197 research outputs found
Survey on HIV risk perception and sexual behaviours among seafarers
Because the nature of their work seafarers spend long periods of time away from their families
and therefore represent a group at risk for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection.
This paper reports the results of a survey to evaluate awareness and knowledge of the risk of HIV
infection among seafarers. Risky behaviours for HIV transmission were also assessed. The survey
was conducted using anonymous questionnaires on 197 workers of 9 vessels and 26 office
employees of an Italian shipping company (FINAVAL S.p.A., Rome). The respondents considered
HIV/AIDS as one of the diseases with a high risk of transmission. Most respondents had a good
general knowledge of HIV/AIDS and on the ways of its transmission. However, there is still lack of
knowledge on the basics of this disease. On the other hand, in spite of knowledge and awareness
about the risks of the disease, only 56.35% of the interviewed crewmembers used protection
in sexual intercourse with occasional partners. Compared to data available in literature, the
percentage of self-protecting people is increasing, but the number of seafarers exposing themselves
to risky behaviours is still high. As expected, condoms are used with regular partners with
lower frequency compared to occasional intercourse. The results of this survey indicate that
adequate prevention campaigns and major attention paid to seafarers health is useful for stimulating
responsible conduct for the prevention of infectious diseases, including HIV infection.
Nevertheless, it is still necessary to increase information about the risk of sexually transmitted
diseases and how to reduce it.
(Int Marit Health 2011; 62, 2: 131–137
A Rigorous Approach to the Feynman-Vernon Influence Functional and its Applications. I
A rigorous representation of the Feynman-Vernon influence functional used to describe open quantum systems is given, based on the theory of infinite dimensional oscillatory integrals. An application to the case of the density matrices describing the Caldeira-Leggett model of two quantum systems with a quadratic interaction is treated
Evaluating and Monitoring Energy Conservation in Multibuilding Clusters with Statistical Models
A standardized method for modeling
energy consumption in mixed
clusters of residential and commercial
buildings is described. The
basic approach is to delineate energy
consumption along three dimensions:
time, day-length, and temperature.
The temperature-sensitive
portion of energy consumption is
captured by the Princeton Scorekeeping
Method (PRISM). The time- and
daylength-sensitive portions of
energy consumption are captured by
other variables. The models were
designed to aid in determining the
scope and performance of alternative
financing activities on a U.S. Army
base
Predicting calyceal access for percutaneous nephrolithotomy with computed tomography multiplanar reconstruction
OBJECTIVES: Objective parameters in computed tomography (CT) scans that could predict calyceal access during percutaneous nephrolithotomy have not been evaluated. These parameters could improve access planning for percutaneous nephrolithotomy. We aimed to determine which parameters extracted from a preoperative multiplanar reconstructed CT could predict renal calyceal access during a percutaneous nephrolithotomy. METHODS: From January 2009 through April 2011, 230 patients underwent 284 percutaneous nephrolithotomies at our institution. Sixteen patients presented with complete staghorn calculi, and 11 patients (13 renal units) were analyzed. Five parameters were extracted from a preoperative reconstructed CT and compared with the surgical results of percutaneous nephrolithotomy. RESULTS: Fifty-eight calyces were studied, with an average of 4.4 calyces per procedure. A rigid nephroscope was used to access a particular calyx, and a univariate analysis showed that the entrance calyx had a smaller length (2.7 vs. 3.98 cm, p = 0.018). The particular calyx to be accessed should have a smaller length (2.22 vs. 3.19 cm, p = 0.012), larger angles (117.6 vs. 67.96,
Zero-fluoroscopy atrial fibrillation ablation in the presence of a patent foramen ovale: a multicentre experience
Plasma levels of oxidative stress markers, before and after BoNT/A Treatment, in chronic migraine
The pathophysiological mechanisms of migraine transformation are debated. Modifications of plasma oxidative stress biomarkers have been described in chronic migraine. OnabotulintoxinA (BoNT/A) treatment, approved for chronic migraine prophylaxis, possibly reduces pain neurotransmitters release and oxidative stress products. Aims of our study were to investigate differences in the levels of selected plasmatic oxidative stress biomarkers (Advanced Oxidation Protein Products (AOPP), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), Thiolic Groups (SH)) comparing chronic migraineurs (CM) and healthy controls (HC). We also explored possible clinical and biochemical modifications in the CM group after six months of treatment with BoNT/A. At the baseline, we found higher values of AOPP (p < 0.001), and lower values of SH (p < 0.001) and FRAP (p = 0.005) in the CM group. At the six-month follow-up we found a reduction of AOPP (p < 0.001) and an increase of FRAP (p < 0.001) and SH (p = 0.023) within the CM group. BoNT/A treatment improved migraine symptoms in the CM group. We confirmed previous reports of imbalanced antioxidant mechanisms in chronic migraine showing lower antioxidant capacities in patients than controls. BoNT/A improved the levels of plasma oxidative stress biomarkers and confirmed its role as an effective prophylactic treatment for CM. Other studies should investigate the potential antioxidant properties of BoNT/A treatment
MUNICÍPIO RESILIENTE EM AFOGAMENTO
De acordo com a Organização Mundial da Saúde, afogamento é uma grave ameaça negligenciada à saúde pública, sendo que morrem em média 372.000 pessoas por ano em todo o mundo; 40 pessoas a cada hora do dia. No Brasil quase 1 milhão de pessoas se afogam e 5.700 morrem por afogamento a cada ano, sendo mais de 75% em rios, lagos e represas onde não existe nenhuma supervisão de guarda-vidas. Tendo em vista esta trágica realidade, é fundamental criar mecanismos de resiliência para estes locais, tendo como atores centrais os municípios, de forma a melhor efetivarem a gestão de riscos de afogamento em suas áreas geográficas
Determining the Quantum Expectation Value by Measuring a Single Photon
Quantum mechanics, one of the keystones of modern physics, exhibits several
peculiar properties, differentiating it from classical mechanics. One of the
most intriguing is that variables might not have definite values. A complete
quantum description provides only probabilities for obtaining various
eigenvalues of a quantum variable. These and corresponding probabilities
specify the expectation value of a physical observable, which is known to be a
statistical property of an ensemble of quantum systems. In contrast to this
paradigm, we demonstrate a unique method allowing to measure the expectation
value of a physical variable on a single particle, namely, the polarisation of
a single protected photon. This is the first realisation of quantum protective
measurements.Comment: Nature Physics, in press (this version corresponds to the one
initially submitted to Nature Physics
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