Intenção de Uso de E-learning no Ensino Superior: Há diferenças de Percepção entre Homens e Mulheres?

ABSTRACTPersonal differences such as age, gender and life experience lead to different perceptions, and thus, to distinct behaviors. Therefore, different perceptions may influence individual behavior regarding acceptance and diffusion of technology systems. This study has two goals: to analyze, in a Brazilian setting, e-learning usage among undergraduate students in a private university, and to test the impact of gender on the proposed relationships. Data obtained via a cross-sectional survey was analyzed by structural equation modeling. Results indicate that gender has little impact on the tested relationships, except for the effect of previous experience with technology on perceived ease of use, which is significantly more pronounced in females

Encomenda tecnológica e transferência de tecnologia da vacina para COVID-19 no Brasil: um estudo de caso do modelo utilizado pela AstraZeneca/Oxford e Fiocruz

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, showed a rapid increase in the number of cases and deaths in the five continents, with a major impact in the public health and the economy of the countries. The effects of COVID-19 have highlighted an increase in existing inequalities in society. A global mobilization for the development and rapid production of vaccines was needed to meet the emergency demand caused by COVID-19. Objective: To discuss actions carried out by Fiocruz in the challenges imposed by the emergency to combat the disease, in addition to analyzing and discussing the partnership established between Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz and AstraZeneca, through Technological Order (ETEC), aiming at the verticalized Technology Transfer (TT) of the CHADOX1 NCOV-19 vaccine. Method: A documentary analysis of a descriptive nature and qualitative approach was carried out, based on the search for scientific articles on the subject, and institutional documents, as well as a thorough procedural analysis of ETEC, formalized between Fiocruz and AstraZeneca. Results: Although the National Policy for Technological Innovation in Health (PNITS) describes three viable legal instruments for formalizing partnerships, ETEC was the most adequate to meet the demands imposed by the health emergency of COVID-19, reinforcing the importance of using the State’s purchasing power as an instrument for strengthening the State Health Care System (SUS) within the scope of the Health Industrial Complex. Conclusions: Even  considering the health emergency caused by COVID-19, Bio- Manguinhos/Fiocruz managed to establish a partnership with AstraZeneca, aiming at the TT for the national verticalized production of the COVID-19 vaccine, for the attendance of SUS ́s demand. The legal instrument chosen for the formalization of the partnership was ETEC, the first used in the public health area, which proved feasible to be reproduced in future partnerships aiming at the internalization of technologies of national interest. From the absorption of this technology, Bio-Manguinhos will be able to develop new vaccines of HM’s interest using the same technology.Introdução: A pandemia de COVID-19, provocada pelo SARS-CoV-2, mostrou um rápido aumento do número de casos e mortes nos cinco continentes, com marcante impacto na saúde pública e economia dos países. Os efeitos da COVID-19 evidenciaram um aumento das desigualdades existentes na sociedade. Foi necessária uma mobilização global para o desenvolvimento e produção rápida de vacinas para atender à demanda emergencial causada pelo COVID-19. Objetivo: Discutir as ações realizadas pela Fiocruz nos desafios impostos pela emergência ao combate à doença, além de analisar e discutir a parceria estabelecida entre Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz e a AstraZeneca, por meio da Encomenda Tecnológica (ETECT), visando a Transferência de Tecnologia (TT) verticalizada da vacina CHADOX1 NCOV-19. Método: Foi realizada análise documental de natureza descritiva e abordagem qualitativa, realizada a partir da busca de artigos científicos sobre o tema e documentos institucionais, bem como uma análise processual minuciosa da ETEC, formalizada entre a Fiocruz e a AstraZeneca. Resultados: Embora a PNITS descreva três instrumentos jurídicos viáveis para formalização de parcerias, a ETEC foi a mais adequada para atendimento das demandas impostas pela emergência sanitária da COVID-19, reforçando a importância do uso do poder de compra do Estado como instrumento para o fortalecimento do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) no âmbito do Complexo Industrial da Saúde. Conclusões: Mesmo considerando a emergência sanitária provocada pela COVID-19, Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz conseguiu estabelecer a parceria com a AstraZeneca, visando a TT para produção nacional verticalizada da vacina COVID-19, para atendimento da demanda do SUS. O instrumento jurídico escolhido, para a formalização da parceria, foi a ETEC, a primeira empregada na área da saúde pública, que se mostrou factível de ser reproduzida em futuras parcerias visando a internalização de tecnologias de interesse nacional. A partir da absorção desta tecnologia Bio-Manguinhos poderá desenvolver novas vacinas de interesse do Ministério da Saúde utilizando a mesma tecnologia

Oral health education among Portuguese adolescents

Introduction: Oral health education is an important issue that should be given to children and adolescents, allowing the acquisition of correct oral health behaviours. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and assess the quality of oral health behaviours among a sample of portuguese adolescents and verify their association with socio-demographic variables. Participants and methods: A cross-sectional study was designed with a sample of 447 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years old, attending a public school in Satao, Portugal. An interview was made questioning about socio-demographic factors and oral health behaviours to each adolescent in the classroom. Prevalence was expressed in proportions and crude odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to measure the strength of association between oral health behaviours and socio-demographic factors. Results: The prevalence of toothbrushing (twice-a-day or more) was 90.6%. Five point eight percent of adolescents reported daily flossing, more frequent among female gender (female, OR=2.03 95% CI=1.35-3.05) and adolescents older than 15 years (>15years, OR=1.90 95% CI=1.24-2.92). Sixty-seven percent had at least one dental appointment in the previous twelve months. The prevalence of dental appointments was associated with socio-economic variables such as the father's professional situation (unemployed, OR=0.33 95% CI=0.17-0.65) and crowding index (>1,OR=0.495%CI=0.16-0.98). Conclusion: Considering the results of the present study, oral health community programs and primary preventive strategies, such as improvement of oral health education in schools should be considered in order to reduce the risk level of oral diseases and develop better oral health behaviours. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Novel Li3ClO based glasses with superionic properties for lithium batteries

Three types of next generation batteries are currently being envisaged among the international community: metal-air batteries, multivalent cation batteries and all-solid-state batteries. These battery designs require high-performance, safe and cost effective electrolytes that are compatible with optimized electrode materials. Solid electrolytes have not yet been extensively employed in commercial batteries as they suffer from poor ionic conduction at acceptable temperatures and insufficient stability with respect to lithium-metal. Here we show a novel type of glasses, which evolve from an antiperovskite structure and that show the highest ionic conductivity ever reported for the Li-ion (25 mS cm-1 at 25 °C). These glassy electrolytes for lithium batteries are inexpensive, light, recyclable, non-flammable and non-toxic. Moreover, they present a wide electrochemical window (higher than 8 V) and thermal stability within the application range of temperatures

Water solvated glass/amorphous solid ionic conductors

The disclosure provides a water-solvated glass/amorphous solid that is an ionic conductor-an electronic insulator, and a dielectric as well as electrochemical devices and processes that use this material, such as batteries, including rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, capacitors, electrolysis cells, and electronic devices. The electrochemical devices and products use a combination of ionic and electronic conduction as well as internal electric dipoles.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Estado nutricional e hiperhidratación: ¿la bioimpedancia espectroscópica es válida en pacientes en hemodiálisis?

Background: Protein-energy wasting (PEW), associated with inflammation and overhydration, is common in haemodialysis (HD) patients and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Objective: Assess the relationship between nutritional status, markers of inflammation and body composition through bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) in HD patients. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional, single centre study, carried out in an HD centre in Forte da Casa (Portugal), involved 75 patients on an HD programme. In all participating patients, the following laboratory tests were conducted: haemoglobin, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3]. The body mass index of all patients was calculated and a modified version of subjective global assessment (SGA) was produced for patients on dialysis. Intracellular water (ICW) and extracellular water (ECW) were measured by BIS (Body Composition Monitor®, Fresenius Medical Care®) after the HD session. In statistical analysis, Spearman’s correlation was used for the univariate analysis and linear regression for the multivariate analysis (SPSS 14.0). A P value of <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: PEW, inversely assessed through the ICW/body weight (BW) ratio, was positively related to age (P<.001), presence of diabetes (P=.004), BMI (P=.01) and CRP (P=.008) and negatively related to albumin (p=.006) and 25(OH)D3 (P=.007). Overhydration, assessed directly through the ECW/BW ratio, was positively related with CRP (P=.009) and SGA (P=.03), and negatively with 25(OH)D3 (P=.006) and BMI (P=.01). In multivariate analysis, PEW was associated with older age (P<.001), the presence of diabetes (P=.003), lower 25(OH)D3 (P=.008), higher CRP (P=.001) and lower albumin levels (P=.004). Over-hydration was associated with higher CRP (P=.001) and lower levels of 25(OH)D3 (P=.003). Conclusions: Taking these results into account, the ICW/BW and ECW/BW ratios, assessed with BIS, have proven to be good markers of the nutritional and inflammatory status of HD patients. BIS may be a useful tool for regularly assessing the nutritional and hydration status in these patients and may allow nutritional advice to be improved and adjusted.RESUMEN - Antecedentes: El desgaste proteico-energético (DPE asociado a inflamación e hiperhidratación, es común en pacientes en hemodiálisis (HD) y se asocia a mayor morbilidad y mortalidad. Objetivo: Evaluar la relación entre el estado nutricional, los marcadores inflamatorios y la composición corporal a través de bioimpedancia espectroscópica (BIS) en pacientes en HD. Métodos: En este estudio observacional, transversal, unicéntrico, realizado en un centro de HD en Forte da Casa (Portugal), participaron 75 pacientes en programa de HD. En todos los participantes se hicieron las siguientes determinaciones analíticas: hemoglobina, albúmina, proteína C reactiva (PCR) y 25-hidroxivitamina D3 [25(OH)D3]. Se calculó el índice de masa corporal (IMC) de todos los pacientes y se aplicó una versión modificada de la valoración global subjetiva (VGS) para pacientes en diálisis. El agua intracelular (AIC) y extracelular (AEC) se midió con BIS (Body Composition Monitor®, Fresenius Medical Care®) después de la sesión de HD. En el análisis estadístico se utilizó la correlación de Spearman para el análisis univariante y la regresión lineal para el análisis multivariante (SPSS 14.0). Una p < 0,05 se consideró estadísticamente significativa. Resultados: El DPE, evaluado inversamente a través de la relación AIC/ peso corporal (PC), se relacionó positivamente con la edad (p < 0,001), la presencia de diabetes (p = 0,004), el IMC (p = 0,01) y la PCR (p = 0,008) y negativamente con la albúmina (p = 0,006) y la 25(OH)D3 (p = 0,007). La hiperhidratación, evaluada directamente a través de la relación AEC/PC, se relacionó positivamente con la PCR (p = 0,009) y con la VGS (p = 0,03), y negativamente con la 25(OH)D3 (p = 0,006) y el IMC (p = 0,01). En el análisis multivariante, el DPE se asoció a edad más elevada (p < 0,001), presencia de diabetes (p = 0,003), 25(OH)D3 más baja (p = 0,008), PCR más elevada (p = 0,001) y niveles de albúmina más bajos (p = 0,004). La hiperhidratación se asoció a PCR más elevada (p = 0,001) y niveles de 25(OH)D3 más bajos (p = 0,003). Conclusiones: Teniendo en cuenta estos resultados, las relaciones AIC/PC y AEC/PC, evaluadas con BIS, han demostrado ser buenos marcadores del estado nutricional e inflamatorio de pacientes en programa de HD. La BIS puede ser una herramienta útil para evaluar regularmente el estado nutricional y de hidratación en estos pacientes y puede permitir mejorar y adecuar el asesoramiento nutricional