Integrated optical polarizer based on the cross strip interferometer configuration.

A bimodal segment of specific length and thickness between two single mode sections of a planar waveguide can serve as a simple interferometer. The configuration can be realized by etching a wide strip from a dielectric film and forcing a — vertically guided, laterally unguided — beam of light to traverse the strip perpendicularly. A TE-pass polarizer designed on the basis of this concept achieves more that 30dB polarization discrimination with a total length of only 5 micrometers, for air covered Silicon-Oxide/Nitride waveguides at a wavelength of 650 nanometers

MEDIDA SOCIOEDUCATIVA EM MEIO ABERTO: desafios à execução na Política de Assistência Social

RESUMO: O objetivo deste artigo é discutir como têm sido executadas as medidas socioeducativas em meio aberto (Liberdade Assistida e Prestação de Serviço à Comunidade) pela Política de Assistência Social. Foi realizado um estudo empírico, no segundo semestre de 2016, no CREAS do município de Tijucas de abordagem qualitativa, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada realizada com seis sujeitos da política de assistência social no município, representantes do Conselho Municipal dos Direitos da Criança e do Adolescente e com um(a) juiz(a) de direito, além da análise de documentos institucionais. Os dados sugerem importantes desafios técnicos, políticos e operacionais no cotidiano do acompanhamento aos adolescentes a serem superados – entre eles o da articulação intersetorial entre as políticas publicas – tendo em vista que esses tem dificultado o cumprimento da medida socioeducativa pelo adolescente autor de ato infracional, conforme determina o SINASE (Lei nº 12.594/2012)

Fragen des Arbeits-, Tier- und Umweltschutzes bei der Schweinemast in verschiedenen Systemen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung mikrobieller Belastungen

Vor dem Hintergrund häufiger Atemwegserkrankungen bei Schweinen und landwirtschaftlich Beschäftigten war es das Ziel eines interdisziplinären Verbundprojektes, Belastungen von Mensch, Tier und Umwelt in ökologischen und konventionellen Haltungssystemen für die Schweinemast zu erfassen. Die Untersuchungen wurden in zwei konventionellen (Stall A, B) (BVT-Stall, 50% reduzierter Schlitzanteil, Zwangsbelüftung) und zwei ökologischen Ställen durchgeführt: Stall C (Praxisstall: Tiefstreu, freie Fenster-Lüftung), Stall D (Praxisstall: EU-Öko-VO, Trauf-First-Lüftung). Über 2 Mastperioden (je 3 Messungen; kalte / warme Jahreszeit) wurden die Parameter erfasst: luftgetragene Endotoxine, Schimmelpilze, Bakterien mit Differenzierung, arbeitsmedizinische Staubfraktionen, Materialproben, Staubfraktion PM10, NH3, CO2 und CH4, Lufttemperatur, Luftfeuchte. Die Beschreibung der Tiergesundheit erfolgte über serologische (Mycoplasmen, PRRS-, Influenza-A- und Circo-Virus) und koprologische (Parasitenbefall) Analysen und über Schlachtkörper- und Organbefundungen (Lunge, Pleura, Perikard, Leber). Am Beispiel der Endotoxin-Konzentration wurden die z.T. sehr hohen biologischen Belastungen deutlich: Stall C (Median: 14.495 EU/m3), Stall A/B (5.544 EU/m3), Stall D (2.876 EU/m3). Personengetragene Messungen führten zu deutlich höheren Werten. Die CO2- und NH3-Konzentrationen lagen in allen Ställen im Durchschnitt deutlich unter dem Grenzwert von 3000 ppm bzw. 20 ppm. In Stall C und D war die CH4-Konzentration allerdings höher als in Stall A/B (oberer Bereich der Literaturangaben). Auffällige Lungenbefunde fanden sich bei ca. 45% der untersuchten Schlachttiere, unabhängig vom Haltungssystem; parasitäre Leberveränderungen wurden ausschließlich in den Ställen C und D ermittelt. Die Untersuchungsergebnisse unterstreichen die Bedeutung der Ausführung, Dimensionierung und Regelung des Lüftungssystems sowie die Sauberkeit bzw. Hygiene und insbesondere das Betriebsmanagement im Stall und ihre Schlüsselrolle hinsichtlich der Freisetzungsmengen von Schadstoffen sowie der Tiergesundheit. Demgegenüber kommt der Klassifizierung der Haltungsumwelt durch die Einteilung in Haltungssystemen nur eine geringe Aussagekraft zu

SOCIEDADE CIVIL E CONTROLE SOCIAL DEMOCRÁTICO: profícuo campo de extensão universitária

RESUMO: O artigo socializa a prática extensionista da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – por meio do Núcleo de Estudos da Criança, Adolescente e Família – junto às instâncias de controle social municipal e estadual na área da criança e adolescente em Santa Catarina. O estreitamento das relações, entre universidade e sociedade, acontece por meio da assessoria sistemática à sociedade civil. As principais atividades desenvolvidas foram: a participação nas reuniões mensais do fórum e plenárias mensais dos conselhos de direitos da criança e do adolescente municipal de Florianópolis e estadual de Santa Catarina; desenvolvimento de estudos, elaboração do Plano Decenal, documentos, projetos e pareceres; capacitações de conselheiros. Conclui-se que as ações extensionistas têm contribuído na qualificação e fortalecimento da representação da sociedade civil, contudo ainda existem desafios importantes como o de responsabilizar os representantes governamentais para maior presença nesses espaços democráticos de controle social voltado à política da infância e adolescência

Habitat Characteristics of Black Crappie Nest Sites in an Illinois Impoundment

Ten nest colonies of black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus were visually located and verified by angling in Campus Lake, a small urban impoundment in southern Illinois. Habitat characteristics were measured at these nest sites and compared to habitat measurements obtained from 45 unused sites. Seven habitat characteristics (substrate firmness, temperature, dissolved oxygen, distance to deep water [3.8-m depth contour], substrate type, vegetation height, and vegetation density) were significantly different between nest sites and unused sites. Although temperature and dissolved oxygen were significantly different between nest sites and unused sites, all values were within the suitable range for black crappie spawning to occur. Black crappies selected nest sites close to deep water with firm substrates and low vegetation height and density. Our results present insight on habitat characteristics of black crappie spawning locations in a small urban impoundment. Interestingly, we located several black crappie nesting colonies with more than 10 individual nests in close proximity to one another; colonial nesting by black crappies has not previously been reported in the literature. Furthermore, we suggest that degree of shoreline modification and other anthropogenic influences in and adjacent to Campus Lake did not affect black crappie nest site selection. Black crappie nest sites in Campus Lake were always located near deep water (3.8 m), in low-density, short vegetation, and on firm clay or sand substrate; because nest site selection can influence earlylife survival and recruitment of black crappie, the availability of these habitat characteristics may regulate black crappie population demographics in Campus Lake. Efforts to limit sediment inputs will be important for maintaining suitable black crappie spawning habitat in Campus Lake and other small impoundments

A Century and a Half of Research on the Stable Fly, \u3ci\u3eStomoxys calcitrans\u3c/i\u3e (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), 1862-2011: An Annotated Bibliography

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, is a cosmopolitan pest of livestock, wild animals, pets, and humans. It is a primary pest of cattle in the United States, estimated to cause more than $1 billion in economic losses annually. It also causes dissension at the rural-urban interface and is a problem in recreation areas such as Florida beaches and the Great Lakes. Due to its pestiferous nature and painful bite, methods to control stable flies have been investigated for over a century. A large amount of research has been reported on stable fly biology, ecology, genetics, physiology, and vector competence. For this bibliography, literature has been gathered from journals and other resources available to the authors, and a selected number of articles have been annotated. This bibliography represents an update of literature published since 1980; literature from pre-1980 was included if copy could be ascertained

A Century and a Half of Research on the Stable Fly, \u3ci\u3eStomoxys calcitrans\u3c/i\u3e (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), 1862-2011: An Annotated Bibliography

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, is a cosmopolitan pest of livestock, wild animals, pets, and humans. It is a primary pest of cattle in the United States, estimated to cause more than $1 billion in economic losses annually. It also causes dissension at the rural-urban interface and is a problem in recreation areas such as Florida beaches and the Great Lakes. Due to its pestiferous nature and painful bite, methods to control stable flies have been investigated for over a century. A large amount of research has been reported on stable fly biology, ecology, genetics, physiology, and vector competence. For this bibliography, literature has been gathered from journals and other resources available to the authors, and a selected number of articles have been annotated. This bibliography represents an update of literature published since 1980; literature from pre-1980 was included if copy could be ascertained

Safety, tolerability and efficacy of peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C in clinical practice: The German Open Safety Trial

The combination treatment of peginterferon alpha-2a (PEG-IFN alpha-2a; Pegasys®) plus ribavirin (RBV) is recommended as a standard care for HCV infections. Side effects and aspects of efficacy and safety have to be balanced. This study evaluates clinical practice data on safety and efficacy of HCV treatment with PEG-IFN in combination with RBV over 24 and 48 weeks. This study was a phase III, multi-centre, open-label study with two treatment groups: PEG-IFN in combination with RBV for 24 or 48 weeks. The allocation to the treatment groups was at the discretion of the investigator; 309 patients entered active treatment: 90 patients received PEG-IFN plus RBV for 24 weeks and 219 patients PEG-IFN plus RBV for 48 weeks. A sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved in 48.9% of all patients. Genotype 1 patients with a 48-week combination treatment achieved an SVR of 39.9%. In the 48-week group a low baseline viral load was associated with a higher SVR rate (47.0% vs. 32.4%). For genotype 2 or 3 patients, the SVR was 67.9%. For these patients there was no relevant difference between patients with low and high viral loads; 97.7% of the patients experienced at least one adverse event. The incidence of serious adverse events was distinctly lower in the 24-week group (4.4% vs. 10.5%). This investigation confirms the well-known risk–benefit ratio found in controlled studies in a clinical practice setting. The safety profile is similar and shows the highest incidence of adverse events in the first 12 weeks of treatment

Invasive potential of cattle fever ticks in the southern United States

Background For >100 years cattle production in the southern United States has been threatened by cattle fever. It is caused by an invasive parasite-vector complex that includes the protozoan hemoparasites Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, which are transmitted among domestic cattle via Rhipicephalus tick vectors of the subgenus Boophilus. In 1906 an eradication effort was started and by 1943 Boophilus ticks had been confined to a narrow tick eradication quarantine area (TEQA) along the Texas-Mexico border. However, a dramatic increase in tick infestations in areas outside the TEQA over the last decade suggests these tick vectors may be poised to re-invade the southern United States. We investigated historical and potential future distributions of climatic habitats of cattle fever ticks to assess the potential for a range expansion. Methods We built robust spatial predictions of habitat suitability for the vector species Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus and R. (B.) annulatus across the southern United States for three time periods: 1906, present day (2012), and 2050. We used analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) to identify persistent tick occurrences and analysis of bias in the climate proximate to these occurrences to identify key environmental parameters associated with the ecology of both species. We then used ecological niche modeling algorithms GARP and Maxent to construct models that related known occurrences of ticks in the TEQA during 2001–2011 with geospatial data layers that summarized important climate parameters at all three time periods. Results We identified persistent tick infestations and specific climate parameters that appear to be drivers of ecological niches of the two tick species. Spatial models projected onto climate data representative of climate in 1906 reproduced historical pre-eradication tick distributions. Present-day predictions, although constrained to areas near the TEQA, extrapolated well onto climate projections for 2050. Conclusions Our models indicate the potential for range expansion of climate suitable for survival of R. microplus and R. annulatus in the southern United States by mid-century, which increases the risk of reintroduction of these ticks and cattle tick fever into major cattle producing areas.We thank USDA-APHIS mounted patrol inspectors for collecting field samples used in this study. This work was supported by USDA-NIFA Grant 2010-65104-20386. Use of trade, product, or firm names does not imply endorsement by the US Government. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer