O conceito de transição no curso da vida contemporâneo

Looking at the transition of youth to adulthood from a life course perspective, this work seeks to raise a few issues that may contribute to the Anthropology of Life Ages. This attempt to better understand this specific life period was directed not only by events, such as leaving the parental home, getting married or beginning professional life (which have both diverse meanings for different individuals, as well as confront them with dilemmas of different order), but also by the subjects’ expectations with respect to their trajectories and their own views on them. Although the notion of transition seems pertinent to think about these crucial moments in the lives of the young interviewees in our study, who feel them as “crisis” or of being at a “crossroads”, our research data reveal that one’s entire life is perceived as a transition such that change and new challenges are not the privilege of any one age

Agrotóxicos e sintomas respiratórios entre agricultores

OBJECTIVE: Despite the intensive use of pesticides in agriculture there are few studies assessing the risk of respiratory conditions from this exposure. The study aimed at quantifying the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among farmers and evaluating its relationship with occupational use of pesticides and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,379 farmers from two municipalities of Southern Brazil in 1996. Frequency and type of chemical exposure and pesticide poisoning were recorded for both sexes. All subjects aged 15 years or older with at least 15 weekly hours of agricultural activity were interviewed. An adapted questionnaire developed by the American Thoracic Society was used for the assessment of respiratory symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out. RESULTS: More than half (55%) of interviewees were male. The prevalence of asthma symptoms was 12% and chronic respiratory disease symptoms was 22%. Higher odds ratios for both asthma (OR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.07-2.14) and chronic respiratory disease (OR=1.34; 95% CI 1.00-1.81) symptoms were found in women. Logistic regression analysis identified associations between many forms of exposure to pesticides and increased respiratory symptoms. Occurrence of pesticide poisoning was associated with higher prevalence of asthma symptoms (OR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.04-2.58) and chronic respiratory disease symptoms (OR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.08-2.28). CONCLUSIONS: In spite of causality limitations, the study results provide evidence that farming exposure to pesticides is associated with higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms, especially when the exposure is above two days per month.OBJETIVO: Apesar do uso intensivo de pesticidas na agricultura, ainda são raros os estudos sobre avaliação de riscos respiratórios devidos a esses produtos. O objetivo do estudo foi dimensionar a prevalência de sintomas respiratórios entre agricultores e avaliar suas relações com o uso ocupacional de agrotóxicos. MÉTODOS: Foi desenvolvido um estudo transversal com 1.379 agricultores de dois municípios da Serra Gaúcha, Brasil, em 1996. Foram medidas a freqüência e as formas de exposição química aos agrotóxicos, além das intoxicações agudas para ambos os sexos. Foram entrevistados todos os indivíduos com 15 anos de idade ou mais, com no mínimo 15 horas semanais de atividade. Para investigar os sintomas respiratórios, foi usada uma adaptação do questionário da American Thoracic Society. A análise multivariada foi realizada por meio de regressão logística. RESULTADOS: Dos agricultores entrevistados, 55% eram do sexo masculino. A prevalência de sintomas de asma foi de 12% e 22% foram considerados como portadores de doença respiratória crônica. As mulheres apresentaram os odds ratios mais elevados para sintomas de asma (OR=1,51; IC 95%: 1,07-2,14) e para sintomas de doença respiratória crônica (OR=1,34; IC 95%: 1,00-1,81). A regressão logística identificou associações entre várias formas de exposição aos agrotóxicos e aumento de sintomas respiratórios. A ocorrência de intoxicações por agrotóxicos mostrou-se associada com maior prevalência de sintomas de asma (OR=1,54; IC 95%: 1,04-2,58) e de doença respiratória crônica (OR=1,57; IC 95%: 1,08-2,28). CONCLUSÕES: Apesar das limitações de causalidade, os resultados evidenciaram que o trabalho agrícola envolvendo agrotóxicos está associado com a elevação da prevalência de sintomas respiratórios, especialmente quando a exposição é superior a dois dias por mês

Synthesis, Structure and Crystallization Behavior of Amphiphilic Hetero-arm Molecular Brushes with Crystallizable Poly(ethylene oxide) and N-Alkyl Side Chains

Unformatted post-print version of the accepted articleA series of hetero-arm amphiphilic molecular brushes (AMBs) with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and long chain n-alkyl side chains were synthesized via conventional free radical polymerization (FRP) of mainly 4-vinyl benzyl-PEG methyl ether and N-alkylmaleimide macromonomers. By varying PEG side chain degree of polymerization (D.P. = 12, 16 and 20) and n-alkyl chain lengths (C16 and C20), AMBs with varying combinations of side chain lengths were produced. This enabled the elucidation of the effect of side chain length on AMB phase behavior, semicrystalline morphologies and crystallization kinetics, via differential scanning calorimetry, polarized light optical microscopy and x-ray diffraction experiments. Calculations of segregation strength together with SAXS measurements indicate that all materials are probably phase segregated structure in the melt. Most of the AMB materials prepared were double crystalline, i.e., contained crystals from alkyl and PEG chains. AMB crystallization was constrained by AMB architecture, the frustration being most evident in AMBs with combinations of either low D.P.PEG, or short alkyl chain lengths. Large, well-developed spherulites, implying break-out crystallization from a weakly segregated melt, were only observed for the AMBs with the combination of the longest PEG chain (D.P. = 20) and longest alkyl chain length (C20). A peculiar behavior was found when spherulitic growth rates and overall crystallization rates of the PEG chains, within this particular AMB sample, were determined as a function of crystallization temperature. In both cases, a distinct minimum with decreasing temperature was observed, probably caused by the challenges encountered in crystal packing of the PEG side chains, tethered to an amorphous backbone, which also contained already crystallized C20 chains. This minimum is analogous to that observed in the crystallization of long chain n-alkanes, or high molar mass polyethylenes with bromine pendant groups that has been attributed to a self-poisoning effect; this is the first observation of this phenomenon in AMBs.This work is based on the research supported by the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa (Grant No 46855). J.M. acknowledges support from the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa under the program Fellow Gipuzkoa and “Fomento San Sebastián” in the framework program “Retorno del Talento Local” Donostia up! 2016. This work has received funding from the European Union´s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 778092, from MINECO, project: MAT2017-83014-C2-1-P and from the Basque Government through grant IT1309-19. We also thank ALBA Synchrotron facility for providing funding and beam time (proposal number: 2018082953)

In Pursuit of an Easy to Use Brain Computer Interface for Domestic Use in a Population with Brain Injury

This paper presents original research investigating a sensor based, ambient assisted smart home platform, within the framework of a brain computer interface (BackHome). This multimodal system integrates home-based sensors, mobile monitoring, with communication tools, web browsing, smart home control and cognitive rehabilitation. The target population are people living at home with acquired brain injury. This research engaged with the target population and those without brain injury, who provided a control for system testing. Aligned with our ethical governance a strong user centric ethos was foundational to participant engagement. Participant experience included three individual sessions to complete a pre-set protocol with supervision. Evaluation methodology included observations, time logging, completion of protocol and usability questionnaires. Results confirmed the average accuracy score for the people without brain injury was 82.6% (±4.7), performing best with the cognitive rehabilitation. Target end users recorded an average accuracy score of 76% (±11.5) with the speller logging the highest accuracy score. Additional outcomes included the need to refine the aesthetic appearance, as well as improving the reliability and responsiveness of the BCI. The findings outline the importance of engaging with end users to design and develop marketable BCI products for use in a domestic environment. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.150610

P300 Brain Computer Interface Control after an Acquired Brain Injury

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) are systems that can be controlled by the user through harnessing their brain signals. Extensive research has been undertaken within a laboratory setting with healthy users to illustrate the usability of such systems. To bring these systems to users with severe disabilities it is necessary to develop simple, easy to use systems that can be operated by non-experts outside of the lab and are evaluated by real end users preferably through a user centered design approach. This paper presents a user centered evaluation of a P300 BCI operated by non-expert users in a rehabilitation center with a control group of five healthy participants without acquired brain injury (ABI) and five end users with ABI. Each participant aimed to complete the 30-step protocol three separate times and rate his or her satisfaction from 0 to 10 on the Visual Analogue Scale after each session. Participants then rated their satisfaction with the BCI on the extended QUEST 2.0 and a customized usability questionnaire. The results indicated that end-users were able to achieve an average accuracy of 55% compared to the control group that reported an average of 78%. The findings indicated that participants were satisfied with the BCI but felt frustrated when it did not respond to their commands. This work was phase one of three to move the BCI system into end users homes. Key recommendations for advancing the P300 BCI towards an easy to use, home-based system were identified, including reducing the complexity of the setup, ensuring the system becomes more responsive and increasing the overall functionality. DOI: 10.17762/ijritcc2321-8169.15016

Grado de dependencia a la nicotina de pacientes tratados por fumar en una universidad pública

Objetivo: identificar o grau de dependência à nicotina e dados sociodemográficos segundo o gênero dos pacientes atendidos pelo projeto de extensão Educando e Tratando o Tabagismo promovido por uma universidade pública. Método: estudo transversal, com dados provenientes de 361 prontuários de pacientes que participantes do projeto no período de 2014 a 2018. Realizou-se o teste de Fagerström, por meio do qual classificou-se os pacientes com grau de dependência: muito baixo, baixo, médio, elevado e muito elevado de acordo com a soma dos pontos obtidos nas questões aplicadas. Resultados: a predominância no grau de dependência a nicotina foi observada no sexo feminino com maiores percentuais de classificação para dependência elevada e muito elevada, 33,5% e 25,3% respectivamente. Entre os homens verificouse grau de dependência elevado 28,1% e baixo 21,9%. Contatou-se que o grau de dependência química a nicotina esteve associada a dependência física (valor-p=0,002) e psicológica (valor-p=0,003). Conclusão: a evidência de maior frequência de indivíduos com alto grau de dependência química à nicotina demonstra a importância da associação de terapias medicamentosas com abordagens cognitivas comportamentais por meio de intervenções de enfermagem, relacionadas ao controle e cessação do tabagismo por meio da educação em saúde.Objetivo: identificar el grado de dependencia a la nicotina y los datos sociodemográficos según el género de los pacientes atendidos por el proyecto de extensión Educar y tratar el tabaquismo promovido por una universidad pública. Método: estudio transversal, con datos de 361 registros médicos de pacientes que participaron en el proyecto de 2014 a 2018. Se realizó la prueba de Fagerström, a través de la cual se clasificaron los pacientes con un grado de dependencia: muy bajo, bajo, medio, alto y muy alto de acuerdo con la suma de los puntos obtenidos en las preguntas aplicadas. Resultados: el predominio en el grado de dependencia a la nicotina se observó en mujeres con porcentajes más altos de clasificación de dependencia alta y muy alta, 33.5% y 25.3% respectivamente. Entre los hombres, se encontró un alto grado de dependencia del 28,1% y bajo del 21,9%. Se encontró que el grado de dependencia química de la nicotina se asoció con el físico (valor p = 0.002) y psicológico (valor p = 0.003). Conclusión: la evidencia de una mayor frecuencia de individuos con un alto grado de dependencia química de la nicotina demuestra la importancia de combinar las terapias farmacológicas con enfoques cognitivos ...Objective: to identify the nicotine dependence degree and sociodemographic data accordingto the gender of the patients assisted by the Educating and Treating Smoking extension project promoted by a public university. Method: a cross-sectional study, with data from 361 medical records of patients  participating in the project from 2014 to 2018. The Fagerström test was performed, through which patients with a degree of dependence were classified as follows: very low, low, medium, high, and very high, according to the sum of the points obtained in the applied questions. Results: predominance in the nicotine dependence degree was observed in women with higher percentages of classification for high and very high dependence, 33.5% and 25.3% respectively. Among men, a high degree of dependence was found to be 28.1% and low, 21.9%. It was found that the degree of chemical dependence on nicotine was associated with physical (p-value = 0.002) and psychological (p-value = 0.003) dependence. Conclusion: the evidence for a higher frequency of individuals with a high chemical dependence degree for nicotine demonstrates the importance of combining drug therapies with cognitive behavioral approaches through Nursing interventions, related to controlling and quitting the smoking addiction through health education

Development of hematopoietic stem cell activity in the mouse embryo.

The precise time of appearance of the first hematopoietic stem cell activity in the developing mouse embryo is unknown. Recently the aorta-gonad-mesonephros region of the developing mouse embryo has been shown to possess hematopoietic colony-forming activity (CFU-S) in irradiated recipient mice. To determine whether the mouse embryo possesses definitive hematopoietic stem cell activity in the analogous AGM region and to determine the order of appearance of stem cells in the yolk sac, AGM region, and liver, we transferred these embryonic tissues into adult irradiated recipients. We report here the long-term, complete, and functional hematopoietic repopulation of primary and serial recipients with AGM-derived cells. We observe potent hematopoietic stem cell activity in the AGM region before the appearance of yolk sac and liver stem cell activity and discuss a model for the maturation of stem cell activity in mouse embryogenesis

Medición y evaluación de valores en contenidos audiovisuales desde un abordaje interdisciplinar

El siguiente estudio interdisciplinar realizado por LAICOM (Laboratorio de Análisis Instrumental de la Comunicación, UAB), parte de la revisión del concepto de calidad comunicativa y formula un inventario de 26 valores para el ámbito iberoamericano, seleccionados aplicando el análisis de contenido a tres documentos de gran consenso social: "Carta de Derechos Humanos" (1948), "Constitución Federal de Brasil" (1988) y "Constitución Española" (1978). Los valores se han definido en sus dimensiones social, humana y educativa. Finalmente, se propone y valida un protocolo basado en test de recepción, capaz de medir y comparar la carga de valores transmitida en cualquier proceso de comunicación. El protocolo ha sido experimentado y corregido aplicándolo a 2 grupos de 10 expertos que evaluaron 4 spots publicitarios, con los que, luego, se organizaron sendos grupos de discusión.This interdisciplinary research, carried out by LAICOM reviews the concept quality communication and designs a 26 values glossary within the ibero-American context. Values are selected by applying a content analysis to 3 documents of feat social consensus: the "Human Rights Act" (1948), the "Federal Brazilian Constitution" (1988), and the "Spanish Constitution (1978); and are defined in three dimensions: human, social and education. Finally, a protocol is proposed and validated by a test of reception, which serves to measure and compare the load of values transmitted by any process of communication. This protocol is tested and corrected through two focus groups of communication experts (10 each), who first had to evaluate 4 TV ads and second discuss about results collected

A IMPORTÂNCIA DO FLUXOGRAMA PARA O TRABALHO DA SAÚDE DA FAMÍLIA NA VISÃO DO PROJETO PET-SAÚDE

O projeto Rede Cegonha, aderido por Santa Cruz do Sul no ano de 2012, visa auxiliar na integralidade do cuidado no âmbito da assistência no pré-natal, parto, puerpério e puericultura. Através do PET-Saúde, as bolsistas do curso de Enfermagem e Medicina estiveram inseridas na dinâmica da Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF) e puderam conhecer os fluxogramas de atendimento às gestantes e às crianças da unidade. O objetivo é conhecer os fluxogramas de acolhimento, de pré-natal e de puericultura preconizados pela Rede Cegonha e confeccionar os utilizados na ESF Menino Deus do município de Santa Cruz do Sul para analisar a sua importância na unidade como ferramenta que articula as ações da equipe. O estudo é descritivo de abordagem qualitativa e exploratória através da confecção e análise dos fluxogramas de atendimento no período de janeiro a setembro de 2013. Os fluxogramas de acolhimento, pré-natal e puericultura foram confeccionados a partir da rotina da ESF e, então, percebeu-se a sua importância para identificação dos nós-críticos da unidade. Os fluxogramas foram apresentados e discutidos em reunião multidisciplinar junto aos tutores, preceptores e bolsistas do PET com a busca de benefícios, melhorias e resolutividade, integrando o acadêmico como futuro profissional dentro do serviço

Trabalho rural, exposição a poeiras e sintomas respiratórios entre agricultores

OBJECTIVE: Environmental working conditions in rural areas, notably exposure to organic and mineral dusts, have been associated with increases in respiratory diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among farmers and the associations of these with occupational risk factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was undertaken in 1996 with 1,379 farmers from Southern Brazil. Sociodemographic and farming-production parameters were collected, as were levels of exposure to organic and mineral dusts. Respiratory symptoms were assessed by a modified version of American Thoracic Society-Division of Lung Disease questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used in analyses, controlling for confounding factors. RESULTS: The majority (52%) of interviewees worked in activities with intense exposure to dust. Workers on farms with better economic indicators had a lower prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Poultry workers showed more symptoms of chronic respiratory disease (OR=1.60; 95% CI: 1.05-2.42). Farmers exposed to high concentrations of dust had more than 70% higher risk of asthma symptoms (OR=1.71; 95% CI: 1.10-2.67) and chronic respiratory disease symptoms (OR=1.77; 95% CI: 1.25-2.50). CONCLUSIONS: The rural workers studied herein were exposed to high levels of organic and mineral dusts. Those exposed to higher dust concentrations, such as poultry workers, showed an increased risk of work-related respiratory symptoms. The implementation of respiratory protection programs is recommended, emphasizing workers involved with poultry production.OBJETIVO: As condições ambientais do trabalho rural, em especial a exposição às poeiras orgânicas e minerais, têm sido associadas ao aumento de doenças respiratórias. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a prevalência de sintomas respiratórios entre agricultores e sua associação com fatores de risco ocupacionais. MÉTODOS: Estudo de delineamento transversal com 1.379 agricultores, de Antônio Prado e Ipê, na Serra Gaúcha, em 1996. Foram coletados dados sobre características sociodemográficas e produção agrícola, bem como a exposição a poeiras orgânicas e minerais. Os sintomas respiratórios foram aferidos por meio de questionário da American Thoracic Society-Division of Lung Disease modificado. Foi realizada análise de regressão logística múltipla, controlada para fatores de confusão. RESULTADOS: A maioria (52%) dos entrevistados trabalhava em atividades com exposição intensa a poeiras. Os trabalhadores de estabelecimentos com melhores indicadores econômicos referiram menor freqüência de sintomas respiratórios do que os demais agricultores. Os avicultores relataram maior prevalência de sintomas de doença respiratória crônica (OR=1,60; IC 95%: 1,05-2,42). Os agricultores com exposição intensa a poeiras apresentaram uma elevação de mais de 70% no risco de sintomas de asma (OR=1,71; IC 95%: 1,10-2,67), como também de doença respiratória crônica (OR=1,77; IC 95%: 1,25-2,50). CONCLUSÕES: Os trabalhadores rurais apresentaram grande exposição ocupacional a poeiras orgânicas e minerais. Agricultores expostos a concentrações mais elevadas, como os avicultores, tiveram maior risco de apresentar sintomas respiratórios relacionados ao trabalho. Recomenda-se a implementação de programas de proteção respiratória, principalmente para os trabalhadores envolvidos com a produção de aves