an ecological study in Portugal

Funding Information: The present publication was funded by Fundação Ciênciae Tecnologia, IP national support through CHRC (UIDP/04923/2020) and NOVA National School of Public Health. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Hospitalisations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC) cause harm to users and to health systems, as these events are potentially avoidable. In 2009, Portugal was hit by an economic and financial crisis and in 2011 it resorted to foreign assistance (“Memorandum of Understanding” (2011–2014)). The aim of this study was to analyse the association between the Troika intervention and hospitalisations for ACSC. Methods: We analysed inpatient data of all public NHS hospitals of mainland Portugal from 2007 to 2016, and identified hospitalisations for ACSC (pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hearth failure, hypertensive heart disease, urinary tract infections, diabetes), according to the AHRQ methodology. Rates of hospitalisations for ACSC, the rate of enrollment in the employment center and average monthly earnings were compared among the pre-crisis, crisis and post-crisis periods to see if there were differences. A Spearman’s correlation between socioeconomic variables and hospitalisations was performed. Results: Among 8,160,762 admissions, 892,759 (10.94%) were classified as ACSC hospitalizations, for which 40% corresponded to pneumonia. The rates of total hospitalisations and hospitalisations for ACSC increased between 2007 and 2016, with the central and northern regions of the country presenting the highest rates. No correlations between socioeconomic variables and hospitalisation rates were found. Conclusions: During the period of economic and financial crisis based on Troika’s intervention, there was an increase in potentially preventable hospitalisations in Portugal, with disparities between the municipalities. The high use of resources from ACSC hospitalisations and the consequences of the measures taken during the crisis are factors that health management must take into account.publishersversionpublishe

Solid-State Bipolar Marx Converter with Output Transformer and Energy Recovery

The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss a general HV topology of the solid-state Marx modulator, for unipolar or bipolar generation connected with a step-up transformer to increase the output voltage applied to a resistive load. Due to the use of an output transformer, discussion about the reset of the transformer is made to guarantee zero average voltage applied to the primary. It is also discussed the transformer magnetizing energy recovering back to the energy storage capacitors. Simulation results for a circuit that generates 100 kV pulses using 1000 V semiconductors are presented and discussed regarding the voltage and current stress on the semiconductors and result obtained

The influence of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation index on hospital admissions through diseases of the circulatory system in Lisbon, Portugal

The aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), meteorological variables, air pollutants, and hospital admissions due to diseases of circulatory systems in Lisbon (Portugal) during winter months (2003–2012). This paper is one of the few studies analyzing the impact of NAO on health through its influence on thermal stress and air pollution and is the first to be conducted in Lisbon. This study uses meteorological data (synthetized into a thermal comfort index), air pollutant metrics, and the NAO index (all clustered in 10-day cycles to overcome daily variability of the NAO index). The relationship between morbidity, thermal comfort index, NAO index, and air pollutants was explored through several linear models adjusted to seasonality through a periodic function. The possible indirect effect between the NAO index and hospital admissions was tested, assuming that NAO (independent variable) is affecting hospital admissions (outcome variable) through thermal discomfort and/or pollution levels (tested as individual mediators). This test was conducted through causal mediation analysis and adjusted for seasonal variation. The results from this study suggest a possible indirect relationship between NAO index and hospital admissions. Although NAO is not significantly associated with hospital admissions, it is significantly associated with CO, PM2.5, NO, and SO2 levels, which in turn increase the probability of hospitalization. The discomfort index (built with temperature and relative humidity) is significantly associated with hospital admissions, but its variability is not explained by the NAO index. This study highlights the impacts of the atmospheric circulation patterns on health. Furthermore, understanding the influence of the atmospheric circulation patterns can support the improvement of the existing contingency plans.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O mercado informal de Maputo (Moçambique) e a feira de Xipamanine: entre curiosidades e vivências no continente africano

O presente trabalho é fruto de Missão Científica realizada em outubro de 2016, juntamente com diversos estudos teóricos referentes a República de Moçambique (Continente Africano). A capital nacional Maputo, com seus 1,2 milhões de habitantes, é digna de paisagens e desdobramentos intrigantes, sobretudo com relação ao pujante mercado da economia informal – responsável pela ocupação de grande maioria da população. Desta forma, o presente trabalho científico se apoia na apresentação e discussão das ricas experiências vividas e observadas pelos “entroncamentos” viários e espaços de reprodução social da informalidade moçambicana – as vielas e ruas de onde parecem “nascer/surgir” vendedores dos mais diversos gêneros, que vão desde alimentos, bens de consumo simples, transportes “clandestinos”, fármacos medicinais, serviços de beleza, dentre tantas outras peculiaridades que fazem de Maputo um lugar único. Palavras-chave: Vivência. Informalidade. Moçambique. Abstract: The maputo informal market (mozambique) and the xipamanine fair: among curiosities and experiences on the african continent.The present work is the result of a Scientific Mission held in October 2016, together with several theoretical studies concerning the Republic of Mozambique (African Continent). The national capital Maputo, with its 1.2 million inhabitants, is worthy of intriguing landscapes and unfoldings, especially regarding to the booming informal economy market - which is responsible for employing a large majority of the population. In this way, this research is based on the presentation and discussion of the rich experiences lived and observed by the road junctions and spaces of social reproduction from the Mozambican informality - the alleys and streets from which sellers of the most diverse genres appear, Ranging from food, simple consumer goods, "clandestine" transport, medicinal drugs, beauty services, among many other peculiarities that make Maputo a unique place.Keywords: Experiences. Informality. Mozambique

Stock Portfolio Prediction by Multi-Target Decision Support

Investing in the stock market is a complex process due to its high volatility caused by factors as exchange rates, political events, inflation and the market history. To support investor's decisions, the prediction of future stock price and economic metrics is valuable. With the hypothesis that there is a relation among investment performance indicators,  the goal of this paper was exploring multi-target regression (MTR) methods to estimate 6 different indicators and finding out the method that would best suit in an automated prediction tool for decision support regarding predictive performance. The experiments were based on 4 datasets, corresponding to 4 different time periods, composed of 63 combinations of weights of stock-picking concepts each, simulated in the US stock market. We compared traditional machine learning approaches with seven state-of-the-art MTR solutions: Stacked Single Target, Ensemble of Regressor Chains, Deep Structure  for Tracking Asynchronous Regressor Stacking,   Deep  Regressor Stacking, Multi-output Tree Chaining,  Multi-target Augment Stacking  and Multi-output Random Forest (MORF). With the exception of MORF, traditional approaches and the MTR methods were evaluated with Extreme Gradient Boosting, Random Forest and Support Vector Machine regressors. By means of extensive experimental evaluation, our results showed that the most recent MTR solutions can achieve suitable predictive performance, improving all the scenarios (14.70% in the best one, considering all target variables and periods). In this sense, MTR is a proper strategy for building stock market decision support system based on prediction models

Linfócitos T CD4+ tumor infiltrantes no câncer de mama inicial refletem envolvimento linfonodal

BACKGROUND: The role of immune system in the pathogenesis and progression of breast cancer is a subject of controversy, and this stimulated us to investigate the association of the immunophenotype of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in early breast cancer with the spread of tumor cells to axillary lymph nodes. METHODS: Tumor samples from 23 patients with early breast cancer from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Ribeirão Preto Medical School (USP) were obtained at the time of biopsy and submitted to an enzyme-digestion procedure for the extraction of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. The lymphocytes extracted were analyzed by dual-color flow cytometry with monoclonal antibodies in these combinations: CD3 FITC/CD19 PE, CD3 FITC/CD4 PE, CD3 FITC/CD8 PE, and CD16/56 PerCP, which are specific for immunophenotyping of T and B lymphocytes, helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells. The mean percentage of these cells was used for comparing groups of patients with or without lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: The mean value for T-lymphocyte infiltration was 24.72 ± 17.37%; for B-lymphocyte infiltration, 4.22 ± 6.27%; for NK-cell infiltration, 4.41 ± 5.22%, and for CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte infiltration, 12.43 ± 10.12% and 11.30 ± 15.09%, respectively. Only mean values of T- and CD4+ T-lymphocyte infiltration were higher in the group of patients with lymph node metastasis, while no differences were noted in the other lymphocyte subpopulations. CONCLUSION: The association of tumor-infiltrating CD4+ T lymphocytes with lymph node metastasis suggests a role for these cells in the spread of neoplasia to lymph nodes in patients with early breast cancer.INTRODUÇÃO: O papel do sistema imunológico na patogênese e progressão do câncer de mama ainda é controverso, e isto nos estimulou a verificar a associação do imunofenótipo dos linfócitos tumor infiltrantes do câncer de mama inicial com a disseminação de células tumorais para os linfonodos axilares. MÉTODOS: Amostras tumorais de 23 pacientes com câncer de mama inicial do Departamento de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (USP) foram obtidas no momento da biópsia e depois submetidas ao método de digestão enzimática para a extração dos linfócitos tumor infiltrantes. Os linfócitos extraídos foram analisados por citometria de fluxo com anticorpos monoclonais nas seguintes combinações: CD3 FITC/CD19 PE, CD3 FITC/CD4 PE, CD3 FITC/CD8 PE, e CD16/56 PerCP, específicos para imunofenotipagem de linfócitos T e B, linfócitos T helper, linfócitos citotóxicos, e células Natural Killer. Os valores médios destas subpopulações leucocitárias foram comparados entre grupos de pacientes com ou sem metástases linfonodais. RESULTADOS: O valor médio do infiltrado por linfócitos T foi 24,72±17,37%, para o infiltrado por linfócitos B foi 4,22±6,27%, e para o infiltrado por células Natural Killer foi 4,41±5,22%, e para o infiltrado por linfócitos T CD4+ e CD8+ foram, respectivamente, 12,43±10,12% e 11,30±15,09%. Os valores médios do infiltrado por células T e T CD4+ foram maiores no grupo de pacientes com metástase axilar, enquanto nas outras subpopulações nada foi encontrado. CONCLUSÃO: A associação dos linfócitos T CD4+ tumor infiltrantes com metástases linfonodais sugere um papel destas células na disseminação das células neoplásicas aos linfonodos dos pacientes com câncer de mama inicial

PRODUCTION OF Colubrina glandulosa SEEDLINGS WITH DIFFERENT MYCORRHIZAL INOCULA

Colubrina glandulosa has potential for reforestation of disturbed areas. Seedlings inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can be produced with biosolids from Sewage Treatment Plants. This study aimed to evaluate the response of Colubrina glandulosa seedlings to isolated or mixed inoculation of different AMF species on a biosolid-based substrate under greenhouse conditions. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 32 replicates (seedlings)/treatment and five treatments: (1) control or absence of inoculation (CT); (2) inoculation with Dentiscutata heterogama (DH); (3) inoculation with Gigaspora margarita (GM); (4) inoculation with Rhizophagus clarus (RC); (5) inoculation with the mixture of the three AMF species (MT). We evaluated height and collar diameter of the seedlings at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 140 days after the experiment installation. We evaluated shoot dry biomass (SDM), root dry biomass (RDM), and total dry biomass; SDM / RDM ratio; Dickson Quality Index; relative increments in height, collar diameter, and shoot biomass; nutrient content (N, P, K) in the shoots and roots; efficiency of absorption and utilization of nutrients; rate of root mycorrhizal colonization, at 140 days. In general, the highest values of growth and nutrition variables occurred in the MT treatment, which was recommended, in comparison with CT, DH, GM, and RC. Colonization rates were low (≤ 20 %), regardless of the mycorrhizal inoculum, due to the high levels of phosphorus in the biosolid

Impacts of sheep versus cattle livestock systems on birds of Mediterranean grasslands

Mediterranean pastures are experiencing strong changes in management, involving shifts from sheep to cattle-based livestock systems. The impacts of such shifts on biodiversity are still poorly understood. Here, we sought to contrast the grazing regime, vegetation structure, bird species richness and abundance, between sheep and cattle grazed parcels, to understand the mechanisms through which management decisions impact farmland birds. During spring 2019, we characterized livestock management, bird populations and sward structure in 23 cattle and 27 sheep grazed parcels. We used a Structural Equation Model to infer the direct and indirect effects of sheep and cattle grazing on birds. Although no effects were found on overall species richness, there were species-specific responses to sheep and cattle grazed systems. Grazing pressure (variable integrating stocking rate and the number of days in the parcel) had negative impacts on the prevalence/abundance of Zitting Cisticola, Corn Bunting and Little Bustard, either directly or indirectly, through the effects of grazing pressure on vegetation height. Animal density and vegetation cover had direct positive effects in Galerida spp. and Common Quail, respectively. Zitting Cisticola and Little Bustard also showed a direct response to livestock type. Our study emphasizes the importance of grazing pressure as a driver of negative impacts for bird populations in Mediterranean grasslands. Since the ongoing transition from sheep to cattle-based systems involves increases in stocking rate, and therefore potentially higher grazing pressure, we propose a policy change to cap the maximum allowed grazing pressure. At the landscape scale, a mix of sheep and cattle grazed fields would be beneficial for maintaining bird diversityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Uso de Inversores de frequência em Aplicações de Bombeamento de Água para Instalações Prediais/ Use of Inverters in Water Pumping Applications in Building Installations

Em geral, motores elétricos de indução trifásicos de baixa potência são diretamente conectados à rede elétrica. Os motores de média e grande potência possuem dispositivos que, conectados entre a rede e o motor, permitem uma redução temporária da tensão aplicada aos seus terminais, limitando a corrente elétrica de partida. O Inversor de frequência é um dispositivo que tem essa finalidade. Neste artigo mostra-se ensaios com o uso de inversores de frequência em motores elétricos de potência em aplicações de bombeamento em instalações prediais visando redução de consumo de energia elétrica, entre outras vantagens

Alternative tube caps on in vitro growth of Orbignya oleifera Burret.: An Arecaceae native cerrado domain

The babassu (Orbignya oleifera Burret) is a palm that contains oilseeds whose biomass can be used for biofuel production. Due to difficulties in germinating the species, in vitro cultivation techniques are sought as a viable alternative to expand studies on germination. The objective of this study was to evaluate different types of tube caps for in vitro growth of babassu seedlings. Thus, zygotic embryos were inoculated in tubes containing MS medium with a 50% salt concentration, which were sealed with diferent caps, a cotton plug, plastic cap, PVC film and plastic cap with PVC film. During the in vitro culture, the mean length of seedlings, the formation of the cotyledon petiole and root, as well as oxidation of the explants were evaluated. The cotton plug exhibited a positive effect on the initial steps of in vitro cultivation, which promoted more vigorous plants with greater mean lengths; however, its effect decreased as the cultivation time increased. The cotton plug is an alternative and eight-fold less expensive than a conventional plug, which favors early in vitro growth of O. oleifera Burret.Key words: Babassu, Goiás Cerrado, tissue culture