Conducting, transparent and flexible substrates obtained from interfacial thin films of double-walled carbon nanotubes

Conducting and transparent interfacial thin films have been prepared from double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT) and further deposited over glass and plastic (polyethylene terephtalate-PET) substrates. The morphology, vibrational structure as well as the optical and electrical properties have been evaluated. The influence of the DWCNT purifying treatment, the amount of carbon nanotubes used to prepare the thin films, and the annealing of the films at different temperatures has been evaluated to optimize both electrical and optical properties. Values of sheet resistance ranging from 0.53 to 27.8 kΩ □−1 and transmittance at 550nm from 59 to 90% have been achieved. Similar behavior obtained for films deposited on PET or glass substrates indicate a good reproducibility of the method, besides the high potential for further applications on flexible devices

Twin pregnancy in brazil: a profile analysis exploring population information from the national birth e-registry on live births

sem informaçãoBirth records as SINASC (Brazilian Live Birth Information System) are highlighted in uncommon conditions such as twin pregnancy whose prevalence rarely exceeds 2 to 3% of the total number of births. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence110sem informaçãosem informaçãosem informaçã

Formal Tests for Resistance-Resilience in Archaeological Time Series

The study of resilience is a common pathway for scientific data to inform policy and practice towards impending climate change. Consequently, understanding the mechanisms and features that contribute towards building resilience is a key goal of much research on coupled socio-environmental systems. In parallel, archaeology has developed the ambition to contribute to this agenda through its unique focus on cultural dynamics that occur over the very long term. This paper argues that archaeological studies of resilience are limited in scope and potential impact by incomplete operational definitions of resilience, itself a multifaceted and contested concept. This lack of interdisciplinary engagement fundamentally limits archaeology’s ability to contribute meaningfully to understanding factors behind the emergence and maintenance of long-term societal resilience, a topic of significant interest that the field is in theory ideally positioned to address. Here, we introduce resilience metrics drawn from ecology and develop case studies to illustrate their potential utility for archaeological studies. We achieve this by extending methods for formally measuring resistance, the capacity of a system to absorb disturbances; and resilience, its capacity to recover from disturbances, with a novel significance test for palaeodemographic data. Building on statistical permutation and post-hoc tests available in the rcarbon package in the R statistical environment, we apply our adapted resilience-resistance framework to summed probability distributions of calibrated radiocarbon dates drawn from the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. We deploy these methods to investigate cross-sectional trends across three recognised biogeographical zones of the Atlantic Forest domain, against the backdrop of prehistoric phases of heightened hydroclimatic variability. Our analysis uncovers novel centennial-scale spatial structure in the resilience of palaeodemographic growth rates. In addition to the case-specific findings, we suggest that adapting formal metrics can help archaeology create impact and engagement beyond relatively narrow disciplinary concerns. To this end, we supply code and data to replicate our palaeodemographic analyses to enable their use and adaptation to other archaeological problems

Quantifying the decay of quantum properties in single-mode states

The dissipative dynamics of Gaussian squeezed states (GSS) and coherent superposition states (CSS) are analytically obtained and compared. Time scales for sustaining different quantum properties such as squeezing, negativity of the Wigner function or photon number distribution are calculated. Some of these characteristic times also depend on initial conditions. For example, in the particular case of squeezing, we find that while the squeezing of CSS is only visible for small enough values of the field intensity, in GSS it is independent of this quantity, which may be experimentally advantageous. The asymptotic dynamics however is quite similar as revealed by the time evolution of the fidelity between states of the two classes.Comment: Accepted versio

Dengue: achados de biópsia muscular em 15 pacientes

Dengue is known to produce a syndrome involving muscles, tendons and joints. The hallmark of this syndrome is severe myalgia but includes fever, cutaneous rash, and headache. The neuromuscular aspects of this infection are outlined only in isolated reports, and the muscle histopathological features during myalgia have not been described. In order to ascertain the actual neuromuscular involvement in dengue and better comprehend the histological nature of myalgia, we performed a clinical and neurological evaluation, a serum CPK level and a muscle biopsy (with histochemistry) in 15 patients (4 males), median age 23 years (range 14-47) with classic dengue fever, serologically confirmed, during the bra-zilian dengue epidemics from September 1986 to March 1987. All patients had a history of fever, headache and severe myalgia. Upon examination 4 had a cutaneous rash, 3 had fever, and 3 a small hepatomegaly. The neurological examination was unremarkable in all and included a manual muscle test. CPK was mildly elevated in only 3 patients. Muscle biopsy revealed a light to moderate perivascular mononuclear infiltrate in 12 patients and lipid accumulation in 11. Mild mitochondrial proliferation was seen in 3, few central nuclei in 3, rare foci of myonecrosis in 3, and 2 patients had type grouping. Dengue in our patients, produced myalgia but no detectable muscle weakness or other neuromuscular involvement. The main histopathological correlation with myalgia seems to be a perivascular mononuclear infiltrate and lipid accumulation.A síndrome clínica produzida pelo vírus da dengue, inclui febre, exantema, cefaléia e especialmente mialgia. Entretanto, as possiveis alterações morfológicas do músculo esquelético, eventualmente relacionadas com a mialgia, ainda não haviam sido estudadas em seres humanos com dengue. Nosso objetivo foi estudar o substrato, anatomopatológico da mialgia nesses pacientes. Foram avaliados 15 pacientes com diagnóstico de dengue, forma clássica, com idades variando de 14 a 47 anos (mediana de 23 anos), sendo 4 do sexo masculino e 11 do sexo feminino, através de exame clínico e neurológico, exames laboratoriais e biópsia muscular com histoquímica, durante a epidemia de dengue em Alagoas, em 1987. Todos os pacientes apresentavam história de cefaléia, febre e mialgia intensa, sem fraqueza muscular. Ao exame clínico observou-se exantema em 4 pacientes, febre em 3 e discreta hepatomegalia em 3. O exame neurológico foi normal em todos e a enzima CK sérica estava pouco elevada em 3 pacientes. A biópsia muscular revelou discreto infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear perivascular em 12 pacientes, acúmulo lipídico em 11, predominância de fibras do tipo I em 6, raros focos de necrose em 3, proliferação mitocondrial em 3, centralização nuclear em 3 e type grouping em 2. As alterações mais frequentemente observadas na biópsia muscular, infiltrado inflamatório perivascular e acúmulo lipídico, podem estar relacionadas com a mialgia.Escola Paulista de Medicina Department of NeurologyEscola Paulista de Medicina Department of PathologyUNIFESP, EPM, Department of NeurologyEscola Paulista de Medicina Department of PathologySciEL

The Use of Autoscopy From the Epistemological Perspective of Action Research for Self-Analysis and Reflection of Teacher Practice

The video recording of lessons allows the analysis results to provide data about the teaching practice. Analyzing the pedagogical practice itself allows the teacher an exercise of self-reflection, as they become aware of their behavior in the classroom, leading to the revitalization of their teaching model. This study aims to present the use of autoscopy as a stimulus to reflection, to a new understanding of the pedagogical practice of teachers, in an action research. This is a case study, with a qualitative and descriptive approach, performed with a new nursing teacher. The data were initially collected through a semistructured biographical interview and subsequent video recording of the classes, characterizing nonparticipant observations. The application of autoscopy followed the proposal of action research, with its phases: exploratory phase, in-depth research, action phase, and evaluation phase. The autoscopy was a useful strategy to stimulate teacher reflection because during the projection of the sketches selected for the video of the autoscopy session, the teacher can see himself or herself in action and self-analyze and discuss the selected pedagogical moments, stimulating reflection and generating a new understanding about his or her teaching practice. In this way, the use of autoscopy under the epistemological perspective of action research stimulates the self-analysis and reflection of the teaching practice

Neonatal Near Miss Approach In The 2005 Who Global Survey Brazil

Objectives: To explore the use of the neonatal near miss concept as a tool to evaluate the quality of neonatal care, as 3 million early neonatal deaths occur every year around the world and the majority of these deaths are avoidable and take place in developing countries. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the 2005 WHO Global Survey on Maternal and Perinatal Health, a cross-sectional study, using data from 19 randomly selected Brazilian hospitals. A pragmatic definition of neonatal near miss was developed and tested. Near miss indicators were calculated. Results: Among the 15,169 live born infants included in this analysis, 424 presented at least one of the following conditions: very low birth weight, less than 30 gestational weeks at birth or an Apgar score at the 5th minute of life less than 7. According to the operational definition, these survivors from life-threatening conditions were considered neonatal near miss cases. The early neonatal mortality rate was 8.2/1,000 live births, the neonatal near miss rate was 21.4 neonatal near miss cases/1,000 live births. Substantial variations in the mortality among neonates with life-threatening conditions at birth were observed suggesting intra-hospital quality of care issues. Conclusion: The near miss concept and indicators provided information that could be useful to evaluate the quality of care and set priorities for further assessments and health care improvement for newborn infants. Copyright © 2010 by Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria.8612126(2004) State of the world's children 2005, , UNICEF, New York: UNICEFLawn, J.E., Cousens, S., Zupan, J., Lancet Neonatal Survival Steering Team. 4 million neonatal deaths: When? Where? Why? (2005) Lancet, 365, pp. 891-900Brazil, (2008) Estimates of mortality, , http://tabnet.datasus.gov.br/cgi/idb2007/matriz.htm#mort.Access:20/02/2009, Brazil:, websiteAraújo, B.F., Bozzetti, M.C., Tanaka, A.C., Early neonatal mortality in Caxias do Sul: A cohort study (2000) J Pediatr (Rio J), 76, pp. 200-206Sarquis, A.L., Miyaki, M., Cat, M.N., The use of CRIB score for predicting neonatal mortality risk (2002) J Pediatr (Rio J), 78, pp. 225-229Sarinho, S.W., Filho, D.A., Silva, G.A., Lima, M.C., Risk factors for neonatal death in Recife: A case-control study (2001) J Pediatr (Rio J), 77, pp. 294-298Castro, E.C., Leite, A.J., Hospital mortality rates of infants with birth weight less than or equal to 1,500 g in the northeast of Brazil (2007) J Pediatr (Rio J), 83, pp. 27-32Say, L., Pattinson, R.C., Gülmezoglu, A.M., WHO systematic review of maternal morbidity and mortality: The prevalence of severe acute maternal morbidity (near miss) (2004) Reprod Health, 1, p. 3Pattinson, R.C., Hall, M., Near misses: A useful adjunct to maternal death enquiries (2003) Br Med Bull, 67, pp. 231-243Say, L., Souza, J.P., Pattinson, R.C., WHO working group on Maternal Mortality and Morbidity classifications. Maternal near miss: Towards a standard tool for monitoring quality of maternal health care (2009) Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol, 23, pp. 287-296Skinner, J.R., Chung, S.K., Montgomery, D., McCulley, C.H., Crawford, J., French, J., Near-miss SIDS due to Brugada syndrome (2005) Arch Dis Child, 90, pp. 528-529Avenant, T., Neonatal near miss: A measure of the quality of obstetric care (2009) Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol, 23, pp. 369-374Villar, J., Valladares, E., Wojdyla, D., Zavaleta, N., Carroli, G., Velazco, A., WHO 2005 global survey on maternal and perinatal health research group. Caesarean delivery rates and pregnancy outcomes: The 2005 WHO global survey on maternal and perinatal health in Latin America (2006) Lancet, 367, pp. 1819-1829Shah, A., Faundes, A., Machoki, M., Bataglia, V., Amokrane, F., Donner, A., Methodological considerations in implementing the WHO Global Survey for Monitoring Maternal and Perinatal Health (2008) Bull World Health Organ, 86, pp. 126-131JP Souza, Cecatti JG, Faundes A, Morais SS, Villar J, Carroli G, et al. WHO 2005 global survey on maternal and perinatal health research group. Maternal near miss and maternal death in the 2005 WHO global survey on maternal and perinatal health. Bull WHO, 2009. [website] http://www.who.int/bulletin/88/2/08-057828.pdf. Access: 19/08/2009Parry, G., Tucker, J., Tarnow-Mordi, W., The CRIB (Clinical Risk Index for Babies) Score: A tool for assessing initial neonatal risk and comparing performance of neonatal intensive-care units (1993) Lancet, 342, pp. 193-19

Chemical composition, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in rodents of the essential oil of Peperomia serpens (Sw.) Loud

AbstractEthnopharmacological relevancePeperomia serpens (Piperaceae), popularly known as “carrapatinho”, is an epiphyte herbaceous liana grown wild on different host trees in the Amazon rainforest. Its leaves are largely used in Brazilian folk medicine to treat inflammation, pain and asthma.Aim of the studyThis study investigated the effects of essential oil of Peperomia serpens (EOPs) in standard rodent models of pain and inflammation.Materials and methodsThe antinociceptive activity was evaluated using chemical (acetic acid and formalin) and thermal (hot plate) models of nociception in mice whereas the anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carrageenan- and dextran-induced paw edema tests in rats croton oil-induced ear edema, as well as cell migration, rolling and adhesion induced by carrageenan in mice. Additionally, phytochemical analysis of the EOPs has been also performed.ResultsChemical composition of the EOPs was analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Twenty-four compounds, representing 89.6% of total oil, were identified. (E)-Nerolidol (38.0%), ledol (27.1%), α-humulene (11.5%), (E)-caryophyllene (4.0%) and α-eudesmol (2.7%) were found to be the major constituents of the oil. Oral pretreatment with EOPs (62.5–500mg/kg) significantly reduced the writhing number evoked by acetic acid injection, with an ED50 value of 188.8mg/kg that was used thereafter in all tests. EOPs had no significant effect on hot plate test but reduced the licking time in both phases of the formalin test, an effect that was not significantly altered by naloxone (0.4mg/kg, s.c.). EOPs inhibited the edema formation induced by carrageenan and dextran in rats. In mice, EOPs inhibited the edema formation by croton oil as well as the leukocyte and neutrophil migration, the rolling and the adhesion of leukocytes.ConclusionsThese data show for the first time that EOPs has a significant and peripheral antinociceptive effect that seems unrelated to interaction with the opioid system. EOPs also displays a significant anti-inflammatory effect in acute inflammation models. This effect seems to be related to components which inhibit the production of several inflammatory mediators. These results support the widespread use of Peperomia serpens in popular medicine to treat inflammation and pain

Multicriteria power engineering problems and fuzzy set based methods of their solution

The results of research into the use of models and methods of multicriteria decision making in a fuzzy environment for solving power engineering problems are presented. Two general classes of models related to multiobjective ( models) and multiattribute ( models) problems as well as methods of their analysis based on the application of the Bellman-Zadeh approach to decision making in a fuzzy environment and techniques of fuzzy preference modeling, respectively, are briefly considered. A review of the authors’ results associated with the application of these models and methods for solving diverse types of problems of power system and subsystems planning, operation, and control is presented. The recent results on the use of and models and methods of their analysis for the allocation of reactive power sources in distribution systems and for the prioritization in maintenance planning in distribution systems, respectively, are considered.Наведено результати щодо досліджень використання моделей та методів багатокритеріального прийняття рішень в нечіткому середовищі при розв'язанні задач електроенергетичного спрямування. Розглянуто два класи моделей, які належать до багатоцільових ( модель) та багатоатрибутних ( модель) задач, а також методи їхнього аналізу, що засновані як на використанні підхода Беллмана-Заде до прийняття рішень у нечіткому середовищі, так і на техніці, пов'язаній з визначенням нечітких переваг. Представлено огляд результатів, які отримано авторами при використанні вказаних моделей та методів для вирішення задач проектування та управління роботою енергетичних систем і підсистем. Останні результати, пов'язані з використанням і моделей та методів їхнього аналізу, належать до задач роз- поділу джерел реактивної потужності у розподільних мережах та визначення пріоритетів при плануванні їхнього обслуговування.Представлены результаты исследований по использованию моделей и методов многокритериального принятия решений в нечеткой среде при решении задач электроэнергетического характера. При этом рассматривается два класса моделей, относящихся к многоцелевым (модель) и многоатрибутным (модель) задачам, а также методы их анализа, основанные как на использовании подхода Беллмана-Заде к принятию решений в нечеткой среде, так и технике, связанной с определением нечетких предпочтений. Представлен обзор результатов, полученных авторами при использовании указанных моделей и методов для решения различных задач, связанных с проектированием и управлением работой энергетических систем и подсистем. Последние результаты, связанные с применением и моделей и методов их анализа, относятся к задачам распределения источников реактивной мощности в распределительных сетях и определения приоритетов при планировании их обслуживания

Validação Da Versão De 36 Itens Do Who Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (whodas 2.0) Para A Avaliação De Incapacidade E Funcionalidade Da Mulher Associada à Morbidade Materna

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)To validate the translation and adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese of 36 items from the World Health Organizaton Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0), regarding their content and structure (construct), in a female population after pregnancy. Methods This is a validation of an instrument for the evaluation of disability and functioning and an assessment of its psychometric properties, performed in a tertiary maternity and a referral center specialized in high-risk pregnancies in Brazil. A sample of 638 women in different postpartum periods who had either a normal or a complicated pregnancy was included. The structure was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), while the content and relationships among the domains were assessed through Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The sociodemographic characteristics were identified, and the mean scores with their standard deviations for the 36 questions of the WHODAS 2.0 were calculated. The internal consistency was evaluated byCronbach’s α. Results Cronbach’s α was higher than 0.79 for both sets of questons of the questionnaire. The EFA and CFA for the main 32 questions exhibited a total variance of 54.7% (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin [KMO] measure of sampling adequacy = 0.934; p < 0.001) and 53.47% (KMO = 0.934; p < 0.001) respectively. There was a significant correlation among the 6 domains (r = 0.571–0.876), and a moderate correlation among all domains (r = 0.476–0.694). Conclusion The version of the WHODAS 2.0 instrument adapted to Brazilian Portuguese showed good psychometric properties in this sample, and therefore could be applied to populations of women regarding their reproductive history. © 2017 by Thieme-Revinter Publicações Ltda, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.3924452471142/2011-5, CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq