Uses of places and setting preferences in a French Antarctic station

The various uses of space as well as the environmental preferences of wintering people were investigated during 1 year in a French Antarctic station using daily participant observation (for uses of places) and a repeated measure of the perception and evaluation of the settings. The uses of places varied according to occupational and age subgroups: The young scientists expressed a higher need for privacy and a strong investment in their working areas, whereas the technicians preferred the social leisure area (main hall). These places were used as different behavior settings and thus corresponded to flexible environments. Flexibility was a characteristic of all the preferred places. A change in the preferences among the settings and the uses of places was also observed: After midwinter, the preferences evolved from private places to working areas. At the end of the mission, a behavioral change reflecting a stronger need for privacy was also observed

A comparison of electrochemical degradation of phenol on boron doped diamond and lead dioxide anodes

This work compares two electrode materials used to mineralize phenol contained in waste waters. Two disks covered with either boron doped diamond (BDD) or PbO2 were used as anodes in a one compartment flow cell under the same hydrodynamic conditions. Efficiencies of galvanostatic electrolyses are compared on the basis of measurements of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). Galvanostatic electrolyses were monitored by analysis of phenol and of its oxidation derivatives to evaluate the operating time needed for complete elimination of toxic aromatics. The experimental current efficiency is close to the theoretical value for the BDD electrode. Other parameters being equal, phenol species disappeared at the same rate using the two electrode materials but the BDD anode showed better efficiency to eliminate TOC and COD. Moreover, during the electrolysis less intermediates are formed with BDD compared to PbO2 whatever the current density. A comparison of energy consumption is given based on the criterion of 99% removal of aromatic compounds

Motivos e sentimentos que conectam o uso de crack à tentativa de suicídio

Objective: to know the reasons and feelings that influenced crack users to attempt suicide. Method: qualitative research carried out at a Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and other drugs. Ten users participated in the study. Semi-structured interview and thematic analysis were performed. Results: social vulnerability, first contact with the drug and the time of use associated with abuse were factors that influenced the depressive symptoms and lack of motivation to live and that served as a trigger for attempted suicide. Conclusion: the reasons elected by the participants to end their lives expose, to health professionals, the need to qualify listening and attending in a way that welcomes the individual and social demands of people who use crack.Objetivo: conhecer os motivos e os sentimentos que influenciaram usuários de crack a tentar suicídio. Método: pesquisa qualitativa realizada em um Centro de Atenção Psicossocial Álcool e outras drogas. Participaram do estudo dez usuários. Realizaram-se entrevista semiestruturada e análise temática. Resultados: a vulnerabilidade social, o primeiro contato com a droga e o tempo de utilização associados ao uso abusivo foram fatores que influenciaram os sintomas depressivos e a falta de motivação para viver e que serviram de gatilho para a tentativa de suicídio. Conclusão: as razões eleitas pelos participantes para terminar com a sua vida expõem, aos profissionais de saúde, a necessidade de qualificar a escuta e o atendimento de forma a acolher as demandas individuais e sociais das pessoas que utilizam crack. Objetivo: conocer los motivos y sentimientos que influyeron en los usuarios de crack para intentarsuicidarse. Método: investigación cualitativa realizada en un Centro de Atención Psicosocial Alcohol y otras drogas. Diez usuarios participaron en el estudio. Se realizó una entrevista semiestructurada y un análisis temático. Resultados: la vulnerabilidad social, el primer contacto con la droga, la duración del uso asociado con el abuso fueron factores que influyeron en los síntomas depresivos y la falta de motivación para vivir, lo que desencadenó el intento de suicidio. Conclusión: las razones elegidas por los participantes para el final de sus vidas exponen a los profesionales de la salud a la necesidad de evaluar la escucha y la atención para satisfacer las demandas individuales y sociales de las personas que usan crack

Feasibility of Micropollutants Treatment by Coupling Nanofiltration and Electrochemical Oxidation: Case of Hospital Wastewater

In spite of good performances of the membrane bioreactor (MBR) process, permeate from it can still con- tain refractory pollutants that have to be removed before water reuse or discharge. The present study is an attempt to combine the advantages of two well-known technolo- gies, which are nanofiltration (NF) and electrochemical oxidation (EO) to treat MBR effluent from hospital waste- water. The concept is based on a preconcentration of micropollutants with a reduction of the wastewater volume by NF and treatment of the NF retentate by oxidation. During filtration process the rejection of cipro- floxacin, as a target molecule, reached beyond 97%. Then the NF retentate was treated by EO using a boron- doped diamond anode (BDD). Galvanostatic electrolyses showed that this anode is efficient to mineralize not only ciprofloxacin but also all the micropollutants and organics contained in MBR effluent. The results demon- strated that rapid mineralization occurred: the removal of total organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand (COD) reached 97% and 100%, respectively, in our conditions in 300 min maximum. The specific energy consumption for the total removal of COD was calculated to be 50 kW h kg ˗1 COD

AS ATRIBUIÇÕES DA ENFERMAGEM NO EXERCÍCIO DO ACOMPANHAMENTO TERAPÊUTICO EM UM SERVIÇO RESIDENCIAL TERAPÊUTICO

Objetivo: identificar as atividades e atribuições do acompanhamento terapêutico desenvolvidas pela enfermagem em um Serviço Residencial Terapêutico. Materiais e Métodos: pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa e descritiva. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas, gravadas e transcritas na íntegra, com 12 acompanhantes terapêuticos da equipe de enfermagem de um Serviço Residencial Terapêutico do Rio Grande do Sul. A análise dos dados baseia-se na proposta de análise temática, sendo investigados e sistematizados a partir das atribuições e atividades do acompanhamento terapêutico. Resultados: nota-se que os profissionais de enfermagem que compõem a equipe de acompanhantes terapêuticos do serviço possuem um forte potencial cuidador e são dotados de características essenciais para reinserção social dos sujeitos em sofrimento psíquico. Conclusão: ressalta-se a importância da enfermagem como profissão, uma vez que sua essência está no cuidado, que é fundamental para a prática em saúde mental e, principalmente, para o acompanhamento terapêutico

Condições higiênicossanitárias de unidades de alimentação e nutrição de escolas participantes do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar: qual a realidade em Goiás?

Introduction: In order to offer safe meals to students, recommended by the Brazilian School Feeding Program (PNAE, in Portuguese), an adequate hygienic-sanitary condition of “Units of Food and Nutrition” is necessary. Objective: To evaluate the hygienic-sanitary conditions of the “Units of Food and Nutrition” at schools participating in the BrazilianSchool Feeding Program in municipalities in Goiás, as well as to verify possible associations with municipal indexes, school characteristics and supervision by a nutritionist. Method: Cross-sectional study, carried out between 2017 and 2019, with a sample of 395 schools, from 103 municipalities in Goiás. The hygienic-sanitary conditions were collected by nutritionists, through a checklist based on Anvisa’s RDC nº 216/2004 and municipal indexes of human development and basic education in public databases. The school’s characteristics and the existence of supervision by a nutritionist were asked to school directors. Descriptive analysis of the checklist items and hypothesis and correlation tests were performed. Results: Most units (69.4%) were classified as having regular health risk, according to the checklist. Significant differences were obtained between municipal and state schools (p = 0.02); difference of northern mesoregion from the others (p = 0.00) and low Human Development Index of the other categories (p = 0.02) were observed. Furthermore, the high Basic Education DevelopmentIndex (5th grade) was associated with a very low health risk (p = 0.04). Conclusions: It is inferred that there is a need for corrective measures. Manuals of good practices should be implemented, along with training of handlers, ongoing supervision by the nutritionist and the School Feeding Council, and investment in management with a view to the Food and Nutritional Security of schoolchildren.Introdução: Para a oferta de refeições seguras aos estudantes, preconizado pelo Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar, se faz necessária uma condição higiênicossanitária adequada da Unidade de Alimentação e Nutrição. Objetivo: Avaliar as condições higiênicossanitárias das Unidades de Alimentação e Nutrição de escolas participantes do Programa Nacional de Alimentação Escolar em municípios goianos, bem como verificar possíveis associações com: índices municipais, características da escola e supervisão de nutricionista. Método: Estudo transversal, realizado entre 2017 e 2019, com amostra de 395 escolas, de 103 municípios de Goiás. As condições higiênicossanitárias foram verificadas por nutricionistas, por meio de um checklist baseado na RDC nº 216, de 15 de setembro de 2004 da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária e nos índices municipais de desenvolvimento humano e da educação básica em base de dados públicas. As características da escola e o recebimento de supervisão foram perguntados aos diretores escolares. Realizou-se uma análise descritiva dos itens do checklist e testes de hipóteses e correlação. Resultados: A maioria das unidades (69,4%) foi classificada como de risco sanitário regular, de acordo com o checklist. Obteve-se diferenças significativas entre: as escolas municipais e estaduais (p = 0,02); a mesorregião Norte das outras (p = 0,00) e o baixo Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano das demais categorias (p = 0,02). Ademais, o alto Índice de Desenvolvimento da Educação Básica (5º ano) apresentou uma associação com o muito baixo risco sanitário (p = 0,04). Conclusões: Infere-se que há necessidade de medidas corretivas. Sugere-se a implementação de manuais de boas práticas; a formação de manipuladores; a supervisão contínua do nutricionista e do Conselho de Alimentação Escolar; e o investimento da gestão com vistas à Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional dos escolares

Pattern of lateral neck metastases in N0 papillary thyroid carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Indication and extent of lateral prophylactic neck dissection (PLND) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is very controversial.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively analysed 131 patients who underwent thyroidectomy and prophylactic lateral neck dissection from level II to V for PTC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>140 PLND were performed. The occult lymph node metastases (OLNM) overall rate was 18.6%. The incidence of node involvement was 10% at level III and 6.4% at level IIa. Level IV and level Vb were both concerned by 5.7% OLNM. Only 2.9% of level IIb contained OLNM. None of the level Va ND revealed OLNM.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>OLNM from PTC occurs commonly in level IIa, III, IV and Vb. Incidence in other levels is low. For surgeons that usually perform PLND, we believe that a selective neck dissection of levels IIa, III, IV and Vb in N0 neck PTC is sufficient for the clearance of occult metastases.</p

Genetic regulation of pituitary gland development in human and mouse

Normal hypothalamopituitary development is closely related to that of the forebrain and is dependent upon a complex genetic cascade of transcription factors and signaling molecules that may be either intrinsic or extrinsic to the developing Rathke’s pouch. These factors dictate organ commitment, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation within the anterior pituitary. Abnormalities in these processes are associated with congenital hypopituitarism, a spectrum of disorders that includes syndromic disorders such as septo-optic dysplasia, combined pituitary hormone deficiencies, and isolated hormone deficiencies, of which the commonest is GH deficiency. The highly variable clinical phenotypes can now in part be explained due to research performed over the last 20 yr, based mainly on naturally occurring and transgenic animal models. Mutations in genes encoding both signaling molecules and transcription factors have been implicated in the etiology of hypopituitarism, with or without other syndromic features, in mice and humans. To date, mutations in known genes account for a small proportion of cases of hypopituitarism in humans. However, these mutations have led to a greater understanding of the genetic interactions that lead to normal pituitary development. This review attempts to describe the complexity of pituitary development in the rodent, with particular emphasis on those factors that, when mutated, are associated with hypopituitarism in humans

Immunogenicity of Self-Associated Aggregates and Chemically Cross-Linked Conjugates of the 42 kDa Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein-1

Self-associated protein aggregates or cross-linked protein conjugates are, in general, more immunogenic than oligomeric or monomeric forms. In particular, the immunogenicity in mice of a recombinant malaria transmission blocking vaccine candidate, the ookinete specific Plasmodium falciparum 25 kDa protein (Pfs25), was increased more than 1000-fold when evaluated as a chemical cross-linked protein-protein conjugate as compared to a formulated monomer. Whether alternative approaches using protein complexes improve the immunogenicity of other recombinant malaria vaccine candidates is worth assessing. In this work, the immunogenicity of the recombinant 42 kDa processed form of the P. falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP142) was evaluated as a self-associated, non-covalent aggregate and as a chemical cross-linked protein-protein conjugate to ExoProtein A, which is a recombinant detoxified form of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A. MSP142 conjugates were prepared and characterized biochemically and biophysically to determine their molar mass in solution and stoichiometry, when relevant. The immunogenicity of the MSP142 self-associated aggregates, cross-linked chemical conjugates and monomers were compared in BALB/c mice after adsorption to aluminum hydroxide adjuvant, and in one instance in association with the TLR9 agonist CPG7909 with an aluminum hydroxide formulation. Antibody titers were assessed by ELISA. Unlike observations made for Pfs25, no significant enhancement in MSP142 specific antibody titers was observed for any conjugate as compared to the formulated monomer or dimer, except for the addition of the TLR9 agonist CPG7909. Clearly, enhancing the immunogenicity of a recombinant protein vaccine candidate by the formation of protein complexes must be established on an empirical basis