Bibliometric analysis of quality function deployment with fuzzy systems

Research on quality function deployment (QFD) with fuzzy systems has increased since the 2000s. The growing number of QFD applications with fuzzy systems indicates worldwide attention on this field of research. Then, two research questions arise: Are there some trends? And, are there some research gaps? This paper presents bibliometric analysis to answer those questions, performed on data from Scopus database, in a total output of 598 documents. Only articles and reviews were searched. China is the leading country in publication and international collaboration (207 published documents, more than a third of total). The main finding of analysis is the trend of QFD integration with fuzzy and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods. This could be observed with different applications as new product development, quality management, service quality, and supply chain management, to name a few.CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior(undefined

In vitro response of clinical isolates of Candida species to oxidative stress

Pathogenic species of Candida differin many aspects, including their clinical prevalence, virulence, and profile of antifungal resistance. One of the causes of thesedifferences is possibly related to the differential capacity of these species to deal with oxidative stress. In this study, we comparedclinical isolates of eight species of Candida with respect to their oxidative stress resistance in vitro, oxidative damage induction,and antioxidant enzymes. Intraspecific and interspecific variation was observed. In accord with data previously obtainedfrom laboratory isolates, the results here indicate that C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. krusei have a more effective antioxidantsystem, and that C. dubliniensis, C. famata and C. guilliermondii are highly sensitive to oxidative stress. C. parapsilosis andC. tropicalis have intermediate resistance profiles. The stronger antioxidant system of some species may enable them to causesystemic infections or to resist antifungals.(Resposta in vitro de isolados clínicos de espécies de Candida ao estresse oxidativo). Espécies patogênicas deCandida diferem em muitos aspectos, incluindo sua prevalência clínica, virulência, e perfil de resistência a antifúngicos. Umadas causas destas diferenças é possivelmente relacionada com a capacidade diferencial de estas espécies lidarem com o estresseoxidativo. Neste estudo, comparamos isolados clínicos particulares de oito espécies de Candida com respeito a sua resistênciaao estresse oxidativo in vitro, indução de dano oxidativo e enzimas antioxidantes. Foram observadas variações intraespecíficase interespecíficas. De acordo com dados previamente observados de isolados de laboratório, os resultados aqui indicam que C.albicans, C. glabrata e C. krusei possuem um sistema antioxidante mais efetivo, e que C. dubliniensis, C. famata e C. guilliermondiisão altamente sensíveis ao estresse oxidativo. C. parapsilosis e C. tropicalis possuem perfis de resistência intermediários.O sistema antioxidante mais potente de algumas espécies possivelmente habilita as mesmas a causar infecções sistêmicas ouresistir a antifúngicos

Atividade das enzimas catalase e superóxido dismutase cardíacas entre ratos machos reprodutores e não-reprodutores

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Análise do tratamento diretamente observado para tuberculose, no municipio de Cubatão, São Paulo, Brasil

Trata-se de um estudo de coorte retrospectivo, com o objetivo de analisar a implementao da modalidade de tratamento diretamente observado (TDO), identificando a descontinuidade ao tratamento, bem como os motivos que levaram a seu encerramento antecipado. Os dados foram obtidos tendo como fonte os registros de pronturios mdicos, do Centro de Vigilncia Epidemiolgica do municpio de Cubato (So Paulo-Brasil). Foram analisados todos os 528 casos registrados no perodo de maro de 2003 a agosto de 2008 que apresentavam diagnstico de tuberculose pulmonar e estavam registrados no Programa de Controle e Tratamento dos Casos de Tuberculose. Destes, 274 (51,89%) eram inscritos na modalidade TDO, e 254 (48,11%) na modalidade de tratamento autoadministrado (TA). No grupo no submetido estratgia TDO, houve 41 (7,76%) casos de abandono ao tratamento, enquanto no grupo de pacientes que fora submetido a essa estratgia, apenas 8 (1,52%) registraram tal abandono, demonstrando maior efetividade do tratamento quando ocorre segundo a estratgia DOTS. Descritores: Tuberculose; Terapia diretamente observada; Autoadministrao

Environmental and sanitary conditions of guanabara bay, Rio de Janeiro

Guanabara Bay is the second largest bay in the coast of Brazil, with an area of 384 km2. In its surroundings live circa 16 million inhabitants, out of which 6 million live in Rio de Janeiro city, one of the largest cities of the country, and the host of the 2016 Olympic Games. Anthropogenic interference in Guanabara Bay area started early in the XVI century, but environmental impacts escalated from 1930, when this region underwent an industrialization process. Herein we present an overview of the current environmental and sanitary conditions of Guanabara Bay, a consequence of all these decades of impacts. We will focus on microbial communities, how they may affect higher trophic levels of the aquatic community and also human health. The anthropogenic impacts in the bay are flagged by heavy eutrophication and by the emergence of pathogenic microorganisms that are either carried by domestic and/or hospital waste (e.g., virus, KPC-producing bacteria, and fecal coliforms), or that proliferate in such conditions (e.g., vibrios). Antibiotic resistance genes are commonly found in metagenomes of Guanabara Bay planktonic microorganisms. Furthermore, eutrophication results in recurrent algal blooms, with signs of a shift toward flagellated, mixotrophic groups, including several potentially harmful species. A recent large-scale fish kill episode, and a long trend decrease in fish stocks also reflects the bay’s degraded water quality. Although pollution of Guanabara Bay is not a recent problem, the hosting of the 2016 Olympic Games propelled the government to launch a series of plans to restore the bay’s water quality. If all plans are fully implemented, the restoration of Guanabara Bay and its shores may be one of the best legacies of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro

Inhibitory effect of microalgae and cyanobacteria extracts on influenza virus replication and neuraminidase activity

Background The influenza virus can cause seasonal infections with mild to severe symptoms, circulating worldwide, and it can affect people in any age group. Therefore, this infection is a serious public health problem that causes severe illness and death in high-risk populations. Every year, 0.5% of the world’s population is infected by this pathogen. This percentage can increase up to ten times during pandemics. Influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent disease. In addition, anti-influenza drugs are essential for prophylactic and therapeutic interventions. The oseltamivir (OST, a neuraminidase inhibitor) is the primary antiviral used in clinics during outbreaks. However, OST resistant viruses may emerge naturally or due to antiviral pressure, with a prevalence of 1–2% worldwide. Thus, the search for new anti-influenza drugs is extremely important. Currently, several groups have been developing studies describing the biotechnological potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria, including antiviral activity of their extracts. In Brazil, this potential is poorly known and explored. Methods With the aim of increasing the knowledge on this topic, 38 extracts from microalgae and cyanobacteria isolated from marine and freshwater biomes in Brazil were tested against: cellular toxicity; OST-sensitive and resistant influenza replications; and neuraminidase activity. Results For this purpose, Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK)-infected cells were treated with 200 μg/mL of each extract. A total of 17 extracts (45%) inhibited influenza A replication, with seven of them resulting in more than 80% inhibition. Moreover, functional assays performed with viral neuraminidase revealed two extracts (from Leptolyngbya sp. and Chlorellaceae) with IC50 mean < 210 μg/mL for influenza A and B, and also OST-sensitive and resistant strains. Furthermore, MDCK cells exposed to 1 mg/mL of all the extracts showed viability higher than 80%. Discussion Our results suggest that extracts of microalgae and cyanobacteria have promising anti-influenza properties. Further chemical investigation should be conducted to isolate the active compounds for the development of new anti-influenza drugs. The data generated contribute to the knowledge of the biotechnological potential of Brazilian biomes that are still little explored for this purpose

Massive Blooms of Chattonella subsalsa Biecheler (Raphidophyceae) in a Hypereutrophic, Tropical Estuary—Guanabara Bay, Brazil

Cell concentrations of the potentially harmful raphidophyte Chattonella subsalsa Biecheler were quantified in surface waters of Guanabara Bay, a heavily eutrophicated estuarine system in tropical Brazil, from February 2014 to January 2018. Cells were imaged and quantified in live samples by means of an automated imaging system (FlowCam®). Bloom episodes (&gt;0.1 × 106 cells L−1) were observed in 37 samples, mostly in a shallow (&lt;10 m) area with extremely high nutrient and organic matter loads (average total P = 19 μM and total N = 344 μM), intermediate salinity (average 24.5), and low water transparency (average Secchi depth = 0.54 m) due to continental runoff. Blooms in this area reached up to 13.3 × 106 cells L−1. C. subsalsa cell concentration was correlated with parameters linked to eutrophication of the bay. On a monthly basis, C. subsalsa abundance was correlated with a period of positive Multivariated El Niño/Southern Oscilation Index (MEI) that lasted from the beginning of 2015 to mid-2016 (known as Godzilla El Niño), indicating a potential influence of regional climate on the occurrence of C. subsalsa. Notably, at least six fish kill episodes were reported in the Bay during this period which, added to the toxicity of C. subsalsa strains isolated from the bay to Artemia nauplia (48h-LC50 = 7.3 × 106 cells L−1), highlights the threat that this HAB species poses to the environment. This is the first report of recurrent, massive C. subsalsa blooms in Guanabara Bay. Regardless of the influence of climatic forcing in favoring C. subsalsa development, reducing nutrient loads would be the best strategy to mitigate blooms of this and other potentially harmful algae in Guanabara Bay

OTIMIZAÇÃO DE PORTFÓLIOS: ANÁLISE DE EFICIÊNCIA

This article aims to analyze the behavior of a portfolio of assets selected by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), optimized by the Sharpe approach, and compare it to portfolios of assets obtained only by DEA or the Sharpe approach. To do that, we used the DEA model to assess the efficiency of shares of the São Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa), employing return, variance and other indicators such as input and output variables. Also, we used the Sharpe approach to optimize the portfolio composition. In the comparison of portfolios, we noted that the resulting combination of both models performed better than the portfolios optimized by only one of the models