Validação de um modelo de cálculo por elementos finitos do chassi de uma semeadora de quatro linhas

O comportamento estrutural estático de um chassi experimental de semeadora de quatro linhas para agricultura familiar foi testado, utilizando-se da técnica numérica de Análise de Elementos Finitos, onde se levou em consideração os esforços a que a máquina em questão estaria sujeita, quando suspensa do chão, pelos três pontos de engate do trator. Para a validação do modelo usado pelo software SolidWorks Simulation, submeteu-se um protótipo em escala real do chassi a carregamentos de forças verticais, a fim de comparar os deslocamentos reais da estrutura com os deslocamentos calculados pelo software. Dois estudos foram feitos do modelo para o cálculo dos deslocamentos da estrutura: no primeiro, não foram incluídos os suportes dos engates dos três pontos no cálculo, e os deslocamentos medidos não foram comparáveis com os calculados. No segundo estudo, quando foram incluídos os engates no cálculo, verificou-se que os resultados foram comparáveis com os obtidos na prática. Concluiu-se, portanto, que o segundo estudo é válido e que os cálculos da estrutura do chassi que foram realizados pelo software são confiáveis.

An Infant with Food Allergy and Eczema in the Family – The Mental and Economic Burden of Caring

Allergic diseases including food allergy and eczema in an infant in combination with the everyday activities of caring for a family will pose challenges to parents. Only fragments of these challenges are revealed to health care professionals. Families have varying mental, social and economic resources to help them care for an allergic infant, and all such resources are important in determining how families succeed in meeting these challenges and the quality of the infant’s care. This study evaluated the whole burden to the family caused by an infant's allergic disease during the first 24 months of life. As the primary caregiver during this period is usually the mother, her perspective was considered important. Ecocultural theory, which considers families as capable of modifying the positive and negative forces facing them, was taken as the frame of reference. Data were collected as part of an ongoing prospective mother-infant study, and the methods included severity scoring of atopic dermatitis, dietary records, health-related quality of life measurements and assessments of the use of health care services and medications for treating the infant’s eczema, food allergy and asthma. Interviews with mothers were analysed by deductive content analysis on the basis of ecocultural theory and the family empowerment model. The theme “Living an ordinary family life” guided the organization of family activities essential for treating the infant's food allergy and eczema. These activities were sources of both strain and support for the mothers, the allergy-related supporting factors being the mother’s own knowledge of the allergy, hopes for an improvement in the infant’s condition, social support and work. An infant’s food allergy at the age of one year caused considerable strain for the mother in cases where the introduction of new foods into the child’s diet was delayed. This delay was still causing the mother additional strain when the child was 24 months of age. The infants waking at night at the ages of 12 and 24 months because of itching related to eczema caused strain for the mothers. The infants’ health-related quality of life was impaired at ages of 6 and 12 months compared with healthy infants. The principal reasons for impairments were itching, scratching and sleep disturbances at 6 and 12 months and treatment difficulties at 6 months. Problems with getting to sleep were reported at all stages irrespective of eczema and were also present in healthy infants. The economic impact of the treatment of allergic diseases on families during the first 24 months was 131 EUR (2006 value) in cases of eczema and 525 EUR in cases of food allergy. From the societal perspective, the costs of food allergy were a median of 3183 EUR (range 628–11 560 EUR) and of eczema a median of 275 EUR (range 94–1306 EUR). These large variations in costs in food allergy and eczema indicate that disease varies greatly . In conclusion, food allergy and eczema cause extra activities and costs to families which arrange these disease-related activities in such a way that they support the leading family theme “Living an ordinary family life”. Health care professionals should consider this thematic character of family life and disease-related activities in order to ensure that new treatments are sustainable, meaningful and tailored to daily activities. In addition, those mothers who are experiencing difficulties with food allergic infants or infants with eczema should be recognized early and provided with individual encouragement and support from health clinics. In the light of the present results, early detection of symptoms and effective parental guidance can contribute to the well-being and health-related quality of life of the child and family.

Cálculo biliar "perdido": um novo problema para o ginecologista na abordagem do abdome agudo?

Os autores relatam o caso de uma paciente com 35 anos de idade, submetida à colecistectomia videolaparoscópica há 1 ano e que apresentou quadro sugestivo de salpingite aguda com abscesso. Durante a laparotomia notou-se um abscesso que era limitado anteriormente pelo peritônio parietal e músculo reto anterior direito do abdome, e posteriormente pelo corno uterino e pelo ligamento redondo à direita. Neste abscesso havia estrutura a seguir identificada como cálculo biliar. São discutidos os aspectos relacionados à patogenia, tratamento e prevenção desta complicação que vem sendo relatada com freqüência em virtude do maior uso da cirurgia laparoscópica.

Cálculo do volume de sangue necessário para a correção da anemia fetal em gestantes isoimunizadas

OBJETIVO: obter uma equação capaz de estimar o volume de concentrado de hemácias a ser infundido para correção da anemia em fetos de gestantes portadoras de isoimunização pelo fator Rh, baseado em parâmetros alcançados durante a cordocentese prévia à transfusão intra-uterina. MÉTODOS: em estudo transversal, foram analisadas 89 transfusões intra-uterinas para correção de anemia em 48 fetos acompanhados no Centro de Medicina Fetal do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. A idade gestacional mediana, no momento da cordocentese, foi de 29 semanas e a média de procedimentos por feto foi de 2,1. A hemoglobina fetal foi dosada antes e após a cordocentese, sendo verificado o volume de concentrado de hemácias transfundido. Para determinação de uma fórmula para estimar o volume sanguíneo necessário para correção da anemia fetal, tomou-se como base o volume necessário para elevar em 1 g% a hemoglobina fetal (diferença entre a concentração de hemoglobina final e a inicial, dividida pelo volume transfundido) e o volume de quanto seria necessário para se atingir 14 g%, em análise de regressão múltipla. RESULTADOS: a concentração da hemoglobina pré-transfusional variou entre 2,3 e 15,7 g%. A prevalência de anemia fetal (Hb<10 g%) foi de 52%. A equação de regressão obtida para determinação do volume de sangue necessário para alcançar a concentração de Hb de 14 g% foi: volume para transfusão (mL)=18,2 - 13,4 x hemoglobina pré-transfusão intra-uterina + 6,0 x idade gestacional em semanas. Está fórmula foi estatisticamente significativa (p<0,0001). CONCLUSÕES: o estudo mostrou que é possível estimar o volume transfusional necessário para correção da anemia fetal, baseando-se em parâmetros de fácil obtenção: idade gestacional e valor da hemoglobina pré-transfusional.

Evaluation of common mental disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and its relationship with body mass index

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of common mental disorders in women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome as compared with paired controls without this syndrome. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with a Control Group examining women between the ages of 18 and 30 who did not use antidepressants and who sought the Gynecology Service of the researched sites. For every woman diagnosed with the polycystic ovary syndrome, another with the same age, educational status and presence or absence of sexual partners was sought without this diagnosis. In total, 166 patients agreed to participate, consisting of 95 diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome and 71 in the Control Group. The diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome was made by the presence of two from three criteria: oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea, clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovaries on transvaginal ultrasound, following exclusion of patients with Cushing's syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and androgen-secreting tumors. Weight and height were measured to calculate the body mass index. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire, which evaluated 20 items, was used as an indicator of common mental disorders. A χ² analysis stratified by the category of body mass index was used to compare the prevalence of common mental disorders, between the groups of women with and without the polycystic ovary syndrome. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, education, presence of sexual partners, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, use of psychiatric medication, and search for consultation in mental health between the studied groups. The prevalence of obese women with indications of common mental disorders was significantly higher in women with polycystic ovary syndrome than in the Control Group. In the group with healthy body mass index, the incidence of common mental disorders was statistically significant different between women with polycystic ovary syndrome and normal controls (p=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Women with diagnosis of this disease have an almost three-fold increased likelihood of common mental disorders as compared with those without polycystic ovary syndrome. Although obesity is often observed in polycystic ovary syndrome, even women with a healthy body mass index have an increased risk of psychiatric comorbidity.

Quantificação computadorizada dos índices de placa e cálculo dentais da imagem digital da superfície vestibular dos dentes de cães

A doença periodontal é causada pelo acúmulo de placa bacteriana sobre os dentes e estruturas adjacentes. Para sua mensuração têm sido formulados índices que consideram a quantidade e intensidade de placa bacteriana (PB) e de cálculo dental (CD) existentes na superfície dentária por meio de avaliação visual subjetiva. O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o método de análise computadorizada para medição de área de PB e CD nos dentes de cães através da comparação com a avaliação visual. Foram utilizados 10 cães Beagles, três machos e sete fêmeas, com similares características e mantidos sob o mesmo manejo e dieta alimentar. As avaliações das superfícies vestibulares dos dentes ocorreram antes da profilaxia dentária, que foi realizada sob anestesia geral inalatória, e após sete dias para PB e após 28 dias para CD. A avaliação computadorizada da área de CD demonstrou ser estatisticamente melhor em relação à avaliação visual antes e após a profilaxia; entretanto, não demonstrou diferença significante na avaliação da PB. Concluiu-se que a avaliação computadorizada é vantajosa em relação à visual por conferir maior precisão na obtenção da proporção entre área total do dente e área acometida, mostrando-se estatistticamente superior na quantificação do CD após 28 dias.

Pain symptoms and sleep problems among school-aged children. Long-term prevalence changes, and pain symptoms as predictors of later mental health

Children’s pain symptoms and sleep problems are among the most common health complaints. They distract children from activities, decrease the quality of life, contribute to a significant economic burden, and have shown continuity into adulthood. The main aims of this thesis were to investigate long-term changes in the prevalence of pain symptoms and sleep problems among Finnish school-aged children, and the later mental health of those who in childhood experience pain. Prevalence, co-occurrence, and associated psychosocial factors of pain symptoms and sleep problems were also assessed. In study I, prevalence changes in eight-year-old children’s pain symptoms and sleep problems were investigated in three cross-sectional population-based samples (years 1989: n=1038, 1999: n=1035, and 2005: n=1030). In study II, cross-sectional associations between pain symptoms, sleep problems, and psychosocial factors were assessed among 13-18-year-old adolescents (n=2476). In studies III and IV, associations between pain symptoms at age eight (n=6017), and register-based data on antidepressant use and severe suicidality by age 24, were examined in a nationwide birth cohort. Pain symptoms and sleep problems were common and often co-occurred. A considerable number of children’s pain symptoms remained unrecognized by the parents. The prevalence of pain symptoms, sleep problems, and multiple concurrent symptoms approximately doubled from 1989 to 2005. Psychiatric difficulties or demographic factors did not explain the increase. Psychosocial factors that were associated with pain, sleep problems, and a higher number of symptoms, were female sex, psychological difficulties, emotional symptoms, smoking, victimization, and feeling not cared about by teachers. In longitudinal analyses, the child’s own report of headache, and to a smaller degree the parental report of the child’s abdominal pain predicted later antidepressant use. Parental report of the child’s abdominal pain predicted severe suicidality among males. If one of the symptoms is present, health care professionals should inquire about other symptoms as well. Questions should be directed to the children, not only to their parents. Inquiring about psychiatric difficulties, substance use, victimization, and relations with teachers should be included as a part of the assessment. Further studies are needed to clarify the reasons that underlie the increased prevalence rates, and the factors that may increase or decrease the risk for later mental health problems among pain-suffering children.

Níveis econômicos de prejuízos de plantas infestantes nas culturas agrícolas: conceitos, definições e formas de cálculo

Uma das áreas da matologia (herbologia em Portugal) que tem avançado nas pesquisas científicas em Portugal e no Brasil nas últimas três décadas é a de nível de prejuízo das infestantes às culturas agrícolas. Contudo, durante esse período ocorreu uma multiplicidade de traduções de termos técnicos para a língua portuguesa, que atualmente dificultam o intercâmbio de informações técnico-científicas. Os objetivos desta revisão de literatura foram: definir os cinco diferentes termos referentes aos níveis de prejuízos das infestantes utilizados em herbologia; consolidar no idioma português os acrônimos utilizados para esses termos; apresentar as designações que têm correspondência nas línguas francesa e inglesa; indicar as perguntas científicas a que o termo responde; e apresentar as formas de cálculo que podem ser utilizadas para cada nível de prejuízo definido. Os termos estudados nesta revisão foram: densidade crítica, nível prejudicial de ataque (NPA ou nível de dano econômico = NDE), nível econômico de ataque, nível de tolerância e nível de segurança de ataque. Os modelos de cálculo do NPA = NDE no caso de infestações contendo uma única espécie vegetal são deduzidos a partir dos modelos linear, hiperbólico, múltiplo linear e múltiplo não linear; e para as situações de infestações com mais de uma espécie vegetal, a partir da equação linear múltipla entre a densidade de plantas e o rendimento da cultura.

Exploring the Impact of Mental Health Education on Adolescents’ Perceptions About Mental Health and Mental Illness. Improving community health

The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of mental health and mental illness as well as the perceptions towards people with mental illness among adolescents, and further to examine the impact that a mental health educational intervention has on these perceptions. The review of the literature revealed a small number of publications on mental health educational interventions among adolescents which aimed at increasing knowledge and affecting attitudes towards mental illness with positive results. Fifty nine pupils (13-16 years old) from two randomly selected secondary schools around Athens, Greece, participated in this study. These schools were randomly selected as the experimental group (n=28) which participated in the mental health educational intervention, and the comparison group (n=31), which did not receive any intervention. Data were collected using individual interviews with open-ended questions, drawings and a questionnaire (Opinions about Mental Illness - O.M.I. scale). The participants described mental health and mental illness before and after the intervention, using the same expressions for both terms. Among the experimental group, changes were seen within the same expressions after the intervention, although some descriptions did not change. However, after the intervention, participants in the experimental group did not confuse mental health with mental illness and they also included specific diagnostic examples or stated that mental illness can happen to anyone and it can be managed. Moreover, they expressed positive attitudes towards mentally ill people, which they had not done before the intervention. The analysis of the drawings before the intervention showed that mentally ill persons were drawn similarly in both groups. After the intervention, the drawings of the participants in the experimental group changed, including fewer negative elements, while the drawings of the comparison group did not change. Regarding the results on the O.M.I. scale, it was found that the score on the Social Discrimination factor significantly decreased from pre-test to post-test in both study groups. The experimental group had higher levels on Social Discrimination at pre-test compared to the comparison group, but this difference was not significant at post-test. No significant changes were found for the Social Restriction factor for either study group. Scores of the Social Care and Social Integration factors increased significantly only in the intervention group. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the mental health educational intervention had a positive impact on the perceptions about mental health and mental illness among adolescents, and (mental) health professionals can use these results for implementing similar interventions and further research.

Misticismo do cálculo e a ascese consumista: razão e fé no "crer sem pertencer" e no neopentecostalismo

A cultura do cálculo engendra duas formas de individualização: 1) o isolamento do indivíduo como "peça" nos processos formalizados (nos repetitivos ciclos do consumo e na lógica organizacional da burocracia), o qual coloca a consciência numa condição de heteronomia; 2) a liberdade do homem decorrente da possibilidade de controlar a natureza física e social, que desenvolve uma condição de autonomia da consciência. Na última vertente, o cálculo acaba por lidar com seus próprios limites e, portanto, está destinado a agir no limiar do misticismo. As duas principais formas de desinstitucionalização religiosa de nossos dias, quais sejam, a representada pelos movimentos neopentecostais (de recorte consumista) e a chamada "secularização encantada" (de recorte místico), remontam àquelas duas forças individualizantes da cultura do cálculo.

Effects of physical activity and fitness on the psychological wellbeing of young men and working adults: associations with stress, mental resources, overweight and workability

Background: A positive association has been suggested to exist between physical activity and psychological wellbeing. However, the association between physical fitness, especially muscle fitness and psychological wellbeing, has not yet been fully elucidated. Aims: The objective of the present thesis was to assess the relationship between physical activity and physical fitness with stress symptoms, mental resources and workability among young men and working adults. Subjects and methods: Volunteers of young men (n=831, mean age 25-y (±4.0)), underwent a cardiorespiratory (CRF) and muscle fitness (MFI) test and completed leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and Occupational Stress Questionnaires (OSQ). The participants were divided into tertiles according to LTPA, CRF and MFI. A 12-month exercise intervention evaluated 371 working adults (exercise group, n=338, mean age 45-y (±8.8)); control group, n=33, mean age 41-y (±6.9)).The exercise group underwent a 12-month exercise program followed by a 12-month follow-up. The OSQ, Workability Index (WAI) and CRF were evaluated at baseline and at 4, 8, 12 and 24 months. Results: Physically inactive subjects reported more stress and less available mental resources than the subjects who reported high physical activity levels. Improved physical fitness was associated with less stress and more mental resources among normal weight men, but not in overweight men. After a 12-month exercise intervention, employees in the exercise group increased their physical activity, improved workability, decreased stress symptoms and improved their physical fitness and mental resources. After the follow-up year, workability and stress were improved compared to baseline. Conclusions: In this thesis, good physical fitness was associated with improved psychological wellbeing among young men and working adults.