Comparison between Brazil and the 30 Most Innovative Countries in the World

Innovation can be defined as the implementation of a new or significantly improved product (good or service), or a process, a new marketing method, a new organizational method in business practices, workplace organization, or external relations. This innovation can be measured by several factors such as investments in research and development, the concentration of high-tech companies traded on the stock exchange, among others. The present study aims to perform a cluster analysis to investigate the behavior of the most innovative countries compared to Brazil. The study contemplates a historical series from the years 2012 to 2015 of the 30 most innovative countries in the world having been added to Brazil. In addition, a series of macroeconomic, political and social variables are considered

La doble ruptura: problemas epistemológicos a partir de la construcción de una base de datos histórica relativa a la conversión forzada

Este articulo muestra algunos problemas epistemológicos derivados de la explotación de los textos recogidos en el proceso e creación de la base de datos del proyecto POCRAM, relativa a la cuestión de la «conversión religiosa» entre la antigüedad tardía y el fin de la edad moderna. Así mismo se hace un balance de la evolución de las humanidades numéricas (especialmente en Francia), así como de los proyectos precedentes en que se inspira la conceptualización de la base. Presentamos nuestro Corpus y las consecuencias de su explotación gracias al uso de diferentes software que provocan una doble ruptura, epistemológica y conceptual  en la forma de entender la historia

Lesão por pressão em unidade de terapia intensiva: prevalência e fatores associados em pacientes COVID-19

Objetivo: Determinar a ocorrência de lesões por pressão e identificar fatores de risco associados em pacientes acometidos pela COVID-19 internados em unidade de terapia intensiva.Método: Estudo transversal, retrospectivo com abordagem quantitativa realizado por meio pesquisa documental. Para a amostra selecionou-se 393 prontuários que contemplaram os critérios de inclusão, no período de março de 2020 a março de 2021, de um hospital da região sul brasileira. Os dados foram analisados por meio de análise estatística descritiva, utilizou-se o programa estatístico Bioestat 5.0.Resultados: A prevalência de lesões por pressão em pacientes com COVID-19 foi de 42%, os fatores de riscos associados a lesões foram o tempo de internação, terapia ventilatória e a posição prona com significância (p<0,05).Conclusão: Pacientes com COVID-19 estão sujeitos a diversos fatores não modificáveis que são determinantes no surgimento de lesões por pressão. Portanto, infere-se que as medidas de prevenção devem ser rigorosamente aplicadas nessa população. Palavras-chave: COVID-19. Lesão por pressão. Cuidados críticos. Enfermagem. Unidades de terapia intensiva

Chemical composition modulates the adverse effects of particles on the mucociliary epithelium

OBJECTIVE:We compared the adverse effects of two types of real ambient particles; i.e., total suspended particles from an electrostatic precipitator of a steel mill and fine air particles from an urban ambient particulate matter of 2.5 µm, on mucociliary clearance.METHOD:Mucociliary function was quantified by mucociliary transport, ciliary beating frequency and the amount of acid and neutral mucous in epithelial cells through morphometry of frog palate preparations. The palates were immersed in one of the following solutions: total suspended particles (0.1 mg/mL), particulate matter 2.5 µm 0.1 mg/mL (PM0.1) or 3.0 mg/mL (PM3.0) and amphibian Ringer’s solution (control). Particle chemical compositions were determined by X-ray fluorescence and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.RESULTS:Exposure to total suspended particles and PM3.0 decreased mucociliary transport. Ciliary beating frequency was diminished by total suspended particles at all times during exposure, while particulate matter of 2.5 µm did not elicit changes. Particulate matter of 2.5 µm reduced epithelial mucous and epithelium thickness, while total suspended particles behaved similarly to the control group. Total suspended particles exhibited a predominance of Fe and no organic compounds, while the particulate matter 2.5 µm contained predominant amounts of S, Fe, Si and, to a lesser extent, Cu, Ni, V, Zn and organic compounds.CONCLUSION:Our results showed that different compositions of particles induced different airway epithelial responses, emphasizing that knowledge of their individual characteristics may help to establish policies aimed at controlling air pollution

Conversion from immediate-release tacrolimus to prolonged-release tacrolimus in stable heart transplant patients: a retrospective study

[Abstract] Background Lifelong adherence with post-transplant immunosuppression is challenging, with nonadherence associated with greater acute rejection (AR) risk. Methods This retrospective study evaluated conversion from immediate-release tacrolimus (IRT) to prolonged-release tacrolimus (PRT), between January 2008 and December 2012 in stable adult heart transplant recipients. Cumulative incidence rate (IR) of AR and infection pre- and postconversion, safety, tacrolimus dose and trough levels, concomitant immunosuppression, and PRT discontinuation were analyzed (intention-to-treat population). Results Overall, 467 patients (mean age, 59.3 [SD, 13.3] years) converted to PRT at 5.1 (SD, 4.9) years post transplant and were followed for 3.4 (SD, 1.5) years. During the 6 months post conversion, 5 patients (1.1%; 95% CI, 0.35%–2.48%) had an AR episode and IR was 2.2/100 patient-years (95% CI, 0.91–5.26). Incidence of rejection preconversion varied by time from transplant to conversion. Infection IR was similar post- and preconversion (9.2/100 patient-years [95% CI, 7.4–11.3] vs 10.6/100 patient-years [95% CI, 8.8–12.3], respectively; P = .20). Safety variables remained similar post conversion. The IR of mortality/graft loss was 2.3/100 patient-years (95% CI, 1.7–3.1). Conclusions Conversion from IRT to PRT in heart transplant recipients in Spain was associated with no new safety concerns and appropriate immunosuppressive effectiveness