Intestinal protozoa parasites association with anemia in people from Brazilian western Amazon communities

Introduction: Nowadays intestinal parasitic infection remains an important public health trouble in Latin and South America, emphasizing the Amazon region. Furthermore, intestinal parasites have been considered important factors in etiology of nutritional anemia and malnutrition. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the intestinal parasitic infection and its possible association with anemia in people from Amazon communities. Methods: The study was a research in documentary records, descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional, with confirmed cases of parasites infection found in State Hospital of Cacoal-Rondônia, Brazilian Western Amazon. The parameters evaluated were gender, age, race, parasites, hematocrit and hemoglobin. Results: Females where slight higher for the number of cases of parasites occurrence (51%) compared to males (49%) and children had higher parasitic index (43%) followed by adults (37%), teenagers (11%) and seniors (9%). With regards to race, pardos (brown skin color) group was the most affected by the parasites with 69% of cases, followed by caucasians (17%), indians (11%) and blacks (3%). The major parasites diagnosed were Endolimax nana (55%), Giardia lamblia (28%), Entamoeba coli (14%) and Iodamoeba bütschlii (3%). In relation to the association of intestinal parasites and anemia, children had a 60% anemia increase when compared to adults (p <0.05) and the indians increased by 100% anemia when paired against caucasians (p <0.05).Conclusion: Thus, it is suggested that attention should be given to the increase in protozoa parasitic infection prevalence in Amazonian communities and expedite the emergency of improvements in political and sanitation programs of water treatment and waste and sewer management

Coeficiente de determinação genotípico e fenotípico entre rendimento de grãos e teor de óleo de genótipos de girassol.

Resumo: Na escolha de cultivares de girassol é necessário verificar não apenas o seu potencial produtivo (kg ha-1), mas também, o teor de óleo em sua semente. A associação entre esses dois caracteres pode ser estimada com base em coeficientes de determinação. Seu valor pode indicar a tendência dos programas de melhoramento genéticos em selecionar cultivares com alto teor de óleo, além do acréscimo em rendimento. O objetivo do presente estudo foi estimar os coeficientes de determinação fenotípicos e genotípicos entre rendimento de grãos e teor de óleo de genótipos de girassol avaliados em ensaios de competição de cultivares conduzidos no Brasil. Os dados analisados foram obtidos da Rede de Ensaios de Avaliação de Genótipos de Girassol, entre 2006 e 2010. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As estimativas dos coeficientes de determinação fenotípicos e genotípicos entre os caracteres foram obtidas como descrito por Vencovsky e Barriga (1992). Neste estudo, os coeficientes de determinação genotípicos foram, geralmente, superiores aos fenotípicos e não altos. Isto indica que os genótipos com alto rendimento de grãos avaliados na Rede de Ensaios de Avaliação de Genótipos de Girassol, conduzidos por diferentes programas de melhoramento, não estão tendendo a apresentar baixos teores de óleo. Abstract: In the selection of sunflower cultivars is necessary to check not only yield (kg ha'), but the oil content in the achenes. The relationship between these two characters can be estimated by coefficients of determination. Their value may indicate the trend of breeding programs to select cultivars with high oil content in addition to increase in yield. The objective of the present study was to estimate genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of determination between yield and oil content of sunflower genotypes evaluated in trials in Brazil. The data was obtained from the National Sunflower Trials from 2006 to 2010.The trials were established under randomly block designs with four replications. The estimative genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of determination between the characters was obtained according Vencovsky and Barriga (1992). In this study, the genotypic coefficients of determination were usually greater than the phenotypic, but they were not high. This indicates that the genotypes with high yield evaluated in the National Sunflower Trials, conducted by different breeding programs, are not tending to have low oil content

Coeficiente de determinação genótipico e fenotípico entre rendimento de grãos e teor de óleo de genótipos de girassol.

Na escolha de cultivares de girassol é necessário verificar não apenas o seu potencial produtivo (kg ha-1), mas também, o teor de óleo em sua semente. A associação entre esses dois caracteres pode ser estimada com base em coeficientes de determinação. Seu valor pode indicar a tendência dos programas de melhoramento genéticos em selecionar cultivares com alto teor de óleo, além do acréscimo em rendimento. O objetivo do presente estudo foi estimar os coeficientes de determinação fenotípicos e genotípicos entre rendimento de grãos e teor de óleo de genótipos de girassol avaliados em ensaios de competição de cultivares conduzidos no Brasil. Os dados analisados foram obtidos da Rede de Ensaios de Avaliação de Genótipos de Girassol, entre 2006 e 2010. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. As estimativas dos coeficientes de determinação fenotípicos e genotípicos entre os caracteres foram obtidas como descrito por Vencovsky e Barriga (1992). Neste estudo, os coeficientes de determinação genotípicos foram, geralmente, superiores aos fenotípicos e não altos. Isto indica que os genótipos com alto rendimento de grãos avaliados na Rede de Ensaios de Avaliação de Genótipos de Girassol, conduzidos por diferentes programas de melhoramento, não estão tendendo a apresentar baixos teores de óleo. GENOTYPIC AND PHENOTYPIC COEFFICIENT OF DETERMINATION BETWEEN YIELD AND OIL CONTENT OF SUNFLOWER GENOTYPES. In the selection of sunflower cultivars is necessary to check not only yield (kg ha-182), but the oil content in the achenes. The relationship between these two characters can be estimated by coefficients of determination. Their value may indicate the trend of breeding programs to select cultivars with high oil content in addition to increase in yield. The objective of the present study was to estimate genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of determination between yield and oil content of sunflower genotypes evaluated in trials in Brazil. The data was obtained from the National Sunflower Trials from 2006 to 2010.The trials were established under randomly block designs with four replications. The estimative genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of determination between the characters was obtained according Vencovsky and Barriga (1992). In this study, the genotypic coefficients of determination were usually greater than the phenotypic, but they were not high. This indicates that the genotypes with high yield evaluated in the National Sunflower Trials, conducted by different breeding programs, are not tending to have low oil content

Ti-Zr-Si-Nb nanocrystalline alloys and metallic glasses: Assessment on the structure, thermal stability, corrosion and mechanical properties

The development of novel Ti-based amorphous or \u3b2-phase nanostructured metallic materials could have significant benefits for implant applications, due to improved corrosion and mechanical characteristics (lower Young's modulus, better wear performance, improved fracture toughness) in comparison to the standardized \u3b1+\u3b2 titanium alloys. Moreover, the devitrification phenomenon, occurring during heating, could contribute to lower input power during additive manufacturing technologies. Ti-based alloy ribbons were obtained by melt-spinning, considering the ultra-fast cooling rates this method can provide. The titanium alloys contain in various proportions Zr, Nb, and Si (Ti60Zr10Si15Nb15, Ti64Zr10Si15Nb11, Ti56Zr10Si15Nb19) in various proportions. These elements were chosen due to their reported biological safety, as in the case of Zr and Nb, and the metallic glass-forming ability and biocompatibility of Si. The morphology and chemical composition were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, while the structural features (crystallinity, phase attribution after devitrification (after heat treatment)) were assessed by X-ray diffraction. Some of the mechanical properties (hardness, Young's modulus) were assessed by instrumented indentation. The thermal stability and crystallization temperatures were measured by differential thermal analysis. High-intensity exothermal peaks were observed during heating of melt-spun ribbons. The corrosion behavior was assessed by electrocorrosion tests. The results show the potential of these alloys to be used as materials for biomedical applications

Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis in primary Sj\uf6gren's Syndrome: Clinical presentation, association with lymphoma and comparison with Hepatitis C-related disease

Objective: To describe the clinical spectrum of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) in primary Sj\uf6gren's syndrome (pSS), investigate its relation to lymphoma and identify the differences with hepatitis C virus (HCV) related CV. Methods: From a multicentre study population of consecutive pSS patients, those who had been evaluated for cryoglobulins and fulfilled the 2011 classification criteria for CV were identified retrospectively. pSS-CV patients were matched with pSS patients without cryoglobulins (1:2) and HCV-CV patients (1:1). Clinical, laboratory and outcome features were analyzed. A data driven logistic regression model was applied for pSS-CV patients and their pSS cryoglobulin negative controls to identify independent features associated with lymphoma. Results: 1083 pSS patients were tested for cryoglobulins. 115 (10.6%) had cryoglobulinemia and 71 (6.5%) fulfilled the classification criteria for CV. pSS-CV patients had higher frequency of extraglandular manifestations and lymphoma (OR=9.87, 95% CI: 4.7\u201320.9) compared to pSS patients without cryoglobulins. Purpura was the commonest vasculitic manifestation (90%), presenting at disease onset in 39% of patients. One third of pSS-CV patients developed B-cell lymphoma within the first 5 years of CV course, with cryoglobulinemia being the strongest independent lymphoma associated feature. Compared to HCV-CV patients, pSS-CV individuals displayed more frequently lymphadenopathy, type II IgMk cryoglobulins and lymphoma (OR = 6.12, 95% CI: 2.7\u201314.4) and less frequently C4 hypocomplementemia and peripheral neuropathy. Conclusion: pSS-CV has a severe clinical course, overshadowing the typical clinical manifestations of pSS and higher risk for early lymphoma development compared to HCV related CV. Though infrequent, pSS-CV constitutes a distinct severe clinical phenotype of pSS

Early palliative care versus usual haematological care in multiple myeloma: retrospective cohort study

Objectives Although early palliative care (EPC) is beneficial in acute myeloid leukaemia, little is known about EPC value in multiple myeloma (MM). We compared quality indicators for palliative and end of life (EOL) care in patients with MM receiving EPC with those of patients who received usual haematological care (UHC).Methods This observational, retrospective study was based on 290 consecutive patients with MM. The following indicators were abstracted: providing psychological support, assessing/managing pain, discussing goals of care, promoting advance care plan, accessing home care services; no anti MM treatment within 14 and 30 days and hospice length of stay >7 days before death; no cardiopulmonary resuscitation, no intubation, <2 hospitalisations and emergency department visits within 30 days before death. Comparisons were performed using unadjusted and confounder adjusted regression models.Results 55 patients received EPC and 231 UHC. Compared with UHC patients, EPC patients had a significantly higher number of quality indicators of care (mean 2.62 +/- 1.25 vs 1.12 +/- 0.95; p<0.0001)); a significant reduction of pain intensity over time (p<0.01) and a trend towards reduced aggressiveness at EOL, with the same survival (5.3 vs 5.46 years; p=0.74)).Conclusions Our data support the value of integrating EPC into MM routine practice and lay the groundwork for future prospective comparative studies

The impact of Participatory Budgeting on health and wellbeing:A scoping review of evaluations

Background: Participatory budgeting (PB), citizens deliberating among themselves and with officials to decide how to allocate funds for public goods, has been increasingly implemented across Europe and worldwide. While PB is recommended as good practice by the World Bank and the United Nations, with potential to improve health and wellbeing, it is unclear what evaluations have been conducted on the impact of PB on health and wellbeing. Methods: For this scoping review, we searched 21 databases with no restrictions on publication date or language. The search term ‘participatory budget’ was used as the relevant global label for the intervention of interest. Studies were included if they reported original analysis of health, social, political, or economic and budgetary outcomes of PB. We examined the study design, analysis, outcomes and location of included articles. Findings are reported narratively. Results: From 1458 identified references, 37 studies were included. The majority of evaluations (n = 24) were of PB in South America, seven were in Europe. Most evaluations were case studies (n = 23) conducting ethnography and surveys, focussing on political outcomes such as participation in PB or impacts on political activities. All of the quantitative observational studies analysing population level data, except one in Russia, were conducted in South America. Conclusion: Despite increasing interest in PB, evaluations applying robust methods to analyse health and wellbeing outcomes are scarce, particularly beyond Brazil. Therefore, implementation of PB schemes should be accompanied by rigorous qualitative and quantitative evaluation to identify impacts and the processes by which they are realised

A roadmap to future space connectivity: satellite and interplanetary networks

Space and terrestrial systems are more tightly related then anyone can suspect. A part from the obvious cooperation and synergy that must exist between the space and terrestrial components of an integrated infrastructure, another subtended relationship characterizes terrestrial and space activities: the virtuous osmosis of architectures and technologies adopted on Earth to space and vice versa. It is perhaps more instinctive to expect a from-Earth-to-space osmosis of technologies and architectures and the spin-in as the natural way to go. The capability, instead, of space technologies and related architectures to pour innovations on Earth is amazing and the spin-out from space to Earth is very rewarding and surprising since at least the first Apollo mission! A consequence of the bidirectional contamination between Earth and space is that actions and choices of Human Beings in the space realm have an effect on Earth. It is a great opportunity, a fascinating challenge but also a very strong responsibility. Selecting the suitable technology for a space system is then much more than finalising a new mission or a service in a cost and operation effective manner. To be more precise, let’s say that the measure of effectiveness risks to be inaccurate in terms of predictable and unpredictable effects in the medium and long term. This book is focused on a roadmap for future space connectivity that moves from awareness and responsibility in the use of the space domain. The above approach makes space indeed a main actor not only in the progress of knowledge and in the recognition of the recently added right of Humanity of “connecting the unconnected”, but also in the capability of assuring a satisfactory future to all of us. Despite the neutrality of technology, that is neither good nor bad by itself but that can become either one according to the use we make of it, the roadmap for future space connectivity is studded with choices on both technologies and architectures that can turn out to be right or wrong for the ambitious goal of a suitable way ahead for Mankind. Let’s be somehow disruptive here in measuring the suitability of technologies and architectures with their success of failure in passing a Glue Tech test of compliance. In fact, a Glue Technology (GT) is a powerful means of integrating various components while maintaining effectively their autonomy. By applying the GT paradigm to future connectivity infrastructures, the integration between terrestrial, aerial and space components could pave the way for very ambitious goals, including “connecting the connected” in a truly sustainable manner. The GT paradigm is so promising, that a group of experts worldwide created a technical panel of the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS), named “Glue Technologies for Space Systems”, whose focus is the conception, design and application of Glue Technologies in space missions, infrastructures and services under the sustainability umbrella. The editors and most of the Chapter authors of this book belong to the above AESS panel. The holistic nature of sustainability makes it not effective to focus on Earth without caring effectively for the surrounding domain (space). Therefore, space sustainability is part of the picture and its implementation contributes to reach the more obvious goal of a green Earth. In the book space sustainability is both an underlying topic for different frameworks and a specific topic in a dedicated Chapter. A powerful equation relates the capability of implementing sustainable space systems to the identification - and consequent use - of only Glue Technologies and related architectures. In fact, the horizontal ranges of application realms that a GT guarantees along with its related software-driven architectures offer to the system intrinsic pillars for its sustainable design, implementation and operations along with a good potential for its future recycling or, even better, upcycling. It is not dreamful to envisage in the future a system certification based on the use of only pure Glue Technologies and to expect a standardization activity related to the GT paradigm. We hope the reader will be captured by the GT concept and its broad range of implications and potentials and that he/she will be stimulated to contribute to the future of space connectivity in a sustainable manner. The book is organized in four parts dedicated to satellite communications technology (Part I), systems and infrastructures (Part II), interplanetary networking (Part III) and new space applications (Part IV). Disruptive technologies, configurations, implications, design guidelines and verticals will guide the reader in the articulated domains of the GT paradigm. Enjoy the journey..