Investigation of atmospheric properties based upon evaluation of infrared radiation data obtained from tiros satellites final report

Atmospheric properties based upon evaluation of infrared radiation data from TIROS III SATELLIT

Toxicologia do tolueno: aspectos relacionados ao abuso

O tolueno está presente em muitos produtos de uso doméstico e industrial e é o principal solvente envolvido no abuso de substâncias e na exposição ocupacional. O problema mais grave no estudo de patologias relacionadas ao tolueno é que este está geralmente associado, em suas preparações comerciais, a outras substâncias. O potencial tóxico do tolueno foi abordado nos seguintes aspectos: parâmetros farmacológicos; características físico-químicas; exposição; estudos clínicos; diagnóstico; pesquisa experimental; tolerância e dependência; efeitos agudos e crônicos; neurotoxicidade; teratogenicidade; doenças psiquiátricas; carcinogenicidade e tratamento. Conclui-se ser de grande importância e urgência que se realizem estudos clínicos com amostras maiores para definição mais precisa das conseqüências do uso crônicoToluene, present in many industrial and domestic products, is the main solvent involved in solvent abuse and occupational exposure. The main problem in studying toluene-related pathologies is the fact that it is frequently combined with other substances. This review focuses on its potential toxicity. The following subjects are discussed: pharmacologic parameters; physico-chemical features; exposure; clinical trials; experimental research; diagnosis; tolerance and dependence; acute and chronic effects; neurotoxicity; teratogenicity; psychiatric disorders; carcinogenicity; and treatment. It is concluded that is important more research on larger population samples with a view to better definition of the consequences.of chronic use should be undertaken

Physical demands of refereeing rugby sevens matches at different competitive levels

The aim of this study was to compare the physical demands of officiating across different competitive levels in rugby sevens. An observational design was used involving twenty-seven referees (26 males, 1 female, age: 27 ± 6 years, body mass (mean ± SD): 78.5 ± 9.3 kg, height: 179 ± 5 cm). GPS data was collected across a total of 114 matches during five separate rugby sevens tournaments played in England - between May and July 2018 - categorized into four competitive levels: (1) international, (2) professional, (3) semi-professional, and (4) amateur. Compared with referees officiating at the international, professional, and semi-professional levels, referees officiating at the amateur level covered less total (p < 0.001) and relative distance (p < 0.001). Additionally, these referees covered more distance walking and jogging (p < 0.001). Amateur referees also completed fewer sprints (p = 0.006), and repeated high-intensity efforts per game (p < 0.001), and spent longer between repeated high-intensity efforts (p = 0.015). Finally, for the amateur referees, the duration of the longest repeated high-intensity bout (i.e., worst case scenario) was lower (p < 0.001), with less distance covered (p < 0.001), and fewer high-intensity accelerations (p < 0.001). Refereeing rugby sevens is therefore more physically demanding at higher competitive levels, particularly in terms of high-intensity efforts. The results provide vital information for practitioners involved in the physical preparation of rugby sevens referees

Impacto das fases de intoxicação e de abstinência de álcool sobre a fobia social e o transtorno de pânico em pacientes alcoolistas hospitalizados

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of alcohol intoxication and withdrawal on the course of social phobia and panic disorder. METHOD: A group of 41 alcoholic inpatients undergoing detoxification therapy were interviewed using the SCID-I (DSM-IV) and questions to detect fluctuations in the course of social phobia and panic disorder as a function of the different phases in alcohol dependence (intoxication, withdrawal, and lucid interval). RESULTS: Only 1 (2.4%) patient presented panic disorder throughout life, and 9 (21.9%) had panic attacks during alcohol intoxication or during the withdrawal syndrome. Sixteen (39%) alcoholic patients showed social phobia with onset prior to drug use. However, drinking eventually became unable to alleviate social phobia symptoms or worsened such symptoms in 31.2% of social-phobic patients. While patients with social phobia reported a significant improvement in psychiatric symptoms during alcohol intoxication, patients experiencing panic attacks worsened significantly during intoxication. In the withdrawal phase, patients with social phobia tended to have more and more intense phobic symptoms. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the impact of alcohol intoxication is different for social phobia as compared to panic disorder, at first decreasing the social-phobic symptoms but later aggravating them. In panic disorder, the impact of intoxication by alcohol is more harmful, at least in the short term.OBJETIVO: Estudar o impacto das fases de intoxicação e de abstinência do uso de álcool sobre o curso da fobia social e do transtorno de pânico. MÉTODO: Um grupo de 41 pacientes hospitalizados por dependência de álcool foi entrevistado com o SCID-I (DSM-IV), adicionado de perguntas para detectar as flutuações no curso da fobia social e do transtorno do pânico em função das diferentes fases do uso da droga (intoxicação, abstinência e intervalo lúcido). RESULTADOS: Apenas um (2,4%) paciente, apresentou transtorno de pânico ao longo da vida e nove (21.9%) tiveram ataques de pânico na intoxicação ou na síndrome de abstinência. Dezesseis (39%) pacientes dependentes de álcool apresentavam fobia social, que iniciava-se antes de começar o uso de bebidas alcoólicas. No entanto, com o tempo, o álcool perdeu o efeito de aliviar os sintomas da fobia social ou piorou estes sintomas em 31.2% dos pacientes fóbicos sociais. Enquanto os pacientes com fobia social relataram uma melhora significativa dos sintomas psiquiátricos na fase de intoxicação, os pacientes com pânico pioraram significativamente na fase de intoxicação. Na fase de abstinência, os pacientes com fobia social tenderam a piorar com maior freqüência. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos achados indicam que o impacto do álcool, na intoxicação, é diferente na fobia social, quando comparado com o pânico, diminuindo os sintomas fóbicos sociais a princípio e agravando-os posteriormente. No transtorno de pânico, o impacto da intoxicação pelo álcool é mais deletério, ao menos a curto prazo

Rugby union referees’ external load and heart rate responses during a National Sevens Tournament.

Rugby sevens referees often officiate multiple matches per day over consecutive days. This study analysed referees’ external load, internal load (IL) and heart rate (HR) responses across two days of competition. Following institutional ethical approval, six rugby referees (age: 26.1 ± 3.5 years), officiated matches during a two-day professional sevens tournament (day one = 3 matches, day two = 2 matches), in two subsequent years. Two referees officiated at both years. Referees wore Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers (Apex, 10 Hz, STATSports), allowing total running distance (TRD) and high-intensity running (HIR; > 18.4 km.h-1) distance to be determined (m). HR data was also collected via a heart rate sensor (Polar T31, Finland), analysed in relation to maximal HR (HRmax) estimated via the formula: 208 – 0.7 x age (Tanaka et al., 2001, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 37, 153-156) and the percentage of total playing time spent in six zones. IL calculation was performed as proposed by Edwards (1993, The Heart Rate Monitor Book. Sacramento: Fleet Feet Press). Paired-samples t tests revealed no differences between the two days of competition in terms of TRD (day one = 1925 ± 168 m, day two = 1977 ± 85 m; t(7) = -0.896 , P = 0.400, CI95% = -187.7-84.6, ES = - 0.31), HIR (day one = 492 ± 134 m, day two = 488 ± 67 m; t(6) = 0.066, P = 0.950, CI95% = -113.7-120.0, ES = 0.02) or IL (day one = 68.2 ± 6.3 au, day two = 61.4 ± 10.6 au; t(7) = 1.725, P = 0.128, CI95% = -2.5-16.0, ES = 0.61). On the second day, relative to the first, referees spent more time at 71–80%HRmax (day one = 1.9 ± 1.3 %, day two = 10.2 ± 8.9 %; t(6) = -2.535, P = 0.044, CI95% = -16.4-[-0.3], ES = -0.95) and 81–90%HRmax (day one = 24.7 ± 16.9 %, day two = 39.7 ± 8.4 %; t(7) = -2.735, P = 0.029, CI95% = -28.1-[-2.0], ES = -0.96). Taken together, these results imply that the first day during a rugby sevens tournament is more physiologically demanding to officiate than the second day. These findings provide information for the development of a well-structured training plan for referees to better replicate tournament demands

Fármacos antianginosos

Revisa-se a Farmacologia dos agentes empregados na terapêutica da angina de peito, salientando os aspectos de mecanismo de ação que justificam a sua eficácia e as características farmacocinéticas que determinam os esquemas de administração

Synthesis, effectiveness and metabolic fate in cows of the caesium complexing compound ammonium ferric hexacyanoferrate labelled with 14C

Adding ammonium ferric hexacyanoferrate (AFCF) to cows' fodder produced after the Chernobyl nuclear accident prevented milk contamination by increasing the faecal elimination of 137Cs. Synthesis of ammonium ferric hexa[14C]-cyanoferrate (AF14CF) and its purification were performed for the study of the metabolic fate of this complex, and the evaluation of the possible release of cyanide. The stability of this colloidal product, tested by anaerobic incubation in rumen juice in vitro, showed no release of free cyanide from AF14CF, but hexacyanoferrate was identified in the rumen juice and 0·13% of the added radioactivity was converted to labelled CO2. AF14CF administered per os to two cows showed a nearly quantitative excretion of radioactivity in faeces during the first 3 d (91-95%). A very low but significant level of radioactivity appeared in plasma, blood cells, expired CO2 and was detected in organs taken 9 d after administration. Total cumulative radioactivity in urine and milk amounted to 0·19-0·47% and 0·068-0·071% respectively for the two cows. Labelled hexacyanoferrate and thiocyanate were identified in the urine and also in faeces. In spite of this relative instability of AFCF in the rumen of cows, the poor absorption of AF14CF degradation products showed that AFCF constitutes an efficient and safe food additive to prevent the absorption of radioactive caesium from ruminant feed and its secretion in mil

Validation of Non-formal MOOC-based Learning: An Analysis of Assessment and Recognition Practices in Europe (OpenCred)

This report presents the outcomes of research, conducted between May 2014 and November 2015, into emerging practices in assessment, credentialisation and recognition in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Following extensive research on MOOCs in European Member States, it provides a snapshot of how European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) recognise (or not) non-formal learning (particularly MOOC-based), and how some employers recognise open badges and MOOC certificates for continuing professional development. We analyse the relationship between forms of assessment used and credentials awarded, from badges for self-assessment to ECTS credits for on-site examinations, and consider the implications for recognition. Case studies provide deeper insights into existing practices. The report introduces a model which guides MOOC conveners in positioning and shaping their offers, and also helps institutions and employers to make recognition decisions. It concludes with a set of recommendations to European HEIs and policy makers to enable wider recognition of open learning in higher education and at the workplace.JRC.J.3-Information Societ