Parametrage du modèle de culture STICS pour simuler la croissance des prairies de Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Piatã en conditions du Cerrado brésilien.

2015

Flaubert e o crepúsculo do sujeito: uma análise do conto "Um coração simples"

A literatura francesa e mundial passaram por uma enorme transformação ao longo do século XIX. A primorosa escrita de Flaubert é, para além de sua importância estética, reveladora de um novo modo de se escrever, ler e representar o homem no mundo moderno. O cuidado na construção do texto, a utilização de imagens plásticas e figuras de linguagem, ao mesmo tempo em que o narrador torna-se invisível no emprego do discurso indireto livre são característicos da escrita flaubertiana. O autor apresenta-nos em "Um coração simples" um "retrato" de Félicité, mulher pobre do interior da França, modelo virtuoso de uma ética evanescente. Ao acompanhar, por meio do conto, os passos e desventuras de Felicité, sob as lentes deste novo narrador, buscamos evidenciar as condições que circundam o aparecimento de um olhar científico-objetivo para a subjetividade humana, logo transformada em objeto de uma nascente Psicologia.

Avaliação da memória de trabalho em crianças com transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade

Esse projeto investigou as habilidades cognitivas da Memória de Trabalho de crianças e adolescentes com o “Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade” (TDAH). Foi aplicado teste TIHC - Teste Infantil de Habilidades Cognitivas informatizado, avaliando principalmente cinco habilidades cognitivas Raciocínio Indutivas (RI), Memória de Armazenamento Auditiva (MAA) e Visual e Memória de Trabalho Auditiva (MTA) e Visual (MTV) usando o modelo de Cattell-Horn-Carroll. O teste foi aplicado em 62 sujeitos sendo 32 com TDAH do Hospital das Clínicas-SEPIA-USP e 30 sujeitos controle “normal” do Ensino Fundamental da rede municipal de 1ª à 8ª séries com idades entre 7 e 15 anos, de ambos os sexos. As análises executadas indicaram a existência de diferenças em diversos aspectos relacionados à memória nos tipos peculiares de crianças com TDAH. Verificou-se que as crianças com TDAH obtiveram bom desempenho nas provas de memória visual em detrimento as provas de memória auditiva. A correlação dos resultados do TIHC verificara que o tempo de reação da prova de memória de armazenamento visual manteve uma correlação significativa com a prova de cálculo.

Estimating HIV-1 incidence using the serologic testing algorithm for recent HIV infections at HIV counseling and testing centers in the city of São Paulo, Brazil

The network of HIV counseling and testing centers in São Paulo, Brazil is a major source of data used to build epidemiological profiles of the client population. We examined HIV-1 incidence from November 2000 to April 2001, comparing epidemiological and socio-behavioral data of recently-infected individuals with those with long-standing infection. A less sensitive ELISA was employed to identify recent infection. The overall incidence of HIV-1 infection was 0.53/100/year (95% CI: 0.31-0.85/100/year): 0.77/100/year for males (95% CI: 0.42-1.27/100/year) and 0.22/100/ year (95% CI: 0.05-0.59/100/year) for females. Overall HIV-1 prevalence was 3.2% (95% CI: 2.8-3.7%), being 4.0% among males (95% CI: 3.3-4.7%) and 2.1% among females (95% CI: 1.6-2.8%). Recent infections accounted for 15% of the total (95% CI: 10.2-20.8%). Recent infection correlated with being younger and male (p = 0.019). Therefore, recent infection was more common among younger males and older females.

Aspectos estratégicos e econômicos da política de bonificação em quantidade de produto

ste trabalho objetiva identificar a percepção dos gestores de controladoria de indústrias sobre os aspectos estratégicos e econômicos da decisão de bonificação em quantidade de produto. A premissa é que os resultados econômicos gerados pela decisão de desconto no preço e de bonificação em quantidade de produto são iguais, considerando a mesma quantidade de produto entregue ao cliente. Com base no banco de dados da FIPECAFI- FEA-USP, analisaram-se 91 questionários encaminhados a controllers atuantes em diversos setores. Os resultados revelam: 1) um número muito significativo de empresas da amostra selecionada adota a bonificação em produtos; 2) a área comercial é a principal responsável por essa decisão; e 3) identificação da percepção dos controllers sobre aspectos decisórios de bonificação em quantidade de produtos.

Chromatographic analysis of lipid fractions in healthy dogs and dogs with obesity or hyperadrenocorticism

Obesity and endogenous hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) are common clinical conditions in veterinary practice, and both conditions have clinical and laboratory similarities, Such as weight gain and dyslipidemia. The objective of the present study was to characterize and compare the lipid profiles and plasma lipoprotein fractions in healthy dogs (n = 10), in obese dogs (n = 10), and in dogs with HAC (n = 6). All of the dogs were client owned. The lipoproteins were separated by fast protein liquid chromatography, and the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and total triacylglycerol (TAG) were determined by enzymatic methods. When compared with the healthy and obese groups, dogs with HAC had a significant increase (P < 0.01) in the total concentrations of TAGs and cholesterol (CHOL), with higher distribution in the very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-CHOL fractions. In addition, the distributions of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-CHOL and HDL-TAG fractions were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in dogs with HAC than in healthy dogs. Considering the animals in this study, it was determined that the dogs with HAC differed significantly from the healthy and obese dogs regarding the metabolism of CHOL and TAG, as well as their VLDL and HDL fractions. Similar laboratory findings could allow veterinarians to distinguish obese dogs from those with HAC. In addition, dogs with HAC may be at higher risk for developing metabolic and atherosclerotic complications.

Working in public health services in Brazil: The relationship between different rationalities

Success in a public health system is related to its ability to change its production process and to deal with general principles of the health system, such as universality and equity. The frameworks proposed by service marketing scholars have been developed primarily for private services; they focus on acceptance by the targeted client-users, and on the technical specifications of the new service delivery processes. Little attention has been given to the employees` point of view and their activities to maintain service operations modulated by innovation. In a public health system, workers make decisions in real time related to users` needs and the technical specifications of the process; therefore, it is very important to understand how the changes impact on employees` activities and on the quality delivered for citizens. This article discusses how changes implemented in Sao Paulo, Brazil impact the organizational parameters and working activities for front-line workers. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Swiss heroin trials: testing alternative approaches

Over half a million heroin misusers receive oral methadone maintenance treatment world-wide1 but the maintenance prescription of injectable opioid drugs, like heroin, remains controversial. In 1992 Switzerland began a large scale evaluation of heroin and other injectable opiate prescribing that eventually involved 1035 misusers. 2 3 The results of the evaluation have recently been reported.4 These show that it was feasible to provide heroin by intravenous injection at a clinic, up to three times a day, for seven days a week. This was done while maintaining good drug control, good order, client safety, and staff morale. Patients were stabilised on 500 to 600 mg heroin daily without evidence of increasing tolerance. Retention in treatment was 89% at six months and 69% at 18 months.4 The self reported use of non-prescribed heroin fell signifianctly, but other drug use was minimally affected. The death rate was 1% per year, and there were no deaths from overdose among participants . . . [Full text of this article]

The clinical value compass: Achieving benchmarking and quality improvement in aged care

Quality measurement and benchmarking in aged cave presents several challenges. A model which addresses this by linking four dimensions of outcomes has been developed - the Clinical Value Compass (CVC). A CVC was developed for stroke rehabilitation and measured across four sites. The CVC teas well accepted by the treatment teams and proved practical to measure. The results revealed differences in practices and client groups that led to a closer analysis of process and subsequent changes in these processes. Remeasuring of the CVC is required to demonstrate improved outcomes arising from these process changes.

Predictors of genital warts among women attending two family planning clinics

Objectives: To establish the prevalence and predictors of genital warts among healthy women presenting for contraceptive advice at two family planning clinics, one in a major Australian city and one in a country town in the same state. Methods: Consecutive consenting attendees (n = 1218)at two family planning clinics in Queensland completed a questionnaire and were examined for genital warts. Results: The point prevalence of visible genital warts was 3.3 per cent in the city clinic and 14.4 per cent in the country town. For half of these clients a finding of warts was unexpected, in that the client was unaware of their presence and presentation to the family planning clinic was not specifically for advice about sexually transmitted infections. The major predictor of a finding of warts was client age, with the highest prevalence in 20- to 25-year-olds. Warts were also commoner amongst smokers in the country town but not in Brisbane. However, no analysed sociodemographic variable predicted a finding of warts of which the client was not aware. Conclusions: Genital warts are common among young women presenting for contraceptive advice. Such women are often unaware that they have warts. Examination for genital warts should be a part of any routine examination of sexually active women, and medical practitioners should be aware of appropriate advice for patients who are found to have genital warts on routine examination.

Career versus motherhood? A case study describing a cognitive-existential approach to the dilemma

The present paper reports a case study concerning a professional woman in her 30s, who presented to the Occupational Health department of a metropolitan hospital with work stress stemming from accelerating work demands and marital problems related to the decision about whether to start a family or continue her career. No clinical diagnosis was warranted; however, Maslach Burnout Inventory Scores indicated a high degree of emotional exhaustion and moderate levels of depersonalisation, offset by a high sense of personal accomplishment in her work role. The client also demonstrated severe stress and moderate depression on the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21). The case was conceptualised from a combined cognitive-existential perspective. The woman's cognitions about her work, relationship, and prospective motherhood roles were identified, as well as underlying existential issues such as finding a meaning in life and a fear of being alone and unloved. Eight sessions of therapy incorporated components of cognitive and existential therapies, aimed at managing stress and improving marital adjustment. Posttreatment results showed substantial reductions in all the measures of distress, while personal accomplishment remained high. The woman and her husband decided to defer starting a family until other issues had been addressed.

Solution structure of χ-conopeptide MrIA, a modulator of the human norepinephrine transporter

The chi-conopeptides MrIA and MrIB are 13-residue peptides with two disulfide bonds that inhibit human and rat norepinephrine transporter systems and are of significant interest for the design of novel drugs involved in pain treatment. In the current study we have determined the solution structure of MrIA using NMR spectroscopy. The major element of secondary structure is a hairpin with the two strands connected by an inverse gamma-turn. The residues primarily involved in activity have previously been shown to be located in the turn region (Sharpe, I. A.; Palant, E.: Schroder, C. L; Kaye, D. M.; Adams, D. I.; Alewood, P. F.; Lewis, R. J. J Biol Client 2003, 278, 40317-40323), which appears to be more flexible than the beta-strands based on disorder in the ensemble of calculated structures. Analogues of MrIA with N-terminal truncations indicate that the N-terminal residues play a role in defining a stable conformation and the native disulfide connectivity. In particular, noncovalent interactions between Val3 and Hypl2 are likely to be involved in maintaining a stable conformation. The N-terminus also affects activity, as a single N-terminal deletion introduced additional pharmacology at rat vas deferens, while deleting the first two amino acids reduced chi-conopeptide potency. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The Published Online date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by entailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The effect of spatial definition on the allocation of clients to screening clinics

We compared four strategies for inviting 91,456 women aged 50-69 years to one of six clinics for mammography screening and 40,142 men aged 60-79 years to one of 10 clinics for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening. The strategies were invitation to the clinic nearest to the client and invitation to the clinic nearest to the client's area of residence defined by census small area, postcode and local government area. For each strategy we calculated the expected demand at each clinic and the travel distances for clients. We found that when women were allocated to mammography clinics on the basis of the local government area instead of their individual address, expected demand at one clinic increased by 60%, and 19% of clients were invited to attend a more remote clinic, entailing 99,000 km of additional travel. Similar results were obtained for men allocated to AAA clinics by their postcode of residence instead of their individual address: 55% difference in expected demand, 13% to a more remote clinic and 60,000 km of extra travel. Allocation on the basis of small areas did not show such great differences, except for travel distance, which was about 5% higher for each clinic type. We recommend that allocation of clients to screening clinics be made according to residential address, that assessment of the location of clinics be based on distances between residences and nearest clinic, but that planning new locations for clinics be aided with spatial analysis tools using small area demographic and social data. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Computer technology - A political player in social policy processes

The absence of considerations of technology in policy studies reinforces the popular notion that technology is a neutral tool, Through an analysis of the role played by computers in the policy processes of Australia's Department of Social Security, this paper argues that computers are political players in policy processes, Findings indicate that computers make aspects of the social domain knowable and therefore governable, The use of computers makes previously infeasible policies possible, Computers also operate as bureaucrats and as agents of client surveillance. Increased policy change, reduced discretion and increasingly targeted and complex policies can be attributed to the use of computer technology, If policy processes are to be adequately understood and analysed, then the role of technology in those processes must be considered.

Options for monitoring diabetic cats

The key to successful long-term management of diabetes in cats is individualization of advice to suit cat and owner. A relationship based on trust and cooperation between veterinarian and client leads invariably to the most satisfactory outcome. Success requires knowledge of the options for monitoring diabetic cats, selection and adaptation of appropriate techniques for each individual case, and provision of ongoing support and guidance for owners. The ongoing treatment of a diabetic cat can be one of the more rewarding experiences of feline practice, and many diabetic cats and their owners come to occupy a special place within the clinic environment. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the current options for monitoring diabetes in cats and guidelines for application of the techniques to clinical cases.