Adaptation and validation of the Inventory of family protective factors for the portuguese culture

Aim: Describe the process of cultural adaptation and validation of Inventory of Family Protective Factors (IFPF) for portuguese culture. This instrument assesses the protective factors that contribute to family resilience. Studies of resilience fall the salutogenic paradigm, which focuses on protective factors of individuals or groups, without minimizing the risk factors and vulnerability. Methods: We applied this instrument to 85 families of children with special needs and, after linguistic and conceptual equivalence, used an exploratory factor analysis with principal components analysis (with varimax rotation) and calculated the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for each dimension. Results: adequate psychometric properties to be used in Portuguese population (Cronbach´s alpha =.90). Conclusion: IFPF is an useful instrument for studies which propose assess the protective factors of family resilience, however we suggest further studies of revalidation.Objetivo: Describir el proceso de adaptación cultural y validación para la cultura portuguesa de Inventory of Family Protective Factors (IFPF). Este instrumento evalúa los factores de protección que contribuyan a la resiliencia familiar. Estudios de resiliência familiar se apoyan en el paradigma salutogénico, que se centra en los factores de protección de individuos o grupos, sin subestimar los factores de riesgo y vulnerabilidad. Metodologia: Aplicamos este instrumento a 85 familias de niños con necesidades especiales y, después de la equivalencia lingüística y conceptual, hemos llevado a cabo un análisis factorial exploratorio de componentes principales con rotación varimax y calculamos el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Resultados: la IFPF tiene adecuadas propiedades psicométricas para la población portuguesa (alfa de Cronbach = .90). Conclusion: Esta es una herramienta útil para evaluar los factores protectores de la resiliencia familiar, sin embargo sugerimos estudios futuros de revalidación.Objetivos: adaptar e validar o Inventory of Family Protective Factors (IFPF) para a cultura portuguesa. Este instrumento avalia os fatores protetores que contribuem para a resiliência familiar. Os estudos sobre resiliência inserem-se no paradigma salutogénico, abordando os fatores protetores dos indivíduos ou grupos, sem subestimar os fatores de risco ou vulnerabilidade. Método: para avaliar a equivalência linguística e conceitual do IFPF realizamos a tradução, retroversão e reflexão falada; para aferir as características psicométricas do instrumento verificamos a sensibilidade, confiabilidade e a validade dos resultados. Realizamos uma análise fatorial de componentes principais com rotação varimax dos itens da escala e calculamos o coeficiente Alpha de Cronbach para cada dimensão. Através de uma amostragem aleatória simples, aplicamos este instrumento a 85 famílias de crianças com necessidades especiais que o auto-preencheram. Resultados: o IFPF apresenta características psicométricas adequadas para a população portuguesa (alfa de Cronbach de .90). Conclusão: o IFPF foi adaptado e validado para a cultura portuguesa. Consideramos tratar-se de um instrumento útil para estudos que se proponham avaliar os fatores protetores da resiliência familiar

Genetic characterization of morphologically variant strains of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Molecular characterization of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis variant strains that had been preserved under mineral oil for decades was carried out by random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD). On P. brasiliensis variants in the transitional phase and strains with typical morphology, RAPD produced reproducible polymorphic amplification products that differentiated them. A dendrogram based on the generated RAPD patterns placed the 14 P. brasiliensis strains into five groups with similarity coefficients of 72%. A high correlation between the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of the strains was observed. A 750 bp-RAPD fragment found only in the wild-type phenotype strains was cloned and sequenced. Genetic similarity analysis using BLASTx suggested that this RAPD marker represents a putative domain of a hypothetical flavin-binding monooxygenase (FMO)-like protein of Neurospora crassa.FiocruzBritish Council Progra

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Capacitação e intervenções de técnicos de farmácia na dispensação de medicamentos em Atenção Primária à Saúde

Resumo São escassos artigos científicos brasileiros que discutam a importância do trabalho do técnico em farmácia em assistência direta ao paciente. Este trabalho descreve uma experiência de capacitação de técnicos de farmácia para dispensação de medicamentos. Trata-se de estudo descritivo, transversal, realizado na atenção primária à saúde. Os técnicos foram capacitados pelo farmacêutico a orientar os pacientes no momento da dispensação e para triar casos que necessitavam atendimento farmacêutico. A identificação dos problemas foi feita por meio da observação da prescrição, data de retorno para dispensação ou do questionamento direto ao paciente. Foram elaborados fluxos de identificação de problemas e de intervenção, após os quais os técnicos identificaram 3.944 problemas, sendo os mais comuns: uso de medicamento em quantidade inferior à prescrita (26%) e não adesão ao tratamento farmacológico (25%). Os resultados demonstram a importância da capacitação dos técnicos na dispensação de medicamentos, fazendo deles um aliado do farmacêutico no processo de identificação e resolução de problemas relacionados a medicamentos, além de torná-los membros ativos do processo de cuidado no sistema de saúde pública

Observational study on efficacy of negative expiratory pressure test proposed as screening for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome among commercial interstate bus drivers - protocol study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a respiratory disease characterized by the collapse of the extrathoracic airway and has important social implications related to accidents and cardiovascular risk. The main objective of the present study was to investigate whether the drop in expiratory flow and the volume expired in 0.2 s during the application of negative expiratory pressure (NEP) are associated with the presence and severity of OSA in a population of professional interstate bus drivers who travel medium and long distances.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>An observational, analytic study will be carried out involving adult male subjects of an interstate bus company. Those who agree to participate will undergo a detailed patient history, physical examination involving determination of blood pressure, anthropometric data, circumference measurements (hips, waist and neck), tonsils and Mallampati index. Moreover, specific questionnaires addressing sleep apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness will be administered. Data acquisition will be completely anonymous. Following the medical examination, the participants will perform a spirometry, NEP test and standard overnight polysomnography. The NEP test is performed through the administration of negative pressure at the mouth during expiration. This is a practical test performed while awake and requires little cooperation from the subject. In the absence of expiratory flow limitation, the increase in the pressure gradient between the alveoli and open upper airway caused by NEP results in an increase in expiratory flow.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Despite the abundance of scientific evidence, OSA is still underdiagnosed in the general population. In addition, diagnostic procedures are expensive, and predictive criteria are still unsatisfactory. Because increased upper airway collapsibility is one of the main determinants of OSA, the response to the application of NEP could be a predictor of this disorder. With the enrollment of this study protocol, the expectation is to encounter predictive NEP values for different degrees of OSA in order to contribute toward an early diagnosis of this condition and reduce its impact and complications among commercial interstate bus drivers.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p><it>Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clinicos </it>(local acronym RBEC) [Internet]: Rio de Janeiro (RJ): <it>Instituto de Informaçao Cientifica e Tecnologica em Saude </it>(Brazil); 2010 - Identifier RBR-7dq5xx. Cross-sectional study on efficacy of negative expiratory pressure test proposed as screening for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome among commercial interstate bus drivers; 2011 May 31 [7 pages]. Available from <url>http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-7dq5xx/</url>.</p