Ultrasonication of insulin-loaded microgel particles produced by internal gelation: impact on particle's size and insulin bioactivity

Alginate-dextran sulfate (ADS) microgel has been used to protect insulin from gastrointestinal attack and as a carrier to promote insulin permeation through intestinal epithelium. The throughput of ADS submicron particles generation by emulsification/internal gelation is limited by its wide size distribution. The aim of this work was to study the recovery protocol influence on ADS particles through the determination of its impact on particles’ size distribution and bioactivity. ADS particles showed a wide and multimodal distribution, characterized by a high aggregation phenomenon. In an attempt to reverse particles’ tendency to aggregate and to homogenize particle size ADS populations were submitted to ultrasonication, while particle size distribution, physical and chemical stability, and the bioactivity of entrapped insulin were investigated. After ultrasonication a narrower particle population shifted to the nanoscale, with higher physical stability and significant insulin bioactivity was obtained. Emulsification internal/gelation followed by ultrasonication constituted a valid strategy to obtain ADS particles at the submicron range, with high stability and without significantly compromising insulin bioactivity, so offering promises, under previously well established conditions, to evaluate impact of ADS particle's size on biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetics phases

Viabilidade de startups: uma proposta de construção de uma escala de fatores dificultadores

Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar quais os principais fatores que dificultam a viabilidade econômico-financeira de uma startup, propondo uma escala de mensuração destes fatores. A pesquisa foi realizada a partir da aplicação de um questionário estruturado por meio eletrônico. O questionário foi aplicado no mês de maio de 2015, sendo respondido por 131 indivíduos de 13 estados brasileiros. Esta amostra é composta por 5 categorias de pessoas classificadas de acordo com a relação com startups, sendo elas: (1) empreendedores, (2) potenciais empreendedores, (3) pesquisadores, (4) integrantes de mecanismos públicos de apoio e (5) integrantes de incubadoras e/ou de aceleradoras. O questionário com questões objetivas com uma escala de 1 a 5 inqueriu sobre aspectos relacionados a dois conjuntos de fatores: a capacidade do empreendedor; e variáveis externas. Como resultado obtivemos uma escala de mensuração dos fatores dificultadores da viabilidade de startups. A escala foi elaborada por meio de uma Análise Fatorial Exploratória (AFE), sendo o instrumento (em sua versão final) composto de 13 questões divididas em 4 fatores, dois relacionados a capacidade do empreendedor (planejamento e gerenciamento do negócio e gestão administrativa e financeira); e dois relacionados a variáveis externas (apoio técnico e financeiro e tributos e burocracia)

Secondary Data in Research – Uses and Opportunities

When we were invited to write this editorial – in both the Iberoamerican Journal of Strategic Management and Podium – we thought about future opportunities for research, especially in a topic that still has room for further development: the use of secondary data. Sports management research in Brazil, which is the key focus of Podium, has gained wide acceptance within the management research academia in Brazil. Along with this maturation process, this now reinforced area needs to step up its game (pun intended) in terms of methodological approaches. This means that both the qualitative and quantitative sides of the equation must now become more focused in improving results. In strategic management, on the other hand, the use of secondary data is now common and widespread, but not as much in Iberoamerican countries. In this editorial, we will focus more specifically on the use and opportunities in employing secondary data.When we were invited to write this editorial – in both the Iberoamerican Journal of Strategic Management and Podium – we thought about future opportunities for research, especially in a topic that still has room for further development: the use of secondary data. Sports management research in Brazil, which is the key focus of Podium, has gained wide acceptance within the management research academia in Brazil. Along with this maturation process, this now reinforced area needs to step up its game (pun intended) in terms of methodological approaches. This means that both the qualitative and quantitative sides of the equation must now become more focused in improving results. In strategic management, on the other hand, the use of secondary data is now common and widespread, but not as much in Iberoamerican countries. In this editorial, we will focus more specifically on the use and opportunities in employing secondary data

Secondary Data in Research – Uses and Opportunities

We wrote this editorial – in both the Iberoamerican Journal of Strategic Management and Podium – thinking about future opportunities for research, especially in a topic that still has room for further development: the use of secondary data. Sports management research in Brazil, which is the key focus of Podium, has gained wide acceptance within the management research academia in Brazil. Along with this maturation process, this now reinforced area needs to step up its game (pun intended) in terms of methodological approaches. This means that both the qualitative and quantitative sides of the equation must now become more focused in improving results. In strategic management, on the other hand, the use of secondary data is now common and widespread, but not as much in Iberoamerican countries. In this editorial, we will focus more specifically on the use and opportunities in employing secondary data.We wrote this editorial – in both the Iberoamerican Journal of Strategic Management and Podium – thinking about future opportunities for research, especially in a topic that still has room for further development: the use of secondary data. Sports management research in Brazil, which is the key focus of Podium, has gained wide acceptance within the management research academia in Brazil. Along with this maturation process, this now reinforced area needs to step up its game (pun intended) in terms of methodological approaches. This means that both the qualitative and quantitative sides of the equation must now become more focused in improving results. In strategic management, on the other hand, the use of secondary data is now common and widespread, but not as much in Iberoamerican countries. In this editorial, we will focus more specifically on the use and opportunities in employing secondary data

SÍNDROME DE BURNOUT: UM ESTUDO COM PROFESSORES DE EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA

Teaching has as attribute the direct and intense contact with people, a propitious feature to the development of the Burnout Syndrome. This descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to verify the presence of this syndrome in the physical education teachers of public schools of the city ofPelotas-RS,Brazil, revealing that 60.6% of teachers were with high emotional exhaustion, 22.3% with high depersonalization and 34.0% with low professional fulfillment. In 8.5% of them, the rates display the presence of the syndrome. The results indicate the urgency of the attention to the implementation of public policies on prevention of diseases that affect teachers.  La enseñanza tiene como condición el contacto directo con la gente, característica propicia para el desarrollo del Síndrome de Burnout. Este estudio descriptivo y transversal tuvo como objetivo verificar la presencia de este síndrome en los profesores de Educación Física de las escuelas municipales de la ciudad de Pelotas/RS, que revela que el 60,6% de los profesores estaban en alto agotamiento emocional, el 22,3% con despersonalización alta y el 34.0% con baja realización profesional; en el 8,5% de ellos, los índices indican la presencia del síndrome. Los resultados indican la atención para la aplicación y ejecución de las políticas públicas.A docência tem, como atributo, o contato direto e intenso com pessoas, característica favorável ao desenvolvimento da Síndrome de Burnout. Este estudo descritivo tem por objetivo verificar a presença dessa síndrome nos professores de Educação Física das escolas municipais da cidade de Pelotas/RS. Os dados revelam que 60,6% dos professores estavam com alta exaustão emocional; 22,3% com alta despersonalização; 34,0% com baixa realização profissional. Os índices sinalizam a presença da síndrome em 8,5% deles. Os resultados indicam a eminência da atenção dos gestores para a implementação e o cumprimento de políticas públicas na prevenção de doenças que acometem professores

Parâmetros meteorológicos e infecção hospitalar de corrente sanguínea: estudo caso-referência

OBJECTIVE To evaluate if temperature and humidity influenced the etiology of bloodstream infections in a hospital from 2005 to 2010. METHODS The study had a case-referent design. Individual cases of bloodstream infections caused by specific groups or pathogens were compared with several references. In the first analysis, average temperature and humidity values for the seven days preceding collection of blood cultures were compared with an overall “seven-days moving average” for the study period. The second analysis included only patients with bloodstream infections. Several logistic regression models were used to compare different pathogens and groups with respect to the immediate weather parameters, adjusting for demographics, time, and unit of admission. RESULTS Higher temperatures and humidity were related to the recovery of bacteria as a whole (versus fungi) and of gram-negative bacilli. In the multivariable models, temperature was positively associated with the recovery of gram-negative bacilli (OR = 1.14; 95%CI 1.10;1.19) or Acinetobacter baumannii (OR = 1.26; 95%CI 1.16;1.37), even after adjustment for demographic and admission data. An inverse association was identified for humidity. CONCLUSIONS The study documented the impact of temperature and humidity on the incidence and etiology of bloodstream infections. The results correspond with those from ecological studies, indicating a higher incidence of gram-negative bacilli during warm seasons. These findings should guide policies directed at preventing and controlling healthcare-associated infections.OBJETIVO Avaliar se temperatura e umidade influenciam a etiologia das infecções na corrente sanguínea em hospital, no período de 2005 a 2010. MÉTODOS O estudo teve delineamento caso-referência. Casos individuais de infecções de corrente sanguínea por patógenos ou grupos de interesse foram comparados com diferentes referências. Na primeira etapa, valores médios de temperatura e umidade, para os sete dias que precederam a coleta de culturas de sangue, foram comparados com a “média-móvel de ordem 7” para todos os dias do período do estudo. A segunda etapa incluiu somente os casos com culturas positivas. Foram realizadas análises por regressão logística para avaliar a influência dos parâmetros meteorológicos imediatos sobre a etiologia dessas infecções, ajustando os resultados para dados demográficos, tempo e unidade de internação. RESULTADOS Temperatura e umidade mais elevadas foram associadas às infecções de corrente sanguínea causadas por bactérias como um todo (versus fungos) e por bacilos Gram-negativos. Nos modelos multivariados, a temperatura foi positivamente associada com o isolamento nas culturas de bacilos Gram-negativos (OR = 1,14; IC95% 1,10;1,19) ou A. baumannii (OR = 1,26; IC95% 1,16;1,37), mesmo após ajuste para dados demográficos e de internação. Associação inversa foi identificada por umidade. CONCLUSÕES O estudo documentou o impacto de temperatura e umidade sobre incidência e etiologia de infecções da corrente sanguínea. Os resultados são coerentes com os relatados em estudos ecológicos, apontando para maior incidência de bacilos Gram-negativos durante as estações quentes. Esses achados devem orientar as estratégias direcionadas à prevenção e controle de infecções relacionadas à assistência à saúde

Charge Transport Mechanism in Chevron--Graphene Nanoribbons

From the moment atomic precision control of the growth process of graphene was achieved, more elaborated carbon allotropes were proposed opening new channels for flat optoelectronics at the nanoscale. A special type of this material presenting a V-shape (or "kinked" pattern) was recently synthesized and named Chevron-graphene nanoribbons (C-GNRs). To realize the reach of C--GNRs in developing new applications, the formation, and transport of charge carriers in their lattices should be primarily understood. Here, we investigate the static and dynamical properties of quasiparticles in C-GNRs. We study the effects of electron-phonon coupling and doping on the system. We also determine the kind of charge carriers present in C--GNR. It is observed that a phase transition occurs between a delocalized regime of conduction and regimes mediated by charge carriers. Such a phase transition is highly dependent on the doping concentration. Remarkably, crucial differences from the transport in standard graphene nanoribbons are identified. These factors are noted to have a profound impact on the mobility on the system which, in turn, should decisively impact the performance of electronic devices based on C-GNRs.Comment: 12 pages, and 09 figure