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Introduction: This prospective cross-sectional intervention study aimed to compare the effect of different frequencies (equated for total repetitions) of plyometric-jump and linear-sprint training on U-18 (age, 17,0 ± 1,05) male futsal athlete’s physical fitness. Methods: Athletes (33) were randomly distributed into groups with one (1-TSW, n = 10), two (2-TSW, n = 11), and three (3-TSW, n = 12) training session per week (TSW), during 4 weeks of their regular futsal training routine. Plyometric-jump training involved bipedal and unipedal horizontal maximum-intensity jumps. Linear-sprint training involved maximal-intensity 10-msprints with 30 seconds of rest between sprints. Results: The three training groups completed an equal number of total jumps (n = 780) and sprints (n = 260). A two-way ANOVA with repeated measures on time revealed significant main effects of time for all physical fitness outcomes, i.e., squat jump and counter-movement jump height, power, relative power, standing long jump distance, 10-m and 20-m sprint time, and change of direction sprint time in the T-test (all p < 0.001; d = 0.36-0.69), without significant group × time interaction effects (p = 0.133-0.861; d = 0.01-0.13). Conclusion, Adding plyometric-jump and linear-sprint training to the standard training of youth male futsal athlete’s improves their physical fitness, with similar improvements regardless of the training frequency.

Handball is characterized by high-intensity efforts and sprints and jumps are crucial for the performance during the game; however, little is known about the effectiveness of plyometric training combined with repeated sprints in improving aerobic and anaerobic performance in female handball athletes. Thus, the purpose of this study was to verify whether plyometric training combined with repeated sprints would improve aerobic and anaerobic performance in female handball athletes after preseason. Twelve athletes of the U-20 category (mean age of 18.4 years) were selected, and the variables evaluated covered anthropometric characteristics, body composition, jump tests (vertical and horizontal), aerobic fitness (Yo-Yo test, level 1) and anaerobic fitness (Agility T-test and Running Based Anaerobic Sprint Test) before and after intervention (8 weeks) during the preseason. The training was held three times a week by plyometric exercises (two times a week) combined with repeated sprints (one time a week).Results showed significant differences (p≤0.05) and positive qualitative inference for all variables analyzed between the moments (jump height and distance, agility, aerobic and anaerobic resistance), except for countermovement jump (CMJ) and Fatigue Index. The results of this study revealed that plyometric training combined with repeated sprints could significantly improve aerobic and anaerobic performance in female handball athletes.

Objective: To evaluate the adherence to clinical glaucoma treatment in patients that benefit from the Brazilian National Glaucoma Program and receive antiglaucomatous eye drops free of charge. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 255 patients that benefit from the Brazilian National Glaucoma Program (BNGP) and were assisted at the Altino Ventura Foundation (FAV), Pernambuco state, Brazil. The Morisky’s Adhesion Scale (MAS) was used to evaluate adhesion profile to treatment. Patients with a Morisky’s Adhesion score ≥ 6 was considered adherent to treatment. The analyzed variables included sex, educational level, distance from home to the treatment center, number of eye drops used, time since the glaucoma diagnosis, patients’ subjective classification of their quality of vision, and prevalence of other comorbidities. Results: A total of 255 patients [167 (65.4%) females] were included in this study with a mean age was 65.9 ± 13.8 years (range, 11-99 years). Adherence to clinical glaucoma treatment was seen in 155 patients (60.8%). Worse adherence to treatment was observed in female patients (p=0.034), with low education level (p=0.046), who presented other comorbidities (p=0.048), living in remote areas (p=0.038), judged their vision as satisfactory (p=0.046), and who were recently diagnosed with glaucoma (p=0.001). Conclusion: 40% of patients who benefited from the Brazilian National Glaucoma Program were not compliant to treatment. Low adhesion rate was mostly seen in female patients, socially vulnerable, living in remote areas, recently diagnosed with glaucoma, using fewer eyedrops, presenting other comorbidities, and in those that considering themselves of having a satisfactory vision. Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a adesão ao tratamento clínico do glaucoma em uma população que recebe colírios antiglaucomatosos gratuitamente pelo Programa Nacional do Glaucoma (PNG). Métodos: Estudo transversal que incluiu 255 pacientes inscritos no PNG e acompanhados na Fundação Altino Ventura, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. A Escala de Adesão de Morisky (EAM) foi usada para avaliar a adesão ao tratamento. Pacientes que pontuavam ≥ 6 na EAM eram considerados aderentes ao tratamento. As variáveis analisadas incluíram: gênero, escolaridade, distância entre a moradia e o centro de referência, número de colírios utilizados, tempo de diagnóstico de glaucoma, qualidade subjetiva da visão e prevalência de doenças sistêmicas associadas. Resultados: Total de 255 pacientes [167 (65,4%) mulheres] foram incluídos no estudo, com média de idade dos participantes de 65,9 ± 13,8 anos (variação, 11-99 anos). A adesão ao tratamento clínico do glaucoma foi encontrada em 155 pacientes (60,8%). Pior adesão foi identificada em pacientes do sexo feminino (p=0,034), com baixa escolaridade (p=0,046), com outras comorbidades (p=0,048), que moravam longe do centro de tratamento (p=0,038), apresentavam boa qualidade de visão subjetiva (p=0,046) e apresentavam diagnóstico recente de glaucoma (p=0,001). Conclusão: Quarenta por cento (40%) dos pacientes beneficiados do PNG não estão aderentes ao tratamento. A baixa taxa de adesão foi associada a pacientes do sexo feminino, com baixa escolaridade, vivendo longe do centro de tratamento, com diagnóstico recente de glaucoma, em uso de poucos colírios antiglaucomatosos e que apresentavam comorbidades.

PURPOSE To determine the incidence of ocular emergencies and patient profiles in a public health eye center in Brazil. METHODS The medical record database of the Fundacao Altino Ventura, Recife, Brazil was retrospectively analyzed and included all patients assisted at the ophthalmic emergency room between January 2017 and January 2018. Medical records with incomplete data and outpatient complaints were excluded. For records with multiple visits, only the initial visit was considered. RESULTS In 1 year, 134,788 patients (mean age at admission: 38.7 ± 22 years; range: 0-99 years) were admitted at the emergency room of the Fundacao Altino Ventura. The most frequent diagnoses were conjunctivitis (52,732 cases; 37.3%), blepharitis (7,213 cases; 5.1%), and corneal/conjunctival foreign body (6,925 cases; 4.9%). Corneal/conjunctival foreign body and ocular trauma had an eight- and two-fold higher incidence in male patients, respectively (both p 15 years), while corneal ulcers, blepharitis, and trichiasis affected more elderly patients. All diagnostic clusters (e.g., infectious diseases, ocular trauma, foreign bodies, retinopathies, eyelid disorders, corneal diseases, glaucomatous crisis, and neuroophthalmological diseases) were more common during the spring season (p

The relationship between the types of pulp, the tissue making technologies, and shelf price of bath tissue was evaluated for the North American market. Twenty-four market tissue samples (representing approximately 80% of the current market offering) were sourced and analyzed along with their nationwide price information. Pulp composition, drying technologies, market share, sustainability advertising, and tissue properties were evaluated. Tissue properties, including softness, ball burst strength, water absorbency, density, tensile strength, and tensile modulus were measured. Among all the drying technologies, creped through-air dry (CTAD) and creped through-air dry belt (CTADB) seemed to improve tissue softness most. The UCTAD maximized tissue bulk by drying the tissue web solely using a through-air (TAD) cylinder. Tissue samples with freeness between 575 to 650 mL seemed to have their properties improved more significantly through advanced drying technologies. It was found that the retail prices of these bath tissues were directly related to softness, bulkiness, water absorbency, and basis weight. A mathematical model was conducted to predict the retail price of bath tissue (based on product performance and attributes). This paper also identified the effect of “sustainability” on the retail price.

A comparison among ten market pulps at a laboratory scale using uncreped tissue handsheets was performed to study the performance of wood and non-wood pulps for tissue manufacturing, evaluate what fiber features are desired for a specific tissue property, and determine how non-wood pulps can be used to replace or complement wood pulps in tissue products. A characterization of the fiber morphology and handsheet properties (softness, water absorbency, and strength) was performed at different mechanical refining levels. The results showed that the fiber morphology had a major impact on tissue properties. Market pulps with a combination of long fibers, high coarseness, and low fines content can provide superior bulk and water absorbency. Short fibers with thin cell walls and low fines content can impart superior softness. Bleached bamboo soda pulp can replace hardwood and softwood pulps to provide an excellent combination of water absorbency and strength. Bleached bamboo soda pulp can also replace Northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp to impart strength without sacrificing softness. Bleached and semi-bleached wheat straw soda pulps presented a similar combination of softness and strength as Southern bleached hardwood kraft (SBHK) pulp. The wheat straw pulps can be used to replace deinked pulp (DIP) pulp to impart intermediate levels of water absorbency and strength.

Softness, as a subjective perception, is difficult to define and quantify. For decades, panel tests have been used to judge differences in the softness of hygiene tissue samples. Panel tests can be a time-consuming and expensive process. A number of protocols have been developed to quantify the physical properties of tissues associated with softness. The Tissue Softness Analyzer (TSA) by Emtec has gained popularity in characterizing the physical properties of tissues associated with softness. The instrument was designed with softness in mind and attempts to simulate the touch of the human hand. There is currently no comprehensive study that compares the results from a TSA and human panel. In this work, panel tests were used to validate the performance of the TSA with bath tissue. It was determined that one component of the TSA measurements (TS7) linearly correlated with the panel results. Among all of the algorithms available for use with the TSA, the TP2 algorithm most accurately predicted the panel scores. The TSA performed better in predicting the softness of the samples that were dried with a conventional wet press or creped-through air-dryer.

Purpose: To determine the incidence of ocular emergencies and patient profiles in a public health eye center in Brazil. Methods: The medical record database of the Fundação Altino Ventura, Recife, Brazil was retrospectively analyzed and included all patients assisted at the ophthalmic emergency room between January 2017 and January 2018. Medical records with incomplete data and outpatient complaints were excluded. For records with multiple visits, only the initial visit was considered. Results: In 1 year, 134,788 patients (mean age at admission: 38.7 ± 22 years; range: 0-99 years) were admitted at the emergency room of the Fundação Altino Ventura. The most frequent diagnoses were conjunctivitis (52,732 cases; 37.3%), blepharitis (7,213 cases; 5.1%), and corneal/conjunctival foreign body (6,925 cases; 4.9%). Corneal/conjunctival foreign body and ocular trauma had an eight- and two-fold higher incidence in male patients, respectively (both p15 years), while corneal ulcers, blepharitis, and trichiasis affected more elderly patients. All diagnostic clusters (e.g., infectious diseases, ocular trauma, foreign bodies, retinopathies, eyelid disorders, corneal diseases, glaucomatous crisis, and neuroophthalmological diseases) were more common during the spring season (p15 anos), enquanto úlcera, blefarite e triquíase da córnea afetaram mais pacientes idosos. Todos os grupamentos de diagnóstico (doenças infecciosas, trauma ocular, corpos estranhos, retinopatias, doenças das pálpebras, doenças da córnea, crise glaucomatosa e doenças neurooftalmológicas) foram mais incidentes na primavera (valor de p

Background Mechanical refining is a low-capital and well-established technology used in pulp and paper industry to improve fiber bonding for product strength. Refining can also be applied in a biorefinery context to overcome the recalcitrance of pretreated biomass by opening up the biomass structure and modifying substrate properties (e.g., morphology, particle size, porosity, crystallinity), which increases enzyme accessibility to substrate and improves carbohydrate conversion. Although several characterization methods have been used to identify the changes in substrate properties, there is no systematic approach to evaluate the extent of fiber cell wall disruption and what physical properties can explain the improvement in enzymatic digestibility when pretreated lignocellulosic biomass is mechanically refined. This is because the fiber cell wall is complex across multiple scales, including the molecular scale, nano- and meso-scale (microfibril), and microscale (tissue level). A combination of advanced characterization tools is used in this study to better understand the effect of mechanical refining on the meso-scale microfibril assembly and the relationship between those meso-scale modifications and enzymatic hydrolysis. Results Enzymatic conversion of autohydrolysis sugarcane bagasse was improved from 69.6 to 77.2% (11% relative increase) after applying mechanical refining and an increase in enzymatic digestibility is observed with an increase in refining intensity. Based on a combination of advanced characterizations employed in this study, it was found that the refining action caused fiber size reduction, internal delamination, and increase in pores and swellability. Conclusions A higher level of delamination and higher increase in porosity, analyzed by TEM and DSC, were clearly demonstrated, which explain the faster digestibility rate during the first 72 h of enzymatic hydrolysis for disc-refined samples when compared to the PFI-refined samples. In addition, an increased inter-fibrillar distance between cellulose microfibrils at the nano–meso-scale was also revealed by SFG analysis, while no evidence was found for a change in crystalline structure by XRD and solid-state NMR analysis.

This study aimed to identify the performance properties that drive the shelf price of kitchen paper towels and evaluate whether sustainability is an important driver for pricing. Nineteen products were compared according to their performance (softness, absorbency, and strength), technology, and fiber morphology. Metrics to rank the products in different grades (economy, premium, and ultra) according to their performance were provided. A multiple linear regression showed that absorbency and softness are the most significant properties used to predict the price. Market data indicates that there is a segment of consumers willing to pay a premium price for products marketed as “sustainable”, even though their performance is comparatively inferior to the majority of the samples. Sustainable products are up to 85% more expensive than regular products. The metrics obtained in this work can contribute to improvement in market transparency, and aid companies in deciding strategies for product development and new investments.

Mestrado em Economia Internacional e Estudos Europeus A ideia por trás do microcrédito é financiar agentes econômicos de baixa renda e ajudá-los a entrar num universo de melhores oportunidades. Por meio do microcrédito são oferecidas oportunidades de inclusão, que podem se tornar uma saída para a miséria. Além disso, como o foco deste trabalho é o Programa Nacional de Microcrédito Produtivo Orientado (PNMPO), o microcrédito que será tratado é voltado apenas para atividades produtivas. Nesse sentido, o trabalho foi balizado através de três grandes questões: como foi a evolução do microcrédito produtivo orientado até 2018, como está distribuído e se, para os estados com maior pobreza concentrada no Brasil, são direcionados maiores montantes. Para tanto, mediante o enquadramento teórico, em especial no capítulo 3, foi desenvolvida a resposta para a primeira questão. As duas outras foram respondidas e elaboradas na parte empírica por meio da análise de dados descritivos, da análise de clusters e das correlações, que ajudaram a quantificar e confirmar que o microcrédito produtivo orientado tem como destino alguns dos estados brasileiros mais pobres, os quais se encontram distribuídos, em sua maioria, na região Nordeste. O estudo revelou também, duas situações singulares que não foram inicialmente antecipadas: os estados da região Norte (a qual é a segunda região com maior pobreza concentrada do Brasil) possuem uma fração muito pequena do valor concedido pelo PNMPO; e o estado de Santa Catarina, que possui um dos maiores IDH do país, recebeu valores anômalos, em quantidades superiores a estados menos desenvolvidos. The idea behind the microcredit is to finance low-income economic agents and to empower them to get into a universe of better opportunities. Inclusion is offered through microcredit, which can become a door out of misery. In addition, since the focus of this paper is the National Program of Oriented Productive Microcredit (NPOPM), the microcredit that will be treated is only focused on productive activities. Therefore, the paper was carried out through three main questions: how the evolution of the oriented productive microcredit was up to 2018, how it was distributed and if, for the states with greater poverty concentrated in Brazil, larger amounts are directed. For this purpose, in the theoretical framework, especially in the chapter 3, the answer to the first question was developed. The other two were answered and empirically elaborated through the analysis of descriptive data, clusters analysis and correlations, which helped to quantify and confirm that the oriented productive microcredit is destined for the poorest Brazilian states, which most of them is distributed in the Northeast region. Ultimately, some observations emerged during the research: the states of the North region (which is the second with the highest concentrated poverty in Brazil) have a very small fraction of the microcredit granted by the NPOPM; and the state of Santa Catarina, which has one of the biggest HDI in the country, received anomalous numbers, higher than states much less developed. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Hygiene tissue paper properties are a function of fiber type, chemical additives, and machine technology. This review presents a comprehensive and systematic discussion about the effects of the type of fiber and machine technology on tissue properties. Advanced technologies, such as through-air drying, produce tissue with high bulk, softness, and absorbency. Conventional technologies, where wet pressing is used to partially dewater the paper web, produces tissue with higher density, lower absorbency, and softness. Different fiber types coming from various pulping and recycling processes are used for tissue manufacturing. Softwoods are mainly used as a source of reinforcement, while hardwoods provide softness and a velvet type surface feel. Non-wood biomass may have properties similar to hardwoods and/or softwoods, depending on the species. Mechanical pulps having stiffer fibers result in bulkier papers. Chemical pulps have flexible fibers resulting in better bonding ability and softness. Virgin fibers are more flexible and produce stronger and softer tissue. Recycled fibers are stiffer with lower bonding ability, yielding products that are weaker and less soft. Mild mechanical refining is used to improve limitations found in recycled fibers and to develop properties in virgin fibers. At the same time that refining increases strength, it also decreases bulk and water absorbency.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais Neste trabalho, utilizando a técnica de pinça óptica, foi possível estudar as alterações das propriedades mecânicas do complexo DNA-cafeína em função da concentração de cafeína na amostra, nos regimes de força iônica alta (concentração total de sódio de 150 mM) e força iônica baixa (concentração total de sódio de 1 mM). Utilizando o modelo de exclusão de vizinhos para ajustar os dados obtidos experimentalmente para o comprimento de contorno, demostramos que a cafeína não possui comportamento de intercalante. Além disso, fomos capazes de observar uma mudança conformacional da molécula de DNA devido a ligação com a cafeína, onde essa mudança ocorre no sentido de transformar o B-DNA em A-DNA. A alteração da força iônica da solução foi capaz de mudar a forma de interação da cafeína ao DNA. Para força iônica alta, a ligação da cafeína ao DNA apresenta cooperatividade positiva, possuindo um coeficiente de Hill (n) igual a 3. No regime de força iônica baixa, a cooperatividade da ligação desapareceu e o coeficiente de Hill diminuiu para 1. Fomos capazes também de estimar o constante de ligação da cafeína ao DNA como sendo Ki= (0,3±0,02)10^⁻1 M^⁻1 para força iônica alta Ki= (7,3±4,0)10^⁻1 M^⁻1 no regime de força iônica baixa. In this work, by using the optical tweezer method, it was possible to study the changes of the mechanical properties of the DNA-caffeine compound according to the concentration of caffeine in the sample, for the high ionic strength regime (total sodium concentration of 150 mM) and for the low ionic strength regime (total sodium concentration of 1 mM). Using the neighbor-exclusion principle to adjust the data obtained experimentally to the contour length, we showed that the caffeine doesn't presente intercalating behavior. Besides, we were able to observe a conformational change in the DNA molecule due to the bonding with the caffeine, where this change occurs in the sense of changing the B-DNA into A-DNA. For the high ionic strength, the bonding of the caffeine with the DNA presents positive cooperativity, having a Hill coefficient (n) equals to 3. For the low ionic strength regime, the bonding cooperativity disappeared and the Hill coefficient decreased to 1. We were able to estimate the binding constant of the caffeine with the DNA as Ki= (0,3±0,02)10^⁻1 M^⁻1 or the high ionic strength and Ki= (7,3±4,0)10^⁻1 M^⁻1 for the low ionic strength regime

An early stage techno-economic analysis was performed to compare a traditional elemental chlorine free (ECF) sequence (O O D0 [EOP] D1 P) with the proposed totally chlorine free (TCF) sequence (O O A [ZEO]1 [ZEO]2 P)] for a bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp mill. Similar operating costs (ECF = US$465/a.d. metric ton; TCF = US$468/a.d. metric ton) and similar internal rate of return (ECF = 16.5%; TCF = 16.4%) were obtained. Although the TCF case has lower revenue with surplus steam, savings with chemicals (e.g., sodium chlorate and methanol) pays for the higher consumption of electricity. Probabilistic analyses were also performed to evaluate the financial risks associated with the variability of chemical costs and electricity price. Probabilistic analyses have shown that the price volatility of sodium hydroxide and sodium chlorate have a significant impact on the probability distribution of internal rate of return (IRR). Despite its promising potential, the new TCF sequence has only been tested in laboratory scale and further scaleup has to be performed to validate the technology. However, the techno-economic economic analysis shows that the proposed TCF technology has promising potential for future industrial application.