Conjugated heat transfer in circular microchannels with slip flow and axial diffusion effects

An integral transforms analysis is undertaken for conjugated heat transfer in circular microchannels with laminar gaseous flow in the slip flow regime. The solution methodology is based on the Generalized Integral Transform Technique applied to a single domain formulation that models the coupled heat transfer phenomena at the fluid stream and at the channel wall. The single domain formulation results in just one partial differential equation for the energy balance, making use of spatially variable coefficients with abrupt transitions, and accounting for the temperature jump at the interface due to the Knudsen numbers within the slip flow regime. This work extends the single domain formulation strategy, not a priori applicable to problems with discontinuities, by considering a very thin fictitious layer at the fluid-wall interface region, so as to mathematically represent an equivalence to the temperature jump. An integral balance technique for enhancing the convergence of the eigenfunctions is employed, so as to achieve more accurate results and improve convergence for the so derived multiscale problem. The results obtained are critically compared against a dedicated finite difference numerical solution for the original multi-region problem. Results for the Nusselt number are presented in order to investigate its behavior with respect to different Péclet and Knudsen numbers, and different wall thicknesses values, confirming the importance of the combined effects of slip flow, axial conduction and heat transfer conjugation in the analysis.Indisponível

Detection of contact failures with the Markov chain Monte Carlo method by using integral transformed measurements

This work deals with the solution of an inverse heat conduction problem aiming at the detection of contact failures in layered composites through the estimation of the contact conductance between the layers. The spatially varying contact conductance is estimated using a Bayesian formulation of the problem and a Markov chain Monte Carlo method, with infrared camera measurements of the transient temperature field on the surface of the body. The inverse analysis is formulated using a data compression scheme, where the temperature measurements are integral transformed with respect to the spatial variable. The present approach is evaluated using synthetic measurements and experimental data from controlled laboratory experiments. It is shown that only few transformed modes of the data are required for solving the inverse problem, thus providing substantial reduction of the computational time in the Markov chain Monte Carlo method, as well as regularization of the ill-posed problem.Indisponível

Medida de retenção de clientes para estabilizar arrecadação da receita

Uma operadora de saúde está enfrentando um problema relacionado à alta variabilidade da sinistralidade do produto. À medida que a sinistralidade aumenta a arrecadação da receita cai, motivando o estudo do problema. Com base nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é estabelecer uma medida de retenção de clientes para estabilizar a arrecadação da receita. Como método, utilizou-se o A3, congregando as seguintes ferramentas para chegar à solução do problema: brainstorming com a equipe; 5 Porquês para identificação da causa raiz; Diagrama Ishikawa; e Carta de Controle. A implantação do plano de ação permitiu antecipar o contato com o cliente a fim de reverter inadimplências que poderiam resultar em cancelamentos impactando diretamente a arrecadação da receita. Observou-se que diminuindo o tempo para contatar os clientes inadimplentes, de 90 para 45 dias, as ações de reversão foram mais efetivas

Facial filling with polymethylmethacrylate in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

INTRODUCTION: Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who use highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can develop lipodystrophy syndrome, for which facial filling with polymethylmethacrylate is a treatment option. The objective is to analyze the procedure of facial filling and evaluate patients in relation to their perception, discomfort, revelation of the diagnosis to third parties, expectation concerning facial filling, and satisfaction with the treatment outcome and its impact on their lives. METHODS: Sixty-three patients who underwent facial filling were evaluated. Procedures performed between January and July 2009 were assessed, the records of the patients were analyzed, and the outpatient lipodystrophy protocol of the STD/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis Municipal Program of São Bernardo do Campo was used. RESULTS: All the 63 patients who agreed to participate in the research completed the study. Only 6 patients (9.5%) were from other municipalities, while 57 patients (90.5%) were residents of São Bernardo. Of the patients, 68.2% were men and 100% were Caucasian. The mean age of the patients was 49.7 years. Human immunodeficiency virus was diagnosed 11.5 years prior on average, with 10-year average use of HAART and 3.8-year average time of facial lipoatrophy. Most of the patients used stavudine and/or efavirenz. The patients themselves felt more uncomfortable with facial changes. Among the patients, 85.7% did not reveal the diagnosis to third parties. CONCLUSION: All of the patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the result obtained, which had a favorable impact on their lives. The filling surgical procedure had no adverse effects

Adaptação cultural em Português Brasileiro da Derriford Appearance Scale – 24 (DAS-24) para pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS

Introduction: Body image can be defined as the representation of beliefs, emotions and perceptions about the body itself, manifested in behaviors directed to the body. When the body changes because of a disease and does not seem healthy, the self-concept may be severely challenged. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) are particularly vulnerable to the distress and psychosocial impact of appearance, but in Brazil the assessment of those body image changes was subjective because there was not an available scale in Brazilian Portuguese to assess body image changes in clinical practice or research. Objective: To carry out the cross-cultural adaptation to the Brazilian Portuguese of the Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS-24), with the verification of the linguistic, semantic, conceptual and cultural equivalence of the people living with HIV/AIDS in Brazil. Methods: We followed the five stages of culturally sensitive translation: direct translations, synthesis of translations, back-translations, expert committee meeting and pre-tests. The process of cultural adaptation was presented in a descriptive and analytical way, following patterns of methodological studies. The minimum, maximum and median values of the responses of each item were calculated from the pool of data from the third pretest group of 50 participants. The median of the item scores, the correlation on each item with the total score and the internal reliability, were calculated using the Cronbach alpha test. Results: The analysis of the responses of the last pre-test group indicated that attention must be given to itemsA, H, T and V in a future psychometric study. The present study is not enough for this scale to be used in clinical practice. To ensure that the culturally adapted instrument generates valid and reliable data, a subsequent study investigating its psychometric properties should be conducted. Conclusion: The cross-cultural adaptation of the Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS-24) in its components of linguistic, semantic, conceptual and cultural equivalence to Brazilian Portuguese for the population of people living with HIV/AIDS was fully carried out. Despite this achievement, it is emphasized that the use of the Brazilian versionof DAS-24 in research and clinical routine is advised only after a psychometric study with this instrument.Introdução: A imagem corporal pode ser definida como a representação das crenças, emoções e percepções a respeito do próprio corpo, manifesta em comportamentos voltados ao corpo. Quando o corpo muda como consequência de doença e não parece mais saudável, a definição de si mesmo pode ser severamente desafiada. As pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS (PVHA) são um público especialmente vulnerável quando se trata do “distress” e do impacto psicossocial da aparência, mas a avaliação destas alterações de imagem corporal era subjetiva porque não havia nenhuma escala em Português Brasileiro para avaliar alterações da imagem disponível para uso clínico ou para pesquisa. Objetivo: Realizar a adaptação transcultural para o português Brasileiro da Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS-24), com a verificação da equivalência idiomática, semântica, conceitual e cultural, para o público-alvo pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS (PVHA) no Brasil. Método: Seguiu-se guia de cinco etapas para adaptação de escala transcultural: traduções, síntese de traduções, retrotraduções, reunião de comitê de especialistas e pré-testes. O processo de adaptação cultural foi apresentado de forma descritiva e analítica, seguindo padrões de estudos metodológicos. Os valores mínimo, máximo e mediano das respostas de cada item foram calculados a partir do pool de dados do terceiro grupo de pré-teste de 50 participantes. A mediana dos escores dos itens, a correlação de cada item com o escore total e a confiabilidade interna foram calculados pelo teste alfa de Cronbach. Resultado: A análise das respostas do último grupo pré-teste indicou que deve ser dada atenção aos itens A, B, G, H e K em um futuro estudo psicométrico. O presente estudo não é suficiente para que essa escala seja utilizada na prática clínica. Para garantir que o instrumento culturalmente adaptado gere dados válidos e confiáveis, um estudo subsequente que investigue suas propriedades psicométricas deve ser conduzido. Conclusão: A adaptação transcultural da Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS-24), em seus componentes de equivalência linguística, semântica, conceitual e cultural para o português brasileiro para a população de pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS foi plenamente realizada. Apesar dessa conquista, ressalta-se que o uso da versão brasileira do DAS-24 em pesquisa e rotina clínica é aconselhado somente após um estudo psicométrico com este instrumento

Oral Sensorimotor System in Patients with Facial Lipoatrophy Living with AIDS

Introduction: Lipodystrophy Syndrome in people living with AIDS is characterized by body fat redistribution and metabolic abnormalities and is associated with the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART). It is socially and psychologically impacting once it reduces the quality of life of those who develop it. The prevalence varies from 6% to 69%.Objective: Characterize the Oral Sensorimotor System in patients with Facial Lipoatrophy living with AIDS.Methods: Cross-sectional convenience sample study. Sixty-four patients living with AIDS treated in the Lipodystrophy Clinic were clinically evaluated by the infectious disease physician and by the speech language pathologist. The Oral Sensorimotor System structures were evaluated through the Orofacial Assessment Protoco.Results: Changes in tone and mobility are associated with loss of subcutaneous fat.Conclusions: Changes presented in the morphology and function of the Oral Sensoriomotor System are associated with facial Lipoatrophy in patients living with AIDS

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio