Effects of the presence of cellulose and curaua fibers on the thermal and mechanical properties of eco-composites based on cellulose acetate

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOLos materiales eco-compósitos han obtenido el interés de la academia, debido a sus características amigables al medio ambiente. En este trabajo, se prepararon dos grupos de eco-compósitos con matriz de acetato de celulosa, reforzados con fibras de celulos172533546FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO2010/02098-02010/17804-7Los autores agradecen el financiamiento de los proyectos CONACYT 251504 y 264110. Además,se agradece a EMBRAPA por donar las fibras y aFAPESP (2010/02098-0 y 2010/17804-7

Post-doctoral research fellowship as a health policy and systems research capacity development intervention: a case of the CHESAI initiative

BACKGROUND: Building capacity in health policy and systems research (HPSR), especially in low- and middle-income countries, remains a challenge. Various approaches have been suggested and implemented by scholars and institutions using various forms of capacity building to address challenges regarding HPSR development. The Collaboration for Health Systems Analysis and Innovation (CHESAI) – a collaborative effort between the Universities of Cape Town and the Western Cape Schools of Public Health – has employed a non-research based post-doctoral research fellowship (PDRF) as a way of building African capacity in the field of HPSR by recruiting four post-docs. In this paper, we (the four post-docs) explore whether a PDRF is a useful approach for capacity building for the field of HPSR using our CHESAI PDRF experiences. METHODS: We used personal reflections of our written narratives providing detailed information regarding our engagement with CHESAI. The narratives were based on a question guide around our experiences through various activities and their impacts on our professional development. The data analysis process was highly iterative in nature, involving repeated meetings among the four post-docs to reflect, discuss and create themes that evolved from the discussions. RESULTS: The CHESAI PDRF provided multiple spaces for our engagement and capacity development in the field of HPSR. These spaces provided us with a wide range of learning experiences, including teaching and research, policy networking, skills for academic writing, engaging practitioners, co-production and community dialogue. Our reflections suggest that institutions providing PDRF such as this are valuable if they provide environments endowed with adequate resources, good leadership and spaces for innovation. Further, the PDRFs need to be grounded in a community of HPSR practice, and provide opportunities for the post-docs to gain an in-depth understanding of the broader theoretical and methodological underpinnings of the field. CONCLUSION: The study concludes that PDRF is a useful approach to capacity building in HPSR, but it needs be embedded in a community of practice for fellows to benefit. More academic institutions in Africa need to adopt innovative and flexible support for emerging leaders, researchers and practitioners to strengthen our health systemsIS

Dataset for Impaired executive functioning in Brazilian boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Excel file with raw data with the genetic profile of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) participants and data the CANTAB tests results from DMD and control participants

Individual differences in self-face recognition

As we see our faces only indirectly, self-face recognition (SFR) requires efficient multisensory integration. Little is known about the mental representation of one’s face, even though SFR is a hallmark of reflexive self-consciousness. A new paradigm was used to explore SFR and investigate how well we know our own facial features: participants (N=35; 25 females) chose which of two selfface images was their veridical one (veridical image vs. image with eye, mouth and nose size digitally manipulated) and then which of those two images they liked most. The study provides evidence that recognition was better when veridical self-faces were paired with self-face ‘clones’ with larger rather than smaller facial features. Accuracy improved further when the features were enlarged concurrently as opposed to separately. Smaller noses and larger eyes were preferred and participants manipulate their self-images accordingly. Large individual differences and an asymmetrical self-face representation were common. The results indicated a certain tolerance for error in self-face recognition, which might be required to maintain a consistent facial identity during one’s life span. Surprisingly, the preference for neotenous self-facial features points to the internalisation of notions of attractiveness often desired in possible partners