Migrainous infarction: a rare and often overlooked diagnosis

Migraine is a neurological entity and a well-known independent risk factor for cerebral infarction, which mostly afflicts the young female population. Researching focal neurological signs in this subset of the population with the diagnosis of a neurological ischemic event should always take into account the migraine as the etiology or as an associated factor. The etiology of central nervous system (CNS) ischemia is considerable. Migraine, although rare, also may be included in this vast etiological range, which is called migrainous infarction. In this setting, the diagnostic criteria required for this diagnosis is extensive. Herein, we present the case of a female adolescent who submitted to the emergency facility complaining of diplopia, dysarthria, and imbalance, which started concomitantly with a migrainous crisis with aura—a challenging clinical case that required extensive research to address all possible differential diagnose

Ozono troposférico em Lisboa - caso de estudo Entrecampos

Tese de mestrado integrado, Engenharia da Energia e do Ambiente, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2020Analisou-se as emissões de ozono troposférico, O3, históricas, num local de tráfego urbano da cidade de Lisboa em 2017 (rotunda de Entrecampos) e as suas causas e correlações com fatores climáticos (temperatura, radiação global e precipitação) e ambientais (concentrações de emissões primárias de NOX- óxidos de azoto). A análise dividiu-se em período escolar, fora do período escolar; por estações Verão, Outono, Inverno e Primavera; semana versus fins de semana; e, dia versus noite. Os dados coletados são horários, o que dá cerca de 8760 dados por parâmetro, ou seja, cerca de 61320 dados no total. Verificou-se que existe uma relação inversa entre as emissões de monóxido de azoto (NO) e de ozono (O3), para qualquer situação, independentemente do intervalo temporal estudado. Concluiu-se que, quer a nível do ciclo diário quer a nível sazonal as emissões de O3 são afetadas pelas emissões de NO e de NO2, sendo NO o poluente primário. Foram selecionados diversos horizontes temporais, tendo-se apurado que uma diminuição no tráfego e nas emissões de NOX implicou um aumento das emissões de ozono troposférico. Tal ocorreu com particular incidência aos fins-de-semana e em períodos de férias escolares. Constatou-se que a radiação e a temperatura também são causadoras de alterações na concentração de O3, havendo neste caso uma correspondência direta entre os fatores climáticos e as emissões do poluente. Tal observou-se de forma mais óbvia para qualquer ciclo diurno, quando comparados os valores de radiação global com os valores das emissões de ozono. Viu-se, contrariamente, que não há aparente relação entre a precipitação e as emissões do poluente (O3) estudado. Observou-se que os valores limite legais para os poluentes foram ultrapassados em poucas ocasiões durante o período considerado. Os valores de concentração máxima para O3 são cerca de 70 ppb e ocorreram no Verão, mais precisamente em Agosto, de dia num fim-de semana. Os valores mínimos (abaixo de 5 ppb) ocorreram principalmente em dias de semana de noite (geralmente de terça a sexta-feira) e na sua grande maioria nos meses de inverno e outono.Historic ground level ozone emissions and its causes and correlations with climate factors (temperature, global radiation and rainfall) and environmental factors (primary emissions of NOX – nitrogen oxides) were analysed, on an urban area with a traffic environment within the city of Lisbon, in the year 2017. The analysis was divided into school days, school holidays; seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn; weekdays versus weekends and day versus night. The collected data is hourly, which gives 8760 points of data for each parameter, in other words, about 61320 points of data. It was verified that there is an inverse relation between nitrogen monoxide (NO) and ozone (O3) emissions, for every situation, regardless the considered time interval. It concludes that O3 emissions are affected by NO and NO2 emissions, NO being the primary pollutant, for every daily cycle and in all seasons of the year. Many temporal intervals were selected, founding out that with less road traffic and NOX emissions the concentration of ground level ozone increased. That occurred more relevantly during weekends and school holidays. It was noted that global radiation and temperature are well correlated with O3 concentrations, existing a direct correspondence between these climate factors and the pollutant emissions. Such was observed more clearly for every daily cycle, when ozone and radiation data were compared. On the contrary, there were no apparent relation between rainfall and emissions of the pollutant in question. It was observed that the legal limits for the pollutants were surpassed in a few occasions, during the considered time. The maximum values for O3 concentration are about 70 parts per billion (ppb), and occurred in the summer, during the day on an August weekend. The minimum values (below 5 ppb) occurred mainly on weekdays (generally from Tuesday until Friday) and the vast majority occurred during winter and autumn months

EFEITOS DA COMUNIDADE DE ORIGEM NO PARTICIPANTE DE COMUNIDADES VIRTUAIS DE MARCA

The question about the effectiveness of companies in maintaining their own communities versus benefiting from the ones ownedby consumers remains open. We examine differences between firm-managed and customer-managed brand communities regarding the impact of perceived psychographic homogeneity, availability of virtual avenues and relationship with the brand on the community’s influence on members and the assessments and intentions of community participants. Data were obtained from 555 espondents in two leading Microsoft XBOX brand communities in Brazil. Results indicate that management of the community of origin is the moderator of all considered relationships. Also, the most favorable effects for the company occur in the community that is not directly controlled and managed by the company itself. Brand loyalty, however, is higher for members of the official brand community. Guidelines on how companies can benefit from consumer-managed communities are discussed

The effects of participating in virtual brand communities on consumer behavior: proposition and test of a theoretical framework

As comunidades virtuais de marca são fenômeno recente e relevante, com fortes implicações na gestão de marketing. Os estudos realizados, entretanto, ainda não responderam a uma importante questão: quais são os ganhos que as empresas podem ter em termos de intenções de recomendação, recompra e lealdade do consumidor por meio da ação de comunidade virtual de marca? Assim, este trabalho propõe e testa um modelo teórico para explicar a força das comunidades virtuais de marca no comportamento do consumidor. Para o estudo utilizaram-se duas comunidades para o mesmo produto: XBOX da Microsoft. A amostra final totalizou 555 casos. Os resultados, mediante a modelagem de equações estruturais, apontam a validação do modelo proposto e confirmação dos efeitos positivos da Homogeneidade Psicográfica Percebida e da Disponibilidade de Avenidas Virtuais na Participação na Comunidade e destes três constructos, mais o Relacionamento com a Marca na Identificação com a Comunidade. O impacto da Identificação com a Comunidade nas Influências da Comunidade foi significativo, mas não na Participação na Comunidade. As Influências da Comunidade também tiveram impacto significativo nas Avaliações e Intenções. Estes achados são discutidos.The virtual brand communities as established venues for marketing actions are a recent and relevant phenomenon, with strong implications in the marketing field. Despite its significance, recent studies have not addressed an important question: what are the earnings that companies may have in terms of intent of recommendation, repurchase and loyalty through the action of a brand virtual community? This study proposes and tests a theoretical framework to explain the strength of virtual brand communities on consumer behavior. To test the research hypotheses, two different communities for the same product were used - the Microsoft XBOX game console. The final sampling was 555 cases. The findings, achieved through structural equations modeling, indicate model validity and a direct impact of Psychographic Homogeneity and Availability of Virtual Venues on Participation Level and also an impact of these three dimensions plus Relationship with the Brand on Community Identification. The impact of Community Identification on Community Influences was significant, but not the impact of Participation Level. Community Influences also had a direct positive impact on Future Intentions. Considerations on these results are discussed

Conceitos atuais no tratamento das ataxias hereditárias

Hereditary ataxias (HA) represents an extensive group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by progressive ataxia combined with extra-cerebellar and multi-systemic involvements, including peripheral neuropathy, pyramidal signs, movement disorders, seizures, and cognitive dysfunction. There is no effective treatment for HA, and management remains supportive and symptomatic. In this review, we will focus on the symptomatic treatment of the main autosomal recessive ataxias, autosomal dominant ataxias, X-linked cerebellar ataxias and mitochondrial ataxias. We describe management for different clinical symptoms, mechanism-based approaches, rehabilitation therapy, disease modifying therapy, future clinical trials and perspectives, genetic counseling and preimplantation genetic diagnosis.As ataxias hereditárias representam um grupo complexo de doenças neurodegenerativas, e se caracterizam por ataxia cerebelar progressiva, associada a sinais e sintomas extra-cerebelares e sistêmicos, os quais incluem: neuropatia periférica, sinais piramidais, distúrbios do movimento, convulsões e disfunção cognitiva. Não existe um tratamento efetivo para a cura das ataxias hereditárias. Até o momento os tratamentos disponíveis são apenas sintomáticos. Nesta revisão vamos abordar tratamento sintomático das principais ataxias autossômicas recessivas, ataxias autossômicas dominantes, ataxias ligadas ao X e ataxias mitocondriais. Descrevemos os diferentes sintomas, abordagens terapêuticas baseadas no mecanismo fisiopatológico, terapia de reabilitação, terapia modificadora da doença, futuros ensaios clínicos, perspectivas, níveis de evidência, aconselhamento genético e diagnóstico genético pré-implantacional.74324425

Validation of an experimental polyurethane model for biomechanical studies on implant-supported prosthesis: compression tests

OBJECTIVES: The complexity and heterogeneity of human bone, as well as ethical issues, most always hinder the performance of clinical trials. Thus, in vitro studies become an important source of information for the understanding of biomechanical events on implant-supported prostheses, although study results cannot be considered reliable unless validation studies are conducted. The purpose of this work was to validate an artificial experimental model based on its modulus of elasticity, to simulate the performance of human bone in vivo in biomechanical studies of implant-supported prostheses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, fast-curing polyurethane (F16 polyurethane, Axson) was used to build 40 specimens that were divided into five groups. The following reagent ratios (part A/part B) were used: Group A (0.5/1.0), Group B (0.8/1.0), Group C (1.0/1.0), Group D (1.2/1.0), and Group E (1.5/1.0). A universal testing machine (Kratos model K - 2000 MP) was used to measure modulus of elasticity values by compression. RESULTS: Mean modulus of elasticity values were: Group A - 389.72 MPa, Group B - 529.19 MPa, Group C - 571.11 MPa, Group D - 470.35 MPa, Group E - 437.36 MPa. CONCLUSION: The best mechanical characteristics and modulus of elasticity value comparable to that of human trabecular bone were obtained when A/B ratio was 1:1.(FAPESP) São Paulo Research Foundatio

Best economical quantity of nitrogen used on pangola grass and its determination by the factor's actual relative price

Realizou-se a análise econômica do efeito do fertilizante nitrogenado sobre uma pastagem de capim-pangola (Digitaria decumbens Stent). Na primeira fase estimou-se a curva de resposta com base em um experimento de campo conduzido durante quatro anos, e no qual esta gramínea foi submetida a cinco diferentes níveis de nitrogênio (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 kg/ha/N). A equação selecionada por regressão foi um polinômio do segundo grau: Y = 2289,23 + 52,45 N - 0,0784 N2, onde Y é a produção em kg por ha e N é a quantidade de nitrogênio em kg/ha. Na segunda fase, os resultados da análise econômica mostram que o produtor de carne atinge a máxima eficiência econômica (M.E.E.) em outubro de 1981, com 157 kg/ha/ano de N, enquanto que o produtor de leite obtém a M.E.E. com 249 kg/ha/N. Atinge-se a máxima eficiência técnica (M.E.T.) com 333 kg/ha/ano de N. Com o objetivo de que a análise seja sempre atual, foram determinados os níveis de N para atingir a M.E.E., a qualquer preço deste fator de produção em relação aos produtos de pecuária, carne e leite, pois cabe, por último, ao produtor, decidir, entre diversas alternativas, qual é a mais viável em suas condições e preços.The economic analysis of the effect of nitrogen used on pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens Stent) pasture was done. In the first period, the response curve was estimated based on a field experiment conducted during four years, in which this grass was submitted to five different levels of nitrogen (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 kg/ha of N). The equation selected by regression was a polynomial of second degree: Y = 2289.23 + 52.45 N - 0.0784 N2 , where Y is the production in kg/ha and N is the quantity of N in kg/ha. In the second period, the results of the economic analysis showed that the meat producer reaches the highest economical efficiency in October of 1981, with 157 kg/ha/year of N. The milk producer reaches it with 249 kg/ha/year. The highest technical efficiency was reached with 333 kg/ha/year of N. Searching for an up-to-date analysis, the nitrogen levels were determined to reach the highest economical efficiency, at any price, of this production factor, related with the cattle breeding products (meat and milk), since that it is up to the producer to decide between the alternatives, which Is the most practicable in its conditions and prices

Marine algal flora of Formigas Islets, Azores

BACKGROUND: The oldest reference to marine life in Formigas Islets (oriental group of the Azores archipelago) goes back to the 16th century. Nevertheless, their macroalgal flora is poorly known, the published information mainly resulting from occasional collections of sporadic visitors. To overcome this and contribute to the knowledge of Azorean macroalgal flora at both local and regional scales, a thorough investigation was conducted in 1990 and 1991 under two expeditions promoted by the Marine Biology Research Group of the Department of Biology, University of the Azores. Collections and presence data recordings were undertaken at the littoral and sublittoral levels down to approximately 40 m, in an area of approximately 0.04 km2. This paper lists the taxonomic records and provides information regarding each species’ ecology and occurrence on the Islets’ littoral. NEW INFORMATION: A total of 320 specimens are registered (including taxa identified only at generic level) belonging to 90 taxa of macroalgae, from which 70 were diagnosed at species level. The confirmed species comprise 39 Rhodophyta, 12 Chlorophyta and 19 Ochrophyta (Phaeophyceae), distributed in 22 orders (13 Rhodophyta, 3 Chlorophyta and 6 Ochrophyta) and 37 families (24 Rhodophyta, 6 Chlorophyta and 7 Ochrophyta). Sixty-one species represent new records for the Islets, from which Botryocladia macaronesica Afonso-Carrillo, Sobrino, Tittley & Neto and Laurencia viridis Gil-Rodriguez & Haroun are Macaronesian endemisms. Most species are native to the Azores, but six have an uncertain origin and four are introduced (the Rhodophyta Asparagopsis armata Harvey; Laurencia dendroidea J.Agardh; Neoizziella divaricata (C.K.Tseng) S.-M.Lin, S.-Y.Yang & Huisman and the Ochrophyta Hydroclathrus tilesii (Endlicher) Santiañez & M.J.Wynne).This research was mainly supported by the projects Expeditions “SANTA MARIA and FORMIGAS/90” and “FORMIGAS/91” and lately by the project “ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000072” funded the Operational Programme Azores 2020 (85% ERDF and 15% regional funds). Afonso Prestes was supported by a PhD grant (M3.1.a/F/083/2015) awarded by Fundo Regional da Ciência e Tecnologia (FRCT).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Economic efficiency of nitrogen in cultivated pastures

Realizou-se a análise econômica do efeito do fator nitrogênio sobre uma pastagem de azevém (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Utilizou-se a curva de resposta de um experimento de campo, onde a gramínea foi submetida a cinco níveis de nitrogênio. Os resultados mostraram que a máxima eficiência técnica foi atingida com 154 kg/ha/ano de N; e a máxima eficiência econômica, com 86 kg/ha/ano de N. Para compensar a instabilidade da moeda, construiu-se uma tabela que relaciona a variação de preço insumo/produto com os respectivos níveis de máxima eficiência econômica no uso do fator, ou seja, para qualquer alteração na relação de preços, calculou-se uma nova dose ótima econômica.The economic analysis of the effect of applied nitrogen on a rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture was done, utilizing five levels of nitrogen on a field experiment. The data showed that the maximum technical efficiency was reached with the utilization of 154 kg/ha/year of N and the highest economical efficiency with 86 kg/ha/year of N. Since the price of N varies frequently the alternative that was found for maintaining the relation between fertilizer and product up-to-date, a table that shows the highest economical efficiency for any price of nitrogen/product relationship was built. This means that, for any variation in the relation of prices fertilizer/product one is able to find a new optimum level of nitrogen

Migrainous infarction: a rare and often overlooked diagnosis

Migraine is a neurological entity and a well-known independent risk factor for cerebral infarction, which mostly afflicts the young female population. Researching focal neurological signs in this subset of the population with the diagnosis of a neurological ischemic event should always take into account the migraine as the etiology or as an associated factor. The etiology of central nervous system (CNS) ischemia is considerable. Migraine, although rare, also may be included in this vast etiological range, which is called migrainous infarction. In this setting, the diagnostic criteria required for this diagnosis is extensive. Herein, we present the case of a female adolescent who submitted to the emergency facility complaining of diplopia, dysarthria, and imbalance, which started concomitantly with a migrainous crisis with aura—a challenging clinical case that required extensive research to address all possible differential diagnose