Estudo espectroscópico de polímeros semicondutores para aplicação em eletrônica molecular

Tendo em vista o desenvolvimento de novos materiais para aplicação em dispositivos optoeletrônicos, duas amostras contendo filmes poliméricos semicondutores (AMG45 e AMG79) foram estudadas por espectroscopia de fotoelétrons induzidos por raios-X (XPS) e ultravioleta (UPS) e espectroscopia por perda de energia de elétrons em modo de reflexão (REELS). Tal estudo tem como objetivo identificar e avaliar algumas das características da superfície desses filmes, assim como estudar a variação de parte dessas em função da profundidade da amostra. Pelos espectros de XPS foi possível constatar a presença dos filmes poliméricos e obter uma estimativa de suas espessuras: o filme da AMG45 encontra-se espesso (superior a 40 nm), enquanto que o da AMG79 é fino, uma vez que elementos de camadas mais internas da amostra foram detectadas já na análise de sua superfície. Ambas as amostras apresentam contaminação por silício, sendo este possivelmente proveniente de polissiloxanos. E também foi possível identificar que parte das unidades contendo derivados de carbazol da amostra AMG79 apresentam-se protonadas devido a uma reação ácidobase com o poli(estireno (sulfonato)) (PSS), que também compõe a amostra. Por fim, a partir do espectro de valência (XPS) e os espectros de UPS e REELS, os valores em energia dos orbitais ocupados de mais alta energia (HOMOs), função trabalho (Φ) e energia do gap (Eg) foram estimados para cada amostra. O primeiro desses parâmetros também foi avaliado em função da profundidade. Palavras chaves: eletrônica molecular, dispositivos optoeletrônicos, polímeros semicondutores, espectroscopia de fotoelétrons, erosão por íons

Estudo sobre as características da dor em pacientes com lesão medular

Além da perda da funcionalidade após a lesão medular (LM), a dor é tida como uma das principais complicações mais incapacitantes e vivenciadas no processo de reabilitação, mesmo com o avanço significativo na compreensão da fisiopatologia e tratamento da dor, a abordagem desse sintoma ainda é precária na lesão medular. Objetivo: Descrever as características do quadro álgico nessa população e associar a dor com o tipo de lesão, interferência nas atividades de vida diária (AVD’s) e o seu aparecimento. Método: Trata-se de estudo transversal com um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturado aplicado a 77 pacientes. Foram calculadas a média e desvio padrão, frequências absolutas e relativas, para a associação entre as variáveis qualitativas foi utilizado teste Qui-quadrado (χ²). Resultados: A idade foi de 38,26 ± 12,43 anos, sendo 84,4% homens e 80,5% de paraplégicos. Trinta e um foram por acidente automobilístico e 29 por ferimento de arma de fogo, sendo 61,0% com lesão medular completa. Quanto à dor, 44,2% relataram dor severa e 29,8% a moderada, em 50,6% não sentiam dor acima da lesão e 58,4% sentiam-na abaixo. Trinta e nove relataram sentir dor em queimação, 40,0% relataram que a dor surgiu no primeiro ano após a LM. A intensidade da dor foi de 5,44 ± 3,18 pontos, sendo 5,20 ± 3,07 nos homens, 6,75 ± 3,54 nas mulheres, 4,13 ± 3,18 nos tetraplégicos e 5,76 ± 3,12 nos paraplégicos. Para 27 pacientes a dor piorou permanecendo na mesma posição, para 22 melhorou realizando fisioterapia e para 21 com a mudança de posição. Para 68,8% a dor não interferiu nas AVD’s. Vinte e oito utilizaram medicação analgésica. Houve associação significativa de que a presença de dor abaixo da lesão interfere nas AVD’s (p = 0,04) e surge no primeiro ano após a lesão acima e abaixo da lesão (p = 0,05 e p = 0,01), respectivamente. Conclusão: A dor foi prevalente nos lesados medulares, mais evidenciada nas mulheres e na maioria surgiu no primeiro ano após a lesão e interfere AVD’s. A fisioterapia e a mudança de posição diminuíram a dor. Portanto, as orientações e intervenções por parte da equipe multiprofissional devem ser imediatas após a lesão, pois a prevenção ou diminuição desta complicação refletirá na melhoria da qualidade de vida e na readaptação do paciente à sua vida familiar e social.Aside from the loss of functionality after a spinal cord injury (SCI) pain is considered one of the most disabling complications experienced in the rehabilitation process, even with the significant advances in understanding the physiopathology and treatment of the pain, the approach to this symptom is still precarious in spinal cord injury. Objective: To describe the characteristics of pain in this population and to associate the pain between variables such as the type of injury, the interference in the daily living activities (DLA), and its onset. Method: It is a descriptive cross-sectional study and was conducted on 77 patients with spinal cord injuries; the survey was applied using a semi-structured interview. Mean and standard deviation and absolute and relative frequencies were calculated, and for the association between qualitative variables we used the Chisquare test (χ²). Results: The mean age was 38.26 ± 12.43 years, 84.4% of which were men, and 80.5% were paraplegics. Thirty-one were caused by motor vehicle crashes and twenty-nine were by gunshot; 61% of them were fully disabled. As for the pain, 44.2% reported severe pain and 29.8% moderate, 50.6% felt no pain above the lesion, but 58.4% felt it below. Thirty-nine patients reported feeling burning pain, 40% reported that the pain came in the first year after SCI. Pain intensity was 5.44 ± 3.18 points, with 5.20 ± 3.07 in men and 6.75 ± 3.54 in women; for tetraplegic individuals it was 4.13 ± 3.18 and with 5.76 ± 3.12 in the paraplegics. For 27 patients the pain worsened if they remained in the same position, improved to 22 by performing physiotherapy, and to 21 with a change in position. For 68.8% of the patients the pain did not interfere with their DLAs. Twenty-eight used analgesics. It was significantly mentioned that the presence of pain below the lesion interferes with the DLAs (p = 0.04) and appears in the first year after injury above and below the lesion (p = 0.05 and p = 0.01), respectively. Conclusion: Pain was prevalent in those with injured spinal cords, more evident in women, and for the majority arose in the first year after injury and interferes with their DLA. Physiotherapy and a change of position decreased the pain. Therefore, orientations and interventions by the multidisciplinary team should be immediate after the injury, because the prevention or reduction of this complication will lead to an improved quality of life and the re-adaptation of the patient to their family and social life

High anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroconversion rates before the second wave in Manaus, Brazil, and the protective effect of social behaviour measures: results from the prospective DETECTCoV-19 cohort

Background: The city of Manaus, Brazil, has seen two collapses of the health system due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We report anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibody seroconversion rates and associated risk factors in Manaus residents before the second wave of the epidemic in Brazil. Methods: A convenience sample of adult (aged ≥18 years) residents of Manaus was recruited through online and university website advertising into the DETECTCoV-19 study cohort. The current analysis of seroconversion included a subgroup of DETECTCoV-19 participants who had at least two serum sample collections separated by at least 4 weeks between Aug 19 and Oct 2, 2020 (visit 1), and Oct 19 and Nov 27, 2020 (visit 2). Those who reported (or had no data on) having a COVID-19 diagnosis before visit 1, and who were positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibodies at visit 1 were excluded. Using an in-house ELISA, the reactivity index (RI; calculated as the optical density ratio of the sample to the negative control) for serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibodies was measured at both visits. We calculated the incidence of seroconversion (defined as RI values ≤1·5 at visit 1 and ≥1·5 at visit 2, and a ratio >2 between the visit 2 and visit 1 RI values) during the study period, as well as incidence rate ratios (IRRs) through cluster-corrected and adjusted Poisson regression models to analyse associations between seroconversion and variables related to sociodemographic characteristics, health access, comorbidities, COVID-19 exposure, protective behaviours, and symptoms. Findings: 2496 DETECTCoV-19 cohort participants returned for a follow-up visit between Oct 19 and Nov 27, 2020, of whom 204 reported having COVID-19 before the first visit and 24 had no data regarding previous disease status. 559 participants were seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibodies at baseline. Of the remaining 1709 participants who were seronegative at baseline, 71 did not meet the criteria for seroconversion and were excluded from the analyses. Among the remaining 1638 participants who were seronegative at baseline, 214 showed seroconversion at visit 2. The seroconversion incidence was 13·06% (95% CI 11·52–14·79) overall and 6·78% (5·61–8·10) for symptomatic seroconversion, over a median follow-up period of 57 days (IQR 54–61). 48·1% of seroconversion events were estimated to be asymptomatic. The sample had higher proportions of affluent and higher-educated people than those reported for the Manaus city population. In the fully adjusted and corrected model, risk factors for seroconversion before visit 2 were having a COVID-19 case in the household (IRR 1·49 [95% CI 1·21–1·83]), not wearing a mask during contact with a person with COVID-19 (1·25 [1·09–1·45]), relaxation of physical distancing (1·31 [1·05–1·64]), and having flu-like symptoms (1·79 [1·23–2·59]) or a COVID-19 diagnosis (3·57 [2·27–5·63]) between the first and second visits, whereas working remotely was associated with lower incidence (0·74 [0·56–0·97]). Interpretation: An intense infection transmission period preceded the second wave of COVID-19 in Manaus. Several modifiable behaviours increased the risk of seroconversion, including non-compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions measures such as not wearing a mask during contact, relaxation of protective measures, and non-remote working. Increased testing in high-transmission areas is needed to provide timely information about ongoing transmission and aid appropriate implementation of transmission mitigation measures. Funding: Ministry of Education, Brazil; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas; Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO.World Health OrganizationRevisión por pare

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estratégias de aquisição da casa própria: a trajetória de algumas famílias negras paulistanas nas décadas de 1920 a 1940

In Brazil, there is a cultural belief that property acquisition is the wisest attitude to ensure a safe and stable economy. For generations, the "dream of property ownership" has been cultivated as a horizon to be achieved. Confirming this tendency, since the 1920s, "casa propria" (home ownership) became a notion mobilized in the black press periodicals, circulating as a desirable aspiration and an orientation to the journals public. Between 1924 and 1937, two of the main newspapers of São Paulo black press, O Clarim da Alvorada and A Voz da Raça, carried out a campaign in favor of property ownership, spreading among paulista black families the importance of property acquisition. These campaigns are an important sign for the relevance of buying a property for black families at that time. In this paper, we seek to analyze it as an intergenerational social security strategy, through the presentation of three cases of black families that accomplished this goal between 1920s and 1940s. The black families testimonies reported here indicate precocity, specificities and strategies that represent new challenges for the formulation of property ownership problem, from a racial point of view.No Brasil, há uma crença cultural de que a atitude mais sábia para garantir uma economia doméstica segura e estável é a aquisição da casa própria. Por gerações, o “sonho da casa própria” tem sido cultivado como um horizonte a se atingir. Confirmando essa tendência, desde a década de 1920, a “casa própria” torna-se uma noção mobilizada nos periódicos da imprensa negra, circulando em diversos artigos como uma aspiração desejável e uma orientação ao público dos jornais. Entre 1924 e 1937, dois dos principais jornais da imprensa negra paulista, O Clarim da Alvorada e A Voz da Raça, realizaram uma campanha em favor da casa própria, difundindo entre as famílias negras paulistanas a ideia da importância da aquisição imobiliária. Essas campanhas constituem um indício importante da relevância da aquisição residencial para as famílias negras do período. Neste trabalho, procuramos analisar essa importância como estratégia de seguridade social intergeracional, por meio da apresentação de três casos de famílias negras que realizaram esse objetivo entre as décadas de 1920 e 1940. Os depoimentos das famílias negras aqui reportados indicamprecocidade, especificidades e estratégias que representam novos desafios para a reflexão sobre a formulação do problema da casa própria, a partir do ponto de vista racial

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good

Differential cross section measurements for the production of a W boson in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Measurements are reported of differential cross sections for the production of a W boson, which decays into a muon and a neutrino, in association with jets, as a function of several variables, including the transverse momenta (pT) and pseudorapidities of the four leading jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta (HT), and the difference in azimuthal angle between the directions of each jet and the muon. The data sample of pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV was collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb[superscript −1]. The measured cross sections are compared to predictions from Monte Carlo generators, MadGraph + pythia and sherpa, and to next-to-leading-order calculations from BlackHat + sherpa. The differential cross sections are found to be in agreement with the predictions, apart from the pT distributions of the leading jets at high pT values, the distributions of the HT at high-HT and low jet multiplicity, and the distribution of the difference in azimuthal angle between the leading jet and the muon at low values.United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Alfred P. Sloan Foundatio

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI

Canagliflozin and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes and Nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to 300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m 2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Search for stop and higgsino production using diphoton Higgs boson decays

Results are presented of a search for a "natural" supersymmetry scenario with gauge mediated symmetry breaking. It is assumed that only the supersymmetric partners of the top-quark (stop) and the Higgs boson (higgsino) are accessible. Events are examined in which there are two photons forming a Higgs boson candidate, and at least two b-quark jets. In 19.7 inverse femtobarns of proton-proton collision data at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV, recorded in the CMS experiment, no evidence of a signal is found and lower limits at the 95% confidence level are set, excluding the stop mass below 360 to 410 GeV, depending on the higgsino mass