The vicious cycle in the Bolsa Família Program's implementation: Discretionality and the challenge of social rights consolidation in Brazil

Item does not contain fulltextThis article aims to consider conceptions of the Brazilian conditional cash transfer Bolsa Família Program as elaborated by both those responsible for its implementation and its beneficiaries in Northeast Brazil. Most innovative in this study is the adoption of the program’s municipal social workers, who are responsible for the implementation of the program, as the main observation point, by conceptualizing them as street-level bureaucrats. The research is based on ethnographic fieldwork that took place between 2013 and 2015, for a total of six months, combined with in-depth interviews with the program’s beneficiaries in a middle-sized municipality of the State of Ceará. Social workers enjoy a range of discretion that directly affects the distribution of benefits. Their efforts to better apply what they see as scarce resources are embedded in their representations of poverty - separating "deserving" from "undeserving" poor - generating insecurity among beneficiaries. By doing so, beneficiaries' understanding of the program as a social right is compromised, which is reinforced by a fragile legal status enjoyed by the Bolsa Família and ambiguous bureaucratic procedures.25 p

Which mechanism underlies the water-like anomalies in core-softened potentials?

Using molecular dynamics simulations we investigate the thermodynamic of particles interacting with a continuous and a discrete versions of a core-softened (CS) intermolecular potential composed by a repulsive shoulder. Dynamic and structural properties are also analyzed by the simulations. We show that in the continuous version of the CS potential the density at constant pressure has a maximum for a certain temperature. Similarly the diffusion constant, $D$, at a constant temperature has a maximum at a density $\rho_{\mathrm{max}}$ and a minimum at a density $\rho_{\mathrm{min}}<\rho_{\mathrm{max}}$, and structural properties are also anomalous. For the discrete CS potential none of these anomalies are observed. The absence of anomalies in the discrete case and its presence in the continuous CS potential are discussed in the framework of the excess entropy.Comment: 8 page

Environment Influence On Pspl-based Digital Dental Radiology Systems

Photo-stimulable phosphor luminescence technology (PSPL) has been used in Digora (Soredex, Finland) and Denoptix (CEDH Gendex, Italy) digital dental radiology imaging systems. PSPL plates store X-ray energy during exposition, being later processed by a laser reader and digitizer. Afterward they are erased and re-used. The large band of energy absorption provides PSPL systems with an extensive dynamic scale but at the same time a high sensibility to the incoming noise of environmental radiations. We have measured environment influences (electromagnetic radiation) for Digora and Denoptix plates after X-ray exposure and before digital processing. We have first compared the processing of PSPL plates "in dark" against "in light" environments. In another experiment, the exposed plates were also processed after being positioned 10 cm away from a 17 inches video monitor screen and to its laterals for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes (plates protected against light). The acquired images were used to calculate the noise power spectra (NPS) in each case. We have noticed that there was an increase in the noise spectra energy of "in light" processing compared to "in dark" processing. There was also an increment in the NPS energy when the images were processed after the exposition of the plates to the radiation emanated from video monitor.4320219226Huda, W., Comparison of a photostimulable phosphor system with film for dental radiology (1997) Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology, 84, pp. 725-731Brettle, D.S., The imaging performance of a storage phosphor system for dental radiography (1996) The British Journal of Radiology, 69, pp. 256-261Xinhua, A novel algorithm for measuring the MTF of a digital radiographic system with a CCD array detector (2000) SPIE, 3977, pp. 580-587Knüpfer, W., Novel X-ray detectors for medical imaging (1999) Nuclear Physics, 78, pp. 610-615Hildebold, C.F., Dental photostimulable phosphor radiology (2000) Dental Clinics of North America, 44 (2), pp. 273-297Stamatakis, Dose response of a storage phosphor system for intraoral radiography (1999) Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, 28, pp. 272-276Yoshiura, K., Physical evaluation of a system for direct digital intra-oral radiography based on a charged-coupled device (1999) Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, 28, pp. 277-283Workman, A., Brettle, D.S., Physical performance measures of radiographic imaging systems (1997) Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, 26, pp. 139-146Granfors, P.R., Performance characteristics of an amorphous silicon flat panel X-ray imaging detector (1999) SPIE, 3659, pp. 480-490Yoshiura, K., Physical evaluation of a system for direct digital intra-oral radiography based on a charged-coupled device (1999) Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, 28, pp. 277-283Kengyelics, S.M., Image quality evaluation of a direct digital radiology detector operating in a UK radiology department (1999) SPIE, 3659, pp. 24-35Granfords, P.R., Aufrichtig, P.R.R., DQE(f) of an amorphous silicon flat panel X-ray detector: Detector parameter influences and measurement methodology (2000) SPIE, 3977, pp. 2-13Dobbins III, J.T., DQE(f) of four generations of computed radiography devices (1995) Medical Physics, 22, pp. 1581-1593Cowen, A.R., Workman, A., A physical image quality evaluation of a digital spot flurography system (1992) Phys. Med. Biol., 37, pp. 325-342Daint, J.C., Shaw, R., (1976) Image Science - Principles, Analyses and Evaluation of Photographic-Type Imaging Process, , Academic Press, London, UKBethea, R.M., Duran, B.S., Benllion, T.L., (1995) Statistical Methods for Engineers and Scientists, , Mc Hill Reckker, New York, NYZanella, G., Zannoni, R., DQE of imaging detectors in terms of spatial frequency (1999) Nuclear Instruments and Methods Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 437, pp. 163-167Zanella, G., Zannoni, R., The role of the quantum efficiency on the DQE of an imaging detector (1996) Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 381, pp. 157-160Costa, S., DQE measurement in a scintillating glass optical fiber detector for X-ray imaging (1996) Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 380, pp. 568-571Meyer, R.R., Experimental characterization of CCD cameras for HREM at 300kV (2000) Ultramicroscopy, 85, pp. 9-13Onttonello, P., MTF and DQE measurement in imaging detectors by their single-event response (1998) Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, 419, pp. 731-735Kandarakis, I., An experimental method for the determination of spatial-frequency-dependent detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of scintillators used in X-ray imaging detectors (1997) Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, 399, pp. 335-34

Evaluation Of Pspl Plate Erasing Time Of A Digital Dental Radiology System

Denoptix (CEDH Gendex Dental System, Milan, Italy) dental imaging system uses photo-stimulable phosphor luminescence (PSPL) plates to store energy during X-ray exposure, being later processed by a laser reader and digitizer. Afterwards the plate is erased and re-used. The cleaning process described by the manufacturer consists of exposing the PSPL plates to negatoscope light for 5 minutes. Proper light intensity and exact erasing time must be considered in order to guarantee good quality procedures in its re-utilization. X-ray exposed plates were submitted to four negatoscopes with different measured light intensities for several periods of light exposure, until the Denoptix system was unable to process the latent image in the plates, and we considered then that the plates were cleaned. We have found the relationships between erasing time, exposed dose and negatoscope light intensity. We have also measured the relative plate image fading with negatoscope light exposure time. We have concluded that a Poisson process governs plate erasing. Considering clinical situations, we have shown that it was possible to largely reduce erasing time and increase plate re-utilization. The exponential decay of image data also suggested a still smaller erasing time, representative of a partial cleaning status assuming that residual noise presence in the erased plate is clinically acceptable.4320227235Janhom, A., Effect of noise on the compressibility and diagnostic accuracy for caries detection of digital bitewing radiographs (1999) Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, 28, pp. 6-12Huda, W., Comparison of a photo-stimulable phosphor system with film for dental radiology (1997) Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology, 84, pp. 725-731Brettle, D.S., The imaging performance of a storage phosphor system for dental radiography (1996) The British Journal of Radiology, 69, pp. 256-261Yoshiura, K., Physical evaluation of a system for direct digital intra-oral radiography based on a charged-coupled device (1999) Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, 28, pp. 277-283Xinhua, A novel algorithm for measuring the MTF of a digital radiographic system with a CCD array detector (2000) SPIE, 3977, pp. 580-587Hildebold, C.F., Dental photostimulable phosphor radiology (2000) Dental Clinics of North America, 44 (2), pp. 273-297(1998) Denoptix System User Manual, , CEDH Gendex Dental System, Milan, ItalyBethea, R.M., Duran, B.S., Benllion, T.L., (1995) Statistical Methods for Engineers and Scientists, , Mc Hill Reckker, New York, NYWebb, S., (1995) The Physics of Medical Imaging, , Institute of Physis Publishing, Bristol, UK(1996) Mathematics and Physics of Emerging Biomedical Imaging, , National Research Council, Institute of Medicine, National Academy Press, Washington D.CBarret, H., Harrison, H., Swindell, W., (1981) Radiological Imaging: The Theory of Image Formation, Detection and Processing, 1-2. , Academic Press, London, UKDaint, J.C., Shaw, R., (1976) Image Science - Principles, Analyses and Evaluation of Photographic-Type Imaging Process, , Academic Press, London, U

Baseline characteristics and risk factors for ulcer, amputation and severe neuropathy in diabetic foot at risk: the brazupa study

CNPQ – CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOStudies on diabetic foot and its complications involving a significant and representative sample of patients in South American countries are scarce. The main objective of this study was to acquire clinical and epidemiological data on a large cohort of diabetic patients from 19 centers from Brazil and focus on factors that could be associated with the risk of ulcer and amputation. Methods: This study presents cross sectional, Baseline results of the BRAZUPA Study. A total of 1455 patients were included. Parameters recorded included age, gender, ethnicity, diabetes and comorbidity-related records, previous ulcer or amputation, clinical symptomatic score, foot classification and microvascular complications. Results: Patients with ulcer had longer disease duration (17.2 +/- 9.9 vs. 13.2 +/- 9.4 years; p < 0.001), and poorer glycemic control (HbA1c 9.23 +/- 2.03 vs. 8.35 +/- 1.99; p < 0.001). Independent risk factors for ulcer were male gender (OR 1.71; 95 % CI 1.2-3.7), smoking (OR 1.78; 95 % CI 1.09-2.89), neuroischemic foot (OR 20.34; 95 % CI 9.31-44.38), region of origin (higher risk for those from developed regions, OR 2.39; 95 % CI 1.47-3.87), presence of retinopathy (OR 1.68; 95 % CI 1.08-2.62) and absence of vibratory sensation (OR 7.95; 95 % CI 4.65-13.59). Risk factors for amputation were male gender (OR 2.12; 95 % CI 1.2-3.73), type 2 diabetes (OR 3.33; 95 % CI 1.01-11.1), foot at risk classification (higher risk for ischemic foot, OR 19.63; 95 % CI 3.43-112.5), hypertension (lower risk, OR 0.3; 95 % CI 0.14-0.63), region of origin (South/Southeast, OR 2.2; 95 % CI 1.1-4.42), previous history of ulcer (OR 9.66; 95 % CI 4.67-19.98) and altered vibratory sensation (OR 3.46; 95 % CI 1.64-7.33). There was no association between either outcome and ethnicity. Conclusions: Ulcer and amputation rates were high. Age at presentation was low and patients with ulcer presented a higher prevalence of neuropathy compared to ischemic foot at risk. Ischemic disease was more associated with amputations. Ethnical differences were not of great importance in a miscegenated population825CNPQ – CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOCNPQ – CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOsem informaçã