Ensaio Fenomenológico

Estrofes do poema de Gonçalves Dias, em Coimbra, 1846, com saudades do Brasil. Vejamos o que albergam. Comecemos pelo Sabiá. Maiúsculo, talvez por respeito ao seu canto. Que varia de acordo com as várias espécies. Lembrando que elas somente cantam no começo da primavera, em agosto, mês do acasalamento e feitura dos ninhos, se aquietando no verão, na labuta dos pais em alimentar gulosos filhotes prestes a se tornarem independentes. Não sei se nosso bacharel-indianista sabia destes detalhes, poisdesnecessários nos traços de sua inspiração. Como também o não saber do canto dos machos como comunicação inicialmente amorosa (com as fêmeas, naturalmente) e depois assegurando seu território da concorrência de terceiros de sua espécie

Formulação axiomática de uma política florestal: preservação das espécies arbóreas tropicais e desenvolvimento econômico

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Produção.Este trabalho nasceu do duplo desafio de elaborar uma tecnologia de manejo da floresta tropical sem prejuízo de sua diversidade biológica original e, ao mesmo tempo, verificar sob que condições de política econômica e florestal esta tecnologia se poderia tornar economicamente viável. A tecnologia, denominada de manejo natural, foi gradativamente se cristalizando ao longo de mais de duas décadas de manejo comercial em propriedade situada na Mata Atlântica de Santa Catarina, com sua riqueza de mais de cem espécies arbóreas. Tendo sido estabelecidas determinadas normas de seleção de árvores para corte, se colocou a questão de como, formalmente, a elas se chegara. Verificou-se que as relações causais que caracterizam os conhecimentos técnico-científicos de engenharia florestal e de produção, como os organizados em modelo da dinâmica da floresta, eram somente um dos componentes de um processo decisório que culminava com o estabelecimento das regras de seleção. Com isto, o enfoque foi centrado na descrição do processo decisório em si. A formalização da sua estrutura conduziu à agregação de um componente adicional às relações causais e às normas, qual seja, o universo dos desejos individuais e dos valores sociais. O cerne formal do trabalho se constitui na formulação de uma axiomática do que se denominou uma práxis, integradora dos três componentes da estrutura de um processo decisório. Elementos da filosofia da linguagem e da lógica modal foram utilizados para se estabelecer uma forma única de expressão dos valores, das relações causais e das normas. Esta forma é a sentença intencional da filosofia continental da Europa, também denominada de propositional attitude pela filosofia inglesa. Uma vez descrito o processo decisório do manejo natural tout court, procedeu-se à sua integração ao processo decisório global de uma empresa florestal competitiva. O limitado conceito de função de produção da microeconomia neoclássica foi, inicialmente, revisto para abrigar os detalhes da engenharia da produção e, posteriormente, inserido em contexto mais amplo para coadunar o esforço de desenvolvimento da empresa e o estabelecimento de uma política florestal promotora do desenvolvimento macroeconômico. Conclui-se como Indispensável para a viabilização econômica do manejo natural o acesso ao mercado internacional de créditos de carbono, cuja institucionalização veio na esteira do Protocolo de Quioto

Spiritual Dryness as a Measure of a Specific Spiritual Crisis in Catholic Priests: Associations with Symptoms of Burnout and Distress

Spirituality/religiosity is recognized as a resource to cope with burdening life events and chronic illness. However, less is known about the consequences of the lack of positive spiritual feelings. Spiritual dryness in clergy has been described as spiritual lethargy, a lack of vibrant spiritual encounter with God, and an absence of spiritual resources, such as spiritual renewal practices. To operationalize experiences of ``spiritual dryness'' in terms of a specific spiritual crisis, we have developed the ``spiritual dryness scale'' (SDS). Here, we describe the validation of the instrument which was applied among other standardized questionnaires in a sample of 425 Catholic priests who professionally care for the spiritual sake of others. Feelings of ``spiritual dryness'' were experienced occasionally by up to 40%, often or even regularly by up to 13%. These experiences can explain 44% of variance in daily spiritual experiences, 30% in depressive symptoms, 22% in perceived stress, 20% in emotional exhaustion, 19% in work engagement, and 21% of variance of ascribed importance of religious activity. The SDS-5 can be used as a specific measure of spiritual crisis with good reliability and validity in further studies

Age and manifestation related symptoms in familial adenomatous polyposis

BACKGROUND: To identify early symptoms of familial adenomatous polyposis with a view to improve early diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis on the basis of genetic testing is usually limited to where there is a known family history, so FAP is more usually diagnosed on clinical grounds. Except for those identified via FAP registers, the majority of patients are symptomatic at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective study of 143 FAP patients treated at the Department of Surgery, University of Erlangen between 1971 and 2000. We identified patterns of symptoms, endoscopic findings and extracolonic manifestations in three age groups. RESULTS: FAP was diagnosed clinically on the basis of symptoms in 84% (120/143) of these patients. Most presented with intestinal symptoms such as colonic bleeding (68%) and diarrhea (42%). All but one of the patients between 20 and 40 years old had rectal polyps (98.7%, 75/76), whereas in those over 40 years old the prevalence was 76% (35/46). Non-specific symptoms such as abdominal pain, fatigue and bloating were less frequent and were mainly reported by patients older than 40. CONCLUSION: The commonest presenting features of FAP are alteration of bowel habit and rectal bleeding, but both are found in many other conditions. Patients with these findings need immediate endoscopy to allow prompt diagnosis and prophylactic surgery

Hydrogenation on palladium nanoparticles supported by graphene nanoplatelets

Pd nanoparticles (1 wt %; mean size ∼4 nm) were supported on ∼2 μm sized, but few nanometers thick, graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and compared to 1 wt % Pd on activated carbon or γ-alumina. Catalyst morphology, specific surface area, and Pd particle size were characterized by SEM, BET, and TEM, respectively. H2-TPD indicated that GNPs intercalated hydrogen, which may provide additional H2 supply to the Pd nanoparticles during C2H4 hydrogenation. Whereas the two types of Pd/GNPs (NaOH vs calcinated) catalysts were less active than Pd/C and Pd/Al2O3 below 40 °C, at 55 °C they were about 3–4 times more active. As for example Pd/GNPs (NaOH) and Pd/Al2O3 exhibited not too different mean Pd particle size (3.7 vs 2.5 nm, respectively), the higher activity is attributed to the additional hydrogen supply likely by the metal/support interface, as suggested by the varying C2H4 and H2 orders on the different supports. Operando XANES measurements during C2H4 hydrogenation revealed the presence of Pd hydride. The Pd hydride was more stable for Pd/GNPs (NaOH) than for Pd/C, once more pointing to a better hydrogen supply by graphene nanoplatelets

Impact of treatment planning target volumen (PTV) size on radiation induced diarrhoea following selenium supplementation in gynecologic radiation oncology - a subgroup analysis of a multicenter, phase III trial

Background: In a previous analysis (Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 70:828-835,2010), we assessed whether an adjuvant supplementation with selenium (Se) improves Se status and reduces the radiation-induced side-effects of patients treated by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for cervical and uterine cancer. Now, a potential relation between the planning target volume (PTV) of the RT and the Se effect concerning radiation induced diarrhoea was evaluated in detail. Methods: Whole blood Se concentrations had been measured in patients with cervical (n=11) and uterine cancer (n=70) after surgical treatment, during, and at the end of RT. Patients with initial Se concentrations of less than 84 μg/l were categorized as Se-deficient and randomized before RT to receive Se (as sodium selenite) per os on the days of RT, or to receive no supplement during RT. Diarrhoea was graded according to the Common Toxicity Criteria system (CTC, Version 2a). The evaluation of the PTV of the RT was ascertained with the help of a specialised computer-assisted treatment planning software used for radiation planning procedure. Results: A total of 81 patients had been randomized for the initial supplementation study, 39 of which received Se [selenium group, SeG] and 42 serving as controls [control group, CG]. Mean Se levels did not differ between SeG and CG upon study initiation, but were significantly higher in the SeG compared to the CG at the end of RT. The actuarial incidence of at least CTC 2 radiation induced diarrhoea in the SeG was 20.5% compared to 44.5% in the CG (p=0.04). The median PTV in both groups was 1302 ml (916–4608). With a PTV of 1302 ml (n=40) the actuarial incidence of at least CTC 2 diarrhoea in the SeG was 19.1% (4 of 21 patients) versus 52.6% (10 of 19 patients) in the CG (p=0.046). Conclusions: Se supplementation during RT was effective to improve blood Se status in Se-deficient cervical and uterine cancer patients, and reduces episodes and severity of RT-induced diarrhoea. This effect was most pronounced and significant in patients with large PTV (> 1302 ml)

An activation domain of plasmid R1 TraI protein delineates stages of gene transfer initiation

Bacterial conjugation is a form of type IV secretion that transports protein and DNA to recipient cells. Specific bacteriophage exploit the conjugative pili and cell envelope spanning protein machinery of these systems to invade bacterial cells. Infection by phage R17 requires F-like pili and coupling protein TraD, which gates the cytoplasmic entrance of the secretion channel. Here we investigate the role of TraD in R17 nucleoprotein uptake and find parallels to secretion mechanisms. The relaxosome of IncFII plasmid R1 is required. A ternary complex of plasmid oriT, TraD and a novel activation domain within the N-terminal 992 residues of TraI contributes a key mechanism involving relaxase-associated properties of TraI, protein interaction and the TraD ATPase. Helicase-associated activities of TraI are dispensable. These findings distinguish for the first time specific protein domains and complexes that process extracellular signals into distinct activation stages in the type IV initiation pathway. The study also provided insights into the evolutionary interplay of phage and the plasmids they exploit. Related plasmid F adapted to R17 independently of TraI. It follows that selection for phage resistance drives not only variation in TraA pilins but diversifies TraD and its binding partners in a plasmid-specific manner

Decidual Macrophages Are Significantly Increased in Spontaneous Miscarriages and Over-Express FasL

Decidual macrophages (DM) are the second most abundant population in the fetal-maternal interface. Their role has been so far identified as being local immuno-modulators favoring the maternal tolerance to the fetus. Herein we investigated tissue samples from 11 cases of spontaneous miscarriages and from 9 cases of elective terminations of pregnancy. Using immunohistochemistry and dual immunofluorescence we have demonstrated that in spontaneous miscarriages the DM are significantly increased. Additionally, we noted a significant up-regulation of macrophage FasL expression. Our results further support a dual role for DM during pregnancy and miscarriages. We hypothesize that the baseline DM population in normal pregnancy is in line with an M2 phenotype supporting the ongoing gestation. In contrast, during spontaneous miscarriages, the increased FasL-expressing population could be a part of an M1 phenotype participating in Fas/FasL-related apoptosis. Our results highlight a new aspect of macrophage biology in pregnancy physiology and pathophysiology. Further studies with larger samples are needed to verify the current results and evaluate their clinical impact

Case report: Fatal Borna virus encephalitis manifesting with basal brain and brainstem symptoms

BackgroundSince the first report of fatal Borna virus-1 (BoDV-1) encephalitis in 2018, cases gradually increased. There is a lack of diagnostic algorithm, and there is no effective treatment so far.Case presentationWe report an acute BoDV-1 encephalitis in a 77-year-old female with flu-like onset, rapid progression to word-finding difficulties, personality changes, global disorientation, diffuse cognitive slowness, and gait ataxia and further deterioration with fever, meningism, severe hyponatremia, epileptic seizures, cognitive decline, and focal cortical and cerebellar symptoms/signs. The extensive diagnostic workup (cerebrovascular fluid, serum, and MRI) for (meningo-)encephalitis was negative for known causes. Our empirical common antiviral, antimicrobial, and immunosuppressive treatment efforts failed. The patient fell into coma 5 days after admission, lost all brainstem reflexes on day 18, remained fully dependent on invasive mechanical ventilation thereafter and died on day 42. Brain and spinal cord autopsy confirmed an extensive, diffuse, and severe non-purulent, lymphocytic sclerosing panencephalomyelitis due to BoDV-1, affecting neocortical, subcortical, cerebellar, neurohypophysis, and spinal cord areas. Along with our case, we critically reviewed all reported BoDV-1 encephalitis cases.ConclusionThe diagnosis of acute BoDV-1 encephalitis is challenging and delayed, while it progresses to fatal. In this study, we list all tried and failed treatments so far for future reference and propose a diagnostic algorithm for prompt suspicion and diagnosis