Índice de líquido amniótico: variabilidade inter e intra-observador

Objetivo: demonstrar a variação interobservador da medida ultra-sonográfica do índice de líquido amniótico (ILA) e da medida da área dos bolsões, bem como realizar uma comparação entre estes dois parâmetros. Além disto, procurou-se estabelecer a variação intra-observador existente na medição deste índice. Métodos: foram estudados os valores do ILA, como descrito por Phelan et al.18 , de um grupo de oitenta gestantes, consideradas clinicamente normais, atendidas na Escola de Ultra-sonografia e Reciclagem Médica Ribeirão Preto e no Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP - USP). Todas as gestantes apresentavam idade gestacional acima de 24 semanas. Deste grupo, cinqüenta pacientes submeteram-se à avaliação do ILA por cinco ultra-sonografistas diferentes, com o uso do mesmo equipamento e no mesmo período de tempo, procurando-se estabelecer a variação interobservador deste índice. Além disto, foi realizada a medida planimétrica da área por parte de dois destes cinco ultra-sonografistas escolhidos aleatoriamente, na tentativa de verificar a variação interobservador na medida da área. Outro grupo composto por trinta gestantes foi avaliado por um mesmo observador ultra-sonografista na tentativa de se realizar a avaliação da variação intra-observador na medição do ILA. Resultados: observamos uma variação interobservador significante na medição do ILA e significante na medição da área. Não obstante, a variação intra-observador na medida do ILA foi considerada não-significante. Houve uma correlação entre as medidas do ILA e da área. Conclusões: o ILA apresenta maior aplicabilidade em relação à medida da área, além da maior facilidade de obtenção.

Acantose nigricante: inter-relações metabólicas inerentes à síndrome dos ovários policísticos

OBJETIVO: Estabelecer a prevalência da acantose nigricante (AN) no contexto da síndrome dos ovários policísticos (SOP) e as respectivas associações com a obesidade, a resistência insulínica (RI), a insulinemia e a síndrome metabólica (SM).MÉTODOS: Em um estudo transversal e prospectivo, foram selecionadas cem pacientes acometidas pela SOP, diagnosticadas segundo o Consenso de Rotterdam (2003). O exame cutâneo incluiu, além da verificação da presença da AN, a presença do hirsutismo (escore ≥8) e da acne. Foram investigados os dados clínicos e bioquímicos, os fatores de risco cardiovascular que se fazem presentes na SM, como circunferência abdominal (CA), obesidade, hipertensão e os índices de HDL e triglicérides. O modelo de aferição da resistência insulínica foi realizado por meio do teste homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR).RESULTADOS: A prevalência da AN (53%) mostrou correspondência significativa com o hirsutismo (p=0,02), o índice de massa corpórea (IMC) (p<0,01), a insulinemia basal (p<0,01), o HOMA-IR (p<0,01) e a SM (p<0,05). A SM alcançou a prevalência de 36% e associou-se significativamente apenas com a AN (p<0,01). Conquanto ausente o diabetes mellitus, sobressaem as conotações do HOMA-IR alterado (p=0,01) com a SM (p<5%) e a AN (p<0,01).CONCLUSÕES: A AN integra o quadro fenotípico grave da SOP como mais um signo previsível dos riscos da doença cardiovascular.

Trust in inter-organisational dyadic relationships

Understanding the trust in organisations and the business relationships have been an emerging trend in past years. Researchers and executives and subject matter experts in companies have recognised the importance of managing the trust in inter-organisational relationships. Further, the interest both in academia and in business has raised an interest to under-stand dyadic relationships. The objective of this thesis was to examine trust in inter-organisational and inter-personal dyadic relationships. Trust and the dyadic relationships were analysed in information technolo-gy services and outsourcing industry. Dyads were established between the supplier company operating in the industry and its customers. The empiric part of the study was carried out by an email survey that was sent to 331 respondents resulting with effective response rate of 48.7 per cent. Statistical analyses were applied to analyse the data sample. In general, results indicated reputation, trustworthiness, capability and collaboration in dyadic trust relationships. Experience grown in duration of the relationship affected the trust positively. No drastic differences in trust were recognised when comparing supplier and customer responses.

Towards Inter-organizational Working Capital Management

Working capital is an investment which is tied up into the inventories and accounts receivable and which is released with accounts payable. Due to the current business landscape with tightened financial conditions and finance markets, organizations emphasize efficient working capital management. With efficient working capital management, a company can reduce the need of finance, free up cash, increase profitability, improve liquidity, increase the efficiency of operations, and decrease (financing) costs. From the perspective of an individual company, efficient working capital management means decreasing inventory levels by shortening the cycle time of inventories, decreasing accounts receivable by shortening the trade credit terms and effective collection procedures, and increasing the level of accounts payable by paying the suppliers later. From an inter-organizational perspective, however, working capital should not be sub-optimized by a single company but holistic view to working capital management through the supply chain should be adopted to create value and improve performance together. The purpose of this research is to take academic research as well as practical management towards inter-organizational working capital management. The thesis discusses the benefits as well as mechanisms of working capital management in the inter-organizational context and has two main objectives: (1) to examine the effect of inter-organizational working capital management on performance in the value chain context and (2) to develop models of working capital management for internal as well as inter-organizational value chains. The results of the archival research conducted in the value chain of the pulp and paper industry and the value chain of the automotive industry indicate that companies can increase relative profitability by managing working capital comprehensively by taking into account all three components, and holistically though the value chain. Companies in the value chain benefit from different strategies in working capital management depending on the position of the company in the value chain. This can be taken into account in inter-organizational working capital management. The effects of inter-organizational working capital management actions on the financing costs of working capital were studied via simulations. Simulations also show that the value chain and individual companies benefit from an inter-organizational view to working capital management. Inter-organizational working capital management actions include for example: shortening the cycle time of inventories, reducing product costs, shifting inventories, shortening payment terms, and considering the cost of capital. The thesis also provides solutions for the practical requirements for tools to control working capital. The design science part of the research introduces the adjusted cash conversion cycle (ACCC) model for internal value chains, as well as models for working capital management in the inter-organizational value chain context: the working capital management model (WCMM) and the financial cycle time model (FCTM) designed in corporation and product levels respectively. This research contributes to literature on working capital management and interorganizational accounting. The research gives a holistic, inter-organizational view to the management of working capital. It advances the knowledge in working capital management on operational level, increases knowledge in the recently risen theme of supply chainoriented, collaborative working capital management, combines management accounting research with supply chain management research, and contributes to the demand of practical inter-organizational accounting methods. In addition, the research has strong practical focus as new managerial methods are introduced.

Estudo de competição inter e intraespecífica envolvendo Glycine max (L. ) Merril e Cyperus rotundus (L.), em condições de casa de vegetação

O presente experimento teve por objetivo estudar os efeitos da competição inter e intraespecífica envolvendo Glycine max (L.) Merril e Cyperus rotundus L. sobre as características das plantas e acúmulos de N, P, K, Ca e Mg pelas espécies envolvidas. Para tanto, estipulou-se um tratamento em que se desenvolveram três plantas de Glycine max e outro em que se desenvolveram 3 tubérculos de Cyperus rotundus por vaso. Para estudar os efeitos da competição intraespecífica, em dois outros tratamentos dobraram-se as populações por vaso. No estudo da competição interespecífica permitiu-se o desenvolvimento de três plantas de Glycine max e de três tubérculos de Cyperus rotundus num mesmo vaso. De uma maneira geral, pôde-se observar que principalmente devido às diferenças no hábito de crescimento das duas espécies, a expressão da competição inter e intraespecífica, em cada uma delas, assume aspectos distintos. No caso de Cyperus rotundus, o efeito do dobro da densidade pôde ser compensado, em parte, pela maior produção de manifestações epígeas e de tubérculos, aliados ao maior desenvolvimento dos tubérculos na menor densidade de plantio. No caso da competição interespecífica, os resultados sugerem um efeito decisivo do sombreamento de Leguminosae sobre o comportamento da Cyperaceae. Os padrões de efeitos da competição pelos nutrientes foi determinado também pelas diferenças no recrutamento dos elementos do solo pelas espécies envolvidas.

GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSE OF MAIZE (Zea mays) TO INTER AND INTRA-ROW WEED COMPETITION UNDER DIFFERENT FERTILIZER APPLICATION METHODS

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive years to study the effect of fertilizer application methods and inter and intra-row weed-crop competition durations on density and biomass of different weeds and growth, grain yield and yield components of maize. The experimental treatments comprised of two fertilizer application methods (side placement and below seed placement) and inter and intra-row weed-crop competition durations each for 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after emergence, as well as through the crop growing period. Fertilizer application method didn't affect weed density, biomass, and grain yield of maize. Below seed fertilizer placement generally resulted in less mean weed dry weight and more crop leaf area index, growth rate, grain weight per cob and 1000 grain weight. Minimum number of weeds and dry weight were recorded in inter-row or intra-row weed-crop competition for 15 DAE. Number of cobs per plant, grain weight per cob, 1000 grain weight and grain yield decreased with an increase in both inter-row and intra-row weed-crop competition durations. Maximum mean grain yield of 6.35 and 6.33 tha-1 were recorded in inter-row and intra-row weed competition for 15 DAE, respectively.

Inter-annual variations in the floristic and population structure of an herbaceous community of "caatinga" vegetation in Pernambuco, Brazil

The influence of climatic variations on the herbaceous component of the "caatinga" vegetation was examined in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. A total of 105 1 × 1 m-plots were established, of which 35 were in a level micro-habitat, 35 in a riparian micro-habitat, and 35 in a stony microhabitat. During two consecutive years all herbaceous plants in these plots were counted, measured (height and diameter), and collected for identification. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index and the equitability were calculated for each year, as well as the density, frequency, dominance, total basal area and importance index for each species. The total annual pluviometric was 819.5 and 448.8 mm in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The herbaceous flora in the study area was composed of 71 species, of which 58 were sampled in the plots. The families with the greatest species richness were Malvaceae (8 species), Euphorbiaceae (7), Poaceae (6), Convolvulaceae (4), Fabaceae (4), and Portulacaceae (4). The diversity indices were 2.66 and 3.01 nats ind-1 in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The density, frequency, dominance and importance value of herbaceous populations, as well as, the height and diameter of plants were low in the dryer year. The riparian group was the most isolated of the microhabitats examined, both in terms of its floristic and its population structure. Annual seasonal climatic variations greatly modified these populations structure during the course of this study, emphasizing the fact that long-term studies are needed in order to better understand the dynamics of the herbaceous component of the "caatinga" vegetation.

An Update on Inter-Country Differences in Recovery and Utilization of Recycled Paper

The use of recovered paper as raw material in the paper and board industry has increased heavily during recent decades. At the same time, growing environmental awareness has raised the interest in recycling and a more sustainable way of living, at least in high-income countries. This paper combines these topics and explores how economic, demographic and environmental factors have affected the recovery and utilization of recycled paper between 1992 and 2010 in a sample of 70 countries. This study updates and extends the previous research on the topic using panel data and panel data estimation methods. The results confirm the roles of economic determinants but also indicate that concern for the environment impacts the recovery of recycled paper particularly in high-income countries. Moreover, the motives for recycling appear to depend on the income level of a country, which is something that future policies should consider.

Territorium Archangelopolin inter Petroburgum et Vologdam.

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Concordia eaque inter fratres praecipuè rara

Variantti A.

Comparatio, inter Iphigeniam in Aulide, Euripidis et Racinii 1

Arkit: 1 arkintunnukseton lehti, A-B4 C2. - S. [2] tyhjä.