Interfaces between national and EU law: time limits in cross-border civil proceedings and their impact on the free circulation of judgments

The thesis aims at exploring possible legal solutions to remove the obstacles to the free circulation of judgments in the civil justice area that arise from the remarkably diverging national rules on procedural time limits. As shown by the case-law of the CJEU, time limits have recently come under closer scrutiny. The interplay between national and EU law illustrates that time limits raise significant deficiencies connected with the right to a fair trial under Art. 6 ECHR and Art. 47 CFR – e.g. the effective recovery of claims, effective judicial protection, effective cross-border enforcement of judgments – which negatively impact EU cross-border civil litigation. In order to overcome some of the weaknesses of the current legal framework governing the cross-border enforcement of judgments and strengthen the parties’ fundamental procedural rights the PhD thesis intends to determine whether and, to what extent time limits can be harmonised at EU level. EU action on time limits would indeed favour the speed, efficiency and proportionality of cross-border proceedings without sacrificing the fairness of the judicial process and the equality of the parties

Graphene-based bioelectronic interfaces and devices and interpretative models targeting glial cells

Bioelectronic interfaces have significantly advanced in recent years, offering potential treatments for vision impairments, spinal cord injuries, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the classical neurocentric vision drives the technological development toward neurons. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of glial cells in the nervous system. Among them, astrocytes significantly influence neuronal networks throughout life and are implicated in several neuropathological states. Although they are incapable to fire action potentials, astrocytes communicate through diverse calcium (Ca2+) signalling pathways, crucial for cognitive functions and brain blood flow regulation. Current bioelectronic devices are primarily designed to interface neurons and are unsuitable for studying astrocytes. Graphene, with its unique electrical, mechanical and biocompatibility properties, has emerged as a promising neural interface material. However, its use as electrode interface to modulate astrocyte functionality remains unexplored. The aim of this PhD work was to exploit Graphene-oxide (GO) and reduced GO (rGO)-coated electrodes to control Ca2+ signalling in astrocytes by electrical stimulation. We discovered that distinct Ca2+dynamics in astrocytes can be evoked, in vitro and in brain slices, depending on the conductive/insulating properties of rGO/GO electrodes. Stimulation by rGO electrodes induces intracellular Ca2+ response with sharp peaks of oscillations (“P-type”), exclusively due to Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Conversely, astrocytes stimulated by GO electrodes show slower and sustained Ca2+ response (“S-type”), largely mediated by external Ca2+ influx through specific ion channels. Astrocytes respond faster than neurons and activate distinct G-Protein Coupled Receptor intracellular signalling pathways. We propose a resistive/insulating model, hypothesizing that the different conductivity of the substrate influences the electric field at the cell/electrolyte or cell/material interfaces, favouring, respectively, the Ca2+ release from intracellular stores or the extracellular Ca2+ influx. This research provides a simple tool to selectively control distinct Ca2+ signals in brain astrocytes in neuroscience and bioelectronic medicine.

Voice conversion with pre-trained representations for audio anonymization

The recording and processing of voice data raises increasing privacy concerns for users and service providers. One way to address these issues is to move processing on the edge device closer to the recording so that potentially identifiable information is not transmitted over the internet. However, this is often not possible due to hardware limitations. An interesting alternative is the development of voice anonymization techniques that remove individual speakers characteristics while preserving linguistic and acoustic information in the data. In this work, a state-of-the-art approach to sequence-to-sequence speech conversion, ini- tially based on x-vectors and bottleneck features for automatic speech recognition, is explored to disentangle the two acoustic information using different pre-trained speech and speakers representation. Furthermore, different strategies for selecting target speech representations are analyzed. Results on public datasets in terms of equal error rate and word error rate show that good privacy is achieved with limited impact on converted speech quality relative to the original method.

As redes de atenção em saúde: interfaces entre o saber e agir na Atenção Primária de Saúde

O Município de Diamantina está localizado no nordeste de Minas Gerais e possui 47.647 habitantes. É microrregional de saúde e referência para o Vale do Jequitinhonha. No município há 84% da área de cobertura da população pela Atenção Primária de Saúde (APS). A Estratégia Saúde da Família Vila Operária (ESF-VO) é composta por uma equipe multiprofissional que atende a uma população adstrita de 3.885 pessoas. Neste existem as Redes de Atenção à Saúde (RAS): VivaVida, HIPERDIA e Urgência/Emergência. As RAS são organizações que atuam em conjunto com os serviços de saúde, vinculadas entre si, por uma missão única, por objetivos comuns e por uma ação cooperativa possibilitando ofertar uma atenção continua e integral. Este trabalho objetivou divulgar a RAS e fomentá-la como uma estratégia de saúde na prática do fazer saúde na APS. A fundamentação teórica se deu por pesquisa bibliográfica com os descritores: atenção à saúde, sistemas de saúde, educação em saúde nos sites de estudos e pesquisas científicas: SciELO, BIREME, nos Cadernos de Atenção Básica, site e links do Ministério da Saúde, bem como de relatos de experiência na ESF em estudo. A expectativa é de que o entendimento do funcionamento das RAS e formação de equipe-rede seja o diferencial para APS e que este Plano de Intervenção gere uma mudança na realização do atendimento, mas principalmente na resolutividades das ações práticas de saúde. A operacionalização dos grupos conforme a técnica de Grupos Operativos de Pichón-Rivière permitirá a fixação e reprodução do método às comunidades e descentralização do saber.

Instrumentos de vigilância da tuberculose e suas interfaces com a atenção à PVHA

Unidade 3, atividade 4, do curso Organização de serviços para o atendimento de pessoas coinfectadas por TB-HIV. A infectologista Rossana Coimbra Brito fala sobre o acolhimento em serviços de saúde que atendem pessoas coinfectadas por TB e HIV. Aborda os instrumentos de vigilância do Programa Nacional de Controle de Tuberculose e suas interfaces na atenção de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS nos sistemas de atendimento especializados. Os instrumentos são a ficha de notificação, o boletim de acompanhamento e livro de registro e acompanhamento de tratamento dos casos de tuberculose dos serviços de saúde. Através desses são baseadas as decisões do controle da tuberculose no País e a delimitação de populações mais vulneráveis à TB/HIV. Apresenta o também Sistema de Informação de Tratamentos Especiais de Tuberculose (SITETB) e explica sua importância e funcionamento no controle da doença.

Instrumentos de vigilância da tuberculose e suas interfaces com a atenção à PVHA

Transcrição da aula da Unidade 3, atividade 4, do curso Organização de serviços para o atendimento de pessoas coinfectadas por TB-HIV. A infectologista Rossana Coimbra Brito fala sobre o acolhimento em serviços de saúde que atendem pessoas coinfectadas por TB e HIV. Aborda os instrumentos de vigilância do Programa Nacional de Controle de Tuberculose e suas interfaces na atenção de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS nos sistemas de atendimento especializados. Os instrumentos são a ficha de notificação, o boletim de acompanhamento e livro de registro e acompanhamento de tratamento dos casos de tuberculose dos serviços de saúde. Através desses são baseadas as decisões do controle da tuberculose no País e a delimitação de populações mais vulneráveis à TB/HIV. Apresenta o também Sistema de Informação de Tratamentos Especiais de Tuberculose (SITETB) e explica sua importância e funcionamento no controle da doença.

Instrumentos de vigilância da tuberculose e suas interfaces com a atenção à PVHA

Unidade 3, atividade 4, do curso Organização de serviços para o atendimento de pessoas coinfectadas por TB-HIV. A infectologista Rossana Coimbra Brito fala sobre o acolhimento em serviços de saúde que atendem pessoas coinfectadas por TB e HIV. Aborda os instrumentos de vigilância do Programa Nacional de Controle de Tuberculose e suas interfaces na atenção de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS nos sistemas de atendimento especializados. Os instrumentos são a ficha de notificação, o boletim de acompanhamento e livro de registro e acompanhamento de tratamento dos casos de tuberculose dos serviços de saúde. Através desses são baseadas as decisões do controle da tuberculose no País e a delimitação de populações mais vulneráveis à TB/HIV. Apresenta o também Sistema de Informação de Tratamentos Especiais de Tuberculose (SITETB) e explica sua importância e funcionamento no controle da doença.

Anatomical Study Of Minor Alterations In Neonate Vocal Folds.

Minor structural alterations of the vocal fold cover are frequent causes of voice abnormalities. They may be difficult to diagnose, and are expressed in different manners. Cases of intracordal cysts, sulcus vocalis, mucosal bridge, and laryngeal micro-diaphragm form the group of minor structural alterations of the vocal fold cover investigated in the present study. The etiopathogenesis and epidemiology of these alterations are poorly known. To evaluate the existence and anatomical characterization of minor structural alterations in the vocal folds of newborns. 56 larynxes excised from neonates of both genders were studied. They were examined fresh, or defrosted after conservation via freezing, under a microscope at magnifications of 25× and 40×. The vocal folds were inspected and palpated by two examiners, with the aim of finding minor structural alterations similar to those described classically, and other undetermined minor structural alterations. Larynges presenting abnormalities were submitted to histological examination. Six cases of abnormalities were found in different larynges: one (1.79%) compatible with a sulcus vocalis and five (8.93%) compatible with a laryngeal micro-diaphragm. No cases of cysts or mucosal bridges were found. The observed abnormalities had characteristics similar to those described in other age groups. Abnormalities similar to sulcus vocalis or micro-diaphragm may be present at birth.

Self-etch Adhesive Systems: A Literature Review.

This paper presents the state of the art of self-etch adhesive systems. Four topics are shown in this review and included: the historic of this category of bonding agents, bonding mechanism, characteristics/properties and the formation of acid-base resistant zone at enamel/dentin-adhesive interfaces. Also, advantages regarding etch-and-rinse systems and classifications of self-etch adhesive systems according to the number of steps and acidity are addressed. Finally, issues like the potential durability and clinical importance are discussed. Self-etch adhesive systems are promising materials because they are easy to use, bond chemically to tooth structure and maintain the dentin hydroxyapatite, which is important for the durability of the bonding.

Estudo por espectroscopia micro-Raman dos mecanismos de separação de fase em vidros fosfatos de metais de transição

Glass-ceramics are prepared by controlled separation of crystal phases in glasses, leading to uniform and dense grain structures. On the other hand, chemical leaching of soluble crystal phases yields porous glass-ceramics with important applications. Here, glass/ceramic interfaces of niobo-, vanado- and titano-phosphate glasses were studied by micro-Raman spectroscopy, whose spatial resolution revealed the multiphase structures. Phase-separation mechanisms were also determined by this technique, revealing that interface composition remained unchanged as the crystallization front advanced for niobo- and vanadophosphate glasses (interface-controlled crystallization). For titanophosphate glasses, phase composition changed continuously with time up to the equilibrium composition, indicating a spinodal-type phase separation.

Equipamento microprocessado para geração de sinal de correção diferencial, em tempo real, para GPS

This work presents the development of low cost microprocessor-based equipment for generation of differential GPS correction signal, in real time, and configuration and supervision of the GPS base. The developed equipment contains a dedicated microcontroller connected to the GPS receiver, alphanumeric display and multifunction keyboard for configuration and operation of the system and communication interfaces. The electronic circuit has the function of receiving the information from GPS base; interpret them, converting the sentence in the RTCM SC-104 protocol. The microcontroller software makes the conversion of the signal received by the GPS base from the specific format to RTCM SC-104 protocol. The processing main board has two serials RS-232C standard interfaces. One of them is used for configuration and receiving the information generated by the GPS base. The other operates as output, sending the differential correction signal for the transmission system. The development of microprocessor-based equipment showed that it is possible the construction of a low cost private station for real time generation of differential GPS correction signal.

As vozes da sociedade: letramento, consciência e poder

The dialectic tension between the phenomenon of illiteracy and the remedial efforts of the literate to provide a voice for those who don t have one, reflects at the same time the difficulties that the emerging discourses have to struggle with, and highlights the importance of this struggle as one that belongs to the opressed, not the well-meaning educators and political activists. It also informs the latter s efforts on behalf of the uneducated. Naturally these issues have attracted a good deal of attention of some specialists in South America. There is now a movement afoot there that aims at placing illiterate discourse inside the societal discourse proper without letting the latter manipulate the former for its own ends. I will address the typical exigencies and limitations inherent in such efforts, but at the same time point to new ways of understanding and handling the problem of literacy in a developing country.

Mulheres indigenas: poder e tradição

This study contemplates reports and reflections about gender and the interfaces with work, power and woman's political participation within the Bororo indigenous communities in Mato Grosso, Guarani/Kaiowá and Kadiwéu ones, in Mato Grosso do Sul. In the study with the Bororo community, the woman valorization occurred because she represents the guardian of the culture and of the traditional knowledge, and at the same time, she is an important speaker for the Bororo and the non indigenous society. In the case of Guarani/Kaiowá community, the most important facts are, on one side, the departure of the men and their wish to become city men, and on the other, the women who wish or need to keep the Guarani identity and live in the reserve. In the Kadiwéu community, the most important fact is the women political power and a role division between men and women, without the attribution of more value to one role or the other.

Metamorfose planar via métodos Level Set e Particle Level Set para a reconstrução de superfícies tridimensionais

Evolving interfaces were initially focused on solutions to scientific problems in Fluid Dynamics. With the advent of the more robust modeling provided by Level Set method, their original boundaries of applicability were extended. Specifically to the Geometric Modeling area, works published until then, relating Level Set to tridimensional surface reconstruction, centered themselves on reconstruction from a data cloud dispersed in space; the approach based on parallel planar slices transversal to the object to be reconstructed is still incipient. Based on this fact, the present work proposes to analyse the feasibility of Level Set to tridimensional reconstruction, offering a methodology that simultaneously integrates the proved efficient ideas already published about such approximation and the proposals to process the inherent limitations of the method not satisfactorily treated yet, in particular the excessive smoothing of fine characteristics of contours evolving under Level Set. In relation to this, the application of the variant Particle Level Set is suggested as a solution, for its intrinsic proved capability to preserve mass of dynamic fronts. At the end, synthetic and real data sets are used to evaluate the presented tridimensional surface reconstruction methodology qualitatively.

Metamorfose planar via métodos Level Set e Particle Level Set para a reconstrução de superfícies tridimensionais

Evolving interfaces were initially focused on solutions to scientific problems in Fluid Dynamics. With the advent of the more robust modeling provided by Level Set method, their original boundaries of applicability were extended. Specifically to the Geometric Modeling area, works published until then, relating Level Set to tridimensional surface reconstruction, centered themselves on reconstruction from a data cloud dispersed in space; the approach based on parallel planar slices transversal to the object to be reconstructed is still incipient. Based on this fact, the present work proposes to analyse the feasibility of Level Set to tridimensional reconstruction, offering a methodology that simultaneously integrates the proved efficient ideas already published about such approximation and the proposals to process the inherent limitations of the method not satisfactorily treated yet, in particular the excessive smoothing of fine characteristics of contours evolving under Level Set. In relation to this, the application of the variant Particle Level Set is suggested as a solution, for its intrinsic proved capability to preserve mass of dynamic fronts. At the end, synthetic and real data sets are used to evaluate the presented tridimensional surface reconstruction methodology qualitatively.