BCG vaccination and leprosy protection: review of current evidence and status of BCG in leprosy control.

The bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, initially developed to provide protection against TB, also protects against leprosy; and the magnitude of this effect varies. Previous meta-analyses did not provide a summary estimate of the efficacy due to the heterogeneity of the results. We conducted a meta-analysis of published data including recently published studies (up to June 2009) to determine the efficacy of BCG protection on leprosy and to investigate whether age at vaccination, clinical form, number of doses, type of study, the latitude of study area and year of publication influence the degree of efficacy and explain the variation. In the light of the results, we argue for more emphasis on the role of BCG vaccination in leprosy control and research

Stock selection based on cluster analysis

We put forward a technique based on cluster analysis to group stocks in spot markets according to a risk-return criterion. We show how an informed investor will make money using the cluster analysis to select stocks of major companies from North and South America.

A nonequilibrium thermodynamics perspective on nature-inspired chemical engineering processes

Nature-inspired chemical engineering (NICE) is promising many benefits in terms of energy consumption, resilience and efficiencyetc.but it struggles to emerge as a leading discipline, chiefly because of the misconception that mimicking Nature is sufficient. It is not, since goals and constrained context are different. Hence, revealing context and understanding the mechanisms of nature-inspiration should be encouraged. In this contribution we revisit the classification of three published mechanisms underlying nature-inspired engineering, namely hierarchical transport network, force balancing and dynamic self-organization, by setting them in a broader framework supported by nonequilibrium thermodynamics, the constructal law and nonlinear control concepts. While the three mechanisms mapping is not complete, the NET and CL joint framework opens also new perspectives. This novel perspective goes over classical chemical engineering where equilibrium based assumptions or linear transport phenomena and control are the ruling mechanisms in process unit design and operation. At small-scale level, NICE processes should sometimes consider advanced thermodynamic concepts to account for fluctuations and boundary effects on local properties. At the process unit level, one should exploit out-of-equilibrium situations with thermodynamic coupling under various dynamical states, be it a stationary state or a self-organized state. Then, nonlinear phenomena, possibly provoked by operating larger driving force to achieve greater dissipative flows, might occur, controllable by using nonlinear control theory. At the plant level, the virtual factory approach relying on servitization and modular equipment proposes a framework for knowledge and information management that could lead to resilient and agile chemical plants, especially biorefineries

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics and constructal law guidelines for nature- inspired chemical engineering processes

The chemical engineering specialty deals with the processing of matter and energy, with a special emphasis on designing and operating technological apparatus for the large-scale production of chemicals and the manufacture of products with desired properties through chemical processes. Matter and energy processing can be extended to information, especially at the chemical plant scale, covering areas similar to what Nature processes. Within the sustainable growth challenges now everywhere, Nature is a realistic model of structures and processes, whose performance, efficiency and resilience can be envied by human-made activities. However, nature-inspiration is far from being the norm in chemical engineering. Indeed, chemical engineering textbooks and handbooks show that chemical engineering processes are designed and operated on the basis of phase equilibrium hypotheses in reaction and separation engineering, that transport phenomena are usually described with linear phenomenological law and that process regulation is also mostly done with linear control theory. Most of these concepts are decades old. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Internacionalização de Empresas Participantes de Clusters : condicionantes e práticas relacionais

Este trabalho tem como objetivo identificar os condicionantes endógenos e exógenos dos processos relacionais para a internacionalização de empresas participantes de cinco Clusters do Paraná, Brasil. O referencial teórico se concentra nas práticas de redes inter-organizacionais e no processo de internacionalização de empresas. A pesquisa tem como referência a metodologia do estudo de casos múltiplos, com abordagem qualitativa e finalidade descritiva. Os dados foram coletados por meio de trinta e nove entrevistas, por observação não participante e por análises documentais com a utilização de relatórios, atas de reuniões, atos de constituição e normatizações existentes nas governanças de cada um dos Clusters. Quanto aos resultados obtidos, identifica-se que os efeitos dos condicionantes endógenos e exógenos são simultâneos e correlacionados, dificultando o estabelecimento da exata influência de um fator isolado sobre os resultados das ações coletivas. Constata-se também que diferentes contextos e configurações das relações determinam a forma, os condicionantes e a influência específica no processo de internacionalização pretendido. Os resultados das análises das relações interorganizacionais permitiram identificar alguns subsídios qualitativos para compreensão dos fenômenos estudados que devem ser considerados como sugestões de estudos futuros.Este estudio tiene como objetivo identificar los determinantes endógenos y exógenos de los procesos relacionales para la internacionalización de las empresas participantes en cinco Clusters de Paraná - Brasil. El marco teórico se centra en la práctica de redes organizacionales y en el proceso de internacionalización de las empresas. La encuesta tiene en referencia a la metodología de estudio de casos múltiples con una finalidad cualitativa y descriptiva. Los datos fueron recolectados a través de treinta y nueve entrevistas, observación no participante y análisis documental con el uso de informes, actas de reuniones, actos de constitución y normas de gobierno en cada cluster. Los resultados obtenidos identifican que los efectos de las restricciones endógenas y exógenas son simultáneos y correlacionados, por lo que es difícil establecer la influencia exacta de un factor sobre el resultado de acciones colectivas. Se dará cuenta de que los contextos diferentes y la configuración de la forma de la relación, las condiciones específicas influencia el proceso de internacionalización. Los resultados del análisis de relaciones inter-organizacionales fornecen algunos subsidios para la comprensión cualitativa de los fenómenos que deben ser considerados como sugerencias para futuros estudios

On the relation between azeotropic behavior and minimum / maximum flash point occurrences in binary mixtures of flammable compounds

The flash point temperature and the boiling temperature of a mixture are related by the fact that both can be modeled based on vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) of each component. It has been suggested in the literature that there might exist a concomitance between azeotropic behavior and minimum/maximum flash point temperature for binary mixtures. In order to verify this statement, we derive new temperature dependent functions that relate the conditions valid for azeotropic behavior and those valid for minimum/maximum flash point behavior. Analysis of experimental data and predicted results allowed us to propose a heuristic to forecast extremum flash point based on the sole knowledge of azeotropic data and boiling and flash point temperatures differences. Extremum flash point might occur when both components are flammable and when the gap between the flash point temperatures of individual components (ΔT_fp) is of the same order or smaller than the boiling temperature gap (ΔT_b). Hence, we contribute to the assessment of the fire and explosion hazards in binary mixtures eventually presenting a minimum flash point behavio

KINETIC AND KINEMATIC FEATURES OF COUNTERMOVEMENT AND SAUTÉ JUMPS IN CLASSICAL BALLET DANCERS

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the external rotations of lower limbs influence the performance of ballet dancers in jumps. Four ballet dancers with high technical proficiency were recruited for a test, they performed three attempts the countermovement and sauté jump. Two force plates were used to determine ground reaction forces. Six cameras were used to collect the kinematic data. It was analyzed the peak of knee flexion, peak of ground force reaction and jump height. The performance in countermovement and sauté jump tests was compared through box plot analysis. In conclusion, even with a lower degree of knee flexion, dancers can produce higher jumps and more ground force reaction on countermovement jump. The results suggest that the attention focus when jumping is an important determinant of jump performance

Multi-integração em cadeias produtivas agroindustriais: uma estratégia possível

Family farming has been widely researched in the areas of economics and rural sociology. However, little focus is given to the strategic aspects of these establishments considering the supply of differentiated inputs or raw materials for agro-industry. Thus, this theoretical essay proposes a model for the formation of strategic alliances between agribusinesses positioned in integrated production chains seeking the maintenance and sharing of family farming as a strategic resource. Based on the literature on inter-organizational relationships and resource dependence theory, six theoretical propositions were elaborated. Three of them are related to the perception of integrating companies about integrated property, access to productive structures, and actions aimed at maintaining this resource; and the others, to the possibility of structuring an innovative model characterized by industry-industry multi-integration. This model argues that the structuring of a multi-integrated production system, based on the establishment of cooperative relations between agribusinesses, assumes characteristics of strategic alliances, with a view to guaranteeing access to the unique resources originating in small family farms. It also indicates that the formation of strategic partnerships aimed at multi-integration can ensure the maintenance of integrated production systems based on family farming as a supplier of essential raw materials.La agricultura familiar ha sido ampliamente investigada en los campos de la economía y la sociología rural. Sin embargo, se presta poca atención a los aspectos estratégicos de estos establecimientos considerando el suministro de diferentes insumos o materias primas para el agronegocio. Por lo tanto, este ensayo teórico propone un modelo para la formación de alianzas estratégicas entre empresas agrícolas ubicadas en cadenas de producción integradas que buscan mantener y compartir la agricultura familiar como un recurso estratégico. Basado en la literatura sobre relaciones interorganizacionales y la teoría de la dependencia de los recursos, se desarrollaron seis proposiciones teóricas. Tres relacionados con la percepción de empresas integradoras sobre propiedad integrada, acceso a estructuras productivas y acciones dirigidas a mantener este recurso, y los demás, a la posibilidad de estructurar un modelo innovador caracterizado por la integración múltiple industria-industria. Este modelo sostiene que la estructuración de un sistema de producción multi-integrado, establecido en el establecimiento de relaciones cooperativas entre agroindustrias, asume características de alianzas estratégicas, con miras a garantizar el acceso a los recursos únicos originados en pequeñas granjas familiares. También indica que la formación de asociaciones estratégicas destinadas a la integración múltiple puede garantizar el mantenimiento de sistemas de producción integrados basados en la agricultura familiar como proveedor de materias primas esenciales.A agricultura familiar tem sido largamente pesquisada pelas áreas da economia e da sociologia rural. Porém, pouco enfoque é dado aos aspectos estratégicos destes estabelecimentos considerando a oferta de insumos ou matérias primas diferenciadas para a agroindústria. Assim, neste ensaio teórico se propõe um modelo para a formação de alianças estratégicas entre agroindústrias posicionadas em cadeias produtivas integradas buscando a manutenção e o compartilhamento da agricultura familiar enquanto recurso estratégico. Com base na literatura sobre relacionamentos interorganizacionais e na teoria da dependência de recursos, foram elaboradas seis proposições teóricas. Três relacionadas à percepção das empresas integradoras sobre a propriedade integrada, o acesso às estruturas produtivas e as ações visando à manutenção deste recurso, e as demais, à possibilidade de estruturação de um modelo inovador caracterizado pela multi-integração indústria-indústria. Este modelo sustenta que a estruturação de um sistema multi-integrado de produção, firmado no estabelecimento de relações de cooperação entre agroindústrias, assume características de alianças estratégicas, com vistas a garantir o acesso aos recursos singulares originados nas pequenas propriedades agrícolas familiares. Também indica que a formação de parcerias estratégicas visando a multi-integração pode assegurar a manutenção dos sistemas integrados de produção alicerçados na agricultura familiar como fornecedora de matérias primas essenciais