Reestruturação e consolidação do sistema bancário privado brasileiro

The end of inflationary process after the introduction of the Real Plan took the Brazilian banking sector to undertake a process of reorganization by the increase of the banking concentration as well as the internationalization of the sector. It was supposed that the internationalization of the banking system would solve the great fragility structural of the Brazilian financial sector: the absence of domestic private mechanisms of financing of long run credit. It is perceived, however, that even so the Brazilian banking sector has been fortified and consolidated, changes of credit supply for the productive sector has not occurred once the banking system has opted for a strategy that has privileged the liquidity of the of public debt at the expenses of the credit.A perda das receitas inflacionárias após a introdução do Plano Real levou o setor bancário brasileiro a iniciar um processo de reestruturação baseado tanto no aumento da concentração bancária como na internacionalização do setor. Acreditava-se que, com a internacionalização do sistema bancário, seria possível solucionar a grande fragilidade estrutural do setor financeiro brasileiro: a ausência de mecanismos privados domésticos de financiamento de longo prazo. Percebe-se, no entanto, que, embora o setor bancário brasileiro se tenha fortalecido e consolidado, não ocorreram mudanças significativas referentes à oferta de crédito para o setor produtivo, uma vez que o sistema bancário optou por um tipo de estratégia e rentabilidade que privilegia a liquidez dos títulos de dívida pública em detrimento do crédito. Palavras-chave Reestruturação do setor bancário; internacionalização do setor bancário; concentração bancária

A pragmatic benchmarking study of an evidence-based personalised approach in 1938 adolescents with high-risk idiopathic scoliosis

Combining evidence-based medicine and shared decision making, current guidelines support an evidence-based personalised approach (EBPA) for idiopathic scoliosis in adolescents (AIS). EBPA is considered important for adolescents\u2019 compliance, which is particularly difficult in AIS. Benchmarking to existing Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) as paradigms of single treatments, we aimed to check the effectiveness and burden of care of an EBPA in high-risk AIS. This study\u2019s design features a retrospective observation of a prospective database including 25,361 spinal deformity patients < 18 years of age. Participants consisted of 1938 AIS, 11\u201345\u25e6 Cobb, Risser stage 0\u20132, who were studied until the end of growth. EBPA included therapies classified for burdensomeness according to current guidelines. Using the same inclusion criteria of the RCTs on exercises, plastic, and elastic bracing, out of the 1938 included, we benchmarked 590, 687, and 884 participants, respectively. We checked clinically significant results and burden of care, calculating Relative Risk of success (RR) and Number Needed to Treat (NNT) for efficacy (EA) and intent-to-treat analyses. At the end of growth, 19% of EBPA participants progressed, while 33% improved. EBPA showed 2.0 (1.7\u20132.5) and 2.9 (1.7\u20134.9) RR of success versus Weinstein and Coillard\u2019s studies control groups, respectively. Benchmarked to plastic or elastic bracing, EBPA had 1.4 (1.2\u20131.5) and 1.7 (1.2\u20132.5) RR of success, respectively. The EBPA treatment burden was greater than RCTs in 48% of patients, and reduced for 24% and 42% versus plastic and elastic bracing, respectively. EBPA showed to be from 40% to 70% more effective than benchmarked individual treatments, with low NNT. The burden of treatment was frequently reduced, but it had to be increased even more frequently

Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs), Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) and Their Interplay with Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs): A New World of Targets and Treatments

The importance of defining new molecules to fight cancer is of significant interest to the scientific community. In particular, it has been shown that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small sub-population of cells within tumors with capabilities of self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity; on the other side, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) seem to split away from the primary tumor and appear in the circulatory system as singular units or clusters. It is becoming more and more important to discover new biomarkers related to these populations of cells in combination to define the network among them and the tumor microenvironment. In particular, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the tumor microenvironment with different functions, including matrix deposition and remodeling, extensive reciprocal signaling interactions with cancer cells and crosstalk with immunity. The settings of new markers and the definition of the molecular connections may present new avenues, not only for fighting cancer but also for the definition of more tailored therapies

A importância das elasticidades-renda das importações e das exportações para o crescimento econômico: uma aplicação do Modelo de Thirlwall ao caso brasileiro

The main purpose of this paper is to verify the impact that the deficit on the trade balance has had on the rates of economic growth in Brazil during the 90's. In this sense, the paper utilizes the McCombie & Thirlwalls model which relates the rates of economic growth with the elasticity-income of the imports and the exports. The empirical analysis led us to conclude that the elasticity-income of the imports has been larger than the exports, which implies that economic growth has not been sustainable only by the exports, external resources has been necessary in order to maintain the Balance of Payments stability. Besides, the validity of the model is confirmed, mainly by the behavior of the consumption imports, owed mainly to the type of specialization of the production of the country.O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar se o déficit na balança comercial afeta as taxas de crescimento do produto no Brasil, nos anos 90. Para tanto, utiliza-se o modelo desenvolvido por McCombie e Thirlwall (1994), o qual relaciona taxas de crescimento do produto com as elasticidades-renda das importações e das exportações. Os resultados encontrados levam-nos a concluir que a elasticidade- -renda das importações foi maior que a das exportações, implicando uma dificuldade de crescimento sustentado apenas pelas exportações e gerando, assim, a necessidade de captação de recursos externos para manter o equilíbrio no balanço de pagamentos. Além disso, confirmou-se a validade do modelo, principalmente pelo comportamento das importações de consumo, devido, principalmente, ao tipo de especialização da produção do Pais. Palavras-chave Crescimento econômico; elasticidade-renda das exportações e importações; economia brasileira

Microscopic Polyangiitis With Selective Involvement of Central and Peripheral Nervous System : A Case Report

Background: Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is a necrotizing vasculitis that affects predominantly small-sized vessels in many organ systems. The disease generally causes glomerulonephritis, pulmonary damage, arthritis, and neuropathy. An exclusive involvement of both central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) is extremely rare. Case Presentation: A 62-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a 3 months history of right foot drop, recently complicated by intense myalgia, arthralgia, and allodynia to tactile, vibratory, and pressure stimuli. Since blood tests revealed elevated inflammatory indexes, we suspected either infectious or immune-mediated disorders. Chest radiograph, blood culture series, and echocardiogram revealed normal findings, while urinalysis showed a bacterial infection that was successfully treated. The neurophysiological findings were compatible with multiple mononeuritis, and a brain MRI evidenced ischemic lesions of both basal ganglia and thalamus. A wide-spectrum autoantibody assay revealed the presence of high-titer perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies specific for myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA). According to these findings, the diagnosis of MPA was made, and the patient was successfully treated with intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone, followed by two doses of rituximab. Conclusions: An assessment of both CNS and PNS should be included in the diagnostic evaluation of MPA. The involvement of the PNS may raise the risk of a relapsing course and treatment failure, therefore it should be considered in the choice of induction and maintenance therapy

Кінетика сумісного виділення цинку і нікелю з розбавлених електролітів

Досліджені закономірності виділення цінку, нікелю і цинк-нікелевого сплаву з розведених електролітів, що містять в якості лігандів амінокислоту та аміак. Найкращі технологічні параметри та якість покрить отримані при спільному вмісті у розчині обох лігандів. Запропонований електроліт характеризується високою стабільністю, є технологічним та екологічно безпечним.The mechanisms of zinc, nickel and zinc-nickel alloy deposition from diluted electrolytes, containing amino acid or ammonia as a ligand, were investigated. The very technological characteristics and coatings quality were obtained if the electrolyte contained both of the ligands. The suggested electrolyte is characterized by high stability, processibility and it is ecologically safe

Cochrane rehabilitation: 2020 Annual report

during its fourth year of existence, cochrane rehabilitation went on to promote evidence-informed health decision-making in rehabilitation. in 2020, the outbreak of the coVid-19 pandemic has made it necessary to alter priorities. in these challenging times, cochrane rehabilitation has firstly changed its internal organisation and established a new relevant project in line with pandemic needs: the REH-COVER (Rehabilitation – coVid-19 evidence-based response) action. the aim was to focus on the timely collection, review and dissemination of summarised and synthesised evidence relating to COVID-19 and rehabilitation. Cochrane Rehabilitation REH-COVER action has included in 2020 five main initiatives: 1) rapid living systematic reviews on rehabilitation and coVid-19; 2) interactive living evidence map on rehabilitation and coVid-19; 3) definition of the research topics on “rehabilitation and COVID-19” in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) rehabilitation programme; 4) Cochrane Library special collection on Coronavirus (COVID-19) rehabilitation; and 5) collaboration with COVID-END for the topics “rehabilitation” and “disability.” Furthermore, we are still carrying on five different special projects: Be4rehab; RCTRACK; definition of rehabilitation for research purposes; ebook project; and a prioritization exercise for Cochrane Reviews production. The Review Working Area continued to identify and “tag” the rehabilitation-relevant reviews published in the cochrane library; the publication Working area went on to publish Cochrane Corners, working more closely with the Cochrane Review Groups (CRGs) and Cochrane Networks, particularly with Cochrane Musculoskeletal, oral, skin and sensory Network; the Education Working area, the most damaged in 2020, tried to continue performing educational activities such as workshops in different online meetings; the Methodology Working area organized the third and fourth cochrane Rehabilitation Methodological (CRM) meetings respectively in Milan and Orlando; the Communication Working Area spread rehabilitation evidences through different channels and translated the contents in different languages

Experimental and Computational Investigation of Subcritical Near-Nozzle Spray Structure and Primary Atomization in the Engine Combustion Network Spray D

[EN] In order to improve understanding of the primary atomization process for diesel-like sprays, a collaborative experimental and computational study was focused on the near-nozzle spray structure for the Engine Combustion Network (ECN) Spray D single-hole injector. These results were presented at the 5th Workshop of the ECN in Detroit, Michigan. Application of x-ray diagnostics to the Spray D standard cold condition enabled quantification of distributions of mass, phase interfacial area, and droplet size in the near-nozzle region from 0.1 to 14 mm from the nozzle exit. Using these data, several modeling frameworks, from Lagrangian-Eulerian to Eulerian-Eulerian and from Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) to Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS), were assessed in their ability to capture and explain experimentally observed spray details. Due to its computational efficiency, the Lagrangian-Eulerian approach was able to provide spray predictions across a broad range of conditions. In general, this "engineering-level" simulation was able to reproduce the details of the droplet size distribution throughout the spray after calibration of the spray breakup model constants against the experimental data. Complementary to this approach, higher-fidelity modeling techniques were able to provide detailed insight into the experimental trends. For example, interface-capturing multiphase simulations were able to capture the experimentally observed bimodal behavior in the transverse interfacial area distributions in the near-nozzle region. Further analysis of the spray predictions suggests that peaks in the interfacial area distribution may coincide with regions of finely atomized droplets, whereas local minima may coincide with regions of continuous liquid structures. The results from this study highlight the potential of x-ray diagnostics to reveal salient details of the near-nozzle spray structure and to guide improvements to existing primary atomization modeling approaches.Battistoni, M.; Magnotti, GM.; Genzale, CL.; Arienti, M.; Matusik, KE.; Duke, DJ.; Giraldo-Valderrama, JS.... (2018). Experimental and Computational Investigation of Subcritical Near-Nozzle Spray Structure and Primary Atomization in the Engine Combustion Network Spray D. SAE International Journal of Fuel and Lubricants. 11(4):337-352. https://doi.org/10.4271/2018-01-0277S33735211

Predictors of CD34+ cell mobilization and collection in adult men with germ cell tumors: implications for the salvage treatment strategy

BACKGROUND: High-dose chemotherapy with tandem or triple carboplatin and etoposide course is currently the first curative choice for relapsing GCT. The collection of an adequate amount of hematopoietic (CD34(+)) stem cells is a priority. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed data of patients who underwent HDCT at 2 referral institutions. Chemotherapy followed by myeloid growth factors was applied in all cases. Uni- and multivariable models were used to evaluate the association between 2 prespecified variables and mobilization parameters. Analyses included only the first mobilizing course of chemotherapy and mobilization failures. RESULTS: A total of 116 consecutive patients underwent a mobilization attempt from December 1995 to November 2012. Mobilizing regimens included cyclophosphamide (CTX) 7 gr/m(2) (n = 39), cisplatin, etoposide, and ifosfamide (PEI) (n = 42), paclitaxel, cisplatin, and gemcitabine (TPG) (n = 11), and mixed regimens (n = 24). Thirty-seven percent were treated in first-line, 50% (n = 58) in second-line, 9.5% (n = 11) and 3.4% (n = 4) in third- and fourth-line settings, respectively. Six patients did not undergo HDCT because they were poor mobilizers, 2 in first- and second-line (1.9%), and 4 beyond the second-line (26.7%). In the multivariable model, third-line or later setting was associated with a lower CD34(+) cell peak/μL (P = .028) and a lower total CD34(+)/kg collected (P = .008). The latter was also influenced by the type of mobilizing regimen (P < .001). CONCLUSION: A decline in significant mobilization parameters was found, primarily depending on the pretreatment load. Results lend support to the role of CD34(+) cell mobilization in the therapeutic algorithm of relapsing GCT, for whom multiple HDCT courses are still an option, and potentially a cure

Genomic stability, anti-inflammatory phenotype, and up-regulation of the RNAseH2 in cells from centenarians

Current literature agrees on the notion that efficient DNA repair favors longevity across evolution. The DNA damage response machinery activates inflammation and type I interferon signaling. Both pathways play an acknowledged role in the pathogenesis of a variety of age-related diseases and are expected to be detrimental for human longevity. Here, we report on the anti-inflammatory molecular make-up of centenarian's fibroblasts (low levels of IL-6, type 1 interferon beta, and pro-inflammatory microRNAs), which is coupled with low level of DNA damage (measured by comet assay and histone-2AX activation) and preserved telomere length. In the same cells, high levels of the RNAseH2C enzyme subunit and low amounts of RNAseH2 substrates, i.e. cytoplasmic RNA:DNA hybrids are present. Moreover, RNAseH2C locus is hypo-methylated and RNAseH2C knock-down up-regulates IL-6 and type 1 interferon beta in centenarian's fibroblasts. Interestingly, RNAseH2C locus is hyper-methylated in vitro senescent cells and in tissues from atherosclerotic plaques and breast tumors. Finally, extracellular vesicles from centenarian's cells up-regulate RNAseH2C expression and dampen the pro-inflammatory phenotype of fibroblasts, myeloid, and cancer cells. These data suggest that centenarians are endowed with restrained DNA damage-induced inflammatory response, that may facilitate their escape from the deleterious effects of age-related chronic inflammation