O agronegócio nos estados da região sul no período de 1985 a 1995

This article aims to measure and to characterize the agribusiness in the economies of the states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Santa Catarina (SC) and Parana (PR) for the period of 1985 to 1995. The methodology and the data base that was used to implement this research are based on the input-output matrixes available for the states. It was verified for the period of 1985 to 1995 that the agribusiness ofRio Grande do Sul accounted for 48,65% and 38,27% of its GND, respectively, the one ofSanta Catarina for 61,55% and 59,90% and the one ofParana for 56,07% and 33,46%. It was also verified that the agricultural production is highly integrated with the urban sector, since the industries that sell products for the rural production and that buy their production contribute, in its majority, in the total value ofthe agribusiness income, in every economies. It was also verified that the states ofthe South region are inserted in the transformation process ofthe Brazilian agribusiness, presenting a higher level ofindustrial development, comparing to the national one

O agronegócio nos estados da região sul no período de 1985 a 1995

This article aims to measure and to characterize the agribusiness in the economies of the states of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Santa Catarina (SC) and Parana (PR) for the period of 1985 to 1995. The methodology and the data base that was used to implement this research are based on the input-output matrixes available for the states. It was verified for the period of 1985 to 1995 that the agribusiness ofRio Grande do Sul accounted for 48,65% and 38,27% of its GND, respectively, the one ofSanta Catarina for 61,55% and 59,90% and the one ofParana for 56,07% and 33,46%. It was also verified that the agricultural production is highly integrated with the urban sector, since the industries that sell products for the rural production and that buy their production contribute, in its majority, in the total value ofthe agribusiness income, in every economies. It was also verified that the states ofthe South region are inserted in the transformation process ofthe Brazilian agribusiness, presenting a higher level ofindustrial development, comparing to the national one

The golden fig: a plasmonic effect study of organic-based solar cells

An optimization work on dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on both artificial and natural dyes was carried out by a fine synthesis work embedding gold nanoparticles in a TiO(2) semiconductor and perfecting the TiO(2) particle sizes of the scattering layer. Noble metal nanostructures are known for the surface plasmon resonance peculiarity that reveals unique properties and has been implemented in several fields such as sensing, photocatalysis, optical antennas and PV devices. By embedding gold nanoparticles in the mesoporous TiO(2) layer and adding a scattering layer, we were able to boost the power conversion efficiency (PCE) to 10.8%, using an organic ruthenium complex. The same implementation was carried out using a natural dye, betalains, extracted from Sicilian prickly pear. In this case, the conversion efficiency doubled from 1 to 2% (measured at 1 SUN illumination, 100 mW/cm(2) under solar simulation irradiation). Moreover, we obtained (measured at 0.1 SUN, 10 mW/cm(2) under blue light LED irradiation) a record efficiency of 15% with the betalain-based dye, paving the way for indoor applications in organic natural devices. Finally, an attempt to scale up the system is shown, and a betalain-based- dye-sensitized solar module (DSSM), with an active area of 43.2 cm(2) and a PCE of 1.02%, was fabricated for the first time

Effectiveness of lithium in subjects with treatment-resistant depression and suicide risk: results and lessons of an underpowered randomised clinical trial

BACKGROUND: As lithium treatment might be effective in reducing the risk of deliberate self-harm (DSH) in adult patients with unipolar affective disorders, we designed a pragmatic randomised trial to assess its efficacy in more than 200 patients with treatment-resistant depression. However, we randomised 56 patients only. The aim of this report is therefore twofold: first, to disseminate the results of this underpowered study which may be incorporated into future meta-analytical reviews; second, to analyse some critical aspects of the study which might explain failure to reach the target sample size.METHODS: We carried out a randomised, parallel group, assessor-blinded superiority clinical trial. Adults with a diagnosis of major depression, an episode of DSH in the previous 12 months and inadequate response to at least two antidepressants given sequentially at an adequate dose for an adequate time for the current depressive episode were allocated to add lithium to usual care (intervention arm) versus usual care alone (control arm). Suicide completion and acts of DSH during the 12 months of follow-up constituted the composite primary outcome.RESULTS: Of 58 patients screened for inclusion, 29 were allocated to lithium plus usual care and 27 were assigned to usual care without lithium. Six patients in the lithium plus usual care group and seven in the usual care group committed acts of DSH during the follow-up phase. The survival probability did not differ between the two treatment arms (Chi2 = 0.17, p =0.676). With regard to changes in the severity of depressive symptomatology from baseline to endpoint, no significant differences were detected.CONCLUSIONS: The present study failed to achieve the minimum sample size needed to detect a clinically meaningful difference between the two treatment arms. Consequently, the finding that lithium, in addition to usual care, did not exert a positive effect in terms of reduction of DSH after 12 months of follow-up is likely due to the lack of sufficient statistical power to detect a difference, if a difference existed. The dissemination of the results of this underpowered study will inform future meta-analytical reviews on lithium and suicide-related outcomes.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00927550

Nursing knowledge and practices regarding subcutaneous fluid administration

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the evidence in the literature regarding the knowledge and practices of the nursing team about subcutaneous administration of drugs and fluids in adults. Method: Integrative review of the literature using the descriptors “nursing”, “hypodermoclysis”, “drug administration routes”, “adult health,” and “knowledge,” in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, with no publication deadline. Of the 569 articles found, eight made up the sample. Results: A predominance of international journals (75%) with more than five years of publication (62.5%). The analysis of the methodological characteristics showed a predominance of literature reviews (25%), quantitative studies (62.5%), cross-sectional studies (50%), and non-experimental studies (50%). Conclusion: Although it is an old technique with proven efficacy, hypodermoclysis is still little used, a puzzling fact due to its advantages and indications for any age