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Concerns about the increasing impact of severe COVID-19 in younger individuals in Brazil came after a recent synchronised country-wide wave of cases in Brazil. This communication analyses how hospitalisations due to COVID-19 changed in the age groups 18–49 years and ≥70 years. Longitudinal study based on secondary data. Data from SIVEP-Gripe, a public and open-access database of Severe Acute Respiratory Illness records (including COVID-19 notifications), were used in this study. Statistical control charts examined changes in the magnitude and variation of younger (18–49 years) and older (≥70 years) adults who were hospitalised between 15th March 2020 and 19th June 2021. During the few first weeks of the pandemic in Brazil, the number of COVID-19 hospitalisations increased in older adults but decreased in younger adults. Subsequently, hospitalisations reached statistical control zones in epidemiological weeks (EW) 19–48 of 2020 (EW 19-48/2020) and EW 03-05/2021 (18–49 y, mean = 26.1%; ≥70 y, mean = 32.8%). Between EW 49/2020 and EW 02/2021, the number of hospitalisations of younger adults dropped to levels below the lower control limit. In contrast, the number of hospitalisations of older adults surpassed the upper limit of the corresponding statistical control zones. However, from EW 06/2021, numbers of hospitalisations changed from statistical control zones, with hospitalisations of younger adults increasing and reaching 44.9% in EW 24/2021 and hospitalisations of older adults decreasing until EW 19/2021 (14.1%) and reaching 17.3% in EW 24/2021. An increasing number of COVID-19 hospitalisations were observed in younger adults from EW 06/2021. This could be a result of the successful vaccination programme in older adults, who were initially prioritised, and possibly an increased exposure to highly transmissible variants of COVID-19 in younger adults who had to go to work in the absence of social protection (i.e. government financial support). Potential consequences of COVID-19 hospitalisations in younger adults could include a reduced life expectancy of the population and an increased number of people unable to perform daily activities due to post-COVID-19 conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which used the Rutherford backscattering technique to determine the range parameters of Bi ions implanted into AZ111 photoresist film at energies from ten to 400 keV. Experimental procedure and data analysis; Results and discussion; Conclusions.

A female specimen of Phaeotabanus litigiosus (Diptera: Tabanidae) collected on Marambaia Island was found with a tumor in the abdominal integument. Histopathological examination revealed an epithelial dysplasia with anisokariosis and hyperchromasia. This is the first record of a neoplasm found in tabanid collected from natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which determined the depth distribution of ion-implanted [sup10]boron in AZ111 photoresist in the 30-150 kiloelectrovolts energy range. Aspects of ion-implanted and irradiated polymers; Experimental procedure; Results and discussion; Conclusions.

Presents information on a study that compared the profiles of bismuth, xenon, tin, krypton, gallium, iron, potassium, argon, phosphorus, sodium and fluorine implanted into the AZ111 photoresist with theoretical predictions. Experimental procedure; Results and discussion.

The soil dwelling larvae of the wheat bulb fly ( Delia coarctata, Fallén) can cause damage to a number of cereal crops. Monitoring of the oviposition of this pest is important to allow forecasts of larval attack after the overwintering period, allowing suitable management practices to be implemented. However, little is known about the population dynamics of wheat bulb fly, both spatially and through time. Analysis of the spatial dependence of oviposition was conducted, allowing the construction of detailed contour or scale-sized dot maps of oviposition in the sampled fields. The population estimate obtained by the sample for estimate technique, used to test spatial dependence, was compared to the traditional wheat bulb fly sample for decision-making methodology. Further to this, the peak period of egg population density was established for Scotland. Spatial dependence was observed in 50 % of fields assessed, while field monitoring of egg population densities using the traditional single-line transect pattern were found to vary greatly from the mean density collected from a more intensive 50 by 50 m sampling grid. These findings suggest that the single-line transect sampling pattern is not robust enough when estimating the patchy egg distribution observed in the sampled fields. The peak period of egg population density, observed over three successive seasons, was found to be in late August, with population estimates taken prior to, or after this period showing a marked reduction in the observed maximum population. The results highlight the difficulty of obtaining accurate population density estimates for aggregated pest species and indicate that monitoring programmes, that have been implemented without thorough investigation into pest population dynamics, can lead to the execution of incorrect management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the dynamical behavior of defects of strength s = ±1/2 in a lyotropic liquid crystal during the annihilation process. By following their positions using time-resolved polarizing microscopy technique, we present statistically significant evidence that the relative velocity between defect pairs is Gaussian distributed, antipersistent, and long-range correlated. We further show that simulations of the Lebwohl-Lasher model reproduce quite well our experimental findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of frequency upconversion (UC) is observed in Er3+:Yb3+:SrAl2O4 powders prepared by combustion synthesis. Strong UC emission at the green (bands peaked at 521, 538, 547, and 562 nm) and weak UC emission at the red (bands peaked at 659 and 682 nm) corresponding to 4f–4f transitions of Er3+ were observed when the samples were irradiated with near-infrared laser excitation at ∼980 nm. Saturation of UC emission is observed for concentrations of 1.5 wt.% of Er3+ and 1.5 wt.% of Yb3+. The green-to-red intensity ratio, on the other hand, increases linearly with Er3+ concentration (Er3+ concentration varying from 0.5 to 1.5 wt.%) while keeping Yb3+ concentration fixed (at 1.5 wt.%). The green UC decay time was measured and Er3+–Er3+ interaction was suggested as a possible mechanism to explain the luminescence quenching effect observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed three functional 5' un-translated region β-defensin 1 (DEFB1) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in a group of 170 type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients. In order to evaluate the SNPs influence on the disease onset and the development of other autoimmune disorder, such as celiac disease (CD) and autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), patients were stratified according to the presence of AITD, CD, and both AITD and CD. As control group, we studied 191 healthy children and adolescent not presenting a familiar historic of T1D, CD or AITD. DEFB1 SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium both in healthy controls and T1D patients, as well in the T1D patients stratified according to the presence of other autoimmune disorder(s). Allele, genotype, and haplotype frequencies of T1D patients globally considered were comparable to healthy controls ones. No evidence of any association of DEFB1 SNPs with the onset of AIDT, CD, and both AITD and CD on T1D patients was evidenced. Only a minor trend was found for an increased frequency of the - 20 G allele in T1D patients only presenting AITD vs. T1D patients not presenting AITD or CD, as well as an increase of those haplotypes comprising the - 20 G allele when compared with the GCA haplotype. We also evaluated the influence of functional DEFB1 SNPs on the age of T1D onset: no significant statistical conclusion was achieved. Further studies are envisaged, in order to elucidate the possible role of functional DEFB1 polymorphisms in the onset of TD1 and other autoimmune-related disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the density field around quasars using high-quality medium spectral resolution Echelle Spectrograph and Imager–Keck spectra ( , signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) > 25) of 45 high-redshift quasars selected from a total of 95 spectra. This large sample considerably increases the statistics compared to previous studies. The redshift evolution of the mean photoionization rate and the median optical depth of the intergalactic medium (IGM) are derived statistically from the observed transmitted flux and the pixel optical depth probability distribution function, respectively. This is used to study the so-called proximity effect, that is, the observed decrease of the median optical depth of the IGM in the vicinity of the quasar caused by enhanced photoionization rate due to photons emitted by the quasar. We show that the proximity effect is correlated with the luminosity of the quasars, as expected. By comparing the observed decrease of the median optical depth with the theoretical expectation, we find that the optical depth does not decrease as rapidly as expected when approaching the quasar if the gas in its vicinity is part of the standard IGM. We interpret this effect as revealing gaseous overdensities on scales as large as Mpc. The mean overdensity is of the order of 2 and 5 within, respectively, 10 and Mpc. If true, this would indicate that high-redshift quasars are located in the centre of overdense regions that could evolve with time into massive clusters of galaxies. The overdensity is correlated with luminosity: brighter quasars show higher overdensities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A facile widely spread technique employed to produce low-cost high-yield oxide powders, combustion synthesis, was used to prepare yttrium oxyfluoride crystalline ceramic powders. The structure of the powders was analyzed by X-ray powder diffraction and Rietveld refinement. Samples heat treated at 700 °C had a predominance of vernier orthorhombic Y6O5F8 phase, while samples heat treated at 800 °C crystallized in stoichiometric rhombohedral YOF phase. The samples were doped with luminescent europium trivalent ions (Eu3+) in different concentrations (1-15 wt.%) and Judd-Ofelt theory was used to probe the distortion from the inversion symmetry of the local crystal field and the degree of covalency between the rare-earth ion and the surrounding ligands. The luminescence lifetime was measured and the luminescence quantum efficiency (LQE) was estimated. We observed that Eu3+:Y6O5F8 samples presented higher LQE in spite of the larger local crystal field anisotropy found for Eu3+:YOF samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is almost consensual, the development of both anxiety and depression, among women diagnosed with breast cancer. Sometimes symptoms remain restricted to the time of diagnosis, but quite often they persist, and even increase after that. However, this same feature, among women with benign tumors, has not yet been well established. Authors’ aim is to characterize the population of women attending a Breast Disease Diagnosis Unit, including: socio-demographic features, clinical conditions and screening for anxiety and depression. They also pretend to check out differences between the ones with benign and the others with malign disease. For this purpose they evaluated 150 women, attending Breast Disease Diagnosis Unit of St. John Hospital (Oporto). All of them were first evaluated by a Psychologist, at the time of the histological diagnostic biopsy, and fulfilled a clinical specific protocol, as well as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). Patients scoring for borderline (8-10) or pathological levels (» 11) were then reevaluated, after a three month period. Preliminary data shows that a high percentage of women with pathological levels of anxiety and depression symptoms (40%) were diagnosed with benign breast tumor. First conclusion is about the need for a more attentive clinical behavior, also towards women with benign breast tumors. In fact it seems that they also have a high risk of developing both anxiety and depression. This is an ongoing study, and the aim is to increase sample size and to better analyze and justify all possible variable correlations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background and purpose Machado−Joseph disease ( MJD/ SCA3) is the most frequent spinocerebellar ataxia, characterized by brainstem, basal ganglia and cerebellar damage. Few magnetic resonance imaging based studies have investigated damage in the cerebral cortex. The objective was to determine whether patients with MJD/ SCA3 have cerebral cortex atrophy, to identify regions more susceptible to damage and to look for the clinical and neuropsychological correlates of such lesions. Methods Forty-nine patients with MJD/ SCA3 (mean age 47.7 ± 13.0 years, 27 men) and 49 matched healthy controls were enrolled. All subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans in a 3 T device, and three-dimensional T1 images were used for volumetric analyses. Measurement of cortical thickness and volume was performed using the FreeSurfer software. Groups were compared using ancova with age, gender and estimated intracranial volume as covariates, and a general linear model was used to assess correlations between atrophy and clinical variables. Results Mean CAG expansion, Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia ( SARA) score and age at onset were 72.1 ± 4.2, 14.7 ± 7.3 and 37.5 ± 12.5 years, respectively. The main findings were (i) bilateral paracentral cortex atrophy, as well as the caudal middle frontal gyrus, superior and transverse temporal gyri, and lateral occipital cortex in the left hemisphere and supramarginal gyrus in the right hemisphere; (ii) volumetric reduction of basal ganglia and hippocampi; (iii) a significant correlation between SARA and brainstem and precentral gyrus atrophy. Furthermore, some of the affected cortical regions showed significant correlations with neuropsychological data. Conclusions Patients with MJD/ SCA3 have widespread cortical and subcortical atrophy. These structural findings correlate with clinical manifestations of the disease, which support the concept that cognitive/motor impairment and cerebral damage are related in disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a protein able to bind to carbohydrate patterns on pathogen membranes; upon MBL binding, its' associated serine protease MBL-associated serine protease type 2 (MASP2) is autoactivated, promoting the activation of complement via the lectin pathway. For both MBL2 and MASP2 genes, the frequencies of polymorphisms are extremely variable between different ethnicities, and this aspect has to be carefully considered when performing genetic studies. While polymorphisms in the MBL-encoding gene ( MBL2) have been associated, depending upon ethnicity, with several diseases in different populations, little is known about the distribution of MASP2 gene polymorphisms in human populations. The aim of our study was thus to determine the frequencies of MBL2 (exon 1 and promoter) and MASP2 (p.D371Y) polymorphisms in a Brazilian population from Rio de Janeiro. A total of 294 blood donor samples were genotyped for 27 polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene by direct sequencing of a region spanning from the promoter polymorphism H/L rs11003125 to the rs1800451 polymorphism (at codon 57 in the first exon of the gene). Genotyping for MASP2 p.D371Y was carried out using fluorogenic probes. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the prevalence of the MASP2 p.D371Y polymorphism in a Brazilian population. The C allele frequency 39% is something intermediate between the reported 14% in Europeans and 90% in Sub-Saharan Africans. MBL2 polymorphisms frequencies were quite comparable to those previously reported for admixed Brazilians. Both MBL2 and MASP2 polymorphisms frequencies reported in our study for the admixed Brazilian population are somehow intermediate between those reported in Europeans and Africans, reflecting the ethnic composition of the southern Brazilian population, estimated to derive from an admixture of Caucasian (31%), African (34%) and Native American (33%) populations. In conclusion, our population genetic study describes the frequencies of MBL2 and MASP2 functional SNPs in a population from Rio de Janeiro, with the aim of adding new information concerning the distribution of these SNPs in a previously unanalysed Brazilian population, thus providing a new genetic tool for the evaluation of the association of MBL2 and MASP2 functional SNPs with diseases in Brazil, with particular emphasis on the state of Rio de Janeiro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a method for the assessment of retail store performance based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The assessment considers the stores as complex organizations that aggregate several subunits, corresponding to sections with management autonomy. This structure motivated an analysis at two different levels: the section level and the store level. The performance assessment of the sections envolves a comparison among similar sections located in different stores, and evaluates efficiency spread. This is followed by an analysis at the store level to define targets for the sections. This analysis takes into account the interdependencies of the sections composing a store, as they share limited resources such as the floor area. This is achieved using a Network DEA model, which determines the maximum store sales allowing for reallocations of area among the sections within a store. The method developed is illustrated using a case study consisting of a Portuguese chain of supermarkets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of physical and chemical soils attributes is a pressing necessity for the agricultural land management optimization in many countries. Currently, soil analyses are performed by chemical treatments in a laboratory, generating environmental and time-consuming problems. Remote sensing techniques can be faster and cheaper than conventional methods, do not generate chemical residues and are non-destructive to the samples. The objective of the present work was to determine a remote sensing technique to estimate soil physical and chemical attributes in the regions of Paraguaçu Paulista and Rio Brilhante, in the States of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul, respectively, Brazil, using reflectance data obtained by a sensor located in orbit. Fieldwork was performed to validate orbital data. A total of 110 soil samples were collected representing 43,000 h for the development of spectral models. Landsat-7 ETM+images were atmospherically corrected and transformed to reflectance. The soil samples observed in the field were located by GPS and evaluated in the orbital image. The method used consists in a detailed investigation of the spectral data, in which the spectral curve, the position of the data in a graphic dispersion, the colour compositions and the pixel cursor values are evaluated. Spectral models were determined to quantify soil attributes. Soil samples from a different area had their attribute contents determined by the models. The attributes studied were sand, silt, clay, pH (CaCl2), organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, hydrogen, cation exchange capacity (CEC), sum of cations (SC) base saturation (BS) and aluminium saturation (AS). The results showed weak correlations with some soil attributes, such as SC, K, Ca, Mg, Al and P. High correlations (reaching 0.86) were obtained with sand, clay, silt, OM, CEC and H. On the other hand, validation procedure indicated that the best attributes for quantification were clearly clay (0.61) and sand (0.5). Therefore, there is strong evidence that these attributes can be predicted in similar landscapes, using the multiple-linear equations developed in this study. This knowledge can be useful in many ways in agriculture, such as soil mapping, determining soil attributes, determining soil information in difficult access regions, and diminishing traditional soil analyses with environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of the system Fe–(5,10,15,20)%Cu with the addition of 1% weight of silicon carbide (SiC) as bonding matrix for diamond tools was investigated in the present work. The diamond metallic composites were manufactured via conventional powder metallurgy and sintered at 1050 and 1150°C. Evaluation of the composites included the measurement of the level of shrinkage/swelling, Brinell hardness and wear resistance. Microstructure was investigated via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that temperature of 1150°C presented the best sintering condition for the composites. Among the studied compositions, the alloy with 20%Cu content presented the best wear performance as metallic bonding matrix for diamond composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FexCu100-x metastable alloys were prepared by pulsed electrodeposition for 550) are reminiscent of those observed in Fe–Cu alloys prepared by other methods. The Curie temperature decreases regularly with decreasing x. In the Fe-poor alloys (x≤30), the observed properties indicate that Fe-rich clusters form within a Cu-rich matrix. In the x=10 alloy, the Fe clusters are found to be superparamagnetic at room temperature, but a superferromagnetic order develops below a critical temperature of about 120 K. It is suggested that the intercluster coupling is mediated by Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida interactions which are predominantly positive due to the very short intercluster distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an investigation of the properties of the extended Ly α halo and the large-scale |${\rm H\, {\small I}}$| absorbing structures associated with five high-redshift radio galaxies at |$z$| > 2, using the Goodman long-slit spectrograph on the SOAR telescope, with the slit placed at large angles (>45°) to the radio axis, to study regions that are unlikely to be illuminated by the active nucleus. Spatially extended Ly α emission is detected with large line widths [full width at half-maximum (FWHM) = 1000–2500 km s−1], which although impacted by resonant scattering, is suggestive of turbulent motion. We find a correlation between higher blueshifts and higher FWHM, which is an indication that radial motion dominates the bulk gas dynamics perpendicular to the radio axis, although we are unable to distinguish between outflow and infall scenarios due to the resonant nature of the Ly α line. Extended, blueshifted Ly α absorption is detected in the direction perpendicular to the radio axis in three radio galaxies with minimum spatial extents ranging from ≳27 to ≳35 kpc, supporting the idea that the absorbing structure covers the entire Ly α halo, consistent with being part of a giant, expanding shell of gas enveloping the galaxy and its (detected) gaseous halo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze trends in expansion of coverage of the family health strategy and hospitalization for conditions sensitive to primary care (CSPC) in a successful experience of primary healthcare expansion in Brazil. Study design: Ecological study with data from the Brazilian National Health Information System. Methods: CSPC were analyzed between 1998 and 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by cause groups. Trends, variation, and correlation between indicators in the period were evaluated. Results: Most of the cause groups showed a reduction in hospitalization rate, particularly cardiovascular diseases and asthma, but an increase was seen for obstetric causes. The main causes of hospitalization were heart failure, cerebrovascular diseases, and bacterial pneumonia. The contribution of vaccine-preventable diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic lung diseases to the total number of hospitalizations was seen to decrease. Conclusions: Analysis demonstrates that the family health strategy, as access to the healthcare system, decreases the majority of CSPC hospitalization rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zooarchaeological collections from shell mounds in Rio de Janeiro (2,470-4,632 cal BP) contain a high prevalence of swollen fish bones belonging to the Atlantic spadefish ( Chaetodipterus faber), crevalle jack ( Caranx hippos) and fat snook ( Centropomus parallelus). Given the lack of knowledge of the bone degenerative process in senile fishes, this study analysed hyperostotic bone in zooarchaeological and modern specimens to obtain high-resolution morphology and microstructure reconstruction. We used micro CT as well as X-ray diffraction to characterize the crystallographic changes associated with fish senility. Our results showed that trabecular microstructures in hyperostotic bones were consistent with estimated values of the per cent bone volume-to-total volume ratio ( BV/ TV) and were greater than 60% in cortical bone. Hyperostotic bones indicated a high radiograph density, and X-ray diffractograms showed a decrease in hydroxyapatite [Ca10( PO4)6( OH)2] and calcite (Ca CO3) neocrystallization. These crystalline and density changes revealed an advanced stage of fish senile and indicate the vulnerability of ageing fish populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focused on fracture toughness studies of WC–10 wt% Co hardmetal fabricated through the high pressure/high-temperature technique. A powder mixture of WC–10 wt% Co was sintered at 1500–1900°C under a pressure of 7.7 GPa for 2 and 3 min. Vickers hardness test at two different loads of 15 and 30 kgf was done and fracture toughness of the sintered bodies was measured using the indentation method to obtain the effect of sintering parameters. Structural analyses were also performed via X-ray diffraction to investigate structure-related properties. Full density was achieved for high sintering temperature along with abnormal grain growth that reduced hardness. High hardness was observed ranging from 1200 to 1670 HV and fracture toughness increased with increasing sintering temperature up to the highest value of 17.85 MPa/m1/2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we consider a model derived from energy density for a Fermi gas in the Bardeen- Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) superfluid state, trapped in a quasiperiodic one-dimensional optical lattice (OL). Reducing the equation to the 3D to 1D form, we construct families of stable 1D gap solitons (GSs) by the variational approximation (VA). In the linear limit, the VA predicts almost exact positions of narrow Bloch bands that separate the first gaps. Through the variational approximation, we show the possibility that the nonlinearity coefficient acting in a combination with the potential of the quasiperiodic one-dimensional optical lattice, allows one dimensional bright gap solitons to arise. Varying the amplitude of the optical lattice, we analyze the existence and stability of bright gap solitons using a gaussian ansatz. GSs are stable against small variations of the quasiperiodic optical lattice. This paper can be used as a learning guide in the study of cold atoms. Students are encouraged to perform variational calculations for other amplitude values of optical lattices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During oil refining, equipments are constantly exposed to the action of compounds such as salts, leading corrosion problems and to decrease in equipment service life. Soon, the growing search for productivity increasingly demand more strategies to monitor the processes and minimize costs. This article contributes to the methodology development to study the chlorides released during the oil distillation, in a similar process that occurs in refineries, enabling predict and minimize damage. Oils were evaluated with respect to chloride release during each stage of oil heating. Salinity mass balance were obtained as well as their respective chloride release percentage to each oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We studied the risk of schistosomiasis taking into account its spatial effects. [•] Spatial regression models were constructed and indicated a better adjustment. [•] Socioeconomic and environmental variables were used to build regression models. [•] The roads and rivers network were used to build a generalized proximity matrix. [•] The proximity matrix reflected the movement of the disease hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for heavy and extraheavy crude oil digestion based on microwave-assisted wet digestion (MW-AD) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation using diluted HNO3 was applied for the determination of rare earth elements (REE) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) with an ultrasonic nebulizer (USN). Even using pressurized systems conventional acid digestion is not feasible for efficient crude oil digestion, especially for heavy and extraheavy crude oils that generally present high amounts of asphaltenes and resins. In the proposed system, UV radiation is generated in situ by immersed electrodeless Cd discharge lamps positioned inside quartz vessels. The use of diluted solutions (1–14.4 mol L–1 HNO3 and 1–4 mol L–1 H2O2) were evaluated for heavy and extraheavy crude oil digestion (API density of 11.1–19.0). With the proposed method the residual carbon content was lower than 13 mg C/100 mg of sample, and it was possible to digest sample masses up to 500 mg using 4 mol L–1 HNO3 and 4 mol L–1 H2O2. Interferences caused by excessive acid concentration and carbon content in digests were minimized allowing limits of quantification for REEs as low as 0.3 ng g–1. Samples were also digested using MW-AD in pressurized systems with concentrated HNO3, but even using 280 °C, 80 bar, and concentrated HNO3, MW-AD method was not suitable for REE determination due to interferences in ICPMS determination. The combination of microwave heating with UV was considered a suitable and effective way to digest crude oil allowing further determination of low concentrations of REE by ICPMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity is a multifactorial construct that can be evaluated by objective and subjective methods. The aim of this study was to identify studies that selected electronic instruments to assess physical activity in children and verify the validity and reliability of these instruments. We conducted a systematic literature review (January 2000 to July 2011) in the following databases: Scopus, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Medline, Scielo and Lilacs, using descriptors of the terms 'online questionnaire, web questionnaire, physical activity, motor activity, children, child' and its correlates in Portuguese. We analyzed 11 studies. Six studies aimed to validate the measures of physical activity obtained with electronic questionnaires versus the measurements obtained with accelerometers or pedometers. The correlations ranged from weak to moderate and the intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from .75 to .98. We identified few studies that used electronic questionnaire to assess physical activity in children, none in Brazil. The electronic questionnaires were valid and reliable, offering advantages over the printed instruments, since takes less time to fill-in and are more attractive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity is a multifactorial construct that can be evaluated by objective and subjective methods. The aim of this study was to identify studies that selected electronic instruments to assess physical activity in children and verify the validity and reliability of these instruments. We conducted a systematic literature review (January 2000 to July 2011) in the following databases: Scopus, ScienceDirect, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Medline, Scielo and Lilacs, using descriptors of the terms "online questionnaire, web questionnaire, physical activity, motor activity, children, child" and its correlates in Portuguese. We analyzed 11 studies. Six studies aimed to validate the measures of physical activity obtained with electronic questionnaires versus the measurements obtained with accelerometers or pedometers. The correlations ranged from weak to moderate and the intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from .75 to .98. We identified few studies that used electronic questionnaire to assess physical activity in children, none in Brazil. The electronic questionnaires were valid and reliable, offering advantages over the printed instruments, since takes less time to fill-in and are more attractive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] HIV mother to child transmission (HIVMTCT) is a multifactorial event. [•] HIVMTCT depends upon environmental and host genetic factors, as well as viral genetic elements. [•] Two research groups (from Brazil and Argentina) analyzed the immunogenetic factors associated to HIVMTCT. [•] Interaction of innate and adaptive immune genetic components seems to be essential in the HIVMTCT outcome. [•] We envisage the creation of a MTCT consortium aimed at analyzing larger groups of children from different ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the Lyman- α forest in quasar spectra has been used, together with N-body simulations, to determine the underlying matter distribution in the intergalactic medium (IGM). One of the key parameters to be known in order to compare observations and numerical simulations is the mean HI absorption in the IGM. To derive the latter, one has first to fit the quasar continuum. We have observed 20 high redshift and highly luminous QSOs ( m ≤ 17.5 and 2.40 ≤ z ≤ 3.91) at intermediate spectral resolution, with either EMMI (ESO Multi-Mode Instrument) on the ESO-NTT telescope or CARELEC at the OHP (Observatoire de Haute-Provence), and applied different methods of determining the QSO continuum to this QSO sample. We have measured the amount of absorption, known as the flux decrement, DA, in the Lyman- α forest for these different methods and compared the results. In addition, we have compared DA values measured along the same lines of sight observed at high and intermediate spectral resolutions. We discuss the systematics resulting from the use of automatic continuum fitting methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary We investigated the possible role of Mannose binding lectin 2 ( MBL2) functional polymorphisms in the prevalence of hypertension and hypertensive end-organ damage in 300 hypertensive patients and 313 normotensive individuals from Southern Brazil. Hypertensive subjects with MBL2 AO/OO genotypes presented lower C-reactive protein levels than AA individuals and consequently lower inflammatory status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]