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The present study sought to explore the factors associated with the odds of having probable depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to traumatic COVID-19 experiences and their impact on health care workers in distinct categories. In this cross-sectional study, 1843 health care workers (nurses, nurse technicians, physicians, physical therapists, and other healthcare workers) were recruited via convenience sampling. A survey was administered to obtain information regarding sociodemographic, occupational, and mental health status. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used for the analyses. Being a nurse technician was associated with an odds ratio of 1.76 for probable PTSD. No relation was observed between health care worker categories and the odds of probable depression. Additionally, being female and not receiving adequate PPE were related to greater odds of having probable PTSD and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern life comprises a myriad of stressful situations, ranging from life-threatening ones to others not so deadly, all of which activate a physiologic stress response. Engaging in healthy ways to cope can prevent us from wearing out our physiological systems. Heart rate variability (HRV) is often used as an index of emotion regulation response. Hence, our goal is to investigate whether the habitual use of coping strategies is related to a distinct pattern of HRV changes when the individual is exposed to a moderate psychosocial stressor. In this study, 60 female participants performed a psychosocial stress task—oral speech preparation—while ECG signals were collected during the whole experimental procedure. Heart rate (HR), HRV parameters (SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF) and coping strategies (Brief COPE) were registered. Participants were divided into two groups (low and high groups) as a function of their scores on the maladaptive and adaptive coping strategies of the Brief COPE. As expected, the task alone induced increases in heart rate and reductions in HRV parameters. Additionally, the analyses revealed a different pattern of HRV (SDNN, RMSSD, LF and HF) changes in response to the stressor, with participants using less maladaptive strategies being able to maintain the HRV at baseline levels when confronting the stressor, while those using more maladaptive strategies reducing HRV during the task. These results show a different pattern of HRV changes as a function of the coping style, suggesting a possible autonomic advantage, namely, the maintenance of HRV, in individuals who use maladaptive coping strategies less frequently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active Pt-based catalysts at low temperature towards the preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in hydrogen-rich stream reaction (CO-PROX) are of great importance for H 2 -fueled fuel cells, but still remain a challenge. Herein, we propose a simple approach to synthesize a highly active Pt 20 Fe/CeO 2 catalyst employing the borohydride reduction process. Transmission electronic microscopy revealed monodispersed 2.8 nm-Pt nanoparticles on CeO 2 , and the role of Fe species on the activity is discussed. The excellent CO conversion of 99.6% and CO 2 selectivity of 92.3% carried out at ambient temperature meet the CO-PROX requirements for an adequate supply of hydrogen in fuel cell device. [Display omitted] • Highly active Pt20Fe/CeO2 synthesized by borohydride without any pre-treatment. • Fe species promotes the oxygen activation at low temperatures. • Pt 20 Fe/CeO 2 performance fulfills the CO-PROX "50:50 goal". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raman and IR spectroscopic measurements were carried out in formamide (FA) solutions containing variable SnCl4 contents. Pyramidal FA molecules play a major role in these media and are characterised by new bands at 1746, 1190 and 796 cm−1, which may be used as makers. The electrostatic potential (φ) of the coordinated ion shows good relationship with the arising of these bands, which are only seen in the spectra as the cation presents φ ≥ 3.9 × 1020 J C−1. Pyramidalisation of FA is due to the presence of a quaternary N in the [Sn(FA)2Cl2]2+ complex, which is formed along with [SnCl6]2-. The major Sn(IV)-based complexes are structurally similar to those commonly identified in aqueous medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mud deposits on Cassino beach are associated with waves generated from storms during cold front passages and extratropical cyclones from the southern quadrant. During such episodes fluid mud deposited at the shoreface and surf zone is transported towards the surf zone and the sandy beach prism. The first mention on the origin of mud has always attributed a source exclusively natural for the deposits. However, new interpretations and recent data indicate that the increase in dredged volumes over the years increased the frequency of mud depositions. In order to verify this association, records of dredged and discarded volumes in the Port of Rio Grande and Cassino beach shoreface were analyzed. Maps of bottom types, silt and clay ratio, and fluid mud thickness obtained from superficial samples and sediment cores between 4 and 15 m water depth at the time of the 1998 impact were also reanalyzed. Current conditions near the dumping sites in the estuary and inner shelf in 1998 were reconstructed by hindcast based on reanalysis data and an ADCP anchored 15 m off the Rio Grande coast. In order to verify the effect of the passage of a cold front on the bottom near the ocean dumping site, data from two mooring stations made on the crest and swale of a sand ridge field were considered. To further understand the disposal of the dredged material, a particle transport model was created for two periods related to the depositional events. In the period of 1998, it was simulated the disposal of dredged material on two locations, one with the disposal of 640,000 m3 of sediment inside the estuary at 8 m of depth and, the other, with 2.3 million m3 of disposal material, at 13 m depth in the shoreface. The simulation at depth of 19 m, for the dumping site of 2014 considered the disposal of 1,000.000 m3 at 19 m water depth. The occurrence of massive concentrations of an estuarine gastropod associated with the deposits at the beach led to a literature search on their occurrence in the area after researches carried out for more than three decades on the fauna ecology of sandy beaches. From the 1970s onwards, dredged volumes intensify and were deposited into the estuary and ocean using Hopper dredges. There was an increase in episodes of mud deposition at CB. The sedimentation patterns after dredging operations indicate that natural sedimentary processes are altered in a transient way. Currents generated by winds and storms in both quadrants north and south provide conditions of instability of fine sediments in the disposal sites with flow components parallel and also direct to the coast regardless of wave action. Hydrodynamic modeling indicates that sediments disposed into both the estuary and the shoreface during northeast and southern winds have the potential to be driven towards the beach. The massive deposition of millions of organisms after dredging events is not a natural process and is an indication of the dredging activities. Dredging can be an important part of the environmental impact because the natural accumulation process is enhanced by intense pulses of fine sediments in short time favoring more frequent depositions since the historical and current disposal sites are not appropriate. Negative environmental impacts are related to beach usage since it affects sunbathers, surfers, vehicle traffic, morphodynamic changes, and massive mortality of the benthic fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the influences of coping styles on posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among a sample of non-clinical college students who were exposed to traumatic events. Ninety-nine college students participated in the study. However, the sample used in the analyses consisted of only 37 participants who fulfilled the DSM-IV criterion A for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) diagnosis. The PTSD Checklist–Civilian Version (PCL-C) and the Brief COPE were used to assess the participants' PTSS and habitual use of coping strategies, respectively. Bayesian and frequentist correlations showed that emotion-focused coping style was negatively associated with PTSS, while dysfunctional coping style was positively related to PTSS. In the subsequent linear regression on both statistical framework, dysfunctional coping was the only consistent variable predicting more PTSD symptoms. The findings presented here show that lower use of adaptive coping (emotion-focused) and higher use of dysfunctional coping styles on a daily basis are associated to PTSS severity in a non-clinical sample of college students. According to the Bayesian approach, which permits more generalization of data, dysfunctional coping style is determinant to higher levels of PTSS. These findings add new data to the body of research that highlight the critical role of distinct coping strategies in the severity of PTSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Features of threatening cues and the associated context influence the perceived imminence of threat and the defensive responses evoked. To provide additional knowledge about how the directionality of a threat (i.e. directed-towards or away from the viewer) might impact defensive responses in humans, participants were shown pictures of a man carrying a gun (threat) or nonlethal object (neutral) directed-away from or towards the participant. Cardiac and electrodermal responses were collected. Compared to neutral images, threatening images depicting a gun directed-towards the participant induced sustained bradycardia and an increased electrodermal response, interpreted as immobility under attack. This defensive immobility reaction is evoked by high perceived threat and inescapable situations and indicates intense action preparation. Pictures of guns directed-away from the participant induced shorter bradycardia and no significant modulation of the electrodermal response compared to neutral pictures, which might be consistent with the perception of a less threatening situation. The results show that the directionality of threat stimuli is a key factor that prompts different patterns of defensive responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between inferior third molars and the inferior alveolar nerve (NAI) is important for the prevention of postoperative complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship of the mandibular third molars with the mandibular canal to the appearance of nerve damage. The sample included 500 patients who underwent a preoperative evaluation of the positioning of these dental elements, root apex ratio with NAI, surgical technique used and predisposition to postoperative nerve damage. According to the classification of Félez-Gutiérrez (1997), the obscuration of the dental apices was the most frequent type with 221 cases (30.3%). With regard to the classification of Winter (1926), the mesioangular position was the most prevalent, with 339 teeth (46.5%) and in relation to the classification of Pell and Gregory (1933), the highest frequency was Class 2 / Position B, with 166 teeth (23%). Surgical techniques I and II were the most prevalent, with 264 cases (36.2%). No cases presented neurological damage after 7 days. The variations of these teeth and their positioning on contact with the NAI should be considered and well analyzed by the dental surgeon, since a correct surgical planning influences the prevention of postoperative sensorial complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processing of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) is a growing issue and a worldwide challenge due to an enormously large volume of WEEE being generated around the world. WEEE typically contains valuable and precious materials in addition to some hazardous components, which could potentially lead to economic and environmental benefit if recycled properly. In Brazil, the WEEE generation has significantly increased in the past decade and the best process routes to recycle it remain little explored. This study shows a systematic analysis of WEEE processing procedures based on the information found and mapped from 134 recycling companies active in Brazil by contacting them and confirming activity. It was found that in spite of the recent implementation of national waste management policies, federal and local government do not have control over the number of active WEEE recycling companies in the country. It was possible to explain the role of the different agents in the Brazilian recycling scenario. Moreover, this study shows that 89% of the Brazilian recycling companies only undertake the pretreatment phase in the recycling process – sorting and dismantling - and that at least 92% dismantle WEEE manually. Finally, it is shown that WEEE that is more complex to recycle is still being shipped abroad for foreign downstream companies and that the revenue generated by the WEEE recycling market in Brazil can financially support up to five agents involved in the WEEE flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machado, A.A. and Calliari, L.J., 2016. Synoptic systems generators of extreme wind in southern Brazil: atmospheric conditions and consequences in the coastal zone. In: Vila-Concejo, A.; Bruce, E.; Kennedy, D.M., and McCarroll, R.J. (eds.), Proceedings of the 14th International Coastal Symposium (Sydney, Australia). Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 75, pp. 1182 - 1186. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The coast of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), southern Brazil, suffers a seasonal variation due to the dynamics associated with the frequency and intensity of storms. These storms are mostly associated with high intensity extratropical cyclones that generate wind waves which can change a beach profile from its maximum accretion state to complete erosion during a period that can vary from few hours to a few days. Using the Generalized Pareto Distribution, we observe that the 0.01 probability density value of all the wind speed values studied was 17 ms−1. Analyzing the storms that generate extreme winds (ie ≥ 17 m s−1), an increase in the number of extreme events to the coast of RS was observed over the past 66 years (1948-2013). The increase in the frequency of extreme events of wind, will modify and increase flooding, storm surge, and erosion along the coast. It was observed that the main weather systems generating strong winds to the shore of the RS are extratropical cyclones, which are mainly formed between parallels 30°S to 40°S, with two preferred trajectories, east and southeast, generating both erosion and storm surges. The majority of extratropical cyclones presentend propagation velocities between 20-40 km h−1 (61.97%). The months with the highest number of extreme events were June (22), followed by October (16). The consequences of storms in RS coast were: erosion of 45 m3m−1, storm surge of 1.88 m, wind speed of 26.21 m s−1 and significant wave height of 8.79 m. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a method for conforming fluid flow to tensor fields in particle-in-cell simulations. Our focus is on the use of tensor fields as a medium to deflect fluids for computer graphics applications. The anisotropic fluid simulation here presented adapts the Fluid-Implicit-Particle (FLIP) method, by including the tensor field information in the advection and projection steps. Numerical solutions are proposed for adapting the anisotropic advection to the particle-in-cell model and for solving the anisotropic Helmholtz projection for Marker-and-Cell (MAC) grids. Suitable boundary conditions are also provided to ensure proper anisotropic fluid behavior. To evidence the capabilities of this approach, we present simulations with different tensor fields composed of isotropic, linear, and planar tensors. Experimental results show that our method is capable of deflecting or withholding flow in specific directions, according to the characteristics of the underlying tensor field, producing visual outcomes typically encountered in anisotropic media, such as permeable-like effects. [Display omitted] • We present a method for fluid simulation based on tensor fields and the FLIP method. • We give a projection for the MAC grid from the anisotropic Helmholtz decomposition. • We adapt an anisotropic advection to take advantage of particle-in-cell methods. • Tensor-based boundary conditions result in permeable surface effects. • Our method deflects and withholds fluid flow over directions from a tensor field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even with the evolution of dentistry, surgical procedures of exodontia, bleeding episodes, alveolitis, pain, edema, trismus, injury to the inferior alveolar nerve, infections and mandibular and maxillary fractures and displacement of teeth to noble areas are very present events. The objective of this study was to analyze the accidents and complications with higher incidence during the exodontia procedures performed by academics. For the research, a semi-structured questionnaire was applied, which described the occurrence of accidents and complications in the exodontia procedures. Participants were informed and agreed to the Free and Informed Consent Form. The total study recorded 119 accidents, and 31 complications. The sex most affected was female, with 68% (n = 54) of the occurrences. The surgical technique with the highest intercurrent index was II with 58.8% (n = 70 for accidents and 15 for complications). The most prevalent accident was that of tearing or mucosal pulling in 56% (n = 67). The most common complication was pain that was present in 68% of the cases (n = 21). It is concluded that good planning and cautious execution are determinant factors for a good conduction of exodontias in order to avoid accidents and complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed healthcare workers (HCW) to traumatic situations that might lead to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). An important vulnerability factor for PTSD is the peritraumatic tonic immobility (TI) reaction, an involuntary and reflexive defensive response evoked by an intense and inescapable threat. TI is largely understudied in humans and has not been investigated during trauma related to COVID-19. For HCW, the pandemic context might be experienced as an intense and potentially inescapable threat, i.e., an overwhelming situation. Here, we investigated if TI response occurred during traumatic events related to the pandemic and its association with posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). An online survey of 1001 HCW investigated COVID-19-related traumatic experiences, TI and PTSS. TI was reported for all types of traumatic events, and multivariate regression models revealed that TI was significantly associated with PTSS severity. HCW who reported high TI scores exhibited an increase of 9.08 times the probability of having a probable diagnosis of PTSD. Thus, TI was evoked by pandemic-related traumatic situations and associated with PTSS severity and higher odds of a PTSD diagnosis. Tonic immobility occurrence should be screened, and psychoeducation about its reflexive biological nature should be introduced. • The peritraumatic TI reaction was reported for COVID-19 traumatic events. • TI during COVID-19 traumatic events was associated with increased severity in PTSS. • High TI scores in HCW were associated with higher odds of a PTSD diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new mixed turbidite-contourite system is described in the northern Campos Basin, southeastern Brazilian margin. This system is developed in a middle slope setting, and was formed through non-synchronous interaction between the turbidity current and a contour current in the same stratigraphic interval (Miocene). Depositional cycles were differentiated based on diagnostic seismic features. Seismic attributes, seismic facies, and isochron maps were used to identify alternating cycles of downslope and alongslope processes in the study area, along with the intermediate stage with features from both processes (mixed system). Seismic units were then associated with the dominant type of current. Alongslope current activity can be distinguished from the downslope current based on its acoustic characteristics (mainly low root-mean-square (RMS) amplitude values), internal architecture (clinoforms), and external geometry pattern (alongslope trend). On the other hand, downslope gravity currents develop deposits with high-amplitude or chaotic seismic facies, usually higher values of RMS amplitude, channel or channel-lobe features, erosive surfaces, and a basinward depositional trend. The first and oldest seismic unit (S1) was interpreted as a dominantly alongslope system, with vertical aggrading sigmoidal clinoforms and high-frequency, low-amplitude reflections commonly associated with fine-grained sedimentary deposits, typical of a plastered drift, along with a basinward mass transport deposit (MTD) from previous drift instability. Seismic unit S2 represents the intermediate stage where both gravity-driven and along-slope currents act asynchronously. Its is refered to as a mixed turbidite-contourite sequence that shows high-amplitude sediment waves migrating upslope and a moat feature that is carved in its upslope front. The interfingering between high- and low-amplitude reflectors, distal chaotic facies, together with sediment waves and a channel moat, points to a sand-rich deposit reworked by northward-flowing contour currents. Seismic units S3 and S4 show downslope features with chaotic facies (S3) and paleochannels with coarse basal lag deposits (high RMS amplitude values) (S4). In S4, a series of long-lived submarine channels formed. Last, seismic unit S5, referred to as the second plastered drift sequence, is marked by low-amplitude clinoforms that thin basinward. At the seafloor, submarine channel banks (formed at S4) covered by fine sediment deposits (from S5) show asymmetrical features with a slight northward depositional trend, indicating a northward-flowing bottom current, as the deposits are known to pile up in a downcurrent trend. Important information on the paleocurrents' direction was also made based on the final deposits display (e.g. terraces, sediment waves, paleochannels). Research on alternating dominant processes and transitional stages or mixed depositional systems, with both turbidites and contour currents, may provide a better understanding of deep-water depositional processes. Because these processes do not always fit previous depositional models that are mainly described for synchronous systems, new insights on cyclic non-synchronous mixed systems can improve our understanding of how mixed systems are organized through time and space. Being able to determine which were the dominant processes that controlled the sedimentation by indicating periods where the margin was mostly submitted to sediment transfer from continent to the basin and periods where the oceanic currents prevailed by redistributing sediments along the isobaths and replacing the axis of downslope transfer conduits. Setting new models on cyclic deposits and intermediate stages can have a future economic impact on potential hydrocarbon reservoir architecture. • A new description of a non-synchronous Mixed Turbidite-Contourite System. • Alternated and cyclic deposits of down-slope and along-slope processes with a transitional stage of flow interaction. • Dominant flow depositional systems identification based on seismic response. • How mixed systems are organized through time and space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]