Handedness effects in transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in school children

Handedness, as a potentially influencing, nonpathologic factor, has not been investigated in relation to transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). The present study aimed to examine the effects of handedness on the TEOAE spectrum in entry-level schoolchildren, with attention also to possible ear asymmetry. A total of 228 subjects (114 males, 114 females, mean age = 6.3 years) were tested using the ILO292 Otodynamics Analyzer (Quickscreen mode) in quiet rooms in 22 schools. For statistical analysis, subjects were matched for factors such as handedness, gender, age, and history of recent ear infection. The results from subjects with passing TEOAE, pure-tone screening, and tympanometry revealed no significant handedness effect overall, although a significant ear asymmetry effect on the measurement parameters of AB difference, noise level, response level, whole-wave reproducibility, band reproducibility, and signal-to-noise ratios was found.

Barriers to effective cancer pain management: A survey of hospitalized cancer patients in Australia

The purpose of this study was to examine attitudinal barriers to effective pain management in a consecutively recruited cohort of 114 cancer patients from four Australian hospitals. When surveyed, 48% of this sample reported experiencing pain within the previous 24 hours. Of these, 56% reported this pain to be distressing, horrible or excruciating, with large proportions indicating that this pain had affected their movement, sleep and emotional well-being. Three factors were identified as potentially impacting on patients responses to pain-poor levels of patient knowledge about pain, low perceived control over pain, and a deficit in communication about pain. A trend for older patients to experience more severe pain was also identified. These older patients reported being more willing to tolerate pain and perceive less control over their pain. Suggestions are made for developing patient education programs and farther research using concepts drawn from broader social and behavioral models. J Pain Symptom Manage 2002:23:393-405. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 2002.

Lanczos subspace time-independent wave packet calculations of S(D-1)+H-2 reactive scattering

In this paper. we present the results of quantum dynamical simulations of the S (D-1) + H-2 insertion reaction on a newly developed potential energy surface (J. Chem. Phys. 2001, 114, 320). State-to-state reaction probabilities. product state distributions, and initial-state resolved cumulative reaction probabilities from a given incoming reactant channel are obtained from a time-independent wave packet analysis, performed within a single Lanczos subspace. Integral reaction cross sections are then estimated by J-shifting method and compared with the results from molecular beam experiment and QCT calculations.

Calculation of resonances and product state distributions for the unimolecular dissociation of H2S

Resonance phenomena associated with the unimolecular dissociation of H2S --> SH + H have been investigated quantum mechanically by the Lanczos homogeneous filter diagonalization method using a newly developed potential energy surface (J. Chem. Phys. 2001, 114, 320). Resonance energies, widths (rates), and product state distributions have been obtained. Both dissociation rates and product state distributions of SH show, strong fluctuations, indicating that the dissociation of H2S is essentially irregular. Statistical analysis of neighboring level spacing and width distributions also confirms this behavior. The dissociation rates and product state distributions are compared to the predictions of quantum phase space theory.

Drop penetration into porous powder beds

The kinetics of drop penetration were studied by filming single drops of several different fluids (water, PEG200, PEG600, and HPC solutions) as they penetrated into loosely packed beds of glass ballotini, lactose, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide powders. Measured times ranged from 0.45 to 126 s and depended on the powder particle size,viscosity, surface tensions, and contact angle. The experimental drop penetration times were compared to existing theoretical predictions by M. Denesuk et al. (J. Colloid Interface Sci. 158, 114, 1993) and S. Middleman (Modeling Axisymmetric Flows: Dynamics of Films, Jets, and Drops, Academic Press, San Diego, 1995) but did not agree. Loosely packed powder beds tend to have a heterogeneous bed structure containing large macrovoids which do not participate in liquid flow but are included implicitly in the existing approach to estimating powder pore size. A new two-phase model was proposed where the total volume of the macrovoids was assumed to be the difference between the bed porosity and the tap porosity. A new parameter, the effective porosity (epsilon)eff, was defined as the tap porosity multiplied by the fraction of pores that terminate at a macrovoid and are effectively blocked pores. The improved drop penetration model was much more successful at estimating the drop penetration time on all powders and the predicted times were generally within an order of magnitude of the experimental results. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

The morbidity of Guillain-Barré syndrome admitted to the intensive care unit

Patients with severe forms of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) require intensive care. Specific treatment, catheterization, and devices may increase morbidity in the intensive care unit (ICU). To understand the spectrum of morbidity associated with ICU care, the authors studied 114 patients with GBS. Major morbidity occurred in 60% of patients. Complications were uncommon if ICU stay was less than 3 weeks. Respiratory complications such as pneumonia and tracheobronchitis occurred in half of the patients and were linked to mechanical ventilation. Systemic infection occurred in one-fifth of patients and was more frequent with increasing duration of ICU admission. Direct complications of treatment and invasive procedures occurred infrequently. Life-threatening complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding and pulmonary embolism were very uncommon. Pulmonary morbidity predominates in patients with severe GBS admitted to the ICU. Attention to management of mechanical ventilation and weaning is important to minimize this complication of GBS. Other causes of morbidity in a tertiary center ICU are uncommon.

A randomized trial of aggressive lipid reduction for improvement of myocardial ischemia, symptom status, and vascular function in patients with coronary artery disease not amenable to intervention

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of aggressive lipid lowering on markers of ischemia, resistance vessel function, atherosclerotic burden, and Symptom status in patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease. METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients with coronary artery disease that was unsuitable for revascularization were assigned randomly to either usual therapy of lipids for patients with a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol target level <116 mg/dL, or to a, more aggressive lipid-lowering strategy involving up to 80 mg/d of atorvastatin, with a target LDL cholesterol level <77 mg/dL. The extent and severity of inducible ischemia (by dobutamine echocardiography), vascular function.(brachial artery reactivity), atheroma burden (carotid intima-media thickness), and symptom status were evaluated blindly at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of treatment, patients in the aggressive therapy group had a significantly greater decrease in mean (+/- SD) LDL cholesterol level than those in the usual care group (29 +/- 38 mg/dL vs. 7 +/- 24 mg/dL, P = 0.03). Patients in the aggressive therapy group had a reduction in the number of ischemic wall segments (mean between-group difference of 1.3; 95% confidence interval: 0.1 to 2.0; P = 0.04), flow-mediated dilatation (mean between-group difference of 5.9%; 95% confidence interval: 2.5% to 9.4%; P = 0.001), and angina score after 12 weeks. There were no significant changes in atherosclerotic burden in either group. CONCLUSION: Patients with symptomatic coronary artery disease who are treated with aggressive lipid lowering have improvement of symptom status and ischemia that appears to reflect improved vascular function but not atheroma burden. Am J Med. 2003;114:445-453. (C) 2003 by Excerpta Medica Inc.

Sistemas de protocolo postal da Justi??a do Trabalho 3?? Regi??o

Os advogados/usu??rios da Justi??a do Trabalho em Minas Gerais dispunham de 114 Varas do Trabalho para protocoliza????o de peti????es trabalhistas. Necessitavam se deslocar para as cidades das Varas do Trabalho para efetuarem a protocoliza????o. Tal situa????o em muitas ocasi??es gerava gastos com viagens, di??rias, hospedagens al??m da perda de tempo na locomo????o. A Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Tel??grafos em Minas Gerais, no atendimento comercial ao cliente Tribunal Regional do Trabalho 3?? Regi??o, identificou junto ?? equipe da Diretoria Geral Judici??ria a necessidade de amplia????o dos pontos de atendimento para os advogados/usu??rios agilizarem a remessa das peti????es trabalhistas aos seus destinos

Balan??o social dos Munic??pios

O Balan??o Social dos Munic??pios constitui-se num instrumento de presta????o de contas do Banco do Nordeste junto ?? sociedade em rela????o aos compromissos assumidos e realizados pela institui????o e parceiros, dentro do processo de desenvolvimento sustent??vel da Regi??o no per??odo 1995/2000. O projeto, implementado no segundo semestre de 2000, consiste na apresenta????o de um retrato s??cio-econ??mico de cada munic??pio e de seu Balan??o Social em reuni??es de trabalho estruturadas do Farol do Desenvolvimento, compartilhando com as lideran??as locais os resultados alcan??ados e utilizando as a????es j?? empreendidas como mobilizadoras para a constru????o da vis??o de futuro do munic??pio. O novo instrumento permitiu ?? sociedade local conhecer a evolu????o de seu munic??pio e comprovar as mudan??as ocorridas, reflexo do trabalho de parceria entre o Banco do Nordeste e a comunidade

Disciplina 4.4: m??todos de planejamento aplicados ao desenho de programas

Apresenta????o geral e discuss??o bibliogr??fica. Alternativas metodol??gicas para desenho de programas. Principais caracter??sticas e conceitos do PES (Planejamento Estrat??gico Situacional) e do ZOPP (Planejamento de Projetos Orientado por Objetivos). O processamento de problemas. A metodologia do Modelo L??gico IPEA e sua utiliza????o como ferramenta auxiliar na sistematiza????o dos trabalhos de monitoramento e avalia????o de programas governamentais

Ger??ncia de projetos: teoria e pr??tica

Esse documento trata de Introdu????o ao Gerenciamento de Projetos; Gerenciamento de Escopo, Tempo e Custos; Gerenciamento de Qualidade, Recursos Humanos e Comunica????es; Gerenciamento de Riscos, Aquisi????es, Partes Interessadas e Integra????o;Elabora????o de uma Estrutura Anal??tica de Projeto - EAP

11?? concurso inova????o na gest??o p??blica federal

Criar um ambiente prop??cio para a pesquisa, o desenvolvimento e a inova????o, sair da estrutura hier??rquica de comando e- controle com a articula????o de a????es horizontais, estruturar redes de parcerias para a obten????o de informa????es qualificadas. Foi um pouco do que fizeram ??? e muito bem ??? as equipes vencedoras do 11?? Concurso Inova????o na Gest??o P??blica Federal, promovido pela ENAP e pelo Minist??rio do Planejamento, Or??amento e Gest??o.

Resposta da pressão arterial ao esforço em adolescentes: influência do sobrepeso e obesidade

Artigo original Ergoespirometria

Oral rapamycin attenuates atherosclerosis without affecting the arterial responsiveness of resistance vessels in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of the immunosuppressant rapamycin (Rapamune®, Sirolimus) on both resistance vessel responsiveness and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient 8-week-old male mice fed a normal rodent diet. Norepinephrine (NE)-induced vasoconstriction, acetylcholine (ACh)- and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced vasorelaxation of isolated mesenteric bed, and atherosclerotic lesions were evaluated. After 12 weeks of orally administered rapamycin (5 mg·kg-1·day-1, N = 9) and compared with untreated (control, N = 9) animals, rapamycin treatment did not modify either NE-induced vasoconstriction (maximal response: 114 ± 4 vs 124 ± 10 mmHg, respectively) or ACh- (maximal response: 51 ± 8 vs 53 ± 5%, respectively) and SNP-induced vasorelaxation (maximal response: 73 ± 6 vs 74 ± 6%, respectively) of the isolated vascular mesenteric bed. Despite increased total cholesterol in treated mice (982 ± 59 vs 722 ± 49 mg/dL, P < 0.01), lipid deposition on the aorta wall vessel was significantly less in rapamycin-treated animals (37 ± 12 vs 68 ± 8 µm2 x 103). These results indicate that orally administered rapamycin is effective in attenuating the progression of atherosclerotic plaque without affecting the responsiveness of resistance vessels, supporting the idea that this immunosuppressant agent might be of potential benefit against atherosclerosis in patients undergoing therapy.

Entre prescrições e singularizações : o trabalho em vias da criação

O presente texto enfoca a necessidade de tornar visíveis as múltiplas atividades industriosas atualizadas por parte dos trabalhadores em ambiente laboral regulado e ordenado, considerando as dramáticas dos usos de si como formuladoras de possíveis criações. Problematiza a incessante tensão entre instituído e instituinte como paradoxo constituinte das relações de trabalho. Aborda o que se passa nos processos de trabalho apoiando-se em alguns conceitos da abordagem ergológica e da obra de M. Foucault. Formula uma visão sobre os mundos do trabalho hoje que nos permite pensá-lo como luta cotidiana por modos de viver que afirmem a vida como tendência criadora.