CUSTOS DE TRANSAÇÕES E ESTRUTURAS DE GOVERNANÇA NA CADEIA PRODUTIVA DE PEDRAS PRECIOSAS

Objetivo: O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a ECT por meio das estruturas de governança da cadeia produtiva de pedras preciosas da região do Médio Alto Uruguai do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, sob o arcabouço teórico da Nova Economia Institucional (NEI). Método / abordagem: São apresentados resultados de um estudo de caso e 44 entrevistas, em uma abordagem qualitativa de caráter descritivo. Os dados foram a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas com roteiro de pesquisa e analisados por meio da análise de conteúdo. Principais resultados: Os resultados sugerem que formas de governança mais complexos são mais eficientes que o mercado para reduzir custos de transação, entretanto, alterações no ambiente institucional e como a demanda das indústrias pelo aumento da industrialização e da exportação, podem trazer modificações mais profundas para o setor e o modo como os agentes governam as transações e a influência das instituições na cadeia produtiva de pedras preciosas. Em suma, as transações foram identificadas com níveis de alta frequência, elevada incerteza e a presença de ativos específicos. Contribuições metodológicas / sociais / gerenciais: A abordagem da Economia dos Custos de Transação (ECT) apresentada neste estudo contribui como uma teoria geral de por que, quando e onde as estruturas de governança complementam e/ou deslocam o mercado como o meio pelo qual as atividades e interações econômicas são coordenadas e governadas dentro de uma cadeia produtiva. O artigo fornece uma plataforma para novas pesquisas que abordam lacunas no conhecimento e avançam no campo da ECT e governança em cadeias produtivas. Uma agenda de pesquisa é desenvolvida em torno temas-chave. Originalidade / relevância: Este trabalho é o primeiro estudo a explorar explicitamente os custos de transação do setor de pedras preciosas e estruturas de governança dentro de uma cadeia produtiva, a partir de uma perspectiva teórica

Foodborne Salmonellosis in Italy: Characterization of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium and Monophasic Variant 4,[5],12:i- Isolated from Salami and Human Patients.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm) and its monophasic variant 4,[5],12:i:- (VMSTm) have been responsible for an increased number of foodborne infections in humans in Europe in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the origin of three foodborne salmonellosis outbreaks that occurred in Pavia Province (Lombardy region, northern Italy) in 2010. Phenotypic and genetic characteristics of the STm and VMSTm isolates from patients and from food that were recovered in the framework of the three outbreaks were evaluated through serotyping, phage typing, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). Salami from three artisan producers, which had all purchased meat from the same slaughterhouse, was the food source of infection in outbreak I. STm isolates were recovered from salami and patients with symptoms of gastroenteritis. These isolates had the same PFGE type and the same rare MLVA profile (3-18-9-NA-211). The same molecular profiles were found in an STm isolate from a salami, which likely was the source of another family outbreak (II). A VMSTm strain with common phenotypic and molecular profiles was isolated from three hospitalized patients and identified as the cause of another putative outbreak (III). During the following 3 years (2011 through 2013), 360 salami produced in Pavia Province were monitored for the presence of S. enterica . In 2011, no STm and VMSTm isolates were recovered from 159 salami tested. During 2012 and 2013, 13.9% of 201 tested salami harbored S. enterica , and half of the isolates were VMSTm, mainly in salami from those artisan producers involved in the previous outbreaks. These isolates were genetically variable, especially in terms of MLVA profiles. The data collected suggest that from 2012, VMSTm has replaced STm in the environments of the salami producers monitored in this study, and these data confirm the dominance of this emergent serovar along the pork supply chain

A hospital-based matched case-control study to identify clinical outcome and risk factors associated with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection

Background: Healthcare-associated infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates are increasing and few effective antibiotics are currently available to treat patients. We observed decreased carbapenem susceptibility among K. pneumoniae isolated from patients at a tertiary private hospital that showed a phenotype compatible with carbapenemase production although this group of enzymes was not detected in any sample. the aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology and clinical outcomes associated with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae and to determine the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.Methods: Risk factors associated with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae infections were investigated by a matched case-control study from January 2006 through August 2008. A cohort study was also performed to evaluate the association between carbapenem resistance and in-hospital mortality. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility were determined by Vitek 2 and Etest. Carbapenemase activity was detected using spectrophotometric assays. Production of beta-lactamases and alterations in genes encoding K. pneumoniae outer membrane proteins, OmpK35 and OmpK36, were analyzed by PCR and DNA sequencing, as well as SDS-Page. Genetic relatedness of carbapenem resistant isolates was evaluated by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis.Results: Sixty patients were included (20 cases and 40 controls) in the study. Mortality was higher for patients with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae infections compared with those with carbapenem-susceptible K. pneumoniae (50.0% vs 25.7%). the length of central venous catheter use was independently associated with carbapenem resistance in the multivariable analysis. All strains, except one, carried bla(CTX-M-2), an extended-spectrum betalactamase gene. in addition, a single isolate also possessed bla(GES-1). Genes encoding plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases or carbapenemases (KPC, metallo-betalactamases or OXA-carbapenemases) were not detected.Conclusions: the K. pneumoniae multidrug-resistant organisms were associated with significant mortality. the mechanisms associated with decreased K. pneumoniae carbapenem susceptibility were likely due to the presence of cephalosporinases coupled with porin alterations, which resulted from the presence of the insertion sequences in the outer membrane encoding genes.Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Israelita Albert EinsteinHosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Infect Control Unit, BR-05652000 São Paulo, BrazilHosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Microbiol Lab, BR-05651901 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP EPM, Div Infect Dis, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilHosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Intens Care Unit, BR-05651901 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP EPM, Div Infect Dis, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilInstituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Israelita Albert Einstein: 449.08Web of Scienc

Endothelial dysfunction in patients with spontaneous venous thromboembolism

Background and Objectives A high incidence of atherosclerotic lesions and cardiovascular events has been reported in patients with spontaneous venous thromboembolism. Endothelial dysfunction is an early marker of atherosclerosis and has predictive value for ischemic events. We have evaluated endothelial function in patients with a history of spontaneous venous thromboembolism.Design and Methods Patients with a history of symptomatic, objectively confirmed, spontaneous venous thromboembolism were included in a case-control study. Exclusion criteria were any known risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, other conditions associated with endothelial dysfunction, estro-progestinic therapy or pregnancy. Controls were age-(±5 years) and sex-matched subjects with the same exclusion criteria but without previous venous thromboembolism. Endothelial function was evaluated by the non-invasive measurement of flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery and of plasma markers of endothelium activation; platelet activation parameters were also measured.Results Twenty-eight cases (8 females; mean age 59±15 years) and 28 controls (8 females; mean age 58±15) were studied. Flow-mediated vasodilation was 3.5±0.6% in cases (95% CIs: 2.2 to 4.8) and 5.7±0.6% (4.2 to 6.8) in controls (p=0.015). Brachial artery blood flow and hyperemic blood flow did not differ between the two groups. Plasma von Willebrand factor and soluble P-selectin levels were significantly higher in patients with venous thromboembolism, while plasma soluble CD40 ligand and urinary 11-dehydro-TxB2 levels were similar in cases and controls.Interpretation and Conclusions Patients with spontaneous venous thromboembolism have endothelial dysfunction, unlike age- and sex- matched controls. This finding suggests that spontaneous venous thromboembolism may be a condition associated with an enhanced risk of atherosclerosis

What is the future for agroforestry in Italy?

The successful promotion of agroforestry in Italy depends on both a recognition of tradition and the opportunities for innovation. In Italy, agroforestry has traditionally been a key component of landscape management. Complex systems, based on the integration among crops–livestock–fruit/forest trees, provided a wide variety of products (e.g. food, feed, fibers, fuelwood and timber) and other ecosystem services (e.g. soil erosion control and biodiversity preservation). Silvopastoral systems have been used for centuries and are still managed in marginal areas. The integration of fruits trees (in primis olive trees) with crops and grazing was widely practiced and is still profitable. Coltura promiscua was historically developed integrating fruit and forest trees and particularly multifunctional trees (e.g. Juglans regia L. and Prunus avium L.) to support vines and intercrops. Building on recent research, projects have also focused on innovation in agroforestry. The adoption of shade tolerant forage species and crops has been studied in silvopastoral and olive systems. Silvopastoral systems can significantly offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by livestock and shield grazing animals from “heat waves”. Integration of fast growing timber trees (like Populus) in arable systems can help reverse the decline in plantation forestry in Italy. Finally, the constraints imposed by the EU agricultural policy, especially the prevalent provisions for monocrops severely limiting the introduction of innovative agroforestry approaches, are discussed. New political measures and certification actions are strongly required

Correlation between mass and volume of collected blood with positivity of blood cultures

Background The collection of blood cultures is an extremely important method in the management of patients with suspected infection. Microbiology laboratories should monitor blood culture collection. Methods Over an 8-month period we developed a prospective, observational study in an adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU). We correlated the mass contained in the blood vials with blood culture positivity and we also verified the relationship between the mass of blood and blood volume collected for the diagnosis of bloodstream infection (BSI), as well as we explored factors predicting positive blood cultures. Results We evaluated 345 patients with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock for whom blood culture bottles were collected for the diagnosis of BSI. Of the 55 patients with BSI, 40.0 % had peripheral blood culture collection only. BSIs were classified as nosocomial in 34.5 %. In the multivariate model, the blood culture mass (in grams) remained a significant predictor of positivity, with an odds ratio 1.01 (i.e., for each additional 1 mL of blood collected there was a 1 % increase in positivity; 95 % CI 1.01–1.02, p = 0.001; Nagelkerke R Square [R2] = 0.192). For blood volume collected, the adjusted odds ratio was estimated at 1.02 (95 % CI: 1.01–1.03, p \u3c 0.001; R2 = 0.199). For each set of collected blood cultures beyond one set, the adjusted odds ratio was estimated to be 1.27 (95 % CI: 1.14–1.41, p \u3c 0.001; R2 = 0.221). Conclusions Our study was a quality improvement project that showed that microbiology laboratories can use the weight of blood culture bottles to determine if appropriate volume has been collected to improve the diagnosis of BSI

Avaliação da monensina sódica no desempenho de cordeiros suplementados a pasto

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of the ionophore addition to the concentrate supplement on the 0; 25; 50 and 75 mg of monensin/animal/day on levels, in the performance of sheep. It was used 16 lambs average with age of four months old and average initial weight of 17.85 +- 3.84 kg, the animals were kept in a pasture of Bermuda grass Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) in on completely randomized design was used. Pasture accumulation and quality were evaluated. Addition of monensin did not affect average daily weight gain, the best feed conversion and feed efficiency. Supplementation of the sodium monensin concentrated supplement did not favored or better performance of animals