The Effects of Labour Market Reforms upon Unemployment and Income Inequalities: an Agent Based Model

This work analyses the effects of labour market structural reforms by means of the labour-augmented ‘Schumpeter meeting Keynes’ (K+S) Agent-Based model. We introduce a policy regime change characterized by a set of structural reforms on the labour market. Confirming a recent IMF report, the model shows how structural reforms reducing workers’ bargaining power and compressing wages tend to increase (a) unemployment, (b) functional income inequality and (c) personal income inequality. We further undertake a global sensitivity analysis on key variables and parameters which corroborates the robustness of our findings

Comparação entre os valores de referência para CVF, VEF1 e relação VEF1/CVF em brasileiros caucasianos adultos e aqueles sugeridos pela Global Lung Function Initiative 2012

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the spirometry values predicted by the 2012 Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) equations, which are recommended for international use, in comparison with those obtained for a sample of White adults used for the establishment of reference equations for spirometry in Brazil.METHODS:The sample comprised 270 and 373 healthy males and females, respectively. The mean differences between the values found in this sample and the predicted values calculated from the GLI equations for FVC, FEV1, and VEF1/FVC, as well as their lower limits, were compared by paired t-test. The predicted values by each pair of equations were compared in various combinations of age and height.RESULTS:For the males in our study sample, the values obtained for all of the variables studied were significantly higher than those predicted by the GLI equations (p < 0.01 for all). These differences become more evident in subjects who were shorter in stature and older. For the females in our study sample, only the lower limit of the FEV1/FVC ratio was significantly higher than that predicted by the GLI equation.CONCLUSIONS:The predicted values suggested by the GLI equations for White adults were significantly lower than those used as reference values for males in Brazil. For both genders, the lower limit of the FEV1/FVC ratio is significantly lower than that predicted by the GLI equations.OBJETIVO:Comparar os valores espirométricos previstos pelas equações da Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) em 2012, sugeridas como de uso internacional, com aqueles obtidos em uma amostra utilizada para derivação de valores de referência em adultos caucasianos brasileiros.MÉTODOS:A amostra utilizada era composta por 270 homens e 373 mulheres saudáveis. As médias das diferenças entre os valores dessa amostra e os valores previstos calculados a partir das equações da GLI para CVF, VEF1 e VEF1/CVF, assim como seus limites inferiores, foram comparados por teste de t pareado. Os valores previstos pelos pares das equações foram comparados em diversas combinações de idade e estatura.RESULTADOS:Nos homens da amostra, os valores obtidos para todas as variáveis estudadas foram significativamente maiores que aqueles previstos pelas equações da GLI (p < 0,01 para todas). Estas diferenças se tornaram mais evidentes em indivíduos com menor estatura e idade mais avançada. Nas mulheres, somente o limite inferior da relação VEF1/CVF foi significativamente maior na amostra brasileira.CONCLUSÕES:Os valores previstos sugeridos pelas equações da GLI para caucasianos são significativamente menores daqueles utilizados como referência para homens brasileiros. Em ambos os sexos, o limite inferior da relação VEF1/CVF é significativamente menor que o previsto pelas equações GLIFederal University of São PauloFederal University of Campina GrandeCentro Diagnóstico BrasilUNIFESPSciEL

EVALUATION OF THE ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE BOTTOM ASH: A NEW METHODOLOGY FOR SAMPLE PREPARATION

The disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) to thermochemical treatments promotes the formation of ashes as a by-product, which constitutes an important role in the design and operation of energy recovery plants, as the ash can cause corrosion and fouling problems. In this sense, this work analyzed samples of bottom ashes from combustible fractions (organic matter, plastics, textiles, paper/cardboard/Tetra Pak® and sanitary waste) of MSW in natura from Santo André – SP, Brazil. For this, a new methodology for sample preparation was proposed to evaluate the elemental composition of the bottom ashes, for later analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The obtained data showed a standard deviation of less than 10%, guaranteeing a greater reliability of the results and corroborating with standard deviations presented in the scientific literature. In addition, the elemental composition of the bottom ash was similar between the different combustible fractions evaluated. Keywords: MSW, Combustible fractions, SEM-EDS

Enhancing functionalization of health care textiles with gold nanoparticle-loaded hydroxyapatite composites

Hospitals and nursing home wards are areas prone to the propagation of infections and are of particular concern regarding the spreading of dangerous viruses and multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB). MDRB infections comprise approximately 20% of cases in hospitals and nursing homes. Healthcare textiles, such as blankets, are ubiquitous in hospitals and nursing home wards and may be easily shared between patients/users without an adequate pre-cleaning process. Therefore, functionalizing these textiles with antimicrobial properties may considerably reduce the microbial load and prevent the propagation of infections, including MDRB. Blankets are mainly comprised of knitted cotton (CO), polyester (PES), and cotton-polyester (CO–PES). These fabrics were functionalized with novel gold-hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (AuNPs-HAp) that possess antimicrobial properties, due to the presence of the AuNPs’ amine and carboxyl groups, and low propensity to display toxicity. For optimal functionalization of the knitted fabrics, two pre-treatments, four different surfactants, and two incorporation processes were evaluated. Furthermore, exhaustion parameters (time and temperature) were subjected to a design of experiments (DoE) optimization. The concentration of AuNPs-HAp in the fabrics and their washing fastness were critical factors assessed through color difference (∆E). The best performing knitted fabric was half bleached CO, functionalized using a surfactant combination of Imerol® Jet-B (surfactant A) and Luprintol® Emulsifier PE New (surfactant D) through exhaustion at 70 ◦C for 10 min. This knitted CO displayed antibacterial properties even after 20 washing cycles, showing its potential to be used in comfort textiles within healthcare environments

Face masks affect perception of happy faces in deaf people

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led significant social repercussions and forced people to wear face masks. Recent research has demonstrated that the human ability to infer emotions from facial configurations is significantly reduced when face masks are worn. Since the mouth region is specifically crucial for deaf people who speak sign language, the current study assessed the impact of face masks on inferring emotional facial expressions in a population of adult deaf signers. A group of 34 congenitally deaf individuals and 34 normal-hearing individuals were asked to identify happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and neutral expression on static human pictures with and without facial masks presented through smartphones. For each emotion, the percentage of correct responses with and without face masks was calculated and compared between groups. Results indicated that face masks, such as those worn due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, limit the ability of people to infer emotions from facial expressions. The negative impact of face masks is significantly pronounced when deaf people have to recognize low-intensity expressions of happiness. These findings are of essential importance because difficulties in recognizing emotions from facial expressions due to mask wearing may contribute to the communication challenges experienced by the deaf community during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, generating feelings of frustration and exclusion

Distancia entre la parte mas prominente incisivos centrales superiores y el centro de la papila nasopalatina en pacientes rehabilitados con prótesis total en clinica integradora UAM en periodo de agosto 2015 a marzo 2016

Tesis(Cirujano Dentista)--Universidad Americana, Managua, 2016Estudio basado en la restauracion de la anatomía de varias piezas dentarias, restaurando también la relación entre los maxilares, que, a la vez devuelve la dimensión vertical, y repone tanto la dentición natural como las estructuras periodontales

Late seed maturation improves the preservation of seedling emergence during storage in soybean

International audienceLong-term survival during dry storage or longevity is a prerequisite to avoid deterioration, leading to loss of vigor. Longevity is routinely evaluated by the ability to germinate after storage. It increases progressively during seed maturation, after the acquisition of desiccation tolerance. However, the capacity to germinate represents only a part of the success of crop establishment. How seed maturation affects the resistance of several traits, as vigor, associated with seedling establishment, against deterioration was evaluated during seed filling and post-abscission phase of soybean BRS 284 seeds. Three new phenological stages between 7.1 and 7.2 (7.1.1, 7.1.2 and 7.1.3) were introduced to capture the rapid increase in seed longevity. Germination speed started to be affected at 7-14 days after storage depending on the stages. The delay on germination increased with maturation from 7.1.3 to dry mature seeds. The time to 50% loss of elongation capacity of both organs during storage was similar to that of loss of germination. Also, it increased steadily during seed maturation after mass maturity and harvest maturity stages, highlighting the importance of the late phase of seed maturation for building seed vigor

Direitos indígenas e patrimônio cultural: A transnacionalização das demandas

En América Latina, las demandas de los pueblos indígenas se han traducido, en términos de políticas públicas en general e indígenas en particular, en significativos avances en la normativa que atiende su situación. No obstante, estos reconocimientos de derechos coexisten con otras políticas que constantemente los vulneran. Ejemplo de ello son las caracterizadas como extractivistas, que promueven y convalidan la apropiación y destrucción de los recursos naturales a partir de la expansión de las fronteras productivas, la construcción de diversas obras de infraestructura y las reconversiones socio-económicas de espacios antes considerados improductivos. Estas políticas, fundadas en una visión antropocéntrica dominante sobre la naturaleza, son discutidas por los movimientos indígenas que comprenden a la misma en términos de bienes comunes/colectivos/comunitarios y demandan el derecho a un ambiente sano, seguro y productivo para todos, fundándose en nociones como las de buen vivir, justicia ambiental y justicia ecológica entre otras, constituyendo alternativas a las formas hegemónicas de producción y reproducción social.Al entender los conocimientos y saberes indígenas como patrimonio que fundamenta y moviliza la lucha por la efectivización de los derechos de estos pueblos, creemos necesario promover una reflexión sobre la transnacionalización de las demandas y el significado atribuido a la salud, el territorio y el ambiente por los propios pueblos indígenas. Contemporáneamente los conocimientos y saberes indígenas, sus lógicas y cosmovisiones propias nos instigan a establecer un debate y diálogo intercultural con el conocimiento hegemónico de las representaciones y prácticas de la tradición occidental en las que se fundan tanto las normativas como las políticas públicas e indigenistas a ellas vinculadas.Fil: Maidana, Carolina Andrea. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Antropología Social; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Pereira, Walmir. Universidad de Vale do Rio dos Sinos; BrasilFil: Ibáñez Caselli, Maria Amalia. No especifíca