Child Gender And Parental Investments In India: Are Boys And Girls Treated Differently?

Although previous research has not always found that boys and girls are treated differently in rural India, son-biased stopping rules imply that estimates of the effect of gender on parental investments are likely to be biased because girls systematically end up in larger families. We propose a novel identification strategy for overcoming this bias. We document that boys receive significantly more childcare time than girls. In addition boys are more likely to be breastfed longer, and to be given vaccinations and vitamin supplementation. We then present suggestive evidence that the differential treatment of boys is neither due to their greater needs nor to the effect of anticipated family size.

Increased intestinal carbonate precipitate abundance in the sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) in response to ocean acidification

Marine fish contribute to the carbon cycle by producing mineralized intestinal precipitates generated as by-products of their osmoregulation. Here we aimed at characterizing the control of epithelial bicarbonate secretion and intestinal precipitate presence in the gilthead sea bream in response to predicted near future increases of environmental CO2. Our results demonstrate that hypercapnia (950 and 1800 μatm CO2) elicits higher intestine epithelial HCO3- secretion ex vivo and a subsequent parallel increase of intestinal precipitate presence in vivo when compared to present values (440 μatm CO2). Intestinal gene expression analysis in response to environmental hypercapnia revealed the up-regulation of transporters involved in the intestinal bicarbonate secretion cascade such as the basolateral sodium bicarbonate co-transporter slc4a4, and the apical anion transporters slc26a3 and slc26a6 of sea bream. In addition, other genes involved in intestinal ion uptake linked to water absorption such as the apical nkcc2 and aquaporin 1b expression, indicating that hypercapnia influences different levels of intestinal physiology. Taken together the current results are consistent with an intestinal physiological response leading to higher bicarbonate secretion in the intestine of the sea bream paralleled by increased luminal carbonate precipitate abundance and the main related transporters in response to ocean acidification.Agência financiadora Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) SFRH/BD/113363/2015 PTDC/MAR-BIO/3034/2014 Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) UID/Multi/04326/2019 Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Polandinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

COVID-19 impact on tourism: the system thinking approach applied to the case of Portugal

This work applies systems theory and tools to build a flexible framework for sustainable tourism in Portugal due to the Covid-19 impacts. The objectives are (1) to explore the cause-effect relationships between and among the variables involved; (2) to develop a causal loop diagram that resumes the role of tourism stakeholders and (3) to identify policy directions to enhance Portuguese tourism. Tourism recovery in the country will depend mainly on interlinked factors of economic, social and health fields. Its complexity requires new approaches in tourism research, such as system thinking models and testing tools such as neural simulation. As well as statistical data and tourism official documents, a panel of European specialists has been used. The proposed approach is innovative as it helps the integration of tourism theory with other fields, and outlines policy solutions to the situation in Portugal which can be dynamically adapted. A qualitative analysis pointed out how crucial are the policy making activities (rebalancing measures) counteracting the causes and negative consequences of the problem.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

500 days of rescue: memory, courage and image

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Life cycle assessment of power generation systems in Spain: Exploring a broader view from a consequential perspective

Developing new clean power generation systems is a research priority for the energy sector, and selection should be based on environmental performance over the entire lifetime. Consequential Life Cycle Assessment evaluates the consequences of this selection and provides environmental data to support decision-making. This research uses a consequential approach to assess the environmental impacts of two medium power generation systems. The selected environmental impact assessment methods are IPCC 2013 GWP 100y and ReCiPe 2016. Moreover, the work describes a methodology for finding the marginal mix technologies for electricity and cooling energy production depending on the time horizon. The positive environmental consequences associated with short-term marginal energy mixes (electricity and cooling) progressively disappear when the marginal energy mix varies throughout time. The environmental results strongly depend on the marginal mix of technologies and evidence the necessity to develop methodologies and standards to improve the robustness of environmental assessments. A new line of discussion is opened concerning the temporal variation of environmental impacts of an energy production system, which could also be considered in Attributional Life Cycle Assessments

Determinação das propriedades do solo através do ensaio SPT-T

The major problem on geotechnical work is to ensure that no settlements occur during the life cycle of the construction. This involves proper design of foundations and their bearing capacity. The Brazilian standard for design and execution of foundations, ABNT (2010) NBR 6122 imposes the utilization of field tests when designing building foundations. The Standard Penetration Test, SPT, ABNT (2001) NBR 6484, is still the most common in-situ test for those purposes. Ranzini (1988) suggested supplementing the conventional SPT with the measurement of the torque (SPT-T) required to turn the split spoon after driving, in order to provide a ‘static’ component to a ‘dynamic’ test. The adhesion between the soil and the sampler, obtained by the torque measurement, could be used to calculate the lateral skin friction of piles. This paper describes the SPT-T procedure including both a supplementary equipment and practical aspects. Also it presents an accurate torque measurement, a prediction method to calculate the bearing capacity of piles used in building foundations using the SPT-T test and a comparison between the estimated bearing capacities of building foundations with instrumented load tests in order to validate the method.364617621FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPSem informaçãoO maior problema relativo à construção de obras geotécnicas é a garantia da não ocorrência de recalques excessivos na vida útil da construção, que envolve o projeto de fundações, o qual depende do conhecimento das propriedades do subsolo. A norma brasileira de projeto e execução de fundações, ABNT (2010) NBR 6122 estabelece que qualquer obra deva ter investigação geotécnica preliminar, no mínimo SPT. Esse é o ensaio mais frequentemente utilizado para caracterização do solo para fins de projeto de fundações e trabalhos geotécnicos. Procurando obter mais informações durante o ensaio, Ranzini (1988) sugeriu adicionar ao ensaio SPT convencional a medida do torque (SPT-T) necessária para rotacionar o amostrador logo após sua cravação. A adesão entre o solo e o amostrador, obtida através do torque, pode ser relacionada com a resistência lateral de estacas. Esse artigo visa descrever o procedimento da medida do torque e apresentar uma nova proposta para prever a capacidade de carga de estacas. As estimativas calculadas foram comparadas aos resultados de provas-de-carga instrumentadas, validando o método

Intersectional Identity and Resilience in Jesmyn Ward's Salvage the Bones

Abstract In her works, Jesmyn Ward usually deals with her African American community so that her readers will be aware of their difficulties. This is seen in her novel Salvage the Bones (2011), which mainly focuses on the black women’s difficulties with the example of a poor black teenage girl called Esch. This essay intends to demonstrate the importance of the concept “intersectional feminism,” theorized by Crenshaw in 1989 and according to which in order to understand the situation of women of colour, it is essential to study all the elements of their identities together. To show this idea, this essay analyses elements of social and gender discrimination simultaneously, focusing on the character of Esch. Since she and her family are poor and black, they are excluded from the American dream and their behaviour is animalized in the struggle to survive Hurricane Katrina. Moreover, Esch lives in a patriarchal system where she has to adopt certain roles: she has to be a mother for her brothers, be responsible for the domestic chores and be a sexual object for men. To aggravate her situation, she has to cope with motherhood, since she is pregnant. However, in spite of all these difficulties, the ending offers some hope for the family. Esch decides to stay strong, thanks mainly to the inspiration of female figures, her brothers and a special friend. In this way, she is a great example of resilience, since she will be able to rebuild her own family. Resumen En sus obras, Jesmyn Ward generalmente habla de su comunidad afroamericana para que los lectores se den cuenta de las dificultades de la misma. Esto se observa en su novela Salvage the Bones (2011), que se centra principalmente en las dificultades de las mujeres de raza negra con el ejemplo de una adolescente negra y pobre llamada Esch. Este ensayo tiene la intención de demostrar la importancia del concepto “feminismo interseccional,” teorizado por Crenshaw en 1989, y según el cual para entender la situación de las mujeres de color es esencial estudiar todos los elementos que componen sus identidades en conjunto. Para demostrar esta idea, el ensayo analiza elementos de la discriminación social junto a la de género, con un enfoque en el personaje de Esch. Dado que ella y su familia son pobres y de raza negra, están excluidos del sueño americano y tienen que comportarse como animales para sobrevivir al huracán Katrina. Además, Esch vive en un sistema patriarcal donde tiene que adoptar ciertos papeles: tiene que ser una madre para sus hermanos, encargarse de las tareas domésticas y ser un objeto sexual para los hombres. Para empeorar su situación, tiene que lidiar con la maternidad, ya que está embarazada. Sin embargo, a pesar de todas estas dificultades, el final ofrece algo de esperanza para la familia. Esch decide mantenerse fuerte, principalmente gracias a la inspiración en las figuras femeninas, sus hermanos y un amigo especial. De esta forma, ella es un buen ejemplo de resiliencia, ya que será capaz de reconstruir su propia familia

Apontando os tópicos

Resenha de: BRITES, Blanca, TESSLER, Elida (organizadoras). O meio como ponto zero. Metodologia da pesquisa em artes plásticas. Porto Allegre: Editora da Universidade UFRGS,2002. O livro “O meio como ponto zero”, apresenta diferentes conceitos de pesquisadores na área das artes plásticas no âmbito universitário. Tecendo idéias, sugestões, conceitos a fim de articular a construção de um pensamento prático-teórico que envolve o artista- pesquisador. Nesse texto vou citar algumas colocações relevantes de alguns dos pesquisadores participantes.

Entre o bem-estar espiritual e a angustia espiritual: possiveis fatores relacionados a idosos com cancro

OBJECTIVE: this article describes the assessment of the spiritual wellbeing of elderly patients with cancer submitted to chemotherapy and possible predictive factors of the spiritual distress diagnosis. METHODOLOGY: this is a methodological study for clinical validation of a nursing diagnosis, using interviews to assist in completing the form. RESULTS: 45 elderly patients participated in this study, Catholics, mostly female, diagnosed with breast cancer, average age of 70.3 years. The prevalence of spiritual distress was of 42%; 24.4% of the elderly patients were under anti-depressant medication. A significant association was noted between spiritual distress, anti-depressant medication and level of education; an increase (not significant) was acknowledged at the start of the treatment. CONCLUSION: these results emphasize the relevance of clarifying this diagnosis and the responsibility of nurses to provide spiritual care to patients. Interventions should be planned appropriately every time a nursing diagnosis is identified as a complex answer and for which pharmacological treatment is not sufficient.OBJETIVOS: este artigo descreve a avaliação do bem-estar espiritual de idosos com cancro, submetidos à quimioterapia, e de possíveis fatores preditivos do diagnóstico angústia espiritual. MÉTODO: trata-se de estudo metodológico, de validação clínica de diagnósticos de enfermagem, com entrevista para o preenchimento de formulário. RESULTADOS: foram participantes 45 idosos, católicos, maioritariamente do sexo feminino, com cancro da mama, média de idade de 70,3 anos. A prevalência de angústia espiritual foi de 42%, e 24,4% dos idosos estavam medicados com antidepressivos. Observou-se associação significativa entre a presença de angústia espiritual, medicação antidepressiva e escolaridade; verificou-se aumento da referida angústia (diferença não significativa) no início do tratamento. CONCLUSÃO: esses resultados enfatizam a necessidade de clarificar esse diagnóstico e a responsabilidade dos enfermeiros na assistência espiritual aos pacientes. As intervenções deverão ser adequadas sempre que identificado um diagnóstico de enfermagem que constitui uma resposta complexa e que não se reduz ao tratamento farmacológico.OBJETIVOS: este artículo describe la evaluación del bienestar espiritual de ancianos con cáncer sometidos a quimioterapia y de posibles factores predictivos del diagnóstico sufrimiento espiritual. MÉTODO: se trata de un estudio metodológico, de validación clínica de diagnósticos enfermeros, con entrevista para el relleno de formulario. RESULTADOS: participaron 45 ancianos, católicos, mayoritariamente del sexo femenino, con cáncer de mama, edad promedia de 70,3 años. La prevalencia de sufrimiento espiritual correspondió al 42%; y 24,4% de los ancianos estaban medicados con antidepresivos. Se observó asociación significativa entre la presencia de sufrimiento espiritual, medicación antidepresiva y escolaridad; se verificó aumento (diferencia no significativa) en el inicio del tratamiento. CONCLUSIÓN: estos resultados enfatizan la necesidad de clarificar este diagnóstico y la responsabilidad de los enfermeros en la atención espiritual a los pacientes. Las intervenciones deberán ser adecuadas siempre que identificado un diagnóstico enfermero que constituye una respuesta compleja y que no se reduce al tratamiento farmacológico

Specific quinone reductase 2 inhibitors reduce metabolic burden and reverse Alzheimer’s disease phenotype in mice

Biological aging can be described as accumulative, prolonged metabolic stress and is the major risk factor for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, we identified and described a quinone reductase 2 (QR2) pathway in the brain, in which QR2 acts as a removable memory constraint and metabolic buffer within neurons. QR2 becomes overexpressed with age, and it is possibly a novel contributing factor to age-related metabolic stress and cognitive deficit. We found that, in human cells, genetic removal of QR2 produced a shift in the proteome opposing that found in AD brains while simultaneously reducing oxidative stress. We therefore created highly specific QR2 inhibitors (QR2is) to enable evaluation of chronic QR2 inhibition as a means to reduce biological age–related metabolic stress and cognitive decline. QR2is replicated results obtained by genetic removal of QR2, while local QR2i microinjection improved hippocampal and cortical-dependent learning in rats and mice. Continuous consumption of QR2is in drinking water improved cognition and reduced pathology in the brains of AD-model mice (5xFAD), with a noticeable between-sex effect on treatment duration. These results demonstrate the importance of QR2 activity and pathway function in the healthy and neurodegenerative brain and what we believe to be the great therapeutic potential of QR2is as first-in-class drugs