Identificação de funções de transferência de ordem fracionária utilizando como entrada um degrau

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Estudo da situação epidemiológica da brucelose e tuberculose bovina em propriedades fornecedoras de leite para o programa Laticínio Escola do município de Botucatu-SP

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Perfil de Aglutininas Anti-leptospira e anti-brucella e condições sanitárias de ovinos da região noroeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

The sheep industry has become increasingly prominent in agribusiness, transforming the stage production of Brazil, and thus contributes more to the socio-economic development of the country. The work aimed to verify the occurrence of brucellosis and leptospirosis in sheep from northwestern São Paulo state. In addition to determining the prevalence of major Leptospira in the region and to trace the diagnosis of sheep breeding in this part of the country. All the 1222 sheep serum samples from 49 properties did not react serologically to evidentiary testing for brucellosis, compared to antigens of B. abortus and B. ovis used in the testing of 2-ME and IDGA, respectively. The Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) test revealed that 19.14% (232/1212) of samples were positive for one or more serovars, with titles ranging from 100 to 800. The most frequent serovar was hebdomadis in the region, with Sentot and Sherman (18.10%, 11.64% and 8.62%, respectively). By profiling the system of sheep farming in the region, we found that most herds are composed of more than one race being the main purpose is for the court. According to the scheme adopted immunoprophylactics there is a homogeneous set schedule. It adopts the use of anti-helminth, non-prescription veterinary antibiotic. There is also the presence of diarrhea and abortions and the lack of criteria for los ovinos on management, making it the need for emergency development of programs for disease control, schema immunoprophylactics adequate sanitation and hygienic measures in sheep breeding.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans em pacientes com síndrome de down: influência da condição periodontal e higiene bucal

Patients with Down syndrome have varying degrees of mental retardation, physical and motor, and apparently are more susceptible to infectious diseases. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in saliva and subgingival biofilms and above of children and adolescents with Down syndrome and analyze the influence of diet, socioeconomic and cultural factors and periodontal condition. After assessing the socio-economic and behavioral, were collected clinical specimens, which were transported to the laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology FOA-UNESP for detection of microorganisms by molecular method and periodontal conditions were evaluated according to the Periodontal Screening Index and Recording. The control group consisted of individuals without the syndrome. The results were analyzed by chi-square test for proportion analysis of variables with three or more categories, or the Mann-Whitney test. The data analysis of this study showed that the occurrence of A. actinomycetemcomitans ranged from 0.0% to 25.0%, both in the group of patients with Down syndrome, as for the control group and this was not affected by socioeconomic characteristics of the target population, either by oral hygiene standards

Estilo de vida e saúde de um grupo de idosos de Franca, SP

The increase of elderly population in Brazil and all around the world shows the need of reviewing the health cares in order to get a better quality of life. Objective: To evaluate lifestyle and health care of elderly participants of UNATI, Franca, SP. Methods: Sixty elderlies answered a questions about socio-economic issues, health care, food consumption habits and lifestyle, after, they were submitted to anthropometric and laboratory tests. Results: There was a prevalence of women (85%), aged between 60-69 years old (60%), up to high school (60%), retired (65%), income up to 5 minimum wage (73.4%). Most seniors assessed medical care (65%) were in use of long-term medicines (78.3%), they reported to control blood pressure (80%) and to not smoke (100%). About 71.7% people believed to have a healthy diet, 97% took meals at home, 85% chose and prepared their own food, 65% had 5-6 meals/day, 63% drank 1L of water/day, 90% had bowel function and 43.3% practices a regular physical activity. Only 13.3% have done hormone replacement therapy, 18.3% take dietary supplements and 21.7% drink alcoholic drinks. The participants presented a BMI of 27.49 ± 4.5kg/m², prevalence of overweight and eutrophy, which values decreased with age. Leg circumference (LC) (36.27 ± 3.84 cm), Arm circumference (AC) (31.39 ± 4.08 cm) and triceps skinfolds (TS) (20.58±7.54mm) values were suit in most cases (96.7, 85 and 83.3%, respectively). Serum total cholesterol values were 198.53 ± 35.2mg/dL, 55% were considered optimum. About 63.3% and 68.3% of the elderlies, respectively, presented a high density lipoproteins (HDL) (53.58± 10.9mg/dL) and triglycerides (TG) (143.97 ± 92.37mg/dL) according to the recommendation and 51.7% of the elderlies had normal glycemia, 38.3% had risk and 10% showed high blood glucose, indicating diabetes. Conclusion: Many elderlies had body mass index (BMI) above normal, indicating overweight or obesity, but the participants can be considered healthy because of AC, LC and TS values, diet habits, health care and lifestyle.

Use of Confined Dogs for Reducing Deer Damage to Apple Orchards

We assessed the efficacy of free-ranging dogs, confined by buried fences and electronic collars, for reducing deer damage to apple trees in three commercial apple orchards in Oswego County, New York State. During 1995 and 1996, we monitored paired dog-protected and control plots in each orchard. Within dog-protected areas, the percentage of damaged buds was lower, and fruit yield was higher in both 1995 and 1996 than for control plots. Gross economic returns were higher from dog-protected than control plots in both 1995 (by 51%) and 1996 (by 184%). After two seasons of growth, trees planted in May 1995 had nearly three times the cross-sectional area, and were 60% taller if they were in dog-protected rather than control plots. Dogs provided increased economic returns for growers at much lower cost than conventional barrier fencing.

Brazilian mothers` socialization goals: Intracultural differences in seven Brazilian cities

The present study aimed to investigate Brazilian mothers` socialization goals. The participants in the study were 349 primiparous mothers, whose ages ranged from 17 to 47 years (mean = 26.6 years), who had children aged between 1 and 48 months (mean = 16.4 months). The families were living in seven different cities representing each of the five geographical regions of the country. A scale to evaluate the families` socio-economic status and an interview about socialization goals were used. The answers were coded in five categories defined in previous studies: self-maximization, self-control, lovingness, proper demeanor, and decency. Comparison of the means showed that Brazilian mothers gave more emphasis to self-maximization and proper demeanor than to the other categories, presenting a pattern that fosters the development of children`s autonomous-relational selves. The intracultural variation found was related to the different cities studied. GLM results showed main effects of both city size and mothers` educational level on their socialization goals. These findings contribute to the understanding of characteristics of socialization goals related with autonomy and sociocentrism.

Anaemia in pregnant women before and after the mandatory fortification of wheat and corn flours with iron

Objective: To estimate the frequency of anaemia in pregnant women before and after the fortification of flours with Fe. Design: Retrospective study developed from secondary data obtained from medical records. Setting: Two health units in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Subjects: Socio-economic, demographic, obstetric and Hb concentration data were collected of 778 pregnant women attending prenatal care. Two study groups were created: the first referred to the period before fortification (G1, n 391), including women whose parturition happened before June 2004; and the second referred to the period after fortification (G2, n 387), including women whose last menstrual cycle happened after June 2005. The Hb cut-off point adopted for anaemia diagnosis was <11.0 g/dl. Results: In linear regression models, when Hb concentration was expressed as a dependent variable, women in G2 presented Hb concentration 0.26 g/dl and 0.36 g/dl higher during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively, compared with G1. In logistic regression models where the dependent variable was anaemia during the second and third trimesters, it was verified that being a member of G2 was a protective factor against anaemia in the third trimester. Regarding the presence of anaemia at any gestational moment, it was verified that being a member of G2 represented a protective factor against anaemia during pregnancy. Conclusions: Results indicate the protective effect of the fortification of flours with Fe in the fight against gestational anaemia, contributing to prevention and control of this nutritional disorder among pregnant women.

Catch-up growth in children after repair of Tetralogy of Fallot

Purpose: To evaluate the growth of children after repair of Tetralogy of Fallot, as well as the influence of residual lesions and socio-economic status. Methods: A total of 17 children, including 10 boys with a median age of 16 months at surgery, were enrolled in a retrospective cohort, in a tertiary care university hospital. Anthropometric (as z-scores), clinical, nutritional, and social data were collected. Results: Weight-for-age and weight-for-height z-scores decreased pre-operatively and recovered post-operatively in almost all patients, most markedly weight for age. Weight-for-height z-scores improved, but were still lower than birth values in the long term. Long-term height-for-age z-scores were higher than those at birth, surgery, and 3 months post-operatively. Most patients showed catch-up growth for height for age (70%), weight for age (82%), and weight for height (70%). Post-operative residual lesions (76%) influenced weight-for-age z-scores. Despite the fact that most patients (70%) were from low-income families, energy intake was above the estimated requirement for age and gender in all but one patient. There was no influence of socio-economic status on pre- and post-operative growth. Bone age was delayed and long-term-predicted height was within mid-parental height limits in 16 children (93%). Conclusion: Children submitted to Tetralogy of Fallot repair had pre-operative acute growth restriction and showed post-operative catch-up growth for weight and height. Acute growth restriction could still be present in the long term.

Oral cleft prevention program (OCPP)

Background Oral clefts are one of the most common birth defects with significant medical, psychosocial, and economic ramifications. Oral clefts have a complex etiology with genetic and environmental risk factors. There are suggestive results for decreased risks of cleft occurrence and recurrence with folic acid supplements taken at preconception and during pregnancy with a stronger evidence for higher than lower doses in preventing recurrence. Yet previous studies have suffered from considerable design limitations particularly non-randomization into treatment. There is also well-documented effectiveness for folic acid in preventing neural tube defect occurrence at 0.4 mg and recurrence with 4 mg. Given the substantial burden of clefting on the individual and the family and the supportive data for the effectiveness of folic acid supplementation as well as its low cost, a randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of high versus low dose folic acid for prevention of cleft recurrence is warranted. Methods/design This study will assess the effect of 4 mg and 0.4 mg doses of folic acid, taken on a daily basis during preconception and up to 3 months of pregnancy by women who are at risk of having a child with nonsyndromic cleft lip with/without palate (NSCL/P), on the recurrence of NSCL/P. The total sample will include about 6,000 women (that either have NSCL/P or that have at least one child with NSCL/P) randomly assigned to the 4 mg and the 0.4 mg folic acid study groups. The study will also compare the recurrence rates of NSCL/P in the total sample of subjects, as well as the two study groups (4mg, 0.4 mg) to that of a historical control group. The study has been approved by IRBs (ethics committees) of all involved sites. Results will be disseminated through publications and presentations at scientific meetings. Discussion The costs related to oral clefts are high, including long term psychological and socio-economic effects. This study provides an opportunity for huge savings in not only money but the overall quality of life. This may help establish more specific clinical guidelines for oral cleft prevention so that the intervention can be better tailored for at-risk women. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00397917

The informal market of education in Egypt: Private tutoring and its implications /// Arbeitspapiere / Institut für Ethnologie und Afrikastudien ; 88

Education is generally perceived as a public good which should be provided by the state. In Egypt, free and equal access to education has been guaranteed to all citizens since President Nasser’s socialist reforms in the 1950s. However, due to high population growth rates and a lack of financial resources, the public education system has been struggling to accommodate rapidly increasing numbers of students. While enrolment rates have risen steadily, the quality of state-provided services has deteriorated. Teachers and students have to cope with high class densities, insufficient facilities, a rigid syllabus and a centralized examination system. Today, teaching is among the lowest-paying occupations in the public sector. One strategy to cope with this situation is the widespread practice of private tutoring, which usually takes place at students’ homes or in commercial tutoring centers. Based on research carried out in Cairo in 2004/05 and 2006, I use an actor-centered approach to analyze the motivations of Egyptian teachers and students for participating in private tutoring and the impact that this practice has on the relationship between teachers and students. Students of all socio-economic backgrounds resort to tutoring in order to succeed in a highly competitive and exam-oriented education system. However, the form and quality of tutoring that can be accessed depends on the financial means of the family. For teachers, tutoring provides a good opportunity not only to supplement their income, but also, in the case of renowned “star teachers”, to improve their professional status and autonomy. On the informal “market of education” that has developed in Egypt during the last decades, the educational responsibilities of the state are increasingly being taken over by private actors, i.e. the process of teaching and learning is dissociated from the direct control of the state and from school as an institution. At the same time, education is turned into a marketable commodity. Despite the government’s efforts to provide free education to all citizens, the quality of social services that can be accessed in Egypt, thus, depends mainly on the financial means of the individual or the family.

Fluorescence close to dielectric interfaces

The aim of the work was to study the correlation between the orientation and excited-state lifetimes of organic dyes close to dielectric interfaces. For this purpose, an experimental setup was designed and built, guiding the light through a prism in total internal reflection geometry. Fluorescence intensities and lifetimes for an ensemble of dye molecules were analyzed as a function of the excitation and detection polarizations. Working close to the total internal reflection angle, the differences between polarization combinations were enhanced. A classical electromagnetic model that assumes a chromophore as a couple of point-like electrical dipoles was developed. A numerical method to calculate the excitation and emission of dye molecules embedded in a multilayer system was implemented, by which full simulation of the time resolved fluorescence experiments was achieved. Free organic dyes and organic dyes covalently bound to polyelectrolyte chains were used. The polymer functionalization process avoided aggregation and provided control over the dyes position, within a few nanometers to the interface. Moreover, by varying the pH, the polymer chains could be deposited on different substrates with different conformations and the resulting fluorescence characteristics analyzed. Initially the fluorescence of organic dyes embedded in a polymer matrix was studied as a function of the distance between the fluorophores and the polymer-air interface. The non-radiative decay rate, vacuum decay rate and the relative angle between the excitation and emission dipoles of the chromophores could be determined. Different free organic dyes were deposited onto different dielectric spacers, as close as possible to the air-dielectric interface. Surprisingly, the fluorescence characteristics of dyes deposited onto polyelectrolyte layer were in good agreement with theoretical predictions of dyes in a polymer matrix, even when the layer was only 2 nm thick. When functionalized chains were deposited at low pH, on top of a polyelectrolyte spacer, the fluorescence had the characteristics of emitters embedded in a polymer matrix as well. Surface deposition at high pH showed an intermediate behaviour between emitters embedded in polymer and on top of the surface, in air. In general, for low pH values, the chains are deposited on a substrate in a train-like conformation. For high pH values, the chains are deposited in a loop-like conformation. As a consequence at low pH the functionalized polymer strongly interdigitates with the polyelectrolyte chains of the spacer, bringing most of the dyes inside the polymer. Thus, the fluorophores may experience the polymer as surrounding environment. On the other hand, for high pH values the dye-loaded chains adsorbed have a conformational arrangement of dense loops that extend away from the surface. Therefore many fluorophores experience the air as surrounding environment. Changing the spacer from polyelectrolyte to negatively charged silane produced contradictory results for lifetimes and intensities. The fluorescence intensities indicated the behaviour of emitters embedded in a polymer matrix, regardless of the pH value. On the other hand, for low pH values, the excited-state lifetimes showed that the emitters behaved as in air. For higher pH values, an intermediate behaviour between fluorophores located within and above of a dielectric film was observed. The poor agreement between theoretical and experimental data may be due to the simplified model utilized, by which the dipoles are assumed either in one side or in the other with respect to a geometrical air-dielectric interface. In the case when the dielectric film is constituted by the functionalized polymer chains themselves, reality is more complex and a different model may apply. Nevertheless, possible applications of the technique arise from a qualitative analysis.

Per un'archeologia del lavoro in eta' protobizantina. Organizzazione e committenza del cantiere edilizio attraverso i marchi dei marmorari

La ricerca riguarda lo studio del cantiere edilizio protobizantino, con particolare riferimento al ciclo della lavorazione del marmo. Quest’ultimo viene analizzato sotto il profilo amministrativo, tecnico, sociale ed artigianale. L’elemento guida della ricerca sono i marchi dei marmorari, sigle apposte da funzionari e maestranze durante il processo produttivo. Dapprima, fonti letterarie ed epigrafiche, tra cui le sigle di cava e officina su marmo, vengono esaminate per ricostruire il sistema alto-imperiale di amministrazione delle cave e di gestione dei flussi marmorei, nonché l’iter tecnico-artigianale adottato per la produzione dei manufatti. Il confronto con i dati disponibili per la tarda antichità, con particolare riferimento alle cave di Proconneso, evidenzia una sostanziale continuità della prassi burocratico-amministrativa, mentre alcuni cambiamenti si riscontrano nell’ambito produttivo-artigianale. Il funzionamento degli atelier marmorari viene approfondito attraverso lo studio dei marchi dei marmorari. Si tratta di caratteri greci singoli, multipli o monogrammi. Una ricognizione sistematica delle sigle dalla pars Orientalis dell’impero, reperite in bibliografia o da ricognizioni autoptiche, ha portato alla raccolta di circa 2360 attestazioni. Per esse si propone una classificazione tipologica tra sigle di cava, stoccaggio, officina. Tra le sigle di cava si annoverano sigle di controllo, destinazione/committenza, assemblaggio/posizionamento. Una particolare attenzione è riservata alle sigle di officina, riferibili ad un nome proprio di persona, ovvero al πρωτομαΐστωρ, il capo-bottega che supervisionava il lavoro dei propri artigiani e fungeva da garante del prodotto consegnato alla committenza. Attraverso lo studio comparato delle sigle reperite a Costantinopoli e in altri contesti si mette in luce la prassi operativa adottata dagli atelier nei processi di manifattura, affrontando anche il problema delle maestranze itineranti. Infine, sono analizzate fonti scritte di varia natura per poter collocare il fenomeno del marmo in un contesto socio-economico più ampio, con particolare riferimento alle figure professionali ed artigianali coinvolte nei cantieri e al problema della committenza.

Sustainable development in Darjeeling Hills, India : ecological and socio-economic aspects for small-scale farmers with supportive observations from Kanagawa, Japan

Organic farming means a holistic application of agricultural land-use, hence, this study aimed to assess ecological and socio-economic aspects that show benefits of the strategy and achievements of organic farming in comparison to conventional farming in Darjeeling District, State of West Bengal, India and Kanagawa Prefecture/Kanto in Central Japan. The objective of this study has been empirically analysed on aspects of crop diversity, yield, income and sales prices in the two study regions, where 50 households each, i.e. in total 100 households were interviewed at farm-level. Therefore, the small sample size does not necessarily reflect the broad-scale of the use and benefit of organic farming in both regions. The problems faced in mountainous regions in terms of agriculture and livelihoods for small-scale farmers, which are most affected and dependant on their immediate environment, such as low yields, income and illegal felling leading to soil erosion and landslides, are analyzed. Furthermore, factors such as climate, soils, vegetation and relief equally play an important role for these farmers, in terms of land-use. To supplement and improve the income of farmers, local NGOs have introduced organic farming and high value organic cash crops such as ginger, tea, orange and cardamom and small income generating means (floriculture, apiary etc.). For non-certified and certified organic products the volume is given for India, while for Japan only certified organic production figures are given, as there are several definitions for organic in Japan. Hence, prior to the implementation of organic laws and standards, even reduced chemical input was sold as non-certified organic. Furthermore, the distribution and certification system of both countries are explained in detail, including interviews with distribution companies and cooperatives. Supportive observations from Kanagawa Prefecture and the Kanto region are helpful and practical suggestions for organic farmers in Darjeeling District. Most of these are simple and applicable soil management measures, natural insect repelling applications and describe the direct marketing system practiced in Japan. The former two include compost, intercropping, Effective Microorganisms (EM), clover, rice husk charcoal and wood vinegar. More supportive observations have been made at organic and biodynamic tea estates in Darjeeling District, which use citronella, neem, marigold, leguminous and soil binding plants for soil management and natural insect control. Due to the close ties between farmers and consumers in Japan, certification is often neither necessary nor wanted by the producers. They have built a confidence relationship with their customers; thus, such measures are simply not required. Another option is group certification, instead of the expensive individual certification. The former aims at lower costs for farmers who have formed a cooperative or a farmers' group. Consumer awareness for organic goods is another crucial aspect to help improve the situation of organic farmers. Awareness is slightly more advanced in Kanto than in Darjeeling District, as it is improved due to the close (sales) ties between farmers and consumers in Kanto. Interviews conducted with several such cooperatives and companies underline the positive system of TEIKEI. The introduction of organic farming in the study regions has shown positive effects for those involved, even though it still in its beginning stages in Darjeeling District. This study was only partly able to assess the benefits of organic agriculture at its present level for Darjeeling District, while more positively for the organic farmers of Kanto. The organic farming practice needs further improvement, encouragement and monitoring for the Darjeeling District farmers by locals, consumers, NGOs and politicians. The supportive observations from Kanagawa Prefecture and the Kanto region are a small step in this direction, showing how, simple soil improvements and thus, yield and income increases, as well as direct sales options can enhance the livelihood of organic farmers without destroying their environment and natural resources.

Assessment of marine litter in the Western Adriatic Sea and its impact on marine biota

Due to its environmental, safety, health and socio-economic impacts, marine litter has been recognized as a 21st century global challenge, so that it has been included in Descriptor 10 of the EU MSFD. For its morphological features and anthropogenic pressures, the Adriatic Sea is very sensitive to the accumulation of debris, but data are inconsistent and fragmented. This thesis, in the framework of DeFishGear project, intents to assess marine litter on beaches and on seafloor in the Western Adriatic sea, and test if debris ingestion by fish occurs. Three beaches were sampled during two surveys in 2015. Benthic litter monitoring was carried out in the FAO GSA17 during fall 2014, using a rapido trawl. Litter ingestion was investigated through gut contents analysis of 260 fish belonging to 8 commercial species collected in Western Gulf of Venice. Average litter density on beaches was 1.5 items/m2 during spring, and decreased to 0.8 items/m2 in summer. Litter composition was heterogeneous and varied among sites, even if no significant differences were found. Most of debris consisted of plastic sheets, fragments, polystyrene pieces, mussels nets and cottons bud sticks, showing that sources are many and include aquaculture, land-based activities and local users of beaches. Average density of benthic litter was 913 items/Km2 (82 Kg/Km2). Plastic dominated in terms of numbers and weight, and consisted mainly of bags, sheets and mussel nets. The highest density was found close to the coast, and sources driving the major differences in litter distribution were mussel farms and shipping lanes. Litter ingestion occurred in 47% of examined fish, mainly consisting of fibers. Among species, S. pilchardus swallowed almost all debris categories. Findinds may provide a baseline to set the necessary measures to manage and minimize marine litter in the Western Adriatic region and to protect aquatic life from plastic pollution, even accounting the possible implications on human health.