Learning with the Amerindians: the evaluation of pelvic floor disorders among indigenous women who live in the Xingu Indian Park,Brazil

Objective: to evaluate the pelvic floor muscles and the incidence of pelvic organ prolapse among indigenous women who live in Xingu Indian Park, Mato Grosso, Brazil. 
Methods: observational study with 377 indigenous women, mean age 31+/-15 years, mean gravity 5+/-4, mean parity 4+/-3 and mean body mass index 23,3+/-4 Kg/m2. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) was the system used to quantification the staging of pelvic support and the pelvic floor muscle strength was assessed by a perineometer. Logistic regression was used to determine odds ratios and 95% CI for factors that were associated with prolapse. 
Results: The overall distribution of POP-Q stage system was the following: 15,6% stage 0, 19,4% stage I, 63,9% stage II and 0,8% stage III. Parity (OR=9.40, 95% CI 2.81-31,42) and age (OR=1,03, 95% IC 1,01-1,05) were the most important risk factors for pelvic organ prolapse. The high resting pressure was considered as a protecting factor (OR=0,96, 95% IC 0,94-0,98). 
Conclusions: Like non indigenous community, age and the parity were the most important risk factors to the genital prolapse; however the pelvic floor muscles strength were intact, maybe due to the indigenous lifestyle

Identification of yield coefficients in a baker’s yeast model: an optimal experimental design approach

The main objective of this work is to elaborate methodologies that allow the identification of yield coefficients through complete measurements of the state. Experimental design strategies are proposed in order to optimize the richness of data coming out from the experiments, quantified by indexes related to the Fisher information matrix. The objectives of the experimental planning have been addressed in terms of the programming of input trajectories. The experimental planning is envisaged for baker’s yeast aiming at the computation of the substrate feed trajectories

How to survive earthquakes: the example of Norcia

Trabalho apresentado em International Conference on Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics, 12-14 June 2017, Reykyjavik, IcelandN/

Select and accept

The aim of this paper is to present how to solve the problem of selecting a candidate up to his or her acceptance trough game theory. The originality this paper proposes is how this problem will be approached. It will be treated as a single game which is made up of two parts, going as far as to state that the payoffs in the first part of the game will be the mediators of the second part of the game. In order to represent the problem described above, a new form of game representation will be used – code form – consisting of a table which contains all of the information, without any suppression or “adulteration” with regards to the game

Aspectos e reflexões conceituais sobre informação, sistemas e teoria de sistemas

Os conceitos de subordinação, emergência e autonomia afirmam-se nas ciências, após os anos 50. O mundo atual interconecta-se em “redes”, que se relacionam, direta ou indiretamente, aos sistemas, subsistemas e supersistemas. Este artigo aborda aspectos e reflexões conceituais sobre informação e sistemas de informação. Algumas visões dadas pelas teorias da complexidade e de sistemas, e pela semiótica, são usadas como referencias teóricos. O objetivo é visitar uma fração da literatura correspondente ao tema. A perspectiva de abordagem é a pesquisa bibliográfica. As conclusões principais são: a) o fenômeno “informação” suscita discussões e confusões, no que tange aos “conceitos” e “significados”; b) organização, articulação entre partes e hierarquização são os aspectos mais relevantes dos sistemas; c) instituições e serviços de informação desempenham papéis que particularizam e definem sua ação, consoante perspectivas, tendo em conta: subordinação, emergência e autonomia

Using Science and Technology to Unveil The Hidden Delicacy Terfezia arenaria, a Desert Truffle

Terfezia arenaria is a desert truffle native to the Mediterranean Basin region, highly appreci- ated for its nutritional and aromatic properties. Despite the increasing interest in this desert truffle, T. arenaria is not listed as an edible truffle authorized for trade in the European Union. Therefore, our objective was to showcase T. arenaria’s nutritional and chemical composition and volatile profile. The nutritional analysis showed that T. arenaria is a good source of carbohydrates (67%), proteins (14%), and dietary fibre (10%), resulting in a Nutri-Score A. The truffle’s volatile profile was domi- nated by eight-carbon volatile compounds, with 1-octen-3-ol being the most abundant (64%), and 29 compounds were reported for the first time for T. arenaria. T. arenaria’s nutritional and chemical compositions were similar to those of four commercial mushroom and truffle species, while the aromatic profile was not. An electronic nose corroborated that T. arenaria‘s aromatic profile differs from that of the other four tested mushroom and truffle species. Our data showed that T. arenaria is a valuable food resource with a unique aroma and an analogous composition to meat, which makes it an ideal source for plant-based meat products. Our findings could help promote a sustainable future exploitation of T. arenaria and ensure the quality and authenticity of this delicacy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tourism sector competitiveness in Portugal: applying Porter's Diamond

The tourism sector has stood out for its enormous capacity for growth on a global scale and holding a relevant role both as a tool for the competitiveness and as a driver of regional development. This profile stems not only from its multiplier effects but also the opportunities susceptible to identification within the scope of offsetting regional disparities in growth and prosperity. The objective of this research project consists of evaluating the competitiveness of the regional areas and directorates of tourism in Portugal with the methodology applied requiring the input of primary data (a sample of 446 companies), through a questionnaire aimed at companies displaying the activities characteristic of the World Tourism Organisation satellite account. Through the application of Porter’s Diamond Model, we arrived at a conceptual model through recourse to the Partial Least Square – Path Modelling technique with the objective of analysing the relationships unfolding among the determinant variables to competitiveness in the tourism sector. Despite the results returned proving clear, we also verify that encapsulating competitiveness proves no easy task given how Portugal reports regions with simultaneously very varied and very specific characteristics.O sector do turismo destaca-se pela enorme capacidade de crescimento a nível mundial, desempenhando um papel relevante tanto como ferramenta para a competitividade como enquanto motor do desenvolvimento regional. Este perfil decorre não apenas dos seus efeitos multiplicadores, mas também das oportunidades suscetíveis de identificação no âmbito da compensação das disparidades regionais no crescimento e prosperidade. O objetivo desta investigação consiste em avaliar a competitividade das áreas regionais e direções do turismo em Portugal. Utilizamos dados primários (uma amostra de 446 empresas), através de um questionário destinado a empresas que exibem as atividades características da conta satélite da Organização Mundial de Turismo. Através da aplicação do Modelo de Diamante de Porter, alcançamos um modelo conceitual através do recurso à técnica de Partial Least Square – Path Modelling com o objetivo de analisar as relações que se desdobram entre as variáveis determinantes para a competitividade no setor de turismo. Apesar de os resultados retornados serem claros, verificamos também que o encapsulamento da competitividade não se revela uma tarefa fácil, dado o fato de Portugal englobar regiões com características simultaneamente muito variadas e muito específicas

Overcoming inertia : drivers of the outsourcing process

Almost all managers have directly or indirectly been involved in the practice of outsourcing in recent years. But as they know, outsourcing is not straightforward. Outsourcing inertia, when companies are slow to adapt to changing circumstances that accommodate higher outsourcing levels, may undermine a firm’s performance. This article investigates the presence of outsourcing inertia and the factors that help managers overcome it. Using statistical evidence, we show that positive performance effects related to outsourcing can accumulate when circumstances change. This is then followed by rapid increases in outsourcing levels (i.e. outsourcing processes). We investigate what gives rise to these outsourcing processes through follow-up interviews with sourcing executives, which suggest five drivers behind outsourcing processes: managerial initiative (using outside experience); hierarchy (foreign headquarters); imitation (of competitors and of similar firms); outsider advice (from external institutions); knowledge sources (using external information). These five drivers all offer scope for managerial action. We tie them to academic literatures and suggest ways of investigating their presence and impact on the outsourcing process. Overall, we conclude that while economizing factors play a key role in explaining how much firms outsource, it is socializing factors that tend to drive outsourcing processes

Heterocyclic dicyanovinyl derivatives: synthesis and evaluation of the chemosensory ability in aqueous solution

Two novel dicyanovinyl derivatives 3a-b were synthesized in moderate to good yields through a Knoevenagel reaction of the corresponding aldehyde precursors and malononitrile. The photophysical properties of the new push-pull systems were studied by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy in acetonitrile. The evaluation of the compounds as colorimetric chemosensors was carried out by performing spectrophotometric titrations in acetonitrile and acetonitrile/water in the presence of relevant organic and inorganic anions, and of alkaline, alkaline-earth and transition metal cations. The benzoindole derivative exhibited great selectivity for the cyanide anion over other anions in acetonitrile/water (8:2) solution showing a distinct color change from colorless to yellow.FCTFEDERQRE