Advertisement call of Scinax littoralis and S. angrensis (Amphibia: Anura: Hylidae), with notes on the reproductive activity of S. littoralis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Scinax littoralis and S. angrensis are poorly known Atlantic forest endemic species from the Scinax catharinae group, which is known from southern and southeastern Brazil. Herein, we describe the advertisement calls of these two species and compare them to other species within the S. catharinae group. Additionally, we provide information on breeding sites, and calling activity in S. littoralis. Advertisement calls of S. angrensis and S. littoralis are composed of multi-pulsed notes with multiple frequency bands and frequency modulation. Scinax littoralis has a higher minimum and maximum frequency, and lower dominant frequency than S. angrensis, while Scinax littoralis has a longer call. Scinax littoralis appears to be a habitat generalist, occurring from secondary to mature forests, and breeding both in temporary and in permanent ponds. Male S. littoralis were usually observed calling perched on shrub stems, and displayed satellite behavior when the male density was high.72297308Fundacao Grupo O Boticario de Protecao a Natureza [FBPN-UFPR 623]Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao Grupo O Boticario de Protecao a Natureza [FBPN-UFPR 623]FAPESP [2008/50575-1, UNESP/PROPe (edital 05/2012)

Evolução na utilização e nos gastos de uma operadora de saúde

Brazil’s aging population and the rising number of people reliant upon the country’s supplementary healthcare system have elicited the concern of public and private managers regarding the increase in healthcare costs. In this paper, the costs per gender, per type of medical expenses and per age group of a major Brazilian self-managed healthcare provider between 2007 and 2013 were analyzed. This healthcare provider is of interest because, besides portraying a single condition of revenue growth restricted to the existing contributors, it also replicates the demographic profile expected for Brazil in 2050, when approximately one-third of its population will be over 60 years of age. The analyses confirm the current literature as they show an increase in healthcare plan usage by the elderly and the difference between admission rates by gender. They also reveal an increase in average length of stay in hospital and the increase in medical costs far above inflation, especially for materials and medicines. It is hoped that this study will help scholars and others interested in comparisons of medical expense trends, especially by age and sex, and that it encourages further collaboration on the sustainability of health insurance providers in Brazil

TEORIAS DE ENFERMAGEM: IMPORTÂNCIA DA CORRETA APLICAÇÃO DOS CONCEITOS

Theoretical-reflexive research, whose aim is to analyze the clarity of concept stimulus in the Roy Model, for best comprehension in nursing practice. It was developed in three phases: 1- Search of studies that utilized the Roy Model; 2- Conducted reading for comprehension of the concept stimulus and 3- Analysis of clarity of the concept. The three studies were conducted at master level. The analysis of the studies shows deficiency in the clarity of the concept stimulus, being predominant the ambiguity in the classification and differentiation of the focal and contextual stimuli, without the existence of consistency and uniformity. The need arises to deepen the theories of nursing for adequate application in the areas of research: nursing education and practice, optimizing and improving its use, as well as, enabling the comprehension of determined concepts that are not sufficiently clear. The worries that arise among the nurses will provide a more profound approach to the study, enabling the advance of theories, as well as new findings, leading to necessary changes.  Investigación teórico-reflexiva cuyo objetivo fue analizar la claridad del concepto estímulo según el  modelo de Roy, para mayor comprensión en la práctica de enfermería. Desarrollada en tres etapas: 1ª- Levantamiento de estudios que utilizaron el Modelo de Roy; 2ª - Lectura dirigida hacia la comprensión del concepto estímulo y 3ª - Análisis de la claridad del concepto. Fueron utilizados tres estudios, a  nivel de maestrado. El análisis de los estudios demuestra deficiencia en la claridad del concepto estímulo, predominando ambigüedad en la clasificación y diferenciación de los estímulos focales y contextuales, sin consistencia y uniformidad. Se evidencia la necesidad de profundizar en las teorías de enfermería, para su aplicación adecuada en las áreas de investigación, enseñanza y práctica, optimizando y mejorando su uso, además de posibilitar la comprensión de determinados conceptos no suficientemente claros. Las inquietudes surgidas entre los enfermeros podrán motivar un abordaje más profundo de los estudios, posibilitando el avance de las teorías, así  como nuevos descubrimientos, dirigiendo los cambios necesariosPesquisa teórico-reflexiva, objetivando analisar a clareza do conceito estímulo no modelo de Roy, para maior compreensão na prática de enfermagem. Desenvolvido em três etapas: 1ª- Levantamento de estudos que utilizaram o Modelo de Roy; 2ª - Leitura dirigida para a compreensão do conceito estímulo e 3ª - Análise da clareza do conceito. Foram utilizados três estudos, em nível de mestrado. A análise dos estudos demonstra deficiência na clareza do conceito estímulo, predominando ambigüidade na classificação e diferenciação dos estímulos focais e contextuais, não existindo consistência e uniformidade. Evidencia-se a necessidade do aprofundamento nas teorias de enfermagem, para a aplicação adequada nas áreas de pesquisa, ensino e prática, otimizando e aprimorando seu uso, além de possibilitar a compreensão de determinados conceitos, não suficientemente claros. As inquietações surgidas entre os enfermeiros poderão proporcionar o aprofundamento nos estudos, possibilitando o avanço das teorias, assim como novos achados, direcionando as mudanças necessárias

Crude Heparin Preparations Unveil the Presence of Structurally Diverse Oversulfated Contaminants

Nowadays, pharmaceutical heparin is purified from porcine and bovine intestinal mucosa. In the past decade there has been an ongoing concern about the safety of heparin, since in 2008, adverse effects associated with the presence of an oversulfated chondroitin sulfate (OSCS) were observed in preparations of pharmaceutical porcine heparin, which led to the death of patients, causing a global public health crisis. However, it has not been clarified whether OSCS has been added to the purified heparin preparation, or whether it has already been introduced during the production of the raw heparin. Using a combination of different analytical methods, we investigate both crude and final heparin products and we are able to demonstrate that the sulfated contaminants are intentionally introduced in the initial steps of heparin preparation. Furthermore, the results show that the oversulfated compounds are not structurally homogeneous. In addition, we show that these contaminants are able to bind to cells in using well known heparin binding sites. Together, the data highlights the importance of heparin quality control even at the initial stages of its production

Perspectives on the Trypanosoma cruzi-host cell receptor interaction

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The critical initial event is the interaction of the trypomastigote form of the parasite with host receptors. This review highlights recent observations concerning these interactions. Some of the key receptors considered are those for thromboxane, bradykinin, and for the nerve growth factor TrKA. Other important receptors such as galectin-3, thrombospondin, and laminin are also discussed. Investigation into the molecular biology and cell biology of host receptors for T. cruzi may provide novel therapeutic targets

Quantum Acoustics with Surface Acoustic Waves

It has recently been demonstrated that surface acoustic waves (SAWs) can interact with superconducting qubits at the quantum level. SAW resonators in the GHz frequency range have also been found to have low loss at temperatures compatible with superconducting quantum circuits. These advances open up new possibilities to use the phonon degree of freedom to carry quantum information. In this paper, we give a description of the basic SAW components needed to develop quantum circuits, where propagating or localized SAW-phonons are used both to study basic physics and to manipulate quantum information. Using phonons instead of photons offers new possibilities which make these quantum acoustic circuits very interesting. We discuss general considerations for SAW experiments at the quantum level and describe experiments both with SAW resonators and with interaction between SAWs and a qubit. We also discuss several potential future developments.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figure

Vulnerability of Brazilian municipalities to hantavirus infections based on multi‑criteria decision analysis

Background: Hantavirus infection is an emerging zoonosis transmitted by wild rodents. In Brazil, high case-fatality rates among humans infected with hantavirus are of serious concern to public health authorities. Appropriate preventive measures partly depend on reliable knowledge about the geographical distribution of this disease. Methods: Incidence of hantavirus infections in Brazil (1993–2013) was analyzed. Epidemiological, socioeconomic, and demographic indicators were also used to classify cities’ vulnerability to disease by means of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). Results: From 1993 to 2013, 1752 cases of hantavirus were registered in 16 Brazilian states. The highest incidence of hantavirus was observed in the states of Mato Grosso (0.57/100,000) and Santa Catarina (0.13/100,000). Based on MCDA analysis, municipalities in the southern, southeastern, and midwestern regions of Brazil can be classified as highly vulnerable. Most municipalities in northern and northeastern Brazil were classified as having low vulnerability to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. Conclusions: Although most human infections by hantavirus registered in Brazil occurred in the southern region of the country, a greater vulnerability to hantavirus was found in the Brazilian Midwest. This result reflects the need to strengthen surveillance where the disease has thus far gone unreported

Fourier synthesis of radio frequency nanomechanical pulses with different shapes

The concept of Fourier synthesis is heavily employed in both consumer electronic products and fundamental research. In the latter, pulse shaping is key to dynamically initialize, probe and manipulate the state of classical or quantum systems. In nuclear magnetic resonance, for instance, shaped pulses have a long-standing tradition and the underlying fundamental concepts have subsequently been successfully extended to optical frequencies and even to implement quantum gate operations. Transferring these paradigms to nanomechanical systems requires tailored nanomechanical waveforms. Here, we report on an additive Fourier synthesizer for nanomechanical waveforms based on monochromatic surface acoustic waves. As a proof of concept, we electrically synthesize four different elementary nanomechanical waveforms from a fundamental surface acoustic wave at $f_1 \sim 150$ MHz using a superposition of up to three discrete harmonics $f_n$. We employ these shaped pulses to interact with an individual sensor quantum dot and detect their deliberately and temporally modulated strain component via the opto-mechanical quantum dot response. Importantly, and in contrast to the direct mechanical actuation by bulk piezoactuators, surface acoustic waves provide much higher frequencies (> 20 GHz) to resonantly drive mechanical motion. Thus, our technique uniquely allows coherent mechanical control of localized vibronic modes of optomechanical crystals, even in the quantum limit when cooled to the vibrational ground state.Comment: 18 pages - final manuscript and supporting materia