Associations between a one-shot delay discounting measure and age, income, education and real-world impulsive behavior

There has been discussion over the extent to which delay discounting – as prototypically shown by a preference for a smaller-sooner sum of money over a larger-later sum – measures the same kind of impulsive preferences that drive non-financial behavior. To address this issue, a dataset was analyzed containing 42,863 participants’ responses to a single delay-discounting choice, along with self-report behaviors that can be considered as impulsive. Choice of a smaller-sooner sum was associated with several demographics: younger age, lower income, and lower education; and impulsive behaviors: earlier age of first sexual activity and recent relationship infidelity, smoking, and higher body mass index. These findings suggest that at least an aspect of delay discounting preference is associated with a general trait influencing other forms of impulsivity, and therefore that high delay discounting is another form of impulsive behavior

Cultural adaptation and validation of the Kidney Disease and Quality of Life - Short Form (KDQOL-SF 1.3) in Brazil

The objective of the present study was to translate the Kidney Disease Quality of Life - Short Form (KDQOL-SF 1.3) questionnaire into Portuguese to adapt it culturally and validate it for the Brazilian population. The KDQOL-SF was translated into Portuguese and back-translated twice into English. Patient difficulties in understanding the questionnaire were evaluated by a panel of experts and solved. Measurement properties such as reliability and validity were determined by applying the questionnaire to 94 end-stage renal disease patients on chronic dialysis. The Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire, the Karnofsky Performance Scale and the Kidney Disease Questionnaire were administered to test validity. Some activities included in the original instrument were considered to be incompatible with the activities usually performed by the Brazilian population and were replaced. The mean scores for the 19 components of the KDQOL-SF questionnaire in Portuguese ranged from 22 to 91. The components Social support and Dialysis staff encouragement had the highest scores (86.7 and 90.8, respectively). The test-retest reliability and the inter-observer reliability of the instrument were evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient. The coefficients for both reliability tests were statistically significant for all scales of the KDQOL-SF (P < 0.001), ranging from 0.492 to 0.936 for test-retest reliability and from 0.337 to 0.994 for inter-observer reliability. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was higher than 0.80 for most of components. The Portuguese version of the KDQOL-SF questionnaire proved to be valid and reliable for the evaluation of quality of life of Brazilian patients with end-stage renal disease on chronic dialysis.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de MedicinaSciEL

Processamento aditivo por robocasting de compósitos à base de nitreto de silício

Os cerâmicos à base de nitreto de silício (Si₃N₄) são materiais selecionados para várias aplicações estruturais, devido às suas propriedades, incluindo resistência mecânica, resistência ao choque térmico, elevada dureza e resistência ao desgaste. As tecnologias de manufatura aditiva podem ser uma solução promissora para fabricar peças de Si₃N₄, devido às suas capacidades para formarem peças com formas complexas e elevados níveis de detalhes. O fabrico destes cerâmicos por manufatura aditiva é ainda muito recente, tendo sido mencionadas várias dificuldades na obtenção de componentes com densidades elevadas e desempenho mecânico adequado para aplicações onde estas propriedades são essenciais. O trabalho desta dissertação teve como objetivo principal o fabrico de componentes à base de Si₃N₄ por uma técnica de manufatura aditiva com base na extrusão de material, o robocasting. Para atingir este objetivo foram desenvolvidas suspensões coloidais em meio aquoso e posteriormente pastas com diferentes concentrações de sólidos (36, 38 e 39 vol.%) com propriedades reológicas adequadas para a impressão. Com as pastas otimizadas foram fabricadas por robocasting amostras cilíndricas com 20 mm de diâmetro e 5 mm de espessura, fixando parâmetros de impressão, como por exemplo o diâmetro da ponta de impressão e preenchimento interno. Parte das amostras obtidas foi submetida a prensagem isostática a frio como pós-processamento para avaliar o seu efeito nas propriedades finais dos componentes. Os componentes sinterizados foram avaliados quanto à sua densidade relativa e desempenho mecânico (dureza e resistência à flexão) e microestrutural. Os resultados obtidos mostram que suspensões com concentrações elevadas de sólidos apresentam um comportamento dilatante muito acentuado, inadequado para a impressão por robocasting, limitando a concentração máxima de sólidos das pastas a 39 vol.%. O aumento da concentração de sólidos nas pastas e a utilização de prensagem isostática a frio como pós-processamento melhorou significativamente as densidades relativas das amostras e, consequentemente o seu desempenho mecânico. As amostras produzidas com pastas contendo 39 vol.% de concentração de sólidos e pós-processamento a 200 MPa exibiram uma densidade relativa média de 99%, um valor de 1475 HV₂ de microdureza e um valor de resistência à flexão de 650 MPa, valores bastante promissores para componentes de Si₃N₄ obtidos por uma técnica de manufatura aditiva, comparáveis a amostras de nitreto de silício produzidas por processos convencionais.Silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) based ceramics are selected materials for various structural applications due to their properties including mechanical strength, thermal shock resistance, high hardness, and wear resistance. Additive manufacturing technologies could be a promising solution to fabricate Si₃N₄ components, due to their abilities to form parts with complex shapes and high levels of detail. The fabrication of these ceramics by additive manufacturing is still very recent, and several difficulties in obtaining components with high densities and mechanical performance suitable for applications where these properties are essential have been mentioned. The main objective of this dissertation was the fabrication of Si₃N₄ based components by an extrusion-based additive manufacturing technique, the robocasting. To achieve this goal, colloidal suspensions were developed in aqueous media and subsequently pastes with different solid concentrations (36, 38 and 39 vol.%) with rheological properties suitable for printing. With the optimized pastes, cylindrical samples with 20 mm diameter and 5 mm thickness were fabricated by robocasting, fixing printing parameters such as tip size and infill. Part of the obtained samples was subjected to cold isostatic pressing as post processing to evaluate its effect on the final properties of the components. The sintered components were evaluated for their relative density, mechanical (hardness and flexural strength) and microstructural performance. The results obtained showed that suspensions with high solid concentrations exhibit a very pronounced dilatant behavior, unsuitable for robocasting printing, limiting the maximum solid concentration of the pastes to 39 vol.%. Increasing the solids concentration in the pastes and using cold isostatic pressing as post-processing significantly improved the relative densities of the samples and, consequently, their mechanical performance. The samples produced with pastes containing 39 vol.% solids concentration and post-processing at 200 MPa exhibited an average relative density of 99%, a microhardness value of 1475 HV₂, and a flexural strength value of 650 MPa, very promising values for Si₃N₄ components obtained by an additive manufacturing technique, comparable to silicon nitride samples produced by conventional processes.Mestrado em Engenharia de Materiai

Empirical analysis of Brazilian banks' capital buffers during the period 2001-2011

International literature indicates that the capital buffers held by banks result notably from the trade-off that exists between the cost of holding capital, adjustment costs, and bankruptcy costs, which all have a direct impact on banks' capital structures. The aim of this paper is to study the degree of sensitivity of Brazilian banks' capital buffers to the determining factors established in the literature, by using a sample of 121 banks, covering the period from 2001 to 2011. The empirical analysis that was carried out found that there was a significant cost of adjusting capital buffers for the Brazilian banks. At the same time, bankruptcy cost indicated a positive relationship between risk profile and capital buffers, while the cost of holding capital did not exhibit statistical significance in the analysis.A literatura internacional aponta que o buffer de capital mantido pelos bancos resulta notadamente do trade-off existente entre o custo de manutenção do capital, os custos de ajustamento e os custos de falência, os quais têm repercussão direta na estrutura de capital bancário. Estudar o grau de sensibilidade do buffer de capital dos bancos brasileiros aos fatores determinantes estabelecidos pela literatura é o objetivo desta pesquisa, que utilizou uma a mostra de 121 bancos, abrangendo o período de 2001 a 2011. A análise empírica realizada apontou que houve um significativo custo de ajustamento do buffer de capital para os bancos brasileiros. Paralelamente, o custo de falência indicou uma relação positiva entre o perfil de risco e o buffer de capital, enquanto o custo de manutenção do capital não apresentou significância estatística na análise

Causa mortis em usuários de crack

OBJECTIVE: The study accompanied 131 crack-cocaine users over a 5-year period, and examined mortality patterns, as well as the causes of death among them. METHOD: All patients admitted to a detoxification unit in São Paulo between 1992 and 1994 were interviewed during two follow-up periods: 1995-1996 and 1998-1999. RESULTS: After 5 years, 124 patients were localized (95%). By the study endpoint (1999), 23 patients (17.6%) had died. Homicide was the most prevalent cause of death (n = 13). Almost one third of the deaths were due to the HIV infection, especially among those with a history of intravenous drug use. Less than 10% died from overdose. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that the mortality risk among crack cocaine users is greater than that seen in the general population, being homicide and AIDS the most common causes of death among such individuals.OBJETIVO: O estudo acompanhou, por cinco anos, um grupo de 131 usuários de crack e observou os padrões de mortalidade, bem como as causas mortis entre esses. MÉTODO: Todos os pacientes que se internaram em um serviço de desintoxicação, localizado no município de São Paulo, entre 1992-1994 foram entrevistados em duas ocasiões: 1995-1996 e 1998-1999. RESULTADOS: Após cinco anos, 124 pacientes foram localizados (95%). Vinte e três pacientes (17,6%) haviam morrido ao final do quinto ano de seguimento, sendo os homicídios a causa mortis mais prevalente (n = 13). Quase um terço dos pacientes morreu devido à infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência adquirida (HIV), especialmente aqueles com antecedentes pessoais de uso de drogas endovenosas. Menos de 10% dos pacientes morreu de overdose. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo sugere que os usuários de crack têm maior risco de morte do que a população geral, sendo os homicídios e a AIDS as causas mais observadas.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of Psychiatry Unidade de Pesquisa em Álcool e DrogasCamden & Islington Mental Health & Social Care Trust North Camden Drug ServiceGrupo Interdepartamental de Epidemiologia ClínicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESP, Department of Psychiatry Unidade de Pesquisa em Álcool e DrogasUNIFESPSciEL

Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients Recieving Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis in São Paulo, Brazil: A Longitudinal Study

Objectives: the aim of this study was to evaluate quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) in São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Inclusion criteria for this is a 1-year prospective study included being 18 years of age or older and clinically stable receiving chronic dialysis. Quality of life was measured using the SF-12 and the Kidney Disease Quality of Life questionnaires at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Patients who completed the surveys for all three periods were evaluated. Differences in quality of life scores were measured using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Results: One hundred eighty-nine of 249 (76%) HD patients and 161 of 228 (71%) PD patients completed all three surveys. the PD group was older and a larger number had diabetes. PD patients consistently had higher scores than HD patients at all three measurement periods for patient satisfaction (P = 0.002, P = 0.005, and P = 0.005, respectively), encouragement/support from staff (P = 0.003, P = 0.017, and P = 0.029, respectively), and burden of kidney disease (P = 0.003, P = 0.017, and P = 0.057, respectively). the HD group had a greater percent of patients who clinically improved from baseline to 12 months compared to PD patients for sleep quality, social support, encouragement/support from staff, and overall health. Scores for other dimensions of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life and SF-12 questionnaires were not significantly different between the PD and HD groups. Conclusions: the results provide evidence that PD and HD patients have equivalent health-related quality of life in several domains, although the former performed better in some quality of life domains despite being older and having more comorbidities.Baxter Healthcare CorporationUniv Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Med, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP, BrazilBaxter Healthcare Corp, McGaw Pk, IL USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo Ctr Hlth Econ, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo Ctr Hlth Econ, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Síndromes liquóricas em pacientes com comprometimento agudo da consciência

We reviewed the laboratorycards of 200 analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) performed to evaluate acute alterations of consciousness in adult patients attended in a neurological emergency room. 61% were men; the mean age was 46 years. The most common clinical data were infective and neurologic. The CSF was abnormal in 149 (74.5%) patients and the most common syndromes were: compressive (21%), hemorrhagic (11.5%), viral (8.5%), septic (7.5%), moderate hyperglycorrachia (6.5%), hydroelectrolytic disturbances (5.5%). There were some statistically significant correlations between CSF syndromes and clinical data: septic syndrome and fever and meningeal signs, hemorrhagic syndrome and headache and meningeal signs, CSF hydroelectrolytic disturbance syndrome and seizures, severe hyperproteinorrachia and headache, fever, meningeal signs and vomiting, moderate hyperproteinorrachia and age over 65 and male sex. We classified the abnormal results in two groups: 1 - sufficient for an immediate clinical decision; 2 - nonspecific. The former group was found in 27.5% of the patients and in 36.9% of the abnormal CSF results. In patients attending to neurologic emergency rooms with acute alterations of consciousness, the examination of the CSF frequently could contribute to an etiologic diagnosis. It must be performed after a rigorous clinical evaluation of the patient.Nós revisamos os registros de 200 exames de líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) realizados para avaliar alterações agudas da consciência em pacientes adultos atendidos em um pronto-socorro neurológico. 61% eram homens e a idade média era 46 anos. Os dados clínicos mais comuns foram infecciosos e neurológicos. O LCR foi anormal em 149 (74,5%) pacientes e as síndromes mais comuns foram: compressiva (21%), hemorrágica (11,5%), viral (8,5%), séptica (7,5%), hiperglicorraquia moderada (6,5%), distúrbio hidro-eletrolítico (5,5%). Nós classificamos os resultados anormais em dois grupos: 1 - suficientes para uma decisão clínica imediata; 2 - inespecíficos. O primeiro grupo foi encontrado em 27,5% dos pacientes e em 36,9% dos resultados anormais. Houve algumas correlações estatisticamente significantes entre dados clínicos e síndromes liquóricas: síndrome séptica e febre e sinais meníngeos, síndrome hemorrágica e cefaléia e sinais meníngeos, distúrbio hidro-eletrolítico no LCR e convulsões, hiperproteinorraquia acentuada e cefaléia, febre, sinais meníngeos e vômitos, hiperproteinorraquia moderada e idade acima de 65 anos e sexo masculino. Em pacientes atendidos em pronto-socorro neurológico com alterações agudas da consciência, o exame do LCR frequentemente pode contribuir para um diagnóstico etiológico. Deve ser solicitado após rigorosa avaliação clínica do paciente.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM) Department of NeurologyUNIFESP, EPM, Department of NeurologySciEL