The spatial character of sensor technology

By considering the spatial character of sensor-based interactive systems, this paper investigates how discussions of seams and seamlessness in ubiquitous computing neglect the complex spatial character that is constructed as a side-effect of deploying sensor technology within a space. Through a study of a torch (`flashlight') based interface, we develop a framework for analysing this spatial character generated by sensor technology. This framework is then used to analyse and compare a range of other systems in which sensor technology is used, in order to develop a design spectrum that contrasts the revealing and hiding of a system's structure to users. Finally, we discuss the implications for interfaces situated in public spaces and consider the benefits of hiding structure from users.

Effect of Aging in the Perception of Health-Related Quality of Life in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients under Online-Hemodiafiltration

This work aimed to evaluate how aging could influence patients' perception of health quality of life (HRQOL), as well as, the effect of aging on dialysis adequacy and in hematological, iron status, inflammatory and nutritional markers. In this transversal study were enrolled 305 ESRD patients under online-hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) (59.67% males; 64.9 ± 14.3 years old). Data about comorbidities, hematological data, iron status, dialysis adequacy, nutritional and inflammatory markers were collected from patient's records. Moreover, HRQOL score, by using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-Short Form (KDQOL-SF), was assessed. Analyzing the results according to quartiles of age, significant differences were found for some parameters evaluated by the KDQOL-SF instrument, namely for work status, physical functioning and role-physical, which decreased with increasing age. We also found a higher proportion of diabetic patients, a decrease in creatinine, iron, albumin serum levels, transferrin saturation and nPCR, with increasing age. Moreover, significant negative correlations were found between age and mean cell hemoglobin concentration, iron, transferrin saturation, albumin, nPCR, work status, physical functioning and role-physical. In conclusion, our results showed that aging is associated with a decreased work status, physical functioning and role-physical, with a decreased dialysis adequacy, iron availability and nutritional status, and with an increased proportion of diabetic patients and of patients using central venous catheter, as the vascular access. The knowledge of these changes associated with aging, which have impact in the quality of life of the patients, could be useful in their management.

O discurso de natureza nas HQs do Chico Bento: provocações ao campo do saber da Educação Ambiental

O presente estudo refere-se a uma Dissertação de Mestrado em Educação Ambiental (EA) a qual teve como objetivo estabelecer um diálogo em torno do conceito de nature-za a partir da análise das formas desse discurso veiculadas nas histórias em quadrinhos (HQs) do personagem Chico Bento e suas relações com as concepções presentes no campo de saber da EA. Com a intenção de problematizar a forma como as HQs, através do discurso de natureza, vêm contribuindo para pensarmos sobre EA, selecionaram-se HQs do Chico Bento publicadas entre os anos de 2009 e 2013 e que fazem referência à natureza. Apoiado em autores como Michel Foucault, Isabel Carvalho, Leandro Belina-so Guimarães, Maria Lúcia Castagna Wortmann, Mônica Meyer, Keith Thomas, Ray-mond Williams, entre outros, a pesquisa analisou as enunciações de natureza que com-puseram o corpus de análise desta investigação. O caminho metodológico selecionado para operar com o material empírico trata especificamente de algumas ferramentas da Análise do Discurso, a partir de Michel Foucault. Na análise do material posto em sus-penso, a pesquisa apontou para dois enunciados potentes, os quais vêm auxiliando na constituição do discurso de natureza por meio das HQs: a natureza constituída nos des-locamentos operados pelas diferenças culturais entre as realidades rural e urbana e um ideal romântico de natureza produzido pela visibilidade e enunciabilidade das HQs do Chico Bento. Com isso, evidenciou-se que as HQs analisadas entram na ordem do dis-curso verdadeiro no campo da EA. Sendo assim, ressalta-se a importância de atentarmos para os gibis e suas histórias, como um artefato cultural potente que vem nos auxiliando a olhar para o dispositivo da EA. Tal dispositivo interpelando-nos a constituir modos de ser e de viver, diante de saberes e verdades produzidas na e pela cultura, pois, diante dos significados travados por meio da cultura, vamos engendrando nossos modos de vida, bem como estabelecendo relações com o mundo em que vivemos.

Special low protein foods for phenylketonuria: availability in Europe and an examination of their nutritional profile

Background Special low protein foods (SLPF) are essential in the nutritional management of patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). The study objectives were to: 1) identify the number of SLPF available for use in eight European countries and Turkey and 2) analyse the nutritional composition of SLPF available in one of these countries. Methods European Nutritionist Expert Panel on PKU (ENEP) members (Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Denmark and Turkey) provided data on SPLF available in each country. The nutritional composition of Portuguese SLPF was compared with regular food products. Results The number of different SLPF available in each country varied widely with a median of 107 [ranging from 73 (Portugal) and 256 (Italy)]. Food analysis of SLPF available from a single country (Portugal) indicated that the mean phenylalanine content was higher in low protein baby cereals (mean 48 mg/100 g) and chocolate/energy bars/jelly (mean 41 mg/100 g). The energy content of different foods from a sub-group of SLPF (cookies) varied widely between 23 and 96 kcal/cookie. Low protein bread had a high fat content [mean 5.8 g/100 g (range 3.7 to 10)] compared with 1.6 g/100 g in regular bread. Seven of the 12 SLPF sub-groups (58 %) did not declare any vitamin content, and only 4 (33 %) identified a limited number of minerals. Conclusions Whilst equal and free access to all SLPF is desirable, the widely variable nutritional composition requires careful nutritional knowledge of all products when prescribed for individual patients with PKU. There is a need for more specific nutritional standards for special low protein foods.

Efficacy and safety of patisiran for familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy: a phase II multi-dose study

BACKGROUND: Transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis is an inherited, progressively debilitating disease caused by mutations in the transthyretin gene. This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of multiple doses of patisiran (ALN-TTR02), a small interfering RNA encapsulated within lipid nanoparticles, in patients with transthyretin-mediated familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP).

Hyperprolinemia as a clue in the diagnosis of a patient with a psychiatric disorder

Background: Over the last few years, microdeletions of the 22q11.2 region responsible for DiGeorge syndrome, or velocardiofacial syndrome, have been increasingly related to neuropsychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. These signs seem to be related to certain genes located in the hemideleted region as the proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) and the catecholo-methyltransferase (COMT) genes. The PRODH or proline oxidase deficiency is responsible for hyperprolinemia type 1 (HPI) also causing psychiatric manifestations. Case Report: We describe a 17 year old boy with previous mild psychomotor and speech delay, mild cognitive impairment, and obsessive behaviours who started his adolescent psychiatric care presenting irritablemood and aggressive behaviour with schizophrenia symptoms that scored a “severely ill” level PANSS assessment. Symptoms got worse when he was treated with valproic acid and plasma aminoacids showing increase in alanine and proline, suggested a mitochondrial involvement of the proline metabolic pathway. Results: Mild dysmorphia suggested a possible 22q11.2 deletion genetically confirmed involving both the PRODH and COMT regions. HPI that can present with psychiatric features is however a recessive disorder and therefore the symptoms could not be solely explained by this genetic deletion. Additional investigations also showed disclosed a p.L289m (c.1865 T > A) mutation in the PRODH gene. Discussion: We believe that the association of this mutation together with the 22q11.2 deletion would lead to a decrease of functional protein. Although it may be difficult to diagnosis chromosomal abnormalities in patients with no clear malformations and mild dysmorphic features as in this patient we emphasize need to investigate the aetiology in patients with psychiatric symptoms, especially if they have other systemic manifestations such as developmental delay or psychotic symptoms, as it may be important in the management of the patients.

Chronic respiratory diseases and quality of life in elderly nursing home residents

Few studies have assessed the quality of life (QOL) related to chronic respiratory diseases in the elderly. In the framework of the geriatric study on the health effects of air quality in elderly care centers (GERIA) study, a questionnaire was completed by elderly subjects from 53 selected nursing homes. It included various sections in order to assess respiratory complaints, QOL (World Health Organization QOL (WHOQOL)-BREF), and the cognitive and depression status. The outcome variables were the presence of a score lower than 50 (<50) in each of the WHOQOL-BREF domains (physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environmental health). Chronic bronchitis, frequent cough, current wheezing, asthma, and allergic rhinitis were considered as potential risk factors. The surveyed sample was (n = 887) 79% female, with a mean age of 84 years (SD: 7 years). In the multivariable analysis, a score of <50 in the physical domain was associated with wheezing in the previous 12 months (odds ratio (OR): 2.03, confidence interval (CI): 1.25-3.31) and asthma (OR: 1.95, CI: 1.12-3.38). The psychological domain was related with a frequent cough (OR: 1.43, CI: 0.95-2.91). A score of <50 in the environmental domain was associated with chronic bronchitis (OR: 2.89, CI: 1.34-6.23) and emphysema (OR: 3.89, CI: 1.27-11.88). In view of these findings, the presence of respiratory diseases seems to be an important risk factor for a low QOL among elderly nursing home residents.

Descripci?n de la jerga de los periodistas en Cali y sus variaciones seg?n el medio de comunicaci?n [recurso electr?nico]

La socioling??stica como campo interdisciplinario que retoma elementos metodol?gicos y te?ricos tanto de la antropolog?a y la sociolog?a como de la ling??stica, es el paradigma cient?fico de investigaci?n desde el cual se aborda lo referente a analizar sem?nticamente el uso de un corpus de t?rminos utilizados por periodistas en diferentes medios de comunicaci?n. De esta manera, el presente trabajo, basado en la socioling??stica y sustentado en algunas metodolog?as de corte cualitativo, pretende aportar en el campo de la variaci?n ling??stica ligada a contextos particulares y dis?miles como la radio, la prensa y la televisi?n en la ciudad de Cali. Entre los temas tratados por la caracterizaci?n l?xica, la variaci?n ling??stica ocupa un lugar predominante dado su presencia en diferentes ?mbitos relacionados con el campo tanto del periodismo como de la ling??stica. En esa medida, analizar la jerga utilizada por algunos periodistas, en diferentes medios de comunicaci?n, permite llevar a cabo una aproximaci?n sem?ntica al discurrir de tales variaciones ling??sticas y su manifestaci?n en contextos espec?ficos. Para llevar a cabo este prop?sito, identificar los rasgos esenciales del lenguaje period?stico se torna en un asunto de primer orden, discriminando a su vez algunos aspectos relacionados con la radio, la prensa y la televisi?n. Discriminar el medio de comunicaci?n en el cual se utilice o no un c?mulo de t?rminos en com?n permite reconocer las coincidencias y divergencias de los periodistas dado el contexto laboral en que se desenvuelvan, adem?s de aproximarse a la creaci?n l?xica a partir del entendimiento de sus t?rminos desde la sem?ntica y en relaci?n directa con la variaci?n ante la lengua est?ndar.

Doctors' thinking about the system as a threat to patient safety

‘Systems thinking’ is an important feature of the emerging ‘patient safety’ agenda. As a key component of a ‘safety culture’, it encourages clinicians to look past individual error to recognise the latent factors that threaten safety. This paper investigates whether current medical thinking is commensurate with the idea of ‘systems thinking’ together with its implications for policy. The findings are based on qualitative semistructured interviews with specialist physicians working within one NHS District General Hospital in the English Midlands. It is shown that, rather then favouring a 'person-centred’ perspective, doctors readily identify ‘the system’ as a threat to patient safety. This is not necessarily a reflection of the prevailing safety discourse or knowledge of policy, but reflects a tacit understanding of how services are (dis)organised. This line of thinking serves to mitigate individual wrong-doing and protect professional credibility by encouraging doctors to accept and accommodate the shortcomings of the system, rather than participate in new forms of organisational learning.

ROBOT CEMAR: identificación de las capacidades emprendedoras de sus creadores

El XXI Congreso Latinoamericano sobre Espíritu Empresarial, se realizó en la Universidad Icesi los días 6, 7 y 8 de abril de 2011.

Do 5-Year-Old Children Perform Dual-Task Coordination Better Than AD Patients?

A cross-sectional study was carried out to examine the pattern of changes in the capacity to coordinate attention between two simultaneously performed tasks in a group of 570 volunteers, from 5 to 17 years old. Method: The results revealed that the ability to coordinate attention increases with age, reaching adult values by age 15 years. Also, these results were compared with the performance in the same dual task of healthy elderly and Alzheimer disease (AD) patients found in a previous study. Results: The analysis indicated that AD patients showed a lower dual-tasking capacity than 5-year-old children, whereas the elderly presented a significantly higher ability than 5-year-old children and no significant differences with respect to young adults. Conclusion: These findings may suggest the presence of a working memory system’s mechanism that enables the division of attention, which is strengthened by the maturation of prefrontal cortex, and impaired in AD. (J. of Att. Dis. 2016; 20(2) 87-95)

Noninvasive imaging of three-dimensional micro and nanostructures by topological methods

We present topological derivative and energy based procedures for the imaging of micro and nano structures using one beam of visible light of a single wavelength. Objects with diameters as small as 10 nm can be located and their position tracked with nanometer precision. Multiple objects dis-tributed either on planes perpendicular to the incidence direction or along axial lines in the incidence direction are distinguishable. More precisely, the shape and size of plane sections perpendicular to the incidence direction can be clearly determined, even for asymmetric and nonconvex scatterers. Axial resolution improves as the size of the objects decreases. Initial reconstructions may proceed by gluing together two-dimensional horizontal slices between axial peaks or by locating objects at three-dimensional peaks of topological energies, depending on the effective wavenumber. Below a threshold size, topological derivative based iterative schemes improve initial predictions of the lo-cation, size, and shape of objects by postprocessing fixed measured data. For larger sizes, tracking the peaks of topological energy fields that average information from additional incident light beams seems to be more effective.

Sustentabilidad en el hogar una revisión energética

Con el propósito de conocer cuáles han sido los resultados de algunas de las acciones más comunes para la sustentabilidad que se han realizado de manera intuitiva en los Hogares de México, se llevaron a cabo los análisis energéticos correspondientes para evaluar su efectividad en aras de promover una nueva era de responsabilidad social, con fundamento y en base a cálculos energéticos, en el área de Desarrollo Sustentable. Mediante el análisis de los resultados obtenidos se pretende socializar un sistema de contabilidad viable, reporte y evaluación de desempeño ambiental en el marco de responsabilidad social. Esto con la finalidad de establecer una línea base e identificar, clasificar y tipificar las acciones de sustentabilidad en el Hogar que permitan sugerir acciones física y económicamente plausibles para disminuir el impacto sobre el medio ambiente por el uso de energía eléctrica, agua y gas en el ámbito doméstico. Finalmente, lo que se busca es tener una evaluación no solo cualitativa sino que también sea cuantitativa delas acciones sustentables realizadas en los Hogares de México, específicamente en poco más de 1,200,000 viviendas particulares de Nuevo León, para poder determinar correctamente su efectividad e implementar aquellas acciones de sustentabilidad que sean realmente efectivas en base a cálculos y no en base a percepciones.

Fluctuaciones de tensión eléctrica en redes industriales debidas a la operación de cargas de gran tamaño

La operación de un sistema eléctrico debe cumplir con aspectos de economía, y de seguridad. Un aspecto importante, es la propensión que tienen los circuitos utilizados por las compañías eléctricas a las fluctuaciones en la tensión eléctrica cuando alimentan cargas de gran tamaño. Estas fluctuaciones momentáneas en la magnitud de la tensión suministrada son probablemente los problemas de calidad de la energía más importantes. Sin embargo, los usuarios industriales con servicio de suministro eléctrico exclusivo son más bien la excepción que la regla. En consecuencia, los niveles crecientes de las fluctuaciones de tensión producidos por la operación de cargas cíclicas de tamaños considerables utilizadas por algunos usuarios, se proyectan como una fuente progresiva de deterioro de la calidad de la energía no solo en las instalaciones de los usuarios que las producen sino también en instalaciones vecinas alimentadas por la misma línea. En este documento se propone una metodología para caracterizar los fenómenos electromagnéticos que se presentan en sistemas eléctricos industriales débiles, para establecer un criterio para diagnosticar incompatibilidades entre el sistema eléctrico de suministro y la carga.

Sexualidade na adolescência

O presente relatório, foi elaborado, no âmbito do III Mestrado em Enfermagem com área de especialização de saúde comunitária. Neste documento, pretendemos descrever, analisar e reflectir, sobre as actividades desenvolvidas durante o estágio, que teve por objectivo desenvolver competências técnicas, científicas e relacionais, através da interacção da teoria e da prática na construção do nosso perfil de enfermeiro especialista em saúde comunitária. O trabalho de campo foi realizado numa escola secundaria do distrito de Portalegre, junto dos alunos do 8.º e 11.º ano de escolaridade. Foram assim realizadas sessões de educação para a saúde no âmbito da educação sexual a 214 alunos, que relativamente ao grau de satisfação geral, 60,5% dos jovens s dis-seram muito satisfeitos e 37,6% satisfeitos, sendo que este critério teve uma avaliação posi-tiva de 98,1%.