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This study aimed to characterize the biometric characteristics of Mimosa bimucronata (DC.) O. Kuntze seeds and to elucidate their physiological characteristics with respect to the effect of treatme...

Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. Ex Tul. is a tropical arboreal species used in naval and civil construction, and in the recovery of degraded areas. The substrate used and temperature can interfere directly in the germination of this species. This work aimed to evaluate the influence of different substrates and temperature regimes on the seed germination potential and initial growth of C. ferrea seedlings. The experiment was conducted at the Plant Propagation Laboratory of the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil. A completely randomized design was used in a 5 × 4 factorial scheme with five substrates (paper roll, paper, sand, and vermiculite) and four temperatures (20, 25, 30 and 35°C). The evaluated characteristics were first count of germination, germination, germination speed index, dry mass, and seedling length. Results showed that C. ferrea seeds could germinate under different temperatures and substrate conditions. The sand substrate and the temperature of 30°C are excellent for evaluating the physiological quality of the seeds. Key words: Physiological potential, substrate, temperature.

Background In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), an estimated 85% of children do not have access to surgical care. The objective of the current study was to determine the geographic distribution of surgical conditions among children throughout Uganda. Methods Using the Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) survey, we enumerated 2176 children in 2315 households throughout Uganda. At the district level, we determined the spatial autocorrelation of surgical need with geographic access to surgical centers variable. Findings The highest average distance to a surgical center was found in the northern region at 14.97km (95% CI: 11.29km–16.89km). Younger children less than five years old had a higher prevalence of unmet surgical need in all four regions than their older counterparts. The spatial regression model showed that distance to surgical center and care availability were the main spatial predictors of unmet surgical need. Interpretation We found differences in unmet surgical need by region and age group of the children, which could serve as priority areas for focused interventions to alleviate the burden. Future studies could be conducted in the northern regions to develop targeted interventions aimed at increasing pediatric surgical care in the areas of most need. Level of Evidence Level III.

The aim of this study is to evaluate, through a systematic review of hospital-based studies, the proportion of road traffic injuries and fatalities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines, we searched the following electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, Africa-Wide Information, Global Health, and Web of Science. Articles were eligible if they measured proportion of road traffic injuries (RTIs) in SSA by using hospital-based studies. In addition, a reference and citation analysis was conducted as well as a data quality assessment.Up to 2015, there were a total of 83 hospital-based epidemiologic studies, including 310,660 trauma patients and 99,751 RTI cases, in 13 SSA countries. The median proportion of RTIs among trauma patients was 32% (4 to 91%), of which the median proportion of death for the included articles was 5% (0.3 to 41%).The number of studies evaluating RTI proportions and fatalities in SSA countries is increasing but without the exponential rise expected from World Health Organization calls for research during the Decade of Action for Road Traffic Injuries. Further research infrastructure including standardization of taxonomy, definitions, and data reporting measures, as well as funding, would allow for improved cross-country comparisons.

The Caatinga ecoregion has a great diversity of species with exploitation potential. Among them, colubrina (Colubrina glandulosa Perkins) stands out for its importance in logging and forestry activities. Its seeds have low, slow and uneven germination. Knowing that the use of the tetrazolium test to estimate viability becomes essential when rapid response on seed quality is desired, this study aimed to establish the best tetrazolium solution concentration and staining period to evaluate the viability of Colubrina glandulosa seeds. Initially, the seeds were previously moistened between sheets of paper for five hours at 30 ºC. Subsequently, the portion of the cotyledon containing the embryo was immersed in four tetrazolium solution concentrations (0.075, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0%) and three staining periods (2, 4, and 6 hours) in the dark. under the temperature of 30 ºC. The percentage of viable seeds was compared with the results obtained in the germination test performed on the paper substrate at 30 ºC in four replications of 25 seeds. The tetrazolium test was efficient to estimate the viability of C. glandulosa seeds, and the concentration of 0.075% for four hours at 30 ºC was the best condition. La Colubrina glandulosa Perkins, conocida popularmente como sobrasil, es una especie de importancia ecológica y socioeconómica, pero en peligro de extinción. Sus semillas tienen una germinación baja, lenta y desigual. Sabiendo que la prueba de tetrazolio se ha destacado por su eficacia y velocidad cuando se desean respuestas rápidas sobre la calidad de la semilla, este estudio tuvo como objetivo establecer la mejor concentración de la solución de tetrazolio y el período de tinción para evaluar la viabilidad de las semillas de Colubrina glandulosa. Las semillas se humedecieron previamente con toallas de papel y se colocaron en una cámara de germinación a 30 °C durante cinco horas. Posteriormente, la porción del cotiledón que contiene el embrión se sumergió en una solución de cloruro de 2,3,5-trifenil tetrazolio en cuatro concentraciones de 0,075; 0,1; 0,5 y 1,0% por tres períodos de tinción (2, 4 y 6 horas) a 30 ºC en la oscuridad. El diseño experimental utilizado fue completamente al azar, en un esquema factorial 4 x 3 + 1 (4 concentraciones de solución de tetrazolio x 3 períodos de tinción + 1 control - prueba de germinación). La prueba de tetrazolio fue eficiente para estimar la viabilidad de las semillas de C. glandulosa, y la concentración del 0,075% durante cuatro horas a 30 ºC fue la mejor condición. Colubrina glandulosa Perkins, conhecida popularmente como sobrasil, é uma espécie de importância ecológica e socioeconômica, porém ameaçada de extinção. Suas sementes apresentam germinação baixa, lenta e desuniforme. Sabendo que o teste de tetrazólio tem se destacado por sua eficácia e rapidez quando se deseja respostas rápidas sobre a qualidade das sementes, este estudo objetivou estabelecer a melhor concentração da solução de tetrazólio e o período de coloração para avaliar a viabilidade das sementes de Colubrina glandulosa. As sementes foram pré-umedecidas em papel toalha e colocadas em uma câmara de germinação a 30 °C por cinco horas. Posteriormente, a porção do cotilédone contendo o embrião foi imersa em solução de 2,3,5-trifenil cloreto de tetrazólio em quatro concentrações de 0,075; 0,1; 0,5 e 1,0% por três períodos de coloração (2, 4 e 6 horas) a 30 ºC no escuro. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 4 x 3 + 1 (4 concentrações de solução de tetrazólio x 3 períodos de coloração + 1 controle – teste de germinação). O teste de tetrazólio foi eficiente para estimar a viabilidade de sementes de C. glandulosa, e a concentração de 0,075% por quatro horas a 30 ºC foi a melhor condição.

Colubrina glandulosa Perkins is a species of ecological and socioeconomic importance, but in danger of extinction. The present study aimed to evaluate different storage conditions to check the physiological quality of the colubrina seeds. The seeds were stored in a paper bag and glass bottle, in a laboratory environment and in a dry chamber, during for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 months. For each storage period and condition, the following variables were evaluated: water content, germination, speed, mean time and germination synchrony, total length, and dry mass of seedlings. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement (2 packs and 6 storage periods), with 4 replicates of 25 seeds. The water content of the seeds ranged from 8.0% to 17.8%, depending on the packaging and environmental conditions of the storage site, being physiologically classified as orthodox. Under the laboratory conditions, seed physiological potential decreased from 6 months onward in the paper packaging. Seeds conditioned in a porous or impermeable packaging with a water content of 8.0%, in the dry chamber condition, remained viable when stored for 15 months., Revista de Ciências Agrárias, vol. 42 n.º 2 (2019)

Aim: To know the profile of adults who died by tuberculosis as the main cause, the time interval between the diagnosis and death, associated comorbidities and vulnerabilities. Method: Observational study of secondary data regarding deaths by tuberculosis that occurred in the State of Paraná, Brazil, from 2008 to 2015. A linkage between the databases of mortality and tuberculosis notification system was conducted for data enrichment. Frequency tables, Exact Fisher test and Z test have identified statistical associations. Results: Linkage points out 12.1% (115/944) of under-reporting in the 944 deaths identified. Early deaths accounted for 74.6% (705/944). The male sex (75.8%) was associated with the early death group. Almost half of the deaths reported in notification system (414/829) had one or more vulnerabilities. Early death were associated with respiratory system diseases and symptoms (p = 0.0001) and mental and behavioral disorders (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: High number of early deaths due TB indicate the need to seek out the respiratory symptomatic and use faster diagnostic methods. Strategies for treatment adherence, adequate monitoring of comorbidities and multisectorial support may prevent early and late death. The presence of vulnerabilities indicates that efforts beyond the health sector are needed in order to eliminate tuberculosis as public health problem. Keywords: Tuberculosis, Mortality, Death, Epidemiology, Comorbidity, Vulnerability, Brazil

Background: Widespread access to good quality antihypertensive medicines is a critical component for reducing premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Poor-quality medicines pose serious health concerns; however, there remains a knowledge gap about the quality of cardiovascular medicines available in low- and middle-income countries.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the quality of generic antihypertensive medicines available in the retail market of a developing country.Methods: Samples of the 2 most commonly prescribed classes of antihypertensive medicines were collected from 3 states in 3 different geopolitical zones in Nigeria following a semirandom sampling framework. Medicine samples were purchased by mystery shoppers from 22 pharmacy outlets from 6 local government areas across the 3 states. Medicine quality was determined by measuring the amount of stated active pharmaceutical ingredient using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and classified according to their compliance to the specified pharmacopeia tolerance limits for each antihypertensive drug.Results: Amlodipine and lisinopril were identified as the most commonly prescribed antihypertensive drugs in Nigeria. In total, 361 samples from 22 pharmacies were collected and tested. In total, 24.6% of amlodipine and 31.9% of lisinopril samples were of substandard quality and significantly more samples purchased in rural (59 of 161, 36.7%) compared with urban (32 of 200, 16%) outlets were found to be of substandard quality (p < 0.001). No falsified samples of either amlodipine or lisinopril were detected. There was large variation in price paid for the antihypertensive medicines (range ₦150 to ₦9,750). Of the 24 pharmacy outlets surveyed, 46% stated that patients did not always require a prescription and 21% had previously reported a medicine as falsified or substandard.Conclusions: More than one-quarter of some commonly prescribed antihypertensive medicines available in Nigeria may be of substandard quality. Enhanced quality assurance processes in low- and middle-income countries, such as Nigeria, are needed to support optimum management.HighlightsManagement of hypertension can largely be achieved through availability of and adherence to qualitative evidence-based medicines. There is very little research examining the quality of antihypertensive medicines available in the retail market of low- and middle-income countries.In total, 361 samples of amlodipine and lisinopril were collected from 22 pharmacies and their stated active pharmaceutical ingredient was measured.More than a quarter of some commonly prescribed antihypertensive medicines available in Nigeria appear to be of substandard quality (samples had more or less stated active pharmaceutical ingredient than stated in the United States Pharmacopeia–specified tolerance limits range).However, the proportion of substandard quality was not statistically different for amlodipine and lisinopril, and significantly more samples purchased in rural compared with urban outlets were of substandard quality.No falsified samples (containing no stated active pharmaceutical ingredient) of either amlodipine or lisinopril were detected.Enhanced quality assurance processes in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria are needed to support optimum management.

Road traffic injuries are a leading killer of youth (aged 15-29) and are projected to be the 7th leading cause of death by 2030. To better understand road traffic crash locations and characteristics in the city of Baltimore, we used police and census data, to describe the epidemiology, hotspots, and modifiable risk factors involved to guide further interventions.Data on all crashes in Baltimore City from 2009 to 2013 were made available from the Maryland Automated Accident Reporting System. Socioeconomic data collected by the US CENSUS 2010 were obtained. A time series analysis was conducted using an ARIMA model. We analyzed the geographical distribution of traffic crashes and hotspots using exploratory spatial data analysis and spatial autocorrelation. Spatial regression was performed to evaluate the impact of socioeconomic indicators on hotspots.In Baltimore City, between 2009 and 2013, there were a total of 100,110 crashes reported, with 1% of crashes considered severe. Of all crashes, 7% involved vulnerable road users and 12% had elderly or youth involvement. Reasons for crashes included: distracted driving (31%), speeding (6%), and alcohol or drug use (5%). After 2010, we observed an increasing trend in all crashes especially from March to June. Distracted driving then youth and elderly drivers were consistently the highest risk factors over time. Multivariate spatial regression model including socioeconomic indicators and controlling for age, gender and population size did not show a distinct predictor of crashes explaining only 20% of the road crash variability, indicating crashes are not geographically explained by socioeconomic indicators alone.In Baltimore City, road traffic crashes occurred predominantly in the high density center of the city, involved distracted driving and extremes of age with an increase in crashes from March to June. There was no association between socioeconomic variables where crashes occurred and hotspots. In depth analysis of how modifiable risk factors are impacted by geospatial characteristics and the built environment is warranted in Baltimore to tailor interventions.

Calcium sulfoaluminate-belite cement (CSAB) offers lower CO2 emissions in its production, compared with Portland cement. However, for the production of CSAB a high amount of alumina is required, and the scarcity and high cost of high-purity bauxite make these cements costly at present. In this study, the use of uncalcined aluminium anodising sludge (AAS) as the main source of alumina to produce CSAB clinkers, replacing bauxite, was assessed. The CSAB clinkers produced were mainly composed of ye’elimite and belite, along with minor traces of alite, and/or brownmillerite, depending on the alumina source. Clinkers derived from AAS as a source of aluminium showed a lower content of ye’elimite (35.5%), as well as the formation of alite (8.2%) when compared to a reference clinker produced with reagent-grade materials. Comparable hydration products were identified in the hydrated cements independent of the alumina source used. The use of AAS to produce CSAB cement was proven to be technically feasible, and the cement thus produced has desirable technical characteristics, presenting high mechanical strength (>40 MPa in paste samples).

Purpose Little is known about the prevalence of pediatric surgical conditions in low- and middle-income countries. Many children never seek medical care, thus the true prevalence of surgical conditions in children in Uganda is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of surgical conditions in children in Uganda. Methods Using the Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) survey, we enumerated 4248 individuals in 2315 households in 105 randomly selected clusters throughout Uganda. Children aged 0–18 were included if randomly selected from the household; for those who could not answer for themselves, parents served as surrogates. Results Of 2176 children surveyed, 160 (7.4 %) reported a currently untreated surgical condition. Lifetime prevalence of surgical conditions was 14.0 % (305/2176). The predominant cause of surgical conditions was trauma (48.4 %), followed by wounds (19.7 %), acquired deformities (16.2 %), and burns (12.5 %). Of 90 pediatric household deaths, 31.1 % were associated with a surgically treatable proximate cause of death (28/90 deaths). Conclusion Although some trauma-related surgical burden among children can be adequately addressed at district hospitals, the need for diagnostics, human resources, and curative services for more severe trauma cases, congenital deformities, and masses outweighs the current capacity of hospitals and trained pediatric surgeons in Uganda.

Globally, a staggering five billion people lack access to adequate surgical care. Sub-Saharan Africa represents one of the regions of greatest need. We sought to understand how geographic factors related to unmet surgical need (USN) in Uganda. We performed a geographic information system analysis of a nationwide survey on surgical conditions performed in 105 enumeration areas (EAs) representing the national population. At the district level, we determined the spatial autocorrelation of the following study variables: prevalence of USN, hub distance (distance from EA to the nearest surgical center), area of coverage (geographic catchment area of each center), tertiary facility transport time (average respondent-reported travel time), and care availability (rate of hospital beds by population and by district). We then used local indicators of spatial association (LISA) and spatial regression to identify any significant clustering of these study variables among the districts. The survey enumerated 4248 individuals. The prevalence of USN varied from 2.0–45 %. The USN prevalence was highest in the Northern and Western Regions. Moran’s I bivariate analysis indicated a positive correlation between USN and hub distance (p = 0.03), area of coverage (p = 0.02), and facility transport time (p = 0.03). These associations were consistent nationally. The LISA analysis showed a high degree of clustering among sets of districts in the Northern Sub-Region. This study demonstrates a statistically significant association between USN and the geographic variables examined. We have identified the Northern Sub-Region as the highest priority areas for financial investment to reduce this unmet surgical disease burden.

Purpose To analyze the number of discarded donated corneas and the causes associated with discard in southern Brazil. Methods This retrospective, cross-sectional, and analytic study of donor corneal discards and their associated factors and geospatial distribution was based on a macroregional strategy conducted from 2011 to 2015 in Parana, southern Brazil. The dataset included all cornea donations from patients who died of cardiac arrest at ages between 3 and 70 years. Results A total of 9290 donor corneas were identified from 4645 donor patients; of these corneas, 4235 (45.6%) were discarded and 5055 (54.4%) transplanted. Mean age of the donors was 51.13 ± 14.30 years. The main causes of discard were positive serology (49.6%), corneal viability (19.8%), corneal tissue quality (8.5%), and others (16.0%). The discard rate was higher in the 50 to 64 year age group. Conclusions The corneal discard rate was high in all macroregions studied, with positive serology, viability, and quality of the donated corneas being the main causes of discard. Discards were more prevalent in older age groups (50-64 years and 65 or above age groups). Considering the presented results, the assessment process of potential cornea donors should be changed to reduce losses and costs.

BackgroundHealth systems for surgical care for children in low- and middle-income countries remain poorly understood. Our goal was to characterize the delivery of surgical care for children across Brazil and to identify associations between surgical resources and childhood mortality.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional, ecological study to analyze surgical care for children in the public health system (Sistema Único de Saúde) across Brazil from 2010 to 2015. We collected data from several national databases, and used geospatial analysis (two-step floating catchment, Getis-Ord-Gi analysis, and geographically weighted regression) to explore relationships between infrastructure, workforce, access, procedure rate, under-5 mortality rate (U5MR), and perioperative mortality rate (POMR).ResultsA total of 246,769 surgical procedures were performed in 6,007 first level/ district hospitals and 491 referral hospitals across Brazil over the study period. The surgical workforce is distributed unevenly across the country, with 0.13-0.26 pediatric surgeons per 100,000 children in the poorer North, Northeast and Midwest regions, and 0.6-0.68 pediatric surgeons per 100,000 children in the wealthier South and Southeast regions. Hospital infrastructure, procedure rate, and access to care is also unequally distributed across the country, with increased resources in the South and Southeast compared to the Northeast, North, and Midwest. The U5MR varies widely across the country, although procedure-specific POMR is consistent across regions. Increased access to care is associated with lower U5MR across Brazil, and access to surgical care differs by geographic region independent of socioeconomic status.ConclusionsThere are wide disparities in surgical care for children across Brazil, with infrastructure, manpower, and resources distributed unevenly across the country. Access to surgical care is associated with improved U5MR independent of socioeconomic status. To address these disparities, policy should direct the allocation of surgical resources commensurate with local population needs.

BackgroundIntimate partner violence is a global health burden that disproportionately affects women and their health outcomes. Women in Brazil are also affected by interpersonal violence. We aimed to estimate the lifetime prevalence of three forms of interpersonal violence against women (IPVAW) and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with IPVAW in one urban Brazilian city.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional design, we interviewed women aged ≥18 years in the urban Brazilian city, Maringá, who currently have or have had an intimate partner. The 13-item WHO Violence Against Women instrument was used to ask participants about their experiences with intimate partner violence, categorized into psychological, physical and sexual violence. We estimated associations between IPVAW and sociodemographic characteristics using generalized linear models.Results and conclusionsOf the 419 women who were enrolled and met inclusion criteria, lifetime prevalence of IPVAW was 56%. Psychological violence was more prevalent (52%) than physical (21%) or sexual violence (13%). Twenty-eight women (6.4%) experienced all three forms of IPVAW. Women were more likely to experience violence if they were employed, did not live with their partner or had 4 or more children. Educational level, household income, age and race were not significantly associated factors. Our findings highlight a high prevalence of IPVAW in a community in southern Brazil.

Em diferentes localidades brasileiras, a educação do campo tem-se estruturado em escolas rurais que ofertam as séries iniciais do ensino fundamental, e em algumas exceções, os anos finais e o ensino médio. Mas na maioria das vezes, os alunos estudam nos centros urbanos, e cada vez mais se tem fechado escolas na zona rural. Um problema que precisa ser urgentemente revisto. O presente trabalho destina-se a analisar a educação voltada à realidade cultural camponesa, a partir de estudantes rurais em Ribeirão do Eixo, município de Itabirito, no estado de Minas Gerais, como possível meio de construção da sustentabilidade agrícola. A “Escola Municipal Rural de Ribeirão do Eixo”, componente do quadro de estabelecimentos de ensino da Secretaria Municipal de Educação de Itabirito – MG encontra-se legalmente sob responsabilidade da 15ª Superintendência Regional de Ensino de Ouro Preto e localiza-se à Rodovia Federal BR 040, km589, entre os povoados de Ribeirão e do Eixo, zona rural do distrito de São Gonçalo do Bação. A diretora da Escola responde pelas outras 06 Escolas Municipais Rurais de Itabirito. A equipe escolar é formada por 08 profissionais, que ficam diretamente na Escola sendo 06 professoras sendo 03 com graduação e 03 com pós-graduação, 01 auxiliar de serviços gerais e 01 servente escolar, ambas responsáveis pela limpeza e alimentação; e uma secretária e 01 supervisora pedagógica que fazem acompanhamento à distância que compõem junto com a diretora, a Equipe responsável por 06 Escolas Municipais Rurais do Município. A Escola funciona no turno da manhã e oferece apenas a Educação Infantil e Ensino Fundamental (1º ao 5º ano) com alunos distribuídos em 06 turmas. A instituição escolar atende aproximadamente 40 alunos matriculados e freqüentes oriundos de Ribeirão do Eixo e adjacências, em apenas 01 turno sendo 11 discentes na educação infantil (1º e 2º período-turma multisseriada), 06 alunos no 1o ano, 07 educandos no 2o ano, 06 discentes no 3o ano, 06 alunos no 4º ano e 04 educandos no 5º ano. Neste contexto, a localidade elencada para estudo denota nitidamente a complexidade da relação campo/cidade, pois se trata de área rural em processo de urbanização e industrialização, sendo incorporada ao eixo sul metropolitano. Assim a partir da educação do campo enquanto instrumento de valorização do espaço rural, apresenta-se a realidade da escola rural da localidade e entendendo-a como meio de transformação social propondo sua resignificação no âmbito da comunidade local. A proposta principal baseia-se em ofertar novas modalidades de ensino e qualificação, através da disponibilização de cursos técnicos nas áreas de agropecuária, ecologia e turismo efetivando novas perspectivas de sustentabilidade para um território em transição com paisagens ameaçadas e potenciais ignorados e/ou desconhecidos

Objective: analyze the pattern of spatial distribution of the prevalence rate of births with congenital disorders and its relationship with social, economic, health care and environmental indicators in Paraná, Brazil, from 2008 to 2015. Method: ecological study with variables extracted from secondary banks, related to the births of children of mothers residing in Paraná, in two quadrennial (2008-2011 and 2012-2015). The analysis of the rates was performed with univariate spatial (Moran) and multivariate approach (Ordinary Least Squares and Geographically Weighted Regression). Results: the occurrence of congenital disorders presented a significant association (p

After obtaining certification of the absence of transmission of the Trypanosoma cruzi by Triatoma infestans in 2006, other native species of protozoan vectors have been found in human dwellings within municipalities of the State of Paraná, Southern Brazil. However, the spatial distribution of T. cruzi vectors and how climatic and landscape combined variables explain the distribution are still poorly understood. The goal of this study was to predict the potential distribution of T. cruzi vectors as a proxy for Chagas disease transmission risk using Ecological Niche Models (ENMs) based on climatic and landscape variables. We hypothesize that ENM based on both climate and landscape variables are more powerful than climate-only or landscape-only models, and that this will be true independent of vector species. A total of 2,662 records of triatomines of five species were obtained by community-based entomological surveillance from 2007 to 2013. The species with the highest number of specimens was Panstrongylus megistus (73%; n = 1,943), followed by Panstrongylus geniculatus (15.4%; 411), Rhodnius neglectus (6.0%; 159), Triatoma sordida (4.5%; 119) and Rhodnius prolixus (1.1%; 30). Of the total, 71.9% were captured at the intradomicile. T. cruzi infection was observed in 19.7% of the 2,472 examined insects. ENMs were generated based on selected climate and landscape variables with 1 km2 spatial resolution. Zonal statistics were used for classifying the municipalities as to the risk of occurrence of synanthropic triatomines. The integrated analysis of the climate and landscape suitability on triatomines geographical distribution was powerful on generating good predictive models. Moreover, this showed that some municipalities in the northwest, north and northeast of the Paraná state have a higher risk of T. cruzi vector transmission. This occurs because those regions present high climatic and landscape suitability values for occurrence of their vectors. The frequent invasion of houses by infected triatomines clearly indicates a greater risk of transmission of T. cruzi to the inhabitants. More public health attention should be given in the northern areas of the State of Paraná, which presents high climate and landscape suitabilities for the disease vectors. In conclusion, our results–through spatial analysis and predictive maps–showed to be effective in identifying areas of potential distribution and, consequently, in the definition of strategic areas and actions to prevent new cases of Chagas' disease, reinforcing the need for continuous and robust surveillance in these areas., Author summary Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas' disease (CD), circulates among humans, vectors and domestic and wild reservoirs. Frequent invasion of housing by infected triatomines may present a risk of vector transmission from T. cruzi to humans. The objective of this study was to predict the potential distribution of triatomines in the State of Paraná and to infer potential high risk areas for T. cruzi vector transmission. Five distinct species of three different genera of triatomines were collected, the majority of which were Panstrongylus megistus (73% of occurrences). More than half of collected specimens (54.8%) were captured intradomicile. The infection rate was 24.7%, which may represent a risk of occurrence of new cases of CD by vector transmission. Ecological Niche Models indicated suitable areas to triatomine occurrence in municipalities of Northwest, North and Northeast of Paraná state. Thus, more effective management actions are needed to ensure epidemiological surveillance of CD. P. megistus is the main species that colonizes the intradomicile, reinforcing the importance of the maintenance of surveillance for directing vector control actions of the CD in the local health systems in this and similar regions, mainly in the northern region of the State of Paraná, with the intensive participation of the community and also of municipal agents.

NaNbO3 was synthesized by two different routes, one using metallic niobium powder, and another using niobium oxide (Nb2 O5 ) powder. In both routes an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was used to hydrothermally treating the powders. In the first approach, the solution concentrations were 3M, 1M, and 0.5M. The second route used solution concentrations of 10M and 12.5M. After the hydrothermal treatments, the powders were heat treated in order to synthesize NaNbO3 . The products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Rietveld refinement. The phases were identified by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) with Rietveld refinement. It was observed that the molar concentrations of the solutions had opposing effects for each route. An antiferroelectric phase was found in both routes. In the niobium metallic route, a ferroelectric phase was also synthesized. This study proves that piezoelectric NaNbO3 can be obtained after alkali treatment of both Nb and Nb2 O5. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 104B: 979-985, 2016.

O feijão-caupi é uma das alternativas de fonte de renda e alimento básico para população da região nordeste do Brasil. O caupi possui propriedades nutritivas ideais no combate à fome e à desnutrição. A maior produção do feijoeiro provém da agricultura familiar. O trabalho foi realizado nos municípios de Calçado, Jupí, Lajedo e São João no estado de Pernambuco Brasil. A pesquisa foi realizada no período de janeiro a maio de 2011. Neste trabalho foi realizado um levantamento dos principais entraveis enfrentados pelos produtores de feijão-caupí no nordeste brasileiro. Foram realizadas visitas as propriedades e entrevistados os agricultores sobre as principais dificuldades enfrentadas abordando toda a cadeia produtiva.

The tricalcium aluminate (C3A) and sulfate content in cement influence the hydration chemistry, setting time and rheology of cement paste, mortar and concrete. Here, in situ experiments are performed to better understand the effect of gypsum on the early hydration of cubic (cub-)C3A and Na-doped orthorhombic (orth-)C3A. The isothermal calorimetry data show that the solid-phase assemblage produced by the hydration of C3A is greatly modified as a function of its crystal structure type and gypsum content, the latter of which induces non-linear changes in the heat release rate. These data are consistent with the in situ X-ray diffraction results, which show that a higher gypsum content accelerates the consumption of orth-C3A and the subsequent precipitation of ettringite, which is contrary to the cub-C3A system where gypsum retarded the hydration rate. These in situ results provide new insight into the relationship between the chemistry and early-age properties of cub- and orth-C3A hydration and corroborate the reported ex situ findings of these systems.

Background The Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need tool (SOSAS) was created to evaluate the burden of surgically treatable conditions in low- and middle-income countries. The goal of our study is to describe the face, head, and neck (FHN) conditions that need surgical care in Uganda, along with barriers to that care and disability from these conditions. Methods A 2-stage cluster randomized SOSAS survey was administered in a cross-sectional manner between August and September 2014. Participants included randomly selected persons in 105 enumeration areas in 74 districts throughout Uganda with 24 households in each cluster. The SOSAS survey collected demographic and clinical data on all respondents. Univariate and multivariate logistic models evaluated associations of demographic characteristics and clinical characteristics of the FHN conditions and outcomes of whether health care was sought or surgical care was received. Results Of the 4428 respondents, 331 (7.8%) reported having FHN conditions. The most common types of conditions were injury-related wounds. Of those who reported an FHN condition, 36% reported receiving no surgical care whereas 82.5% reported seeking health care. In the multivariate model, literacy and type of condition were significant predictors of seeking health care whereas village type, literacy, and type of condition remained significant predictors of receiving surgical care. Conclusions Many individuals in Uganda are not receiving surgical care and barriers include costs, rural residency, and literacy. Our study highlights the need for targeted interventions in various parts of Uganda to increase human resources for surgery and expand surgical capacity.

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) continue to increase with the proliferation of motor vehicles, especially in low-income countries where safe road infrastructure is lacking. Knowing where and why RTIs occur would allow for increased safety and prevention planning. In this study, police records of 300 motor vehicle collisions which occurred between February 2013 and January 2014 in Moshi, Tanzania were reviewed. Analysis of variables including victim age, gender, type of collision, conditions, and use of safety equipment were analyzed. Geographic information system (GIS) analysis was performed to identify areas with the most collisions. Most injuries occurred at four intersections on two main corridor. Car crashes represented 48% of reports while motorcycle collisions were 35% of reports. Victims were predominantly male. The majority (64%) of RTI victims in cars used seatbelts while only 43% of motorcyclists wore helmets; none of those who used the helmet or seatbelt suffered a grievous injury. These data demonstrate that RTIs in Moshi occur in predictable high traffic locations. RTIs injure victims of all backgrounds and safety equipment is not universally utilized. More investment is needed in improved data collection methods, and a greater emphasis on intersection safety is needed to reduce these preventable injuries.

This paper presents a novel method for producing composite and ceramic microspheres containing zinc for bone regeneration. The microspheres were prepared from a mixture of sodium alginate and hydroxyapatite that was extruded into a zinc nitrate solution. After 24 h in the solution, Na + exchange with Zn 2+ ions produced zinc alginate–hydroxyapatite composite microspheres. After calcination, Zn-containing beta-TCP ceramic microspheres were produced.

Hydroxyapatite is a bioceramic material of great interest for use as bone substitute because of its similarity with the composition of biological apatite. Cationic and anionic substitutions in the apatite structure have been made in order to optimize the synthesis and accelerate the process of bone repair. In the present study, niobate apatite was synthesized by a patented aqueous precipitation method. The bioactivity of the samples was assessed by X-ray diffraction analyses (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy with field emission gun (FEG-SEM; FEI Quanta FEG 250) in the samples before and after an incubation period in simulated body fluid. The results showed that after 3 days a bone-like apatite coating was formed onto the niobate apatite surface. A peculiar morphology comprised by nanosized wires was also observed on the niobate apatite surface.

In this study, a novel method of zinc-substituted hydroxyapatite coating is presented. The technique consists of a two-step hydrothermal process. In the first step, the coatings consisted of parascholzite (JCPDS-01-086-2372), a mixture of parascholzite and monetite (JCPDS-01-071-1759) or parascholzite and brushite (JCPDS-72-0713), depending on the Zn concentration in the precursor solution. The second step consisted of an alkali conversion in a KOH solution. The resulting coating was identified as zinc-doped hydroxyapatite. Growing amounts of ZnO were identified for the coatings obtained with higher Zn content. Rietveld refinement revealed a slight decrease in the unit cell volume, due to zinc partial substitution, when compared to pure hydroxyapatite coatings.

Manihot spp. (family Euphorbiaceae), commonly known as pornunça, is a forage plant that has been used in animal feed. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different conditions of organic adduction and cuts on the growth, productivity, and partition of aerial phytomass of pornunça in the Brazilian semiarid region. This work is part of a study to discover species of the Brazilian caatinga biome with agricultural potential. An experiment was conducted in the region of Cubatí - PB, Brazil, mesorregion of Borborema, and microregion of Seridó Oriental. The experimental design included randomized blocks with subdivided plots comprising two manure plots (bovine and ovine) and four cut subplots (February, June and October 2011, and February 2012). The sprout height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of branches, green matter of the complete fraction, leaf green matter, green matter of the petiole, and green matter of the branch were evaluated. For sprout height, stem diameter (≤ 1.0 cm), green matter of the complete fraction, green matter of leaf limb, green petiole matter, and green matter of the branch, the best results were obtained in the first and second cuts. In contrast, the first and third cuttings allowed the management of a greater number of leaves and a greater number of branches of pornunça using both cattle manure and sheep manure and exhibited a morphophysiological characteristic of adaptation to the xeric environment, being a water deficit tolerant plant.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima is an exotic shrub species, belonging to the Fabaceae family, that has medicinal properties, and is widely used for urban afforestation. The objective of this research was to evaluate the overcoming of the C. pulcherrima seed dormancy, the influence of temperature, storage, and water quantity on the substrate in the germination of the species, as well as the use of the tetrazolium test for viability analysis. The analyzes were carried out at the Plant Propagation Laboratory at the Agricultural Sciences Center of the Federal University of Alagoas, in the municipality of Rio Largo, Brazil, and at the Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Arapiraca Campus, at the same University. The experiments were performed under a completely randomized design, with four replicates of 25 seeds. The results demonstrated that during storage the seeds developed a possible secondary dormancy, which was overcome with a time of twelve months of storage. The C. pulcherrima seeds subjected to the test of light qualities presented a significant difference in their germination percentage when verified with the time of storage. In the far-red quality, the newly harvested seeds had a germination percentage of (98%), higher than seeds with 12 months of storage (80.5%). The water volume 3.5-fold the weight of the dry paper provides (90%) germination when compared to other volumes. The tetrazolium salt concentrations of 0.075% and 0.1%, under the temperature of 30°C within 2 hours, are indicated for the viability analysis of Caesalpinia pulcherrima seeds.

The present study concerns the production and characterization of porous hydroxyapatite/niobo-phosphate glass ceramics to be used for bone repair. The scaffolds were produced by hydrothermal deposition of monetite on polyurethane sponge substrates, further converted to hydroxyapatite in an alkali solution. After heat treatment, elimination of the organic sponge provides a three-dimensional (3D) structure. Niobo-phosphate glasses were added to the heat treated struts and the scaffolds were sintered. The porous bodies were characterized by field-emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS).

This essay explores the relationship between representations of violence in some contemporary Brazilian films and its very material presence in Brazilian everyday life. It argues that the current emphasis on the portrayal of brutality in Brazilian films is more than a marketing strategy implemented to boost sales. The Brazilian audience deserves special attention because the violence depicted in Brazilian cinema carries a particular meaning for Brazilian spectators. It dialogues with – and cannot be interpreted and understood separate from – other images and instances of aggression that permeate Brazil. Brazilian audiences form what Stanley Fish calls an “interpretive community”, as their sense-making of these films also derives from their shared current collective and individual experiences of violence. Important evidence of this communal interpretive experience is the fact that Brazilian cinema has helped to foster a public debate about violence in most urban centers. Moreover, as the essay shows, film ...

Bioceramics are widely used as grafts for orthopedic and dental applications, as well as porous scaffolds for tissue engineering and bioactive coatings on metals. Because of its similarity with bone mineral composition and surface reactivity, synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAp) can be used as bone grafts and as drug delivery system. Substituted apatites have been researched and designed by changig structure, crystallinity and surface charge distribution of the material in order to optimize its performance in vivo. In the present work, a novel nanostructured hydroxyapatite partially substituted with niobium was obtained. The powders were synthesized by a patented aqueous precipitation method. The green powders showed an anomalous fibrous morphology, with wires and aggregates of nanoparticles, as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After heat treatment, the particle size was estimated to lay between 20nm and 40nm. The characterization of the material was performed by SEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy analyses. The element niobium was identified by XRF analyses of the produced powder, which was previously characterized by FTIR and XRD, as a single phase: HAp.