'Suitable mothers': lesbian and single women and the 'unborn' in Australian parliamentary discourse

Throughout the latter months of 2000 and early 2001, the Australian public, media and parliament were engaged in a long and emotive debate about motherhood. This debate constructed the two main protagonists, the unborn 'child' and the potential mother, with a variety of different and often oppositional identities. The article looks at the way that these subject identities interacted during the debate, starting from the premise that policy making has unintended and unacknowledged material outcomes, and using governmentality as a tool through which to analyse and understand processes of identity manipulation and resistance within policy making. The recent debate concerning the right of lesbian and single women to access new reproductive technologies in Australia is used as a case study. Nominally the debate was about access to IVF technology; in reality, however, the debate was about the governing of women and, in particular, the governing of motherhood identities. The article focuses on the parliamentary debate over the drafting of legislation designed to stop lesbian and single women from accessing these technologies, particularly the utilization of the 'unborn' subject within these debates as a device to discipline the identity of 'mother'.

Low-temperature single-crystal Raman and neutron-diffraction study of the hydrogenous ammonium copper(II) tutton salt and the deuterated analogue in the metastable state

Low-temperature (15 K) single-crystal neutron-diffraction structures and Raman spectra of the salts (NX4)(2)[CU(OX2)(6)](SO4)(2), where X = H or D, are reported. This study is concerned with the origin of the structural phase change that is known to occur upon deuteration. Data for the deuterated salt were measured in the metastable state, achieved by application of 500 bar of hydrostatic pressure at similar to303 K followed by cooling to 281 K and the subsequent release of pressure. This allows for the direct comparison between the hydrogenous and deuterated salts, in the same modification, at ambient pressure and low temperature. The Raman spectra provide no intimation of any significant change in the intermolecular bonding. Furthermore, structural differences are few, the largest being for the long Cu-O bond, which is 2.2834(5) and 2.2802(4) Angstrom for the hydrogenous and the deuterated salts, respectively. Calorimetric data for the deuterated salt are also presented, providing an estimate of 0.17(2) kJ/mol for the enthalpy difference between the two structural forms at 295.8(5) K. The structural data suggest that substitution of hydrogen for deuterium gives rise to changes in the hydrogen-bonding interactions that result in a slightly reduced force field about the copper(II) center. The small structural differences suggest different relative stabilities for the hydrogenous and deuterated salts, which may be sufficient to stabilize the hydrogenous salt in the anomalous structural form.

Influência de polimorfismos nos genes FcγRIIa, CD209, VDR, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6 e INF-γ na persistência de sintomas clínicos da dengue na fase de covalescença

Diferenças na susceptibilidade do hospedeiro à infecção, na gravidade e na permanência do quadro clínico da doença podem ser atribuídas, em parte, às variações da resposta imune. Estas variações são associadas a polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (do inglês: single nucleotide polymorphisms - SNPs). Como estudo prévio, foi realizada a caracterização da população geral do Espírito Santo (ES) - Brasil e de uma subpopulação do estado, de origem Pomerana, quanto aos SNPs -131 H/R, -336 A/G, TaqI, -308 A/G, -590 C/T, -174 G/C e +874 A/T nos genes FcγRIIa, CD209, VDR, TNFα, IL-4, IL-6 e INF-γ, respectivamente. Cem indivíduos da Grande Vitória representaram a população geral do ES e 59 indivíduos de Santa Maria de Jetibá representaram a população de origem Pomerana. Como a fase aguda da dengue é bem caracterizada, este estudo objetivou ampliar o conhecimento da fase de convalescença. Noventa e seis indivíduos diagnosticados com dengue sintomática no final de 2012 e início de 2013, no ES, foram acompanhados por 60 dias a partir do início dos sintomas por meio do preenchimento de um questionário clínico e epidemiológico em quatro entrevistas. A persistência de 37 sintomas clínicos da dengue foi avaliada. Para analisar a influência da genética do sistema imunológico do hospedeiro na persistência de sintomas clínicos da dengue na fase de convalescença, foi determinada a associação entre os sete SNPs, para os quais a população do ES foi caracterizada, e a persistência de sintomas. O DNA genômico dos participantes do estudo foi extraído do sangue periférico e a genotipagem dos SNPs foi realizada por reação em cadeia da polimerase - polimorfismo de comprimento de fragmento de restrição (do inglês: polymerase chain reaction - restriction fragment length polymorphism - PCR-RFLP) As frequências genotípicas de todos os SNPs encontraram-se em equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg (do inglês: Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium - HWE), com exceção do SNP no gene IL-6. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante nas frequências genotípicas dos SNPs nos genes FcγRIIa, CD209, VDR, TNF-α e IL-4 entre as duas populações. Diferença estatisticamente significante foi encontrada entre as duas populações nas distribuições genotípicas dos SNPs nos genes IL-6 (p = 0,03) e INF-γ (p = 0,007). Trinta e sessenta dias após o início dos sintomas, 38,5% e 11,5% dos indivíduos com dengue sintomática reportaram ter pelo menos um sintoma clínico da dengue, respectivamente. Dos sintomas analisados, os mais persistentes foram os relacionados à síndrome da fadiga como mialgia, artralgia, astenia e mal-estar, sendo a mialgia o mais frequente. A persistência de sintomas em 30 dias foi associada ao gênero feminino (p = 0,044) e a persistência de sintomas constitucionais foi associada à dengue secundária (p = 0,041). O SNP no gene FcγRIIa, foi associado à persistência de sintomas em 30 dias, no subgrupo de indivíduos com dengue secundária (p = 0,046), sendo a presença do alelo H associada à não persistência de sintomas (p = 0,014). A presença do alelo A do SNP no gene TNF-α foi associada à não persistência de sintomas no subgrupo de indivíduos com dengue secundária (p = 0,025), sendo o genótipo GG associado à persistência de sintomas neurológicos, psicológicos e comportamentais em 30 dias (p = 0,038). A presença do alelo C do SNP no gene IL-6 foi associado à persistência de sintomas dermatológicos em 30 dias (p = 0,005). O perfil genético desses SNPs pode favorecer o estabelecimento de marcadores imunogenéticos associados à fase convalescente da infecção pelo vírus da dengue (do inglês: dengue virus - DENV).

Prevalência de Chlamydia trachomatis em casos de partos pretermo atendidos no Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antonio Moraes, Vitória - ES

Introdução: O parto pretermo (PPT) é um dos principais determinantes da morbimortalidade neonatal, acarretando consequências adversas para saúde. As causas são multifatoriais, sendo a infecção intrauterina a razão mais provável para explicar a maioria destes desfechos. Acredita-se que a infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) também esteja envolvida no PPT e rotura prematura de membranas (ROPREMA). Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência de CT em parturientes e os possíveis fatores de risco relacionados com os casos de partos prematuros atendidos no Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antonio Moraes. Métodos: Estudo de corte transversal, realizado entre parturientes que apresentaram PPT em um Hospital Universitário em Vitória - ES, entre junho de 2012 e agosto de 2013. As participantes responderam a um questionário contendo dados sóciodemográficos, comportamentais e clínicos. Foi coletada uma amostra de urina para rastreio de CT usando reação em cadeia da polimerase. Resultados: A prevalência de PPT durante o período do estudo foi de 26%. Um total de 378 casos de PPT foram registrados, entre eles 323 mulheres foram testadas para o CT; quarenta e cinco (13,9%) tiveram um resultado positivo, sendo que 31,6% possuiam até 24 anos e as mulheres infectadas pela CT eram mais jovens do que as demais (p = 0,022). Um total de 76,2% eram casadas/em união estável, e CT foi mais frequente entre as solteiras (p = 0,018); 16,7% relataram primeira relação sexual com menos de 14 anos de idade. As causas de PPT foram materno-fetais em 40,9%, ROPREMA em 29,7% e trabalho de parto prematuro em 29,4%. Na análise multivariada, ser casada foi um fator de proteção [OR = 12:48 (IC 95%: 0,24-0,97)]. Nenhuma das demais características foram associadas com a infecção por CT. Conclusões: Este estudo evidencia uma alta prevalência de infecção por CT entre parturientes com PPT. Essa alta prevalência reforça a necessidade da definição de estratégias de rastreamento e assistência durante o pré-natal.

Local piezoelectric response of single poly(vinylidene fluoride) electrospun fibers

It is shown that electrospun poly(vynilidene fluoride) nanofibers are fully poled right after preparation and show b-phase contents of 70%, therefore being able to be implemented into electroactive devices without further processing steps. Further,the local piezoelectric properties of individual electrospun fibers have been studied by piezoresponse force microscopy. Piezoelectric response, polarization switching, and nanoscale patterning of the fibers have been demonstrated.

Soybean growth and yield after single tillage and species mixture of cover plants

The use of cover crops is important for the agricultural crop and soil management in order to improve the system and, consequently, to increase yield. Therefore, the present study analyzed the effect of crop residues of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) (BO) and a cocktail (CO) of BO, forage turnip (Raphanus sativus L.) (FT) and common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) (V) on the emergence speed index (ESI), seedling emergence speed (SES) plant height and soybean yield in different intervals between cover crop desiccation with glyphosate 480 (3 L ha-1) and BRS 232 cultivar sowing. Plots of 5 x 2.5 m with 1 m of border received four treatments with BO cover crops and four with CO as well as a control for each cover crop, at random, with five replications. The plots were desiccated in intervals of 1, 10, 20 and 30 days before soybean seeding. The harvest was manual while yield was adjusted to 13% of moisture content. The experimental design was completely randomized with splitplots and means compared by the Scott and Knott test at 5% of significance. The results showed that CO of cover crops can be recommended for soybean to obtain a more vigorous seedling emergence, from 10 days after cover crop desiccation.

Bioactive albumin functionalized polylactic acid membranes for improved biocompatibility

Biocompatibility is a major challenge for successful application of many biomaterials. In this study the ability to coat chemically and enzymatically activated poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA) membranes with heat denatured human serum albumin to improve biocompatibility was investigated. PLA membranes hydrolyzed with NaOH or cutinase and then treated with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide, hydrochloride (EDAC) as a heterobifunctional cross-linker promoted the coupling single bondCOOH groups on PLA membranes and single bondNH2 groups of heat denatured human serum albumin. This resulted in increased hydrophilicity (lowest water contact angles of 43° and 35°) and highest antioxidant activity (quenching of 79 μM and 115 μM tetramethylazobisquinone (TMAMQ) for NaOH and cutinase pretreated membranes, respectively). FTIR analysis of modified PLA membranes showed new peaks attributed to human serum albumin (amide bond, NH2 and side chain stretching) appearing within 3600–3000 cm−1 and 1700–1500 cm−1 (Fig. 3). MTT studies also showed that osteoblasts-like and MC-3T3-E1 cells viability increased 2.4 times as compared to untreated PLA membranes. The study therefore shows that this strategy of modifying the surfaces of PLA polymers could significantly improve biocompatibility.

Urease inhibitor (NBPT) and efficiency of single or split application of urea in wheat crop

NBPT (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide), a urease inhibitor, has been reported as one of the most promising compounds to maximize urea nitrogen use in agricultural systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of irrigated wheat fertilized with urea or urea + NBPT as single or split application. The experiment was conducted from June to October 2006 in Viçosa, MG, Brazil. The experimental design followed a 2×2 factorial scheme, in which urea or urea + NBPT were combined with two modes of application: full dose at sowing (60kg ha-1) or split (20kg ha-1 at sowing + 40kg ha-1 as topdressing at tillering), in randomized blocks with ten replications. The split application of nitrogen fertilization does not improve the yield wheat under used conditions. The use of urease inhibitor improves the grain yield of wheat crop when urea is applied in topdressing at tillering, but its use does not promote difference when urea is applied in the furrow at planting.

Supply chain management

Nos últimos anos, a economia mundial e a economia brasileira têm sofrido mudanças importantes. Fusões, aquisições e alianças estratégicas têm se multiplicado. Parte considerável destas mudanças relaciona-se com profundas alterações nos sistemas de valores de todos os segmentos industriais. A busca da competitividade relaciona-se cada vez mais com a busca do ótimo sistêmico além das fronteiras da empresa. Neste contexto, a administração logística ganha nova dimensão, envolvendo a integração de todas as atividades ao longo da cadeia de valores e do sistema de valores, das matérias-primas ao cliente final. O objetivo deste trabalho é (re)situar a administração logística no contexto de mudanças, enfatizando a metodologia da gestão da cadeia de demanda (supply chain management).

WHAT IS THE USE OF A SINGLE-CASE STUDY IN MANAGEMENT RESEARCH?

The purpose of this article is to present a defense of the use of single case studies in management research. The defense is necessary because this type of research has been relegated to a secondary role, or even rejected, by many researchers, who consider it unscientific. Evidence of this low status is the fact that most reputable academic journals in management publish few articles based on single-case studies. In this paper, we examine in detail the objections to the use of such cases in management research. We show the efforts made by some researchers to answer these objections and we show quality criteria for research that are alternatives to the criteria used in the so-called "scientific method." Our analysis suggests that a better understanding - by researchers with different methodological preferences - of the arguments for each particular use of the single-case study as a research method would allow a better dialogue between researchers and benefit management research as a whole.

GREEN SUPPLY CHAIN: PROTAGONISTA OU COADJUVANTE NO BRASIL?

Questões ambientais passaram a ser introduzidas com maior frequência nos negócios empresariais. Quanto à cadeia de suprimentos, Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) surge como novo enfoque à responsabilidade das empresas com o meio ambiente. Este artigo objetiva analisar a difusão do conceito e das práticas de GSCM no cenário brasileiro. Para tanto, foram realizadas entrevistas com especialistas do tema cadeia de suprimentos na área de Administração no Brasil. Os resultados indicam que as razões para o lento desenvolvimento do conceito podem relacionar-se com características do mercado nacional, foco empresarial em aspectos internos, falta de legislação rígida e baixa pressão dos consumidores. Especialistas percebem, entretanto, boas perspectivas para o futuro das discussões da temática no País, em virtude da Política Nacional dos Resíduos Sólidos, de pressões do mercado internacional e da busca por certificação ambiental. Este estudo procurou fomentar novas discussões sobre GSCM no Brasil.

SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE ANALYSIS: A BRAZILIAN AUTOMOTIVE CASE

Supply chain (SC) resilience and flexibility are important research topics receiving growing attention. However, the academic literature needs empirical studies on SC resilience capable of investigating the inter-organizational components of flexibility along different tiers. Therefore, this paper analyzes the main lack of flexibilities in three Brazilian automotive SCs that limit their resilience and therefore their capacity to better support and meet the demand changes in the marketplace. A multi-tier case study approach is adopted. Research findings identify lack of flexibilities in different tiers that inhibit the SC resilience as well as manufacturing and SC flexibilities that build SC resilience. The findings also highlight that the same SC may have the flexibility to be resilient for one of its products but not for another product, what sheds new lights on the academic literature. Finally, flexible SCs should be designed to increase SC resilience to cope with mishaps as significant demand changes.

EVALUATING THE EFFICIENCY PROGRESS WITH TECHNOLOGY IN A SPANISH HOTEL CHAIN

ABSTRACTThis paper analyzes the changes in the total factor productivity index of a Spanish hotel chain in the period from 2007 to 2010 with the purpose of identifying efficiency patterns for the chain in a period of financial crisis. The data envelopment analysis (DEA) Malmquist productivity index was used to estimate productivity change in 38 hotels of the AC chain. Results reveal AC hotels' efficiency trends and, therefore, their competitiveness in the recession period; they also show the changes experienced in these hotels' total productivity and its components: technological and efficiency changes. Positive efficiency changes were due to positive technical efficiency rather than technological efficiency. The recession period certainly influenced the performance of AC Hotels, which focused on organizational changes rather than investing in technology.

Synthesis, structure, and optical properties of an alternating calix[4]arene-based meta-linked phenylene ethynylene copolymer

Novel alternating copolymers comprising biscalix[4]arene-p-phenylene ethynylene and m-phenylene ethynylene units (CALIX-m-PPE) were synthesized using the Sonogashira-Hagihara cross-coupling polymerization. Good isolated yields (60-80%) were achieved for the polymers that show M-n ranging from 1.4 x 10(4) to 5.1 x 10(4) gmol(-1) (gel permeation chromatography analysis), depending on specific polymerization conditions. The structural analysis of CALIX-m-PPE was performed by H-1, C-13, C-13-H-1 heteronuclear single quantum correlation (HSQC), C-13-H-1 heteronuclear multiple bond correlation (HMBC), correlation spectroscopy (COSY), and nuclear overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) in addition to Fourier transform-Infrared spectroscopy and microanalysis allowing its full characterization. Depending on the reaction setup, variable amounts (16-45%) of diyne units were found in polymers although their photophysical properties are essentially the same. It is demonstrated that CALIX-m-PPE does not form ground-or excited-state interchain interactions owing to the highly crowded environment of the main-chain imparted by both calix[4]arene side units which behave as insulators inhibiting main-chain pi-pi staking. It was also found that the luminescent properties of CALIX-m-PPE are markedly different from those of an all-p-linked phenylene ethynylene copolymer (CALIX-p-PPE) previously reported. The unexpected appearance of a low-energy emission band at 426 nm, in addition to the locally excited-state emission (365 nm), together with a quite low fluorescence quantum yield (Phi = 0.02) and a double-exponential decay dynamics led to the formulation of an intramolecular exciplex as the new emissive species.