Validation by Measurements of a IC Modeling Approach for SiP Applications

The growing importance of signal integrity (SI) analysis in integrated circuits (ICs), revealed by modern systemin-package methods, is demanding for new models for the IC sub-systems which are both accurate, efficient and extractable by simple measurement procedures. This paper presents the contribution for the establishment of an integrated IC modeling approach whose performance is assessed by direct comparison with the signals measured in laboratory of two distinct memory IC devices. Based on the identification of the main blocks of a typical IC device, the modeling approach consists of a network of system-level sub-models, some of which with already demonstrated accuracy, which simulated the IC interfacing behavior. Emphasis is given to the procedures that were developed to validate by means of laboratory measurements (and not by comparison with circuit-level simulations) the model performance, which is a novel and important aspect that should be considered in the design of IC models that are useful for SI analysi

Effects of Urbanization and the Sustainability of Marine Artisanal Fishing: A Study on Tropical Fishing Communities in Brazil

Marine fishing occurs along the coast and oceanic islands within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Brazil and is practiced mainly in an industrial fashion in the southern and southeastern regions of the country as well as in an artisanal fashion in the northern and northeastern regions. Artisanal marine fishing is practiced by fishermen who use sailing rafts or mid-size motorboats in daily fishing activities or activities that surpass 20 days at sea. To face the ocean and extract sustenance and income, the majority of artisanal fishermen do not have advanced fishing technologies, but rather empirical knowledge passed from one generation to another, which has allowed fishermen to maintain their activities for hundreds of years. The shared knowledge with regard to fishing and gear as well as fishing territories and the discovery of new territories allows artisanal fishermen to maintain catches while resources have become scarce. However, different factors in urban areas have been contributing to changes in artisanal marine fishing, such as the facility to education and jobs in other sectors of the economy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the experiences of artisanal fishermen in traditional communities of northeastern Brazil in the occurrence of urbanization. Traditionally in artisanal fishing, the transmission of knowledge occurs in the family, generally from father to son. However, this traditional transmission of knowledge is being lost in urban fishing communities. The urban environment facilitates access to formal education and provides opportunities for both formal and informal jobs, leading to income in more attractive sectors to the sons of fishermen than the activity of fishing. This is caused by changes in schooling and has triggered the avoidance of youths with regard to fishing activities. Moreover, urban pressures, such as the loss of areas of embarkation and landing, further hinder the maintenance of fishing in such areas. Thus, issues related to urbanization have been changing the structure of fishing communities and compromising the maintenance and sustainability of marine artisanal fishing activities in urban areas

Multi-target neuroprotective effects of herbal medicines for Alzheimer's disease

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, but its treatment options remain few and ineffective. To find new therapeutic strategies, natural products have gained interest due to their neuroprotective potential, being able to target different pathological hallmarks associated with this disorder. Several plant species are traditionally used due to their empirical neuroprotective effects and it is worth to explore their mechanism of action. Aim of the study: This study intended to explore the neuroprotective potential of seven traditional medicinal plants, namely Scutellaria baicalensis, Ginkgo biloba, Hypericum perforatum, Curcuma longa, Lavandula angustifolia, Trigonella foenum-graecum and Rosmarinus officinalis. The safety assessment with reference to pesticides residues was also aimed. Materials and methods: Decoctions prepared from these species were chemically characterized by HPLC-DAD and screened for their ability to scavenge four different free radicals (DPPH•, ABTS•+, O2•‒ and •NO) and to inhibit enzymes related to neurodegeneration (cholinesterases and glycogen synthase kinase-3β). Cell viability through MTT assay was also evaluated in two different brain cell lines, namely non-tumorigenic D3 human brain endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3) and NSC-34 motor neurons. Furthermore, and using GC, 21 pesticides residues were screened. Results: Regarding chemical composition, chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of several flavonoids, phenolic acids, curcuminoids, phenolic diterpenoids, one alkaloid and one naphthodianthrone in the seven decoctions. All extracts were able to scavenge free radicals and were moderate glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibitors; however, they displayed weak to moderate acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition. G. biloba and L. angustifolia decoctions were the less cytotoxic to hCMEC/D3 and NSC-34 cell lines. No pesticides residues were detected. Conclusions: The results extend the knowledge on the potential use of plant extracts to combat multifactorial disorders, giving new insights into therapeutic avenues for Alzheimer's disease

Pain assessment in surgical patients with impaired cognition

Pain is considered the 5th vital sign and its measurement/assessment and records are required and must be systematic. Ineffective pain management involves complications in clinical status of patients, longer hospitalization times and higher costs with health. In the surgical patient with impaired cognition, hetero measurements should be made, based on behavioural and physiological indicators. We used to determine the efficacy and efficiency of the Observer Scale, the Abbey Pain Scale and Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD). Our study is an applied, non-experimental, quantitative, descriptive and analytical research. The data collection instrument consisted of patients’ sociodemographic and clinical data, the Observer Scale, the Abbey Pain Scale (Rodrigues, 2013) and PAINAD (Batalha et al., 2012). We assessed pain at an early phase and 45 minutes after an intervention for its relief. The sample is non-probabilistic for convenience, consisting of 76 surgical patients with impaired cognition, admitted to the surgery services of a central hospital, aged between 38 and 96 years. There was a positive correlation between the results of the three scales, most evident in the initial evaluation. Pain intensity in the same patient is higher when assessed with PAINAD (OM = 2.16) and lower when assessed with the Observer Scale (OM = 1.78). The most effective and efficient scale is PAINAD. Due to the small sample size, we suggest confirmatory studies so that the results can be generalized

On Quantum Effects in Soft Leptogenesis

It has been recently shown that quantum Boltzman equations may be relevant for leptogenesis. Quantum effects, which lead to a time-dependent CP asymmetry, have been shown to be particularly important for resonant leptogenesis when the asymmetry is generated by the decay of two nearly degenerate states. In this work we investigate the impact of the use of quantum Boltzman equations in the framework ``soft leptogenesis'' in which supersymmetry soft-breaking terms give a small mass splitting between the CP-even and CP-odd right-handed sneutrino states of a single generation and provide the CP-violating phase to generate the lepton asymmetry.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Replacement to match published versio

Solid Waste In Municipalities of Agreste Pernambucano: Environmental Education Issue

The homo sapiens that dominates occupying actions on earth should be a citizen with socio-environmental responsibility; their omission and neglect reverberate throughout the ecosystem. To achieve the balance between different ecological systems there is a global consensus for sustainable development, it is strongly anchored in environmental education with government support. The objective of this research was to evaluate the knowledge and actions about the A3P and the significance of the 5Rs of sustainability, together with 20 public managers from two municipalities in the Agreste region of Pernambuco, using questionnaires with closed questions. From a total of respondents 100% (n20), they reported that they did not know information about the A3P Environmental Agenda. 70% (n14) reported that cities are not adequately prepared for solid waste to dispose. These information obtained in the research demonstrates that although there is a figure of the environmental manager, it is often not able to fulfill the goals in the governmental sphere.

A longitudinalidade e a integralidade no cuidado às crianças menores de um ano: avaliação de cuidadores

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the attributes longitudinality and comprehensive care in Family Health Units in Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brazil. Method: quantitative, cross-sectional study with data collected through the use of the Brazilian version of Primary Care Assessment Tool. This instrument covers the essential attributes of the Primary Health Care, including longitudinality and comprehensive care. We interviewed 271 caretakers of children under one year old who use the health facilities, from January to June 2012. Results: longitudinality scores were high (3.07±0.53), demonstrating good experience of caretakers regarding the actions derived from this attribute. On the other hand, the scores for comprehensive care related to available services and services provided were low (2.83±0.36 and 2.81±0.98). Such results demonstrate little awareness of caretakers related to available services, as well as services provided to children by health facilities. Conclusions: Family Health Strategy is a reference for most health needs of the child; it promotes the relationship between caretakers and health professionals, and enables the knowledge about children health status. However, despite the high coverage of the Family Health Strategy in the county, some children´s health actions are not experienced by caretakers. Managers and health professionals should have the priorities for child health in their agendas, as well as planning and implementation of actions which are related to the child health needs.Objetivo: avaliar os atributos longitudinalidade e integralidade da atenção em Unidades de Saúde da Família em Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Brasil. Método: pesquisa quantitativa, transversal com dados coletados mediante uso do Instrumento de Avaliação da Atenção Primária, versão nacional Primary Care Assessment Tool. Este instrumento contempla os atributos essenciais da APS, dentre eles a longitudinalidade e a integralidade da atenção. Foram entrevistados 271 cuidadores de crianças menores de um ano, usuários dos serviços, no período de janeiro a junho de 2012. Resultados: a longitudinalidade apresentou escore elevado (3,07±0,53), demonstrando boa experiência dos cuidadores com as ações derivadas desse atributo. Por outro lado, os escores para integralidade, tanto para serviços disponíveis quanto para serviços prestados, foram baixos (2,83±0,36 e 2,81±0,98). Tais resultados apontam pouca percepção dos cuidadores sobre serviços disponíveis, como também serviços prestados à criança pelas unidades de saúde. Conclusões: A ESF constitui referência para a maioria das necessidades de saúde da criança, favorece a relação entre cuidadores e profissionais, além de possibilitar o conhecimento da situação de saúde desse público. Entretanto, apesar da alta cobertura da estratégia no município, algumas ações em saúde voltadas às crianças não são vivenciadas pelos cuidadores. Aos gestores e profissionais de saúde que atuam com esta clientela, cabe a sensibilização sobre as prioridades dentro de suas agendas, como também o planejamento e a implementação de ações que estejam dentro das necessidades de saúde da população infantil

Prevalence of Streptococcus agalactiae colonization in pregnant women from the 18th Health Region of Paraná State

Introduction The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of GBS colonization in pregnant women in a public health service. Methods A study of 496 pregnant women at 35-37 gestational weeks was conducted from September 2011 to March 2014 in 21 municipalities of the 18th Health Region of Paraná State. Vaginal and anorectal samples of each woman were plated on sheep blood agar, and in HPTH and Todd-Hewitt enrichment broths. Results Of the 496 pregnant women, 141 (28.4%) were positive for GBS based on the combination of the three culture media with vaginal and anorectal samples. The prevalence was 23.7% for vaginal samples and 21.9% for anorectal ones. Among the variables analyzed in this study, only urinary infection was a significant factor (0.026) associated with GBS colonization in women. Conclusions Based on these results, health units should performs universal screening of pregnant women and hospitals should provide adequate prophylaxis, when indicated