Smart Specialisation in EU and Chile, challenges and opportunities. Towards a transcontinental policy learning dialogue methodology.

The Smart Specialisation approach is being an inspiratory driver of regional innovation not only within the European Union but beyond. This paper elaborates on the Policy Learning Dialogue: Smart Specialisation in EU and Chile which took place at the Joint Research Centre, Seville (21st November 2016). The article showcases policy reflections and outcomes derived from a fruitful discussion between practitioners of regional innovation strategies in EU and Chile, smart specialisation platform staff and experts. This policy dialogue was part of the activities carried out by the smart specialisation platform aiming at providing evidence-based support to policy makers and stakeholders of smart specialisation through common reflections focused on cooperation dynamics and joint learning.JRC.B.3-Territorial Developmen

Stability and bioaccessibility of iron in pumpkin discs vacuum impregnated with ferrous gluconate, β-cyclodextrin and ascorbic acid

Present work evaluates the content and bioaccessibility of iron in vacuum-cooked pumpkin discs (VCPD) impregnated with ferrous gluconate (FeGlu) solutions added with β-cyclodextrin (BCD) and/or ascorbic acid (AA). The stability of Fe2+, AA and color of the VCPD after refrigerated storage were also studied. Pumpkin discs treated with any of the FeGlu studied solutions reached a total iron content between 17 and 20 mg Fe2+/100 g. Addition of BCD or AA to FeGlu solution improved Fe2+ of VCPD compared to control fortified only with FeGlu. After in vitro digestion, soluble Fe2+ was also significantly higher in pumpkins impregnated with BCD and AA solutions. Both BCD and AA probably exert their positive effect favoring the solubility of iron and/or the stability of the ferrous iron form, being the bioaccessibility of Fe2+ approximately 17 and 20% w/w respectively, and 10% for the FeGlu-impregnated discs. Although BCD did not have the impact observed for AA, a synergistic effect was observed in BCD-FeGlu-AA systems, where the proportion of Fe2+ was approximately 50% higher than in FeGlu after 21 days of refrigerated storage. The use of BCD and AA also allowed to better maintain the color of the fortified pumpkin discs after cooking and refrigerated storage.Fil: Lencina, María Sabrina. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Bromatología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: dos Santos Ferreira, Cristina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Archaina, Diego Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Bromatología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Los Alimentos de Entre Rios. - Universidad Nacional de Entre Rios. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnologia de Los Alimentos de Entre Rios.; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Maria Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Bromatología; ArgentinaFil: Mazzobre, Maria Florencia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Químicos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos y Procesos Químicos; Argentin

Shortened first-line TB treatment in Brazil: potential cost savings for patients and health services.

BACKGROUND: Shortened treatment regimens for tuberculosis are under development to improve treatment outcomes and reduce costs. We estimated potential savings from a societal perspective in Brazil following the introduction of a hypothetical four-month regimen for tuberculosis treatment. METHODS: Data were gathered in ten randomly selected health facilities in Rio de Janeiro. Health service costs were estimated using an ingredient approach. Patient costs were estimated from a questionnaire administered to 126 patients. Costs per visits and per case treated were analysed according to the type of therapy: self-administered treatment (SAT), community- and facility-directly observed treatment (community-DOT, facility-DOT). RESULTS: During the last 2 months of treatment, the largest savings could be expected for community-DOT; on average USD 17,351-18,203 and USD 43,660-45,856 (bottom-up and top-down estimates) per clinic. Savings to patients could also be expected as the median (interquartile range) patient-related costs during the two last months were USD 108 (13-291), USD 93 (36-239) and USD 11 (7-126), respectively for SAT, facility-DOT and community-DOT. CONCLUSION: Introducing a four-month regimen may result in significant cost savings for both the health service and patients, especially the poorest. In particular, a community-DOT strategy, including treatment at home, could maximise health services savings while limiting patient costs. Our cost estimates are likely to be conservative because a 4-month regimen could hypothetically increase the proportion of patients cured by reducing the number of patients defaulting and we did not include the possible cost benefits from the subsequent prevention of costs due to downstream transmission averted and rapid clinical improvement with less side effects in the last two months

A metaheuristics approach to the nurse rostering problem

Health care providers are affected by problems of personnel costs. Usually, the generation of rosters is a hand-made and time-consuming task and does not always comply with the legislation and the internal rules. The article presents an approach to roster generation for nursing technicians according to legal and internal restrictions and in a satisfactory period of time. It is also designed to give employees a higher level of satisfaction concerning their day off preferences and a fair distribution of unpopular shifts.The article’s proposal is to develop a hybrid system formed by a Tabu Search metaheuristic combined with a genetic algorithm. Experiments were carried out with artificial test cases based on real data. The results obtained were satisfactory, showing the feasibility of the solution in all tests performed.Key words: rostering problem, tabu search, genetic algorithm, hybrid systems

Evaluation of Soil Re-mineralizer from By-Product of Volcanic Rock Mining: Experimental Proof Using Black Oats and Maize Crops

This study was focused on physical, petrographical, mineralogical, and chemical characterization of a volcanic-rock mining by-product (dacite rock), as well as on greenhouse experiment with black oats and maize crops to evaluate the potential use of the by-product as soil re-mineralizer. The by-product sample was obtained from a quarry in the Nova Prata mining district in southern Brazil. The particle size distribution of the by-product and soil was determined by sieving. Dacite rock petrographic description was performed on a polished thin section by optical microscopy. The soil and dacite rock mineralogical phases were identified by X-ray diffraction. The by-product and soil chemical composition was determined by X-ray fluorescence. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was performed to determine potentially toxic elements, As, Cd, Hg and Pb in by-product. Additional chemical compositions of the by-product and soil were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray detector. Black oats and, sequentially maize, crops were cultivated in a typical Hapludox soil treated with the by-product in a greenhouse. Five by-product doses (0, 906, 1813, 3625, and 7251 kg ha−1) were added into pots containing soil, each with seven replications. Responses to treatments were evaluated from dry matter production, nutritional status of the crops, and in the changes in soil properties after 70 days of each cultivation. The results showed that the by-product is composed of plagioclase, K-feldspar, quartz, clinopyroxene, smectites, and opaque minerals with apatite as accessory mineral. The addition of 3625 and 7251 kg ha−1 doses of the by-product substantially increased the dry matter yield in maize leaves. The Ca uptake by maize leaves cultivated in soil with 7251 kg ha−1 dose of the by-product was significantly higher in soil with other doses, and all by-product doses promoted high concentrations of Mg and Ca. The accumulated amounts of Ca, K, Mg and P indicated that they were enough to supply maize nutritional needs. Improvements in soil properties, such as high levels of Ca, K and P and low levels of exchangeable Al and Al saturation were observed. The results of the study suggest that the by-product can be used as soil re-mineralizer. The dacite rock by-product studied here has potential to be an environmental solution to soil fertilization problem because it does not require chemical processing and can be used as it is mined

Desmoplastic fibroblastoma (collagenous fibroma) of the oral cavity

Desmoplastic fibroblastoma is benign soft tissue tumor, with fibroblastic or myofibroblastic origin, that rarely occurs in oral cavity. We reported the case of a 56-year-old man who presented a tumor in the left mandibular alveolar ridge, with slow and asymptomatic growth, with no osseous involvement. The tumor was sessile with lobulated surface, covered by healthy mucosa with erythematous areas. The lesion was excised and specimens sent to histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Histopathological exam showed a non-encapsulated fibroblastic proliferation, characterized by myofibroblasts, spindle and stellate fibroblasts with large or oval nuclei and bi or tri nucleation, immersed in an abundant hypocellular dense collagen stroma. Tumor cells were positive for vimentin, HHF35, α-smooth muscle actin and factor XIIIa. The diagnosis of desmoplastic fibroblastoma was based in the clinical history of absence of trauma related to the growth in the alveolar ridge, associated with macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical features. The patient is free-diseases by eight month

Chlamydia Trachomatis infection in infertile and pregnant women in southern Brazil

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial infection, affecting mainly young, sexually active women. Untreated infection may lead to reproductive complications due to tubal damage. Infections during pregnancy may cause preterm labor, low birth weight, perinatal death, and neonatal conjunctivitis and pneumonia. There are few data on CT infection in Brazil. The aim of this study was to determine CT prevalence in infertile and pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 77 infertile and 60 asymptomatic pregnant women. First-void urine was tested for CT using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). Blood samples were collected for CT IgG antibodies testing using indirect immunofluorescence. A questionnaire about medical, gynecological, and sexual history was completed by all participants. Results: We found statistically similar prevalence of PCR and IgG antibodies between the groups. There was a 61% prevalence of CT IgG antibodies in infertile women and 56.7% in pregnant women. PCR was positive in only one (1.3%) infertile woman and in none pregnant women. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of CT IgG antibody in Brazilian pregnant and infertile women, but we found a low prevalence of positive PCR in the urine samples. CT antibodies were associated with sexual behavior and smoking