Foreign Direct Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean 2013

Includes bibliography.

Os significados do acolhimento institucional de crianças e adolescentes sob a perspectiva dos profissionais do judiciário

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Intraoperative Cardiac Arrest and Mortality in Trauma Patients. A 14-Yr Survey from a Brazilian Tertiary Teaching Hospital

Background: Little information on the factors influencing intraoperative cardiac arrest and its outcomes in trauma patients is available. This survey evaluated the associated factors and outcomes of intraoperative cardiac arrest in trauma patients in a Brazilian teaching hospital between 1996 and 2009.Methods: Cardiac arrest during anesthesia in trauma patients was identified from an anesthesia database. The data collected included patient demographics, ASA physical status classification, anesthesia provider information, type of surgery, surgical areas and outcome. All intraoperative cardiac arrests and deaths in trauma patients were reviewed and grouped by associated factors and also analyzed as totally anesthesia-related, partially anesthesia-related, totally surgery-related or totally trauma patient condition-related.Findings: Fifty-one cardiac arrests and 42 deaths occurred during anesthesia in trauma patients. They were associated with male patients (P<0.001) and young adults (18-35 years) (P = 0.04) with ASA physical status IV or V (P<0.001) undergoing gastroenterological or multiclinical surgeries (P<0.001). Motor vehicle crashes and violence were the main causes of trauma (P<0.001). Uncontrolled hemorrhage or head injury were the most significant associated factors of intraoperative cardiac arrest and mortality (P<0.001). All cardiac arrests and deaths reported were totally related to trauma patient condition.Conclusions: Intraoperative cardiac arrest and mortality incidence was highest in male trauma patients at a younger age with poor clinical condition, mainly related to uncontrolled hemorrhage and head injury, resulted from motor vehicle accidents and violence.

Olfactory reference syndrome: a still open nosological and treatment debate

Objective: The objective was to report a case of olfactory reference syndrome (ORS) with several co-occurring disorders and to discuss ORS differential diagnoses, diagnostic criteria and classification.Method: Case report.Results: A 37-year-old married woman presented overvalued ideas of having bad breath since adolescence. Shemet current diagnostic criteria for social anxiety disorder, specific phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, body dysmorphic disorder and major depressive disorder. ORS similarities and differences with some related disorders are discussed.Conclusion: Further studies regarding symptoms, biomarkers and outcomes are needed to fully disentangle ORS from existing depressive, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pediatric Perioperative Cardiac Arrest and Mortality: A Study From a Tertiary Teaching Hospital

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Agro-ecology as a mediating science between the training of the agronomist and sustainable agriculture

Agro-ecology plays an important role in the implementation of sustainable development, and an agronomist can be a leading agent in the dissemination of that culture. In this perspective, a survey was carried out with the attendants of the course in Agronomy at the Instituto Federal de Educacao, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Mato Grosso, Campus Campo Novo do Parecis, Brazil. The object of the study was to analyze the participation of the academics in agro-ecological activities, seeking to observe the acceptance, perceptions and possible indications of incorporation of these principles in the training. The survey was conducted during the period July-December 2011. The approach was the qualitative method and the instruments used in data collection were participant observation and interviews during the activities. The results revealed the satisfaction of students in engaging in agro-ecological activities: Students developed concepts and incorporated the proposal of agro-ecology throughout the project. The contents of the agronomy course offered at the institution, in the perception of students, is strongly linked to the principles of conventional farming, not fully considering training to meet the challenges, and current and emerging demands of agriculture.

Creating Meaningful Homework and Implementing Homework Presentations to Aid in Mathematics Instruction

In this action research study of sixth grade mathematics, I investigated the use of meaningful homework and the implementation of presentations and its effect on students’ comprehension of mathematical concepts. I collected data to determine whether the creating of meaningful homework and the implementation of homework presentations would have a positive impact on the students’ understanding of the concepts being taught in class and the reasoning behind assigning homework. The homework was based on the lesson taught during class time. It was grade-level appropriate and contained problems similar to those students completed in class. A pre-research and post-research survey based on homework perceptions and my teaching practices was given, student interviews were conducted throughout the research period, weekly teacher journals were kept that pertained to my teaching practices and the involvement of the students that particular week, and homework assignments were collected to gauge the students’ understanding of the mathematics lessons. Most students’ perceptions on homework were positive and most understood the reasoning for homework assignments.

United Way and University partnerships in community-wide human services planning and plan implementation: The case of Lincoln/Lancaster County, Nebraska.

Given the similar interests of United Way organizations and universities in planning, implementation, and evaluation of human services, the two social institutions could be extensively and effectively partnering with one another. However, there is little documentation that such cooperative efforts are taking place. This article describes one such collaboration in Lincoln, Nebraska. The purpose of the article is to show the potential of such collaboration to improve community-wide coordination and outcomes by following the principles of a community-engagement model, to generate more effective use of evaluative tools that can assist in developing evidence-based practices in community planning, and to connect areas of study within the university to United Way efforts.

Bearded capuchin monkeys` and a human`s efficiency at cracking palm nuts with stone tools: field experiments

Wild bearded capuchins, Cebus libidinosus, in Fazenda Boa Vista, Brazil crack tough palm nuts using hammer stones. We analysed the contribution of intrinsic factors (body weight, behaviour), size of the nuts and the anvil surface (flat or pit) to the efficiency of cracking. We provided capuchins with local palm nuts and a single hammer stone at an anvil. From video we scored the capuchins` position and actions with the nut prior to each strike, and outcomes of each strike. The most efficient capuchin opened 15 nuts per 100 strikes (6.6 strikes per nut). The least efficient capuchin that succeeded in opening a nut opened 1.32 nuts per 100 strikes (more than 75 strikes per nut). Body weight and diameter of the nut best predicted whether a capuchin would crack a nut on a given strike. All the capuchins consistently placed nuts into pits. To provide an independent analysis of the effect of placing the nut into a pit, we filmed an adult human cracking nuts on the same anvil using the same stone. The human displaced the nut on proportionally fewer strikes when he placed it into a pit rather than on a flat surface. Thus the capuchins placed the nut in a more effective location on the anvil to crack it. Nut cracking as practised by bearded capuchins is a striking example of a plastic behaviour where costs and benefits vary enormously across individuals, and where efficiency requires years to attain. (C) 2009 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DIGITAL LIBRARIES AND LEARNING OBJECTS REPOSITORIES

Discusses the technological changes that affects learning organizations as well as the human, technical, legal and sustainable aspects regarding learning objects repositories creation, maintenance and use. It presents concepts of information objects and learning objects, the functional requirements needed to their storage at Learning Management Systems. The role of Metadata is reviewed concerning learning objects creation and retrieval, followed by considerations about learning object repositories models, community participation/collaborative strategies and potential derived metrics/indicators. As a result of this desktop research, it can be said that not only technical competencies are critical to any learning objects repository implementation, but it urges that an engaged community of interest be establish as a key to support a learning object repository project. On that matter, researchers are applying Activity Theory (Vygostky, Luria y Leontiev) in order to seek joint perceptions and actions involving learning objects repository users, curators and managers, perceived as critical assets to a successful proposal.

Focal adhesion kinase governs cardiac concentric hypertrophic growth by activating the AKT and mTOR pathways

The heart responds to sustained overload by hypertrophic growth in which the myocytes distinctly thicken or elongate on increases in systolic or diastolic stress. Though potentially adaptive, hypertrophy itself may predispose to cardiac dysfunction in pathological settings. The mechanisms underlying the diverse morphology and outcomes of hypertrophy are uncertain. Here we used a focal adhesion kinase (FAK) cardiac-specific transgenic mice model (FAK-Tg) to explore the function of this non-receptor tyrosine kinase on the regulation of myocyte growth. FAK-Tg mice displayed a phenocopy of concentric cardiac hypertrophy, reflecting the relative thickening of the individual myocytes. Moreover, FAK-Tg mice showed structural, functional and molecular features of a compensated hypertrophic growth, and preserved responses to chronic pressure overload. Mechanistically, FAK overexpression resulted in enhanced myocardial FAK activity, which was proven by treatment with a selective FAK inhibitor to be required for the cardiac hypertrophy in this model. Our results indicate that upregulation of FAK does not affect the activity of Src/ERK1/2 pathway, but stimulated signaling by a cascade that encompasses PI3K, AKT, mTOR, S6K and rpS6. Moreover, inhibition of the mTOR complex by rapamycin extinguished the cardiac hypertrophy of the transgenic FAK mice. These findings uncover a unique role for FAK in regulating the signaling mechanisms that governs the selective myocyte growth in width, likely controlling the activity of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and suggest that FAK activation could be important for the adaptive response to increases in cardiac afterload. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Local Signaling in Myocytes". (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Supracerebellar transtentorial approach-resection of the tentorium instead of an opening-to provide broad exposure of the mediobasal temporal lobe: anatomical aspects and surgical applications Clinical article

Object. The aim of this study was to describe the surgical anatomy of the mediobasal aspect of the temporal lobe and the supracerebellar transtentorial (SCTT) approach performed not with an opening, but with the resection of the tentorium, as an alternative route for the neurosurgical management of vascular and tumoral lesions arising from this region. Methods. Cadaveric specimens were used to illustrate the surgical anatomy of the mediobasal region of the temporal lobe. Demographic aspects, characteristics of lesions, clinical presentation, surgical results, follow-up findings, and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed for patients referred to receive the SCTT approach with tentorial resection. Results. Ten patients (83%) were female and 2 (17%) were male. Their ages ranged from 6 to 59 years (mean 34.5 +/- 15.8 years). All lesions (3 posterior cerebral artery aneurysms, 3 arteriovenous malformations, 3 cavernous malformations, and 3 tumors) were completely excluded or resected. After a mean follow-up period of 143 months (range 10-240 months), the mean postoperative Glasgow Outcome Scale score was 4.9. Conclusions. Knowledge of the surgical anatomy provides improvement for microsurgical approaches. The evolution from a small opening to a resection of the tentorium absolutely changed the exposure of the mediobasal aspect of the temporal lobe. The SCTT approach with tentorial resection is an excellent alternative route to the posterior part of mediobasal aspect of the temporal lobe, and it was enough to achieve the best neurosurgical management of tumoral and vascular lesions located in this area. (http://thejns.org/doi/abs/10.3171/2011.12.JNS111256)

De Novo Thrombotic Microangiopathy After Kidney Transplantation: Clinical Features, Treatment, and Long-Term Patient and Graft Survival

Introduction. Posttransplant thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)/hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can occur as a recurrent or de novo disease. Methods. A retrospective single-center observational study was applied in order to examine the incidence and outcomes of de novo TMA/HUS among transplantations performed between 2000 and 2010. Recurrent HUS or antibody-mediated rejections were excluded. Results. Seventeen (1.1%) among 1549 kidney transplant recipients fulfilled criteria for de novo TMA. The mean follow-up was 572 days (range, 69-1769). Maintenance immunosuppression was prednisone, tacrolimus (TAC), and mycophenolic acid in 14 (82%) patients. Mean age at onset was 40 +/- 15 years, and serum creatinine was 6.1 +/- 4.1 mg/dL. TMA occurred at a median of 25 days (range, 1-1755) after transplantation. Nine (53%) patients developed TMA within 1 month of transplantation and only 12% after 1 year. Clinical features were anemia (hemoglobin < 10 g/dL) in 9 (53%) patients, thrombocytopenia in 7 (41%), and increased lactate dehydrogenase in 12 (70%). Decreased haptoglobin was observed in 64% and schistocytes in 35%. Calcineurin inhibitor (CM) withdrawal or reduction was the first step in the management of 10/15 (66%) patients, and 6 (35%) received fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and/or plasmapheresis. TAC was successfully reintroduced in six patients after a median of 17 days. Eight (47%) patients needed dialytic support after TMA diagnosis and 75% remained on dialysis. At 4 years of follow-up, death-censored graft survival was worse for TMA group (43.0% versus 85.6%, log-rank = 0.001; hazard ratio = 3.74) and there was no difference in patient survival (53.1% versus 82.2%, log-rank = 0.24). Conclusion. De novo TMA after kidney transplantation is a rare but severe condition with poor graft outcomes. This syndrome may not be fully manifested, and clinical suspicion is essential for early diagnosis and treatment, based mainly in CM withdrawal and FFP infusions and/or plasmapheresis.

Postnatal longitudinal evaluation of children diagnosed with prenatal hydronephrosis: insights in natural history and referral pattern

Objectives Clinical significance and management of prenatal hydronephrosis (PNH) are sources of debate. Existing studies are flawed with biased cohorts or inconsistent follow-up. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of pathology in a large cohort of PNH and assess the biases and outcomes of this population. Methods We reviewed 1034 charts of fetuses with PNH. Records of delivered offspring were reviewed at a pediatric center and analyzed with respect to prenatal and postnatal pathology and management. Results Prenatal resolution of hydronephrosis occurred in 24.7% of pregnancies. On first postnatal ultrasound, some degree of dilatation was present in 80%, 88% and 95% of mild, moderate and severe PNH cases, respectively. At the end of follow-up, hydronephrosis persisted in 10%, 25% and 72% of children, respectively. Incidence of vesicoureteral reflux did not correlate with severity of PNH. Children with postnatal workup had more severe PNH than those without. Conclusions Despite prenatal resolution totalizing 25%, pelvic dilatation persisted on first postnatal imaging in most cases, thus justifying postnatal ultrasound evaluation. Whereas most mild cases resolved spontaneously, a quarter of moderate and more than half of severe cases required surgery. Patients with postnatal imaging and referral had more severe PNH, which could result in overestimation of pathology. (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Wide Clinical Variability in Cat Eye Syndrome Patients: Four Non-Related Patients and Three Patients from the Same Family

A small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) derived from chromosome 22 is a relatively common cytogenetic finding. This sSMC typically results in tetrasomy for a chromosomal region that spans the chromosome 22p arm and the proximal 2 Mb of 22q11.21. Using classical cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, and array techniques, 7 patients with sSMCs derived from chromosome 22 were studied: 4 non-related and 3 from the same family (mother, daughter, and son). The sSMCs in all patients were dicentric and bisatellited chromosomes with breakpoints in the chromosome 22 low-copy repeat A region, resulting in cat eye syndrome (CES) due to chromosome 22 partial tetrasomy 22pter -> q11.2 including the cat eye chromosome region. Although all subjects presented the same chromosomal abnormality, they showed a wide range of phenotypic differences, even in the 3 patients from the same family. There are no previous reports of CES occurring within 3 patients in the same family. Thus, the clinical and follow-up data presented here contribute to a better delineation of the phenotypes and outcomes of CES patients and will be useful for genetic counseling. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel