Correlation equalities and upper bounds for the transverse Ising model

Starting from an exact formal identity for the two-state transverse Ising model and using correlation inequalities rigorous upper bounds for the critical temperature and the critical transverse field are obtained which improve effective results.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

Using the fuzzy linguistic computing in the evaluation of the value creation in an innovative product

Although innovation usually involves the assumption of high risk levels, it assumes itself as a vital tool for growth, enhancing value creation representing a competitive advantage. The aim of this chapter is to propose a methodology to evaluate the potential for value creation in innovation of a new product, relatively to intangible and tangible assets. For intangible assets the proposed methodology combines a multiple criteria decision-making method with an adaptation of Tai and Chen (2009) model using 2-tuple fuzzy linguistic approach. This methodology was applied to the EToll product developed by the Portuguese company Brisa Innovation and Technology. It was concluded that the benefits that most contributed to value creation are the development and entrepreneurship of national companies and a better cooperation with suppliers and partners. The EToll also allowed a significant reduction in operating costs in the company. The originality of this study is based in the challenge for business managers to assess the real impact of new products based not only on financial reports, but also in terms of intangible assets and also, how to consider the more appropriate qualitative dimensions to evaluate the performance of intangible assets resulting from innovation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The impact of healthcare-associated infection on mortality: failure in clinical recognition is related with inadequate antibiotic therapy

Purpose To understand if clinicians can tell apart patients with healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) from those with community-acquired infections (CAI) and to determine the impact of HCAI in the adequacy of initial antibiotic therapy and hospital mortality. Methods One-year prospective cohort study including all consecutive infected patients admitted to a large university tertiary care hospital. Results A total of 1035 patients were included in this study. There were 718 patients admitted from the community: 225 (31%) with HCAI and 493 (69%) with CAI. Total microbiologic documentation rate of infection was 68% (n = 703): 56% in CAI, 73% in HCAI and 83% in hospital-acquired infections (HAI). Antibiotic therapy was inadequate in 27% of patients with HCAI vs. 14% of patients with CAI (p<0.001). Among patients with HCAI, 47% received antibiotic therapy in accordance with international recommendations for treatment of CAI. Antibiotic therapy was inadequate in 36% of patients with HCAI whose treatment followed international recommendations for CAI vs. 19% in the group of HCAI patients whose treatment did not follow these guidelines (p = 0.014). Variables independently associated with inadequate antibiotic therapy were: decreased functional capacity (adjusted OR = 2.24), HCAI (adjusted OR = 2.09) and HAI (adjusted OR = 2.24). Variables independently associated with higher hospital mortality were: age (adjusted OR = 1.05, per year), severe sepsis (adjusted OR = 1.92), septic shock (adjusted OR = 8.13) and inadequate antibiotic therapy (adjusted OR = 1.99). Conclusions HCAI was associated with an increased rate of inadequate antibiotic therapy but not with a significant increase in hospital mortality. Clinicians need to be aware of healthcare-associated infections among the group of infected patients arriving from the community since the existing guidelines regarding antibiotic therapy do not apply to this group and they will otherwise receive inadequate antibiotic therapy which will have a negative impact on hospital outcome.Funding: Supported by an unrestricted grant from ASSUCIP (Associação de Apoio à Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Polivalente, Hospital de Santo António, Porto, Portugal). Teresa Cardoso is partially funded by a PhD research grant from the Teaching and Research Department (Departamento de Formação, Ensino e Investigação) of Oporto Hospital Centre (reference number 069/07(051-DEFI/084-CES)). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Diferenças no Perfil Microbiológico entre as Infecções da Comunidade, Associadas a Cuidados de Saúde e Nosocomiais

INTRODUCTION: Microbiological profiles were analysed and compared for intra-abdominal, urinary, respiratory and bloodstream infections according to place of acquisition: community-acquired, with a separate analysis of healthcare-associated, and hospital-acquired. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective cohort study performed at a university tertiary care hospital over 1 year. Inclusion criteria were meeting the Centers for Disease Control definition of intra-abdominal, urinary, respiratory and bloodstream infections. RESULTS: A total of 1035 patients were included in the study. More than 25% of intra-abdominal infections were polymicrobial; multi-drug resistant gram-negatives were 38% in community-acquired, 50% in healthcare-associated and 57% in hospital-acquired. E. coli was the most prevalent among urinary infections: 69% in community-acquired, 56% in healthcare-associated and 26% in hospital-acquired; ESBL producers' pathogens were 10% in healthcare-associated and 3% in community-acquired and hospital-acquired. In respiratory infections Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most prevalent in community-acquired (54%) and MRSA in healthcare-associated (24%) and hospital-acquired (24%). A significant association was found between MRSA respiratory infection and hospitalization in the previous year (adjusted OR = 6.3), previous instrumentation (adjusted OR = 4.3) and previous antibiotic therapy (adjusted OR = 5.7); no cases were documented among patients without risk factors. Hospital mortality rate was 10% in community-acquired, 14% in healthcare-associated and 19% in hospital-acquired infection. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study shows that healthcare-associated has a different microbiologic profile than those from community or hospital acquired for the four main focus of infection. Knowledge of this fact is important because the existing guidelines for community-acquired areTeresa Cardoso received a Scholarship for Academic Research included in Phd Thesis granted by Departamento de Formação, Ensino e Investigação do Centro Hospitalar do Porto. Funding by Associação de Apoio à Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Polivalente, Hospital de Santo António, Porto, Portugal (ASSUCIP

Mucoadhesive chitosan-coated PLGA nanoparticles for oral delivery of ferulic acid

This paper describes the development and in vitro evaluation of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles coated with chitosan (CS) for oral delivery of ferulic acid (FA). Nanoparticles were obtained by an emulsion evaporation technique and characterized. Furthermore, we evaluated the scavenging activity over hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the cytotoxicity over tumour cells and the in vitro intestinal permeability. Nanoparticles were spherical with a mean diameter of 242 nm, positive zeta potential and 50% of encapsulation efficiency. The in vitro release in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4) demonstrated a prolonged and biphasic profile diffusion-controlled. In simulated gastrointestinal fluids, about 15% of FA was released in gastric fluid and a negligible release was observed in the intestinal fluid. In the HOCl scavenging activity and cytotoxicity over B16-F10 and HeLa cells, FA-loaded nanoparticles presented the same efficacy of the free drug. Besides, in the antioxidant and cytotoxic assay, CS contributed to FA effects. In the intestinal permeability study, FA-loaded nanoparticles exhibited a permeation of 6% through the Caco-2 monolayer and 20% through the Caco-2/HT29-MTX/Raji B co-culture. CS-coated PLGA nanoparticles are promising carriers for oral delivery of FA.This study was supported by the CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Ńıvel Superior) in the form of doctoral fellowship for I.A. de Lima, Fundação Araucária (17/17) CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e tecnológico) and Finep (Financiadora de Estudos and Projetos) for partial financial support

Mucoadhesive chitosan-coated PLGA nanoparticles for oral delivery of ferulic acid

This paper describes the development and in vitro evaluation of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles coated with chitosan (CS) for oral delivery of ferulic acid (FA). Nanoparticles were obtained by an emulsion evaporation technique and characterized. Furthermore, we evaluated the scavenging activity over hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the cytotoxicity over tumour cells and the in vitro intestinal permeability. Nanoparticles were spherical with a mean diameter of 242 nm, positive zeta potential and 50% of encapsulation efficiency. The in vitro release in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) (pH 7.4) demonstrated a prolonged and biphasic profile diffusion-controlled. In simulated gastrointestinal fluids, about 15% of FA was released in gastric fluid and a negligible release was observed in the intestinal fluid. In the HOCl scavenging activity and cytotoxicity over B16-F10 and HeLa cells, FA-loaded nanoparticles presented the same efficacy of the free drug. Besides, in the antioxidant and cytotoxic assay, CS contributed to FA effects. In the intestinal permeability study, FA-loaded nanoparticles exhibited a permeation of 6% through the Caco-2 monolayer and 20% through the Caco-2/HT29-MTX/Raji B co-culture. CS-coated PLGA nanoparticles are promising carriers for oral delivery of FA.This study was supported by the CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Ńıvel Superior) in the form of doctoral fellowship for I.A. de Lima, Fundação Araucária (17/17) CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e tecnológico) and Finep (Financiadora de Estudos and Projetos) for partial financial support