Brazil's strategic partnerships: an assessment of the Lula era (2003-2010)

This article examines the priority bilateral relations of Brazil, named "strategic partnerships", both because of their tradition and historical relevance and due to the existence of political and economic cooperation projects. An assessment of these relationships, especially under Lula's administration, is made in this work, bearing in mind the concept of "strategic partnerships" and its development in Brazilian foreign policy. There will be considered partnerships with the US; Argentina; Japan; China; India; South Africa and the European Union. In the article, the meaning of the increase in these relationships is interpreted on the grounds of its significance to the international insertion strategy of Brazil

A Dinâmica da Ocupação Edificada no Oeste e Vale do Tejo (2006-2010)

Relatório de Estágio apresentado para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Gestão do Território: área de especialização em Planeamento e Ordenamento do Território

Population dynamics of O-group plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L., on sandy beach nursery grounds in Galway Bay, the West Coast of Ireland, 2002 to 2006.

The recruitment of 0-group plaice to sandy beach nursery grounds in Galway Bay was examined, using a Riley push-net, from February to June in 2005 and 2006. Sampling was carried out every two weeks on spring tides. Three beaches were sampled, Ballyloughan, Silverstrand and Glann na Ri. Archived 0-group plaice, for Ballyloughan and Silverstrand, from 2004, were processed. Results were compared to findings from a previous study carried out in 2002 and 2003 (Allen 2004). Otolith microstructure analysis was used to determine hatching dates, larval duration, settlement dates, post-larval age and daily growth rates of 0-group plaice in April and May 2005. Results were compared to a previous study (Allen 2004). Hatching dates in Galway Bay ranged from late January to early April in 2005. No significant difference in hatching dates was observed between years or between beaches sampled. Larval duration of 0-group plaice in Galway Bay ranged from 21 to 45 days for fish sampled in April and May 2005. No significant difference was observed in larval age between beaches sampled in Galway Bay or between years in April 2003 and 2005. A significant difference was observed between larval age and years in May 2003 and 2005, however no significant difference was observed between beaches. Settlement timing was calculated using push-net data and otolith microstructure analysis. Settlement of 0-group plaice in Galway Bay generally started in early March and finished in May. Settlement patterns, calculated using otolith microstructure analysis, in 2003 and 2005, were not significantly different to one another. There was also no difference in settlement patterns between the beaches sampled. Results from the present study showed no spatial difference in the pelagic life cycle stages of fish caught in April and May 2003 and 2005.

"Etude rétrospective des cas de vasculite cutanée identifiés au laboratoire de dermopathologie du CHUV de 2006 à 2010"

CONTEXTE Les vasculites représentent un groupe de maladies inflammatoires touchant tous les vaisseaux, des grosses artères aux artères de plus petit calibre, en passant par les capillaires et les veines, de toutes tailles également. La taille des vaisseaux atteints est d'une importance cruciale pour le diagnostic puisque la classification actuelle en dépend. Sur le plan histopathologique, la vasculite est une réaction inflammatoire qui atteint la paroi de vaisseaux, et qui va entraîner alors une ischémie, puis une nécrose du vaisseau lui-­‐ même voire des structures environnantes ; les caractéristiques microscopiques de ces lésions permettent souvent d'aider à préciser le groupe auquel appartient la vasculite. Cependant, il n'est pas toujours facile ni possible d'obtenir un échantillon de tissu, une biopsie, selon l'endroit concerné (cerveau, régions profondes et difficilement accessibles...). OBJECTIFS Dans les atteintes de type « vasculite », la peau est fréquemment un organe cible. Le grand avantage est son accès direct et aisé, notamment dans le but de pratiquer un examen histopathologique par le biais d'une biopsie, qui peut se pratiquer de manière superficielle ou profonde, révélant alors des vaisseaux de différents calibres. Face à un tableau clinique parfois complexe et menaçant, il est important de pouvoir orienter le diagnostic rapidement. L'objectif de ce travail est donc de déterminer quelles sont l'utilité et l'apport de la biopsie cutanée dans le diagnostic des vasculites, et autrement dit de déterminer s'il vaut la peine de pratiquer ce genre d'examen, ou s'il vaut mieux privilégier d'autres approches plus rentables sur ce plan-­‐là. METHODES Grâce à l'aide des dermatologues et à la base de données du Service de dermatopathologie du CHUV, nous nous proposons de faire une étude rétrospective et systématique, sur les 5 années passées, de toutes les biopsies cutanées compatibles avec le diagnostic de vasculite. RESULTATS ESCOMPTES Ils sont de deux ordres : déterminer d'une part si le résultat de la biopsie était compatible avec le diagnostic clinique retenu chez les patients ayant subi ce type d'examen. Cela nous permettra alors d'établir des recommandations pour la réalisation éventuelle d'une biopsie cutanée dans ce type de situation. Il sera en effet capital de savoir si ce geste est utile et, le cas échéant, s'il faut demander une biopsie profonde ou si une biopsie superficielle est suffisante. Ce travail nous permettra d'autre part de revoir les caractéristiques cutanées -­‐ sur le plan histopathologique -­‐ des vasculites, et de déterminer aussi leur fréquence. Dans l'idéal, ce travail devrait permettre de faire la revue et la mise à jour des connaissances dans le domaine des vasculites cutanées, utiles aux praticiens notamment.

Department of Health Annual Report 2006

Annual Report 2006 Annual Report on the Department's Statement of Strategy 2005-2007. This year's report outlines progress made by the Department on a range of varied issues and also provides an overview of the role of the Department. Click here to download PDF 572kb

Newer antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of status epilepticus: impact on prognosis

Background: Newer antiepileptic drugs (AED) are increasingly prescribed, and seem to have a comparable efficacy as the classical AED, but are better tolerated. Very scarce data exist regarding their prognostic impact in patients with status epilepticus (SE). We therefore analyzed the evolution of prescription of newer AED between 2006-2010 in our prospective SE database, and assessed their impact on SE prognosis.¦Methods: We found 327 SE episodes occurring in 271 adults. The use of older versus newer AED (levetiracetam, pregabalin, topiramate, lacosamide) and its relationship to outcome (return to clinical baseline conditions, new handicap, or death) were analyzed. Logistic regression models were applied to adjust for known SE outcome predictors.¦Results: We observed an increasing prescription of newer AED over time (30% of patients received them at the study beginning, vs. 42% towards the end). In univariate analyses, patients treated with newer AED had worse outcome than those treated with classical AED only (19% vs 9% for mortality; 33% vs 64% for return to baseline, p<0.001). After adjustment for etiology and SE severity, use of newer AED was independently related to a reduced likelihood of return to baseline (p<0.001), but not to increased mortality.¦Conclusion: This retrospective study shows an increase of the use of newer AED for SE treatment, but does not suggest an improved prognosis following their prescription. Also in view of their higher price, well-designed, prospective assessments analyzing their impact on efficacy and tolerability should be conducted before a widespread use in SE.

Director of Public Health Annual Report 2010 and associated core tables 2009

Thissecond annual report of the Director of Public Health highlights the many public health challenges that affect people in Northern Ireland. It demonstrates how the public health team tackles this complex agenda by working with many statutory, community and voluntary partner organisations across health, local government, education, housing and other sectors. It shows a wealth of innovative work to address the main public health challenges facing communities, health inequality, preventing and protecting against ill-health, detecting illness early, and providing high quality services. Integral to thereport are core tables for 2009 which provide key statistical data on population, birth and death rates, mortality by cause, life expectancy, immunisation and screening.

Factsheet on case-law on the rights of older people

The Press Service of the European Court of Human Rights published in June 2014 a factsheet on the Court’s case-law on the human rights of older people. This collection shows that even though the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) does not explicitly refer to older persons nor to age discrimination, the Strasbourg Court can play an important role as a guardian of the rights of older people. Read more here.

Secular trends in height and weight among children and adolescents of the Seychelles, 1956-2006

Background: Few data is available on long-term secular trends in height and weight in children in countries in transition. We assessed the secular trends in height and weight among representative samples of children and adolescents from the Seychelles (African region). Methods: Weight and height data from all students of all schools in four selected school grades (kindergarten, 4th, 7th and 10th years) were collected by cross-sectional surveys for periods 1998-9 (3,676 boys, 3,715 girls) and 2005-6 (4,867 boys, 4,846 girls). Data from 1956-7 was extracted from a previously published report. Results: Height increased, in boys, by 1.6 cm/decade for the period 1956-7 to 1998- 9, and 1.1 cm/decade for the period 1998-8 to 2005-6; in girls, the corresponding figures were 0.9 cm/decade and 1.8 cm/decade. At age 15.5 years, boys/girls were taller by 10/13 cm in 2005-6 than in 1956-7. Weight increased, in boys, by 1.4 kg/decade for the period 1956-7 to 1998-9, and by 2.2 kg/decade for the subsequent period; the corresponding figures in girls were 1.1 kg/decade and 2.5 kg/decade. Conclusion: Marked upward secular trends in body height and weight were documented in children and adolescents aged <16 years in the Seychelles, consistent with large changes in socio-economic and nutritional indicators in the considered 50- year interval. However, indirect evidence suggests that the secular height gain reflects accelerated growth during childhood over time with less than commensurate impact on adult height. Conversely, the largely steeper secular increase in weight than height is consistent with a pediatric obesity epidemic.

Surveillance of influenza in Northern Ireland 2010-11

This report describes influenza activity in Northern Ireland in the 2010-11 winter flu season period.

Director of Public Health annual report 2010 and core tables 2009

This�second annual report of the Director of Public Health highlights the many public health challenges that affect people in Northern Ireland.It demonstrates how the public health team tackles this complex agenda by working with many statutory, community and voluntary partner organisations across health, local government, education, housing and other sectors.