Organized Crime, Migration and Human Capital Formation: Evidence from the South of Italy

The presence of organized crime is a pervasive feature of many developed and developing countries. Even if ‘mafia’ organizations have greatly enlarged the geographical scope of their activities, as in the past they are still deeply rooted in specific territories where their presence generates a host of influences on socio-economic performances (perverse social capital). In this paper we analyse the consequences of the presence of organized crime on the long-term accumulation of human capital, a key determinant of economic growth. To do this we build a unique dataset where - among other information - we identify municipalities where the presence of organized crime is particularly pervasive in an Italian region, Calabria, where is based one of the most powerful international criminal organization, 'Ndrangheta. Our results suggest that the presence of organized crime inhibits the accumulation of human capital both directly (reducing the incentive to invest in formal education) and indirectly by increasing migration outflows.Organized crime; human capital; social capital; migration

Nutritional therapy for bulimia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and compensatory behaviors. the patients present inappropriate food intake and dysfunctional eating behaviors. Proper treatment of this disorder requires a multidisciplinary team and specialized nutrition therapy. It is fundamental to understand the characteristics of this disorder, the intake patterns and the eating behavior, and be attentive to the eating attitudes of these patients to plan and conduct a nutritional approach properly. the nutrition therapy for this disorder is specific and demands greater skillfulness in nutrition counseling from the dietician. Nutrition therapy focuses on nutrition education and nutrition counseling, mainly addressing eating attitudes and dissatisfaction with body image. the professional must keep abreast on nutrition and eating disorders and seek specialization and experience in this area of knowledge to provide efficient care for these patients and succeed in their treatment.Univ São Paulo, Fac Med, Inst Psiquiatria Ambulatorio Bulimia & Transtorno, BR-05403010 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Saude, Santos, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Saude, Santos, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Longitudinal assessment of body image disturbances in patients with bulimia nervosa submitted to multidisciplinary treatment

OBJETIVO: Aumentar a compreensão sobre os distúrbios da imagem corporal em pacientes com bulimia nervosa e sua evolução após o tratamento multidisciplinar. MÉTODOS: Onze mulheres responderam dois questionários de imagem corporal (Body Attitudes Questionnaire e Escala de Figuras de Stunkard) antes e após o tratamento e preencheram o diário alimentar, utilizado para a análise de sintomas de bulimia nervosa. RESULTADOS: Tanto no pré quanto no pós-tratamento o índice de massa corporal médio se encontrava na faixa de eutrofia. Cerca de 57,0% da amostra teve remissão total dos sintomas de bulimia nervosa. Em relação à imagem corporal, na escala de Stunkard, o tamanho da figura escolhida como ideal aumentou e houve redução da insatisfação corporal após o tratamento. Não houve redução significativa da superestimativa do tamanho corporal, porém no início do tratamento 57,1% das pacientes já não superestimavam seu tamanho. Em relação ao questionário de atitudes, notou-se diminuição das seguintes variáveis: depreciação corporal; sentir-se gorda; sensação de ter gordura nos membros inferiores e importância pessoal do corpo. CONCLUSÕES: O tratamento foi eficaz em alguns aspectos atitudinais, porém deve ser aprimorado em outros, como a distorção perceptual.OBJECTIVE: Increase the comprehension of body image disturbances in patients with bulimia nervosa and its evolution after treatment, multidisciplinary. METHODS: Eleven women answered two body image questionnaires (Body Attitudes Questionnaire and Stunkard's Figure Scale) before and after treatment and filled a food diary used to analyze the frequency of bulimia nervosa symptoms. RESULTS: The mean body mass index was found at normal weight category before and after treatment. Approximately 57.0% of the sample had total remission of bulimia nervosa symptoms. In relation to body image based on Stunkard's scale, the size of the figure chosen as ideal increased and body dissatisfaction decreased after treatment. There was no significant reduction in the overestimation of body size, but at the beginning of the treatment 57,1% of the patients did not overestimate their sizes already. Regarding the questionnaire of attitudes, the following variables had a significant decrease: body depreciation, feeling fat, sensation of having lower body fatness and body self-importance. DISCUSSION: The treatment was effective in some attitudinal aspects, but should be improved in regard to others, such as perceptual distortion.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Sjogren's syndrome: apoptosis by anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies

The pathogenesis of the Sjogren's Syndrome (SjS) has not yet been completely defined. However, the cell-mediated immunity plays an important role and the apoptosis of the ductal and acinar epithelial cells is responsible of the glandular tissue damage, through the cytotoxic T-cells, particularly of the CD4+ subpopulation, by the release of proteases (such as perforin and granzyme B) and by the interaction of the Fas Ligand (FasL; CD95L) of the T-lymphocytes, with the Fas (Apo-1; CD95) of the epithelial cells. The apoptotic death of the epithelial cells is the autocrine Fas/FasL interaction also. The anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies are the immunological markers of the Sjogren's syndrome, but it is not yet understood if they have pathogenetic implications...

Joias destinadas à coleção the girl who lived in a tree de Alexander McQueen

Realiza-se uma releitura do conceito tradicional de joia, inserindo-a no contexto do mercado da moda e alterando significativamente sua utilização e processo produtivo. Para melhor compreensão do tema, a primeira parte volta-se à organização de uma metodologia de trabalho, enquanto em um segundo momento justifica-se a escolha do público da moda e avança-se no estudo das coleções do estilista Alexander McQueen. Destaca-se a relevância do “Nacionalismo Romântico” e da contribuição da coleção “The Girl who lived in a Tree” para a distorção da silhueta tradicional e para a inovação que permite a mudança nas formas e texturas. Assim, prossegue-se com o estudo das formas naturais da árvore olmo e da trepadeira, principalmente com auxílio da pesquisa de Karl Blossfeldt, com a finalidade de conceituar as joias a serem produzidas. Em seguida, fundamenta-se a escolha do processo de produção com uma análise cuidadosa, culminando com a escolha da prototipagem rápida por sinterização seletiva a laser. O estudo da construção do modelo 3D deságua diretamente na conceituação da coleção e, posteriormente, na sua produção. Finalmente, justifica-se este desenvolvimento técnico e se conclui pela inovação de conceitos, formas, materiais e processo produtivo

Citopatologia de tecido caloso infetado pelo vírus do enrolamento da folha da videira 3

The cytopathology of grapevine (Vitis spp.) callus tissue infected with Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3), genus Vitivirus was studied in order to investigate the usefulness of callus cultures to study grapevine leafroll-associated viruses. Ultrathin sections were made from in vitro callus obtained from stems and shoots of GLRaV-3 infected grapevine plants. Callus was composed of two types of tissue. Translucent, soft callus was formed and composed of large loosely arranged cells, containing big vacuoles and a thin layer of cytoplasm. Other parts of the callus were brown-coloured and composed of small compactly arranged cells, which showed flexuous and rod-shaped closterovirus-like particles, with 10-12 nm in diameter, at higher magnifications. Groups of vesicles formed by a single membrane were also observed, with sizes ranging from 50-200 nm, containing fine fibrillar material, also typical of closterovirus infections. Virus concentration was monitored by Immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM) tests, which showed that in vitro culture of callus tissue from grapevine infected plants, could be used to study the GLRaV viruses through many successive generations, despite the decline in virus concentration after repeated transfers. No virus particles were observed in callus tissue obtained from healthy grapevines.Análises citopatológicas do vírus do enrolamento da folha da videira 3 (Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3, GLRaV-3), gênero Vitivirus foram feitas utilizando-se tecido caloso obtido in vitro, para investigar seu uso no estudo do vírus associado ao enrolamento da folha da videira (EFV). Secções ultrafinas foram feitas a partir de cultura de calos obtidos de hastes e brotos de videiras (Vitis spp.) infetadas pelo GLRaV-3. Dois tipos de calos foram observados. Um tipo transparente composto de células grandes e altamente vacuoladas contendo uma fina camada de citoplasma. Um outro tipo, de coloração marrom, composto de um grupo de células pequenas, compactamente arranjadas, cujo citoplasma era bem mais abundante. Nestas células foram observadas, em maior aumento, massas formadas por fibras flexuosas com 10-12 nm de diâmetro, cujo aspecto corresponde ao das partículas de closterovírus em cortes de tecido. Grupos de vesículas também foram observados, com tamanhos variando entre 50-200 nm, formadas por uma única membrana e contendo material fibrilar muito fino, característico de infecções causadas por closterovírus. A concentração do vírus foi monitorada por testes de Immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM), os quais mostraram que a cultura de calos obtidos de videiras infetadas pôde ser usada para estudar os vírus associados ao EFV durante várias gerações, apesar da diminuição da concentração de vírus após repetidas transferências. Não foram observadas partículas de vírus em tecido caloso obtidos de videiras sadias.384388Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Produção de plantas duplo-haploides de cevada e avaliação do processo de duplicação cromossômica através de Colchicina.

Editores técnicos: Joseani Mesquita Antunes, Ana Lídia Variani Bonato, Márcia Barrocas Moreira Pimentel

Eating disorders risk behavior in Brazilian female university students

BACKGROUND: Risk behavior for eating disorders enrolled inadequate practices and attitudes with food and weight control and could be evaluated with valid instruments. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate risk behaviors for eating disorders among Brazilian female university students from different regions. METHODS: 2.483 college students filled out the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) at five regions in Brazil. The test score was compared among regions by chi-square test and possible associations or correlations with major, age, nutritional status, individual income and parental education evaluated by Pearson and Spearman coefficients. A covariance analysis compared the EAT scores among regions. RESULTS: The frequency of positive eating disorder behavior ranges from 23.7% to 30.1% among five regions. There was no difference in EAT scores among regions, and there was not strong correlation between EAT scores and the variables studied. DISCUSSION: Brazilian female university students have high frequency of risk behaviors for eating disorders in all regions of the country. Prevention strategies must be developed for the young female population of Brazil.CONTEXTO: Comportamentos de risco para transtornos alimentares envolvem atitudes e práticas inadequadas para com o alimento e o peso e podem ser avaliados com base em instrumentos validados. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar comportamento de risco para transtornos alimentares em universitárias brasileiras das cinco regiões do país. MÉTODOS: 2.483 universitárias responderam ao Teste de Atitudes Alimentares (EAT-26) nas cinco regiões. A pontuação no teste foi comparada entre as regiões por meio do teste qui-quadrado. Possíveis associações ou correlações com curso de graduação, idade, estado nutricional, renda individual e escolaridade do chefe da família foram avaliadas pelos coeficientes de Pearson e Spearman. Uma análise de covariância comparou o escore do EAT entre as regiões. RESULTADOS: A frequência de comportamento de risco para transtornos alimentares variou de 23,7% a 30,1% nas cinco regiões e não houve diferença na pontuação média do EAT e na proporção de escores positivos para comportamento de risco entre as regiões. Não houve forte correlação do escore do EAT com nenhuma das variáveis. CONCLUSÃO: Universitárias brasileiras apresentam alta frequência de comportamentos de risco para TA em todas as regiões do país. Medidas de prevenção devem ser planejadas para a população jovem feminina do Brasil.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Saúde PúblicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Campus Baixada SantistaUSP Faculdade de Saúde Pública Departamento de NutriçãoUNIFESP, Campus Baixada SantistaSciEL

Introduction to the Study of Mechanical Properties of Terpolymer PP/EPDM Mixtures

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), based in PP (Polypropylene) / EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) have as purpose improving PP resistance and impact, aiming to a more comprehensive use in automotive market, among edifications, construction and packaging sectors, due to their recyclability properties. PP is a commodity, with a high melting point, high mechanical resistance and low density, posing a balance between physical and mechanical properties; in addition, it shows an easy processing, at low cost. In order to minimize this deficiency, EPDM, an impact modifier, can be used. Nevertheless, most of polymeric blends are incompatible and immiscible, i.e., show a mutual and limited solubility and in most of cases, a high interfacial tension. However, there is a relatively low interfacial tension (force which acts on transformation of a continuous structure in a dispersion) between PP and EPDM (approximately 0.3 mN.m-1), reducing the rate of breakup and facilitating the build-up of a continuous structure. This work aims to the study of compatibility of PP and EPDM blends and variation of mechanical properties, emphasizing that many properties of thermoplastic elastomers can be processed according with conventional thermoplastics methods: herein, PP/EPDM blends, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30 and 50/50 were characterized according to: Mechanical essays, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric Analyses, Melt Flow Index, Izod Impact Strength and Dynamic mechanical Analyses