Enhancing the spatial rainfall uniformity of pressurized nozzle simulators

Purpose - Rainfall simulators are used on experimental hydrology, in areas such as, e.g., urban drainage and soil erosion, with important timesaving when compared to real scale hydrological monitoring. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to increase the quality of rainfall simulation, namely, for its use with scaled physical models. Design/methodology/approach - Two pressurized rainfall simulators are considered. M1 uses three HH-W 1/4 FullJet nozzles under an operating pressure of 166.76 kPa and was tested over a 4.00 m length by 2.00 m width V-shaped surface. M2 was prepared to produce artificial rainfall over an area of 10.00m length by 10.00m width. The spatial distribution of rainfall produced from a single nozzle was characterized in order to theoretically find the best positioning for nozzles to cover the full 100m(2) area with the best possible rainfall uniformity. Findings - Experiments with M1 led to an average rainfall intensity of 76.77-82.25 mm h(-1) with a 24.88 per cent variation coefficient and a Christiansen Uniformity Coefficient (CUC) of 78.86 per cent. The best result with M2 was an average rainfall intensity of 75.12-76.83 mm h(-1) with a 21.23 per cent variation coefficient and a CUC of 83.05 per cent. Practical implications - This study contributes to increase the quality of artificial rainfall produced by pressurized rainfall simulators. Originality/value - M2 is the largest rainfall simulator known by the authors worldwide. Its use on rainfall-runoff studies (e.g. urban areas, erosion, pollutant transport) will allow for a better understanding of complex surface hydrology processes.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior - Brasil (CAPES) under the program "CienciasemFronteiras (CSF)" [88881.030412/2013-01]Fundacaopara a Ciencia e Tecnologia - Portugal (FCT) [UID/MAR/04292/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Caracterização de crianças e adolescentes atendidos por maus tratos em um hospital de emergência no município de Fortaleza-CE Characterization of maltreated children and adolescents taken into a paediatric emergency health care service in Fortaleza-CE-Brazil

O estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar o perfil da criança e adolescente maltratados e atendidos em um hospital de emergência, no Município de Fortaleza, Ceará. Utilizou-se a pesquisa documental retrospectiva com análise dos formulários da Comissão de Maus Tratos à Infância e Adolescência. Os resultados revelaram que o sexo masculino e a faixa etária de 1 a 5 anos foram os mais atingidos; o principal agressor é o pai biológico e os tipos de violência mais freqüentes foram o hematoma, o abuso sexual e as lesões por objetos cortantes. Conclui-se que o tema requer estudos aprofundados que modifiquem o ambiente em que a criança, adolescente e famílias estão inseridos.<br>This study aimed to characterise the profile of the child and the adolescent who were maltreated and taken into paediatric emergency care in a hospital, in Fortaleza, Ceará. It was used a documented retrospective evaluation. The results showed that the children in the age group of 1-5 years were the most victimised as well as the children of the male sex. The main perpetrator was a biological father and the most frequent kind of violence were hematomas, sexual abuse and wounds by slashing objects. In conclusion, this subject needs to be more investigated for providing changes within the' environment where a child, adolescent and families were inserted

Perfil epidemiológico dos usuários dos Centros de Testagem e Aconselhamento do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil, no ano de 2005 Epidemiological profile of the clientele in HIV Testing and Counseling Centers in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, 2005

Este estudo caracteriza o perfil dos usuários que procuraram os Centros de Testagem Anônima (CTAs) em Santa Catarina, Brasil, em 2005, e determina os fatores associados à contaminação pelo HIV. Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo transversal em pessoas que freqüentaram os CTAs. Foram analisados os dados de 22.846 entrevistas realizadas no momento pré-teste, 64,7% sexo feminino e 35,3% masculino. A prevalência de HIV positivo encontrada nesses exames foi de 2% no sexo feminino e 5,6% no masculino. Utilizou-se análise bivariada e multivariada com regressão de Poisson. Os fatores de risco independentes para o contágio pelo DST/HIV no sexo feminino foram: faixa etária, estado civil, escolaridade, situação profissional, recorte populacional, risco do parceiro fixo, uso de preservativo e motivo para não usar preservativo com parceiro fixo. No sexo masculino foram: faixa etária, escolaridade, tipo de parceiro, recorte populacional, risco do parceiro, uso de preservativo e motivo para não usar preservativo com parceiro fixo. A soropositividade para homens e mulheres apresenta-se diferente, merecendo abordagens preventivas diferenciadas.<br>This study analyzes the user profile of HIV Testing and Counseling Centers in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, in 2005, and factors associated with HIV infection. The methodology employed a retrospective, cross-sectional study of individuals who attended Testing and Counseling Centers. Data from 22,846 interviews were analyzed (64.7% women and 35.3% men). HIV prevalence was 2.0% in women and 5.6% in men. Statistical analysis used bivariate and multivariate Poisson regression by gender. According to the Poisson regression, factors associated with HIV+ status were age bracket, schooling, marital status, professional situation, population group, steady partner's risk status, condom use, and reason for not using condoms with steady partner; for men, the independent variables were age bracket, schooling, type of partner, population group, steady partner's risk status, condom use, and reason for not using condoms with steady partner. HIV+ patterns differed between men and women, so that customized preventive approaches are needed