Tecnologia social: uma estratégia para o desenvolvimento

Esta publicação apresenta reflexões de diversos representantes de instituições governamentais, do terceiro setor, da sociedade civil e de universidades sobre o tema da Tecnologia Social

Design Considerations in Linear Microdensitometry

The conditions for linearity in microdensitometry are discussed. It is shown that under proper conditions a microdensitometer may behave linearly regardless of the coherence properties of the source. A linear microdensitometer was constructed and design considerations are presented as well as test results

Cone reconstruction in Ebstein's anomaly repair: early and long-term results

FUNDAMENTO: As principais correções da anomalia de Ebstein (AE) baseiam-se na reconstrução monocúspide da valva tricúspide e são limitadas pela frequente necessidade de substituição ou pela alta reincidência de insuficiência valvar. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a viabilidade e os efeitos da correção anatômica da anomalia de Ebstein com a técnica do cone na evolução clínica dos pacientes, na função da valva tricúspide e na morfologia do ventrículo direito. MÉTODOS: Foram comparados os dados clínicos, ecocardiográficos e radiológicos de 52 pacientes consecutivos, com idade média de 18,5 ± 13,8anos, submetidos à técnica do cone, obtidos nos períodos pré-operatório, pós-operatório imediato (POI) e em longo prazo (POL). RESULTADOS: Houve dois óbitos hospitalares (3,8%) e mais dois durante o seguimento. A classe funcional média de insuficiência cardíaca pré-operatória de 2,2 melhorou para 1,2 após 57 meses de seguimento médio de 97% dos pacientes (p < 0,001). O grau médio de insuficiência tricúspide pré-operatória de 3,6 diminuiu para 1,6 no POI (p < 0,001), mantendo-se em 1,9 no POL (p &gt; 0,05). A área funcional indexada do VD aumentou de 8,53 ± 7,02 cm2/m2 no préoperatório para 21,01±6,87 cm2/m2 no POI (p < 0,001), mantendo-se inalterada em 20,28 ± 5,26 cm2/m2 no POL (p &gt; 0,05). O índice cardiotorácico médio foi reduzido de 0,66 ± 0,09 para 0,54 ± 0,06 (p < 0,001) em longo prazo. CONCLUSÃO: A técnica do cone apresentou baixa mortalidade hospitalar, corrigindo a insuficiência tricúspide de maneira eficaz e duradoura, com a restauração da área funcional do ventrículo direito, permitindo o remodelamento reverso do coração e a melhora clínica na maioria dos pacientes em longo prazo.BACKGROUND: The main Ebstein anomaly (EA) repairs are based on the monocusp reconstruction of the tricuspid valve and are limited by the frequent need for replacement or the high recurrence of valve regurgitation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and effects of anatomical repair of Ebstein's anomaly using the cone reconstruction technique on patients' clinical evaluation, tricuspid valve function and right ventricular morphology. METHODS: We compared the clinical, echocardiographic and radiological data of 52 consecutive patients, with a mean age of 18.5 ± 13.8 years, submitted to the cone reconstruction technique, obtained in the preoperative, early postoperative (EPO) and long-term (LPO) periods. RESULTS: There were two in-hospital deaths (3.8%) and two more during the follow-up. Mean functional class of pre-operative heart failure improved from 2.2 to 1.2 after 57 months of mean follow up of 97% of patients (p <0.001). The mean degree of preoperative tricuspid regurgitation decreased from 3.6 to 1.6 in the EPO (p <0.001), remaining at 1.9 in LPO period (p&gt; 0.05). The indexed RV functional area increased from 8.53 ± 7.02 cm2/m2 preoperatively to 21.01 ± 6.87 cm2/m2 in the EPO (p <0.001) and remained unchanged at 20.28 ± 5.26 cm2/m2 in LPO period (p&gt; 0.05). The mean cardiothoracic ratio was decreased from 0.66 ± 0.09 to 0.54 ± 0.06 (p <0.001) in the long term. CONCLUSION: The cone technique showed low in-hospital mortality, resulting in an effective and long-lasting repair of tricuspid regurgitation, restoring the functional area of the right ventricle and allowing reverse remodeling of the heart and clinical improvement in most patients in the long term

The Greening of Anthocyanins: Eco-Friendly Techniques for Their Recovery from Agri-Food By-Products

In recent years, several steps forward have been made toward a more sustainable approach for the extraction of bioactive compounds from plant materials based on the application of green extraction principles. It is currently recognized that waste and by-products deriving from agriculture and food industries still contain a wide array of high value-added substances, which can be re-used to obtain new products with various applications in the food, supplement, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Anthocyanins are a class of these valuable metabolites; they confer the red, violet, and blue color to fruits and vegetables, and scientific evidence has accumulated over the last few decades to support their beneficial effects on human health, in great part deriving from their powerful antioxidant capacity. This review provides a general overview of the most recent green procedures that have been applied for the recovery of anthocyanins from plant-derived wastes and by-products. The most widely used green solvents and the main sustainable techniques utilized for recovering this class of flavonoids from various matrices are discussed, together with the variables that mainly impact the extraction yield

Enhancing learning performance and school development : collaboration between teachers, school counsellors and parents at secondary schools in Polokwane, Limpopo province

In 1998, I completed my studies in Social Work and Theology and had a burning desire to assist young people who were caught up in a dysfunctional system. In 2008, I became part of a school’s counselling team and furthered my studies in order to be more efficient. I thereafter completed a degree in Education and in Psychology and specialized in Psychometry. However, I realized that one person cannot fulfil so many roles proficiently and that a team effort is what is required to address the growing dilemma our country is facing. South African schools have been characterized by low pass rates and underachievement. Young people are bombarded by a number of problems that stem from their various ecological systems – home, school, community and the country at large. These have a ripple effect on their performance, behaviour and overall development. The purpose of this study was to explore whether or not collaboration between key stakeholders will effectively address the diverse needs of learners and contribute to an improvement in learner performance and ultimately towards school development. The research was conducted in the Limpopo Province, which has presented with some of the lowest pass rates over the past few years. Principals, deputy principals, school counsellors, heads of departments and parents from five local schools participated in the study. They shared their views and perceptions pertaining to the condition of education in South Africa and in their own schools and elaborated on collaboration as a possible solution to underachievement. The study provided insight into their personal experiences and views and it concluded that collaboration is undoubtedly of great importance. Several challenges or impediments to collaboration were, however, identified that still need to be addressed in order for these partnerships to be truly effective. Key stakeholders, like teachers, parents and school counsellors play a pivotal role in the implementation of this strategy and teamwork, trust and mutual respect will determine its eventual success and outcome.M. Ed. (Education Management)Educational Management and Leadershi

Proposing a Usability Test to Evaluate the Perceived Usability of the SILS Website: A Case Study

Usability tests are highly effective at identifying user problems across all interfaces. Universities across the world have developed various methodologies to assess the usability of their websites. This paper proposes a method for usability testing that SILS administration may use in the future. This method was developed from a variety of successful existing studies.Master of Science in Information Scienc

Análise Comparativa de Planos de Gestão para Problemas Relacionados com Secas no Estado da Paraíba, Brasil, e no Estado do Arizona, Estados Unidos da América

There is an intrinsic relationship between drought events and their intensifiers, which are social, environmental and economic issues, that ultimately determine how intense the event can be for a given society, based on its resilience, in other words, how much she is prepared to receive such an event and recover from it. That is why management is necessary, looking at adapting the environment to the conditions encountered, improving the society’s quality of life. This work comes as a comparative study of the action plan to combat drought in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, compared to the state of Arizona, USA, facilitating the understanding of the differences between the two regions, with Arizona being a reference in terms of water management and having a functional action plan, and Paraíba a place quite impacted by the event without great management linkedExiste uma relação intrínseca entre os eventos de seca com os seus intensificadores, que são as questões sociais, ambientais e econômicas, que acabam por definir quão intenso o evento pode atingir uma determinada sociedade, baseado na sua capacidade de resiliência, ou seja, o quanto ela está preparada para receber tal evento e se recuperar dele. Por isso é necessária uma gestão, visando a adaptação do meio as condições encontradas, melhorando a qualidade de vida da sociedade. Este trabalho vem como um estudo comparativo exatamente do plano de ação de combate à seca do estado da Paraíba, Brasil, em comparação ao estado do Arizona, Estados Unidos da América, facilitando o entendimento das diferenças entre as duas regiões, sendo o Arizona referência no quesito de gestão das águas e detentor de um plano de ação funcional, e a Paraíba local bastante impactada pelo evento sem grande gestão vinculada

Screening of ninety herbal products of commercial interest as potential ingredients for phytocosmetics

Elastase and tyrosinase are important targets both for cosmetics and for dermatological disorders. In this work, ninety herbal products were tested as inhibitors of these two enzymes. Eleven extracts resulted strongly active. Four out of them (Camellia sinensis, Ginkgo biloba, Rhodiola rosea, Vitis vinifera) inhibited both enzymes, five (Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ribes nigrum, Rheum officinale, Salvia officinalis, Tilia platyphyllos) were active against tyrosinase only, and two (Ceterach officinarum and Cinnamomum zeylanicum) proved selectively active against elastase. The IC50 ranged from 3.1 to 104.9 \u3bcg/mL and 19.3 to 164.3 \u3bcg/mL, against elastase and tyrosinase, respectively. The most active extracts resulted enriched in flavonoids (from 1.47 to 56.47 mg RE/g of extract) and phenolics (from 37.43 to 123.56 mg GAE/g of extract), indicating also an antioxidant potential. Finally, a positive correlation between enzymatic bioactivities and phenolic content was also established