Sustainable water services and interaction with water resources in Europe and in Brazil

International audienceThe increasing interaction between large cities and nature makes "urban water" an issue: water resources and water services - including public water supply, sewage collection and treatment, and in large cities, storm water control -, which had become separate issues thanks to the process of water transport and treatment technologies, are now increasingly interfering with each other. We cannot take nature for granted anymore, and we need to protect water resources, if only to reduce the long term cost of transporting and treating water. In this paper, we compare the historical development of water industry technologies in European and Brazilian metropolitan areas, in their socio-economic and political context, tracing it through three "ages" of water technology and services which developed under civil engineering, sanitary engineering, and environmental engineering perspectives: the "quantity of water" and civil engineering paradigm was developed on the assumption that water should be drawn from natural environments far from the cities; in the "water quality" and chemical/sanitation engineering paradigm, water treatment was invented and allowed cities to take water from rivers closer to them and treat it, but also to reduce sewer discharge impacts; finally, the environmental engineering paradigm proposes to overcome the supply side perspective, by introducing demand side management, water conservation, water allocation flexibilisation, and an integrated approach to water services, water resources management, and land use policies

Diabetic Foot Infection: Causative Pathogens and Empiric Antibiotherapy Considerations-The Experience of a Tertiary Center

Most moderate-to-severe diabetic foot infections (DFIs) require hospitalization with urgent surgical approach and administration of empiric antibiotherapy. To ensure optimal antibiotic coverage, regular microbiological background updates are imperative. The purpose is to characterize the microbiological profile and the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of the DFI causative pathogens isolated within a specialized DFI unit of a tertiary hospital, in order to establish evidence-based policies regarding empirical antibiotic use. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Microbiological cultures and corresponding antibiotic sensitivity tests collected from moderate-to-severe DFIs as a first approach to the hospitalized patient were retrieved and analyzed during a 12-month period. Two groups were analyzed: inpatients that had been previously followed at the diabetic foot clinic of the hospital and inpatients without a previous contact with the hospital services. A total of 125 isolates obtained from 87 patients were deemed for analysis. Globally, a predominance of Gram-positive bacteria was observed (60%). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen. The global ratio of methicillin-sensitive S aureus to methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) was 1.3:1, with similar findings in both groups. According to the antibiotic sensitivity test results, and within the recommended empiric antibiotic regimens for DFI, piperacillin/tazobactam seems to be the most suitable option. Gram-positive bacteria prevail as the main isolates in DFIs. Screening for MRSA-specific risk factors is mandatory. When going for a first empiric therapy, piperacillin/tazobactam is recommended in this institution, and an anti-MRSA agent should be added early, if necessary. We encourage continuous monitoring for the bacterial prevalence in Portuguese diabetic foot centers as it is paramount for the decision making regarding DFI protocols.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

On the differential geometry of curves in Minkowski space

We discuss some aspects of the differential geometry of curves in Minkowski space. We establish the Serret-Frenet equations in Minkowski space and use them to give a very simple proof of the fundamental theorem of curves in Minkowski space. We also state and prove two other theorems which represent Minkowskian versions of a very known theorem of the differential geometry of curves in tridimensional Euclidean space. We discuss the general solution for torsionless paths in Minkowki space. We then apply the four-dimensional Serret-Frenet equations to describe the motion of a charged test particle in a constant and uniform electromagnetic field and show how the curvature and the torsions of the four-dimensional path of the particle contain information on the electromagnetic field acting on the particle.Comment: 10 pages. Typeset using REVTE

Organizational anomie, professional self-concept and organizational support perception: theoretical model evidences for management

Employees need reliability and predictability in the organization's moral order to properly engage in labor, which has become critical for organizations’ success. Its absence creates a rupture in the firm's capacity to thrive in the market, named anomie. With the aim of looking more deeply into this subject, we have studied the relationship between anomie and social support at work, as well as professional self-concept, to understand and measure the cause-and-effect process. For this purpose, a model has been created to test this hypothesis, which has been analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling. The scales used have already been validated by other researches. The results provide evidence that the proposed model is suitable to identify and measure the relationship between the studied variables, and showing the level of impact that occurs on the system, created by organizational anomie, on social support at work and professional self-concept, together with their component parts.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Controle de nematodeos gastrintestinais em matrizes suinas e sua influencia sobre as leitegadas.

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Ação do levamisol sobre infecções por Oesophagostomum dentatum em suínos.

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Ocorrência de injurias mecânicas durante as operações pós-colheita e sua influência na qualidade de manga Tommy Atkins destinada ao mercado europeu.

O objetivo deste estudo foi reconhecer e caracterizar os principais danos na manga Tommy Atkins, identificar os pontos ou etapas do processo no packing house que favorecem sua ocorrência e avaliar sua influência na qualidade do fruto

Antithrombotic treatment in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: A practical approach

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in the elderly is a complex condition. It has a direct impact on the underuse of antithrombotic therapy reported in this population. Discussion: All patients aged =75years with AF have an individual yearly risk of stroke >4%. However, the risk of hemorrhage is also increased. Moreover, in this population it is common the presence of other comorbidities, cognitive disorders, risk of falls and polymedication. This may lead to an underuse of anticoagulant therapy. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are at least as effective as conventional therapy, but with lesser risk of intracranial hemorrhage. The simplification of treatment with these drugs may be an advantage in patients with cognitive impairment. The great majority of elderly patients with AF should receive anticoagulant therapy, unless an unequivocal contraindication. DOACs may be the drugs of choice in many elderly patients with AF. Summary: In this manuscript, the available evidence about the management of anticoagulation in elderly patients with AF is reviewed. In addition, specific practical recommendations about different controversial issues (i.e. patients with anemia, thrombocytopenia, risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, renal dysfunction, cognitive impairment, risk of falls, polymedication, frailty, etc.) are provided