Psychological well-being and perception of disease severity in people with multiple sclerosis, who underwent a program of self-regulation to promote physical activity

Rehabilitation is very important for in the results of treatment in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Rehabilitation processes occur through gradual changes. These changes integrate intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of the individual, promoting adaptations to the needs and activities of daily living according to individual goals. Recommendations for exercise in multiple sclerosis: these recommendations apply only to patients with EDSS less than 7; moderate intensity aerobic exercise for a total of 20 to 30 minutes, twice or three times for week; the resistance training with low or moderate intensity is well tolerated by patients with MS; associated with these exercises were recommended flexibility exercises of moderate intensity, as well as strengthening exercises. The aim of this study is to examine the implications of the program of self-regulation in the perception of illness and mental health (psychological well-being domain) in multiple sclerosis patients.

Importance of program physical activity in quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients, six months after the intervention

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that affects more often young adults in the prime of his career and personal development, with no cure and unknown causes. The most common signs and symptoms are fatigue, muscle weakness, changes in sensation, ataxia, changes in balance, gait difficulties, memory difficulties, cognitive impairment and difficulties in problem solving MS is a relatively common neurological disorder in which various impairments and disabilities impact strongly on function and daily life activities. Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the implications of an Intervention Program of Physical Activity (IPPA) in quality of life in MS patients, six months after the intervention.

Evidence based for exercise program in physical therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system that affects more frequently young women. It is a progressive and unpredictable disease, resulting in some cases of disabilities and limitations to physical, psychological and social level. Purpose: To review the literature for evidence based of the effectiveness of physiotherapy intervention in multiple sclerosis.

Characterizing the fungal and bacterial microflora and concentrations in fitness centres

Fitness centres are special places where conditions for microbiological proliferation should be considered. Moisture due to human perspiration and water condensation as a result of human physical activities are prevalent in this type of buildings. Exposure to microbial contaminants is clinically associated with respiratory disorders and people who work out in polluted environments would be susceptible to contaminants. This work studied the indoor air contamination in three gymnasiums in Lisbon. The sampling was performed at two periods: at the opening (morning) and closing (night) of the three gymnasiums. The airborne bacterial and fungal populations were sampled by impaction directly onto Tryptic Soy Agar (for bacteria) and Malt Extract Agar (for fungi) plates, using a Merck MAS-100 air sampler. Higher bacterial concentrations were found at night as compared to the morning but the same behaviour was not found for fungal concentrations. Gram-negative catalase positive cocci were the dominant bacteria in indoor air samples of the studied gymnasiums. In this study, 21 genera/species of fungal colonies were identified. Chrysosporium sp., Chrysonilia sp., Neoscytalidium hialinum, Sepedonium sp. and Penicillium sp. were the most prevalent species identified in the morning, while Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., Chrysosporium sp., Acremonium sp. and Chrysonilia sp. were more prevalent at night. A well-designed sanitation and maintenance program for gymnasiums is needed to ensure healthier space for indoor physical activity.

Assessing the behaviour of RC beams subject to significant gravity loads under cyclic loads

Gravity loads can affect a reinforced concrete structure's response to seismic actions, however, traditional procedures for testing the beam behaviour do not take this effect into consideration. An experimental campaign was carried out in order to assess the influence of the gravity load on RC beam connection to the column subjected to cyclic loading. The experiments included the imposition of a conventional quasi-static test protocol based on the imposition of a reverse cyclic displacement history and of an alternative cyclic test procedure starting from the gravity load effects. The test results are presented, compared and analysed in this paper. The imposition of a cyclic test procedure that included the gravity loads effects on the RC beam ends reproduces the demands on the beams' critical zones more realistically than the traditional procedure. The consideration of the vertical load effects in the test procedure led to an accumulation of negative (hogging) deformation. This phenomenon is sustained with the behaviour of a portal frame system under cyclic loads subject to a significant level of the vertical load, leading to the formation of unidirectional plastic hinges. In addition, the hysteretic behaviour of the RC beam ends tested was simulated numerically using the nonlinear structural analysis software - OpenSees. The beam-column model simulates the global element behaviour very well, as there is a reasonable approximation to the hysteretic loops obtained experimentally. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tuberculosis Control Program and patient satisfaction, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

OBJECTIVE To evaluate factors associated with users’ satisfaction in the Tuberculosis Control Program. METHODS A cross-sectional study of 295 patients aged ≥ 18 years, with two or more outpatient visits in the Tuberculosis Control Program, in five cities in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Southeastern Brazil, in 2010. Considering an estimated population of 4,345 patients, the sampling plan included 15 health care units participating in the program, divided into two strata: units in Rio de Janeiro City, selected with probability proportional to the monthly average number of outpatient visits, and units in the other four cities. In the units, four temporal clusters of five patients each were selected with equal probability, totaling 300 patients. A questionnaire investigating the users’ clinical and sociodemographic variables and aspects of care and service in the program relevant to user satisfaction was applied to the patients. Descriptive statistics about users and their satisfaction with the program were obtained, and the effects of factors associated with satisfaction were estimated. RESULTS Patients were predominantly males (57.7%), with a mean age of 40.9 and with low level of schooling. The mean treatment time was 4.1 months, mostly self-administered (70.4%). Additionally, 25.8% had previously been treated for tuberculosis. There was a high level of satisfaction, especially regarding medication provision, and respect to patients by the health professionals. Patients who were younger (≤ 30), those on self-administered treatment, and with graduate level, showed less satisfaction. Suggestions to improve the services include having more doctors (70.0%), and offering exams in the same place of attendance (55.1%). CONCLUSIONS Patient satisfaction with the Tuberculosis Control Program was generally high, although lower among younger patients, those with university education and those on self-administered treatment. The study indicates the need for changes to structural and organizational aspects of care, and provides practical support for its improvement.

Unlimited or disrupted communication? How does the development of the mobile phone effect our ability of social action?

The aim of this essay is to discuss the thesis of the German Sociologist Günter Burkhart that in modern societies a phenomenon appeared which he calls “handymania”, an excessive and nearly addictive use of the mobile phones especially from adolescents. After a short overview about the history of the cell phone, I will relate this development to Jürgen Habermas “theory of communicative action”, more precisely to his diagnosis of a pathological society (“lifeworld”) to find out if the “handymania” could be one expression of it. Adjacent I will present social-psychological theories from E.H.Erikson and Tilmann Habermas to ascertain whether juveniles could really be a high-risk group for this kind of addiction. I will focus on the ability to communicate in an Habermasian way that could be seriously harmed by the unregulated usage of cell phones.

Association between food assistance program participation and overweight

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the association between food assistance program participation and overweight/obesity according to poverty level. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of data from 46,217 non-pregnant and non-lactating women in Lima, Peru was conducted; these data were obtained from nationally representative surveys from the years 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2008-2010. The dependent variable was overweight/obesity, and the independent variable was food assistance program participation. Poisson regression was used to stratify the data by family socioeconomic level, area of residence (Lima versus the rest of the country; urban versus rural), and survey year (2003-2006 versus 2008-2010). The models were adjusted for age, education level, urbanization, and survey year. RESULTS Food assistance program participation was associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity in women living in homes without poverty indicators [prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06;1.57]. When stratified by area of residence, similar associations were observed for women living in Lima and urban areas; no associations were found between food assistance program participation and overweight/obesity among women living outside of Lima or in rural areas, regardless of the poverty status. CONCLUSIONS Food assistance program participation was associated with overweight/obesity in non-poor women. Additional studies are required in countries facing both aspects of malnutrition.

Using a cohesive damage model to predict the tensile behaviour of CFRP single-strap repairs

This work addresses both experimental and numerical analyses regarding the tensile behaviour of CFRP single-strap repairs. Two fundamental geometrical parameters were studied: overlap length and patch thickness. The numerical model used ABAQUS® software and a developed cohesive mixed-mode damage model adequate for ductile adhesives, and implemented within interface finite elements. Stress analyses and strength predictions were carried out. Experimental and numerical comparisons were performed on failure modes, failure load and equivalent stiffness of the repair. Good correlation was found between experimental and numerical results, showing that the proposed model can be successfully applied to bonded joints or repairs.

Mu-Chlorido-Bridged Dimanganese(II) complexes of the schiff base derived from [2+2] condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisloxane: structure, magnetismo, electrochemical behaviour, and catalytic oxidation of secondary alcohols

The reaction of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol with 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane in the presence of MnCl2 in a 1:1:2 molar ratio in methanol afforded a dinuclear -chlorido-bridged manganese(II) complex of the macrocyclic [2+2] condensation product (H2L), namely, [Mn2Cl2(H2L)(HL)]Cl center dot 3H(2)O (1). The latter afforded a new compound, namely, [Mn2Cl2(H2L)(2)][MnCl4]center dot 4CH(3)CN center dot 0.5CHCl(3 center dot)0.4H(2)O (2), after recrystallisation from 1:1 CHCl3/CH3CN. The co-existence of the free and complexed azomethine groups, phenolato donors, mu-chlorido bridges, and the disiloxane unit were well evidenced by ESI mass spectrometry and FTIR spectroscopy and confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The magnetic measurements revealed an antiferromagnetic interaction between the two high-spin (S = 5/2, g = 2) manganese(II) ions through the mu-chlorido bridging ligands. The electrochemical behaviour of 1 and 2 has been studied, and details of their redox properties are reported. Both compounds act as catalysts or catalyst precursors in the solvent-free low-power microwave-assisted oxidation of selected secondary alcohols, for example, 1-phenylethanol, cyclohexanol, 2- and 3-octanol, to the corresponding ketones in the absence of solvent. The highest yield of 72% was achieved for 1-phenylethanol by using a maximum of 1% molar ratio of catalyst relative to substrate.

The solvation and electrochemical behaviour of Copper acetylacetonate complexes in ionic liquids

The behavior of copper(II) complexes of pentane-2,4-dione and 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione, [Cu(acac)(2) (1) and [Cu(HFacac)(2)(H2O)] (2), in ionic liquids and molecular organic solvents, was studied by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. The electron paramagnetic resonance characterization (EPR) showed well-resolved spectra in most solvents. In general the EPR spectra of [Cu(acac)(2)] show higher g(z) values and lower hyperfine coupling constants, A(z), in ionic liquids than in organic solvents, in agreement with longer Cu-O bond lengths and higher electron charge in the copper ion in the ionic liquids, suggesting coordination of the ionic liquid anions. For [Cu(HFacac)(2)(H2O)] the opposite was observed suggesting that in ionic liquids there is no coordination of the anions and that the complex is tetrahedrically distorted. The redox properties of the Cu(II) complexes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) at a Pt electrode (d = 1 mm), in bmimBF(4) and bmimNTf(2) ionic liquids and, for comparative purposes, in neat organic solvents. The neutral copper(II) complexes undergo irreversible reductions to Cu(I) and Cu(0) species in both ILs and common organic solvents (CH2Cl2 or acetonitrile), but, in ILs, they are usually more easier to reduce (less cathodic reduction potential) than in the organic solvents. Moreover, 1 and 2 are easier to reduce in bmimNTf(2) than in bmimBF(4) ionic liquid. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The solvation and redox behaviour of mixed ligand COPPER(II) complexes of acetylacetonate and aromatic dimines in ionic liquids

The behavior of two cationic copper complexes of acetylacetonate and 2,2'-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline, [Cu(acac)(bipy)]Cl (1) and [Cu(acac)(phen)]Cl (2), in organic solvents and ionic liquids, was studied by spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. Both complexes showed solvatochromism in ionic liquids although no correlation with solvent parameters could be obtained. By EPR spectroscopy rhombic spectra with well-resolved superhyperfine structure were obtained in most ionic liquids. The spin Hamiltonian parameters suggest a square pyramidal geometry with coordination of the ionic liquid anion. The redox properties of the complexes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry at a Pt electrode (d = 1 mm) in bmimBF(4) and bmimNTf(2) ionic liquids. Both complexes 1 and 2 are electrochemically reduced in these ionic media at more negative potentials than when using organic solvents. This is in agreement with the EPR characterization, which shows lower A(z) and higher g(z) values for the complexes dissolved in ionic liquids, than in organic solvents, due to higher electron density at the copper center. The anion basicity order obtained by EPR is NTf2-, N(CN)(2)(-), MeSO4- and Me2PO4-, which agrees with previous determinations. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tensile behaviour of single and double-strap repairs on aluminium structures

In this work, an experimental study was performed on the influence of plug filling, loading rate and temperature on the tensile strength of single-strap (SS) and double-strap (DS) repairs on aluminium structures. The experimental programme includes repairs with different values of overlap length (LO=10, 20 and 30 mm), and with and without plug filling. The influence of the testing speed on the repairs strength is also addressed (considering 0.5, 5 and 25 mm/min). Accounting for the temperature effects, tests were carried out at room temperature, 50ºC and 80ºC. This will permit a comparative evaluation of the adhesive tested below and above the Glass Transition Temperature (Tg), established by the manufacturer at 67ºC. The global tendencies of the test results concerning the plug filling and overlap length analyses are interpreted from the fracture modes and typical stress distributions for bonded repairs. According to the results obtained from this work, design guidelines for repairing aluminium structures were recommended.

µ-Chlorido-bridged dimanganese(II) complexes of the schiff base derived from [2+2] condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane: structure, magnetismo, electrochemical behaviour, and catalytic oxidation of secondary alcohols

The reaction of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol with 1,3-bis(3-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane in the presence of MnCl2 in a 1:1:2 molar ratio in methanol afforded a dinuclear -chlorido-bridged manganese(II) complex of the macrocyclic [2+2] condensation product (H2L), namely, [Mn2Cl2(H2L)(HL)]Cl center dot 3H(2)O (1). The latter afforded a new compound, namely, [Mn2Cl2(H2L)(2)][MnCl4]center dot 4CH(3)CN center dot 0.5CHCl(3 center dot)0.4H(2)O (2), after recrystallisation from 1:1 CHCl3/CH3CN. The co-existence of the free and complexed azomethine groups, phenolato donors, mu-chlorido bridges, and the disiloxane unit were well evidenced by ESI mass spectrometry and FTIR spectroscopy and confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The magnetic measurements revealed an antiferromagnetic interaction between the two high-spin (S = 5/2, g = 2) manganese(II) ions through the mu-chlorido bridging ligands. The electrochemical behaviour of 1 and 2 has been studied, and details of their redox properties are reported. Both compounds act as catalysts or catalyst precursors in the solvent-free low-power microwave-assisted oxidation of selected secondary alcohols, for example, 1-phenylethanol, cyclohexanol, 2- and 3-octanol, to the corresponding ketones in the absence of solvent. The highest yield of 72% was achieved for 1-phenylethanol by using a maximum of 1% molar ratio of catalyst relative to substrate.

Living bacteria rheology: Population growth, aggregation patterns, and collective behaviour under diferente shear flows

The activity of growing living bacteria was investigated using real-time and in situ rheology-in stationary and oscillatory shear. Two different strains of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus-strain COL and its isogenic cell wall autolysis mutant, RUSAL9-were considered in this work. For low bacteria density, strain COL forms small clusters, while the mutant, presenting deficient cell separation, forms irregular larger aggregates. In the early stages of growth, when subjected to a stationary shear, the viscosity of the cultures of both strains increases with the population of cells. As the bacteria reach the exponential phase of growth, the viscosity of the cultures of the two strains follows different and rich behaviors, with no counterpart in the optical density or in the population's colony-forming units measurements. While the viscosity of strain COL culture keeps increasing during the exponential phase and returns close to its initial value for the late phase of growth, where the population stabilizes, the viscosity of the mutant strain culture decreases steeply, still in the exponential phase, remains constant for some time, and increases again, reaching a constant plateau at a maximum value for the late phase of growth. These complex viscoelastic behaviors, which were observed to be shear-stress-dependent, are a consequence of two coupled effects: the cell density continuous increase and its changing interacting properties. The viscous and elastic moduli of strain COL culture, obtained with oscillatory shear, exhibit power-law behaviors whose exponents are dependent on the bacteria growth stage. The viscous and elastic moduli of the mutant culture have complex behaviors, emerging from the different relaxation times that are associated with the large molecules of the medium and the self-organized structures of bacteria. Nevertheless, these behaviors reflect the bacteria growth stage.