A PREMISSA DE SUSTENTABILIDADE DOS DIAMANTES SINTÉTICOS: THE SUSTAINABILITY'S PREMISE OF SYNTHETIC DIAMONDS

Diamond is an essential mineral in contemporary society, whether for its practical use in industry or symbolic use in jewellery. Within that, there is a constant demand, partially supplied by synthetic diamonds. With the need to ponder sustainability attributes commented on by the media, this study seeks to understand whether synthetic diamonds can be considered environmentally friendly. The study was carried out through a literature review to analyze the inputs used in the synthesis and as the standardization of the resources used in the process in different locations globally. According to these criteria, synthetic diamonds cannot yet be characterized as a green product due to the lack of transparency in its production process.El diamante es un mineral esencial en la sociedad contemporánea, ya sea por su uso práctico en la industria o por su uso simbólico en joyería. Su demanda es constante y se satisface parcialmente con diamantes sintéticos. Ante la necesidad de considerar los atributos de sostenibilidad comentados por los medios de comunicación, este estudio pretende debatir si los diamantes sintéticos pueden considerarse respetuosos con el medio ambiente. El estudio se realizó mediante una revisión bibliográfica con el objetivo de analizar los insumos utilizados en la síntesis del material, así como estandarizar los recursos utilizados en el proceso en diferentes lugares del mundo. Según estos criterios, el diamante sintético aún no puede calificarse de producto ecológico, debido a la falta de transparencia de su proceso de producción.O diamante é um mineral imprescindível na sociedade contemporânea, seja por seu uso prático na indústria ou simbólico na joalheria. Dentro disso, há uma constante demanda, suprida parcialmente pelos diamantes sintéticos. Com a necessidade de ponderar acerca de atributos de sustentabilidade comentados pela mídia, neste estudo busca-se discutir se o diamante sintético pode ser considerado ambientalmente amigável. O estudo foi realizado por meio de revisão de literatura com objetivo de analisar os insumos utilizados na síntese do material, bem como, na padronização dos recursos utilizados no processo em diferentes localidades do mundo. Conforme estes critérios o diamante sintético não pode ainda ser caracterizado como um produto verde, devido à carência de transparência do seu processo produtivo

Utilização do Modelo Orientado à Representação do Pensamento Humano (MORPH) no estabelecimento do Índice de Sensibilidade Fluvial (ISF): uma proposta de contribuição à Classificação da Sensibilidade Ambiental ao Óleo

This paper presents the using of the Human Thinking Representation Oriented Model (MORPH) as analysis tool as support to the creation of a classification system, that aims to determine the environmental sensitivity to oil in waterways, based on the main classification system by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and by the Petrobras S.A. to river environment. This proposal came about because of ever increasing reoccurrences of oil spills in areas on the continent, causing environmental damage to waterways and the lack of a broad classification system that meets the needs of the different environments found in waterways, once the main sensitivity studies are directed towards coastal settings. The MORPH simplified the comparison of many interdependent variables, identifying the fundamental physical parameters for establish the fluvial environments that make up the Fluvial Sensitivity Index (FSI), for instance: rocky shores, artificial structures, beaches, muddy substrate banks, point-bars, natural dikes, vegetated shores and flood plains associated with vegetation. The FSI relates the physical characteristics that influence directly natural persistence, dispersion and the cleaning and/or removal of oil conditions, which is directly reflected on the impact level.Este trabalho apresenta a utilização do MORPH (Modelo Orientado à Representação do Pensamento Humano), como uma ferramenta de análise para apoio à criação de um sistema de classificação que visa determinar a sensibilidade ambiental ao óleo de ambientes fluviais, baseado nos principais sistemas de classificação do National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) e da Petrobras S.A. para ambientes fluviais. Essa proposição se deve em razão da recorrência de acidentes envolvendo derramamentos de óleo em áreas continentais, com danos aos cursos fluviais, e à lacuna gerada pela ausência de um sistema de classificação abrangente, que atenda aos mais diversos tipos de ambientes fluviais, pois grande parte dos estudos de sensibilidade está voltada aos ambientes costeiros. O MORPH auxiliou na comparação de muitas variáveis interdependentes, identificando parâmetros físicos fundamentais para estabelecer os ambientes fluviais que fazem parte o Índice de Sensibilidade Fluvial (ISF), incluindo: margens rochosas, estruturas artificiais, praias, bancos de substrato lamoso, barras de meandro, diques naturais, margens vegetadas e planícies de inundação associadas a vegetação. O ISF relaciona as características físicas que influenciam diretamente na persistência natural, na dispersão e nas condições de limpeza e/ ou remoção do óleo, com reflexo direto no grau de impacto

Inventário Obsessivo de Coimbra – versão reduzida (IOC-R): Desenvolvimento e propriedades psicométricas

The Coimbra Obsessive Inventory is a self-report instrument encompassing two 50-items scales aimed to assess obsessive-compulsive symptoms frequency and emotional disturbance/discomfort. Being a long instrument, the development of a reduced version was considered relevant. Thus, the current study aimed to develop a short version of the Coimbra Obsessive Inventory (IOC-R), and explore its psychometric characteristics. According to psychometric criteria, the IOC-R included 19 items, distributed by five subscales – “Contamination/Washing”, “Indecision/Slowness”, “Repeated checking/Hoarding”, “Immoral content” and “Magical thinking”. Confirmatory factorial analysis of the IOC-R 5-factor model was conducted in a sample of 338 individuals from the general population. Fit indexes showed that the model presented a good fit to the data. Analysis of IOC-R internal consistency proved to be excellent. Test-retest reliability was indicative of adequate temporal stability. Furthermore, the IOC-R revealed a strong correlation with the Padua Inventory, which also assesses obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and moderate correlations with the Anxiety, Depression and Stress Scales. To sum, the IOC-R may be a valid and reliable self-report instrument, easy to use, both in clinical and research settings.O Inventário Obsessivo de Coimbra (IOC) é um instrumento de autorresposta que integra duas escalas de 50 itens cada, que avaliam a frequência e o grau de perturbação emocional de sintomas obsessivo-compulsivos. Dado que se trata de um instrumento longo, a criação de uma versão reduzida (IOC-R) e estudo das suas características psicométricas constituíram os objetivos do presente estudo. Após alcançada uma versão do IOC-R composta por 19 itens, repartidos por cinco subescalas – “Contaminação/Lavagem”, “Indecisão/Lentidão”, “Verificação repetida/Acumulação”, “Conteúdos imorais” e “Pensamento mágico” –, realizou-se a análise fatorial confirmatória do modelo pentafatorial numa amostra de 338 sujeitos da população geral. O modelo testado revelou uma boa qualidade de ajustamento. A análise da sua consistência interna mostrou-se excelente. A fidedignidade teste-reteste foi indicadora de uma estabilidade temporal adequada. O IOC-R apresentou uma correlação forte com o Inventário de Pádua, que também avalia a sintomatologia obsessivo-compulsiva, e correlações moderadas com as Escalas de Ansiedade, Depressão e Stress. Como tal, o IOC-R apresenta-se como um instrumento de autorresposta válido e fidedigno, de administração rápida, podendo ser utilizado, quer em contextos clínicos, quer de investigação

Características das relações interpessoais existentes entre orientadores e orientandos dos cursos de pós-graduação stricto sensu em Ciências Contábeis

This study aimed to identify the characteristics of the interpersonal relationships existing between supervisors and students in stricto sensu postgraduate courses in Accounting in Brazil, in the perception of students. The relevance of the research is based, mainly, on the importance of the relationship built between advisors and students during the master's or doctoral degree. The characteristics of this relationship can be decisive for the quality of the dissertation or thesis, as well as for the individual's professional training. The sample consisted of 309 stricto sensu graduate students in the accounting area, 65% of which correspond to academic master's students, 31.72% to academic doctorate students and 2.91% to professional master's students. Students' perceptions about the mentoring relationship were captured using the Questionnaire on Supervisor-doctoral Student Interaction adapted by Mainhard, Rijst, Tartwijk and Wubbel (2009), whose Cronbach's Alpha was 0.9424. From the descriptive analysis of the answers, it was found that the students, when thinking about and dealing with the mentoring relationship, prioritize aspects related to the figure of the mentor as a person and little detail about the characteristics of the guidance process and work development. This finding reiterates the conclusion that students indirectly choose their advisors and analyze them, adopting as a criterion the personality traits as more relevant to the detriment of technical training.RESUMO: Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar as características das relações interpessoais existentes entre orientadores e orientandos dos cursos de pós-graduação stricto sensu em Ciências Contábeis no Brasil, na percepção dos discentes. A relevância da pesquisa respalda-se, principalmente, na importância do vínculo construído entre orientadores e orientandos durante o mestrado ou doutorado. As características dessa relação podem ser determinantes para a qualidade da dissertação ou tese, bem como para a formação profissional do indivíduo. A amostra foi composta por 309 discentes de pós-graduação stricto sensu da área contábil, sendo que 65% correspondem a alunos de mestrado acadêmico, 31,72% a alunos de doutorado acadêmico e 2,91% a alunos de mestrado profissional. As percepções dos alunos sobre a relação de orientação foram capturadas por meio do Questionnaire on Supervisor–doctoral Student Interaction (QSDI na literatura internacional) adaptado por Mainhard, Rijst, Tartwijk e Wubbel (2009), cujo Alpha de Cronbach foi de 0,9424. A partir da análise descritiva das respostas, constatou-se que os alunos, ao pensarem e tratarem da relação de orientação, priorizam aspectos relacionados à figura do orientador como pessoa e pouco detalharam sobre as características do processo de orientação e desenvolvimento do trabalho. Esse achado reitera a conclusão de que os alunos indiretamente escolhem seus orientadores e os analisam adotando como critério os traços de personalidade como mais relevantes em detrimento da formação técnica

Arginase 1 deficiency presenting as complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia

INTRODUCTION: Argininemia or arginase deficiency is a metabolic disorder caused by pathogenic variants in ARG1 and consists of a variable association of progressive spastic paraplegia, intellectual disability, and seizures. Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a group of inherited diseases whose main feature is a progressive gait disorder characterized by lower limb spasticity. This study presents 7 patients with arginase 1 deficiency from 6 different families, all with an initial diagnosis of complicated HSP. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical data of 7 patients belonging to six independent families who were diagnosed with hyperargininemia in a neurogenetics outpatient clinic. RESULTS: All patients had lower limb spasticity and six had global developmental delay. Five individuals had intellectual disability and two had epilepsy. Psychiatric abnormalities were seen in two patients. In two participants of this study, MRI disclosed thinning of the corpus callosum. Molecular diagnosis was made by whole exome sequencing. All variants were present in homozygosis; we identified two novel missense variants, one novel frameshift variant, and one previously published missense variant. DISCUSSION: Clinical diagnosis of early onset complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia was made in all patients. Two patients were initially suspected of having SPG11 due to thinning of the corpus callosum. As argininemia may present with a highly penetrant phenotype of spastic paraplegia associated with additional symptoms, this disease may represent a specific entity amongst the complicated HSPs

Population gene introgression and high genome plasticity for the zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus agalactiae

The influence that bacterial adaptation (or niche partitioning) within species has on gene spillover and transmission among bacteria populations occupying different niches is not well understood. Streptococcus agalactiae is an important bacterial pathogen that has a taxonomically diverse host range making it an excellent model system to study these processes. Here we analyze a global set of 901 genome sequences from nine diverse host species to advance our understanding of these processes. Bayesian clustering analysis delineated twelve major populations that closely aligned with niches. Comparative genomics revealed extensive gene gain/loss among populations and a large pan-genome of 9,527 genes, which remained open and was strongly partitioned among niches. As a result, the biochemical characteristics of eleven populations were highly distinctive (significantly enriched). Positive selection was detected and biochemical characteristics of the dispensable genes under selection were enriched in ten populations. Despite the strong gene partitioning, phylogenomics detected gene spillover. In particular, tetracycline resistance (which likely evolved in the human-associated population) from humans to bovine, canines, seals, and fish, demonstrating how a gene selected in one host can ultimately be transmitted into another, and biased transmission from humans to bovines was confirmed with a Bayesian migration analysis. Our findings show high bacterial genome plasticity acting in balance with selection pressure from distinct functional requirements of niches that is associated with an extensive and highly partitioned dispensable genome, likely facilitating continued and expansive adaptation

Expanding the phenotypic spectrum of CLCN2-related leucoencephalopathy and ataxia

Mutations in CLCN2 are a rare cause of autosomal recessive leucoencephalopathy with ataxia and specific imaging abnormalities. Very few cases have been reported to date. Here, we describe the clinical and imaging phenotype of 12 additional CLCN2 patients and expand the known phenotypic spectrum of this disorder. Informed consent was obtained for all patients. Patients underwent either whole-exome sequencing or focused/panel-based sequencing to identify variants. Twelve patients with biallelic CLCN2 variants are described. This includes three novel likely pathogenic missense variants. All patients demonstrated typical MRI changes, including hyperintensity on T2-weighted images in the posterior limbs of the internal capsules, midbrain cerebral peduncles, middle cerebellar peduncles and cerebral white matter. Clinical features included a variable combination of ataxia, headache, spasticity, seizures and other symptoms with a broad range of age of onset. This report is now the largest case series of patients with CLCN2-related leucoencephalopathy and reinforces the finding that, although the imaging appearance is uniform, the phenotypic expression of this disorder is highly heterogeneous. Our findings expand the phenotypic spectrum of CLCN2-related leucoencephalopathy by adding prominent seizures, severe spastic paraplegia and developmental delay