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From the creation of new corn genomics to meet production demands, it is necessary to evaluate how these new cultivars react to the different environments that exist in Brazil. Front this, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of N and K used to topdressing fertilization on agronomic characteristics of two corn varieties at Amazon environmental conditions. The experimental design was randomized in block using a factorial scheme (2 x 4 x 4), with two corn varieties (BRS Caimbé and BR 5011 Sertanejo), four N dosages (0, 60, 100, and 140 kg.ha-1 ) and four K dosages (0, 20, 60, and 90 kg.ha-1 ). Each plot was constituted by five lines of 20 m of length and 2.40 m of width, with a space of 0.60 m among these, totalizing an area of 48 m2 per plot. Data collected were subjected to ANOVA and, subsequently, to Tukey test at 5% of significance. Caimbé corn variety presented higher (p < 0.05) number of plants, plant weight, and spikes per plot. High dosages of N and K provided high (p < 0.05) number of plants, plant weight, and spikes per plot. Caimbé corn variety presented higher (p < 0.05) spike weight and size. Other variables did not present significant (p > 0.05) results. High dosages of N provided high (p < 0.05) stem diameter and weight, leaf weight, spike size, and low spike weight. Lower levels of K caused low (p < 0.05) plant height, first spike height insertion, stem diameter, and spike weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: the care of adolescents with or without a chronic disease must complete, standardized and focused on individual demands and the transition process to adult care and adherence to treatment. This study aimed to characterize the care provided by nurses from the state of São Paulo who work with adolescents. Method: this is a cross-sectional and descriptive study on the care provided to adolescents by nurses in São Paulo, based on the answers to a self-administered questionnaire, available in the REDCap tool between August 2018 and October 2019. Results: participants answered 1632 questionnaires. Only 38% of nurses work with adolescents, 11.2% exclusively. Professionals were divided according to the median length of professional experience in groups A and B (≤5 years and >5 years). Drug addiction (p=0.01) and working with a multidisciplinary team (p=0.04) were significantly more reported in group B. Routine follow-up (p=0.02) and questioning about sexual or physical violence (p=0.03) were significantly more performed by professionals from group A. Conclusion: this study identified the need for a care protocol that can be replicated on a large scale and that includes the treatment and the particularities of adolescents to improve adherence and the transition into adult care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the influence of the type of training on the measurements of the palmar flexor tendons in vaquejada horses that run to the right of the ox in the microregion of the Alto Médio Gurgueia, South of Piauí, Brazil. Eight animals of the quarter-mile breed and their crossbreed, of different ages, weight and sex, were selected and asked about the time they were engaged in the activity of the vaquejada and the type of training they were submitted to as they practiced running on which side of the ox, in a vaquejada test in the municipality of Cristino Castro, South of Piauí, Brazil, where the participants came from different farms of the microregion of the Alto Médio Gurgueia, South of Piauí, Brazil. The ultrasonography of the IB, IIB and IIIB zones of the superficial digital (TFDS) and deep digital flexor tendons (TFDP) were performed in each animal, obtaining the measurements of the lateral diameters (DML) and palmar dorsum (DDP) through the transverse plane in each of the different zones. Data were submitted to statistical analysis (ANOVA), using the t test at the significance level of (p <0.05), observing that there was no significant difference between the measures evaluated. According to the results, horses for vaquejada athletes do not present significant difference in the lateral diameters and palmar dorsum of the flexor tendons between the right and left thoracic limb antimeres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the epidemiological profile and prognosis of patients with mechanical ocular trauma. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional observational study of consecutive patients evaluated during a one-year period at a public referral center in São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil. The Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) was used to estimate final visual acuity. The variables were analyzed using the chisquare test with a significance level of 5%. Results: Out of a total of 154 patients (mean age of 30.1 years), 27.92% were younger than 16 years, and 81.8% were men, with most coming from the state’s countryside (55.2%). Most of the patients were dependents (34%) or rural workers (19%). Regarding the OTS prognosis, 33.77% of the patients were category 5 and 31.16% category 1 or 2, indicating worse prognosis. The best prognoses (visual outcomes) were inversely proportional to age and time to treatment (p<0.001). Conclusion: Ocular trauma remains an important cause of ocular morbidity in childhood and in informal work. Adult supervision and socio-educational measures are mandatory to change this scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on investigating possible changes in hydrometeorological behavior on important Brazilian river basins for power generation purposes. Thereby, this research analyzes the historical averages and observed trends regarding rainfall and streamflow and their impact on the hydrological regime. Ten river basins were selected for the assessment of alterations in the precipitation and streamflow series throughout descriptive measures and statistical significance tests (Mann-Kendall and Sen's slope). These data are available over different time spans, but most of the records include information from 1961 to 2006. As long as these river basins are subjected to different climate types, their corresponding rainfall and streamflow patterns vary accordingly the basin location in the country, in addition to the season. Most of the country has a predominantly tropical climate, with a wet period concentrated between October and March and a dry period between April and September. Some exceptions are the Northeastern region, where the climate is semi-arid, besides the Southern region, where there is abundant precipitation throughout the year. According to the obtained results, it could be noted that the streamflow response to precipitation is faster in the smaller river basins, what can be due especially to the water travel time. It was found that Belo Monte basin, in Northern Brazil, presents a statistically significant reduction in the annual rainfall. Furthermore, a significant decrease in the annual streamflow was also identified in Xingó and Sobradinho basins, in the Northeastern region. In contrast, Itaipu basin, located in Southern Brazil, showed increasing statistically significant trends in annual rainfall and streamflow during the second half of the twentieth century. Relevant decreasing trends were also identified in the minimum streamflows of the Brazilian Northern and Northeastern basins and increasing ones in the maximum streamflows in the Southern region basins. The results obtained in this work will support the assessment of the impact of rainfall and streamflow future scenarios in regulating capacity of the hydroelectric power plant reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was carried out to evaluate the quality of raw milk, in rainy and dry seasons in 2012, 2013 and 2014, in Goiás State, Brazil, by means of the hygienic-sanitary indicators TBC and SCC, comparing with the legal limits of the Normative. A total of 1,600 dairy herds of Goias State, that constitute the database of the Milk Quality Laboratory, were evaluated. Monthly data regarding TBC and SCC were analyzed. Explanatory variables were associated to time (years 2012 to 2014) and period (rainy and dry season). For statistical analysis, Scott Knott test at 5% significance was employed. There was statistical difference (p>0.05) when rainy and dry periods were compared along the years 2012 and 2013 for TBC and SCC. Geometric mean of TBC and SCC in 2012, 2013 and 2014 were within the legal range of 300,000 CFU/mL and 500,000 Cells/mL, but 23% and 21% of the herds, respectively, were above the legal range. The findings of this study reveal milk quality is highly affected by seasonal variations, i.e., rainy and dry seasons, indicating the need of a more effective control during the rainy period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The global increase in C-section rates is real. In Brazil, these indices correspond to 58.94% in the Midwest region and 52.77% in the Federal District. Objective: To evaluate the C-section rates and identify the groups with the greatest risk at two reference hospitals in the public network of Federal District/Brazil, using 10-Group Robson System. Method: A cross-sectional study of 6579 births assisted at the Hospital A (HA) and the Hospital B (HB) during 2013. The C-section rates in each group and its respective contribution to the total hospital C-sections was compared between HA and HB. To this, was used the proportion difference test (similar to chi-square test), with RR and 95% CI, and the logistic regression analysis (OR; 95% CI) among the groups with higher C-section/total C-section. The significance limit of p < 0.05 was defined for all tests. Results: The C-section rates were 50.8% at the HA and 42.3% at the HB, with 1.20 RR (95%CI = 1.13–1.28) at the HA. The highest rates were observed in Robson groups G5, G1, and G2. At the HA, G1 had a 21.5% C-section rate, which was greater than at the HB (13.8%; p < 0.05); the cesarean rates for groups G2 and G5 were higher at the HB (respectively, 18.6 and 38.1%) than at the HA (14.8 and 32.5%, respectively; p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results point out specific goals to be achieved in order to reduce abusive cesarean rates in both A and B hospitals, especially in the primigravida and in those with previous C-section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify the knowledge, skills and attitudes of Brazilian hospital pharmacists in the use of information technology and electronic tools to support clinical practice. Methods: A questionnaire was sent by email to clinical pharmacists working public and private hospitals in Brazil. The instrument was validated using the method of Polit and Beck to determine the content validity index. Data (n = 348) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's Chi-square test and Gamma correlation tests. Results: Pharmacists had 1–4 electronic devices for personal use, mainly smartphones (84.8%; n = 295) and laptops (81.6%; n = 284). At work, pharmacists had access to a computer (89.4%; n = 311), mostly connected to the internet (83.9%; n = 292). They felt competent (very capable/capable) searching for a web page/web site on a specific subject (100%; n = 348), downloading files (99.7%; n = 347), using spreadsheets (90.2%; n = 314), searching using MeSH terms in PubMed (97.4%; n = 339) and general searching for articles in bibliographic databases (such as Medline/PubMed: 93.4%; n = 325). Pharmacists did not feel competent in using statistical analysis software (somewhat capable/incapable: 78.4%; n = 273). Most pharmacists reported that they had not received formal education to perform most of these actions except searching using MeSH terms. Access to bibliographic databases was available in Brazilian hospitals, however, most pharmacists (78.7%; n = 274) reported daily use of a non-specific search engine such as Google. This result may reflect the lack of formal knowledge and training in the use of bibliographic databases and difficulty with the English language. The need to expand knowledge about information search tools was recognized by most pharmacists in clinical practice in Brazil, especially those with less time dedicated exclusively to clinical activity (Chi-square, p = 0.006). Conclusion: These results will assist in defining minimal competencies for the training of pharmacists in the field of information technology to support clinical practice. Knowledge and skill gaps are evident in the use of bibliographic databases, spreadsheets and statistical tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the factors present in post-merger integration of Systems and Information Technology (SIT) that lead to positive and negative results in mergers and acquisitions (M & A). The research comprised three of the largest acquiring banks in Brazil. We adopted two methods of research, qualitative, to operationalize the theoretical concepts and quantitative, to test the hypotheses. We interviewed six executives of banks that held relevant experience in M & A processes. Subsequently, we applied questionnaires to IT professionals who were involved in the SIT integration processes. The results showed that the quality and expertise of the integration teams and managing the integration were the most relevant factors in the processes, with positive results for increased efficiency and the increased capacity of SIT. Negative results were due to failures in exploiting learning opportunities, the loss of employees and the inexpressive record of integration procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since a male-related higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with Chagas' heart disease has been reported, we aimed to investigate gender differences in myocardial damage assessed by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Methods and results: Retrospectively, 62 seropositive Chagas' heart disease patients referred to CMR (1.5 T) and with low probability of having significant coronary artery disease were included in this analysis. Amongst both sexes, there was a strong negative correlation between LV ejection fraction and myocardial fibrosis (male r = 0.64, female r = 0.73, both P < 0.001), with males showing significantly greater myocardial fibrosis (P = 0.002) and lower LV ejection fraction (P < 0.001) than females. After adjustment for potential confounders, gender remained associated with myocardial dysfunction, and 53% of the effect was mediated by myocardial fibrosis (for mediation P = 0.004). Also, the transmural pattern was more prevalent among male patients (23.7 vs. 9.9%, P < 0.001) as well as the myocardial heterogeneity or gray zone (2.2 vs. 1.3 g, P = 0.003). Conclusions: We observed gender-related differences in myocardial damage assessed by CMR in patients with Chagas' heart disease. As myocardial fibrosis and myocardial dysfunction are associated to cardiovascular outcomes, our findings might help to understand the poorer prognosis observed in males in Chagas' disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The main aim of this study was to quantify and compare 6-year mortality risk attributable to smoking, hypertension and diabetes among English and Brazilian older adults. This study represents a rare opportunity to approach the subject in two different social and economic contexts. Methods: Data from the data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and the Bambuí Cohort Study of Ageing (Brazil) were used. Deaths in both cohorts were identified through mortality registers. Risk factors considered in this study were baseline smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Both age-sex adjusted hazard ratios and population attributable risks (PAR) of all-cause mortality and their 95% confidence intervals for the association between risk factors and mortality were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Participants were 3205 English and 1382 Brazilians aged 60 years and over. First, Brazilians showed much higher absolute risk of mortality than English and this finding was consistent in all age, independently of sex. Second, as a rule, hazard ratios for mortality to smoking, hypertension and diabetes showed more similarities than differences between these two populations. Third, there was strong difference among English and Brazilians on attributable deaths to hypertension. Conclusions: The findings indicate that, despite of being in more recent transitions, the attributable deaths to one or more risk factors was twofold among Brazilians relative to the English. These findings call attention for the challenge imposed to health systems to prevent and treat non-communicable diseases, particularly in populations with low socioeconomic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ear Acupuncture (EA) is a form of acupuncture in which needles are applied to the external ear and has been used in multiple painful conditions. Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent in active individuals and causes high economic burden to health systems worldwide. LBP affects the person's ability to keep balance, especially in challenging conditions. Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of a single session of EA on pain intensity and body sway during postural tasks. Method: Eighty adults with LBP and pain intensity equal to or greater than 4 (0-10 scale) were randomly allocated (1:1) to EA group (EAG) or placebo group (PG). Initially, the level of pain intensity was assessed. Next, participants stood still on a force plate either with feet in parallel or in semi-tandem and with eyes open or closed. Then, the EAG was treated with EA for 20 min and the PG was treated with detuned ultrasound. After the treatment, pain intensity was assessed again and the postural test was repeated. Pain intensity was the primary outcome and center of pressure sway area and speed were the secondary outcomes measured. Results: Results revealed that pain intensity decreased in both groups after treatment, but decreased more in the EAG. For postural control, no effect of treatment and no interaction between treatment and postural condition on body sway were found. Conclusion: Those findings indicate that EA is better than placebo to reduce pain, but neither treatment has any effect on postural control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The subjective visual vertical (SVV) is a perception often impaired in patients with neurologic disorders and is considered a sensitive tool to detect otolithic dysfunctions. However, it remains unclear whether the semicircular canals (SCCs) are also involved in the visual vertical perception. Objective. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of horizontal SCCs on SVV by caloric stimulation in healthy subjects. Methods. SVV was performed before and during the ice-cold caloric stimulation (4°C, right ear) in 30 healthy subjects. Results. The mean SVV tilts before and during the caloric stimulation were 0.31° ± 0.39 and −0.28° ± 0.40, respectively. There was no significant difference between the mean SVV tilts before and during stimulation p=0.113. Conclusion. These results suggest that horizontal SCCs do not influence SVV. Therefore, investigations and rehabilitation approaches for SVV misperceptions should be focused on otolithic and cognitive strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to identify the contribution made by a refresher course on the assessment of chronic wounds, offered through the Moodle virtual learning environment (VLE), to the knowledge relating to this issue of nursing lecturers and nurses linked to higher education. Method: a prospective, quasi-experimental study, with data collection before and after the educational intervention. The study was undertaken in three stages using the Moodle VLE. The sample was made up of 28 participants who answered the pre-test on the knowledge, devised in accordance with international guidelines on chronic wounds. Afterwards, the refresher course was offered (intervention) and was accessed in accordance with individuals' schedules, during the established time period. At the end of the course, 26 participants answered the post-test. Those who did not participate in the post-tests were excluded from the study, as it is pairwise analysis of the sample. Result: the participants obtained, on average, 55.5% of correct answers in the pre-test on their knowledge, and 73.4% in the post-test, this difference being statistically significant. There was a negative correlation between the time of experience in lecturing and the performance in the test on their knowledge. Conclusion: the participation in the online refresher course contributed to improving the lecturers' performance in the test on their knowledge, in relation to the recommendations for assessing chronic wounds, based in scientific evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to assess patient knowledge of heart failure by home-based measurement of two NOC Nursing Outcomes over a six-month period and correlate mean outcome indicator scores with mean scores of a heart failure Knowledge Questionnaire. Methods: in this before-and-after study, patients with heart failure received four home visits over a six-month period after hospital discharge. At each home visit, nursing interventions were implemented, NOC outcomes were assessed, and the Knowledge Questionnaire was administered. Results: overall, 23 patients received home visits. Mean indicator scores for the outcome Knowledge: Medication were 2.27±0.14 at home visit 1 and 3.55±0.16 at home visit 4 (P<0.001); and, for the outcome Knowledge: Treatment Regimen, 2.33±0.13 at home visit 1 and 3.59±0.14 at home visit 4 (P<0.001). The correlation between the Knowledge Questionnaire and the Nursing Outcomes Classification scores was strong at home visit 1 (r=0.7, P<0.01), but weak and non significant at visit 4. Conclusion: the results show improved patient knowledge of heart failure and a strong correlation between Nursing Outcomes Classification indicator scores and Knowledge Questionnaire scores. The NOC Nursing Outcomes proved effective as knowledge assessment measures when compared with the validated instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to broaden understanding of the phenomenon of legitimacy of civil society organizations (CSOs), interpreting it in the light of the critical capacity theory, proposed by Boltanski and Thévenot (2006). More specifically, it identifies, by means of discourse analysis of representative actors from the field, which are the justifications supporting the action and existence of CSOs, providing them with legitimacy. Having as a basis the theoretical framework and an analysis of the trajectory of the field in Brazil, some hypotheses were formulated: 1) that several reasonings are used in the justifications; 2) that the meeting between these reasonings provokes disputes and conflicts; 3) that it enables constructing footbridges; and 4) that there are predominant reasonings isolating the existence of other ones. Through discourse content analysis of 46 representative actors of the field of CSOs in the Brazilian South region, the hypotheses were tested and we found out that the predominant legitimacy dimensions in these CSOs are the pragmatic and moral, which stimulate the adaptation of CSOs to externally set standards, making plurality and, thus, democracy in the field weaker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the motor development of infants from three population samples (Brazil, Canada and Greece), to investigate differences in the percentile curves of motor development in these samples, and to investigate the prevalence of motor delays in Brazilian children. Methods: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study with 795 Brazilian infants from zero to 18 months of age, assessed by the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) at day care centers, nurseries, basic health units and at home. The Brazilian infants' motor scores were compared to the results of two population samples from Greece (424 infants) and Canada (2,400 infants). Descriptive statistics was used, with one-sample t-test and binomial tests, being significant p=0.05. Results: 65.4% of Brazilian children showed typical motor development, although with lower mean scores. In the beginning of the second year of life, the differences in the motor development among Brazilian, Canadian and Greek infants were milder; at 15 months of age, the motor development became similar in the three groups. A non-linear motor development trend was observed. Conclusions: The lowest motor percentiles of the Brazilian sample emphasized the need for national norms in order to correctly categorize the infant motor development. The different ways of motor development may be a consequence of cultural differences in infant care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aimed to raise the degree of compliance with the disclosure guidelines defined in the CPC 33 companies listed on the BM & FBovespa, and investigate whether there was greater compliance with these guidelines by companies participating in the Differentiated Levels of Corporate Governance. Methodologically, were used bibliographic and documentary procedures and nonparametric hypothesis tests and correspondence analysis, gathering a sample of 366 companies. There was low compliance with the disclosure requirements. Furthermore, there was greater compliance with the requirements for companies of different levels, and an association between firms with greater adherence to CPC 33 and those of the New Market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study evaluated the prevalence, awareness, and type of treatment for hypertension in Brazil in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods. This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study that was conducted from December 2008 to December 2010 in 28 public clinics located in 20 Brazilian cities. Results. A total of 3,591 patients were studied, 56% female, average age 21.2 ± 11.7 years, with a median duration of diabetes 9.6 ± 8.1 years. Blood pressure levels were available for a total of 3,323 patients and 689 (19.2%) patients were hypertensive. Hypertensive patients were older, exhibited longer duration of diabetes, and had higher body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C values (P < 0.001, for all comparisons), but only 370 (53.7%) received treatment. Patient awareness of hypertension was documented in 453 (65.5%) patients. However, only 76 (22.9%) of the treated patients attained the target systolic (sBP) and diastolic blood pressures (dBP). Conclusions. Our results demonstrate that a large number of T1D patients with hypertension do not receive appropriate treatment; few of the treated T1D patients achieved the target sBP and dBP values. Greater attention should be paid to blood pressure evaluation, hypertension diagnosis, and treatment of T1D patients in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study discussing the pursuit of divergent extensive reforms of health care systems by Brazil and Colombia, to improve access, increase efficiency and reduce health inequities. It is mentioned that reform do not seems to have had a decisive positive impact on the health outcomes. It is also mentioned that, underfunding, unbridled decentralization and inequitable access to care seem to have been the main constraints.

Damming of rivers is one of the main human interferences in natural ecosystems. With the purpose to analyze food webs in 30 reservoirs of the state of Paraná, southern Brazil, we built standardized models (same number of compartments) for each reservoir in the software Ecopath. We tested the existence of an association among eight attributes described in Odium's theory (estimated by the models built in Ecopath and summarized in a Principal Component Analysis—PCA) and some characteristics of the reservoirs, such as age and area. Compartments were categorized in two groups: ‘non-fish’ (phytoplankton, periphyton, rotifers, copepods, cladocerans, bacteria, protozoans, benthos and detritus) and ‘fish’ (omnivorous, insectivorous, piscivorous, herbivorous, detritivorous and invertivorous). To balance the models, diet (main food items) and biomass of some groups (especially periphyton) were modified to get values of ecotrophic efficiency lower than one. We found that Axis 1 of the PCA (which represented 37.1% of the variability of the original data matrix) was significantly correlated with three categories from Odium's theory: community energetics, homeostasis and structure. Axis 2 (20.2%) was not correlated with the attributes, whereas axis 3 (15.6%) was significantly correlated with nutrient cycling and life history. Reservoir age was negatively correlated with axis 1; hence, older reservoirs seemed to be more developed (or senesced) than younger ones. Thus, it is possible to conclude that maturity (or senescence) is an inherent characteristic of reservoir aging, regardless of human interference, reservoir area or number of species. Therefore, the results presented here are additional evidence of the importance to improve Odium's central theory of ecosystem development. In spite of some limitations, we believe that the Ecopath model applied to these reservoirs is a feasible tool for interdisciplinary environmental studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

lthough anxiety disorders and headaches are comorbid conditions, there have been no studies evaluating the prevalence of primary headaches in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The aim of this study was to analyze the lifetime prevalence of primary headaches in individuals with and without GAD. A total of 60 individuals were evaluated: 30 GAD patients and 30 controls without mental disorders. Psychiatric assessments and primary headache diagnoses were made using structured interviews. Among the GAD patients, the most common diagnosis was migraine, which was significantly more prevalent among the GAD patients than among the controls, as were episodic migraine, chronic daily headache and aura. Tension-type headache was equally common in both groups. Primary headaches in general were significantly more common and more severe in GAD patients than in controls. In anxiety disorder patients, particularly those with GAD, accurate diagnosis of primary headache can improve patient management and clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the results of the application of a virtual learning object for the simulated evaluation of acute pain in the learning of undergraduate nursing students and to verify the opinions of the students regarding the quality of the technology. This was a quasi-experimental, non-randomized, before and after study performed with 14 students in the seventh phase of the undergraduate nursing course of the Federal University of Santa Catarina. The pre (8.84) and post-test (9.31) means revealed significant differences in learning after the intervention (p=0.03). In the qualitative evaluation the flexibility of access, access independent of time/place, freedom to decide the best learning route and the similarity with reality were highlighted. It constitutes a promising educational tool, an interactive experience, similar to reality, dynamic and constructive learning. The application of the technology has brought positive results for learning about pain evaluation, contributing to fill the gap in the teaching of the thematic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contexto: A profilaxia para trombose venosa profunda (TVP) está sendo subutilizada, ainda que seja a causa mais comum de mortalidade hospitalar passível de prevenção. Assim, é relevante responder à pergunta de pesquisa: qual a frequência da utilização de profilaxia para TVP em pacientes clínicos hospitalizados? Objetivo: Determinar a frequência da utilização de profilaxia para TVP em pacientes clínicos hospitalizados. A hipótese foi de 20%. Métodos: Tipo de estudo: Estudo transversal de frequência. Local: Hospital Geral do Estado Dr. Osvaldo Brandão Vilela, Maceió, Alagoas. Amostra: Foram incluídos os pacientes clínicos e excluídos os menores de 18 anos, as gestantes e os pacientes hospitalizados há menos de 72 horas. Variável primária: a frequência da utilização de profilaxia para TVP. Variáveis secundárias: a frequência da utilização de métodos físicos e farmacológicos para a prevenção de TVP. Métodos estatísticos: O tamanho da amostra foi de 246 indivíduos (proporção=20%, precisão absoluta=5%, nível de sig ificância=5%). Foram utilizados o teste do qui-quadrado e o intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: A frequência da utilização de profilaxia para TVP foi 33% (80/246; IC95% 2 a 38). A frequência da utilização de métodos físicos para a prevenção de TVP foi 17% (41/246; IC95% 12 a 21) e de métodos farmacológicos foi 26% (64/246; IC95% 21 a 31). Conclusão: A frequência da utilização de profilaxia para TVP em pacientes clínicos hospitalizados foi 33%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study aimed to describe the prescription of non-pharmacological management of patients with heart failure attending the emergency care of a hospital and the effectiveness of the practice. 256 patients aged 63±13 years, 153 (60%) men, participated in the research. The most commonly prescribed non-pharmacological treatment was sodium restriction, 240 (95%), followed by weight control, 135 (53%). Fluid restriction and fluid balance were the least commonly prescribed treatments, 95 (37%) and 72 (28%), respectively. Only 38 (54%) of balances, 89 (67%) of weight controls and 69 (57%) of diuresis controls were performed. Concerning patients' previous knowledge of the treatments, 229 (90%) were advised to restrict salt intake, and 163 (64%) were advised to restrict fluid intake. Weight control was the least commonly known care, 117 (46%). Except for salt control, the other treatments were prescribed in slightly more than half of the samples, and were ineffective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the impact of property rights insecurity on deforestation in the Brazilian Legal Amazon. Deforestation is considered as a risk management strategy: property rights insecurity reduces the present value of forests and fosters forest conversion into agricultural and pasture lands. Moreover, deforestation is the consequence of strategic interactions between landowners and squatters. Landowners clear the forest preventively in order to assert the productive use of land and to reduce the expropriation risk. Squatters invade land plots, clear the forest and may afterwards gain official recognition with formal property titles. A particular attention is paid to the measure of land property rights insecurity in the Brazilian context. It is assumed that property rights insecurity has a multidimensional character taken into account by the number of homicides related to land conflicts and expropriation procedures. Principal component analysis allows synthesising such information. An econometric model of deforestation is estimated on a panel dataset on the 1988¿2000 period and the nine states of the Brazilian Legal Amazon. The hypothesis that insecure land property rights contribute to higher rates of deforestation is not rejected when the simultaneity bias between insecure property rights and deforestation is addressed. This result questions the modality of the Brazilian land reform that considers forested areas as unproductive and thus open for expropriation procedures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although extensive areas of tropical forest are selectively logged each year, the responses of bat communities to this form of disturbance have rarely been examined. Our objectives were to (1) compare bat abundance, species composition, and feeding guild structure between unlogged and low-intensity selectively logged (1–4 logged stems/ha) sampling grids in the southeastern Amazon and (2) examine correlations between logging-induced changes in bat communities and forest structure. We captured bats in understory and canopy mist nets set in five 1-ha study grids in both logged and unlogged forest. We captured 996 individuals, representing 5 families, 32 genera, and 49 species. Abundances of nectarivorous and frugivorous taxa (Glossophaginae, Lonchophyllinae, Stenodermatinae, and Carolliinae) were higher at logged sites, where canopy openness and understory foliage density were greatest. In contrast, insectivorous and omnivorous species (Emballonuridae, Mormoopidae, Phyllostominae, and Vespertilionidae) were more abundant in unlogged sites, where canopy foliage density and variability in the understory stratum were greatest. Multivariate analyses indicated that understory bat species composition differed strongly between logged and unlogged sites but provided little evidence of logging effects for the canopy fauna. Different responses among feeding guilds and taxonomic groups appeared to be related to foraging and echolocation strategies and to changes in canopy cover and understory foliage densities. Our results suggest that even low-intensity logging modifies habitat structure, leading to changes in bat species composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the nutritional status of lactating women with regard to vitamins A and E and the relationship between dietary intake and concentrations in serum and milk. A longitudinal study was conducted with 43 women at a hospital in northeastern Brazil. Blood and milk samples and food intake recalls were obtained at three moments during the breastfeeding period. Retinol and alpha‐tocopherol were analysed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Dietary inadequacy was analysed according to the estimated average requirement, with intrapersonal variation adjusted by the multiple source method. Food intake was classified by quartiles of consumption. Serum retinol was 1.65 μmol/L, with 5% of low concentrations (<0.7 μmol/L) at the first collection. Serum alpha‐tocopherol decreased from 30.18 to 25.49 μmol/L at the third collection (P = 0.008), with an increase in the percentage frequency of deficiency (<12 μmol/L). Both vitamins maintained stable concentrations in milk at the different collection times, and the overall dietary inadequacy of vitamins A and E was 58% and 100%, respectively. There was a correlation only between vitamin A intake and serum retinol (r = 0.403, P = 0.007), and higher retinol concentrations were found in women classified in the highest consumption quartile (P = 0.031). Over the course of lactation, there was a high degree of inadequacy in vitamin intake and a reduction in serum alpha‐tocopherol, whereas its concentrations in milk remained unchanged. Dietary intake of vitamin A has been shown to influence serum retinol, which underscores the importance of adequate nutrition and monitoring of vitamin deficiency during lactation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]