Search

Central governments face compliance problems when they rely on local governments to implement policy. In authoritarian political systems, these challenges are pronounced because local governments do not face citizens at the polls. In a national-scale, randomized field experiment in China, we test whether a public, non-governmental rating of municipal governments' compliance with central mandates to disclose information about the management of pollution increased compliance. We find significant and positive treatment effects on compliance after only one year that persist with reinforcement into a second post-treatment year. The public rating appears to decrease the costs of monitoring compliance for the central government without increasing public and media attention to pollution, highlighting when this mode of governance is likely to emerge. These results reveal important roles that nonstate actors can play in enhancing the accountability of local governments in authoritarian political systems.

An analysis of U.S. budgetary changes shows that, among subaccounts that are cut, Democrats make more large cuts when they control more lawmaking institutions. This surprising finding is consistent with legislators who are subject to motivated reasoning. In an information-rich world, they disproportionately respond to information in line with their bias unless they must make a large accuracy correction. This article tests, for the first time, motivated information processing among legislators. It finds evidence that Democrats engage in motivated information processing and that the effects of it are felt more on social spending and in off-election years.

Delay is a common feature of appropriations politics. Although members of Congress and the president often decry lengthy delays in the passage of appropriations bills, we investigate whether such delays might confer strategic advantages, and if so, to whom. We draw from bargaining theory to understand how the relationship between the duration of negotiations and outcomes depends on the underlying distribution of bargaining power and the nature of the bargaining process. In our empirical analysis, we find that delay is associated with greater concessions to the president, but not with more extreme outcomes. We also find that the House and Senate concede more to presidents who prefer less spending, while the Senate is more responsive to presidential needs during presidential election years. These results suggest that the president's power comes from the asymmetry of veto and proposal rights, rather than from symmetric bargaining with proposals and counterproposals or a "war of nerves.". © 2014 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

In this study, we test the hypothesis that in newborn hearts (as in adults) hypoxia and acidification stimulate increased Na(+) uptake, in part via pH-regulatory Na(+)/H(+) exchange. Resulting increases in intracellular Na(+) (Na(i)) alter the force driving the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger and lead to increased intracellular Ca(2+). NMR spectroscopy measured Na(i) and cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) and pH (pH(i)) in isolated, Langendorff-perfused 4- to 7-day-old rabbit hearts. After Na(+)/K(+) ATPase inhibition, hypoxic hearts gained Na(+), whereas normoxic controls did not [19 +/- 3.4 to 139 +/- 14.6 vs. 22 +/- 1.9 to 22 +/- 2.5 (SE) meq/kg dry wt, respectively]. In normoxic hearts acidified using the NH(4)Cl prepulse, pH(i) fell rapidly and recovered, whereas Na(i) rose from 31 +/- 18.2 to 117.7 +/- 20.5 meq/kg dry wt. Both protocols caused increases in [Ca](i); however, [Ca](i) increased less in newborn hearts than in adults (P < 0.05). Increases in Na(i) and [Ca](i) were inhibited by the Na(+)/H(+) exchange inhibitor methylisobutylamiloride (MIA, 40 microM; P < 0.05), as well as by increasing perfusate osmolarity (+30 mosM) immediately before and during hypoxia (P < 0.05). The data support the hypothesis that in newborn hearts, like adults, increases in Na(i) and [Ca](i) during hypoxia and after normoxic acidification are in large part the result of increased uptake via Na(+)/H(+) and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange, respectively. However, for similar hypoxia and acidification protocols, this increase in [Ca](i) is less in newborn than adult hearts.

Numerous studies suggest that in adult hearts myocardial ischemic injury is in part the result of proton stimulation of Na/H exchange which increases intracellular Na (Nai) and thus leads to increases in intracellular Ca concentration ( [Ca]i) due to changes in Na/Ca exchange flux. Corollary to the hypothesis, inhibition of Na/H exchange diminishes Na and Ca accumulation and improves heart function after ischemia. To test this hypothesis and its corollary in newborn hearts, NMR spectroscopy was used to measure intracellular pH (pHi), Nai, [Ca]i, and high energy phosphates in isolated, 4-7-day-old rabbit hearts, Langendorff-perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution at pH 7.4+/-0.5 equilibrated with 95% O2/5% CO2 at 36+/-1 degrees C. Control hearts were perfused for 30 min before initiating 40 min of global ischemia followed by 40 min of reperfusion. In a second group of hearts ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA-10 microM) was added to the perfusate 20 min before global ischemia to inhibit Na/H exchange. After 15 min ischemia, pHi in EIPA-treated hearts (6.41+/-0.04) was higher than that of the control hearts (6.20+/-0.08; P

In the context of the "pump-leak" hypothesis (37), changes in myocardial intracellular Na (Nai) during ischemia and reperfusion have historically been interpreted to be the result of changes in Na efflux via the Na-K pump. We investigated the alternative hypothesis that changes in Nai during ischemia are the result of changes in the Na "leak" rather than changes in the pump. More specifically, we hypothesize that the increase in Nai during ischemia is in part the result of increased Na uptake mediated by Na/H exchange. Furthermore, we present data consistent with the interpretation that the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter is active (or, alternatively, displaced from equilibrium) during ischemia and may contribute an additional Na efflux pathway during reperfusion. Thus inhibition of Na efflux via Na-K-2Cl cotransport during ischemia and reperfusion could result in increased Nai and therefore decreased force driving Ca efflux via Na/Ca exchange and ultimately increased intracellular Ca concentration ([Ca]i). Nai (in meq/kg dry wt) and [Ca]i (in nM) were measured in isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Except, during the 65 min of ischemia, hearts were perfused with N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid-buffered Krebs-Henseleit solution equilibrated with 100% O2 at 23 degrees C and pH 7.4 +/- 0.05. During ischemia, Nai rose from 16.6 +/- 0.3 to 62.9 +/- 5.1 (delta Nai approximately 46) meq/kg dry wt and decreased during subsequent reperfusion (mean +/- SE, n = 3 hearts). To measure Na uptake ("leak") in the absence of efflux via the Na-K pump, in all of the protocols described below, the perfusate was nominally K-free solution containing 1 mM ouabain for 10 min before ischemia and during the 30-min reperfusion. After K-free perfusion, Nai rose from 20.2 +/- 0.5 to 79.1 +/- 5.3 (delta Nai approximately 59) meq/kg dry wt (n = 3) during ischemia and decreased during K-free reperfusion. When amiloride (1 mM) was added to the K-free perfusate to inhibit Na/H exchange, Nai rose from 16.3 +/- 0.9 to 44.7 +/- 5.1 (delta Nai approximately 28) meq/kg dry wt (n = 3) during ischemia; i.e., amiloride decreased Na uptake. When bumetanide (20 microM) was added to the nominally K-free perfusate to inhibit Na-K-2Cl contransport, Nai rose from 22.5 +/- 3.9 to 83.8 +/- 13.9 (delta Nai approximately 61 meq/kg dry wt (n = 3) during ischemia and did not decrease during reperfusion; i.e., bumetanide inhibited Na recovery during reperfusion (P < 0.05 compared with bumetanide free). For the same protocol, the presence of bumetanide resulted in increased [Ca]i during ischemia and reperfusion (P < 0.05); these increases in [Ca]i are interpreted to be the result of increased Nai. Thus the results are consistent with the hypotheses.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of three angles (0°, 45°, and 90°) on the mechanical properties and surface characteristics of the specimens produced by a 3D printer and resin for provisional restorations. Material and Methods: In this in vitro study, ten bars (4 × 2 × 10 mm) were produced for each experimental group (n = 10), designed in the Meshmixer software and printed on a 3D printer. The bars were tested immediately, without aging. They were subjected to a three-point bending test in a universal testing machine, and the surface roughness was measured by a contact profilometer. Microhardness was measured by a microhardness tester and the surface roughness of the specimens was evaluated with a scanning electron microscope. Results: The flexural strength of the 0° group (236.20 ± 29.73) was significantly higher than those of the 45° (155.80 ± 36.19) and 90° (138.70 ± 48.20) groups. Similarly, the surface roughness of the 0° group (0.10 ± 0.06) was significantly lower than the 45° (1.62 ± 0.55) and 90° (0.97 ± 0.22) groups. Microhardness was similar among the groups. Conclusion: The 0° angulation, with deposition of the layers on the printed object so that they are oriented perpendicular to the direction of application of forces, resulted in the best resistance to bending and lower roughness, which may contribute to better clinical behavior.

The variability of the soil chemical attributes in an area where woody crops are integrated with forage is quite complex, so it is important to understand the distribution of these soil attributes and their correlation with the forage yield. This study aimed to analyze the spatial variability of the production and bromatological composition of Brachiaria and Panicum forage species according to the soil chemical attributes when cultivated in a silvopastoral system integrated with eucalyptus to optimize the forage yield and nutritional quality of the forage in this multiple-use system. The study was conducted in the municipality of Ribas do Rio Pardo (MS) in the 2011/2012 crop season, where linear and spatial correlations were analyzed between attributes of eucalyptus, forage plants, and the chemical attributes of a Neossolo Quartzarênico (pH, organic matter (OM) and organic carbon (OC) contents, and carbon stock (CS)) at two soil layers: 0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m. A geostatistical grid with 72 sample points was used. Spatially, eucalyptus height can be estimated by cokriging with OM, and cellulose by cokriging with pH. OM contents above 6 g cm-3 indicated sites with the highest eucalyptus heights. On the other hand, pH values below 4.3 indicated sites with the highest cellulose content for the forage plants. Using geostatistics is technically feasible for creating specific management zones in the eucalyptus forage silvopastoral system.

Background: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective chemotherapy drug widely used to treat cancer, but its use is limited due to multisystemic toxicity. Lipid metabolism is also affected by doxorubicin. Orange juice can reduce dyslipidemia in other clinical situations and has already been shown to attenuate cardiotoxicity. Our aim is to evaluate the effects of Pera orange juice (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) on mitigating lipid metabolism imbalance, metabolic pathways, and DOX induced cytotoxic effects in the heart and liver. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were allocated into 3 groups: Control (C); DOX (D); and DOX plus Pera orange juice (DOJ). DOJ received orange juice for 4 weeks, while C and D received water. At the end of each week, D and DOJ groups received 4 mg/kg/week DOX, intraperitoneal. At the end of 4 weeks animals were submitted to echocardiography and euthanasia. Results: Animals treated with DOX decreased water intake and lost weight over time. At echocardiography, DOX treated rats presented morphologic alterations in the heart. DOX increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides. It also reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, increased protein carbonylation in the heart and dihydroethidium (DHE) expression in the liver, decreased glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) and the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ1) in the heart, and reduced carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT1) in the liver. Conclusion: DOX caused dyslipidemia, liver and cardiac toxicity by increasing oxidative stress, and altered energy metabolic parameters in both organs. Despite not improving changes in left ventricular morphology, orange juice did attenuate oxidative stress and mitigate the metabolic effects of DOX.

La estimación de estado en convertidores electrónicos de potencia es una alternativa interesante para obtener de manera indirecta algunas variables que son difíciles de medir, debido a los costos de los sensores o a las limitaciones impuestas por los ruidos de medición. Por lo tanto, en este artículo se realiza el diseño de tres estimadores de estado lineales y tres no lineales para un modelo de convertidor boost DC/DC, con el fin de verificar la conveniencia de usar solo estimadores no lineales como solución al problema de estimación de la corriente del convertidor. Adicionalmente, se prueba mediante simulación el comportamiento de estos estimadores en el software Matlab.

Abstract In higher derivative theories, gravity can travel slower or faster than light. With this feature in mind, we revisit the construction of the causal and entanglement wedges in this type of theories, and argue that they must be constructed using the fastest mode instead of null rays. We show that the property of causal wedge inclusion, i.e., the fact that the causal wedge must be contained in the entanglement wedge, leads to more stringent constraints on the couplings than those imposed by hyperbolicity and boundary causality. Our results imply that the full power of subregion-subregion duality could lead to the same conclusions previously obtained based on high energy graviton scattering. We illustrate our findings with a systematic analysis in Gauss-Bonnet gravity.

Aim: Evaluate the influence of doxycycline, an anti-inflammatory and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, on the attenuation of chronic doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats. Methods: We allocated male Wistar rats into four groups: control (C), doxorubicin (D), doxycycline (inhibitor of MMP, IM), and Dox + doxycycline (DIM). Groups IM and DIM received doxycycline (5 mg/kg, IP) once a week for 4 weeks. In addition, 48 h after every doxycycline injection, groups D and DIM received Dox (5 mg/kg, IP). We performed echocardiogram and evaluated TIMP-4 and collagen I protein expression, MMP-2 activity, and oxidative stress and myocardial metabolism. Results: Doxorubicin promotes left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) dilatation and decreases in LV fractional shortening, which was improved by doxycycline. Moreover, doxycycline attenuated the LV cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and collagen type I expression. Doxorubicin increased phosphofructokinase and decreased beta-hydroxyacyl Co-A dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, and ATP synthase activity, which was partially attenuated by doxycycline. Lastly, doxycycline improved antioxidant enzyme activity in the DIM group. Conclusion: Doxorubicin increases oxidative stress and promotes changes in myocardial energy metabolism, accompanied by structural and functional changes. Doxycycline attenuated the doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, at least in part, through changes in myocardial energy metabolism.

Justificativa e Objetivos: Os parasitas intestinais representam um problema de saúde pública no Brasil, e sua identificação é feita rotineiramente, por meio de várias técnicas diagnósticas. Muitas dessas técnicas são criticadas por suas limitações, como a de Hoffman, Pons e Janner. Considerou-se avaliar o grau de sensibilidade diagnóstica dessa técnica em comparação ao método coproscópico de coleta e filtragem Coproplus®, uma vez que esta metodologia também é baseada na concentração de estruturas parasíticas e é uma adaptação prática aos métodos usuais, pois não há documentos diagnósticos de protozoários. Métodos: A análise gráfica pelo método de Bland-Altman mostrou que há concordância entre os dois métodos de identificação dos cistos avaliados, ao traçar as diferenças entre o número de cistos contra as médias de ambos os valores. Resultados: Verificou-se que, para os protozoários, o uso de apenas um método parasitológico de Hoffman, Pons e Janner não é suficiente para identificar todas as amostras. Conclusão: Os métodos têm se mostrado eficazes na identificação de parasitas intestinais, mas nem todos os agentes foram identificados simultaneamente em ambas as técnicas e números de cistos, o que leva à conclusão de que uma técnica pode complementar a outra.

Abstract In this work we explore the effect of rotation in the size of a traversable wormhole obtained via a double trace boundary deformation. We find that at fixed temperature the size of the wormhole increases with the angular momentum J/M ℓ. The amount of information that can be sent through the wormhole increases as well. However, for the type of interaction considered, the wormhole closes as the temperature approaches the extremal limit. We also briefly consider the scenario where the boundary coupling is not spatially homogeneous and show how this is reflected in the wormhole opening.

Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is especially suited for emergency diagnostics in multiple trauma patients. The objectives of this study were to investigate the types and frequencies of injuries associated with tram accidents in pedestrians. Eighteen consecutive pedestrian patients with multiple traumas after tram accidents were evaluated with MDCT in our Level I Trauma Center. The mean age in our patient cohort was 36.9 years with a range from 14-92 years. There was a trend for accident events occurring more commonly during the winter months in middle-aged men, often under the influence of alcohol. Patients were divided into two groups with unilateral or complex injury patterns. In both groups, leading diagnoses were head (83.3%) and thorax injuries (66.6%). Abdominal injuries (44.4%) were less common and mainly found in the complex injuries group. The most serious injuries occurred in the complex injuries group when the victim was caught under or between tramcars. A wide range of injuries is associated with tram accidents in pedestrians, which can be classified into two main injury patterns, unilateral and complex. The life-limiting injuries in this setting involved the head with a mortality rate of 22.2% (four patients) in our cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cerebral edema is a life-threatening complication of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children. Recent data suggest that cerebral hypoperfusion and activation of cerebral ion transporters may be involved, but data describing cerebral metabolic alterations during DKA are lacking.Research Design and Methods: We evaluated 50 juvenile rats with DKA and 21 normal control rats using proton and phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). MRS measured cerebral intracellular pH and ratios of metabolites including ATP/inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphocreatine (PCr)/Pi, N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr), and lactate/Cr before and during DKA treatment. We determined the effects of treatment with insulin and intravenous saline with or without bumetanide, an inhibitor of Na-K-2Cl cotransport, using ANCOVA with a 2 x 2 factorial study design.Results: Cerebral intracellular pH was decreased during DKA compared with control (mean +/- SE difference -0.13 +/- 0.03; P < 0.001), and lactate/Cr was elevated (0.09 +/- 0.02; P < 0.001). DKA rats had lower ATP/Pi and NAA/Cr (-0.32 +/- 0.10, P = 0.003, and -0.14 +/- 0.04, P < 0.001, respectively) compared with controls, but PCr/Pi was not significantly decreased. During 2-h treatment with insulin/saline, ATP/Pi, PCr/Pi, and NAA/Cr declined significantly despite an increase in intracellular pH. Bumetanide treatment increased ATP/Pi and PCr/Pi and ameliorated the declines in these values with insulin/saline treatment.Conclusions: These data demonstrate that cerebral metabolism is significantly compromised during DKA and that further deterioration occurs during early DKA treatment--consistent with possible effects of cerebral hypoperfusion and reperfusion injury. Treatment with bumetanide may help diminish the adverse effects of initial treatment with insulin/saline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty-nine cases of lesions presenting in the patella were identified after review of the databases of four European bone tumour registries. Of the 59 cases, 46% were non neoplastic, 39% were benign and 15% were malignant. The commonest benign neoplasm was giant cell tumour (GCT) (11 cases). Younger patients were more likely to have a benign neoplasm. Lesions in patients less than 40 years of age included giant cell tumour, chondroblastoma, aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC), osteomyelitis, osteoid osteoma and solitary bone cyst. In patients older than 40 years, the following were common lesions: intra-osseous gout, metastasis and intra-osseous ganglion. Expansion of the patella with thinning of cortex was seen more commonly in GCT and brown tumour in hyperparathyroidism. There was associated soft tissue extension in gout and malignant lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El código DMX 512 (Digital Multiplex) permite controlar distintas clases de luminarias en todo tipo de espectáculos siendo un protocolo estandarizado para evitar problemas de compatibilidad entre fabricantes. Sin embargo, su uso depende de la programación o el control de un operario con el fin de que funcione en tiempo real, esto lo hace dependiente de las decisiones tomadas por el personal técnico de luces en un evento; en el presente artículo se muestra la implementación del código DMX 512 en un sistema automatizado a través de una interfaz gráfica desde un dispositivo Smartphone de manera manual o automática genera tramas DMX que al ritmo de la música, controlan los distintos tipos de luminarias que se encuentran en el mercado, todo este independiente del operador.

The rise in the prevalence and severity of pediatric obesity has been accompanied by higher rates of the known correlates of obesity as well as the emergence of new or newly identifiable health conditions. These include the classic cardiovascular risk factors, type 2 diabetes, menstrual abnormalities, sleep-disordered breathing, and psychosocial effects. Although stigmatization of obese children is convincingly documented, the evidence regarding the psychological consequences of child and adolescent obesity is more equivocal. Identification of the full range of health consequences linked to obesity in the pediatric population may help direct resources to its primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introdução: A ginástica rítmica (GR) demanda a atleta uma alta carga de treinamentos e responsabilidades que se somam a outros conflitos frequentes na fase adolescência. Isso pode ser um gerador de estresse e, consequentemente, atrapalhar o desempenho esportivo. Essa carga de estresse pode ser combatida através das estratégias de enfrentamento (coping). Objetivo: Identificar as estratégias de enfrentamento empregadas por jovens atletas de GR em suas rotinas de treinos. Métodos: Estudo observacional e seccional, de abordagem qualitativa, do qual participaram seis atletas da modalidade GR, do sexo feminino, com faixa etária entre 12 e 17 anos, filiadas às Federações Estaduais de Ginástica. Como instrumento de pesquisa foi utilizado um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada, também denominada de entrevista guiada ou semidiretiva. O tratamento dos dados da pesquisa foi dado a partir da técnica da análise de conteúdo apresentada por Bardin. Resultados: Foram identificadas 11 estratégias de coping utilizadas pelas ginastas: fuga, pensamento positivo, respiração, distração, autofala, lidar com adversidades, suporte profissional, metas, apoio social, atenção/concentração e treinabilidade. Conclusão: As atletas estudadas apontaram várias formas de lidar com o estresse, com pre percebido contribuindo para um melhor desempenho durante os treinos e as competições. Os resultados foram discutidos. Coping Strategies in Young Athletes of Rhythmic Gymnastics: A Sectional StudyIntroduction: The rhythmic gymnastics (GR) demands the athlete a high load of trainings and responsibilities that add to other frequent conflicts in the adolescence phase. This can be a stress generator and therefore disrupt performance. This stress load can be tackled through coping strategies. Objective: Identify the coping strategies employed by young GR athletes in their training routines. Methods: A qualitative, observational and sectional study was carried out in which six female athletes from the GR mode, female, aged between 12 and 17 years old, enrolled in the State Gymnastics Federations participated. As a research tool, a semi-structured interview script was also used, also known as a guided or semi-directed interview. The treatment of the research data was based on the technique of content analysis presented by Bardin. Results: Eleven coping strategies used by gymnasts were identified: escape, positive thinking, breathing, distraction, self-talk, dealing with adversity, professional support, goals, social support, attention / concentration, and trainability. Conclusion: The studied athletes pointed out several ways of dealing with stress, with pre perceived contributing to a better performance during training and competitions. The results were discussed.

Geriatric technicians work in the field, providing a link between care providers and rural elderly patients. In this study, the new role enhanced patient outcomes and satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Parasitic diseases are common in wild animals kept in captivity, and the research of these parasites is a tool used in wildlife management actions. Once the method most used in the practice of veterinary laboratories is the direct examination, it was considered appropriate to report the parasitism in captivity wildlife comparing this technique with modified methods of Hoffman, Pons and Janer (HPJ) and Willis. Fresh feces were surveyed in eleven precincts with specimens of the class Reptilia, Birds and Mammalia. A positive result for the presence of parasites was observed in 81.8% of them, of which 18.2% were, 9.1% helminths and 54.6% protozoa and helminths simultaneously. The direct and HPJ methods were more specific for the identification of parasites, 72.7 and 63.6%, respectively, while the method of Willis showed less positive results (36.4%). It is concluded that the ideal routine in veterinary laboratory fecal examinations of wild animals is to use the HPJ method associated with the direct method for the detection of protozoa and/or helminths, in order to obtain more accurate results.

In Brazil, grazing mismanagement may lead to soil and pasture degradation. To impede this process, integrated cropping systems such as silvopasture have been an effective alternative, allied with precision agriculture based on soil mapping for site-specific management. In this study, we aimed to define the soil property that best sheds light on the variability of eucalyptus and forage yield. The experiment was conducted in the 2011/12 crop year in Ribas do Rio Pardo, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. We analyzed linear and spatial correlations between eucalyptus traits and physical properties of a Typic Quartzipsamment at two depths (0.00-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m). For that purpose, we set up a geostatistical grid for collection at 72 points. Gravimetric moisture in the 0.00-0.10 m layer is an important index of soil physical quality, showing correlation to eucalyptus circumference at breast height (CBH) in a Typic Quartzipsamment. With an increase in resistance to penetration in the soil surface layer, there is an increase in eucalyptus height and in neutral detergent fiber content in the forage crop. From a spatial point of view, the height of eucalyptus and the neutral detergent fiber of forage can be estimated by co-kriging analysis with soil resistance to penetration. Resistance to penetration values above 2.3 MPa indicated higher yielding sites.

Com o aumento da expectativa de vida das populações urbanas observa-se também o acréscimo na ocorrência das doenças crônicas degenerativas, sendo o Diabetes Mellitus (DM) uma das condições de agravo em que o impacto sobre a sociedade como um todo, e o Sistema de Saúde em particular, apresenta-se como elemento de difícil gerenciamento. Aspectos relacionados às condições socioeconômicas das populações, aos padrões de qualificação dos recursos humanos em saúde, aos padrões de consumo das famílias e ao acesso aos recursos de assistência farmacêutica, emergem como importantes fatores condicionantes da aderência aos protocolos de tratamento. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o sistema de gerenciamento do DM e o número de pacientes portadores de insuficiência renal como um indicativo de deficiência de gerenciamento em uma cidade do interior do estado de São Paulo, assim como suas falhas e dificuldades, utilizando como ferramenta um questionário com perguntas específicas sobre o processo de gestão, aplicado aos profissionais coordenadores dos serviços de enfermagem. Evidenciou-se que 23% da população do município portava DM, e um volume variável de indivíduos apresentou como comorbidade a insuficiência renal. Das 4 unidades estudadas, as duas maiores demonstraram falhas no processo gerencial, tendo sido apontadas como causas a alta demanda, a escassez de recursos humanos capacitados, a condição de carência social da população, a dificuldade de compreensão sobre a doença e seus agravos, a ausência de equipes multiprofissionais, e o baixo volume de investimentos em estruturas de saúde. Observou-se também a necessidade de incorporação de ferramenta de gestão sistêmica de informações que permita à equipe local melhor manejo e conhecimento dos dados epidemiológicos da população assistida.

Como proposta para o presente estudo, analisamos os contributos e as limitações dos laboratórios virtuais para o ensino da química, com base em um estudo comparativo. O trabalho qualitativo e empírico descritivo foi desenvolvido no Departamento de Estatística e Informática da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, e foi desenvolvido no período de maio de 2016 a maio de 2017.

Compact evolutionary algorithms have proven to be an efficient alternative for solving optimization problems in computing environments with low processing power. In this kind of solution, a probability distribution simulates the behavior of a population, thus looking for memory savings. Several compact algorithms have been proposed, including the compact genetic algorithm and compact differential evolution. This work aims to investigate the use of compact approaches in other important evolutionary algorithms: evolution strategies. This paper proposes two different approaches for compact versions of evolution strategies. Experiments were performed and the results analyzed. The results showed that, depending on the nature of problem, the use of the compact version of Evolution Strategies can be rewarding.

The demand and consumption of fish and their derivatives has increased considerably in recent years. However, fish are ideal hosts of numerous parasites, highlighting the need to develop new research methodologies for its detection. The aim of present study was to compare the efficacy of Ascocotyle metacercariae (Trematoda: Digenea) extraction from visceral tissues of Mugil liza Valenciennes, 1836 (Teleostei: Mugilidae) by two methods: homogenization by blender or mixer. Twentysix samples of M. liza were collected, being 16 liver samples and 10 samples of muscle tissue. Approximately 5g of each sample were processed by blender and mixer techniques homogenization for metacercariae extraction. In liver samples, up to 46 metacercariae were found in samples homogenized in blender. The lowest amount found was 2 metacercariae for blender and mixer techniques. In samples of muscle tissue, 4 metacercariae were observed in the mixer extraction. The lowest amount was found to be 2 parasites to blender and mixer. The mean metacercariae found and extracted from muscle tissue were 0.2 (+0.357) and 1.2 (+0.963) for blender and mixer, respectively. The averages of metacercariae found and extracted from fish liver, in blender and mixer, were 24 (+15.145) and 18 (+8.246), respectively. The homogenization techniques for blender and mixer were effective for the extraction of metacercariae of mullet fish tissues, suggesting that they may be directly applicable in the field of study, especially due to the ease of testing.

Introdução: As parasitoses intestinais ainda constituem um sério problema de Saúde Pública, devido a sua alta prevalência na população, associação com diversos fatores ambientais e seus complexos ciclos epidemiológicos.Objetivo:Efetuar um levantamento sobre a ocorrência de enteroparasitoses em duas cidades - Timon (MA) e Macapá (AP).Método:Coorte retrospectiva realizada no ano de 2012, que analisou os casos de enteroparasitoses em crianças de 2 a 12 anos de idade atendidas em dois laboratórios vinculados ao serviço público de saúde das cidades de Timon - MA e Macapá -AP.Resultados:Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolyticae Ascaris lumbricoides foram os parasitas mais prevalentes no estudo.Conclusão:Verificou-se associação entre a prevalência de parasitoses e os baixos índices de Gini. O controle dessas doenças necessita de políticas públicas envolvendo educação sanitária e ambiental, além de melhor distribuição de renda.

O presente estudo coloca sob exame os pressupostos analíticos de Berger (1985) e Guerra (2000; 2003), os quais apontam para a transformação das mensagens e propostas religiosas em produtos para consumo como qualquer outro no mercado, no qual as instituições religiosas competem utilizando como estratégia mais comum a assemelhação com os bens religiosos que apresentam alta performance entre os consumidores. Comparando sites de uma amostra de Paróquias da Diocese de Campina Grande - PB com os sites de uma amostra de igrejas neopentecostais da mesma cidade, constatou-se um conjunto de produtos religiosos semelhantes oferecidos, principalmente para o segmento dos jovens, destacando a assemelhação entre modelos de práticas de oração, de louvor, de testemunhos oferecidos nos sites das instituições católicas com aqueles oferecidos nos das neopentecostais, o que substitui o antigo modelo da diferenciação/oposição entre católicos e evangélicos em geral pelo Paradigma da Semelhança, bem como entre os sites de ambos os grupos com a esfera secular no que se referem aos eventos religiosos de maior porte, tais como shows, retiros e encontros temáticos.