Defence mechanisms of infertile couples vs. fertile couples

Los mecanismos de defensa (DM) fueron investigados en las parejas infértiles (n = 60) a la espera de su primera consulta de infertilidad, haciendo uso del inventario de mecanismos de defensa (DMI). Cuando se comparó con los resultados de las parejas fértiles (n = 60), mujeres y hombres infértiles demostraron una tendencia significativa a evitar el uso de mecanismos de defensa que permitan la expresión de impulsos agresivos, así como una tendencia al uso excesivo de mecanismos de defensa que permiten la racionalización y la negación de situaciones frustrantes. Estos datos parecen indicar la presencia de rigidez defensiva en las parejas afectadas por estrés reproductivo, mientras que en las parejas en común la flexibilidad defensiva es de esperar.Defence mechanisms (DM) were investigated in infertile couples (n = 60) waiting for their first infertility consultation, making use of the Defense Mechanisms Inventory (DMI). When compared with results of fertile couples (n = 60), infertile men and women showed a significant trend to avoid the use of defence mechanisms that enable the expression of aggressive impulses as well as a tendency to overuse defence mechanisms that enable the rationalization and negation of frustrating situations. Such data seem to indicate the presence of defensive inflexibility in couples affected by reproductive stress, while in common couples defensive flexibility is to be expected.peerReviewe

Social Interaction and the City: The Effect of Space on the Reduction of Entropy

How can individual acts amount to coherent systems of interaction? In this paper, we attempt to answer this key question by suggesting that there is a place for cities in the way we coordinate seemingly chaotic decisions. We look into the elementary processes of social interaction exploring a particular concept, “social entropy,” or how social systems deal with uncertainty and unpredictability in the transition from individual actions to systems of interaction. Examining possibilities that (i) actions rely on informational differences latent in their environments and that (ii) the city itself is an information environment to actions, we propose that (iii) space becomes a form of creating differences in the probabilities of interaction. We investigate this process through simulations of distinct material scenarios, to find that space is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the reduction of entropy. Finally, we suggest that states and fluctuations of entropy are a vital part of social reproduction and reveal a deep connection between social, informational, and spatial systems

A model of urban scaling laws based on distance dependent interactions

Socio-economic related properties of a city grow faster than a linear relationship with the population, in a log–log plot, the so-called superlinear scaling. Conversely, the larger a city, the more efficient it is in the use of its infrastructure, leading to a sublinear scaling on these variables. In this work, we addressed a simple explanation for those scaling laws in cities based on the interaction range between the citizens and on the fractal properties of the cities. To this purpose, we introduced a measure of social potential which captured the influence of social interaction on the economic performance and the benefits of amenities in the case of infrastructure offered by the city. We assumed that the population density depends on the fractal dimension and on the distance-dependent interactions between individuals. The model suggests that when the city interacts as a whole, and not just as a set of isolated parts, there is improvement of the socio-economic indicators. Moreover, the bigger the interaction range between citizens and amenities, the bigger the improvement of the socio-economic indicators and the lower the infrastructure costs of the city. We addressed how public policies could take advantage of these properties to improve cities development, minimizing negative effects. Furthermore, the model predicts that the sum of the scaling exponents of social-economic and infrastructure variables are 2, as observed in the literature. Simulations with an agent-based model are confronted with the theoretical approach and they are compatible with the empirical evidences

A dual-modal CT/US kidney phantom model for image-guided percutaneous renal access

Percutaneous renal access (PRA) is a crucial step in some minimally invasive kidney interventions. During this step, the surgeon inserts a needle through the skin until the kidney target site using fluoroscopy and ultrasound imaging. Recently, new concepts of enhanced image-guided interventions have been introduced in these interventions. However, their validation remains a challenging task. Phantom models have been presented to solve such challenge, using realistic anatomies in a controlled environment. In this work, we evaluate the accuracy of a porcine kidney phantom for validation of novel dual-modal computed tomography (CT)/ultrasound (US) image-guided strategies for PRA. A porcine kidney was combined with a tissue mimicking material (TMM) and implanted fiducial markers (FM). While the TMM mimics the surrounding tissues, the FM are used to accurately assess the registration errors between the US and CT images, providing a valid ground-truth. US and CT image acquisitions of the phantom model were performed and the FM were manually selected on both images. A rigid alignment was performed between the selected FM, presenting a root-mean-square error of 1.1 mm. Moreover, the kidney was manually segmented, presenting volumes of 203 ml and 238 ml for CT and US, respectively. The initial results are promising on achieving a realistic kidney phantom model to develop new strategies for PRA, but further work to improve the manufacturing process and to introduce motion and anatomical artifacts in the phantom is still required.This work has been funded by FEDER funds, through the Competitiveness Factors Operational Programme (COMPETE), and by National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), under the scope of the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013, supported by the NORTE 2020, under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). J. Gomes-Fonseca, A. Miranda, P. Morais, and S. Queirós were funded by FCT under the Ph.D. grants PD/BDE/113597/2015, SFRH/BD/52059/ 2012, SFRH/BD/95438/2013, and SFRH/BD/93443/2013, respectively.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

\u3cem\u3eIn Situ\u3c/em\u3e Digestibility of \u3cem\u3eGliricidia sepium\u3c/em\u3e Combined with \u3cem\u3eBrachiaria decumbens\u3c/em\u3e in a Silvopastoral System

Silvopastoral system (SPS) are characterized by a combination of trees, pasture and herbivores animals, in the same physical area, in order to obtain diversified products. A promising legume tree that has been studied and used in SPS in tropical areas is gliricidia [Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud]. Advantages of gliricidia use in SPS include N inputs via biological fixation, improvement of soil properties, nutrient cycling and also a source of feed to grazing animals (Cubillos-Hinojosa et al., 2011). Gliricidia has high crude protein concentration in its leaves, which complements the usual N-poor diet of ruminants grazing warm-season grasses. The introduction of gliricidia in SPS faces a problem due to the low initial acceptability by cattle, being necessary an adaptation period in order to cattle reach satisfactory intake levels (Carvalho Filho et al., 1997). In general, the quality of the forages can be predicted by accessing their nutritive value, represented by the chemical composition and digestibility of the forage constituents (Van Soest, 1994). The digestibility of dry matter in forages consumed in a SPS can be influenced by the forage species used, by grass/legume combinations, and by the proportion that each forage species takes in the diet of the ruminants. This study evaluated in situ digestibility of gliricidia in increasing levels of inclusion in the diet composed by sabi grass (Brachiaria decumbens, Stapf) in a silvopastoral system

Elementos para una evaluación crítica del programa brasileño Un Millón de Cisternas Rurales - P1MC

The program One Million of Rural Cisterns (P1MC) was designed in 2001 by the network of Brazilian organizations known as the Articulation of the Semiarid Regions (ASA). In 2003, the program gained a new impulse when it became institutionalized by the Ministry of Social Development and to Fight Hunger. In this year the federal government began to finance the construction of cisterns for rainwater collection, a main component of the program. By November 2013, some 500.410 cisterns had been built. Although the construction of the physical structures is at the center of ASA’s work, its goals are broader since they also involve the mobilization, participation and training of the beneficiaries to enable them to live in harmony with the semiarid environment. From the questioning of the actions and perspectives of the P1MC and work of ASA, based on empirical evidence, constructed from a comparative case study, which interact with a theoretical framework, this study identifies tensions between conceptions and practices of that program and presents an agenda for discussion. The case studies were developed in rural communities called Buracão, located in the municipality of Chapada do Norte, Minas Gerais state, and Poços das Pedras, municipality of São João do Cariri, Paraíba state. The methods used for data collection involved questionnaires, conducting open interviews and field observation. It is considerate to the technological dimension, the usefulness of the service, the program meets their immediate purposes. However, the pedagogical-citizen dimension, there are symptoms that indicate a progressive emptying of the proposal. In this perspective, the most conspicuous feature of the P1MC is related to the physical dimension, that is, the construction of the cisterns. Unfortunately, the objectives of mobilizing and developing the capacity of the population to live in harmony with the semiarid environment have not been fully achieved.Desde el cuestionamiento de las acciones y las perspectivas del programa Un Millón de Cisternas Rurales (P1MC) y del trabajo de la red Articulación en el Semiárido Brasileño (ASA), con base en la evidencia empírica, construida a partir de un estudio comparativo de casos, y un marco teórico, este estudio identifica las tensiones entre las concepciones y prácticas de ese programa y presenta una agenda para la discusión. Se pondera que en la dimensión tecnológica del servicio, el programa cumple con sus propósitos inmediatos. No obstante, en la dimensión ciudadana pedagógica, hay síntomas que indican un vaciamiento progresivo de la propuest

Elementos para una evaluación crítica del programa brasileño Un Millón de Cisternas Rurales - P1MC

The program One Million of Rural Cisterns (P1MC) was designed in 2001 by the network of Brazilian organizations known as the Articulation of the Semiarid Regions (ASA). In 2003, the program gained a new impulse when it became institutionalized by the Ministry of Social Development and to Fight Hunger. In this year the federal government began to finance the construction of cisterns for rainwater collection, a main component of the program. By November 2013, some 500.410 cisterns had been built. Although the construction of the physical structures is at the center of ASA’s work, its goals are broader since they also involve the mobilization, participation and training of the beneficiaries to enable them to live in harmony with the semiarid environment. From the questioning of the actions and perspectives of the P1MC and work of ASA, based on empirical evidence, constructed from a comparative case study, which interact with a theoretical framework, this study identifies tensions between conceptions and practices of that program and presents an agenda for discussion. The case studies were developed in rural communities called Buracão, located in the municipality of Chapada do Norte, Minas Gerais state, and Poços das Pedras, municipality of São João do Cariri, Paraíba state. The methods used for data collection involved questionnaires, conducting open interviews and field observation. It is considerate to the technological dimension, the usefulness of the service, the program meets their immediate purposes. However, the pedagogical-citizen dimension, there are symptoms that indicate a progressive emptying of the proposal. In this perspective, the most conspicuous feature of the P1MC is related to the physical dimension, that is, the construction of the cisterns. Unfortunately, the objectives of mobilizing and developing the capacity of the population to live in harmony with the semiarid environment have not been fully achieved.Desde el cuestionamiento de las acciones y las perspectivas del programa Un Millón de Cisternas Rurales (P1MC) y del trabajo de la red Articulación en el Semiárido Brasileño (ASA), con base en la evidencia empírica, construida a partir de un estudio comparativo de casos, y un marco teórico, este estudio identifica las tensiones entre las concepciones y prácticas de ese programa y presenta una agenda para la discusión. Se pondera que en la dimensión tecnológica del servicio, el programa cumple con sus propósitos inmediatos. No obstante, en la dimensión ciudadana pedagógica, hay síntomas que indican un vaciamiento progresivo de la propuest

Intramuscular Hemangioma in Lip Treated with Sclerotherapy and Surgery

Intramuscular hemangioma is a relatively rare, benign tumor of vascular origin, accounting for less than 1% of all hemangiomas. This paper reports a case of a 48-year-old female patient with intramuscular hemangioma in the upper lip, treated with sclerotherapy and subsequent complementary surgery

Effects of a Competitive Season on Autonomic Heart Rate Modulation in Field Soccer Athletes

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(2): 1198-1205, 2019. The physical demands of soccer combined with the rigor of the competitive season may have a substantial impact on autonomic modulation in field soccer athletes. The number of sudden death cases associated with soccer may be related to the physical training required to maintain performance and fitness, minimal time for recovery, and recurrent game participation. It is possible to identify individuals at risk of cardiovascular events by measuring heart rate variability (HRV), which is an indirect method for assessing autonomic activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze HRV before and after a period of field soccer competition. We evaluated 17 healthy male professional field soccer athletes and 12 untrained controls. The HRV was analyzed during supine rest before and after a period of field soccer competition. The following parameters were evaluated: interval R wave variation (RR), standard deviation of normal–normal intervals (SDNN), Root-mean-square successive difference (RMSSD), low frequency component (LF), high-frequency component (HF) and sympathovagal balance (LF/HF). Results indicated that the RR (p\u3c .05, ES: 2.77), SDNN (p \u3c .05, ES: 1.70), LF (p\u3c .05, ES: 1.86), HF (pp\u3c .05, ES: 0.89) all decreased after the competition in the professional athletes with no change observed in the control group. In conclusion, the data suggest that a soccer competition negatively influences the autonomic regulation of heart rate

Biocomposite macrospheres based on strontium-bioactive glass for application as bone fillers

Traditional bioactive glass powders are typically composed of irregular particles that can be packed into dense configurations presenting low interconnectivity, which can limit bone ingrowth. The use of novel biocomposite sphere formulations comprising bioactive factors as bone fillers are most advantageous, as it simultaneously allows for packing the particles in a 3-dimensional manner to achieve an adequate interconnected porosity, enhanced biological performance, and ultimately a superior new bone formation. In this work, we develop and characterize novel biocomposite macrospheres of Sr-bioactive glass using sodium alginate, polylactic acid (PLA), and chitosan (CH) as encapsulating materials for finding applications as bone fillers. The biocomposite macrospheres that were obtained using PLA have a larger size distribution and higher porosity and an interconnectivity of 99.7%. Loose apatite particles were observed on the surface of macrospheres prepared with alginate and CH by means of soaking into a simulated body fluid (SBF) for 7 days. A dense apatite layer was formed on the biocomposite macrospheresâ surface produced with PLA, which served to protect PLA from degradation. In vitro investigations demonstrated that biocomposite macrospheres had minimal cytotoxic effects on a human osteosarcoma cell line (SaOS-2 cells). However, the accelerated degradation of PLA due to the degradation of bioactive glass may account for the observed decrease in SaOS-2 cells viability. Among the biocomposite macrospheres, those composed of PLA exhibited the most promising characteristics for their potential use as fillers in bone tissue repair applications.This work was funded by grant #2019/15960-6, São Paulo Research Foundation in Brazil (FAPESP) and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Reference UID/CTM/50025/2019 and FCT/Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education in Portugal (MCTES) and by European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) funds through the COMPETE 2020 Program in the framework of ORAiDEA project (ref n° 39985 - AAC 31/SI/2017). The authors would also like to acknowledge Materials Research Center (CENIMAT) of the Associated Laboratory Institute of Nanostructures, Nanomodeling and Nanofabrication (i3N), NOVA University of LisbonCENIMAT|i3N and National Council for Scientific and Technological Development in Brazil CNPq (303149/2018-3). Ibrahim Fatih Cengiz acknowledges the FCT distinction attributed to him under the “Estímulo ao Emprego Científico” program (2021.01969.CEECIND). The authors thank the financial support provided under the projects: “HEALTH-UNORTE: Setting-up biobanks and regenerative medicine strategies to boost research in cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurological, oncological, immunological, and infectious diseases”, reference NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000039, funded by the Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N), under the NORTE2020 Program; Projects LA/P/0037/2020, UIDP/50025/2020, and UIDB/50025/ 2020 of the Associate Laboratory i3N financed by national funds from FCT