline, EMBASE, LILACS and CENTRAL databases up to and including June 2011. Treatment outcomes were changes in probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and infrabony defect depth. Different types of bone grafts were treated as one group and so were barrier membranes. Results: A total of 53 studies were included in this review, and we found small differences between regenerative therapies which were non-significant statistically and clinically. GTR and GTR-related combination therapies achieved greater PPD reduction than EMD and EMD-related combination therapies. Combination therapies achieved slightly greater CAL gain than the use of EMD or GTR alone. GTR with BG achieved greatest defect fill. Conclusion: Combination therapies performed better than single therapies, but the additional benefits were small. Bayesian network meta-analysis is a promising technique to compare multiple treatments. Further analysis of methodological characteristics will be required prior to clinical recommendations.

Corneal wavefront-guided photorefractive keratectomy with mitomycin-C for hyperopia after radial keratotomy: Two-year follow-up

PURPOSE: To assess corneal wavefront-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) to correct hyperopia after radial keratotomy (RK). SETTING: Sadalla Amin Ghanem Eye Hospital, Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil. DESIGN: Case series. METHODS: Excimer laser corneal wavefront-guided PRK with intraoperative mitomycin-C (MMC) 0.02% was performed. Main outcome measures were uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuities, spherical equivalent (SE), corneal aberrations, and haze. RESULTS: The mean time between RK and PRK in the 61 eyes (39 patients) was 18.8 years +/- 3.8 (SD). Before PRK, the mean SE was +4.17 +/- 1.97 diopters (D); the mean astigmatism, -1.39 +/- 1.04 D; and the mean CDVA, 0.161 +/- 0.137 logMAR. At 24 months, the mean values were 0.14 +/- 0.99 D (P<.001), -1.19 +/- 1.02 D (P=.627), and 0.072 +/- 0.094 logMAR (P<.001), respectively; the mean UDVA was 0.265 +/- 0.196 (P<.001). The UDVA was 20/25 or better in 37.7% of eyes and 20/40 or better in 68.9%. The CDVA improved by 1 or more lines in 62.3% of eyes. Two eyes (3.3%) lost 2 or more lines, 1 due to corneal ectasia. Thirty eyes (49.2%) were within +/- 0.50 D of intended SE and 45 (73.8%) were within +/- 1.00 D. From 6 to 24 months, the mean SE regression was +0.39 D (P<.05). A significant decrease in coma, trefoil, and spherical aberration occurred. Three eyes developed peripheral haze more than grade 1. CONCLUSION: Corneal wavefront-guided PRK with MMC for hyperopia after RK significantly improved UDVA, CDVA, and higher-order corneal aberrations with a low incidence of visually significant corneal haze.

Creazione e sviluppo di corpora multimediali. Nuove metodologie di ricerca nella traduzione audiovisiva

The construction and use of multimedia corpora has been advocated for a while in the literature as one of the expected future application fields of Corpus Linguistics. This research project represents a pioneering experience aimed at applying a data-driven methodology to the study of the field of AVT, similarly to what has been done in the last few decades in the macro-field of Translation Studies. This research was based on the experience of Forlixt 1, the Forlì Corpus of Screen Translation, developed at the University of Bologna’s Department of Interdisciplinary Studies in Translation, Languages and Culture. As a matter of fact, in order to quantify strategies of linguistic transfer of an AV product, we need to take into consideration not only the linguistic aspect of such a product but all the meaning-making resources deployed in the filmic text. Provided that one major benefit of Forlixt 1 is the combination of audiovisual and textual data, this corpus allows the user to access primary data for scientific investigation, and thus no longer rely on pre-processed material such as traditional annotated transcriptions. Based on this rationale, the first chapter of the thesis sets out to illustrate the state of the art of research in the disciplinary fields involved. The primary objective was to underline the main repercussions on multimedia texts resulting from the interaction of a double support, audio and video, and, accordingly, on procedures, means, and methods adopted in their translation. By drawing on previous research in semiotics and film studies, the relevant codes at work in visual and acoustic channels were outlined. Subsequently, we concentrated on the analysis of the verbal component and on the peculiar characteristics of filmic orality as opposed to spontaneous dialogic production. In the second part, an overview of the main AVT modalities was presented (dubbing, voice-over, interlinguistic and intra-linguistic subtitling, audio-description, etc.) in order to define the different technologies, processes and professional qualifications that this umbrella term presently includes. The second chapter focuses diachronically on various theories’ contribution to the application of Corpus Linguistics’ methods and tools to the field of Translation Studies (i.e. Descriptive Translation Studies, Polysystem Theory). In particular, we discussed how the use of corpora can favourably help reduce the gap existing between qualitative and quantitative approaches. Subsequently, we reviewed the tools traditionally employed by Corpus Linguistics in regard to the construction of traditional “written language” corpora, to assess whether and how they can be adapted to meet the needs of multimedia corpora. In particular, we reviewed existing speech and spoken corpora, as well as multimedia corpora specifically designed to investigate Translation. The third chapter reviews Forlixt 1's main developing steps, from a technical (IT design principles, data query functions) and methodological point of view, by laying down extensive scientific foundations for the annotation methods adopted, which presently encompass categories of pragmatic, sociolinguistic, linguacultural and semiotic nature. Finally, we described the main query tools (free search, guided search, advanced search and combined search) and the main intended uses of the database in a pedagogical perspective. The fourth chapter lists specific compilation criteria retained, as well as statistics of the two sub-corpora, by presenting data broken down by language pair (French-Italian and German-Italian) and genre (cinema’s comedies, television’s soapoperas and crime series). Next, we concentrated on the discussion of the results obtained from the analysis of summary tables reporting the frequency of categories applied to the French-Italian sub-corpus. The detailed observation of the distribution of categories identified in the original and dubbed corpus allowed us to empirically confirm some of the theories put forward in the literature and notably concerning the nature of the filmic text, the dubbing process and Italian dubbed language’s features. This was possible by looking into some of the most problematic aspects, like the rendering of socio-linguistic variation. The corpus equally allowed us to consider so far neglected aspects, such as pragmatic, prosodic, kinetic, facial, and semiotic elements, and their combination. At the end of this first exploration, some specific observations concerning possible macrotranslation trends were made for each type of sub-genre considered (cinematic and TV genre). On the grounds of this first quantitative investigation, the fifth chapter intended to further examine data, by applying ad hoc models of analysis. Given the virtually infinite number of combinations of categories adopted, and of the latter with searchable textual units, three possible qualitative and quantitative methods were designed, each of which was to concentrate on a particular translation dimension of the filmic text. The first one was the cultural dimension, which specifically focused on the rendering of selected cultural references and on the investigation of recurrent translation choices and strategies justified on the basis of the occurrence of specific clusters of categories. The second analysis was conducted on the linguistic dimension by exploring the occurrence of phrasal verbs in the Italian dubbed corpus and by ascertaining the influence on the adoption of related translation strategies of possible semiotic traits, such as gestures and facial expressions. Finally, the main aim of the third study was to verify whether, under which circumstances, and through which modality, graphic and iconic elements were translated into Italian from an original corpus of both German and French films. After having reviewed the main translation techniques at work, an exhaustive account of possible causes for their non-translation was equally provided. By way of conclusion, the discussion of results obtained from the distribution of annotation categories on the French-Italian corpus, as well as the application of specific models of analysis allowed us to underline possible advantages and drawbacks related to the adoption of a corpus-based approach to AVT studies. Even though possible updating and improvement were proposed in order to help solve some of the problems identified, it is argued that the added value of Forlixt 1 lies ultimately in having created a valuable instrument, allowing to carry out empirically-sound contrastive studies that may be usefully replicated on different language pairs and several types of multimedia texts. Furthermore, multimedia corpora can also play a crucial role in L2 and translation teaching, two disciplines in which their use still lacks systematic investigation.

Laser-guided lumbar medial branch kryorhizotomy

The authors describe a modification of the medial branch kryorhizotomy technique for the treatment of lumbar facet joint syndrome using a fluoroscopy-based laser-guided method. A total of 32 patients suffering from lumbar facet joint syndrome confirmed by positive medial nerve block underwent conventional or laser-guided kryorhizotomy. The procedural time (20.6 +/- 1.0 vs 16.3 +/- 0.9 minutes, p < 0.01), fluoroscopy time (54.1 +/- 3.5 vs 28.2 +/- 2.4 seconds, p < 0.01), radiation dose (407.5 +/- 32.0 vs 224.1 +/- 20.3 cGy/cm(2), p < 0.01), and patient discomfort during the procedure (7.1 +/- 0.4 vs 5.2 +/- 0.4 on the visual analog scale, p < 0.01) were significantly reduced in the laser-guided group. There was a tendency for a better positioning accuracy when the laser guidance method was used (3.0 +/- 0.3 vs 2.2 +/- 0.3 mm of deviation from the target points, p > 0.05). No difference in the outcome was observed between the 2 groups of patients (visual analog scale score 3.5 +/- 0.2 vs 3.3 +/- 0.3, p > 0.05). This improved minimally invasive surgical technique offers advantages to conventional fluoroscopy-based kryorhizotomy.

Visual disturbance following sclerotherapy for varicose veins, reticular veins and telangiectasias: a systematic literature review

The objective of the study was to review the literature reporting visual disturbance (VD) following sclerotherapy for varicose veins. Underlying mechanisms will be discussed. A literature search of the databases Medline and Google Scholar was performed. Original articles including randomized trials, case series and case reports reporting VD in humans following sclerotherapy for varicose veins were included. Additional references were also obtained if they had been referenced in related publications. The search yielded 4948 results of which 25 reports were found to meet the inclusion criteria. In larger series with at least 500 included patients the prevalence of VD following sclerotherapy ranges from 0.09% to 2%. In most reports foam sclerotherapy was associated with VD (19); exclusive use of liquid sclerosant was reported in two cases, some reports included foam and liquid sclerosant (4). There were no persistent visual disorders reported. VD occurred with polidocanol and sodium tetradecyl sulphate in different concentrations (0.25-3%). Various forms of foam preparation including various ways of foam production and the liquid - air ratio (1 or 2 parts of liquid mixed with 3, 4 or 5 parts of air) were reported in association with the occurrence of VD. VDs following sclerotherapy for varicose veins are rare and all reported events were transient. Bubble embolism or any kind of embolism seems unlikely to be the only underlying mechanism. A systemic inflammatory response following sclerotherapy has been suggested. Further research to clarify the mechanism of action of sclerosants is required.