Condições demográficas e socioeconômicas associadas à insegurança alimentar em domicílios de Campinas, SP

To evaluate the association of food insecurity with demographic and socioeconomic conditions in households in Campinas, São Paulo state, Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on a representative sample of the urban population of the Southern, Southwestern, and Northwestern Health Districts of Campinas, between 2011-2012. Characteristics of the head of household, family history and household patterns were investigated. The dependent variable was food security condition, categorized as food security, mild food insecurity, and moderate/severe food insecurity. All independent variables with p-value <0.20 in the bivariate multinomial logistic regression were included in the final model of multiple multinomial logistic regression, adjusted to household head age; the remaining variables had p-value <0.05. Results: In the 691 households analyzed, there was 65% of food security, 27.9% of mild food insecurity, and 7.1% of moderate/severe food insecurity. The conditions associated with mild food insecurity were monthly per capita income less than the minimum wage, household head unemployed for more than six months between 2004-2010, living in properties given to the family/occupied/other, and density higher than two people per bedroon. The moderate/severe food insecurity was associated with informal employment condition of the household head and the presence of a beneficiary of the Bolsa Família (Family Allowance Program), a cash transfer-type program, in the household. The higher the score of the consumer goods, the lower the probability of mild food insecurity or moderate/severe food insecurity. There was a higher probability of mild food insecurity and moderate/severe food insecurity in unfinished masonry-built houses/other. Conclusion: More than one third of the households investigated experienced some form of food insecurity. Mild food insecurity was associated with demographic conditions, while moderate/severe food insecurity was associated with socioeconomic conditions, especially those related to the household head296845857FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPSem informaçãoAvaliar a associação da insegurança alimentar com as condições demográficas e socioeconômicas em domicílios de Campinas (SP). Métodos: Estudo transversal com amostra representativa da população urbana dos Distritos de Saúde Sul, Sudoeste e Noroeste de Campinas, realizado entre 2011-2012. Estudaram-se as características do chefe de família, dos antecedentes familiares e do domicílio. A variável dependente foi condição de segurança alimentar, categorizada em segurança alimentar, insegurança alimentar leve e insegurança alimentar moderada/grave. Todas as variáveis independentes com p-valor<0,20 na regressão logística multinomial bivariada foram incluídas no modelo final de regressão logística multinomial múltipla, ajustado pela idade do chefe da família, permanecendo aquelas com p<0,05. Resultados: Nos 691 domicílios analisados, houve 65,0% em segurança alimentar, 27,9% em insegurança alimentar leve e 7,1% em insegurança alimentar moderada/grave. As condições associadas à insegurança alimentar leve foram renda familiar mensal per capita menor que um salário mínimo, desemprego do chefe da família por mais de seis meses entre 2004-2010, residir em domicílios de condição cedido/invasão/outro e com densidade maior que duas pessoas por dormitório. A insegurança alimentar moderada/grave esteve associada à informalidade do emprego do chefe da família e ter titular do Bolsa Família no domicílio. Quanto maior o escore de bens de consumo, menor foi a chance de insegurança alimentar leve ou moderada/grave, enquanto que houve maior chance da presença de qualquer tipo de insegurança alimentar nos domicílios construídos com alvenaria inacabada/outros. Conclusão: Mais de um terço dos domicílios apresentam alguma forma de insegurança alimentar. A insegurança alimentar leve está associada às condições demográficas, enquanto que a moderada/grave associa-se às condições socioeconômicas, principalmente relacionadas ao chefe da famíli

Simulating spatial and temporal evolution of multiple wing cracks around faults in crystalline basement rocks

Fault zones are structurally highly spatially heterogeneous and hence extremely complex. Observations of fluid flow through fault zones over several scales show that this structural complexity is reflected in the hydrogeological properties of faults. Information on faults at depth is scarce, hence, it is highly valuable to understand the controls on spatial and temporal fault zone development. In this paper we increase our understanding of fault damage zone development in crystalline rocks by dynamically simulating the growth of single and multiple splay fractures produced from failure on a pre-existing fault. We present a new simulation model, MOPEDZ (Modeling Of Permeability Evolution in the Damage Zone surrounding faults), that simulates fault evolution through solution of Navier's equation with a combined Mohr-Coulomb and tensile failure criteria. Simulations suggest that location, frequency, mode of failure and orientation of splay fractures are significantly affected both by the orientation of the fault with respect to the maximum principal compressive stress and the conditions of differential stress. Model predictions compare well with published field outcrop data, confirming that this model produces realistic damage zone geometries

Complementary feeding and factors associated to breast-feeding and exclusive breast-feeding among infant up to 12 months of age, Itapira, São Paulo, 1999

OBJECTIVES: to analyze feeding practices in the first year of life and factors associated to breast-feeding and exclusive breast-feeding in the municipality of Itapira. METHODS: survey performed in 1999 with 679 infants under twelve months old in the National Vaccination Day as part of the Project Breast-Feeding & Municipalities. Association between breast-feeding and independent variables of birth conditions, bottle use, pacifiers and maternal characteristics, was assessed through multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: the average age of the mothers was of 25,5 years old, 41% were primiparae and 51,7% of the deliveries were through C-sections. The average weight at birth was of 3.223g. It was noted that 98,1% of the infants were breast-fed during the first 30 days, but there was an early introduction of tea, water and other types of milk. Exclusive breast-feeding prevalence was of 64,8% in the first month dropping to 45% in the second month and 30,1% between four and six months. At twelve months 61,6% of the infants were breast-fed. Variables associated to weaning were: the use of pacifiers (OR 5,58; CI95%: 3,94 -7,89), low birth weight (OR 2,74; CI95%: 1,46 - 5,13) hospital of birth (OR 1,76; CI95%: 1,22 - 2,52). The reason for exclusive breast-feeding interruption in the first six months was the use of pacifiers (OR 4,41; CI95%: 2,57 - 7,59) and C-section births (OR 1,78; CI95%: 1,09 - 2,91). CONCLUSIONS: prevalence of breast-feeding and exclusive breast-feeding is still far from the WHO current recommendations.OBJETIVOS: analisar as práticas alimentares no primeiro ano de vida e fatores associados ao aleitamento materno e ao aleitamento materno exclusivo, no município de Itapira, SP. MÉTODOS: inquérito realizado em 1999 com 679 lactentes menores de 12 meses no Dia Nacional de Vacinação como parte do projeto Amamentação & Municípios. A associação entre o aleitamento e as variáveis independentes condições de nascimento, uso de mamadeira, chupeta e característica maternas, foi verificada por meio de regressão logística múltipla. RESULTADOS: a idade média da mãe foi de 25,5 anos, sendo 41,8% primíparas e 51,7% dos partos cirúrgicos. O peso médio ao nascer foi de 3.223g. Observou-se que 98,1% dos lactentes foram amamentados nos primeiros 30 dias, porém houve introdução precoce de chá, água e outros leites. A prevalência do aleitamento materno exclusivo foi de 64,8% no primeiro mês, caindo para 45% e 30,1% aos quatro e seis meses, respectivamente. Aos 12 meses 61,6% dos lactentes eram amamentados. As variáveis associadas ao desmame foram: usar chupeta (OR 5,58; IC95%: 3,94 -7,89), baixo peso ao nascer (OR 2,74; IC95%: 1,46 - 5,13) e hospital de nascimento (OR 1,76; IC95%: 1,22 - 2,52). Para interrupção da amamentação exclusiva, nos primeiros seis meses, os resultados foram: usar chupeta (OR 4,41; IC95%: 2,57 - 7,59) e parto cesárea (OR 1,78; IC95%: 1,09-2,91). CONCLUSÕES: a prevalência observada, do aleitamento materno e aleitamento materno exclusivo, ainda está distante das atuais recomendações da OMS.859

Defects and lithium migration in Li₂CuO₂

Li2CuO2 is an important candidate material as a cathode in lithium ion batteries. Atomistic simulation methods are used to investigate the defect processes, electronic structure and lithium migration mechanisms in Li2CuO2. Here we show that the lithium energy of migration via the vacancy mechanism is very low, at 0.11 eV. The high lithium Frenkel energy (1.88 eV/defect) prompted the consideration of defect engineering strategies in order to increase the concentration of lithium vacancies that act as vehicles for the vacancy mediated lithium self-diffusion in Li2CuO2. It is shown that aluminium doping will significantly reduce the energy required to form a lithium vacancy from 1.88 eV to 0.97 eV for every aluminium introduced, however, it will also increase the migration energy barrier of lithium in the vicinity of the aluminium dopant to 0.22 eV. Still, the introduction of aluminium is favourable compared to the lithium Frenkel process. Other trivalent dopants considered herein require significantly higher solution energies, whereas their impact on the migration energy barrier was more pronounced. When considering the electronic structure of defective Li2CuO2, the presence of aluminium dopants results in the introduction of electronic states into the energy band gap. Therefore, doping with aluminium is an effective doping strategy to increase the concentration of lithium vacancies, with a minimal impact on the kinetics

Some recommendations for developing multidimensional computerized adaptive tests for patient-reported outcomes

PURPOSE: Multidimensional item response theory and computerized adaptive testing (CAT) are increasingly used in mental health, quality of life (QoL), and patient-reported outcome measurement. Although multidimensional assessment techniques hold promises, they are more challenging in their application than unidimensional ones. The authors comment on minimal standards when developing multidimensional CATs. METHODS: Prompted by pioneering papers published in QLR, the authors reflect on existing guidance and discussions from different psychometric communities, including guidelines developed for unidimensional CATs in the PROMIS project. RESULTS: The commentary focuses on two key topics: (1) the design, evaluation, and calibration of multidimensional item banks and (2) how to study the efficiency and precision of a multidimensional item bank. The authors suggest that the development of a carefully designed and calibrated item bank encompasses a construction phase and a psychometric phase. With respect to efficiency and precision, item banks should be large enough to provide adequate precision over the full range of the latent constructs. Therefore CAT performance should be studied as a function of the latent constructs and with reference to relevant benchmarks. Solutions are also suggested for simulation studies using real data, which often result in too optimistic evaluations of an item bank's efficiency and precision. DISCUSSION: Multidimensional CAT applications are promising but complex statistical assessment tools which necessitate detailed theoretical frameworks and methodological scrutiny when testing their appropriateness for practical applications. The authors advise researchers to evaluate item banks with a broad set of methods, describe their choices in detail, and substantiate their approach for validation

Hydrogen and nitrogen codoping of anatase TiO₂ for efficiency enhancement in organic solar cells

TiO2 has high chemical stability, strong catalytic activity and is an electron transport material in organic solar cells. However, the presence of trap states near the band edges of TiO2 arising from defects at grain boundaries significantly affects the efficiency of organic solar cells. To become an efficient electron transport material for organic photovoltaics and related devices, such as perovskite solar cells and photocatalytic devices, it is important to tailor its band edges via doping. Nitrogen p-type doping has attracted considerable attention in enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 under visible light irradiation while hydrogen n-type doping increases its electron conductivity. DFT calculations in TiO2 provide evidence that nitrogen and hydrogen can be incorporated in interstitial sites and possibly form NiHi, NiHO and NTiHi defects. The experimental results indicate that NiHi defects are most likely formed and these defects do not introduce deep level states. Furthermore, we show that the efficiency of P3HT:IC60BA-based organic photovoltaic devices is enhanced when using hydrogen-doping and nitrogen/hydrogen codoping of TiO2, both boosting the material n-type conductivity, with maximum power conversion efficiency reaching values of 6.51% and 6.58%, respectively, which are much higher than those of the cells with the as-deposited (4.87%) and nitrogen-doped TiO2 (4.46%).</p