EDITORIAL

Since 1996, the Constructal Theory, developed by Adrian Bejan, scientifically explains that the design generation in nature is governed by a physical principle called Constructal Law, which states that "for a finite-size flow system to persist in time (to survive) it must evolve in such a way that it provides easier and easier access to the currents that flow through it". This principle can be applied in engineering through the Constructal Design Method. Constructal Design is the philosophy of evolutionary design in engineering applications. Nowadays the Constructal Design Method has been widely employed in heat transfer and fluid mechanics areas, allowing understanding how the geometric configuration influences the system performance. In addition, the association of Constructal Design with some optimization method (for instance Exhaustive Search or Genetic Algorithm) will enable to determine the optimized geometry of the system, i.e., the system design that conduct to a superior performance. In the opinion of Engenharia Térmica the approach based on Constructal Theory, Constructal Law and Constructal Design can be adopted to understand and improve engineering systems involving heat transfer and/or fluid mechanics

Blending Better Beverage Options: A Nutrition Education and Experiential Workshop for Youths

Objective. To reduce intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in youths as a means to reduce obesity risk. Methods. Youths 5–14 years old attending a summer program were given a two-hour workshop addressing the sugar content in SSBs, the health risks from drinking SSBs, and hands-on preparation as well as tastings of low-sugar beverage alternatives. Data on usual intake of SSBs was obtained at baseline, and pre- and postprogram surveys were conducted to gauge change in knowledge and/or attitudes regarding SSBs. Results. There were 128 participants (63% male) in the program. SSBs were commonly consumed with over 80% reporting regular consumption (mean daily intake 17.9 ounces). Significant increase in knowledge regarding the sugar content of commonly consumed SSBs was achieved; however change in attitudes was not significant. The large majority of youths reported enjoying the workshop and intention to reduce intake of SSBs following program participation. Conclusion. SSBs are commonly consumed by youths. Knowledge regarding the sugar content of SSBs is easier to impart to youths than influencing attitudes held about these beverages. Long-term interventions that reach out to parents and address the widespread availability of SSBs are needed to influence resistant attitudes and beverage choosing behaviors in youths

A new formulation of oral viscous budesonide in treating of paediatric eosinophilic oesophagitis: a pilot study

OBJECTIVES: Oral viscous budesonide is a recent therapeutic option for eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) compared with dietary restriction and inhaled steroids. This single-centre, open-label, not blinded study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new, preprepared oral viscous budesonide suspension (PVB) in children and adolescents with EoE. METHODS: We treated 36 children with PVB (29 boys; median age 12 years) with EoE diagnosed according to European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition guidelines. Patients <150 and >150 cm height received 2 and 4 mg PVB daily, respectively, for 12 weeks. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed at baseline, after 12 weeks of therapy and 24 weeks after the end of therapy. Baseline and post-treatment scores were calculated for symptoms, endoscopy, and histology. Serum cortisol was performed at baseline, 12, and 36 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of PVB trial, endoscopy showed macroscopic remission in 32 patients (88.9%), whereas at histology median pre- and post-treatment peak eosinophil count/high power field (HPF) markedly decreased from 42.2 (range: 15-100) to 2.9 (range: 0-30); moreover, mean symptom and histology scores impressively improved compared with baseline (P < 0.01). At 24 weeks after the end of PVB therapy, endoscopy showed oesophageal relapse in 21 patients (58.3%), whereas 15 (41.7%) were still in remission. Seven children (19.4%) with positive multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH were treated also with proton pump inhibitors. No significant difference between pre-/post-treatment morning cortisol levels occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The new PVB suspension presented in the present study is effective and safe for treating children with proven EoE. Larger placebo-controlled clinical trials would provide more information about dosing, efficacy, and long-term safety of this formulation, specifically designed for the oesophagus

A epigrafia. Síntese geral

(Primeiro Parágrafo do Artigo)E epigrafia é uma das disciplinas filológicas complementares, da qual grande utilidade tem recebido a gramática, a paleografia, a história, o direito, a topografia, a história da arte, a mitologia e tudo quanto pode interessar ao campo das antiguidades clássicas e da arqueologia

Il dantismo nella storia di un poeta traduttore:il caso di Ángel Crespo

La traduzione poetica della Commedia dantesca da parte del poeta Ángel Crespo è una vera e propria rilettura, che dà come risultato un testo omologo a quello dantesco, permeato di una energia semantica propria. La lunga osmosi del poeta spagnolo con l’opera dantesca porta anche significative influenze e approfondimenti nell’opera poetica di quest’ultimo. La conoscenza crespiana dell’opera dantesca si spinge oltre il testo da tradurre e diventa anche studio interpretativo dell’opera e della figura di Dante Alighieri

As Sociedades Históricas na Itália

(Primeiro Parágrafo do Artigo)Até o século XIX ainda não havia aparecido na Itália nenhum instituto público que tivesse por objeto o estudo da história medieval e moderna

Prejudice, Vulnerability, Adhesion Process, Religiousness Regarding the Life Routine with AIDS: Life Stories

Objective: To communicate life stories of people who suffer from acquired immunodeficiency-syndrome with a higher vulnerability registered at the Municipal Secretary of Social Assistance and the diagnostic’s influence on their daily routine. Method: Descriptive and exploratory study based on oral life history. Thirteen people with AIDs took part in the study via a semi-structured interview. The narratives were analyzed using Bardin’s thematic content analysis. Results: Three thematic axes emerged from Bardin’s content analysis: prejudice and discrimination regarding the life routine with aids; Reaction when facing the diagnostic and the adhesion process for the antiretroviral treatment; Confrontation of religion and religiousness on people with aids. Conclusion: The people living with aids, a chronic and stigmatizing disease, need the support of multidisciplinary teams and an improvement in relation to the access, the coverage and the meaning assigned to the disease, besides a better quality of life and social assistance. We conclude that religion did not contribute to facing these people’s conditions. It brought blame, incorrect information that may impair the treatment and their follow-up. One infers that health education regarding HIV/AIDS needs to be remodeled on all of society’s segments

Scientific evidence for the treatment of children with irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the commonest cause of recurrent abdominal pain in children in both more developed and developing parts of the world. It is characterized by abdominal pain that is improved by defecation and whose onset is associated with a change in stool form and/or frequency and is not explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. A number of potential patho-physiological mechanisms have been described, but so far the exact underlying etiology of IBS is unclear. Likewise, no optimal treatment has ever been found neither for adult nor for pediatric patients. Current therapeutic options include drugs, dietary interventions and biopsychosocial therapies. The present review aims at evaluating the scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of these treatments for children with IBS

Bibliometric Study Applied to the Overtopping Wave Energy Converter Device

The present study aims to analyze the state of the art of scientific studies about the Overtopping device used to convert sea wave energy into electrical energy, by means the Bibliometric methodology. The development of this study took place through the selection of articles from conference proceedings, as well as national and international journals. The Bibliometric methodology consists of a statistical tool that allows quantifying the measurement of production indexes. Using selected keywords, it was conducted a survey of studies in the online databases of Science Direct, SciELO and Google Scholar. The works found then went through a filtering process, in order to limit the Bibliometric study only to studies about Overtopping devices as sea Wave Energy Converter (WEC). Finally, the investigation of these selected articles was carried out under the optics of production and authorship study, content study and study of bibliographic references. Where it was identified growth in publications related to the topic, methodologies used and, among other indicators, the authors most cited in the analyzed articles. The predominant keywords used were “Wave Energy Converter” and “Overtopping”. It was noted that Brazilian universities are leaders in the productivity, presenting more than 36% of the scientific production regarding Overtopping WECs