Social dysfunctioning after mild to moderate first-ever stroke at vocational age.

BACKGROUND: With improvements in stroke treatments, the number of patients with dramatic recovery is increasing. However, many of them are still complaining of difficulties in returning to work and every day activities. The aim was to assess work and social dysfunctioning in patients with minor to moderate stroke and explore its contributing factors. METHODS: Consecutive patients were prospectively included at a median 7 months after a first-ever stroke. Scores on the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS), a generic self-reported scale for assessing social functioning, were correlated with scores on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), activities of daily living, Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD) and MMSE, Iowa Scale of Personality Changes and return to work at 1 year. RESULTS: Among the 84 included patients (mean age 43.5 years), 57 (68%; 95% CI 57 to 78%) complained of significant perturbation of functioning attributed to stroke. WSAS was highly significantly related to modified Rankin scale, daily living activities, Iowa Scale of Personality Changes and return to work at 1 year. Using ordinal logistic regression, the contributors to WSAS were initial neurological severity (NIHSS at admission), HAD and MMSE. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that up to 68% of our patients complained of significant work and social dysfunction due to stroke, despite a good clinical outcome. This self-estimation was correlated to external validation criteria, stressing the high burden of stroke from the patient's viewpoint. Moreover, when compared across diseases, social dysfunctioning after mild stroke was as important as in other major disabling diseases.

Extreme prematurity and intra uterine growth restriction effects in brain network topology at school age

Higher risk for long-term behavioral and emotional sequelae, with attentional problems (with or without hyperactivity) is now becoming one of the hallmarks of extreme premature (EP) birth and birth after pregancy conditions leading to poor intra uterine growth restriction (IUGR) [1,2]. However, little is know so far about the neurostructural basis of these complexe brain functional abnormalities that seem to have their origins in early critical periods of brain development. The development of cortical axonal pathways happens in a series of sequential events. The preterm phase (24-36 post conecptional weeks PCW) is known for being crucial for growth of the thalamocortical fiber bundles as well as for the development of long projectional, commisural and projectional fibers [3]. Is it logical to expect, thus, that being exposed to altered intrauterine environment (altered nutrition) or to extrauterine environment earlier that expected, lead to alterations in the structural organization and, consequently, alter the underlying white matter (WM) structure. Understanding rate and variability of normal brain development, and detect differences from typical development may offer insight into the neurodevelopmental anomalies that can be imaged at later stages. Due to its unique ability to non-invasively visualize and quantify in vivo white matter tracts in the brain, in this study we used diffusion MRI (dMRI) tractography to derive brain graphs [4,5,6]. This relatively simple way of modeling the brain enable us to use graph theory to study topological properties of brain graphs in order to study the effects of EP and IUGR on childrens brain connectivity at age 6 years old.

'Biased' Risk Perceptions of Longevity and Disability in Old Age

Rational learning theories postulate that information channels and cognitive biases such as individual optimism may influence an individual¿s assessment of the risk of undesired events, especially with regard to those that have a cumulative nature. This is the case with disability in old age, which may take place upon survival to an advanced age, and such factors have been regarded as responsible for certain individual behaviours (for example, the limited incidence of insurance purchase). This paper examines the determinants of individual perceptions with regard to disability in old age and longevity. The cumulative nature of such perceptions of risk is tested, and potential biases are identified, including `optimism¿ and a set of information determinants. Empirical evidence from a representative survey of Catalonia is presented to illustrate these effects. The findings from this research suggest a significant overestimation of disability in old age, yet this is not the case with longevity. Furthermore, individual perceptions with regard to disability in old age, unlike those with regard to longevity, exhibit on aggregate an `optimistic bias¿ and, are perceived as `cumulative risks¿. Gender influences the perceived risk of disability in old age at a population level but not at the individual level, and the opposite holds true for age. Finally, self-reported health status is the main variable behind risk perceptions at both the individual and population level.

Faire croire, faire peur : diabolisation de la sorcellerie et construction de l'altérité à la fin du Moyen Age

L'objectif de ma contribution est de mettre en lumière le processus de construction de la figure du sorcier, qui répond à une double logique d'accumulations et d'exagérations des accusations. Ces dernières renvoient à quatre registres principaux, à commencer par celui de la diabolisation des pratiques de magie et de sorcellerie. Par ailleurs, le sabbat des sorcières est perçu comme une anti-église démoniaque qui réunit une secte éminemment dangereuse d'hérétiques et d'apostats qui ont conclu un pacte avec le diable. Le fantasme du complot ou de la rébellion contribue alors à construire la peur des sectes de sorciers. Enfin, le registre de la contre-nature, tels les crimes immoraux ou tabous associés aux méfaits des sorciers (comportements sexuels déviants, infanticide et cannibalisme d'enfants), favorise quant à lui le dénigrement des individus.

Age differences in biological monitoring of chemical exposure: a tentative description using a toxicokinetic model

AIM: Specific factors responsible for interindividual variability should be identified and their contribution quantified to improve the usefulness of biological monitoring. Among others, age is an easily identifiable determinant, which could play an important impact on biological variability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A compartmental toxicokinetic model developed in previous studies for a series of metallic and organic compounds was applied to the description of age differences. Young male physiological and metabolic parameters, based on Reference Man information, were taken from preceding studies and were modified to take into account age based on available information about age differences. RESULTS: Numerical simulation using the kinetic model with the modified parameters indicates in some cases important differences due to age. The expected changes are mostly of the order of 10-20%, but differences up to 50% were observed in some cases. CONCLUSION: These differences appear to depend on the chemical and on the biological entity considered. Further work should be done to improve our estimates of these parameters, by considering for example uncertainty and variability in these parameters. [Authors]

Levantamento dos temas TIC e EAD na biblioteca virtual Educ@

Trata-se de uma pesquisa que envolveu a exploração dos 36 periódicos que compõem o repositório Educ@ com vistas ao levantamento das publicações que enfocam os temas educação a distância - EAD - e tecnologias da informação e da comunicação - TIC. Excluídos três periódicos que se voltam exclusivamente para a divulgação de estudos relacionados aos temas desse levantamento, foram evidenciados 824 artigos. Os dados tabulados permitiram identificar uma mudança no foco dos estudos encontrados, que discutiam a informática educativa e passaram a investigar o uso/apropriação das TIC e a formação de professores para e por meio da EAD. A partir de 2008, a quantidade de artigos publicados por ano em cada periódico triplicou, sinalizando um aumento do interesse dos pesquisadores por investigações sobre os temas explorados.

"Ciberteca" ou biblioteca virtual: uma perspectiva de gerenciamento de recursos de informação

As modificações tecnológicas e as recentes concepções de gerenciamento de recursos de informação têm causado uma quebra no paradigma dos modelos tradicionais de bibliotecas. O conceito de biblioteca virtual se apresenta como uma alternativa para ampliar as condições de busca, disponibilidade e recuperação de informações de maneira globalizada, qualitativa, pertinente e racional, aliando o acesso local ao acesso remoto, com base nas redes de telecomunicação disponíveis. Embora o conceito de biblioteca virtual esteja ainda em construção, um cuidadoso planejamento deve ser elaborado, tendo em vista a transição do modelo tradicional de bibliotecas para o modelo de biblioteca virtual. Alguns passos desta avaliação são apresentados, em especial para bibliotecas especializadas, bem como algumas experiências já em funcionamento em países do Primeiro Mundo. Novos papéis são também exigidos para os profissionais bibliotecários e para o pessoal da biblioteca, visando a um reposicionamento de atitudes e atividades.

Natura cosméticos: quando é virtuoso ser virtual

Descreve a filosofia, o histórico de implantação e as funções da biblioteca virtual da Natura Cosméticos S.A., considerado o primeiro sistema virtual de informações em empresa do Brasil. Devido ao vertiginoso crescimento da empresa desde o início de sua atuação no mercado internacional, buscou-se a definição de uma estrutura de sustentação informativa que auxiliasse o aprimoramento dos produtos e processos e trouxesse informação sobre o que de mais moderno e inovador estivesse acontecendo na cosmética mundial. Além disso, buscava-se uma metodologia que também organizasse, sistematizasse e disponibilizasse a informação com rapidez e critérios seletivos de pertinência e relevância. Acreditava-se ser ineficaz a repetição do velho paradigma da biblioteca interna em um cenário de globalização de mercados no qual o acesso à informação não deveria estar limitado à informação que pudesse ser armazenada em uma sala de biblioteca. Mais importante do que ter a informação seria saber onde encontrá-la de maneira rápida e eficaz, porque guardar não significa dispor quando se necessita e guardar tem um custo geralmente subestimado quando da criação de sistemas que pretendam ser efetivos quanto à prospecção e difusão de informações. O foco de atuação do Centro de Informações Bibliográficas da Natura é o acesso externo à informação em detrimento do acervo interno de informação. Descreve as características, produtos e atividades desse sistema virtual de informações.

Design de biblioteca virtual centrado no usuário: a abordagem do Sense-Making para estudos de necessidades e procedimentos de busca e uso da informação

Analisa a abordagem do Sense-Making na busca e uso da informação.