Determining Factors for Fast Corneal Sensitivity Recovery After Pterygium Excision

Purpose: To establish determining factors for fast corneal sensitivity (CS) recovery after pterygium excision. Methods: Thirty-two eyes of 14 males and 18 females with primary nasal pterygium were recruited. Differences in CS (in the 4 quadrants and the center using a Cochet–Bonnet esthesiometer), pterygium corneal area (PCA), tear osmolarity, tear break-up time, Schirmer test, and ocular symptoms were analyzed before and 1 month after lesion excision. The relationship between CS recovery (difference between the 2 time points; CS1 – CS0) and the other features was assessed. Results: All the studied locations exhibited normal (6 cm) or near-normal mean CS at the 2 time points, except a tendency for moderate hypoesthesia in nasal CS0 (median 4.5; range: 1.5–6.0 cm). Point by point comparison revealed significant postoperative improvements in nasal location (P = 0.008; Wilcoxon signed-rank test) with normal values in 17 eyes (53%) and a median CS1 = 5.0 cm (2.5–5.5 cm) in 15 eyes with no complete recovery. No significant correlation was found between CS0 and the studied variables, and CS1 was only significantly correlated with PCA (rho: -0.441; P < 0.05). CS recovery also showed significant correlation with PCA (rho = -0.516; P < 0.01). Conclusions: CS recovery after pterygium excision showed important variability, and the only studied factor that seems to be determinant could be PCA. It would be advisable to operate when the lesion is relatively small, with lower surgical injury and faster and complete recovery, thus protecting ocular surface homeostasis.Postprint (author's final draft

Effects of Mitomycin C in Early Conjunctival Inflammation after Pterygium Surgery

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare inflammatory events and graft characteristics 1 month and 6 months after conjunctival limbal autograft (CLAU) with and without intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC). Methods: This study included 69 eyes of 69 patient’s eyes with pterygium. Clinical data concerning patient demography, preoperative examination including pterygium morphology, recurrence clinical assessment, and complications after CLAU with (MMC+) and without (MMC-) intraoperative MMC were all registered at 1 month and 6 months after surgery. Results: Thirty-five eyes were included in MMC+ and 34 in MMC-. Preoperative data were similar in both groups (Student’s t test and Fisher’s exact test; p > 0.05). Thirty-four (49.6%) eyes in the whole sample showed at least one inflammatory complication at 1 month after surgery. MMC- group showed a significantly higher number of cases with complications (p 0.05; Chi2 test). Pyogenic granuloma developed at the surgical site in three eyes (4.37%), two of those granulomas were at the MMC- group (p > 0.05). Tendency for recurrences was significantly different between both groups (p = 0.0001; Fisher’s exact test) at the end of 6 months. Thirteen (38%) eyes showed recurrence in MMC- and no cases were displayed in MMC+. Presence of at least 1 inflammatory event was only seen in 16 (23%) cases, all of them in MMC-. Specifically, 15 (44%) eyes showed hyperemia and one (3%) eye presented conjunctival hemorrhages. No new cases of pyogenic granuloma or graft contraction were seen at this time point in both groups. Hyperemia was the only specific event with significant differences between MMC- and MMC+ (p = 0.0001; Fisher’s exact test) at 6 months after surgery. Conclusion: The eyes receiving intraoperative MMC after CLAU seem to present less hyperemia and graft contraction after surgery than those that did not receive MMC as an adjuvant factor. Intraoperative MMC could be associated with a lower recurrence rates.Postprint (author's final draft

Combinar las estrategias de uso de retroalimentación correctiva escrita enfocada: un estudio con estudiantes chilenos de EFL de nivel primario superior

This report describes a mixed-methods study comparing the writing performance of 60 EFL students in three intact groups during their first semester of an English undergraduate program at a university in the South of Chile. Three types of focused, indirect written corrective feedback were used: Group 1, coding (n = 23); Group 2, brief grammatical explanation (n = 22); and Group 3, underlining (n = 15). Feedback was given on five targeted linguistic categories. A pre-test was applied before the 16-week treatment took place, as well as a post-test. Students received explicit grammar training and knowledge of genres. Multiple-drafting was used in a writing-portfolio-based class that allowed them to see their progress over time. Frequency and standard deviation of errors (viz., subject omission, spelling, subject verb agreement, capital letters and indefinite articles) were calculated for the pre- and post-test. Qualitative data were collected from group semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using content analysis. Results show that two out of the five linguistic categories (use of capital letters and indefinite articles) improved significantly in terms of accuracy, and there are differences among types of feedback. Interviews indicated that students were satisfied with the writing portfolio system because it allowed them to keep track of their progress. In addition, they valued the systematic feedback and had a positive attitude towards multiple drafting and the writing process approach.Este artículo presenta un estudio mixto que compara la producción escrita de 60 estudiantes, divididos en tres grupos intactos en un programa de pedagogía en inglés de una universidad del sur de Chile. Se implementaron tres tipos de feedback correctivo escrito indirecto (FCE) y focalizado: el Grupo 1 usó códigos (n = 23), el Grupo 2 recibió una breve explicación gramatical (n = 22); y el Grupo 3 uso el subrayado (n = 15). Se utilizó diseño pre y post test con una intervención de 16 semanas y se entregó FCE en cinco categorías lingüísticas. Durante la clase de escritura existió instrucción explícita sobre gramática y conocimiento de géneros textuales, además de escribir varias versiones de un mismo texto escrito lo que adjuntaban a su portafolio de escritura para visualizar su progreso en el tiempo. Se calculó la frecuencia y desviación estándar de cada error en el pre y post test. Los datos cualitativos se recogieron de grupos focales mediante análisis de contenido. Los resultados muestran que dos de las cinco categorías lingüísticas presentaron una mejora significativa en términos de uso correcto, y existen diferencias entre los tipos de feedback. Las entrevistas indicaron que los estudiantes estaban satisfechos con el sistema del portafolio de escritura porque les permitía evaluar su progreso; valoraban el feedback sistemático y tenían una actitud positiva hacia el proceso de escritura centrado en el proceso y la posibilidad de escribir versiones mejoradas de un mismo texto

Factores clínicos, bioquímicos e imagenológicos predictores de mortalidad en pacientes con COVID-19: un artículo de revisión narrativa

El SARS-CoV2 es la nueva pandemia que viene azotando al mundo, se habla de un virus potencialmente infeccioso, transmisible y de gran morbilidad, pese a que la mayoría de las personas infectadas son asintomáticas. Al ser una enfermedad que compromete al sistema inmunohematológico, se debe tener cuidado ante las personas que carecen de una buena función de este. Se han descrito múltiples factores predictores de mortalidad, tanto clínicos, bioquímicos e imagenológicos, los cuales nos ayudan a estar pendiente de los pacientes que cumplan estos criterios. Dentro de los factores demográficos encontramos prevalencia en el sexo masculino, una edad entre 40-60 años, además de la presencia de comorbilidades como hipertensión arterial, obesidad, diabetes mellitus 2, enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, entre otras; se han establecido diferentes escalas para la evaluación clínica de gravedad, se habla de CURB-65 como una de la más sencillas y útiles, asociada a demás a diferentes signos vitales alterados como la presencia de mas de 30 rpm, o SatO2 <=94%, . Por otro lado existen diferentes estudios bioquímicos el cual nos da a conocer si la evolución del paciente está siendo desfavorable, dentro de los principales se considera hemograma en el cual podemos encontrar leucocitosis, neutrofilia y plaquetopenia; una disminución a nivel de células CD8, células T , a comparación del aumento entre las citoquinas IL-6, TNF- α e IL-10; un estudio amplio de perfil de coagulación, donde uno de los principales factores aumentados es Dímero D y aumento en el tiempo de protrombina. Otros factores de importante relevancia son PCR >150 mg/L, aumento de las enzimas hepáticas, como también el aumento de troponina cardiaca I con un valor >= 0.05 ng/ml. Otro recurso que nos ayude a complementar la evaluación, son los estudios imagenológicos, como principal y accesible para la población se habla de estudios radiológicos utilizando la escala RALE para evaluación pronostica donde el hallazgo mas común fue consolidación pulmonar seguido de opacidades en vidrio esmerilado, no obstante se toma a la tomografía como un estudio completo y detallado, con un punto desfavorable debido al costo, y limpieza de zonas donde procederá a realizarse el estudio. Se habla CO-RADS como principal escala para la evaluación pronostica en estudios tomográficos. En este estudio se evidencio que los lóbulos mas afectados evidenciados mediante escala CO-RADS fueron los inferiores.SARS-CoV2 is the new pandemic that has been hitting the world, it is spoken of a potentially infectious, transmisible virus with grate morbidity, despite the fact that the majority of infected people are asymptomatic. Being a disease that compromises the immunohaematological system, care must be taken when dealing with people who lack a good funtion of this. Multiple predictors of mortality have been described, clinical, biochemical and imaging, which helps us to be aware of patients who meet criteria to be serious candidates. Among the demographic factors we find prevalence in males, an age between 40-60 years, in addition to the presence of comorbidities such as arterial hipertensión, obesity, diabetes mellitus 2, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, among others; different scales have been established for their evaluation, CURB65 is spoken of as one of the most simple and useful, associated with others with different altered vital signs such as the presence of more tan 30 rpm, or SatO2 <=94%. On the other hand, there are different biochemical studies which let us know if the patient’s evolution is unfavorable. Among the main ones, a hemogram is considered in which we can find leukocytosis, neutrophilia and plaquetopenia; a decrease at the level of CD8 cells, Tcells, a comparison of the increase between the cytokines IL-6, TNF- α and IL-10; a large coagulation profile study, where one of the main factors increased is D-dimer and an increase in prothrombin time. Other factors of relevance are PCR >150 mg/L, increased liver enzymes, as well as increased cardiac troponin I with a value >=0.05 ng/ml. Another resource that helps us to complement the evaluation is imaging studies, as the main and accessible to the population, radiological studies are used using the RALE scale for prognostic evaluation where de most common finding was pulmonary consolidation followed by ground glass opacities. However, tomography is taken as a complete and detailed study, with an unfavorable point due to cost, and cleaning of áreas where the study will proceed. CO-RADS is spoken of as the main scale for prognostic evaluation in tomographic studies. In this study it was evidenced that the most affected lobes evidenced by the CORADS scale were the lowest.Tesi

Perceptions of Social Support in Response to Racism: Consequences of White People Validating Versus Reframing Racial Discrimination

People of color (POC) commonly experience racism, yet little research examines how POC wish to be supported after instances of discrimination. This research draws on close relationship and intergroup relations literature to theorize which types of social support are perceived as more responsive. In past experimental work (Jansen, Kwok, Ashcroft, Marigold, & Bergsieker, in prep.), White people intended to give negative validation (acknowledging difficulty) more than positive reframing (downplaying negatives) after reading about racial discrimination experiences. The current experiments (N = 435) examine how such responses are received by POC (and Whites). Participants (270 POC, 165 White) viewed realistic Facebook posts where POC shared racial discrimination versus non-racial negative experiences, then rated the supportiveness of validating, reframing, and claimed understanding responses from Whites. POC (and Whites) rated negative validation and claimed understanding as more supportive than positive reframing, especially for reactions to racial (vs. non-racial) experiences. In the racial experience condition, negative validation was perceived more supportive (overall and relative to positive reframing) when participants more strongly attributed the experience to race. Implications for how White people can provide more responsive support to POC who disclose racism are discussed

Revisión sistemática sobre la eficacia de programas preventivos de depresión en población infantojuvenil según evidencia científica

La presente revisión sistemática describe los principales programas de prevención de la depresión en niños y adolescentes, analizando su eficacia desde la evidencia científica. Se detallan escenarios de las intervenciones, siendo estas tanto en el ámbito escolar y comunitario como en atención primaria incluyendo abordajes familiares y con uso prevalente de manuales y trabajo grupal, encontrándose además una prevalencia de uso del Modelo Cognitivo – Conductual y en algunos casos el interpersonal, estableciendo como principales ejes de intervención el abordaje de las distorsiones cognitivas, estrategias de resolución de problemas, estrategias de autorregulación emocional, habilidades interpersonales (grupo de pares) y habilidades de afrontamiento. Dentro de la metodología los estudios han sido predominantemente experimentales empleando grupo control con pretest y postest y la mayoría de los programas emplearon escalas y pruebas psicológicas estandarizadas, lo cual contribuye a la validez y confiabilidad de los resultados obtenidos. De acuerdo a la evidencia, la actividad de prevención produce resultados favorables, por lo cual las acciones del sistema de salud, las políticas de salud pública y los centros educativos deberían contemplarlas como parte de las estrategias de prevención gubernamentales y dentro de las mallas curriculares. En las limitaciones se señala la carencia de evidencia científica sistematizada y registrada en el país.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado::Salud::Especialidad en Psicología Clínic

Algoritmos metaheurísticos aplicados a una transformada fractal en imágenes

Se describe una investigación sobre el uso de algoritmos metaheurísticos para generar imágenes fractales a partir de la aplicación de una transformada fractal. La codificación fractal de imágenes es una técnica de compresión con pérdidas en donde se representa una imagen digital como un conjunto de códigos fractales, con la ventaja de reducir el espacio que éstas ocupan. Se explican que los algoritmos metaheurísticos son técnicas de optimización que se basan en la exploración sistemática de soluciones y en la evaluación de su calidad, para encontrar la mejor solución posible en un espacio de búsqueda. Se aplican algoritmos metaheurísticos para generar imágenes fractales a partir de una transformada fractal. El uso de algoritmos metaheurísticos en la generación de imágenes fractales puede mejorar la calidad y complejidad de las mismas, en comparación con los métodos tradicionales de transformada fractal. Además, los algoritmos metaheurísticos pueden ser útiles para optimizar la exploración y la convergencia en la búsqueda de soluciones en un espacio de búsqueda complejo

Matriz cimentícia contendo sílica de casca de arroz e hidróxido de cálcio : microestrutura, carbonatação e corrosão

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Marcelo Henrique Farias de MedeirosCoorientador: Prof. Dr. Juarez Hoppe FilhoDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil. Defesa : Curitiba, 05/07/2020Inclui referências: p. 140-151Área de concentração: Materiais e EstruturasResumo: A casca de arroz é um subproduto abundante na região sul do Brasil que, quando moída e submetida à queima em temperatura controlada, tem sua reatividade potencializada, originando a adição pozolânica denominada sílica de casca de arroz (SCA). Sua reação ocorre pela fixação de hidróxido de cálcio da matriz cimentícia oriundo da hidratação do cimento. A utilização de SCA como substituição parcial ao cimento Portland reduz a quantidade de clínquer consumido, promove o refinamento dos poros e reduz a probabilidade de algumas ações deletérias, aumentando a durabilidade do concreto. Entretanto, a redução do teor remanescente de portlandita pode favorecer a carbonatação que, em estruturas de concreto armado, podem desencadear a corrosão, gerando prejuízos financeiros e risco à segurança dos usuários. Diante disso, o objetivo desse estudo consiste em analisar a influência da adição de hidróxido de cálcio (CH) na etapa de dosagem do concreto como tentativa de repor a portlandita consumida pela SCA, reduzir a suscetibilidade à carbonatação de misturas com essa adição e verificar a influência desses materiais em parâmetros eletroquímicos utilizados no monitoramento da formação da película passivadora e em processos de corrosão. O estudo foi conduzido utilizando 3 teores de substituição, em massa, do cimento por SCA: 5%, 10% e 15%; enquanto o CH foi utilizado em adição à massa dos materiais aglomerantes (cimento + SCA) nos teores de 5%, 10% e 15%. A combinação dos teores resultou na produção de 12 misturas distintas, além de uma mistura de referência. No estudo em concreto, as amostras foram submetidas a ensaios mecânicos que mostraram que, em geral, a presença de SCA e CH não interferiu nas resistências à tração e à compressão aos 91 dias. Quando comparados ao concreto de referência, concretos com SCA apresentaram maior suscetibilidade à carbonatação em câmara acelerada. Contudo, concretos com a incorporação de CH apresentaram reduções no avanço da frente de carbonatação. Os resultados comprovam que é possível mitigar a aceleração da carbonatação proveniente do uso de SCA com a adição de CH, apresentando frentes de carbonatação semelhantes ao concreto referência quando utilizado CH no teor de 15% para todos os teores de SCA testados. As amostras submetidas aos ensaios eletroquímicos permaneceram em cura submersa ao longo de todo o período de análise e não apresentaram uma tendência clara de comportamento devido a presença de SCA e CH, tendo a película passivadora formada já nos primeiros 28 dias em todas as proporções. O estudo em pasta contendo SCA evidenciou que houve um aumento das porosidades, causadas pela redução de cimento presente nesses sistemas. O ensaio de titulação indicou que o teor de hidróxido de cálcio remanescente apresentado pela amostra referência foi reestabelecido nos sistemas quando o uso de CH e SCA ocorreu em igualdade de teor. Dentre as proporções estudadas, a proporção com 15% de SCA e 15% de CH merece destaque, visto que apresentou o menor consumo de cimento sem acarretar em prejuízos à resistência mecânica, à resistência carbonatação, ao volume de poros do sistema, à formação da película passivadora e ao teor de hidróxido de cálcio remanescente.Abstract: Rice husk is an abundant by-product in the southern region of Brazil, which, when ground and subjected to burning at a controlled temperature, has its reactivity enhanced, giving rise to the pozzolanic addition called rice husk ash (RHA). Its reaction occurs by fixing calcium hydroxide of the cementitious matrix arising from the hydration of the cement. The use of RHA as a partial replacement for Portland cement reduces the amount of clinker consumed, promotes pore refinement and reduces the likelihood of some harmful actions, increasing the durability of the concrete. However, the reduction of the remaining portlandite content can favor the carbonation that, in reinforced concrete structures, can trigger corrosion, generating financial losses and risk to the safety of users. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze the influence of the addition of calcium hydroxide (CH) in the concrete dosing step in an attempt to replace the portlandite consumed by RHA, to reduce the susceptibility to carbonation of mixtures with this addition and to verify the influence of these materials on electrochemical parameters used in monitoring the formation of passive film and in corrosion processes. The study was conducted using 3 contents of mass substitution of cement for SCA: 5%, 10% and 15%; while CH was used in addition to the mass of the binder materials (cement + RHA) in the contents of 5%, 10% and 15%. The combination of the contents resulted in the production of 12 different mixtures, in addition to a reference mixture. In the concrete study, the samples were subjected to mechanical tests that showed that, in general, the presence of RHA and CH did not interfere with the tensile and compressive strengths at 91 days. When compared to reference concrete, concretes with RHA were more susceptible to carbonation in an accelerated chamber. However, concrete with the incorporation of CH showed reductions in the advance of the carbonation front. The results prove that it is possible to mitigate the acceleration of carbonation resulting from the use of RHA with the addition of CH, presenting carbonation fronts similar to the reference concrete when CH content of 15% is used for all tested RHA contents. The samples submitted to electrochemical tests remained in submerged curing throughout the analysis period and did not show a clear trend of behavior due to the presence of SCA and CH, with the passive film formed in the first 28 days in all proportions. The study in paste containing SCA showed that there was an increase in porosity, caused by the reduction of cement present in these systems. The titration test indicated that the remaining calcium hydroxide content presented by the reference sample was reestablished in the systems when the use of CH and SCA occurred in equal content. Among the studied proportions, the proportion with 15% SCA and 15% CH deserves to be highlighted, since it presented the lowest cement consumption without causing damage to the mechanical resistance, carbonation resistance, the volume of pores in the system, the formation of passivating film and the remaining calcium hydroxide content

Apoyo social, depresión y estrés en instrumentistas de la Escuela de Música de la Universidad de Talca

65 p.La presente investigación tiene por objetivo describir y comparar las variables apoyo social, salud mental y religiosidad en instrumentistas de la Escuela de Música de la Universidad de Talca. Para ésto, se aplicó la Encuesta de Antecedentes Sociodemográficos (creada por los investigadores), además de la escala Multidimensional de Apoyo Social Percibido (Arechabala y Miranda, 2002), como también la Escala de Carroll para la Evaluación de la Depresión. (Carroll rating Scale for depression) por último el Cuestionario de Síntomas Psicosomáticos de Estrés de Cooper- CSPS. Con el propósito de realizar tanto las descripciones como las comparaciones de las variables, se realizaron pruebas estadísticas en el programa computacional SPSS versión 15.0 para Windows, el cual proporcionó los datos de cómo se encontraban los niveles de estas variables en los sujetos estudiados. Dentro de los resultados más importantes podemos mencionar que se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el Apoyo Social cuando se compara con el Sexo y la Religiosidad de los participantes, y en los índices de Estrés cuando se compara con el Sexo de los participantes. Entre los hallazgos más importantes de este estudio, se encuentra que las mujeres presentan mayores índices de Apoyo Social, Depresión y Estrés que los hombres. Además se puede mencionar que aquellos participantes que practican alguna religión presentan mayor Apoyo Social, y menores índices de Depresión y Estrés que aquellos participantes que no practican ninguna religión. Palabras claves: Instrumentistas, Música, Apoyo Social, Salud Mental, Depresión, Estrés y Religiosidad

Impact of amoeba and scuticociliatidia infections on the aquaculture European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) in Portugal

In this work, a survey of sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, for amoebae and scuticociliatidia infections was carried out to evaluate their effects on the aquaculture of this fish species. The study was conducted in two different fish farms, one using seawater and the other brackish water. Infection with parasitic amoebae was found to be fairly high (prevalence: 43-73%), being more frequent in sea bass from the brackish water system. Although it was never found to cause outbreaks of disease or mortality in the surveyed fish, amoebic gill disease (AGD) histopathological signs, i.e., hyperplasia, secondary lamellae fusion and cavity formation (interlamellar vesicles), were observed in fish manifesting no macroscopic lesions. Furthermore, some evidence was found that amoebae affects the fish's general state of health and growth rate. These results indicate that cautious and detailed surveys to detect this sort of infection, and thus carefully plan its control, are fully justified. Compared with amoebic infection, the prevalence of scuticociliatosis was found to be low (7-13%). No outbreaks of disease or mortality were ever recorded, even when scuticociliatidia was present in turbot raised in the same water system, leading to serious outbreaks of disease and mortalities in that species. This suggests that sea bass is far more resistant than turbot to such infections, and if this is the case, the former fish may be a good farming alternative when scuticociliatidia is present