The prevalence of norovirus, astrovirus and adenovirus infections among hospitalised children with acute gastroenteritis in Porto Velho, state of Rondônia, western Brazilian Amazon

Although viruses are well-established causes of acute gastroenteritis, few data on the circulation of these pathogens in Porto Velho, state of Rondônia, Brazil, are available. Thus, faecal samples from hospitalised diarrhoeic children, under six years of age, were collected and tested for the presence of norovirus (NoV), adenovirus (AdV) and astrovirus (AstV) from February 2010-February 2012. Specimens were screened by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and viruses were found in 10.7% (63/591) of the cases. NoV, AdV and AstV were detected in 7.8%, 2% and 0.8% of the samples, respectively. NoV infection was observed at all ages and was most prevalent in zero-18-month-old children (84.7%; p = 0.002). A higher incidence of NoV was detected from February-April 2010, when it was found in 52.2% of the cases. Co-infections involving these viruses, rotavirus and enteropathogenic bacteria were detected in 44.4% (28/63) of the children with viral diarrhoea. Nosocomial infections were demonstrated in 28.6% (18/63) of the cases in which viruses were detected. The present paper reports, for the first time, the circulation of NoV and AstV among the paediatric population of Porto Velho and it contributes to our understanding of the roles of these pathogens in gastrointestinal infections.

Blood pressure loci identified with a gene-centric array.

Raised blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Previous studies have identified 47 distinct genetic variants robustly associated with BP, but collectively these explain only a few percent of the heritability for BP phenotypes. To find additional BP loci, we used a bespoke gene-centric array to genotype an independent discovery sample of 25,118 individuals that combined hypertensive case-control and general population samples. We followed up four SNPs associated with BP at our p < 8.56 × 10(-7) study-specific significance threshold and six suggestively associated SNPs in a further 59,349 individuals. We identified and replicated a SNP at LSP1/TNNT3, a SNP at MTHFR-NPPB independent (r(2) = 0.33) of previous reports, and replicated SNPs at AGT and ATP2B1 reported previously. An analysis of combined discovery and follow-up data identified SNPs significantly associated with BP at p < 8.56 × 10(-7) at four further loci (NPR3, HFE, NOS3, and SOX6). The high number of discoveries made with modest genotyping effort can be attributed to using a large-scale yet targeted genotyping array and to the development of a weighting scheme that maximized power when meta-analyzing results from samples ascertained with extreme phenotypes, in combination with results from nonascertained or population samples. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and transcript expression data highlight potential gene regulatory mechanisms at the MTHFR and NOS3 loci. These results provide candidates for further study to help dissect mechanisms affecting BP and highlight the utility of studying SNPs and samples that are independent of those studied previously even when the sample size is smaller than that in previous studies.

Geração e gestão do valor por meio de métricas baseadas nas perspectivas do capital intelectual

No presente estudo, tomou-se como ponto de partida pesquisa em que se discutem possibilidades de as empresas alcançarem valor superior com base no alinhamento estratégico, na gestão do capital intelectual e na adoção do Balanced Scorecard (BSC). Investigou-se a associação entre a geração de valor e os componentes do capital intelectual segundo preceitos, entre outros, de Stewart (1999; 2001) M'Pherson e Pike (2001) e Kaplan e Norton (2004), além de trazer à tona a questão da implementação e extensão da utiliza- ção do Balanced Scorecard. As proxies empregadas para caracte- rizar geração de valor foram a média do price-to-book value (razão entre o valor de mercado e o valor patrimonial) e o retorno médio das ações no período estudado. Para caracterizar os componentes do capital intelectual, adotaram-se índices computados a partir da percepção de executivos de topo responsáveis por processos corporativos de planejamento e controle, com base na revisão de literatura e com base em procedimento de fatoração. O estudo utilizou testes não paramétricos para identificar se há evidências de diferente apreciação e retorno no mercado acionário para segmentos homogêneos de empresas com perfis diferenciados quanto aos índices de capital intelectual. Os resultados mostraram-se conclusivos e significantes - em reforço à proposição de sintonia entre a percepção do valor sob o enfoque do mercado de capitais e a percepção da performance em múltiplas perspectivas por parte de gestores. Quanto à adoção do BSC, foram identificados indícios de interferência favorável à performance nas empresas classificadas como de melhores padrões de geração de valor.

Genome-wide association study identifies variants associated with progression of liver fibrosis from HCV infection.

Polymorphisms in IL28B were shown to affect clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in genome-wide association (GWA) studies. Only a fraction of patients with chronic HCV infection develop liver fibrosis, a process that might also be affected by genetic factors. We performed a 2-stage GWA study of liver fibrosis progression related to HCV infection. We studied well-characterized HCV-infected patients of European descent who underwent liver biopsies before treatment. We defined various liver fibrosis phenotypes on the basis of METAVIR scores, with and without taking the duration of HCV infection into account. Our GWA analyses were conducted on a filtered primary cohort of 1161 patients using 780,650 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We genotyped 96 SNPs with P values <5 × 10(-5) from an independent replication cohort of 962 patients. We then assessed the most interesting replicated SNPs using DNA samples collected from 219 patients who participated in separate GWA studies of HCV clearance. In the combined cohort of 2342 HCV-infected patients, the SNPs rs16851720 (in the total sample) and rs4374383 (in patients who received blood transfusions) were associated with fibrosis progression (P(combined) = 8.9 × 10(-9) and 1.1 × 10(-9), respectively). The SNP rs16851720 is located within RNF7, which encodes an antioxidant that protects against apoptosis. The SNP rs4374383, together with another replicated SNP, rs9380516 (P(combined) = 5.4 × 10(-7)), were linked to the functionally related genes MERTK and TULP1, which encode factors involved in phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by macrophages. Our GWA study identified several susceptibility loci for HCV-induced liver fibrosis; these were linked to genes that regulate apoptosis. Apoptotic control might therefore be involved in liver fibrosis.

Opinião dos alunos quanto ao ensino dos diagnósticos de enfermagem segundo a taxonomia da NANDA

Acreditando na importância do diagnóstico de enfermagem,o seu ensino foi introduzido ha 4 anos nas disciplinas de Assistência de Enfermagem à Saúde da mulher e Enfermagem Perinatal, no 6o. período do curso de graduação em enfermagem da UNICAMP. Com o intuito de avaliar essa experiência, propusémo-nos a levantar a opinião dos alunos e obter subsídios para aprimorar o ensino. Foram ministradas 4 horas de ensino teórico e indicada bibliografia básica. A aplicação prática supervisionada foi desenvolvida durante 21 horas numa unidade neonatal e 45 horas em centros de saúde. Ao término das disciplinas, 16 alunos responderam a um questionário com questões fechadas e abertas. O grupo de alunos respondentes foi unânime em considerar válido o estudo dos diagnósticos de enfermagem. A maioria considerou mais adequado introduzir o ensino no 3o. semestre, quando se iniciam os procedimentos básicos de enfermagem. Quanto à dificuldade de aprendizado do uso dos diagnósticos, 68, 7% dos alunos relataram um nível de dificuldade superior a 25% e inferior a 75%. O grupo de alunos como um todo achou que o estudo do diagnóstico de enfermagem trouxe modificações no seu conceito de assistência de enfermagem.

Improved earthquake response via simulation and integrated space- and ground-based technologies: the TREMOR proposal

Earthquakes occurring around the world each year cause thousands ofdeaths, millions of dollars in damage to infrastructure, and incalculablehuman suffering. In recent years, satellite technology has been asignificant boon to response efforts following an earthquake and itsafter-effects by providing mobile communications between response teamsand remote sensing of damaged areas to disaster management organizations.In 2007, an international team of students and professionals assembledduring theInternational Space University’s Summer Session Program in Beijing, Chinato examine how satellite and ground-based technology could be betterintegrated to provide an optimised response in the event of an earthquake.The resulting Technology Resources for Earthquake MOnitoring and Response(TREMOR) proposal describes an integrative prototype response system thatwill implement mobile satellite communication hubs providing telephone anddata links between response teams, onsite telemedicine consultation foremergency first-responders, and satellite navigation systems that willlocate and track emergency vehicles and guide search-and-rescue crews. Aprototype earthquake simulation system is also proposed, integratinghistorical data, earthquake precursor data, and local geomatics andinfrastructure information to predict the damage that could occur in theevent of an earthquake. The backbone of these proposals is a comprehensiveeducation and training program to help individuals, communities andgovernments prepare in advance. The TREMOR team recommends thecoordination of these efforts through a centralised, non-governmentalorganization.

Direct visualization of the trimeric structure of the ASIC1a channel, using AFM imaging.

There has been confusion about the subunit stoichiometry of the degenerin family of ion channels. Recently, a crystal structure of acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) 1a revealed that it assembles as a trimer. Here, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to image unprocessed ASIC1a bound to mica. We detected a mixture of subunit monomers, dimers and trimers. In some cases, triple-subunit clusters were clearly visible, confirming the trimeric structure of the channel, and indicating that the trimer sometimes disaggregated after adhesion to the mica surface. This AFM-based technique will now enable us to determine the subunit arrangement within heteromeric ASICs.

Avaliação da autoestima de gestantes com uso da Escala de Autoestima de Rosenberg

O objetivo deste estudo descritivo e transversal foi avaliar a autoestima de 127 gestantes atendidas em programa de pré-natal de um hospital público de ensino. Os dados foram colhidos usando-se a Escala de Autoestima de Rosenberg; a autoestima insatisfatória foi relacionada a variáveis sócio-demográficas, de saúde da gestante e da presença ou não de sistemas de apoio. Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística descritiva e análise univariada, buscando possíveis associações. As gestantes com autoestima insatisfatória totalizaram 60% da amostra. Em relação aos dados sócio-demográficos, as mulheres com menor escolaridade apresentaram maior frequência de escores de autoestima insatisfatória, divergindo de resultados de outros estudos. As gestantes que referiram gestação não planejada apresentaram maior prevalência de autoestima insatisfatória do que aquelas que referiram tê-la planejado. A ausência de apoio do parceiro para cuidar do filho após seu nascimento também esteve associada a menor autoestima nas grávidas. Não foram encontradas relações estatisticamente significativas para as demais variáveis estudadas.

Molecular phylogeny and evolution of Sorex shrews (Soricidae: insectivora) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data.

Shrews of the genus Sorex are characterized by a Holarctic distribution, and relationships among extant taxa have never been fully resolved. Phylogenies have been proposed based on morphological, karyological, and biochemical comparisons, but these analyses often produced controversial and contradictory results. Phylogenetic analyses of partial mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences (1011 bp) were used to examine the relationships among 27 Sorex species. The molecular data suggest that Sorex comprises two major monophyletic lineages, one restricted mostly to the New World and one with a primarily Palearctic distribution. Furthermore, several sister-species relationships are revealed by the analysis. Based on the split between the Soricinae and Crocidurinae subfamilies, we used a 95% confidence interval for both the calibration of a molecular clock and the subsequent calculation of major diversification events within the genus Sorex. Our analysis does not support an unambiguous acceleration of the molecular clock in shrews, the estimated rate being similar to other estimates of mammalian mitochondrial clocks. In addition, the data presented here indicate that estimates from the fossil record greatly underestimate divergence dates among Sorex taxa.

A phase 1b study of humanized KS-interleukin-2 (huKS-IL2) immunocytokine with cyclophosphamide in patients with EpCAM-positive advanced solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Humanized KS-interleukin-2 (huKS-IL2), an immunocytokine with specificity for epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), has demonstrated favorable tolerability and immunologic activity as a single agent. METHODS: Phase 1b study in patients with EpCAM-positive advanced solid tumors to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and safety profile of huKS-IL2 in combination with low-dose cyclophosphamide. Treatment consisted of cyclophosphamide (300 mg/m2 on day 1), and escalating doses of huKS-IL2 (0.5-4.0 mg/m2 IV continuous infusion over 4 hours) on days 2, 3, and 4 of each 21-day cycle. Safety, pharmacokinetic profile, immunogenicity, anti-tumor and biologic activity were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients were treated for up to 6 cycles; 26 were evaluable for response. The MTD of huKS-IL2 in combination with 300 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide was 3.0 mg/m2. At higher doses, myelosuppression was dose-limiting. Transient lymphopenia was the most common grade 3/4 adverse event (AE). Other significant AEs included hypotension, hypophosphatemia, and increase in serum creatinine. All patients recovered from these AEs. The huKS-IL2 exposure was dose-dependent, but not dose-proportional, accumulation was negligible, and elimination half-life and systemic clearance were independent of dose and time. Most patients had a transient immune response to huKS-IL2. Immunologic activity was observed at all doses. Ten patients (38%) had stable disease as best response, lasting for ≥ 4 cycles in 3 patients. CONCLUSION: The combination of huKS-IL2 with low-dose cyclophosphamide was well tolerated. Although no objective responses were observed, the combination showed evidence of immunologic activity and 3 patients showed stable disease for ≥ 4 cycles. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://NCT00132522.

Causal explanations and scientific realism in particle physics

Particle physics studies highly complex processes which cannot be directly observed. Scientific realism claims that we are nevertheless warranted in believing that these processes really occur and that the objects involved in them really exist. This dissertation defends a version of scientific realism, called causal realism, in the context of particle physics. I start by introducing the central theses and arguments in the recent philosophical debate on scientific realism (chapter 1), with a special focus on an important presupposition of the debate, namely common sense realism. Chapter 2 then discusses entity realism, which introduces a crucial element into the debate by emphasizing the importance of experiments in defending scientific realism. Most of the chapter is concerned with Ian Hacking's position, but I also argue that Nancy Cartwright's version of entity realism is ultimately preferable as a basis for further development. In chapter 3,1 take a step back and consider the question whether the realism debate is worth pursuing at all. Arthur Fine has given a negative answer to that question, proposing his natural ontologica! attitude as an alternative to both realism and antirealism. I argue that the debate (in particular the realist side of it) is in fact less vicious than Fine presents it. The second part of my work (chapters 4-6) develops, illustrates and defends causal realism. The key idea is that inference to the best explanation is reliable in some cases, but not in others. Chapter 4 characterizes the difference between these two kinds of cases in terms of three criteria which distinguish causal from theoretical warrant. In order to flesh out this distinction, chapter 5 then applies it to a concrete case from the history of particle physics, the discovery of the neutrino. This case study shows that the distinction between causal and theoretical warrant is crucial for understanding what it means to "directly detect" a new particle. But the distinction is also an effective tool against what I take to be the presently most powerful objection to scientific realism: Kyle Stanford's argument from unconceived alternatives. I respond to this argument in chapter 6, and I illustrate my response with a discussion of Jean Perrin's experimental work concerning the atomic hypothesis. In the final part of the dissertation, I turn to the specific challenges posed to realism by quantum theories. One of these challenges comes from the experimental violations of Bell's inequalities, which indicate a failure of locality in the quantum domain. I show in chapter 7 how causal realism can further our understanding of quantum non-locality by taking account of some recent experimental results. Another challenge to realism in quantum mechanics comes from delayed-choice experiments, which seem to imply that certain aspects of what happens in an experiment can be influenced by later choices of the experimenter. Chapter 8 analyzes these experiments and argues that they do not warrant the antirealist conclusions which some commentators draw from them. It pays particular attention to the case of delayed-choice entanglement swapping and the corresponding question whether entanglement is a real physical relation. In chapter 9,1 finally address relativistic quantum theories. It is often claimed that these theories are incompatible with a particle ontology, and this calls into question causal realism's commitment to localizable and countable entities. I defend the commitments of causal realism against these objections, and I conclude with some remarks connecting the interpretation of quantum field theory to more general metaphysical issues confronting causal realism.

Experiencias persuasivas: construcción de un protocolo para el análisis de la persuasión en los videojuegos

A pesar de que cada vez son más las investigaciones vinculadas al análisis de los videojuegos, pocas son las orientadas a determinar la articulación de su dimensión persuasiva. Partiendo principalmente de los trabajos de Ian Bogost y Gonzalo Frasca sobre la persuasión, se resiguen las carencias metodológicas de los modelos planteados y se proponen una serie de hipótesis orientadas a la búsqueda de una metodología que posibilite dar respuesta a la siguiente pregunta: ¿Cómo y dónde se articula la dimensión persuasiva de los videojuegos?En este sentido se trata de estudiar la dimensión persuasiva en los videojuegos de manera integral. La supuesta capacidad de las reglas de juego, propiedad intrínseca de los juegos y videojuegos, de determinar tanto la estructura narrativa como la parte audio/visual del texto (videojuego), así como su condición esencial de ser las portadoras de la carga persuasiva, permite apuntar como objetivo fundamental el diseño de un protocolo integral de la persuasión en los videojuegos

Conflito no desempenho do papel de mãe em estudos com mães de recém-nascidos hospitalizados: revisão integrativa

A hospitalização de um recém-nascido provoca a separação entre mãe e filho quando o contato é fundamental para o desenvolvimento do papel materno. Assim, as mães tendem a se sentir incapazes de atender as necessidades dos filhos, enfrentando dificuldades para lidar com seus sentimentos e com as demandas dos familiares. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar as Características Definidoras do Diagnóstico de Enfermagem Conflito no desempenho do papel de mãe em estudos sobre a experiência de ser mãe na unidade neonatal. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, que utilizou 15 estudos qualitativos, publicados de 2004 a 2009 em periódicos indexados na Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde e Medical LiteratureandRetrieval System OnLine. Este diagnóstico é um fenômeno de enfermagem a ser estudado por enfermeiros neonatais para que possam reconhecer e propor intervenções às necessidades maternas, visto que nove das dez Características Definidoras foram identificadas nos depoimentos das mães.

Hereillä konsertissa : konserttikäynti osana musiikin perusteiden opetusta

Esittelen opinnäytetyössäni konserttikäyntiprojektia, jonka toteutin Helsingin Konservatorion musiikin perusteiden (säveltapailu ja musiikinteoria) ryhmieni kanssa lukuvuonna 2004-2005. Keskeistä projektissa oli konsertissa kuultavaan teokseen, Antonín Dvořákin yhdeksänteen sinfoniaan tutustuminen tunneilla ennen varsinaista konserttikäyntiä. Ennen konserttia tunneilla tehdyn pohjatyön avulla tahdoin tarjota oppilailleni mahdollisuuden erilaiseen konserttikokemukseen sekä testata omaa oletustani, jonka mukaan kuunteleminen ja keskittyminen konsertissa saattaa olla helpompaa, jos esitettäviä teoksia tuntee etukäteen. Projektin onnistumista sekä opetuksen ja konserttikäynnin tällaisen yhdistämisen mielekkyyttä tarkastelen oppilailta keräämäni palautteen avulla. Konserttikäyntien käytännön järjestelyihin ei ole olemassa erityisiä ohjeita, mutta suuria oppilasryhmiä liikutellessaan opettajan täytyy osata huomioida monenlaisia asioita. Minulle, työurani alussa olevalle nuorelle opettajalle, projekti toimi siis myös käytännön harjoitustehtävänä konserttikäynnin järjestämisestä. Selvitellessäni opettajan vastuuseen liittyviä kysymyksiä kävi ilmi, että musiikkiopistopuolella vastuuasioihin liittyvä ohjeistus on pitkälti oppilaitoskohtaista ja vielä varsin jäsentymätöntä. Yhteiset pelisäännöt valtakunnallisella tasolla tulisivat varmasti tarpeeseen. Oppilailta keräämäni palaute vahvisti käsitystäni konserttikäyntien tärkeydestä musiikin perusteiden opetuksessa. Erityisesti vakuutuin siitä, että valmistautuminen auttaa monia lapsia keskittymään kuuntelemiseen konsertissa. Työn konkreettisia tuloksia ovat pohjatyötä varten valmistamani nuottimateriaalisivut, joita voi käyttää opetusmateriaalina Dvořákin yhdeksännestä sinfoniasta. Toivoisin tämän opinnäytetyön rohkaisevan opettajia näkemään vaivaa konserttikäyntien järjestämiseksi sekä auttavan aloittelijoita tiedostamaan huomionarvoisia asioita käytännön työvaiheissa. Asiasta kiinnostuneille kuten oppilaille, heidän vanhemmilleen ja muiden aineiden opettajille opinnäytetyöni tarjoaa lisäksi esimerkin musiikin perusteiden opiskelusta.