O secretariado e a modernização da administração pública: a implementação de serviços eficientes

O presente artigo pretende evidenciar a necessária mudança de paradigma no que se refere à capacidade de um profissional qualificado em secretariado, no mundo contemporâneo, bem como à necessária abrangência dos seus conhecimentos e das suas competências. Pretende-se ainda apresentar um projeto de implementação do Balcão Único de Atendimento (BUA) na Câmara Municipal de Moimenta da Beira, no sentido de adequar os seus serviços ao atual paradigma competitivo, que exige da Administração Pública uma postura moderna e dinamizadora que incremente a melhoria constante dos seus serviços, de forma a responder às exigências de eficiência, eficácia, transparência e qualidade dos seus clientes

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Chemical modification of niobium layered oxide by tetraalkylammonium intercalation

Chemical modification of the layered K4Nb6O17 material was systematically investigated through the reaction of its proton-exchanged form (H2K2Nb6O17) in alkaline solutions containing tetramethylammonium (tma+), tetraethylammonium (tea+) or tetrapropylammonium (tpa+) cations. The intercalated amount reaches 50% (for tma+), 25% (for tea+) and 15% (for tpa+) of the H2K2Nb6O17 negative charge (concerning the exchange at interlayer I) due to the steric hindrance of larger cations. Hexaniobate samples present (020) basal reflections equal to 23.0, 26.3 and 26.5 Å once intercalated respectively with tma+, tea+ and tpa+. When samples are heated above 200-250 ºC, CO2 evolution is observed; Hofmann elimination reaction is also detected for hexaniobate-tpa+ samples. Scanning electron microscopy images show the predominance of plate-like particles; stick-like particles are also observed for samples containing bulky ions. The intercalation reaction is promoted in the order tma+ > tea+ > tpa+, while the formation of a dispersion of colloidal particles is facilitated in the inverse order.A modificação química do material lamelar K4Nb6O17 foi investigada sistematicamente através da reação de sua forma protônica (H2K2Nb6O17) em soluções alcalinas contendo os cátions tetrametilamônio (tma+), tetraetilamônio (tea+) ou tetrapropilamônio (tpa+). A quantidade intercalada corresponde a 50% (para tma+), 25% (para tea+) e 15% (para tpa+) da carga negativa do H2K2Nb6O17 (considerando a troca iônica na região interlamelar I). As amostras de hexaniobato apresentam reflexões basais (020) de 23,0, 26,3 e 26,5 Å quando intercaladas, respectivamente, com tma+, tea+ e tpa+. Aquecendo-se as amostras acima de 200-250 ºC, observa-se a liberação de CO2; a reação de eliminação de Hofmann também é observada para as amostras de hexaniobato-tpa+. As imagens de microscopia eletrônica de varredura mostram a presença predominante de partículas em forma de placas; partículas em forma de bastões também são observadas nas amostras contendo íons volumosos. A reação de intercalação é promovida na ordem tma+ > tea+ > tpa+, enquanto a formação de uma dispersão de partículas coloidais é facilitada na ordem inversa

Iron oxyhydroxide nanostructured in montmorillonite clays: Preparation and characterization

Akaganeite is a very rare iron oxyhydroxide in nature. It can be obtained by many synthetic routes, but thermohydrolysis is the most common method reported in the literature. In this work, akaganeite-like materials were prepared through the thermohydrolysis of FeCl(3)center dot 6H(2)O in water and suspensions containing clay minerals. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) data show that the clays determine the crystal phase and size of the iron oxyhydroxide crystals. According to XRD and FTIR data, beta-FeO(OH) (akaganeite) is the main metal oxyhydroxide phase. Considering the small basal spacing (d(0 0 1)) displacement observed when comparing the XRD patterns of pristine clays with the composites containing beta-FeO(OH), the iron oxyhydroxide should be mostly located on the basal and edge surfaces of the clay minerals. UV-Vis electronic absorption spectra indicate that the preferred phase of the iron oxyhydroxide is determined by the nature of the clay minerals. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Brazilian agency CapesCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Brazilian agency CNPqConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Brazilian agency FinepFinanciadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP)Brazilian agency Fundacao AraucariaBrazilian agency Fundacao AraucariaFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Brazilian agency Fapes

Lithium Ion Electro-Insertion and Spectroelectrochemical Properties of Films from Hexaniobate

Layer-by-layer (LbL) films from K(2)Nb(6)O(17)(2-) and polyallylamine (PAH) and dip-coating films of H(2)K(2)Nb(6)O(17) were prepared on a fluorine-doped tin-oxide (FTO)-coated glass. the atomic force microscopy (AFM) images were carried out for morphological characterization of both materials. the real surface area and the roughness factor were determined on the basis of pseudocapacitive processes involved in the electroreduction/electrooxidation of gold layers deposited on these films. Next, lithium ion insertion into these materials was examined by means of electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical measurements. More specifically, cyclic voltammetry and current pulses under visible light beams were used to investigate mass transport and chromogenic properties. the lithium ion diffusion coefficient (D(Li)) within the LbL matrix is significantly higher than that within the dip-coating film, ensuring high storage capacity of lithium ions in the self-assembled electrode. Contrary to the LbL film, the potentiodynamic profile of absorbance change (Delta A) as a function of time is not similar to that obtained in the case of current density for the dip-coating film. Aiming at analyzing the rate of the coloration front associated with lithium ion diffusion, a spectroelectrochemical method based on the galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) was employed so as to determine the optical diffusion coefficient (D(op)). in the dip-coating film, the method employed here revealed that the lithium ion rate is higher in diffusion pathways formed from K(2)Nb(6)O(17)(2-) sites that contribute more significantly to Delta A. Meanwhile, the presence of PAH contributed to the increased ionic mobility in diffusion pathways in the LbL film, with low contribution to the electrochromic efficiency. These results aided a better understanding of the potentiodynamic profile of the temporal change of absorbance and current density during the insertion/deinsertion of lithium ions into the electrochromic materials.Univ São Paulo, Dept Quim, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Pret, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Exatas & Terra, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Dept Quim Fundamental, Inst Quim, BR-05513970 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Exatas & Terra, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilWeb of ScienceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)IMMP/MCT, and IMMC/MCTFAPESP: 05/00106-7FAPESP: 2005/60596-8CNPq: 555436/2006-3CNPq: 550581/2005-7CNPq: 301149/2006-