Ground Penetrating Radar digital imaging and modeling of microbialites from the Salitre Formation, Northeast Brazil

Thanks to the discovery of new giant oil fields in the South Hemisphere in the last decades, named Pre-salt, there has been a considerable interest in the geometrical and sedimentological characterization of microbial deposits, coquinas, and collapsed caves, which represent a considerable part of these reservoirs. It is known that exposures analogous to oil reservoirs are an important source of information at the sub-seismic scale, as this information is helpful in parametrizing and modeling reservoirs, especially microbial reservoirs. This scenario is more favorable when the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) method is used in analogous exposures located in arid regions with scarce or no soil, such as the Fazenda Arrecife, in the Chapada Diamantina (Salitre Formation), Northeastern Brazil. Although rarely mentioned in the literature on microbialite geophysical imaging, GPR has been used in microbial deposits associated with the Neoproterozoic storm deposits of the Salitre Formation. The results of 3D imaging of a microbial colony, using the 200 MHz antenna, with both conventional processing and processing using geophysical attributes, are presented in this study. The conventional processing produced a 3D digital model that allowed the geometrical characterization and parametrization of the imaged microbial colony. The use of four geophysical attributes yielded good results, establishing the contact between the microbial colony and tempestite deposits, and determining the internal geometry of microbial deposits. The processing with “instantaneous amplitude” and “Hilbert trace with energy” highlighted the contact between the microbialite colony (low amplitude) and tempestite deposits (high amplitude), whereas the processing with the “energy” attribute provided a better visualization of the internal lamination of columnar microbialites, result similar to that obtained in the processing with “Hilbert trace with similarity”. GPR obtained images of up to 10 m in depth, with excellent resolution for microbial deposits and tempestites associated with them. The processing using geophysical attributes achieved considerably better results when compared to conventional processing, allowing a better visualization of the internal and external geometry of the imaged colony.Como resultado das descobertas, na última década, de campos petrolíferos gigantes no hemisfério sul, denominados genericamente de pré-sal, há um crescente interesse na caracterização geométrica e sedimentológica de depósitos microbiais, de coquinas e de cavernas colapsadas, que representam parte considerável desses reservatórios encontrados. Afloramentos análogos a reservatórios petrolíferos constituem-se em uma importante fonte de informação auxiliar, em escala subsísmica, por fornecer dados que permitem a parametrização e a modelagem de reservatórios, especialmente os microbiais. Esse cenário é ainda mais favorável quando usado o método Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) em afloramentos análogos que ocorrem em regiões áridas, com pouco solo (ou nenhum), como na Fazenda Arrecife, Chapada Diamantina (Formação Salitre), Nordeste do Brasil. A despeito das escassas referências bibliográficas relacionadas ao imageamento geofísico de microbialitos, o GPR foi utilizado sobre os depósitos microbiais associados a depósitos de tempestade, de idade Neoproterozoica, pertencentes à Formação Salitre. Neste trabalho estão sendo apresentados os resultados obtidos no imageamento 3D de uma colônia microbial, utilizando-se a antena de 200 MHz, tanto com processamento  convencional quanto com o uso de atributos geofísicos. Com o resultado do processamento convencional foi gerado um modelo digital 3D que permitiu a caracterização geométrica e a parametrização da colônia microbial imageada. A aplicação de quatro atributos geofísicos demonstrou ter bons resultados na delimitação do contato entre a colônia microbial e os depósitos tempestíticos, sendo eficiente também na determinação da geometria interna dos depósitos microbiais. O processamento com “amplitude instantânea” e “traço de Hilbert com energia” realçou o contato entre a colônia de microbialitos (baixa amplitude) e os depósitos tempestíticos (alta amplitude), enquanto o atributo de  “energia” mostrou melhor a laminação interna dos microbialitos colunares, resultado semelhante ao obtido com a combinação do atributo “traço de Hilbert com similaridade”. O GPR propiciou imagens de até 10 m de profundidade, com excelente resolução tanto dos depósitos microbiais quanto dos tempestitos associados. O processamento com atributos geofísicos apresentou considerável ganho em relação ao processamento convencional, permitindo um aumento de qualidade na visualização da geometria externa e interna da colônia microbial imageada.

A DESCONSTRUÇÃO DA REPRESENTATIVIDADE SOCIAL DO POBRE NO CONTEXTO DO ACUMULO DE CAPITAL E DA DESIGUALDADE SOCIAL A PARTIR DE GOIÂNIA

O presente artigo tem como objetivo compreender as construções sociais do apontamento da cidade de Goiânia como uma das cidades com maior índice de desigualdade social do Brasil e do Mundo, conforme relatório da ONU-Habitat em 2010, tendo por resultado iminente a pobreza partilhada por um número considerável de pessoas que vivem nas periferias goianas. Entende-se que a pobreza e a desigualdade social são fatores constitutivos da figuração do pobre no contexto do Capitalismo contemporâneo. Indivíduos estes que perpassam da condição humana para o estado de objetos exploráveis dos donos de capital. Neste percurso, os pobres são marginalizados pela condição social-econômica, perdem o status de cidadania, são estereotipados a partir da criminalização, vivem gangorreando entre o desemprego e os subempregos, se tornam consumidores da filantropia do Terceiro Setor e os jovens pobres se sustentam numa desesperança da educação pública. Compreende-se, então, que existe uma historicidade destes sujeitos e sua representatividade na presente modernidade tardia

Is semantic verbal fluency impairment explained by executive function deficits in schizophrenia?

Objective: To investigate if verbal fluency impairment in schizophrenia reflects executive function deficits or results from degraded semantic store or inefficient search and retrieval strategies. Method: Two groups were compared: 141 individuals with schizophrenia and 119 healthy age and education-matched controls. Both groups performed semantic and phonetic verbal fluency tasks. Performance was evaluated using three scores, based on 1) number of words generated2) number of clustered/ related wordsand 3) switching score. A fourth performance score based on the number of clusters was also measured. Results: Individuals with schizophrenia produced fewer words than controls. After controlling for the total number of words produced, a difference was observed between the groups in the number of cluster-related words generated in the semantic task. In both groups, the number of words generated in the semantic task was higher than that generated in the phonemic task, although a significant group vs. fluency type interaction showed that subjects with schizophrenia had disproportionate semantic fluency impairment. Working memory was positively associated with increased production of words within clusters and inversely correlated with switching. Conclusion: Semantic fluency impairment may be attributed to an inability (resulting from reduced cognitive control) to distinguish target signal from competing noise and to maintain cues for production of memory probes.Fundacao de Amparo e Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psiquiatria, Programa Esquizofrenia PROESQ, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psiquiatria, LINC, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilCtr Univ FIEO UNIFIEO, Dept Psicol Educ, Ave Franz Voegeli 300,Bloco Prata,Sala 10, BR-06020190 Osasco, SP, BrazilBrown Univ, Dept Cognit & Linguist Sci, Providence, RI 02912 USAUniv Mackenzie, Programa Posgrad Disturbios Desenvolvimento, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psiquiatria, Programa Esquizofrenia PROESQ, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psiquiatria, LINC, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2011/50740-5FAPESP: 2007/58630-9Web of Scienc

Desenvolvimento de ferramentas e indicadores de gestão em saúde: experiência da segurança do paciente

The aim was to demonstrate the use of quality and safety management indicators for fall risk. Descriptive case report on the use and results of quality management tools. The setting is a clinical ward of a tertiary care hospital located in the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Data were collected in April/2023. The pre-test assertiveness rate was 87% and 89% for the post-test, however for analysis of the indicator identification of the risk of falling, it was significantly high for inadequacy, on the general average 90.48% of the beds, and after raising awareness via online training and monitoring, there was a drastic and relatively important change to 84.56% of beds and patients identified appropriately. The prevention and reduction of risk factors are challenges in the management of nursing care in the broad health ecosystem. Quality as a right must be implemented by associating accessible technological resources and tools that can measure and quantify objectives aligned with institutional practices.Objetivou-se demonstrar o uso de indicadores de gestão de qualidade e segurança do risco de queda. Relato de caso descritivo sobre uso e resultados de ferramentas de gestão da qualidade. O cenário é uma enfermaria clínica de um hospital de nível de atenção terciário localizado na capital do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Os dados foram coletados em abril/2023. A taxa de assertividade do pré-teste foi de 87% e para o pós-teste de 89%, contudo para análise do indicador identificação do risco de queda que era significativamente alta para inadequação, na média geral 90,48% dos leitos, e após a sensibilização via treinamento online e do monitoramento, houve uma mudança drástica e relativamente importante para 84,56% de leitos e pacientes identificados de maneira adequadas. A prevenção e redução de fatores de riscos são desafios na gestão da assistência de enfermagem no amplo ecossistema da saúde. A qualidade como direito deve ser implementado associando recursos tecnológicos acessíveis e com ferramentas que possam mensurar e quantificar objetivos alinhados com as práticas institucionais

From opportunity seeking to gap filling: Reframing Brazil in Lusophone Africa

This chapter inquires whether Brazil’s headways in Africa over recent years were organic in nature and in content or, in fact, were achieved at the expense of other previously established actors. By reframing Brazil’s agenda towards African lusophone countries in juxtaposition to the perceived external downturn of Portugal, the propitious context and consequences of a new player on the continent can be best brought into evidence. The push-and-pull forces enacted by both Brazil and Portugal towards Lusophone Africa are explored through the aftermath of the 2012 military coup in Guinea-Bissau and the adhesion of Equatorial Guinea to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) in 2014. The chapter offers a reinterpretation of Brazil’s net gains in Africa and argues for its fragility and susceptibility to changing political-economic cycles.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Glucose variations and their impact on the treatment response in advanced colorectal cancer

Introduction: Serum glucose is commonly associated with a bad clinical prognosis in many diseases, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the real impact of glucose variation (GV) on the treatment and prognosis of CRC patients is unknown. Due to the absence of information, this study aimed to correlate GV and treatment response in advanced CRC.Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight CRC patients with stage III and IV disease were studied. The selected ones were those who have had two consecutive computed-tomography scans and more than one serum glucose (SG) test between the CT scans, which left 19 people of the original group.Results: The mean age of the 19 analyzed subjects was 58.6 years SD=18.26; CI 95% 50.9 - 71.0. Most of the patients were men (59%), with Wilt-Type KRAS mutation (63.2%), without metastasis (71%) and at a clinical stage III (73.3%). No statistically significant value was found (p=0.126) between GV and treatment response in advanced CRC patients.Conclusion: These findings cannot indicate a direct association between GV and treatment response in advanced CRC patient, but open space for evaluation of new methods of handling glucose variations in attempt to get a better understanding about how glucose may influence the CRC prognosis

Alpha-Lipoic Acid and Its Enantiomers Prevent Methemoglobin Formation and DNA Damage Induced by Dapsone Hydroxylamine: Molecular Mechanism and Antioxidant Action

Dapsone (DDS) therapy can frequently lead to hematological side effects, such as methemoglobinemia and DNA damage. In this study, we aim to evaluate the protective effect of racemic alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and its enantiomers on methemoglobin induction. The pre- and post-treatment of erythrocytes with ALA, ALA isomers, or MB (methylene blue), and treatment with DDS-NOH (apsone hydroxylamine) was performed to assess the protective and inhibiting effect on methemoglobin (MetHb) formation. Methemoglobin percentage and DNA damage caused by dapsone and its metabolites were also determined by the comet assay. We also evaluated oxidative parameters such as SOD, GSH, TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) and MDA (malondialdehyde). In pretreatment, ALA showed the best protector effect in 2.5 µg/mL of DDS-NOH. ALA (1000 µM) was able to inhibit the induced MetHb formation even at the highest concentrations of DDS-NOH. All ALA tested concentrations (100 and 1000 µM) were able to inhibit ROS and CAT activity, and induced increases in GSH production. ALA also showed an effect on DNA damage induced by DDS-NOH (2.5 µg/mL). Both isomers were able to inhibit MetHb formation and the S-ALA was able to elevate GSH levels by stimulating the production of this antioxidant. In post-treatment with the R-ALA, this enantiomer inhibited MetHb formation and increased GSH levels. The pretreatment with R-ALA or S-ALA prevented the increase in SOD and decrease in TEAC, while R-ALA decreased the levels of MDA; and this pretreatment with R-ALA or S-ALA showed the effect of ALA enantiomers on DNA damage. These data show that ALA can be used in future therapies in patients who use dapsone chronically, including leprosy patients

Os mártires e a cristianização do território na América portuguesa, séculos XVI e XVII

O artigo investiga um grupo de atores sociais bastante relevante para viabilizar a cristianização na América portuguesa: os mártires cristãos, indivíduos muito especiais, dispostos a regar a terra com seu próprio sangue, de forma a tornar definitiva e irreversível a ocupação cristã do território. Os mártires - e principalmente a narrativa em torno deles - parecem ter sido bastante acionados para integrar a América portuguesa e seus habitantes nativos à temporalidade e territorialidade cristã. Os mártires dos séculos XVI e XVII, principalmente missionários, reeditavam os martírios do início da cristandade, que espalharam o cristianismo rumo a diversas partes do mundo na antiguidade. Dessa forma, viabilizaram a cristianização das novas fronteiras, consagrando o solo com seu sangue divino e viabilizando posteriores processos de urbanização. Além da função estratégica dos mártires para os cristãos, o texto mostra que eles também tiveram significado peculiar na interlocução com as culturas ameríndias, que tinha como um de seus principais personagens o grande guerreiro, disposto a perder seu sangue em prol de seu grupo.This paper looks into a group of social agents who played a significant role in the Christianization of Portuguese America, namely, the Christian martyrs - very special individuals who were ready to wet the land with their own blood in order to make possible a definitive and irreversible occupation of the territory by Christian settlers. The martyrs, and above all the stories told about them, seem to have been called upon to integrate Portuguese America and its native inhabitants into the temporalities and territory of Christendom. Mostly made up of missionaries, this group of 16th and 17th-century martyrs reedited the martyrdom of early Christians, who spread their creed across numerous parts of the Ancient World. They enabled the Christianization of new frontiers by consecrating the soil with their divine blood and paving the way for subsequent processes of urban development. In addition to their strategic significance for Christianity, the text also shows that their martyrdom played a specific role in the Christian settlers' interaction with Amerindian culture, whose main cults included the figure of the great warrior, ever ready to shed his own blood for his group