Agro-Cities as a Way to Counteract Urban Poverty

Monterusciello represents a case of urban poverty induced by a natural disaster: the bradyseism of 1983 which shocked and drastically changed the lives of citizens residing in the historic center of Pozzuoli. The political and technical response to the natural disaster emerged through the realization of a new town providing housing for displaced persons. Monterusciello was designed as a new town alternative to the construction models of the late 70s and early 80s: in here, there are no high-density buildings or a lack of public spaces. This new town had high ambitions in terms of planning the new housing settlement, inspired by a classical forma urbis and a human scale architecture. Despite the intellectual and political effort to find an effective solution to a collective drama, which affected most of Pozzuoli's population, many things did not work. The current public administration is making an ambitious attempt to face and solve the many open issue linked to this serious context of urban poverty. The city of Pozzuoli (Metropolitan area of Napoli) is the only city on South-Europe that succeeded to get, in the first round of the extremely competitive call for proposal, the EU financing named UIA (Urban Innovative Action). The project has the courage to propose ground-breaking solutions for very serious and persisting problems linked to urban poverty in the Monterusciello neighborhood. Innovation is embedded in applying the methodology of the permaculture to regenerate the public land available in between buildings of Monterusciello. Thirty hectares of Municipal open areas will be transformed into farmland, developed the innovative techniques of permaculture in order to spearhead an economic process and urban growth as a means to combat poverty. This Urban Agriculture led regeneration is based on a solid participatory planning process that aims to solve the many existing problems on the ground through learning and training actions (schools and youngster as priority target groups), experimentation of production chains at km zero, use of innovative and ecologic techniques in producing goods, design of cooperativistic a business model for the financial sustainability, relevant investment in advanced design of available public land and space, with a special focus on urban landscape related questions. This paper is presenting the urban regeneration adopted strategy in terms of ongoing and experimental planning practices, built up governance relations and creation of a sustainable (economic, socio-cultural; and environmental) development narrative for present and future development in Monterusciello

Klagomålshantering – en studie om gapen mellan teori och praktik

Arbetets art: Service Managementprogrammet, inriktning hotell och restaurang, Kandidatuppsats, 15 högskolepoäng Titel: Klagomålshantering – En studie om gapen mellan teori och praktik Engelsk titel: Service recovery – A study about the gaps between theory and practice Handledare: Christer Eldh och Veronica Åberg Datum: Juni 2009 Bakgrund: Det finns många olika teorier om hur klagomål ska hanteras. Vi blev intresserade av klagomålshantering då vi läste en artikel om ämnet, men tyckte att teorin målade upp en idyllisk bild av hur verkligheten ser ut. Vi vill i detta arbete undersöka om teorin stämmer överens med praktiken och vad som eventuellt saknas i teorin. Syfte: Syftet med undersökningen är att få djupare kunskap om klagomålshantering och om det finns några gap mellan praktik och teori vid klagomålshantering. Metod: Först har vi samlat in relevant litteratur. Därefter har vi gjort kvalitativa intervjuer med frontpersonal och ledning inom hotell- och restaurangverksamheter. Slutligen har vi analyserat litteraturen med hjälp av vårt empiriska material. Resultat: Det finns brister i teorin om klagomålshantering. Teorin tar inte hänsyn till personalens känslor då den ger exempel på hur manualer för klagomålshantering ska utformas. När vi analyserat det empiriska materialet har vi kunnat konstatera att många företag inte använder manualer för klagomålshantering, utan frontpersonalen får improvisera och anpassa sig till olika situationer

Relationship of Bode Index to Functional Tests in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a correlation between the BODE Index and variables assessed during the Activities of Daily Living assessment, performance on lower limber tests, and peripheral muscle impairment of the upper limb in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten men (aged 58 to 80 years old) with moderate to very severe obstruction were evaluated and classified by the BODE Index. They were evaluated by pulmonary ventilation (V•E), oxygen consumption (V•O2), and carbonic gas production (V•CO2) on the ADL assessment; Distance Walking (DW) in the Six Minute Walking Test (6MWT) and the Six Minute Walking Test on Treadmill (6MWTT); number of repetitions in the Sit-to-Stand Test; and the Hand Grip Strength Test. Correlations were evaluated between the classification and the tests performed (Pearson and Spearman test, p<0.05). RESULTS: The mean of the total score for the BODE Index was 2.80 (±1.03), with three patients scoring in the first quartile (Q1) and seven scoring in the second quartile (Q2). This Index showed a negative correlation with the 6MWTT (r=-0.86), the Sit-to-Stand Test (r=-0.66), and the Hand Grip Strength Test (r=-0.83). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that there is no correlation between the BODE Index and the ventilatory and metabolic responses in the Activities of Daily Living assessment. On the other hand, a correlation was observed between the BODE Index and the variables assessed in the 6MWTT, Sit-to-Stand Test, and Hand Grip Strength Test in moderate to very severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients. This suggests that these tests can be employed as predictors of physical exercise capacity, perhaps as complementary tests to the BODE Index

Protective effect of Opuntia ficus-indica L. cladodes against UVA-induced oxidative stress in normal human keratinocytes

Opuntia ficus-indica L. is known for its beneficial effects on human health, but still little is known on cladodes as a potent source of antioxidants. Here, a direct, economic and safe method was set up to obtain water extracts from Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes rich in antioxidant compounds. When human keratinocytes were pre-treated with the extract before being exposed to UVA radiations, a clear protective effect against UVA-induced stress was evidenced, as indicated by the inhibition of stress-induced processes, such as free radicals production, lipid peroxidation and GSH depletion. Moreover, a clear protective effect against apoptosis in pre-treated irradiated cells was evidenced. We found that eucomic and piscidic acids were responsible for the anti-oxidative stress action of cladode extract. In conclusion, a bioactive, safe, low-cost and high value-added extract from Opuntia cladodes was obtained to be used for skin health/protection

A influência da pressão positiva expiratória final (PEEP) associada à intervenção fisioterapêutica na fase I da reabilitação cardiovascular

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of positive end expiratory pressure and physiotherapy intervention during Phase I of cardiac rehabilitation on the behavior of pulmonary function and inspiratory muscle strength in postoperative cardiac surgery. METHODS: A prospective randomized study, in which 24 patients were divided in 2 groups: a group that performed respiratory exercises with positive airway expiratory pressure associated with physiotherapy intervention (GEP, n = 8) and a group that received only the physiotherapy intervention (GPI, n = 16). Pulmonary function was evaluated by spirometry on the preoperative and on the fifth postoperative days; inspiratory muscle strength was measured by maximal inspiratory pressure on the same days. RESULTS: Spirometric variables were significantly reduced from the preoperative to the fifth postoperative day for the GPI, while the GEP had a significant reduction only for vital capacity (P < .05). When the treatments were compared, smaller values were observed in the GPI for peak flow on the fifth postoperative day. Significant reductions of maximal inspiratory pressure from preoperative to the first postoperative day were found in both groups. However, the reduction in maximal inspiratory pressure from the preoperative to the fifth postoperative day was significant only in the GPI (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that cardiac surgery produces a reduction in inspiratory muscle strength, pulmonary volume, and flow. The association of positive expiratory pressure with physiotherapy intervention was more efficient in minimizing these changes, in comparison to the physiotherapy intervention alone. However, in both groups, the pulmonary volumes were not completely reestablished by the fifth postoperative day, and it was necessary to continue the treatment after hospital convalescence.OBJETIVO: Avaliar os efeitos da pressão positiva expiratória final e da intervenção fisioterápica na fase I da reabilitação cardiovascular sobre o comportamento da função pulmonar e da força muscular inspiratória e sobre o pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca. MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo, randomizado, com 24 pacientes, separados em 2 grupos: GEP (n=8), que realizaram exercícios respiratórios com pressão positiva expiratória nas vias aéreas associados à intervenção fisioterápica; e GFI (n=16), que realizaram somente a intervenção fisioterápica. A função pulmonar foi avaliada pela espirometria no pré e 5º dia pós-operatório; a força muscular inspiratória pela pressão inspiratória máxima no pré, 1º e 5º dias pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: As variáveis espirométricas mostraram reduções significativas do pré para o 5º dia pós-operatório no GFI, porém no GEP, observou-se redução apenas para capacidade vital (

Development and cross-validation of predictive equation for estimating total body lean in children

Aim. To develop and cross-validate a predictive equation for estimating lean body mass (LBM) in children, based on bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometric parameters, and to compare our equation with other predictive methods. Methods. We evaluated body composition of 155 children (age 5-14 years) by BIA and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Children were divided in two groups: developing set and cross-validation set. Statistical analysis as multiple regression and Bland-Altman methods were performed. Results. From developing set (105 children) the following predictive LBM (kg) equation was created: (R2=0.96).  From the cross-validated set (35 children), our equation was seen to agree with LBM (kg) by DXA. On the contrary, LBM predicted by Schaefer’s equation and BIA did not agree with the criterion measure. Conclusions. This cross-validated equation can be useful in epidemiological studies and also in clinical practice, permitting a better definition and follow up of children’s body composition

Brain Responses to Faces and Facial Expressions in 5-Month-Olds: An fNIRS Study

Processing faces and understanding facial expressions are crucial skills for social communication. In adults, basic face processing and facial emotion processing rely on specific interacting brain networks. In infancy, however, little is known about when and how these networks develop. The current study uses functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure differences in 5-month-olds’ brain activity in response to fearful and happy facial expressions. Our results show that the right occipital region responds to faces, indicating that the face processing network is activated at 5 months. Yet sensitivity to facial emotions appears to be still immature at this age: explorative analyses suggest that if the facial emotion processing network was active this would be mainly visible in the temporal cortex. Together these results indicate that at 5 months, occipital areas already show sensitivity to face processing, while the facial emotion processing network seems not fully developed

Condicionamento físico e treino muscular respiratório aplicado a um paciente com síndrome de Sjögren primária: relato de caso

Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) is a rheumatic progressive autoimmune disorderthat has primary and secondary manifestations, the majority of patients are women, and the onset is most common in middle age. The major characteristic is the glandular dysfunction but musculoskeletal and cardiopulmonary systems can be involved in the inflammatory process. In this case study, the purpose was evaluated the efficacy of a physical conditioning and respiratory muscle training applied to a patient with primary S.S. The intervention was elaborated based on physical evaluation, effort ergometric test, spirometry, 6 minute walk test, and cardiopulmonary variables. The conditioning program with contínuosprogressive load was performed in ergometric track, and accompanying tostretching to axial and limbs muscles with expansive exercises. The protocol was to performed 3 times a week, during 6 weeks. The respiratory muscle training used was IMT and PEP with threshold. The results showed increasing on the distance walked and decreasing on the heart frequency and arterial pressure. The oxygen saturation didn't showed beneficial results with this protocol. Thus, in these experimental conditions, the studied treatment protocol was beneficial to gain in the maximal pressure inspiratory and expiratory, life quality, sleep, and physical performance.A Síndrome de Sjogren (S.S.) é uma desordem reumática auto-imuneprogressiva capaz de manifestar-se sob as formas primária ou secundária, acometendo especialmente o sexo feminino, durante a suaquarta década de vida. Sua principal característica é a disfunção glandular,podendo ainda ser acompanhada por acometimentos tanto de ordem musculoesquelética quanto cardiorrespiratória. Neste estudo de caso, o objetivo foi avaliar a eficácia de um programa de condicionamento físico e treinamento muscular respiratório aplicados a uma portadora de S.S. em sua manifestação primária. A elaboração da intervenção foi baseada emuma avaliação física, teste de esforço submáximo, espirometria, teste decaminhada de seis minutos e análise das variáveis cardiorrespiratórias. O protocolo de condicionamento foi realizado em esteira rolante, com cargas crescentes contínuas, e acompanhado por alongamentos da musculatura axial e membros, juntamente, com exercícios reexpansivos associados àmovimentação ativa de membros superiores. Foi realizado 3 vezes por semana, durante o período de 6 semanas; o mesmo acontecendo com o treinamento muscular respiratório que utilizou as modalidades IMT e PEP do threshold. Os resultados mostram que a distância percorrida no teste de caminhada aumentou e as variáveis analisadas, com exceção da saturação de oxigênio, corresponderam ao esperado na avaliação pós intervenção fisioterápica realizada. Assim, nestas condições experimentais, o protocolo de tratamento estudado foi favorável no que diz respeito as medidas de pressão inspiratória e expiratória máximas,melhora na qualidade de vida e do sono e performance física