SEROPREVALENCE OF CHAGASIC INFECTION IN YOUNG INDIVIDUALS IN A BLOOD CENTER IN THE STATE OF SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

SUMMARY This study aimed at estimating the number of cases of non-negative serological reactions to Chagas disease in blood donors at the Blood Center of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, from 2003 to 2010 and at relating them to their cities of origin. Five hundred and seventy-four non-negative results for Chagas disease were evaluated. Of these, 371 (64.8%) were reagent, and 203 (35.4%) were inconclusive. The prevalence of Chagas disease in blood donors was 0.05%. There were, on average, 72 cases/year, and a prevalence of males was observed (64.8%). Forty-three (7.49%) individuals were 18 to 30 years old; 92 (16.02%) were 31 to 40; 147 (25.61%) 41 to 50, and 292 (50.87%) were older than 50 years. It was observed that 29.3% of females with reagent serology were at their fertile age (18 and 45 years). The majority of donors were originally from cities in the southwestern and central regions of São Paulo, but individuals from other states contributed with 20%. The provenance of most donors was the city of Botucatu/SP, followed by the city of Taquarituba/SP. Therefore, the profile of donors at this blood center favors the occurrence of a larger number of non-negative serological reactions. Although there has been a significant reduction in the number of new cases/year for this disease, it is still a public-health problem, and results suggest the need for new epidemiological assessments in the studied region.

Mortars with incorporation of PCM based in different binders: mechanical and thermal behavior

Currently we are witnessing a huge concern of society with the parameters of comfort of the buildings and the energetic consumptions. It is known that there is a huge consumption of non-renewable sources of energy. Thus, it is urgent to develop and explore ways to take advantage of renewable sources of energy by improving the energy efficiency of buildings. The mortars with incorporation of phase change materials (PCM) have the ability to regulate the temperature inside buildings, contributing to the thermal comfort and reduction of the use of heating and cooling equipment, using only the energy supplied by the sun. However, the incorporation of phase change materials in mortars modifies its characteristics. The main purpose of this study was mechanical and thermal characterization of mortars with incorporation of PCM in mortars based in different binders. The binders studied were aerial lime, hydraulic lime, gypsum and cement. For each type of binder a reference composition (0% PCM) and a composition with incorporation of 40% of PCM were developed. It was possible to observe that the incorporation of PCM in mortars caused differences in properties such as workability, compressive strength, flexural strength and adhesion, however leads to an improvement of thermal behavior.

Desenvolvimento de um concentrador solar com sistema de seguimento

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia Mecânica

A brincar e a aprender: a importância das atividades lúdicas em educação pré-escolar e ensino do 1.º ciclo do ensino básico

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico

Dois teoremas sôbre a função gama

This paper proves the following theorems on the gamma function: Theorem I The integral ∫O∞ t u e-t dt = Γ ( u + 1 ) , where u, real or complex, is such that R (u) > -1, will not change its value if we substitute z = Q (cos φ + i sen φ) for the real variable t, being jconstant and such that - Π/2 < φ < Π/2 , Theorem II The integral ∫-∞∞ w2u + 1 e -w² dw = Γ ( u + 1 ) , where 2u + 1 is supposed to be a non negative even integer, will not change its value if we substitute z = w + fi, f being a real constant, for the real variable w. The proof of both theorems is obtained by means of the well known Cauchy theorem on contour integrals on the complex plane, as suggested by CRAMÉR (1, p. 126) and LEVY (3, p. 178).

Weighted approval voting

To allow society to treat unequal alternatives distinctly we propose a natural extension of Approval Voting by relaxing the assumption of neutrality. According to this extension, every alternative receives ex-ante a non-negative and finite weight. These weights may differ across alternatives. Given the voting decisions of every individual (individuals are allowed to vote for, or approve of, as many alternatives as they wish to), society elects all alternatives for which the product of total number of votes times exogenous weight is maximal. Our main result is an axiomatic characterization of this voting procedure.

Antimicrobial susceptibility, phage types, and pulsetypes of Salmonella Typhimurium, in São Paulo, Brazil

A total of 283 Salmonella Typhimurium strains isolated from cases of human infections and non human sources, were examined for antimicrobial susceptibilityand the incidence of resistance was 38% and multiple resistance (to three or more antimicrobials) was 15%. All 43 multidrug-resistant strains (MDR) and 13 susceptible ones were characterized by phage typing and pulsed- field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The strains encompassed 14 definitive phage types (DT), three were untypable (UT), and 18 atypicals or reaction does not conform (RDNC), which belonged to 21 PFGE patterns, A1-A21. The predominant phage types were DT49, DT193, and RDNC and two strains belonging to DT 104 and 104b were also identified. The most commum PFGE patterns were A1 and A8. Analysis by PFGE and phage typing demonstrated that the most of the MDR were multiclonal and association among multiresistance, phage typing, and PFGE patterns was not so significant.

Eat well plate

This poster shows graphically how much of each of the following food groups we should eat for a healthy, balanced diet: fruit and vegetables; bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods; milk and dairy foods; meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein; and foods and drinks high in fat and/or sugar.��

Weighted Logratio Biplots, Correspondence Analysis and Spectral Maps

Starting with logratio biplots for compositional data, which are based on the principle of subcompositional coherence, and then adding weights, as in correspondence analysis, we rediscover Lewi's spectral map and many connections to analyses of two-way tables of non-negative data. Thanks to the weighting, the method also achieves the property of distributional equivalence

Evidence evaluation in fingerprint comparison and automated fingerprint identification systems: modeling between finger variability

In the context of the investigation of the use of automated fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) for the evaluation of fingerprint evidence, the current study presents investigations into the variability of scores from an AFIS system when fingermarks from a known donor are compared to fingerprints that are not from the same source. The ultimate goal is to propose a model, based on likelihood ratios, which allows the evaluation of mark-to-print comparisons. In particular, this model, through its use of AFIS technology, benefits from the possibility of using a large amount of data, as well as from an already built-in proximity measure, the AFIS score. More precisely, the numerator of the LR is obtained from scores issued from comparisons between impressions from the same source and showing the same minutia configuration. The denominator of the LR is obtained by extracting scores from comparisons of the questioned mark with a database of non-matching sources. This paper focuses solely on the assignment of the denominator of the LR. We refer to it by the generic term of between-finger variability. The issues addressed in this paper in relation to between-finger variability are the required sample size, the influence of the finger number and general pattern, as well as that of the number of minutiae included and their configuration on a given finger. Results show that reliable estimation of between-finger variability is feasible with 10,000 scores. These scores should come from the appropriate finger number/general pattern combination as defined by the mark. Furthermore, strategies of obtaining between-finger variability when these elements cannot be conclusively seen on the mark (and its position with respect to other marks for finger number) have been presented. These results immediately allow case-by-case estimation of the between-finger variability in an operational setting.

Socioepidemiological screening of serologically ineligible blood donors due to Chagas disease for the definition of inconclusive cases

Epidemiological screening combined with serological tests has become an important tool at blood banks for the characterization of donors with or without Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Thus, the objective of the present study was to describe the sociodemographic and epidemiological characteristics of blood donors with non-negative serology for T. cruzito determine possible risk factors associated with serological ineligibility. Sociodemographic and epidemiological data were collected by analysis of patient histories and interviews. The data were analyzed descriptively using absolute and relative frequencies and odds ratio (OR) evaluation. The frequency of serological ineligibility was 0.28%, with a predominance of inconclusive reactions (52%) and seropositivity among first-time donors (OR = 607), donors older than 30 years (OR = 3.7), females (OR = 1.9), donors from risk areas (OR = 4) and subjects living in rural areas (OR = 1.7). The risk of seropositivity was higher among donors who had contact with the triatomine vector (OR = 11.7) and those with a family history of Chagas disease (OR = 4.8). The results demonstrate the value of detailed clinical-epidemiological screening as an auxiliary tool for serological definition that, together with more specific and more sensitive laboratory methods, will guarantee a higher efficacy in the selection of donors at blood centres.

Estalvi energètic a la Vila Universitària 1 de la UAB: solucions tècniques i solucions socials

Catalunya és un país energèticament dependent d'altres països. A part d'això, la seva producció i el seu consum d'energia provenen de fonts no renovables. Catalunya queda molt lluny de la majoria de països europeus els quals tenen un desenvolupament molt avançat en quan l'explotació de les energies renovables. Segons estudis de l'IDAE i l'ICAEN a les llars espanyoles i catalanes, al voltant d'un 25% del consum d'energia és per part d'electrodomèstics i d'il·luminació. El present treball estima el consum energètic dels pisos a la Vila Universitària 1 i fer una proposta de reducció de consum per mitjà d'un canvi d'electrodomèstics. Aquesta proposta ha estat efectiva ja que el consum estimat es redueix un 50% aproximadament canviant alguns dels electrodomèstics que hi ha actualment per altres de més eficients. Alhora, s'ha dut a terme un concurs d'estalvi energètic juntament amb una campanya de sensibilització de la mateixa temàtica que també busca la disminució del consum energètic en els pisos i, resulta ser quelcom efectiu donat que hi ha hagut una reducció d'un 32% aproximadament en mitjana del consum energètic als pisos. Sembla ser molt important la conscienciació de la gent ja que permet reduir el consum energètic amb un cost econòmic zero.

Max-convex decompositions for cooperative TU games

We show that any cooperative TU game is the maximum of a finite collection of convex games. This max-convex decomposition can be refined by using convex games with non-negative dividends for all coalitions of at least two players. As a consequence of the above results we show that the class of modular games is a set of generators of the distributive lattice of all cooperative TU games. Finally, we characterize zero-monotonic games using a strong max-convex decomposition

Max-convex decompositions for cooperative TU games

We show that any cooperative TU game is the maximum of a finite collection of convex games. This max-convex decomposition can be refined by using convex games with non-negative dividends for all coalitions of at least two players. As a consequence of the above results we show that the class of modular games is a set of generators of the distributive lattice of all cooperative TU games. Finally, we characterize zero-monotonic games using a strong max-convex decomposition

A Monte Carlo-based procedure for independent monitor unit calculation in IMRT treatment plans.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatment plan verification by comparison with measured data requires having access to the linear accelerator and is time consuming. In this paper, we propose a method for monitor unit (MU) calculation and plan comparison for step and shoot IMRT based on the Monte Carlo code EGSnrc/BEAMnrc. The beamlets of an IMRT treatment plan are individually simulated using Monte Carlo and converted into absorbed dose to water per MU. The dose of the whole treatment can be expressed through a linear matrix equation of the MU and dose per MU of every beamlet. Due to the positivity of the absorbed dose and MU values, this equation is solved for the MU values using a non-negative least-squares fit optimization algorithm (NNLS). The Monte Carlo plan is formed by multiplying the Monte Carlo absorbed dose to water per MU with the Monte Carlo/NNLS MU. Several treatment plan localizations calculated with a commercial treatment planning system (TPS) are compared with the proposed method for validation. The Monte Carlo/NNLS MUs are close to the ones calculated by the TPS and lead to a treatment dose distribution which is clinically equivalent to the one calculated by the TPS. This procedure can be used as an IMRT QA and further development could allow this technique to be used for other radiotherapy techniques like tomotherapy or volumetric modulated arc therapy.