Estudo comparativo entre marcadores ultra-sonográficos morfológicos preditores de parto pré-termo: sinal do afunilamento do colo e ausência do eco glandular endocervical

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o risco de parto pré-termo (PPT) espontâneo na população geral a partir do estudo comparativo dos marcadores ultra-sonográficos morfológicos do colo uterino, como o sinal do afunilamento e a ausência da área glandular endocervical. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram arroladas 361 gestantes na população geral, submetidas a exame ultra-sonográfico transvaginal entre a 21ª e 24ª semana, e verificados os resultados perinatais. RESULTADOS: A incidência de PPT espontâneo foi de 5,0%. O sinal do afunilamento foi observado em 4,2% da população estudada e em 22,2% das pacientes que evoluíram para PPT espontâneo. Tal parâmetro mostrou associação significante com PPT (p < 0,001; risco relativo de 6,68). A ausência do eco glandular endocervical (EGE) foi detectada em 2,8% das pacientes estudadas e em 44,4% das pacientes que evoluíram para PPT espontâneo. Este parâmetro demonstrou forte associação com PPT espontâneo (p < 0,001; risco relativo de 28,57). A análise de regressão logística multivariada apontou a ausência do EGE como a única variável morfológica associada ao PPT espontâneo. CONCLUSÃO: A predição do PPT espontâneo a partir de sinais ultra-sonográficos deve ser realizada contemplando marcadores biométricos e morfológicos, entre estes, a ausência do EGE. Este estudo indica uma tendência clara da marcante importância da ausência do EGE como indicador do risco para PPT espontâneo, a ser confirmada futuramente em pesquisas multicêntricas.

The Figure of Radha in Miniature Paintings: From the Pastoral to the Courtly, from Text to Visuality, from Polyphony to Normativity

This article analyses how Radha was depicted in miniature paintings between the 16th and 19th century in North India. Interrogating the link between text and image, contrasting poetry, style and historical settings with the visual representations of this central figure, my reflections focus on the changing nature of Radha. Through various examples from miniature paintings of different periods and schools, this article analyses the way the rich personality of Radha was transposed into images. In order to stress the changes brought to this female figure, I compare her to Krishna, the masculine figure who is always at her side. The main goal of the article is to show the normative power of images on the figure of Radha, with normativity being understood as the simplification, iconisation, aestheticisation and stereotypification of a figure with polysemous references.

Diferenciação entre cisto simples e hemangioma hepático utilizando seqüência de ressonância magnética ponderada em T2 com técnica gradiente-eco (B-FFE)

OBJETIVO: Estabelecer o valor das seqüências ponderadas em T2 para diferenciar cistos simples de hemangiomas hepáticos. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo, observacional, transversal e duplo-cego em 52 pacientes com 91 lesões hepáticas (34 cistos simples e 57 hemangiomas) submetidos a ressonância magnética de abdome. A análise conjunta de todas as seqüências realizadas foi considerada o padrão-ouro. Dois observadores independentes avaliaram, subjetivamente, as seqüências TSE com TE longo e B-FFE, procurando diferenciar cistos de hemangiomas. Foram calculadas a eficácia das seqüências e a concordância interobservador e intra-observador por meio do teste kappa (κ) (p < 0,05*). RESULTADOS: As dimensões dos cistos variaram entre 0,5 e 6,5 cm (média de 1,89 cm) e as dos hemangiomas, entre 0,8 e 11 cm (média de 2,62 cm). A concordância entre a avaliação da seqüência com TE longo e o padrão-ouro foi insignificante (κ: 0,00-0,10). A concordância entre a avaliação da seqüência B-FFE e o padrão-ouro variou de substancial (κ: 0,62-0,71) a quase perfeita (κ: 0,86) para ambos os examinadores. A concordância interobservador e intra-observador para a seqüência B-FFE variou entre substancial (κ: 0,62-0,70) e quase perfeita (κ: 0,85-0,91). CONCLUSÃO: A técnica B-FFE apresenta eficácia e reprodutibilidade elevadas na diferenciação de cistos e hemangiomas.

Complex patterns of global spread in invasive insects: eco-evolutionary and management consequences

The advent of simple and affordable tools for molecular identification of novel insect invaders and assessment of population diversity has changed the face of invasion biology in recent years. The widespread application of these tools has brought with it an emerging understanding that patterns in biogeography, introduction history and subsequent movement and spread of many invasive alien insects are far more complex than previously thought. We reviewed the literature and found that for a number of invasive insects, there is strong and growing evidence that multiple introductions, complex global movement, and population admixture in the invaded range are commonplace. Additionally, historical paradigms related to species and strain identities and origins of common invaders are in many cases being challenged. This has major consequences for our understanding of basic biology and ecology of invasive insects and impacts quarantine, management and biocontrol programs. In addition, we found that founder effects rarely limit fitness in invasive insects and may benefit populations (by purging harmful alleles or increasing additive genetic variance). Also, while phenotypic plasticity appears important post-establishment, genetic diversity in invasive insects is often higher than expected and increases over time via multiple introductions. Further, connectivity among disjunct regions of global invasive ranges is generally far higher than expected and is often asymmetric, with some populations contributing disproportionately to global spread. We argue that the role of connectivity in driving the ecology and evolution of introduced species with multiple invasive ranges has been historically underestimated and that such species are often best understood in a global context.

Pabellón Eco 2014

Bajo el concepto de "Cuando el muro dejó de ser sólo un muro", se propone la construcción de un muro que se va transformado en el mobiliario del patio del Museo Experimental el Eco para el Pabellón del Eco 2014.Esta proyecto finalista dirige las posibles actividades al centro del espacio vacío; y por otro lado plantea cubrir la estela y el muro de colindancia del museo con un material reflejante para multiplicar el horizonte perceptible desde el patio.

Theoremata nonnulla ex amplissimo philosophiae agro deprompta

Painovuosi nimekkeestä.

Pentas quaestionum quarundam, ex agro philosophiae decerptarum

Painovuosi nimekkeestä.

Application of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, chemical and chemometrics analyses to the characterization of agro-industrial waste

Agroindustrial waste in general presents significant levels of nutrients and organic matter and has therefore been frequently put to agricultural use. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and carbon content, as well as the qualitative characteristics through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of four samples of poultry litter and one sample of cattle manure, from the southwestern region of Paraná, Brazil. Results revealed that, in general, the poultry litter presented higher amount of nutrients and carbon than the cattle manure. The infrared spectra allowed identification of the functional groups present and the differences in degree of sample humification. The statistical treatment confirmed the quantitative and qualitative differences revealed.

Savnets tone i ensomhetens melodi : ensomhet hos aleneboende personer med alvorlig psykisk lidelse

Studiens overordnede hensikt er å bestemme begrepet ensomhet i et vårdvitenskapelig perspektiv. Avhandlingen er en monografisk eksplorativ hermeneutisk studie og oppbygget i fire større helheter, der første hoveddel starter med en inntreden i den hermeneutiske spiral, og hvor paradigme, ontologiske, epistemologiske og metodologiske overveielser angir studiens videre retning. Andre hoveddel anses som studiens teoretiske substans og belyser ensomhetens `Hva´ gjennom ulike teoretiske perspektiv og begrepsanalyse av ensom. I belysningen framkommer ensomhet både som lidelse og som meningsfullt for eksistensen. Første hoveddel avsluttes med en bestemmelse av ensomhet som substanskunnskap innenfor vårdvitenskapens helse-og lidelsesforhold som utgjør ulike nivåer av gjørende, værende og vardende. Tredje hoveddel er en empiriskstudie med deltagende observasjon, forskersamtaler og kvalitative intervjuer i samtaleform. Informantene var åtte aleneboende personer med alvorlig psykisk lidelse i en storby og foregikk over ca. ett år. I tolkningsprosessen søkes en gradvis fordypende forståelse av den enkelte informants ensomhet i relasjon til vårdvitenskapens livs-, sykdoms- og vårdlidelse. Tolkningsrammen er i det vesentligefra første teoridel, samtidig som nye tolkningsteoretikere innlemmes som opplysende "lamper". Forståelsens tolkningsresultater framkommer gjennom en sammenfattende diskusjon, der livsberettelsens felles skjebne synliggjør savn som ideografisk invarians. Fjerde hoveddel er en vårdvitenskapelig filosofisk belysning av forholdet ensomhet og savn, hvor Levinas' fundamentaletikk utgjør tolkningsrammen. Studien avsluttes med en horisontsammensmeltning av forholdet ensomhet og savngjennom fellesskap og oppfyllelse i tid og rom. Horisontsammensmeltningen viserat ensomhet og savn i sin dybdestruktur forholder seg til hverandre i en dialektikk til motsetningene: fellesskap og oppfyllelse. Det nedfelles fem teser som ansatser til vårdvitenskapelig teori. Resultatene får implikasjoner for så vel pedagogikk som vårdpraksis.

Integrating eco-innovation principles into regional strategy and policy: case of Päijät-Häme region, Finland

This study focuses on the integration of eco-innovation principles into strategy and policy at the regional level. The importance of regions as a level for integrating eco-innovative programs and activities served as the point of interest for this study. Eco-innovative activities and technologies are seen as means to meet sustainable development objective of improving regions’ quality of life. This study is conducted to get an in-depth understanding and learning about eco-innovation at regional level, and to know the basic concepts that are important in integrating eco-innovation principles into regional policy. Other specific objectives of this study are to know how eco-innovation are developed and practiced in the regions of the EU, and to analyze the main characteristic features of an eco-innovation model that is specifically developed at Päijät-Häme Region in Finland. Paijät-Häme Region is noted for its successful eco-innovation strategies and programs, hence, taken as casework in this study. Both primary (interviews) and secondary data (publicly available documents) are utilized in this study. The study shows that eco-innovation plays an important role in regional strategy as reviewed based on the experience of other regions in the EU. This is because of its localized nature which makes it easier to facilitate in a regional setting. Since regional authorities and policy-makers are normally focused on solving its localized environmental problems, eco-innovation principles can easily be integrated into regional strategy. The case study highlights Päijät-Häme Region’s eco-innovation strategies and projects which are characterized by strong connection of knowledge-producing institutions. Policy instruments supporting eco-innovation (e.g. environmental technologies) are very much focused on clean technologies, hence, justifying the formation of cleantech clusters and business parks in Päijät-Häme Region. A newly conceptualized SAMPO model of eco-innovation has been developed in Päijät-Häme Region to better capture the region’s characteristics and to eventually replace the current model employed by the Päijät-Häme Regional Authority. The SAMPO model is still under construction, however, review of its principles points to some of its three important spearheads – practice-based innovation, design (eco-design) and clean technology or environmental technology (environment).

Solar energy use for water pre-heating in boilers of agro-industries

Energy consumption in the world has been growing every year. The industrial sector represents 27.32% of the world energy demand. Heating systems that use solar energy may contribute with a percentage of the total energy required by industries. This work aimed to study the use of vacuum solar collectors for water pre-heating in boilers. We used four collectors installed according to NBR 15,569; water flow through the tubes was 0.058 L/s, and temperature in the inlet and outlet pipes was measured. Results showed that instantaneous radiation, and inlet fluid and room temperatures are variables that influence the process, reaching water maximum temperature in the solar collector outlet of 97.9 °C, and efficiency of approximately 65% for most experiments. For the financial viability evaluation, the payback study was applied, which resulted in 4; 7 and 5 years, for the respective sources: firewood, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), and electricity. Regarding the calculation of the annual contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gases, it was, respectively, 2.162 and 356 kg of CO2 per m² of collector tubes, in comparison with firewood and LPG.

Weather variables, water balance, growth, and agro industrial yield of sugarcane

The objective of this study was to evaluate the meteorological variables, water deficiency, growth, and agro-industrial yield of sugarcane varieties: RB72454, RB863129, RB867515, RB92579, RB93509, RB931003, RB951541, and RB971755, in rainfed crop in two harvests in the Rio Largo-AL region. The meteorological variables were obtained in an automatic station and water balance was done by Thornthwaite & Mather method. During the study period, the air temperature ranged from 16.6 to 35.9 ºC. In the first production cycle rained 1,806 mm and the crop evapotranspiration was 1,775 mm. In the second cycle, the rainfall totaled 1,632 mm and the crop evapotranspiration was 1,290 mm. The average water excess of two production cycles was 689 mm and the water deficit totaled 665 mm. The average agricultural productivity in the plant was 86.8 t ha-1, in the first ratoon was 75.2 t ha-1 and the agro-industrial yield average was 12.9 and 10.9 tons of sugar per hectare in the plant and first ratoon, respectively. The air temperature was not limiting to the growth of sugarcane and the rainfall was higher than the crop evapotranspiration, but due to poor distribution of the rains there was water deficit. The most productive varieties were RB93509, RB92579, and RB863129.

Identification, assessment and ordering of concepts for agro-energy planning and possibilities of spatial analysis

ABSTRACT The present study aims to present the main concepts of the sugarcane straw to energy planning. Throughout the study, the subject is contextualized highlighting broader aspects of sustainability, which is considered the main driver towards agro-energy modernization. Concerning sugarcane straw, we first evaluated its availability regarding technical and economic aspects, and then it summarized the straw production chain for energy supply purposes. As a proposal to support agro-energy planning, it is presented some spatial tools that have been barely used in the Brazilian energy planning context so far. Therefore, working on straw to electricity associated with supply chain basis, we developed a conceptual model to spatially assess this bioenergy system. Using the model proposed, it is described the whole supply chain at state level, which accounted the potential of a single mill to explore straw, as well as main costs associated with straw acquisition, investments on the straw recovery routes and electricity transmission. Bearing these concepts in mind, it is fully believed that spatial analysis can bring important information for agro-energy action plans.

Process approach in quality management - Case: ECO process development in EMS industry

The aim of the thesis was to study quality management with process approach and to find out how to utilize process management to improve quality. The operating environment of organizations has changed. Organizations are focusing on their core competences and networking with suppliers and customers to ensure more effective and efficient value creation for the end customer. Quality management is moving from inspection of the output to prevention of problems from occurring in the first place and management thinking is changing from functional approach to process approach. In the theoretical part of the thesis, it is studied how to define quality, how to achieve good quality, how to improve quality, and how to make sure the improvement goes on as never ending cycle. A selection of quality tools is introduced. Process approach to quality management is described and compared to functional approach, which is the traditional way to manage operations and quality. The customer focus is also studied, and it is presented, that to ensure long term customer commitment, organization needs to react to changing customer requirements and wishes by constantly improving the processes. In the experimental part the theories are tested in a process improvement business case. It is shown how to execute a process improvement project starting from defining the customer requirements, continuing to defining the process ownership, roles and responsibilities, boundaries, interfaces and the actual process activities. The control points and measures are determined for the process, as well as the feedback and corrective action process, to ensure continual improvement can be achieved and to enable verification that customer requirements are fulfilled.