Determinantes regionais da produtividade industrial: O papel da infraestrutura

This paper evaluated the role of infrastructure on the productivity of industries in the Brazilian mesoregions. We found that infrastructure positively affects the efficiency of industries, although due to the size of the estimated coefficients, this influence is small. Considering the average levels of efficiency and product, a 1% increase in regional coverage of roads leads to an increase in the regional productive efficiency indicator (which varies between zero and one) around 0.1289 points and 0.121% in the regional industrial product; similar increase in urban infrastructure (consisting of water supply, sanitation and street lighting) leads to an increase in efficiency around 0.2801 points and 0.247% in the product; for the telephony sector, which showed only marginally significant, the result is an increase of 0.152 points in the efficiency indicator and 0.142% in the product

Characteristics of HCV positive patients in an Italian urban psychiatric unit

OBJECTIVES: 1) to assess the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a population of acute psychiatric in-patients; 2) to find out relationships between HCV comorbidity and clinical features of psychiatric patients. METHODS: Prospective observational study in a 6-year period. RESULTS: 2396 cases (1492 patients) were admitted in the considered period. Forty-two patients (2.8%) were affected by HCV infection. HCV infection was more frequent in patients with less years of education, lower social class, lower last year best Global Assessment of Functioning score, more hostile or violent behavior in hospital, with a lifetime history of previous suicide attempt, and with substance-related disorders. CONCLUSION: HCV infection in psychiatric patients constitutes a major threat to the health of psychiatric patients and is related with unfavorable social background, worse global functioning, hostile or violent behavior, substance-related disorders. It appears also to be a significant risk of suicidal behavior

First trimester diagnosis of iniencephaly associated with fetal malformations and trisomy 18: Report of a new case and gene analysis on folate metabolism in parents

ABSTRACT  Iniencephaly is a rare congenital malformation consisting of a complex alteration of the embryonic development occurring around the third post‐fertilization week and characterized by a hyper‐retroflexion of the cephalic pole. We report a case of iniencephaly associated with acrania‐encephalocele, spina bifida and abnormal ductus venosus in a fetus with trisomy 18 diagnosed at 12 week's gestation in a 41‐year‐old woman. A co‐occurrence between aneuploidy and iniencephaly was documented and polymorphisms on folate metabolism‐related genes were investigated in the parents to assess possible etiologic factors and recurrence risk for neural tube defects (NTD). An homozygous state for the MTRR polymorphism was diagnosed in the mother, identifying a clinical risk for NTD. Once iniencephaly or any other NTD are suspected, genetic analysis, second level ultrasound and fetal karyotype are recommended. Autopsy should also be performed in all cases of early ultrasound‐based diagnosis of fetal malformations

Functional and structural studies of the disulfide isomerase DsbC from the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa reveals a redox-dependent oligomeric modulation in vitro

Xylella fastidiosa is a Gram-negative bacterium that grows as a biofilm inside the xylem vessels of susceptible plants and causes several economically relevant crop diseases. In the present study, we report the functional and low-resolution structural characterization of the X. fastidiosa disulfide isomerase DsbC (XfDsbC). DsbC is part of the disulfide bond reduction/isomerization pathway in the bacterial periplasm and plays an important role in oxidative protein folding. In the present study, we demonstrate the presence of XfDsbC during different stages of X. fastidiosa biofilm development. XfDsbC was not detected during X. fastidiosa planktonic growth; however, after administering a sublethal copper shock, we observed an overexpression of XfDsbC that also occurred during planktonic growth. These results suggest that X. fastidiosa can use XfDsbC in vivo under oxidative stress conditions similar to those induced by copper. In addition, using dynamic light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering, we observed that the oligomeric state of XfDsbC in vitro may be dependent on the redox environment. Under reducing conditions, XfDsbC is present as a dimer, whereas a putative tetrameric form was observed under nonreducing conditions. Taken together, our findings demonstrate the overexpression of XfDsbC during biofilm formation and provide the first structural model of a bacterial disulfide isomerase in solution. Structured digital abstract XfDsbC and XfDsbC bind by x ray scattering (View Interaction: 1, 2) XfDsbC and XfDsbC bind by molecular sieving (View interaction) XfDsbC and XfDsbC bind by comigration in non denaturing gel electrophoresis (View interaction) XfDsbC and XfDsbC bind by cross-linking study (View Interaction: 1, 2) XfDsbC and XfDsbC bind by dynamic light scattering (View Interaction: 1, 2)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [Process 01/07533-7, Process 08/55690-3]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq

Neighborhood and Efficiency in Manufacturing in Brazilian Regions: A Spatial Markov Chain Analysis

This paper analyzes the geography of regional competitiveness in manufacturing in Brazil. The authors estimate stochastic frontiers to calculate regional efficiency of representative firms in 137 regions in the period 2000-2006, in four sectors defined by technological intensity. The efficiency results are analyzed using Markov Spatial Transition Matrices to provide insights into the transition of regions between efficiency levels, considering their local spatial context. The results indicate that geography plays an important role in manufacturing competitiveness. In particular, regions with more competitive neighbors are more likely to improve their relative efficiency (pull effect) over time, and regions with less competitive neighbors are more likely to lose relative efficiency (drag effect). The authors find that the pull effect is stronger than the drag effect

Neighborhood and Efficiency in Manufacturing in Brazilian Regions: A Spatial Markov Chain Analysis

This paper analyzes the geography of regional competitiveness in manufacturing in Brazil. The authors estimate stochastic frontiers to calculate regional efficiency of representative firms in 137 regions in the period 2000-2006, in four sectors defined by technological intensity. The efficiency results are analyzed using Markov Spatial Transition Matrices to provide insights into the transition of regions between efficiency levels, considering their local spatial context. The results indicate that geography plays an important role in manufacturing competitiveness. In particular, regions with more competitive neighbors are more likely to improve their relative efficiency (pull effect) over time, and regions with less competitive neighbors are more likely to lose relative efficiency (drag effect). The authors find that the pull effect is stronger than the drag effect.spatial markov Chains; neighborhood and efficiency; manufacturing; stochastic production frontier; production function

Combined Microanalytic and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance techniques in archaeometry of ancient glass

The combined use of Electron Microprobe (EMP) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) was applied to the characterisation of ancient glass. The resulting data were complementary and thus very useful for information on both glass composition and the oxidation state of paramagnetic ions, such as Fe 3+ and Mn2+. Our study highlighted the importance of obtaining the abundances (EMP) and oxidation states of the above elements (EPR). These indications represent a new way of looking at ancient glass production and may define several production indicators such as control of kiln atmosphere. Our results show that the value of the oxidising/reducing ratio defines a parameter constraining the colour of worked glass - an aspect which has implications for archaeometric research aiming at reconstructing the history of glass

Color attributes of medieval window panes:electron paramagnetic resonance and probe microanalyses on stained glass windows from Pavia Carthusian Monastery

Stained glass windows from the Carthusian Monastery of Pavia, dating back to the 15th century, were studied by combining two analytical techniques: electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Chemical compositions and oxidation states of the transition ions, present as minor elements, were investigated by EPMA and EPR, respectively, in order to ascertain the role played by chromophorous ions in the glass coloration. The investigated glass can be defined as K-Ca glass, and the panes with red, green and blue colours were produced using flashing techniques

Stained glass windows of Certosa di Pavia: technical and workmanship reconstruction of coloured panels

Stained glass windows from the Carthusian Monastery of Pavia, dating back to the 15th century, were studied by combining two analytical techniques: electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Chemical compositions and oxidation states of the transition ions, present as minor elements, were investigated by EPMA and EPR, respectively, in order to ascertain the role played by chromophorous ions in the glass coloration. The investigated glass can be defined as K–Ca glass, and the panes with red, green and blue colours were produced using flashing techniques

Studio con risonanza paramagnetica e microanalisi con sonda elettronica di frammenti colorati provenienti da vetrate medioevali del Monastero della Certosa di Pavia

Sono stati studiati frammenti di vetro colorati provenienti da vetrate, risalenti al XV secolo, del Monastero della Certosa di Pavia. Combinando due tecniche analitiche, microanalisi con sonda elettronica e risonanza paramagnetica, abbiamo determinato la composizione chimica dei campioni e gli stati di ossidazione degli ioni di elementi di transizione, presenti come cromofori, giungendo a chiarirne il ruolo nella colorazione. Importanti contributi sono stati derivati da osservazioni in microscopia elettronica