Primary endemic Cryptococcosis gattii by molecular type VGII in the state of Pará, Brazil

In order to study the infectious agents causing human disseminated cryptococcosis in the state of Pará, North Brazil, 56 isolates of Cryptococcusspp. (54 isolated from cerebral spinal fluid and two from blood cultures) from 43 cases diagnosed between 2003-2007 were analysed. The species were determined through morphological and physiological tests and genotypes were determined by URA5-RFLP and PCR-fingerprinting (wild-type phage M13). The following species and genotypes were identified: Cryptococcus neoformans VNI (28/56, 50%), Cryptococcus gattii VGII (25/56, 44.64%) and C. gattii VGI (3/56, 5.26%). The genotype VNI occurred in 12 out of 14 HIV-positive adults, whereas the genotype VGII occurred in 11 out of 21 HIV-negative adults (p < 0.02, OR = 6.6 IC95% 0.98-56.0). All patients less than 12 years old were HIV negative and six cases were caused by the VGII genotype, one by the VGI and one by VNI. Therefore, endemic primary mycosis in HIV-negative individuals, including an unexpectedly high number of children, caused by the VGII genotype deserves further study and suggests the need for surveillance on cryptococcal infection in the state of Pará, Eastern Amazon.

O processo de construção dos saberes pedagógicos do fisioterapeuta docente: o significado da prática

Realizando uma imersão na atuação profissional do fisioterapeuta tem-se na docência um possível caminho a ser seguido, no entanto por partir de uma formação inicial que não prepara para tal, este profissional necessita construir os saberes e o significado de ser professor. Nesse sentido, o objeto desta pesquisa constitui-se no processo de construção da identidade docente do fisioterapeuta-professor. O problema assim se apresenta: qual o significado da prática na construção do ser professor para os fisioterapeutas que atuam como docentes? Para compreender tal significado, os objetivos assim se configuram: a)Identificar as principais dificuldades encontradas pelos fisioterapeutas na sua atuação docente; b) Entender como a prática docente propicia a construção dos saberes pedagógicos para os fisioterapeutas; c) Compreender os significados profissionais que a atuação docente adquire para o fisioterapeuta-professor; d) Perceber a visão do fisioterapeuta docente acerca da formação e objetos de trabalho da fisioterapia; e) Analisar a possibilidade do estabelecimento de princípios pedagógicos, a partir da Teoria da Complexidade, que possam auxiliar o Fisioterapeuta em sua ação docente. Este estudo teve como instrumento para coleta de dados a realização de entrevista com sete fisioterapeutas que atuam como docentes, tendo como critério de inclusão que os mesmos ministrem disciplinas teórico/práticas, cujo conteúdo seja especifico da Fisioterapia. Após a realização da entrevista utilizou-se da Técnica de Elaboração e Análise de Unidades de Significado para apreciação dos dados colhidos em campo e com o apoio da teoria da Complexidade de Edgar Morin construiu-se as seguintes Unidades de Significado: Significado da atuação docente; Desafios da Docência; Representações acerca do conhecimento. Percebeu-se que a prática docente significa a necessidade de constante atualização para esses profissionais, a principal dificuldade relaciona-se com a relação docente/discente e que os conhecimentos utilizados não se restringem a área específica de atuação. As referências teóricas tem apoio em Morin (1998, 2003, 2007, 2008a, 2008b), Andery et al (1996), Rebelatto e Botomé (2004), Pimenta (2005) dentre outros.

Efeitos do tipo, tamanho e teor de agregado graúdo no módulo de deformação do concreto de alta resistência

O concreto, material de composição heterogênea e complexa, é o principal insumo em construções. Do ponto de vista estrutural, ele tem como propriedade principal sua resistência. O estudo do comportamento do concreto, baseado em estudos conceituais da resistência granular, pode conduzir a um projeto estrutural mais seguro e de melhor utilização do material. Este trabalho expõe os resultados de um estudo conduzido para avaliar os efeitos do tipo, tamanho e teor de agregado graúdo no módulo de deformação do concreto de alta resistência. A mistura de concreto estudada contém agregados de basalto e de granito com dimensões máximas características de 9,5 mm e 19 mm e relação água/cimento de 0,35. O módulo de elasticidade do material foi determinado usando o trecho inicial linear da curva Carga-CMOD (deslocamento de abertura da boca da fissura) no ensaio de flexão com três pontos em viga entalhada no meio do vão, seguindo a proposta do comitê técnico 89-FMT da RILEM (Internacional Union of Testing and Research Laboratories for Materials and Structures).

Estudo sobre os aspectos culturais da terminologia dos contratos de prestação de serviços em língua portuguesa e língua francesa

Pós-graduação em Estudos Linguísticos - IBILCE

Devir - criança da matemática: experiências educativas infantis imagéticas

Pós-graduação em Educação Matemática - IGCE

The Role of CEO Statements of Aggressiveness and the Competitive Aggressiveness of Firms: What is the Impact on Performance?

This research examines the impact of a CEO’s statements of aggressiveness on his or her organization’s competitive moves and subsequent performance. Hypotheses were developed based on previous work in Upper Echelon Theory and competitive dynamics. Based on this prior literature, it was hypothesized aggressive statements by CEOs will be associated with more aggressive organizations. It was also hypothesized these more aggressive organizations would display better performance than less aggressive organizations. A content analysis of letters to shareholders and trade publications was performed. This data was analyzed using multiple regression in SPSS 17 to test the hypotheses that aggressive statements by CEOs are associated with aggressive organizations and higher performance. Aggression scores for the content analysis were generated using the software package DICTION. The sample for the study was the organizations with the most revenue in two industries, automobile manufacturing and retailing. Data collection covered a five-year time span from 2003-2007, with performance data lagged one year. Control variables employed included CEO tenure, CEO background, organization size, and organization age. The findings indicate that CEO statements of aggressiveness do not significantly impact the competitive aggressiveness or the performance of their organizations. The implications of these findings are discussed and potential avenues for future research in the area are outlined.

Performance: territórios conquistados e negociações de fronteiras

A performance oscila por sua natureza mesma entre diferentes campos artísticos, tornando difícil toda tentativa de estruturação e de classificação. Essa ausência de limites precisos pode ser recolocada em paralelo à noção de fronteiras estabelecidas entre territórios. A Terra, como material de base, fonte mesma de territórios geográficos e políticos foi utilizada plasticamente em algumas performances artísticas. Baseando-se a partir da análise de várias performances, entre estas as do Festival Internacional da Terra (Venezuela 2007), este artigo propõe interrogar as noções de demarcação entre territórios, tanto terrestres quanto artísticos fundamentados sobre a metáfora da terra

I progetti di Oswald Mathias Ungers per la città di Treviri. Questioni di composizione architettonica

Abstract This PhD thesis focuses on two projects carried out by Oswald Mathias Ungers in the city of Trier. More specifi cally, this study focuses on the relationship between composition principles, architectural forms, historical context and the nature of the city where these buildings have been built. The works carried out by Ungers in Trier are unique experiences - if taken in this master’s works context - and each one of them refl ects - in its specifi c project and architectural composition theme - the results - in terms of design - of a complex research on the fundamentals of architecture carried out by Ungers in more than fi ve decades of his activity. The theoretical and compositional experiment aspect is one of the main subjects to defi ne these buildings in terms of architecture. This aspect is so crucial that it is possible to consider them as an example of radical and specifi c experiences, referred to a specifi c place and based on a specifi c theoretical corpus. More specifi cally, this study focuses on the design activity carried out by Ungers in this city, mainly between the 80s and 90s and in the fi rst decade of the 21st century. It puts forward an interpretation that does not only defi ne the essential features, elements and questions lying behind these two architectures, but fi rst and foremost analyzes the theoretical, methodological and compositional relationship between Ungers and Trier, his adopted city. An increasingly closer relationship between the architect and his city highlights the wider relationship network established between the place and the projects carried out by Ungers in this city and makes it possible to understand the importance of Trier in the work of this architect, in his education and in his way to see, think and make architecture. The projects analyzed - the Thermen am Forum Museum (1988-1996) and the Kaiserthermen entrance hall (2003-2007) - were analyzed in terms of their architectural composition in an attempt to highlight the poetry of these architectures and to fi nd out their progressive, rational - and therefore transmissible - character. This study is an attempt to assess and unveil the compositional themes characterizing these projects while detecting the compositional principles lying behind the works and verifying the design process through which such principles were translated into architecture. Looking at these works as architectural composition examples makes it possible to clarify Ungers’ hermeneutic relationship established with the city’s history and structure. More specifi cally, the main subject of this thesis is the relationship between the architect, his city and history in the architectural solutions offered by two exemplary case studies, which were both built and placed in the historical city center of Trier and both connected with the ancient core of the city. The Thermen am Forum Museum and the Kaiserthermen entrance hall projects are - though being developed at different times of Ungers’ architectural life and though being extremely different in terms of approach to their context, due to their architectural image - two works that can be compared with the historical heritage of the city and this makes them ideal examples of the relationship between architectural forms, history and environment.

The implementation of DRG-based hospital reimbursement in Switzerland: A population-based perspective

Background Switzerland introduces a DRG (Diagnosis Related Groups) based system for hospital financing in 2012 in order to increase efficiency and transparency of Swiss health care. DRG-based hospital reimbursement is not simultaneously realized in all Swiss cantons and several cantons already implemented DRG-based financing irrespective of the national agenda, a setting that provides an opportunity to compare the situation in different cantons. Effects of introducing DRGs anticipated for providers and insurers are relatively well known but it remains less clear what effects DRGs will have on served populations. The objective of the study is therefore to analyze differences of volume and major quality indicators of care between areas with or without DRG-based hospital reimbursement from a population based perspective. Methods Small area analysis of all hospitalizations in acute care hospitals and of all consultations reimbursed by mandatory basic health insurance for physicians in own practice during 2003-2007. Results The results show fewer hospitalizations and a relocation of resources to outpatient care in areas with DRG reimbursement. Overall burden of disease expressed as per capita DRG cost weights was almost identical between the two types of hospital reimbursement and no distinct temporal differences were detected in this respect. But the results show considerably higher 90-day rehospitalization rates in DRG areas. Conclusion The study provides evidence of both desired and harmful effects related to the implementation of DRGs. Systematic monitoring of outcomes and quality of care are therefore essential elements to maintain in the Swiss health system after DRG's are implemented on a nationwide basis in 2012.