A descriptive evaluation of the formation program of the De La Salle Brothers in the Philippines, 1967-1981

This study evaluates the formation (training) program of the De La Salle Brothers in the Philippines from 1967-1981. Documents of the District Council and the Formation Committee in the District Archives and the Provincialate files were analyzed. The researcher himself is a primary source of data. From 1971 to the present period of the study, save for school year 1976-1977, the researcher has been directly involved with the formation program in different capacities. Four questionnaires were administered to collect data for this study. All the instruments were original questionnaires designed to surface the pertinent information sought by the researcher. Mean scores were utilized to identify the areas of strength and weakness. Much of the statistical analysis was done through t-test, and in one case, the analysis of variance was employed to compare the three groups. The general finding is that there is a considerable and consistent degree of satisfaction with the program of initial formation. 2. The recruitment activities prior to initial formation and the period of temporary commitment that follows it are appraised less positively by all the groups surveyed. These two areas, recruitment in particular, need to be examined further and strengthened. 3. The candidates tend to give higher ratings, followed by the formators. 4. The more specific perceived strengths of the initial formation program lie in: a) helping the Scholastics develop their personalities b) harmonious relationship between the Scholastics and the formators and, c) suitable facilities available to the Scholastics for their training. An adequate spirit of study and a deficiency in fostering Philippine culture, traditions, and values are two of the more specific perceived weaknesses of the program. The formators will have to be encouraged to give more attention to these perceived weaknesses. 5. The Novitiate, Orientation, and Junior Scholasticate appear to be the most effective individual programs within the total formation program. 6. The general

Perfil clínico-epidemiológico dos pacientes portadores de paracoccidioidomicose no Serviço de Estomatologia do Hospital São Lucas da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul Clinical-epidemiologic profile of paracoccidioidomycosis at the Stomatology Department of São Lucas Hospital, Pontificia Universidade Católica of Rio Grande do Sul

No presente estudo, são descritas as características clínicas e epidemiológicas de 61 casos de paracoccidioidomicose, atendidos no Serviço de Estomatologia do Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS, no período de junho de 1976 a junho de 2004. O Rio Grande do Sul é considerado uma região endêmica da doença devido às condições eco-epidemiológicas para o desenvolvimento do fungo. Observou-se que a doença ocorreu em 58 (95%) homens e 3 (5%) mulheres, predominando a faixa etária de 40 a 59 anos (70,5%), e a profissão vinculada à agricultura em 27 (44,3%) pacientes. O hábito de fumar foi prevalente em 52 (85,3%) pacientes da amostra e muitos eram, também, etilistas. Todos os casos apresentavam manifestações estomatológicas, sendo que as lesões orais ocorreram predominantemente com aspecto ulcerado e moriforme, observadas em vários sítios anatômicos. As evidências radiográficas de lesões pulmonares estavam presentes em 32 (65,3%) radiografias avaliadas.<br>The aim of the article was to describe clinical and epidemiological features of 61 oral paracoccidioidomycosis cases from the Stomatology Department of São Lucas Hospital, analyzed from July 1976 to June 2004. The State of Rio Grande do Sul is an endemic region due to ecoepidemiologic conditions, that are favorable for the development of the yeast. Men are the most affected gender, with 58 (95%) affected compared to 3 (5%) women. Ii is most prevalent (70.5%) between 40 and 59 years of age. Agricultural labor was the most common occupation with 27/61 (44.3%) patients. Tobacco smoking was prevalent in 52 (85.3%) of the sample, and alcoholism was a frequent finding. All the patients showed stomatologic manifestations, with ulcers and mulberry-like stomatitis the most prevalent, these oral lesions were also observed in many anatomical sites. Alterations were present in 32 (65.3%) of the pulmonary radiographs

Bioelectrical impedance analysis and anthropometry for the determination of body composition in rats: effects of high-fat and high-sucrose diets

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to determine the impedance of Wistar rats treated with high-fat and high-sucrose diets and correlate their biochemical and anthropometric parameters with chemical analysis of the carcass. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were fed a standard (AIN-93), high-fat (50% fat) or high-sucrose (59% of sucrose) diet for 4 weeks. Abdominal and thoracic circumference and body length were measured. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to determine resistance and reactance. Final body composition was determined by chemical analysis. RESULTS: Higher fat intake led to a high percentage of liver fat and cholesterol and low total body water in the High-Fat group, but these changes in the biochemical profile were not reflected by the anthropometric measurements or bioelectrical impedance analysis variables. Anthropometric and bioelectrical impedance analysis changes were not observed in the High-Sucrose group. However, a positive association was found between body fat and three anthropometric variables: body mass index, Lee index and abdominal circumference. CONCLUSION: Bioelectrical impedance analysis did not prove to be sensitive for detecting changes in body composition, but body mass index, Lee index and abdominal circumference can be used for estimating the body composition of rats

Potential impacts of climate change on biogeochemical functioning of Cerrado ecosystems

The Cerrado Domain comprises one of the most diverse savannas in the world and is undergoing a rapid loss of habitats due to changes in fire regimes and intense conversion of native areas to agriculture. We reviewed data on the biogeochemical functioning of Cerrado ecosystems and evaluated the potential impacts of regional climate changes. Variation in temperature extremes and in total amount of rainfall and altitude throughout the Cerrado determines marked differences in the composition of species. Cerrado ecosystems are controlled by interactions between water and nutrient availability. In general, nutrient cycles (N, P and base cations) are very conservative, while litter, microbial and plant biomass are important stocks. In terms of C cycling, root systems and especially the soil organic matter are the most important stocks. Typical cerrado ecosystems function as C sinks on an annual basis, although they work as source of C to the atmosphere close to the end of the dry season. Fire is an important factor altering stocks and fluxes of C and nutrients. Predicted changes in temperature, amount and distribution of precipitation vary according to Cerrado sub-regions with more marked changes in the northeastern part of the domain. Higher temperatures, decreases in rainfall with increase in length of the dry season could shift net ecosystem exchanges from C sink to source of C and might intensify burning, reducing nutrient stocks. Interactions between the heterogeneity in the composition and abundance of biological communities throughout the Cerrado Domain and current and future changes in land use make it difficult to project the impacts of future climate scenarios at different temporal and spatial scales and new modeling approaches are needed