A Construção Coletiva dos Espaços Livres Públicos: o arquiteto e os procedimentos participativos recentes experiências em Vitória (ES)

No processo de desenvolvimento da cidade, são envolvidos três principais agentes: Estado, técnicos de diferentes disciplinas e sociedade. Faz parte dessa sociedade uma diversidade de grupos, das quais se sobressaem, do ponto de vista da participação nas decisões políticas, membros de uma elite econômica. A não familiaridade da maior parte da população, seja com os aspectos técnicos que envolvem o processo de construção das cidades, ou com suas leis e todo o funcionamento do processo, faz com que este seja o agente que menos conhecimento tem dos instrumentos que pode utilizar para interferir no processo decisório. Os profissionais de diferentes áreas do conhecimento que atuam no processo participativo são encarregados, dentre outras coisas, de trazer informações técnicas aos demais envolvidos, sendo o arquiteto aquele usualmente responsável em levar os resultados das discussões para a prancheta. No momento de projetar e, para alcançar maior margem de segurança na aceitação dos espaços derivados de seus projetos, é necessário que ele busque alternativas metodológicas para a elaboração do mesmo. É de nosso entendimento e o que nos propusemos comprovar, que o ponto de partida para isso é o estreito conhecimento e a proximidade com a realidade dos usuários do espaço. Devido a esta proximidade, o arquiteto pode desempenhar importante papel no processo participativo, especialmente quanto à capacitação do usuário e à ampliação de suas percepções espaciais. Por esta razão, pretende-se analisar os instrumentos e procedimentos que estão à disposição do arquiteto para possibilitar o estímulo e a ampliação da percepção da população quanto ao espaço que a circunda e conferir-lhe informação variada a respeito do mesmo. Esses resultados permitem que o cidadão amplie seu espectro de possibilidades quanto ao potencial de utilização do espaço, suas deficiências e ausências e o habilita a participar de forma ativa e significativa nas discussões do processo de construção dos espaços livres públicos da cidade em que vive. Acredita-se que, com o auxílio de determinados procedimentos da pesquisa-ação, se o arquiteto puder fazer com que a população perceba as possibilidades e necessidades de apropriação do espaço público, terá como retorno base consistente para a elaboração de projetos mais condizentes com a realidade e vontade dos usuários. Isso, possivelmente, ocasionará maior margem de aceitação e apropriação dos espaços, por parte de seus principais usuários, ampliando-se assim, a ocorrência da esfera de vida pública

Solvent-Driven Supramolecular Wrapping of Self-Assembled Structures

Self-assembly relies on the ability of smaller and discrete entities to spontaneously arrange into more organized systems by means of the structure-encoded information. Herein, we show that the design of the media can play a role even more important than the chemical design. The media not only determines the self-assembly pathway at a single-component level, but in a very narrow solvent composition, a supramolecular homo-aggregate can be non-covalently wrapped by a second component that possesses a different crystal lattice. Such a process has been followed in real time by confocal microscopy thanks to the different emission colors of the aggregates formed by two isolated PtII complexes. This coating is reversible and controlled by the media composition. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and molecular simulations based on coarse-grained (CG) models allowed the understanding of the properties displayed by the different aggregates. Such findings could result in a new method to construct hierarchical supramolecular structures

Solvent-Driven Supramolecular Wrapping of Self-Assembled Structures

Self‐assembly relies on the ability of smaller and discrete entities to spontaneously arrange into more organized systems by means of the structure‐encoded information. Herein, we show that the design of the media can play a role even more important than the chemical design. The media not only determines the self‐assembly pathway at a single‐component level, but in a very narrow solvent composition, a supramolecular homo‐aggregate can be non‐covalently wrapped by a second component that possesses a different crystal lattice. Such a process has been followed in real time by confocal microscopy thanks to the different emission colors of the aggregates formed by two isolated PtII complexes. This coating is reversible and controlled by the media composition. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and molecular simulations based on coarse‐grained (CG) models allowed the understanding of the properties displayed by the different aggregates. Such findings could result in a new method to construct hierarchical supramolecular structures

Chemical sensing with 2D materials

During the last decade, two-dimensional materials (2DMs) have attracted great attention due to their unique chemical and physical properties, which make them appealing platforms for diverse applications in opto-electronic devices, energy generation and storage, and sensing. Among their various extraordinary properties, 2DMs possess high surface area-to-volume ratios and ultra-high surface sensitivity to the environment, which are key characteristics for applications in chemical sensing. Furthermore, 2DMs’ superior electrical and optical properties, combined with their excellent mechanical characteristics such as robustness and flexibility, make these materials ideal components for the fabrication of a new generation of high-performance chemical sensors. Depending on the specific device, 2DMs can be tailored to interact with various chemical species at the non-covalent level, making them powerful platforms for fabricating devices exhibiting a high sensitivity towards detection of various analytes including gases, ions and small biomolecules. Here, we will review the most enlightening recent advances in the field of chemical sensors based on atomically-thin 2DMs and we will discuss the opportunities and the challenges towards the realization of novel hybrid materials and sensing devices

Patient-specific Instrumentation Affects Rotational Alignment of the Femoral Component in Total Knee Arthroplasty : A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: To evaluate whether patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) improve the accuracy of femoral component rotational alignment with respect to conventionally-implanted total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods: Twenty-four patients were randomized to receive a TKA implanted with PSI or conventional instrumentation. Implant orientation was compared on Computed Tomography (CT). Surgical time, recuts, and component size variations from planning were recorded. Preoperative and postoperative Oxford knee score and visual analogue scale were compared to assess clinical outcomes. Results: Femoral components implanted with patient-specific instrumentation were aligned with greater external rotation than those implanted with conventional instrumentation (P = 0.022). No significant differences were found in surgical times, number of recuts, and clinical outcomes. Surgeon modifications from the planned size were necessary in 58% of PSI cases. Conclusion: Femoral components implanted with PSI had greater external rotation than with conventional instrumentation. Surgeons must carefully evaluate component sizes when using PSI, both in planning and during surgery

Reporting rotator cuff tears on magnetic resonance arthrography using the Snyder's arthroscopic classification

AIM: To determine diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance arthrography (MRA) in evaluating rotator cuff tears (RCTs) using Snyder's classification for reporting. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-six patients (64 males, 62 females; median age 55 years) underwent shoulder MRA and arthroscopy, which represented our reference standard. Surgical arthroscopic reports were reviewed and the reported Snyder's classification was recorded. MRA examinations were evaluated by two independent radiologists (14 and 5 years' experience) using Snyder's classification system, blinded to arthroscopy. Agreement between arthroscopy and MRA on partial- and full-thickness tears was calculated, first regardless of their extent. Then, analysis took into account also the extent of the tear. Interobserver agreement was also calculated the quadratically-weighted Cohen kappa statistics. RESULTS: On arthroscopy, 71/126 patients (56%) had a full-thickness RCT. The remaining 55/126 patients (44%) had a partial-thickness RCT. Regardless of tear extent, out of 71 patients with arthroscopically-confirmed full-thickness RCTs, 66 (93%) were correctly scored by both readers. All 55 patients with arthroscopic diagnosis of partial-thickness RCT were correctly assigned as having a partial-thickness RCT at MRA by both readers. Interobserver reproducibility analysis showed total agreement between the two readers in distinguishing partial-thickness from full-thickness RCTs, regardless of tear extent (k = 1.000). With regard to tear extent, in patients in whom a complete tear was correctly diagnosed, correct tear extent was detected in 61/66 cases (92%); in the remaining 5/66 cases (8%), tear extent was underestimated. Agreement was k = 0.955. Interobserver agreement was total (k = 1.000). CONCLUSION: MRA shows high diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility in evaluating RCTs using the Snyder's classification for reporting. Snyder's classification may be adopted for routine reporting of MRA

Prescription of secondary prevention medications, lifestyle advice, and referral to rehabilitation among acute coronary syndrome inpatients: results from a large prospective audit in Australia and New Zealand

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the proportion of patients hospitalised with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Australia and New Zealand who received optimal inpatient preventive care and to identify factors associated with preventive care. METHODS: All patients hospitalised bi-nationally with ACS were identified between 14-27 May 2012. Optimal in-hospital preventive care was defined as having received lifestyle advice, referral to rehabilitation, and prescription of secondary prevention pharmacotherapies. Multilevel multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with receipt of optimal preventive care. RESULTS: For the 2299 ACS survivors, mean (SD) age was 69 (13) years, 46% were referred to rehabilitation, 65% were discharged on sufficient preventive medications, and 27% received optimal preventive care. Diagnosis of ST elevation myocardial infarction (OR: 2.64 [95% CI: 1.88-3.71]; p<0.001) and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (OR: 1.99 [95% CI: 1.52-2.61]; p<0.001) compared with a diagnosis of unstable angina, having a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) (OR: 4.71 [95% CI: 3.67-6.11]; p<0.001) or coronary bypass (OR: 2.10 [95% CI: 1.21-3.60]; p=0.011) during the admission or history of hypertension (OR:1.36 [95% CI: 1.06-1.75]; p=0.017) were associated with greater exposure to preventive care. Age over 70 years (OR:0.53 [95% CI: 0.35-0.79]; p=0.002) or admission to a private hospital (OR:0.59 [95% CI: 0.42-0.84]; p=0.003) were associated with lower exposure to preventive care. CONCLUSIONS: Only one-quarter of ACS patients received optimal secondary prevention in-hospital. Patients with UA, who did not have PCI, were over 70 years or were admitted to a private hospital, were less likely to receive optimal care.Julie Redfern, Karice Hyun, Derek P Chew, Carolyn Astley, Clara Chow, Bernadette Aliprandi-Costa, Tegwen Howell, Bridie Carr, Karen Lintern, Isuru Ranasinghe, Kellie Nallaiah, Fiona Turnbull, Cate Ferry, Chris Hammett, Chris J Ellis, John French, David Brieger, Tom Briff