Public broadcasting service under austerity: cross-comparison between Portugal and Spain

Versão final do autor / Accepted version | Pré-publicação online do artigo (11/04/2020) / Online First (11/04/2020)Following the global financial crisis of 2007/08, five European countries called for external financial assistance. Austerity policies were implemented, but the extent to which the bailout deal impacted the Portuguese and Spanish public service broadcasters has not been yet thoroughly investigated. Both born in dictatorial regimes, these public services broadcasters in democratic contexts followed different solutions for governance and funding. This article investigates the changes produced in the Portuguese and Spanish public media under the austerity era, analysing the policy measures implemented, as well as the economic and ratings performance of both public service broadcasters. The aim is to assess if external factors (such as external assistance) originated similar effects in both countries Results show that, in spite of different funding and governance models adopted, both public services were heavily impacted in terms of revenues and ratings and that the austerity period provided the context to set up a neoliberal ideological point-of-view. Both public services lost legitimacy and their cultural and political role was undermined by a discussion that was grounded on economic factors alone.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was financed by Portuguese national funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., under the project UIDB/00736/2020

Estudio de viaductos existentes: criterios para llevar a cabo la investigación estructural

El objeto de la presente comunicación es destacar la importancia de plantear correctamente el estudio del estado actual de un viaducto existente de cara a analizar sus condiciones de durabilidad. Para ello, partiendo de su inspección, deberemos establecer los criterios para la localización y tipología de las calas a realizar sobre la estructura, definir los ensayos complementarios necesarios en cada caso según se deduzca de los aspectos observados en las inspecciones realizadas (tanto de los daños existentes como de las calas que se practiquen), y así poder establecer un juicio técnico fundamentado sobre el origen de las anomalías que se observen, valorar su trascendencia estructural, y poder determinar las medidas de reparación y/ o refuerzo más adecuadas en cada caso. La propuesta de actuación expuesta en el artículo destaca la importancia de los trabajos de inspección (daños y calas) y de Laboratorio, sin entrar a valorar otros ensayos (resistividad, medidas de potenciales de corrosión, etc.), que podrían resultar oportunos en algunos casos

Resistência bacteriana e mortalidade em um centro de terapia intensiva

The goal was to identify risk factors for healthcare-associated infections by resistant microorganisms and patient mortality in an Intensive Care Unit. A prospective and descriptive epidemiological research was conducted from 2005 till 2008, involving 2300 patients. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used. In bivariate analysis, infection caused by resistant microorganism was significantly associated to patients with community-acquired infection (p=0.03; OR=1.79) and colonization by resistant microorganism (pSe objetivó identificar factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de infecciones relacionadas al cuidar en salud, por microorganismos resistentes, y también investigar su relación con la mortalidad de los pacientes en un centro de terapia intensiva. Se trata de un estudio epidemiológico prospectivo realizado entre 2005 y 2008, envolviendo 2.300 pacientes. Se utilizó la estadística descriptiva y el análisis de regresión logístico bivariado y multivariado. En el análisis bivariado, la infección por microorganismos resistentes estuvo significativamente asociada a pacientes con infección comunitaria (p=0,03; OR=1,79) y a la colonización por microorganismo resistente (pObjetivou-se identificar fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de infecções, relacionadas ao cuidar em saúde, por microrganismos resistentes e a mortalidade dos pacientes em um centro de terapia intensiva. Trata-se de estudo epidemiológico prospectivo, realizado entre 2005 e 2008, envolvendo 2.300 pacientes. Utilizou-se estatística descritiva, análise de regressão logística bivariada e multivariada. Na análise bivariada, a infecção por microrganismo resistente esteve significativamente associada a pacientes com infecção comunitária (p=0,03; OR=1,79) e colonização por microrganismo resistente (

Lack of Transit Timing Variations of OGLE-TR-111b: A re-analysis with six new epochs

We present six new transits of the exoplanet OGLE-TR-111b observed with the Magellan Telescopes in Chile between April 2008 and March 2009. We combine these new transits with five previously published transit epochs for this planet between 2005 and 2006 to extend the analysis of transit timing variations reported for this system. We derive a new planetary radius value of 1.019 +/- 0.026 R_J, which is intermediate to the previously reported radii of 1.067 +/- 0.054 R_J (Winn et al. 2007) and 0.922 +/- 0.057 R_J (Diaz et al. 2008). We also examine the transit timing variation and duration change claims of Diaz et al. (2008). Our analysis of all eleven transit epochs does not reveal any points with deviations larger than 2 sigma, and most points are well within 1 sigma. Although the transit duration nominally decreases over the four year span of the data, systematic errors in the photometry can account for this result. Therefore, there is no compelling evidence for either a timing or a duration variation in this system. Numerical integrations place an upper limit of about 1 M_E on the mass of a potential second planet in a 2:1 mean-motion resonance with OGLE-TR-111b.Comment: 28 pages, 7 tables, 6 figures. Accepted by Ap

Anti-atherogenic properties associated with the antioxidant activity from the hydrophilic extracts of Halimeda incrassata (Chlorophyta, Bryopsidales)

Seaweeds are a source of natural antioxidants having potential application in oxidative stress and associated diseases. In this work, anti-atherogenic properties associated with the antioxidant activity from the hydrophilic extracts of Halimeda incrassata were studied. The phenolic content assessed inthe aqueous extract and fraction phenolic acids (FPA) was 0.13 ± 0.05 and 0.47 ± 0.09 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g dry seaweed, respectively. In DPPH?, radical scavenging assay fractions exhibited a dependent concentration. The seaweeds extract inhibited the desoxirribose oxidation in the presenceor absence of EDTA (IC50 = 1.91± 0.09 mg/mL) (IC50 = 2.95 ± 0.01 mg/mL). In vivo antioxidant properties of FPA-H.incrassata were investigated in rats with a CCl4-induced liver injury. Pre-treatment with H.incrassata led to approximately 50% reductions in liver TBARS levels. The treatment with H. incrassataFPA also increased the activity of the CAT enzyme, which in turn resulted in an enhanced antioxidantdefense. The expression of Catalase by PCR-RT technique demonstrated a higher gene expression when compared with that which was observed in the CCl 4-treated group. Antiatherogenic properties were studied in the inhibition of lipoprotein oxidation mediated by Cu2+ or HRP/H2O2, free radicalscavenging, and metal ion chelation, and it was dose dependent with a higher concentration needed for the aqueous extract than for the FPA fraction. Antioxidant activity was also improved in macrophages as evaluated in the cell supernatant (by TBARS formation); and by luminol enhanced chemiluminescence after cell activation with zymosan; and a degree of cell lipoperoxidation wasdecreased by the Halimeda incrassata extract. The results of this work add to the antioxidant potential of the seaweed for its application in oxidative stress associated conditions.Fil: Vidal-Novoa, Alexis. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: Costa-Mugica, Ariadna. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: Zulueta Díaz, Yenisleidy de Las Mercedes. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; Cuba. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Diaz-Gutierrez, Daylín. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: de Oliveira e Silva, Ana, Mara. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Vazquez, Ana María. Center For Molecular Inmunology; CubaFil: Claudina, Zaldívar-Munoz. Universidad de la Habana. Facultad de Biología; CubaFil: Dalva, Assuncao Portari de Mancini. Institute Butantan Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Mancini-Filho, Jorge. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

The structure of social representations on health and illness among members of social movements

Este estudo buscou analisar as representações sociais de saúde e doença dos integrantes dos movimentos sociais da saúde do Distrito Federal, a fim de destacar potencialidades e limitações à ampliação da garantia da integralidade da atenção à saúde. Aplicou-se questionário a 66 participantes para verificar o seu perfil, além do emprego da técnica de associação livre e hierarquização de itens com termo indutor saúde e doença para identificação da estrutura das representações sociais, que foram analisados com o software EVOC (Ensemble de Programmes Permettant l’Analyse des Évocations) versão 2000. Os integrantes dos oito movimentos identificados são majoritariamente adultos jovens, masculinos, militantes há mais de seis anos, que estudaram além do ensino médio, renda acima de dois salários mínimos e usuários do SUS. A estrutura das representações sociais demonstra que o elemento qualidade de vida compõe o núcleo central do termo saúde e o elemento sofrimento do termo doença. As representações sociais do processo saúde-doença indicam avanços na sua concepção, entretanto necessitam ser consubstanciadas na perspectiva do modelo de determinação social. Os movimentos sociais são essenciais para mobilizar a sociedade na definição do padrão de saúde desejável por meio do desenvolvimento de políticas públicas.The scope of the study was to identify the structure of social representations regarding health and illness as expressed by representatives of social movements. The study included 66 members of social movements in the Federal District of Brazil. A questionnaire was applied to obtain the socio-economic profile of the participants and the free association technique was used in order to identify the likely peripheral and central core of the social representations analyzed by version 2000 EVOC software (Ensemble de Programmes Permettant l’Analyse des Évocations). The study results indicate that the majority of the participants have been activists for longer than six years, male, young adults, with above high school level education, monthly income over two minimum salaries, and are users of the Brazilian Unified Health System. Concerning the social representations of health structure, it was found that “quality of life” comprised the core system, while in the case of the social representations of illness, the core was found to be “suffering.” The study suggests that the respondents’ social representations of health and illness remain distant from a Social Determinants paradigm considered necessary for the assertion of the right to health and for achieving quality of life

Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Threatened Abortion in Women from Northern Peru

Introduction. Toxoplasma gondii infection can cause important complications during pregnancy. Threatened abortion may be a late indicator for infection in settings with high prevalence of toxoplasmosis. We aimed to determine the association between T. gondii infection and threatened abortion in women from northern Peru. Methods. We conducted a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study in pregnant women from a hospital and a rural community in Lambayeque, Peru. Exposure variable was serological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, defined as the demonstration of either IgM or IgG antibodies against T. gondii. Outcome variable was threatened abortion, defined as the diagnosis of bloody vaginal discharge or bleeding during the first half of pregnancy. Prevalence ratios were estimated in simple and multiple regression analyses. Results. Of 218 pregnant women, 35.8% presented positive serology for T. gondii and 14.7% had threatened abortion in their current pregnancy. Pregnant women with positive T. gondii infection had 2.45-fold higher frequency of threatened abortion (PR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.15-5.21). In addition, the frequency of threatened abortion decreased by 9% for each additional year of age (PR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.86-0.97). A previous history of threatened abortion also showed a higher frequency of threatened abortion (PR: 5.22, 95% CI: 2.45-11.12). Conclusions. T. gondii infection is associated with threatened abortion. An early age of pregnancy and a previous history of abortion are also associated with this condition

Do static sources respond to massive scalar particles from the Hawking radiation as uniformly accelerated ones do in the inertial vacuum?

We revisit the recently found equivalence for the response of a static scalar source interacting with a {\em massless} Klein-Gordon field when the source is (i) static in Schwarzschild spacetime, in the Unruh vacuum associated with the Hawking radiation and (ii) uniformly accelerated in Minkowski spacetime, in the inertial vacuum, provided that the source's proper acceleration is the same in both cases. It is shown that this equivalence is broken when the massless Klein-Gordon field is replaced by a {\em massive} one.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure