Avaliação da contaminação de coliformes fecais em alface (Lactuca sativa), água de irrigação e lavagem em sistemas de produção orgânica e convencional.

Foram analisados níveis de contaminação de coliformes fecais em alface (não lavada e pré-lavada), água de irrigação e água de lavagem em doze propriedades (seis orgânicas e seis convencionais), localizadas em Ibiúna, Jaguariúna, Campinas e Morungaba-SP. Em laboratório, as amostras foram submetidas à análise de coliformes fecais pela técnica de contagem do Número Mais Provável (MNP). Em todas as análises foram constatadas presença de coliformes fecais em níveis abaixo do tolerado. O cultivo convencional apresentou níveis superiores de contaminação em todos os tratamentos analisados

A PMMA valveless micropump using electromagnetic actuation

We have fabricated and characterized a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) valveless micropump. The pump consists of two diffuser elements and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane with an integrated composite magnet made of NdFeB magnetic powder. A large-stroke membrane deflection (~200μm) is obtained using external actuation by an electromagnet. We present a detailed analysis of the magnetic actuation force and the flow rate of the micropump. Water is pumped at flow rates of up to 400µl/min and backpressures of up to 12mbar. We study the frequency-dependent flow rate and determine a resonance frequency of 12 and 200Hz for pumping of water and air, respectively. Our experiments show that the models for valveless micropumps of A. Olsson et al. (J Micromech Microeng 9:34, 1999) and L.S. Pan et al. (J Micromech Microeng 13:390, 2003) correctly predict the resonance frequency, although additional modeling of losses is necessar

Framing the ultimatum game: the contribution of simulation

It has now become widely accepted that economic decisions are influenced by cognitive and emotional processes. In the present study, we aimed at disentangling the neural mechanisms associated with the way in which the information is formulated, i.e., framing effect, in terms of gain or loss, which influences people\u2019s decisions. Participants played a fMRI version of the Ultimatum Game (UG) where we manipulated bids through two different frames: the expression \u201cI give you\u201d (gain) focusing on money the respondent would receive if she/he agreed with the proponent, and the expression \u201cI take\u201d (loss) focusing on the money that would be removed from the respondent in the event that she/he accepted the offer. Neuroimaging data revealed a frame by response interaction, showing an increase of neural activity in the right rolandic operculum/insular cortex, the anterior cingulate, among other regions, for accepting the frame \u201cI take\u201d vs. rejecting, as compared to accepting the frame \u201cI give you\u201d vs. rejecting. In addition, the left occipito-temporal junction was activated for \u201cI take\u201d vs. \u201cI give you\u201d for offer 5, corresponding to the equal offer made unpleasant by the presence of the frame \u201cI take,\u201d where is the proposer that takes the money. Our data extend the current understanding of the neural substrates of social decision making, by disentangling the structures sensitive to the way in which the information is formulated (i.e., framing effect), in terms of gain or loss

Avaliação da contaminação de alface (Lactuca sativa) por coliformes termotolerantes e Escherichia coli em sistemas de cultivo orgânico e convencional.

A alface (Lactuca sativa) é a hortaliça folhosa mais consumida no Brasil, sendo classificada como um importante alimento para a população por ser uma rica fonte de vitaminas. Em função das práticas adotadas, o seu cultivo pode ser orgânico ou convencional. No entanto, alface pode ser um veículo transmissor de microrganismos patogênicos ao homem, como coliformes termotolerantes e Escherichia coli, uma vez que se encontra em contato com esses contaminantes presentes freqüentemente no solo, na água, nos insumos naturais (cama de frango) propiciando o desenvolvimento e a sobrevivência dos mesmos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar quantitativamente, a presença de Coliformes termotolerantes e de E.coli em água de irrigação e de pré-lavagem, assim como, o produto alface não lavada e pré-lavada, cultivada sob cultivo orgânico e convencional, em relação a recomendação da ANVISA. As coletas foram realizadas em dez propriedades, cinco de cultivo orgânico e cinco de cultivo convencional, localizadas nas cidades de Ibiúna, Jaguariúna, Campinas e Morungaba - SP. Em laboratório, as amostras foram submetidas à análise de tubos múltiplos e série bioquímica e procedeu-se a avaliação pela técnica de contagem do Número Mais Provável. Os resultados mostraram um alto índice de coliformes termotolerantes e E. coli, na água de irrigação sendo um fator importante pela contaminação da alface, independente do sistema de cultivo. Todavia, o cultivo convencional apresentou índices de contaminação por esse microrganismos na água superiores ao do cultivo orgânico. No produto alface, a pré lavagem contribuiu para a redução da contaminação por coliformes termotolerantes e E. coli, que no entanto essa contaminação pelo primeiro foi mais alta em ambos os sistemas de cultivos. Além disso, outras práticas utilizadas nas propriedades como, a higiene pessoal, o uso de adubos compostados não adequados e a presença de animais nas áreas de cultivo são fontes de contaminação.Dissertação (Mestrado em Agroecologia e Desenvolvimento Rural) - Centro de Ciências Agrárias, UFSCar, Araras. Orientador: Pedro José Valarini, Embrapa Meio Ambiente

Tuned with a Tune: Talker Normalization via General Auditory Processes

Voices have unique acoustic signatures, contributing to the acoustic variability listeners must contend with in perceiving speech, and it has long been proposed that listeners normalize speech perception to information extracted from a talker’s speech. Initial attempts to explain talker normalization relied on extraction of articulatory referents, but recent studies of context-dependent auditory perception suggest that general auditory referents such as the long-term average spectrum (LTAS) of a talker’s speech similarly affect speech perception. The present study aimed to differentiate the contributions of articulatory/linguistic versus auditory referents for context-driven talker normalization effects and, more specifically, to identify the specific constraints under which such contexts impact speech perception. Synthesized sentences manipulated to sound like different talkers influenced categorization of a subsequent speech target only when differences in the sentences’ LTAS were in the frequency range of the acoustic cues relevant for the target phonemic contrast. This effect was true both for speech targets preceded by spoken sentence contexts and for targets preceded by non-speech tone sequences that were LTAS-matched to the spoken sentence contexts. Specific LTAS characteristics, rather than perceived talker, predicted the results suggesting that general auditory mechanisms play an important role in effects considered to be instances of perceptual talker normalization

Grid services for the MAGIC experiment

Exploring signals from the outer space has become an observational science under fast expansion. On the basis of its advanced technology the MAGIC telescope is the natural building block for the first large scale ground based high energy gamma-ray observatory. The low energy threshold for gamma-rays together with different background sources leads to a considerable amount of data. The analysis will be done in different institutes spread over Europe. Therefore MAGIC offers the opportunity to use the Grid technology to setup a distributed computational and data intensive analysis system with the nowadays available technology. Benefits of Grid computing for the MAGIC telescope are presented.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figures, to be published in the Proceedings of the 6th International Symposium ''Frontiers of Fundamental and Computational Physics'' (FFP6), Udine (Italy), Sep. 26-29, 200

Clinical decision making in paramedic practice. A qualitative study exploring the challenges of responding to mental health needs.

The paramedic service responds to emergency calls for a variety of reasons with many relating to mental health concerns. This qualitative study aims to explore the views and experiences of student paramedics in relation to clinical decision making for mental health calls. Focus groups were utilised to investigate the participants’ perspectives. Thematic analysis was used to organise data and identify key issues. Findings suggested some disparity between what paramedic students were prepared for and the reality of public need. Clinical decision-making in relation to those with mental health problems was significantly influenced by the current provision of mental health services and the lack of mental health specific education for student paramedics. Current changes to the paramedic programme make this an opportune time for a review of curriculum content

Social differentiation and well‑being in the Italian Iron Age: exploring the relationship between sex, age, biological stress, and burial complexity among the Picenes of Novilara (8th–7th c. BC)

The restoration of the archaeological finds from Novilara was performed in the frame of the "Progetto di restauro degli oggetti di corredo rinvenuti nella necropoli picena di Novilara" (Swiss Federal Office of Culture) and with the additional financial support of Fondazione Scavolini (Italy).The possible association between “biological” and “social” status in the past is a central topic in bioarchaeological studies. For the Italian Iron Age, previous research comparing skeletal and funerary variables depicts a multifaceted scenario consistent with nuanced biocultural patterns. This calls for additional studies on a broader series of archaeological contexts and skeletal assemblages. Here, we contribute new data about the biological correlates of social differentiation during the Italian Iron Age by comparing paleopathological and funerary variables in the Picene necropolis of Novilara (Marche region, 8th–7th c. BC). Novilara is one of the largest Picene necropolises in the Italian Peninsula and one of the most important funerary sites of the Italian Iron Age. The skeletal sample includes 147 individuals (females: 70; males: 35; 10 unsexed adults; 32 non-adults). We use linear enamel hypoplasia, cribra orbitalia, porotic hyperostosis, non-specific periosteal lesions, and stature to approximate non-specific stressors and compare them with archaeological variables summarizing funerary variability by means of logistic models, Mann–Whitney and Spearman tests. Results are heterogeneous and vary according to the considered variables. On average, they however show that (a) adults featuring a more complex funerary treatment have a lower probability of showing stress-related skeletal changes, and (b) even though funerary features suggests a strong gender differentiation, frequencies of paleopathological variables do not differ between sexes. Our analyses point to a complex link between biological and social status in this population and call for a critical reflection about the theoretical and methodological issues affecting similar studies.Fondazione Scavolini (Italy

Communication and shared decision-making after stillbirth: Results of the ShaDeS study

Background: Shared decision-making (SDM) is included in guidelines for bereavement care after a stillbirth, as it can improve women’s long-term health and wellbeing. SDM within the stillbirth context is still not common, and Italy does not yet have standardised guidelines. Aim: The ShaDeS (Shared Decision-Making in Stillbirth) study aims to investigate how Italian women with a stillbirth perceive their own centrality in decision-making processes around bereavement care and how this might impact satisfaction of care. Methods: The ShaDeS study is a cross-sectional study based on a web survey consisted of four sections: socio- demographic information and medical history, communication of bad news and bereavement care, decisions about childbirth (SDM-Q-9, SHARED, and DCS), and decisions and communication about autopsy (CPS). Findings: 187 women answered the survey. For the 41.1% of women that did not have an emergency childbirth, the SDM-Q-9 median score was 66.6 (0–100 range), and the SHARED median score was 3.5 (1–5 range). 29.4% of participants reached the proposed cutoff of 37.5 in the DCS (0–100 range) suggesting a difficulty in reaching decisions. Satisfaction scores were lower for those with such difficulties (p < 0.0001). Of the 64.5% of women that discussed autopsy, 28.3% were involved in an SDM approach, despite this being associated with higher levels of satisfaction of care (p < 0.05). Conclusion: An SDM approach is only moderately widespread amongst our participants, despite it being signif- icantly related to higher levels of satisfaction. Further studies should investigate the tools that both patients and healthcare professionals need for an SDM approach