Variability in Low Mass X-ray binaries from milliseconds to years

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Mobile Devices to Bridge the Gap in VET: Ease of Use and Usefulness as Indicators for Their Acceptance

In the dual-track Vocational Education and Training (VET) system, apprentices gain experiences in different learning locations (i.e. workplace and school) but the bridges between these experiences are difficult to construct. Mobile devices could help to promote connectivity across learning contexts, provided they are accepted by the various persons and institutions involved. Ease of use and usefulness, here interpreted as the main elements of usability in the large, are indicators of the acceptance of mobiles. We involved apprentices from three different professional fields – cooks, pastry cooks and car mechanics – and two different mobile devices – headband cameras and smartphones. These devices served to capture visual material on professional situations lived at the workplace. Different software applications were then used to allow such material to be brought to school and discussed with teachers and classmates or shared with supervisors at work. To evaluate the usability of such tools we used a five-section questionnaire mainly based on the TAM and UTATUT model, which had been adequately adapted to the peculiarity of the VET system. Results confirm the feasibility of the approach and the usability of both tools: no significant difference is shown, neither between the two devices in the same field, nor between the different professions with respect to the same device. These results underline the potential of mobile devices to foster connectivity between learning locations in VET

How Often and for What Purposes Apprentices Seek Help in Workplaces: A Mobile Technology-Assisted Study

In the ‘dual' system of vocational training, working in company represents the major part of training. At the workplace, apprentices are expected to acquire the typical skills of their profession but, at the same time, to contribute to the production of the company. For this reason apprentices are expected to carry out activities on their own from early on in their training and to ask for help only when they need it. Learning to ask questions and to seek help appropriately is, therefore, an important competence for learners to acquire during vocational training, just as it is important for the company to offer the learner every opportunity to ask for help when needed. In this study, we used mobile phones to follow at a distance 19 apprentices in car mechanics at the workplace. We then analyzed a corpus of approximately 77 hours of work, in search of all questions and requests they addressed during this time. Data show that requests for information are twice as frequent as requests for assistance (i.e. intervention or physical help) and that all together, requests are introduced more often by more advanced apprentices than by those in the early stages of their training. These findings are linked with the facts that: a) bringing apprentices to be autonomous early in their work is a deciding factor of the philosophy of work in many of the enterprises training apprentices, b) more advanced apprentices are given more complex tasks to work on, c) more advanced apprentices work more is often undertaken in collaboration with an expert car mechanics and d) questions and requests for help are more likely to be addressed when working collaboratively than when working alone. These findings are interpreted as evidences of a natural regulation which takes place at the workplace between the learner's engagement and the workplace affordance

Detection And Characterization of Forest Harvesting In Piedmont Through Sentinel-2 Imagery: A Methodological Proposal

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Sentinel-2 (S2) as a tool for early detection and estimation of forest harvesting in the Piemonte Region, which can be used by the regional forest administration. The priority was the detection, at the regional scale, of annual forest cover changes with the following goals: i) mapping of irregular (in respect of the regional Forestry Regulation) forest cuts; ii) quantification of the intensity of the silvicultural interventions. Results are expected to support forest police controls.The proposed procedure is based on a supervised classification approach based on Random Forest algorithm. Accuracy of harvested areas detection proved to be high (overall accuracy 98%). Characterization of the occurred forest cuts was obtained computingthe local coefficient of variationof the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) after harvesting, that showed to be a good predictor of forest harvesting intensity

N-(aroyl)-N-(arylmethyloxy)-α-alanines: selective inhibitors of aldose reductase

Aldose reductase (ALR2), a NADPH-dependent reductase, is the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the polyol pathway of glucose metabolism and is implicated in the pathogenesis of secondary diabetic complications. In the last decades, this enzyme has been targeted for inhibition but despite the numerous efforts made to identify potent and safe ALR2 inhibitors, many clinical candidates have been a failure. For this reason the research of new ALR2 inhibitors highly effective, selective and with suitable pharmacokinetic properties is still of great interest. In this paper some new N-(aroyl)-N-(arylmethyloxy)alanines have been synthesized and tested for their ability to inhibit ALR2. Some of the synthesized compounds exhibit IC50 in the low micromolar range and all have proved to be highly selective towards ALR2. The N-(aroyl)-N-(arylmethyloxy)-α-alanines are a promising starting point for the development of new ALR2 selective drugs with the aim of delaying the onset of diabetic complications

A técnica do incidente crítico: uma estratégia de gestão na saúde materno infantil

ResumoO objetivo foi aplicar a Técnica do Incidente Crítico no cumprimento das três primeiras recomendações da Caderneta de Saúde da Criança. Estudo transversal exploratório, utilizando-se a Técnica do Incidente Crítico. Foram entrevistadas 102 mães de crianças (<2anos). Incidentes críticos, positivos ou negativos: adoção do aleitamento materno, confiabilidade dos registros antropométricos, compreensão e interpretação pelas mães, habilidade de comunicação dos profissionais para explicá-los. Teste de proporções (p=0,70). Os resultados apresentaram média de idade das crianças=10,92 meses, 51,96% meninos e 48,04% meninas. A maior frequência de incidentes críticos negativos foram a não adoção do aleitamento materno exclusivo (88,24%), não confiabilidade dos registros antropométricos(81,37%), incompreensão/dificuldade de interpretação destes registros pelas mães (ambas 97,05%) e possível inabilidade de comunicação dos profissionais de saúde (97,05%; α=0,05;Zp=1,64). Destaca-se a aplicação desta técnica na Atenção Primária à Saúde. Conclui-se que o levantamento dos incidentes críticos permitiu inferir sobre o descumprimento das recomendações emanadas da Caderneta de Saúde da Criança. Palavras chave: aleitamento materno; criança; antropometria. AbstractThe objective was to apply the critical incident technique in the conduction of the first three recommendations of the Child Health Handbook. It was performed an exploratory cross-sectional study in which the Critical Incident Technique was applied and 102 mothers of children under two years of age were interviewed. The critical incidents, either positive or negative, were: adoption of maternal breastfeeding, reliability of anthropometric records, understanding/interpretation of these records by mothers, communication capacity of the professionals to explain them. Test of proportions (p=0,70). The results showed that mean age of children=10.92 months, 51.96% boys; 48.04% girls. The highest frequency of negative critical incidents: no adoption of exclusive maternal breastfeeding (88.24%), non-reliability of anthropometric records (81.37%), misunderstanding/difficulty of interpretation of records by mothers (both 97.05%) and possible lack of communication capacity of health professionals(97.05%)(α=0,05;Zp=1,64). The application of this technique in Primary Health Care demonstrates the importance of the study. It was conclude that the critical incidents survey allowed assessing the reasons for non-compliance with the Child Health Handbook recommendations.Keywords: breast feeding; child; anthropometr

Gastronomia e Turismo Cultural: Um Exercício para a Divulgação de Atrativos Turísticos Brasileiros

The present job integrated the “Brazilians cultural flavors and known fair”,   developed during the touristic events subject in the tourist management career of Santa Maria Federal University, which has as objective involve the students in all the execution stages of a touristic divulgation event. To the event were prepared stands by the students, in which has scripts and visual material from each region with the regional attractions, for example: historical zones, museums, cultural houses, parties, typical gastronomy, handicraft and typical products, fairs and typical markets, local knows and makes. As an activity results the class could grasp better the preparation of each stage of a touristic divulgation event, the necessity a good script and support material preparation about the typical culinary attractions, and the main motivation of this event is the direct contact with the target audience what generate a fundamental return to a good touristic activities planning.  O presente trabalho integrou a "Feira Cultural Sabores e Saberes do Brasil", desenvolvida na disciplina de Eventos no Turismo do Curso de Tecnologia em Gestão do Turismo da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, que tinha como objetivo envolver os alunos em todas as etapas da execução de um evento de divulgação turística. Para o evento foram preparadas bancas pelos alunos, nas quais haviam roteiros de cada região e material visual com os atrativos regionais, tais como: sítios históricos, museus, casas de cultura, festas e celebrações locais, gastronomia típica, artesanato e produtos típicos, feiras e mercados tradicionais, saberes e fazeres locais. Como resultado desta atividade a turma pode compreender melhor as fases da preparação de eventos de divulgação turística, a necessidade de uma boa preparação dos roteiros e material de apoio de atrativos da culinária típica e, principalmente, a motivação desses eventos é o contato direto com o público-alvo que pode gerar um retorno fundamental para um bom planejamento da atividade turística.

Oral Candida spp carriage and periodontal diseases in HIV-infected patients in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

The majority of HIV-infected patients develop Candida spp-associated clinical oral lesions. Studies have shown that asymptomatic oral colonization of Candida spp may lead to oral lesions or become a source of disseminated infections. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of periodontal conditions on Candida spp prevalence and Candida spp carriage in the oral cavity of HIV-infected patients compared to non-infected patients. Twenty-five patients not infected with HIV and 48 HIV-infected patients were classified according to periodontal conditions as being periodontal healthy or with periodontal disease. Candida spp carriage and classification were performed in oral rinse samples. Viral load and CD4+ T lymphocyte (CD4+L) counts were performed in blood samples from HIV-infected patients. No differences in Candida spp prevalence related to HIV status or periodontal condition were detected. However, Candida spp carriage was increased in periodontally affected HIV-infected patients when compared to periodontally healthy HIV-infected patients (p= 0.04). Periodontally healthy HIV-infected patients presented Candida spp carriage in similar levels as healthy or periodontally affected non-HIV-infected patients. Candida spp carriage was correlated with CD4+L counting in HIV-infected patients. We concluded that periodontal disease is associated with increased Candida spp carriage in HIV-infected patients and may be a predisposing factor to clinical manifestations of candidiasis