Assessment of the feasibility of an ultra-low power, wireless digital patch for the continuous ambulatory monitoring of vital signs.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vital signs are usually recorded at 4–8 h intervals in hospital patients, and deterioration between measurements can have serious consequences. The primary study objective was to assess agreement between a new ultra-low power, wireless and wearable surveillance system for continuous ambulatory monitoring of vital signs and a widely used clinical vital signs monitor. The secondary objective was to examine the system's ability to automatically identify and reject invalid physiological data. SETTING: Single hospital centre. PARTICIPANTS: Heart and respiratory rate were recorded over 2 h in 20 patients undergoing elective surgery and a second group of 41 patients with comorbid conditions, in the general ward. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures were limits of agreement and bias. The secondary outcome measure was proportion of data rejected. RESULTS: The digital patch provided reliable heart rate values in the majority of patients (about 80%) with normal sinus rhythm, and in the presence of abnormal ECG recordings (excluding aperiodic arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation). The mean difference between systems was less than ±1 bpm in all patient groups studied. Although respiratory data were more frequently rejected as invalid because of the high sensitivity of impedance pneumography to motion artefacts, valid rates were reported for 50% of recordings with a mean difference of less than ±1 brpm compared with the bedside monitor. Correlation between systems was statistically significant (p<0.0001) for heart and respiratory rate, apart from respiratory rate in patients with atrial fibrillation (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Overall agreement between digital patch and clinical monitor was satisfactory, as was the efficacy of the system for automatic rejection of invalid data. Wireless monitoring technologies, such as the one tested, may offer clinical value when implemented as part of wider hospital systems that integrate and support existing clinical protocols and workflows

O mito do heroi gaúcho e a realidade da formação agrária do Rio Grande do Sul na poesia de Jaime Caetano Braun

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Letras, Departamento de Teoria Literária e Literaturas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Literatura, 2014.Este trabalho compõe-se de três capítulos, nos quais procuraremos discutir a relação da obra do poeta regionalista gaúcho, Jaime Caetano Braun, com a problemática da má distribuição da terra no Rio Grande do Sul. No primeiro capítulo, buscaremos apontar o lugar que o poeta, também chamado de El Payador, ocupa dentro do regionalismo gaúcho, relacionando as obras do autor com o que era produzido pelos autores do grupo de 20 e do grupo do Partenon Literário; no segundo, colocaremos em destaque os elementos estéticos baseados na idealização da figura do habitante do Rio Grande do Sul, que veio a originar o "Mito do Herói Gaúcho", conforme aparece nas obras de Jaime. Essa análise dar-se-á de acordo com o que nos diz Antonio Candido a respeito das ideologias que possibilitaram o surgimento do Indianismo no Brasil e de como esse elemento estético aparece nas poesias de Jaime, discutiremos, ainda, nesse capítulo, como se deu o desenvolvimento no sul do país de uma obra poética com algumas das características percebidas dos textos literários celebrados na fase chamada por Candido de consciência amena do atraso; no terceiro capítulo, trabalharemos dando ênfase à comparação entre o que é discutido nas poesias de Jaime sobre o destino dos peões e trabalhadores rurais que se veem obrigados a deixarem a terra em que trabalharam a vida inteira, relacionando a representação do personagem gaúcho com a situação política vivenciada no Brasil, em que o homem do campo passa a viver na cidade devido à total falta de uma política efetiva e justa de reforma agrária. Portanto, neste trabalho, procurar-se-á desmistificar a possibilidade de uma suposta relação harmônica entre os personagens antagônicos que se digladiaram, alguns em uma luta ferrenha pela sobrevivência e outros movidos pela ambição desmedida, na formação da configuração agrária do Rio Grande do Sul. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis paper consists of three chapters, in which we will try to discuss the relationship of regionalist gaucho poet, Jaime Caetano Braun's work, with the problem of unequal land distribution in Rio Grande do Sul. In the first chapter, we will try to discuss the place the poet, also called El Payador occupies within the gaucho regionalism, relating the author's works with that one produced by groups of 20 and the Literary Parthenon; in the second, the emphasis is on the aesthetic elements based on the idealization of the Rio Grande do Sul inhabitants figure, who came to give the "Myth of the Gaucho Hero", as it appears in the works of Jaime. This analysis will take place, according to Antonio Candido who tells us about the ideologies that enabled the emergence of Indianism in Brazil and how this aesthetic element appears in the poetry of Jaime, this chapter will also discuss how the development in the south of a poetic work with some of the perceived characteristics of the celebrated literary texts in the phase named by Candido delay mild awareness; the third chapter, will emphasize the comparison between what is discussed in the poetry of Jaime on the fate of peasants and farm workers who are forced to leave the land they worked on for their whole life, relating the representation of the Gaucho character with the situation Brazil experienced in politics, in which the farmer moves to the city because of the total lack of a serious policy which deals with land reform. Therefore, this work will seek to demystify the possibility of any alleged harmonious relationship between the antagonistic characters who battled, some in a fierce struggle for survival and others driven by excessive ambition, feature of a society already deeply contaminated by the capitalism germ

Wireless link evaluation of a dielectric resonator nanoantenna

Optical antennas/nanoantennas are optical elements that have gained highlight in this decade and have potential application in several branches of photonics/plasmonics, such as, optical sensors, lasers, solid state lighting, photovoltaics, microscopy, etc. Additionally, the dipole nanoantennas have been the antennas elements mostly studied in proposals for those applications and, in special, for free-space communication based on plasmonic circuits. Here we report some advantages of dielectric resonator nanoantennas (DRNAs) as elements for coupling light to plasmonic-based circuits. Fundamental antenna parameters such as reflection coefficient, gain, efficiency, among others, are evaluated and its advantages are highlighted for nanophotonics applications. A study about an optical link for circuits based on metal-dielectric-metal-dielectric (MDMD) nanostrip waveguides operating at the central wavelength of λ0 = 1.55 μm is evaluated. We studied the coupling of near- and far-fields of a DRNA matched to an MDMD nanostrip waveguide. The results show the advantage of it as an element for optical coupling from/to free-space as well as to establish a wireless optical link for inter-chip communication10924SPIE OPTO - Optical Interconnects XI

Efficient calculation of higher-order optical waveguide dispersion

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)An efficient numerical strategy to compute the higher-order dispersion parameters of optical waveguides is presented. For the first time to our knowledge, a systematic study of the errors involved in the higher-order dispersions' numerical calculation process is made, showing that the present strategy can accurately model those parameters. Such strategy combines a full-vectorial finite element modal solver and a proper finite difference differentiation algorithm. Its performance has been carefully assessed through the analysis of several key geometries. In addition, the optimization of those higher-order dispersion parameters can also be carried out by coupling to the present scheme a genetic algorithm, as shown here through the design of a photonic crystal fiber suitable for parametric amplification applications. (C) 2010 Optical Society of America181919522+Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [05/51689-2, 06/50912-2

COMPORTAMENTO DOS CUSTOS EM HOSPITAIS ADMINISTRADOS PELA SECRETARIA DE ESTADO DA SAÚDE DE SANTA CATARINA

The goal of this study is to analyze the behavior of costs in institutions administered by the Secretary of State for Health of Santa Catarina, according to the several categories of hospitals. This is a descriptive research, conducted based on secondary data. The approach used on the issue is predominantly quantitative, with technical, bibliographical and documentary procedures. The data from 2007 and 2008 were obtained directly from the costs system of the hospitals in the research and they were statistically treated by analyzing the correlation of four distinct groups of medical specialties: General Hospitals, General Hospitals with Maternity Units, Maternity Units, and Hospitals with Other Specialties. The data for the number of treatment were correlated, first individually with the various types of costs at each hospital, where a negative correlation was found in most cases. Later, in general, the analysis of correlation of the total number of treatment in hospitals versus their total costs resulted in positive values for all tests done. As a result of these analyses, it can be inferred that there are similarities in the behavior of costs for different hospital categories. However, it is assertive that there is a variation in hospital costs with the increase or reduction in the number of treatments, only when all hospitals are analyzed jointly. Nonetheless, when analyzed individually, the different hospitals are independent from their costs related to the number of treatments.Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar o comportamento dos custos das instituições administradas pela Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de Santa Catarina, segundo as diversas categorias hospitalares. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, realizada com base em dados secundários. A abordagem do problema é predominantemente quantitativa, com procedimentos técnicos bibliográfico, documental e de levantamento. Os dados de 2007 e 2008 foram obtidos diretamente dos sistemas de custos dos hospitais objeto da pesquisa e tratados estatisticamente por meio da análise de correlação para quatro grupos distintos de especialidades médicas: Hospitais Gerais, Hospitais Gerais com Maternidade, Maternidades, e Hospitais com Outras Especialidades. Os dados referentes ao número de “atendimentos” foram correlacionados, primeiramente, de forma individual com os diversos tipos de “custos” de cada hospital em particular, em que se encontrou correlação negativa para a maioria dos casos. Posteriormente, de modo conjunto, a análise de correlação do número de “atendimentos totais” dos hospitais versus os “custos totais” dos mesmos, resultou em valores positivos para todos os testes realizados. Como resultado dessas análises, pode-se inferir que há semelhança no comportamento dos custos para as diferentes categorias hospitalares. Contudo, é válida a afirmação de que há variação nos custos hospitalares com o aumento ou a redução no número de atendimentos, somente, quando todos os hospitais são analisados conjuntamente. Porém, quando analisados individualmente, os diferentes hospitais apresentam independência dos custos em relação ao número de atendimentos

El envejecimiento según la medicina tradicional china

Human aging is a continuous, progressive and complex process that can be considered from different points of view. Once completed the stage of growth, development and reproduction (target species) began a phase of progressive deterioration of organ function with decreased ability to adapt to changes. No theory fully explains the cause of aging, which is considered a multifactorial process, for which we must take into account both the views of allopathic medicine as the ancient Chinese traditional medicine.El envejecimiento humano es un proceso continuo, progresivo y complejo que puede considerarse desde diversos puntos de vista. Una vez culminada la etapa de crecimiento, desarrollo y reproducción (meta de la especie) comienza una etapa de deterioro progresivo de las funciones orgánicas con disminución de la capacidad de adaptación a los cambios. Ninguna teoría explica totalmente la causa del envejecimiento, por lo que se considera un proceso multifactorial, para lo que hay que tener en cuenta tanto las opiniones de la medicina alopática como las de la milenaria medicina tradicional china

‘Costa da Morte’ ataxia is spinocerebellar ataxia 36: clinical and genetic characterization

Spinocerebellar ataxia 36 has been recently described in Japanese families as a new type of spinocerebellar ataxia with motor neuron signs. It is caused by a GGCCTG repeat expansion in intron 1 of NOP56. Family interview and document research allowed us to reconstruct two extensive, multigenerational kindreds stemming from the same village (Costa da Morte in Galicia, Spain), in the 17th century. We found the presence of the spinocerebellar ataxia 36 mutation co-segregating with disease in these families in whom we had previously identified an ∼0.8 Mb linkage region to chromosome 20 p. Subsequent screening revealed the NOP56 expansion in eight additional Galician ataxia kindreds. While normal alleles contain 5–14 hexanucleotide repeats, expanded alleles range from ∼650 to 2500 repeats, within a shared haplotype. Further expansion of repeat size was frequent, especially upon paternal transmission, while instances of allele contraction were observed in maternal transmissions. We found a total of 63 individuals carrying the mutation, 44 of whom were confirmed to be clinically affected; over 400 people are at risk. We describe here the detailed clinical picture, consisting of a late-onset, slowly progressive cerebellar syndrome with variable eye movement abnormalities and sensorineural hearing loss. There were signs of denervation in the tongue, as well as mild pyramidal signs, but otherwise no signs of classical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Magnetic resonance imaging findings were consistent with the clinical course, showing atrophy of the cerebellar vermis in initial stages, later evolving to a pattern of olivo-ponto-cerebellar atrophy. We estimated the origin of the founder mutation in Galicia to have occurred ∼1275 years ago. Out of 160 Galician families with spinocerebellar ataxia, 10 (6.3%) were found to have spinocerebellar ataxia 36, while 15 (9.4%) showed other of the routinely tested dominant spinocerebellar ataxia types. Spinocerebellar ataxia 36 is thus, so far, the most frequent dominant spinocerebellar ataxia in this region, which may have implications for American countries associated with traditional Spanish emigration

Growth of seedlings in banana plant cv. Prata Catarina micropropagated in organic substrates

In commercial bananas there is an increasing increase for seedlings of high genetic quality and free of pathogens; thus, the use of micropropagation has been increasingly encouraged for the production of seedlings. However, the success of establishing these seedlings in the environment depends on several factors, in which, the substrate has a relevant role. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth of micropropagated banana seedlings under the influence of different formulations of substrates based on soil, bovine manure and vegetable ash for organic production system. The experiment was carried out on a certified rural property under an organic production system in the municipality of Palmácia (CE). The experimental design used was completely randomized, with four replications. The substrates were used in a ratio of 2:1, always two parts of soil for one of substrate, which was used: soil (ravine soil), organic compost (bovine manure + vegetal remains), bovine manure and vegetable ash (from sugar cane mill). The test was conducted in full sun and without the aid of irrigation, as the experiment coincided with the rainy season in the region. At 68 days after planting (DAP), growth analyzes were carried out: plant height, diameter of the pseudostem, number of leaves, length of roots, fresh and dry mass of aerial part and roots. The best substrates for the growth of micropropagated banana seedlings cv. Prata Catarina were mixtures of soil + organic compost and soil + manure

Phosphate fertilization and organic compost on the initial growth of sorghum in degraded soils

One of the strategies for the recovery of degraded soils is the planting of fast-growing forage species with high biomass production. In this sense, the objective of this research was to evaluate the initial growth of sorghum in degraded soils with organic fertilization and different phosphorus levels. A completely randomized design with a 4 x 3 x 2 factorial arrangement was used, with four soil types, three levels of phosphorus fertilization and two levels of organic fertilization. At 64 days after sowing the characteristics of the initial growth were analyzed: plant height, stem diameter, leaf number and fresh shoot mass. The height was measured by measuring the neck of the plant until the end of the newest fully expanded leaf, measured with the aid of a measuring tape and expressed in centimeters. The diameter of the stem, by means of a digital pachymeter. The application of phosphorus and organic matter in degraded soils is necessary for the initial development of sorghum plants, due to the low availability of this element, caused by the high adsorption of P in the soil colloids. Besides that, the lack of organic matter in the studied soils led to a decrease in the growth of sorghum, therefore, it is concluded that soil management in saline environments is necessary for the application of phosphorus and organic matter for a sustainable and technically viable production