Quality of life and the risk of contracting malaria by multivariate analysis in the Brazilian Amazon region

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malaria in the Amazon basin is closely related to social inequalities, given that precarious economic and socio-environmental conditions represent favourable factors for the transmission of the disease in tropical regions, such as the Brazilian state of Pará. In the present study, an association was found between the variation in a quality of life index (QLI), based on the socioeconomic differences between the municipalities of this state, and the risk of contracting malaria, based on the Annual Parasitic Index (API), with the primary objective of providing guidelines for the development of effective strategies for the control of the disease. METHODS: The API scores for the years between 2003 and 2011 were collected from the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s DATASUS database, and socioeconomic data for the 143 municipalities of Pará were obtained from the 2010 census. The data were analysed using multivariate factorial and correspondence techniques. RESULTS: The QLI was calculated for each municipality, of which, 69.23% were classified as having a poor or regular quality of life. The municipalities with poor QLI scores also presented moderate to high rates of malaria, with probabilities of 80.97% and 95.13%, respectively, while those with good QLI scores had low rates of malaria, with a probability of 79.24%. The results indicated a concentration of malaria in the south-west of the state of Pará, with an increase of 8.82% in the incidence of the disease over the study period, and the northeastern and Marajó mesoregions, where there was an increase of over 90%. In south-eastern Pará, by contrast, there was a marked reduction (78%) in the incidence of the disease, reflecting the heterogeneous distribution of malaria among the different municipalities and mesoregions of the state, especially those with moderate to high risk of transmission. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that malaria is endemic to Pará and is typical of the state’s poorest areas, and that the distribution of the disease within the state indicates an intimate relationship with the living conditions of the population, affecting primarily the economically less privileged sectors of the society

Long-Range Correlations and the Momentum Distribution in Nuclei

The influence of correlations on the momentum distribution of nucleons in nuclei is evaluated starting from a realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction. The calculations are performed directly for the finite nucleus \,^{16}O making use of the Green's function approach. The emphasis is focused on the correlations induced by the excitation modes at low energies described within a model-space of shell-model configurations including states up to the sdg shell. Our analysis demonstrates that these long-range correlations do not produce any significant enhancement of the momentum distribution at high missing momenta and low missing energies. This is in agreement with high resolution $(e,e'p)$ experiments for this nucleus. We also try to simulate the corresponding effects in large nuclei by quenching the energy-spacing between single-particle orbits. This yields a sizable enhancement of the spectral function at large momenta and small energy. Such behavior could explain the deviation of the momentum distribution from the mean field prediction, which has been observed in $(e,e'p)$ experiments on heavy nuclei like $^{208}$Pb

Correlations and the Cross Section of Exclusive (e,e′pe,e'p) Reactions for 16^{16}O

The reduced cross section for exclusive ($e,e'p$) reactions has been studied in DWIA for the example of the nucleus $^{16}$O using a spectral function containing effects of correlations. The spectral function is evaluated directly for the finite nucleus starting from a realistic nucleon-nucleon interaction within the framework of the Green's function approach. The emphasis is focused on the correlations induced by excitation modes at low energies described within a model-space of shell-model configurations including states up to the $sdg$ shell. Cross sections for the $p$-wave quasi-hole transitions at low missing energies are presented and compared with the most recent experimental data. In the case of the so-called perpendicular kinematics the reduced cross section derived in DWIA shows an enhancement at high missing momenta as compared to the PWIA result. Furthermore the cross sections for the $s$- and $d$-wave quasi-hole transitions are presented and compared to available data at low missing momenta. Also in these cases, which cannot be described in a model without correlations, a good agreement with the experiment is obtained.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX, 4 figures include

Evaluación del uso de extractos proteicos de semillas de uvas (Vitis vinifera L.) en la clarificación fenólica de vinos tintos

46 p.Hoy en día, en el proceso de clarificación del vino, se utilizan cada vez más los extractos de proteínas vegetales y materiales endógenos de las uvas en reemplazo de las proteínas animales. Estudios previos sobre extractos de proteínas de semillas de uva demostraron su efectividad para disminuir la astringencia sin alterar significativamente el color del vino; por lo que en el presente estudio se determinó el efecto clarificante de un extracto proteico de semillas de uvas del cultivar Syrah sobre la composición fenólica de un vino Cabernet Sauvignon. El experimento consistió en tratar el vino Cabernet Sauvignon con dos concentraciones del extracto (30 y 50 g/hL), y dejarlo actuar durante dos tiempos de contacto diferentes (48 y 72 horas). A continuación, se determinaron las concentraciones de los compuestos fenólicos y se analizaron las características cromáticas del vino tratado con el respectivo agente clarificante. Independientemente de la concentración utilizada, el extracto de semillas de uva disminuyó significativamente la composición fenólica y las antocianinas en la condición de mayor tiempo de contacto, pero no tuvo influencia sobre los taninos totales. En cuanto al color, la concentración alta del extracto aumentó significativamente la luminosidad. Este estudio mostró que tanto la concentración como el tiempo de aplicación de extractos proteicos de semillas de uva pueden influir sobre las diferentes características del vino. Por lo tanto, se debería continuar investigando este extracto para confirmar los resultados y seguir optimizando la dosis, purificación y tiempos de tratamientos para diferentes vinos. // ABSTRACT: Nowadays, the process of wine clarification has incorporated the use vegetable protein extracts and grape endogenous material as a replacement of animal proteins. Previous studies on grape seed extracts proved their effectiveness in decreasing astringency without changing wine color; therefore, this study attempted to determine the clarification effect of a grape seed extract of Syrah cultivar on phenolic composition of a Cabernet Sauvignon. The experiment consisted in treating a Cabernet Sauvignon wine with two doses of seed extract concentrations (30 and 50 g/hL), using two different times of contact (48 and 72 hours). Then, phenolic component concentrations were determined and color characteristics were analyzed for each wine treated with the clarification agent. Independently of the concentration, the grape seed extract decreased phenolic composition and anthocyanins significantly in the condition with larger contact time, but did not influence total tannins. Regarding wine color, the higher extract concentration increased luminosity significantly. This study showed that concentration as well as application time of grape seed protein extracts can influence different wine characteristics. Investigation on this extract should be continued, not only to confirm the present results, but to keep optimizing the dose, purification and treatment times for different wines

Efectos de la personalidad innovadora en TIC sobre la satisfacción del usuario y la intensión de uso del sistema ERP caso COEXCA S.A.

49 p.El presente análisis tiene como finalidad presentar un modelo basado en ECM-IS para determinar el impacto de un rasgo de la personalidad conocido como Personalidad Innovadora en TI en la intención que tengan los usuarios de COEXCA S.A. de seguir usando el nuevo sistema ERP. Para esto se realizó una investigación cuantitativa basada en un cuestionario aplicado al total de usuarios del nuevo ERP en COEXCA S.A. y sus filiales y luego se analizaron los resultados utilizando el método PLS-SEM. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que esta variable PIIT influye positivamente en la confirmación e indirectamente en la satisfacción y en la intención de continuidad de uso del nuevo ERP. // ABSTRACT: The purpose of this analysis is to present a model based on ECM-IS to determine the impact of a personality trait known as Innovative Personality in IT on the intention of COEXCA S.A. users. to continue using the new ERP system. For this, quantitative research was carried out based on a questionnaire applied to the total number of users of the new ERP in COEXCA S.A. and its subsidiaries and then the results were analyzed using the PLS-SEM method. The results obtained show that this PIIT variable has a positive influence on confirmation and indirectly on satisfaction and the intention to continue using the new ERP

Analysis of exchange terms in a projected ERPA Theory applied to the quasi-elastic (e,e') reaction

A systematic study of the influence of exchange terms in the longitudinal and transverse nuclear response to quasi-elastic (e,e') reactions is presented. The study is performed within the framework of the extended random phase approximation (ERPA), which in conjuction with a projection method permits a separation of various contributions tied to different physical processes. The calculations are performed in nuclear matter up to second order in the residual interaction for which we take a (pi+rho)-model with the addition of the Landau-Migdal g'-parameter. Exchange terms are found to be important only for the RPA-type contributions around the quasielastic peak.Comment: 29 pages, 6 figs (3 in postscript, 3 faxed on request), epsf.st

Edge-Related Loss of Tree Phylogenetic Diversity in the Severely Fragmented Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Deforestation and forest fragmentation are known major causes of nonrandom extinction, but there is no information about their impact on the phylogenetic diversity of the remaining species assemblages. Using a large vegetation dataset from an old hyper-fragmented landscape in the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest we assess whether the local extirpation of tree species and functional impoverishment of tree assemblages reduce the phylogenetic diversity of the remaining tree assemblages. We detected a significant loss of tree phylogenetic diversity in forest edges, but not in core areas of small (<80 ha) forest fragments. This was attributed to a reduction of 11% in the average phylogenetic distance between any two randomly chosen individuals from forest edges; an increase of 17% in the average phylogenetic distance to closest non-conspecific relative for each individual in forest edges; and to the potential manifestation of late edge effects in the core areas of small forest remnants. We found no evidence supporting fragmentation-induced phylogenetic clustering or evenness. This could be explained by the low phylogenetic conservatism of key life-history traits corresponding to vulnerable species. Edge effects must be reduced to effectively protect tree phylogenetic diversity in the severely fragmented Brazilian Atlantic forest

Serious fungal infections in Portugal

There is a lack of knowledge on the epidemiology of fungal infections worldwide because there are no reporting obligations. The aim of this study was to estimate the burden of fungal disease in Portugal as part of a global fungal burden project. Most published epidemiology papers reporting fungal infection rates from Portugal were identified. Where no data existed, specific populations at risk and fungal infection frequencies in those populations were used in order to estimate national incidence or prevalence, depending on the condition. An estimated 1,510,391 persons develop a skin or nail fungal infection each year. The second most common fungal infection in Portugal is recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, with an estimated 150,700 women (15-50 years of age) suffering from it every year. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected people, oral or oesophageal candidiasis rates were estimated to be 19.5 and 16.8/100,000, respectively. Candidaemia affects 2.19/100,000 patients, in a total of 231 cases nationally. Invasive aspergillosis is less common than in other countries as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is uncommon in Portugal, a total of 240 cases annually. The estimated prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis after tuberculosis (TB) is 194 cases, whereas its prevalence for all underlying pulmonary conditions was 776 patients. Asthma is common (10% in adults) and we estimate 16,614 and 12,600 people with severe asthma with fungal sensitisation and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, respectively. Sixty-five patients develop Pneumocystis pneumonia in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and 13 develop cryptococcosis. Overall, we estimate a total number of 1,695,514 fungal infections starting each year in Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genetic parameters for body weight, carcass chemical composition and yield in a broiler-layer cross developed for QTL mapping

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations of body weight at 6 weeks of age (BW6), as well as final carcass yield, and moisture, protein, fat and ash contents, using data from 3,422 F2 chickens originated from reciprocal cross between a broiler and a layer line. Variance components were estimated by the REML method, using animal models for evaluating random additive genetic and fixed contemporary group (sex, hatch and genetic group) effects. The heritability estimates (h2) for BW6, carcass yield and percentage of carcass moisture were 0.31 ± 0.07, 0.20 ± 0.05 and 0.33 ± 0.07, respectively. The h2 for the percentages of protein, fat and ash on a dry matter basis were 0.48 ± 0.09, 0.55 ± 0.10 and 0.36 ± 0.08, respectively. BW6 had a positive genetic correlation with fat percentage in the carcass, but a negative one with protein and ash contents. Carcass yield, thus, appears to have only low genetic association with carcass composition traits. The genetic correlations observed between traits, measured on a dry matter basis, indicated that selection for carcass protein content may favor higher ash content and a lower percentage of carcass fat