A Donzela Laida e o Enigma da Feiura em "A Demanda do Santo Graal"

Analisa a feiura feminina no contexto medieval (século XIII), por meio da personagem donzela laida de A demanda do Santo Graal, considerando a ambiguidade de sua figura, dada a importância de sua função benevolente prevenir Galvam do seu trágico destino versus o adjetivo feia, que lhe é atribuído em substituição a um nome que a particularizaria. Busca compreender, portanto, tais aspectos antagônicos que configuram a ambiguidade da personagem e sua relação com a percepção masculina da mulher naquele período. Procura comprovar a hipótese de que a donzela laida, a despeito da polarização característica dos estudos sobre o feminino na Demanda, em que a mulher é idealizada à luz do amor cortês ou condenada em geral por parte do cristianismo, com a exceção de Santa Maria, inscreve-se em um entrelugar marcado pelas culturas celta e cristã, dentro de um universo de evidente teor pedagógico, moralista e misógino. Palavras-chave: Narrativa medieval portuguesa. A demanda do Santo Graal Crítica e interpretação. Personagem feminina medieval. Feiura medieval Tema literário

Preoperative frailty predicts postoperative complications and mortality in urology patients

Purpose Our objective was to determine the impact of preoperative frailty, as measured by validated Risk Analysis Index (RAI), on the occurrence of postoperative complications after urologic surgeries in a national database comprised of diverse practice groups and cases. Study design The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried from 2005 to 2011 for a list of abdominal, vaginal, transurethral and scrotal urological surgeries using Current Procedural Terminology codes. The study population was subdivided into two groups based on the nature of procedures performed: complex procedures (inpatient) and simple procedures (outpatient). Risk Analysis Index score was calculated using preoperative NSQIP variables to determine preoperative frailty. Major postoperative morbidities (pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal and infectious), mortality, return to operating room, discharge destination and readmission to the hospital were examined. Results The study identified 42,715 patients who underwent urological procedures, 25,693 complex and 17,022 simple procedures. Mean RAI score (range) was 7.75 (0–53). The majority of patients scored low on the RAI (90.57 % with RAI \u3c 10). As the RAI score increased, there was a significant increase in postoperative complication and mortality rate (both p \u3c 0.0001). Similarly, the rate of return to operating room and hospital readmission rate increased as RAI increased (both p \u3c 0.0001). Additionally, rate of discharge to home decreased. Interestingly, mortality rate in patients with high RAI did not differ comparing simple to complex procedures (p = 0.90), whereas complications were significantly greater in the complex operation (p = 0.01). Conclusions Increase in frailty, as measured by RAI score, is associated with increased postoperative complications and mortality. RAI may allow for rapid identification and counseling of patients who are at high risk of adverse perioperative outcomes

Intercomparison of spectroradiometers and Sun photometers for the determination of the aerosol optical depth during the VELETA-2002 field campaign

[ 1] In July 2002 the VELETA-2002 field campaign was held in Sierra Nevada ( Granada) in the south of Spain. The main objectives of this field campaign were the study of the influence of elevation and atmospheric aerosols on measured UV radiation. In the first stage of the field campaign, a common calibration and intercomparison between Licor-1800 spectroradiometers and Cimel-318 Sun photometers was performed in order to assess the quality of the measurements from the whole campaign. The intercomparison of the Licor spectroradiometers showed, for both direct and global irradiances, that when the comparisons were restricted to the visible part of the spectrum the deviations were within the instruments' nominal accuracies which allows us to rely on these instruments for measuring physical properties of aerosols at the different measurement stations. A simultaneous calibration on AOD data was performed for the Cimel-318 Sun photometers. When a common calibration and methodology was applied, the deviation was lowered to much less than 0.01 for AOD. At the same time an intercomparison has been made between the AOD values given by the spectroradiometers and the Sun photometers, with deviations obtained from 0.01 to 0.03 for the AOD in the visible range, depending on the channel. In the UVA range, the AOD uncertainty was estimated to be around 0.02 and 0.05 for Cimel and Licor respectively. In general the experimental differences were in agreement with this uncertainty estimation. In the UVB range the AOD measurements should not be used due to maximum instrumental uncertainties

Method for estimating potential recognition capacity of texture-based biometrics

When adopting an image-based biometric system, an important factor for consideration is its potential recognition capacity, since it not only defines the potential number of individuals likely to be identifiable, but also serves as a useful figure-of-merit for performance. Based on block transform coding commonly used for image compression, this study presents a method to enable coarse estimation of potential recognition capacity for texture-based biometrics. Essentially, each image block is treated as a constituent biometric component, and image texture contained in each block is binary coded to represent the corresponding texture class. The statistical variability among the binary values assigned to corresponding blocks is then exploited for estimation of potential recognition capacity. In particular, methodologies are proposed to determine appropriate image partition based on separation between texture classes and informativeness of an image block based on statistical randomness. By applying the proposed method to a commercial fingerprint system and a bespoke hand vein system, the potential recognition capacity is estimated to around 10^36 for a fingerprint area of 25  mm^2 which is in good agreement with the estimates reported, and around 10^15 for a hand vein area of 2268  mm^2 which has not been reported before

Relics of cosmological quark-hadron phase transition

We propose that the amplified density fluctuations by the vanishing sound velocity effect during the cosmological quark-hadron phase transition lead to quark-gluon plasma lumps decoupled from the expansion of the universe, which may evolve to quark nuggets (QNs). Assuming power-law spectrum of density fluctuations, we investigate the parameter ranges for the QNs to play the role of baryonic dark matter and give inhomogeneities which could affect big-bang nucleosynthesis within the observational bounds of CMBR anisotropy. The QNs can give the strongest constraint ever found on the spectral index.Comment: REVTEX, 4 pages, 2 eps figure

Prostate cancer, treatment modalities and complications: an evaluation of the scientific literature

Prostate (PR) cancer (CA) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms in men all over the world. In general, if prostate cancer (PC) is detected early, treatment usually involves either surgical removal of the prostate or radiotherapy (RT). Hormone Therapy (HT) or chemotherapy (CH) is the preferred treatment for more advanced cases of PC or if CA spreads beyond the PT. A number of complications, such as urinary incontinence (IU) or erectile dysfunction (ED), can be associated with some modalities of treatment of the PC. The aim of this work is to evaluate, in PubMed, the number of publications related with prostate cancer and the main modalities of treatment, as well as some clinical complications. The searches were performed in PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi) in the period 1950 to 2008 using the words: (i) CA, (ii) CA and PR or penis or testis, (iii) CA and PR and RT, CA and PR and surgery (SU), CA and PR and CH and, CA and PR and HT and (iv) CA and PR and RT and IU or ED, CA and PR and SU and IU or ED, CA and PR and CH and IU or ED and, CA and PR and HT and CH and IU or ED, and (V) PC and the same modalities of treatment. The data was obtained on July 20th, 2008. PC, as expected has been cited extensively and surgery has been identified as the most widely referenced modality of treatment. Furthermore, urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction are important complications that have attracted significant scientific interest. In conclusion, these findings have shown the relevance of the PubMed to analyze quantitatively the publications in cancer and this information could be worthwhile in aiding the comprehension of some clinical aspects related with PC, as well as the development of preventative actions. The analysis of the scientific interest, considering the number of publications in the PubMed, reveals research trends in the field and demonstrates the importance of the surgical procedures in the treatment of the prostate cancer. Moreover, this finding is relevant due to the fact that surgery is the treatment of choice when early detection of PC is achieved. However, it is important to consider clinical complications related to such procedures, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunctions that can reduce the quality of life of the patient

Loss of expression of TGF-βs and their receptors in chronic skin lesions induced by sulfur mustard as compared with chronic contact dermatitis patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sulfur mustard (SM) is a blister-forming agent that has been used as a chemical weapon. Sulfur mustard can cause damage in various organs, especially the skin, respiratory system, and eyes. Generally, the multiple complications of mustard gas result from its alkalizing potency; it reacts with cellular components like DNA, RNA, proteins, and lipid membranes.</p> <p>TGF-β is a multi-functional cytokine with multiple biological effects ranging from cell differentiation and growth inhibition to extracellular matrix stimulation, immunosuppression, and immunomodulation. TGF-β has 3 isoforms (TGF-β 1, 2, 3) and its signaling is mediated by its receptors: R1, R2 and intracellular Smads molecules.</p> <p>TGF-β has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects. TGF-βs and their receptors also have an important role in modulation of skin inflammation, proliferation of epidermal cells, and wound healing, and they have been implicated in different types of skin inflammatory disorders.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seventeen exposed SM individuals (48.47 ± 9.3 years), 17 chronic dermatitis patients (46.52 ± 14.6 years), and 5 normal controls (44.00 ± 14.6 years) were enrolled in this study.</p> <p>Evaluation of TGF-βs and their receptors expressions was performed by semiquantitative RT-PCR. Only TGF1was analyzed immunohistochemically.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results showed significant decreases in the expression percentages of TGF-β 1, 2 and R1, R2 in chemical victims in comparison with chronic dermatitis and normal subjects and significant decreases in the intensity of R1 and R2 expressions in chemical victims in comparison with chronic dermatitis and normal controls. (P value < 0.05)</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>TGF-βs and their receptors appear to have a noticeable role in chronic inflammatory skin lesions caused by sulfur mustard.</p

Preoperative frailty predicts postoperative complications and mortality in urology patients

Purpose Our objective was to determine the impact of preoperative frailty, as measured by validated Risk Analysis Index (RAI), on the occurrence of postoperative complications after urologic surgeries in a national database comprised of diverse practice groups and cases. Study design The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was queried from 2005 to 2011 for a list of abdominal, vaginal, transurethral and scrotal urological surgeries using Current Procedural Terminology codes. The study population was subdivided into two groups based on the nature of procedures performed: complex procedures (inpatient) and simple procedures (outpatient). Risk Analysis Index score was calculated using preoperative NSQIP variables to determine preoperative frailty. Major postoperative morbidities (pulmonary, cardiovascular, renal and infectious), mortality, return to operating room, discharge destination and readmission to the hospital were examined. Results The study identified 42,715 patients who underwent urological procedures, 25,693 complex and 17,022 simple procedures. Mean RAI score (range) was 7.75 (0–53). The majority of patients scored low on the RAI (90.57 % with RAI \u3c 10). As the RAI score increased, there was a significant increase in postoperative complication and mortality rate (both p \u3c 0.0001). Similarly, the rate of return to operating room and hospital readmission rate increased as RAI increased (both p \u3c 0.0001). Additionally, rate of discharge to home decreased. Interestingly, mortality rate in patients with high RAI did not differ comparing simple to complex procedures (p = 0.90), whereas complications were significantly greater in the complex operation (p = 0.01). Conclusions Increase in frailty, as measured by RAI score, is associated with increased postoperative complications and mortality. RAI may allow for rapid identification and counseling of patients who are at high risk of adverse perioperative outcomes