The REMO Ocean Data Assimilation System into HYCOM(RODAS_H):General Description and Preliminary Results

The first version of the Brazilian Oceanographic Modeling and Observation Network(REMO)ocean data assimilation system into the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model(HYCOM)(RODAS_H) has recently been constructed for research and operational purposes.The system is based on a multivariate Ensemble Optimal Interpolation(EnOI) scheme and considers the high frequency variability of the model error co-variance matrix.The EnOI can assimilate sea surface temperature(SST),satellite along-track and gridded sea level anomalies(SLA), and vertical profiles of temperature(T) and salinity(S) from Argo. The first observing system experiment was carried out over the Atlantic Ocean(78°S–50°N,100°W–20°E) with HYCOM forced with atmospheric reanalysis from 1 January to 30 June 2010. Five integrations were performed, including the control run without assimilation. In the other four, different observations were assimilated: SST only(A_SST); Argo T-S profiles only(A_Argo); along-track SLA only(A_SLA); and all data employed in the previous runs(A_All). The A_SST,A_Argo, and A_SLA runs were very effective in improving the representation of the assimilated variables, but they had relatively little impact on the variables that were not assimilated. In particular, only the assimilation of S was able to reduce the deviation of S with respect to observations. Overall, the A_All run produced a good analysis by reducing the deviation of SST, T, and S with respect to the control run by 39%, 18%, and 30%, respectively,and by increasing the correlation of SLA by 81%.

Etiology of Fungemia in Neonates: Four Decades of Case Reports

Objectives: To compare groups of etiologic agents for neonatal fungemia based on previously published case reports with regard to case outcomes. Methods: Secondary analysis of data from case reports published in scientific literature indexed in Medline, Scopus and LILACS databases, and starting from the year, full texts were registered until the year 2010. Results: Thirty-four species of fungi were isolated in 252 cases reported over a 40-year period. The distribution of fungal groups according to the development level of a case’s region of origin was very uneven (p Aspergillus sp.) in more developed countries. However, 73% of the chi-squared distribution corresponded to differences observed in the frequency of Candida sp. and non-albicans Candida. While the frequency of candidemia by C. albicans was progressively declining in the period from 1966 to 2010, reports of non-albicans candidemia and other non-Candida fungi became significantly (p albicans Candida or non-Candida fungi were isolated. Conclusion: fungi of the genera Candida and Aspergillus were the etiologic agents most frequently identified in published cases of neonatal fungemia;the outcome of death was more often related to cases where non-albicans Candida or non-Candida fungi were isolated.

Relationship between Symptoms, Use of PPE and Habits Related to Occupational Exposure to BTEX Compounds in Workers of Gas Stations in Bahia, Brazil

To show the risks and harm caused by the occupational exposure to the benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes compounds (BTEX), the working conditions of 113 persons employed at gas stations in the cities of Riach?o do Jacuipe, Feira de Santana and Salvador in the state of Bahia, Brazil were investigated by experts who correlated protection measures required by law and those applied to the workers. Data collection was performed by help of a questionnaire and non-participant observation record. The age groups of the workers in the three cities surveyed were between 18 to 25 years (30.08%) and 26 to 33 years (34.51%) of the total. The study revealed an association between occupational habits of workers at gas stations and the prevalence of symptoms due to the exposure to the BTEX compounds. Regarding the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) most workers wear boots. The data show that these workers reported symptoms such as headache, rhinitis, leg pain, drowsiness, cough, fatigue, insomnia, tremors and palpitations. These disorders are related back to previous exposure to BTEX compounds which is associated with inadequate occupational habits of the workers which potentiate chemical contamination in their respective environment.

HS-SPME/GC-MS Analysis of VOC and Multivariate Techniques Applied to the Discrimination of Brazilian Varieties of Mango

The present study analyzed the volatile compounds of three mango varieties (Tommy Atkins, Rosa and Espada) using the static headspace technique with SPME coupled to CG-MS. Multivariate methodologies, such as factorial design and response surface methodology, were used to optimize the conditions of adsorption and desorption of these substances. The data were evaluated by using principal components analysis (PCA) and hierarchical grouping analysis, in order to visualize grouping tendencies of volatile compounds. Thirty-seven volatile compounds belonging to different chemical classes, such as esters, terpenes, alcohols and others, were tentatively identified in the three varieties of mango. Amongst them, twenty-three presented chromatographic peaks with relative areas larger than 2%. The multivariate analysis made it possible to visualize the grouping tendencies of the mango samples, according to the presence of their respective volatile substances, and enabled the identification of the groups of substances responsible for the discrimination among the three varieties.

新冠疫情下的基层行政人员:警察在受限环境中的应对

新冠疫情是人类前所未有的挑战。尽管已经有人在讨论大规模疫情对医护人员的影响,但人们对它如何影响警察却知之甚少。我们运用人种志情感启发法对巴西一支警察队伍做了归纳定性研究。从中我们得出了一些结论:在人力财力有限的情况下,政治、职业文化和物质层面的冲突可能会对警察的应对产生负面影响。通过揭示已知的影响新冠疫情防控的方式和提出基层行政人员的酌情决定权有利有弊的问题,我们的工作为现有的基层行政人员研究提供了参考,同时阐明了警察在受限环境中处理大规模疫情时所面临的实际问题。

Vulvar Rejuvenation Using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU): Fundamentals and Technique

Background: The unaesthetic appearance of the female intimate area (vulva, “mound of venus” and perianal region) is a triggering factor of negative psychological responses, embarrassment, anxiety and insecurity in many women. Using rejuvenating equipment for vaginal structure or for the intimate area as a whole is already widespread in the literature, and High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) has proven to be very effective in the clinical practice of many professionals. This study, therefore, aims to describe the fundamentals and applicability that guide the use of HIFU in vulvar rejuvenation. Materials and Methods: Exploratory research was carried out, presented in a narrative review, to highlight the action of HIFU in female intimate rejuvenation. The review explored scientific articles published and available in the following databases: MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), PubMed (National Library of Medicine), SCIELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), and LILACS (Latin Literature American and the Caribbean in Health Sciences). In addition, some clinical findings obtained through a retrospective analysis of medical records were added to describe the authors’ clinical experience in the use of Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for vulvar rejuvenation. Results: We verified that the tissues of female external genitalia respond very well to the stimuli of the focused sound waves of the HIFU, being able to produce immediate and lasting results through isolated applications or in association with intradermotherapy or other therapeutic resources. Conclusion: We conclude that using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound aimed at vulvar rejuvenation is safely indicated and assures excellent aesthetic results at the end of the treatment because similarly to other treatment techniques, the thermal stimuli of HIFU are also able to produce an excellent therapeutic response in the dermal tissue of the female intimate area, promoting intense neocollagenesis and generating great aesthetic improvement.

Rationalizing the Use of Water in Industry—Part 1: Summary of the Instruments Developed by the Clean Technology Network in the State of Bahia and Main Results Obtained

Based on cleaner production concepts, a method for water use minimization has been developed by the Clean Technology Network of Bahia (TECLIM) at one of the largest industrial complexes in Latin America located in the State of Bahia, Brazil. This method is concerned with an area of secondary interest to the productive sector: the use of water. Based on the best cleaner production principles (CP), nine instruments have been developed during cooperative projects with chemical, petrochemical and copper metallurgical industries. These instruments are described in Part 2 of this paper [1]. The main benefits derived from partnership schemes include: a reduction in water consumption and effluent generation;the development of a techno-operational culture to increase eco-efficiency;and the introduction of conceptual projects to ensure the continuity of the activities in the company after the projects have been completed. The specific consumption of water was reduced by 20% as a consequence of the application of this method in Company A;a specific reduction in the generation of effluents of more than 40% was observed in Company B;a 42% fall in fresh water consumption in Company C;and a 20% decrease in the cost of effluent treatment in Company D. Among the difficulties encountered were the limited time availability of the operators and engineers for the project, the lack of measurement and calibration of available flow meters and the lack of detailed technical data.

Development and Parallelization of an Improved 2D Moving Window Standard Deviation Python Routine for Image Segmentation Purposes

Two additional features are particularly useful in pixelwise satellite data segmentation using neural networks: one results from local window averaging around each pixel (MWA) and another uses a standard deviation estimator (MWSD) instead of the average. While the former’s complexity has already been solved to a satisfying minimum, the latter did not. This article proposes a new algorithm that can substitute a naive MWSD, by making the complexity of the computational process fall from O(N2n2) to O(N2n), where N is a square input array side, and n is the moving window’s side length. The Numba python compiler was used to make python a competitive high-performance computing language in our optimizations. Our results show efficiency benchmars

Rationalizing the Use of Water in Industry—Part 2: Instruments Developed by the Clean Technology Network in the State of Bahia

The instruments developed by the Clean Technology Network of Bahia (TECLIM) at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) (cited in Part 1 of this paper) are presented. Factors regarding water management in industry were examined, on the basis of experience acquired over the period of a decade in cooperative research projects with large industrial process plants located mostly in the Camacari Petrochemical Complex, Bahia State, Brazil. The main results consist of training about 1700 industry professionals in CP, the identification of about 500 ideas for the rationalization of water use, the presentation and publication of 90 articles in journals, conferences and other academic events, identification of ideas with potential water savings estimated at around 1400 t·h–1 and the reduction of at least 500 t·h–1 in effluents. Other sectors that make use of water, for example public buildings, commercial buildings, homes, shopping centers and airports can adapt and use the TECLIM method as will be exemplified.

Gastric Neoplasia during Anti-TNF Therapy for Crohn’s Disease: Casual Event?

The increase risk of cancer development in patients with inflammatory intestinal disease (IBD) has already studied for decades. The anti-TNF therapy has changed the treatment strategy of IBD. By using on a larger scale and for a longer time, the anti-TNF raised concern over its potential adverse events. A male Crohn’s disease (CD) patient, 55 years old, diagnosed for nine years, treated with infliximab for 6 years. In 2011, he underwent a nupper endoscopy (UE) which showed flat erosive gastritis with moderate intensity in antrum, gastric polyps and gastric erosion. Pathological examination revealed a chronic gastritis in erosive activity and search for Helicobacter pylori resulted positive. In May 2014, the patient was asymptomatic, when it held UE, which showed suggestive lesion of early gastric cancer, measuring 1.5 cm and search for Helicobacter pylori negative. Histopathological exams confirmed the adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent to a laparoscopic surgery (total gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy and reconstruction Roux-en-Y). Risk factors for the development of gastric cancer in general population are already well defined. However studying a possible association among CD and the different therapeutic modalities used in the treatment of this disease with gastric cancer appearance is important to set specific assessment strategies, prevention and follow-up. While there is no consensus on a proper monitoring for gastric cancer prevention in these patients, individualized conduct, taking into account individual characteristics, family record and other risk factors, should be adopted to avoid unfavorable outcomes in CD patients.

Quantum-Mechanical Information Content of Multiples Hartree-Fock Solutions. The Multi-Reference Hartree-Fock Configuration Interaction Method

The Hartree-Fock equation is non-linear and has, in principle, multiple solutions. The ωth HF extreme and its associated virtual spin-orbitals furnish an orthogonal base Bω of the full configuration interaction space. Although all Bω bases generate the same CI space, the corresponding configurations of each Bω base have distinct quantum-mechanical information contents. In previous works, we have introduced a multi-reference configuration interaction method, based on the multiple extremes of the Hartree-Fock problem. This method was applied to calculate the permanent electrical dipole and quadrupole moments of some small molecules using minimal and double, triple and polarized double-zeta bases. In all cases were possible, using a reduced number of configurations, to obtain dipole and quadrupole moments in close agreement with the experimental values and energies without compromising the energy of the state function. These results show the positive effect of the use of the multi-reference Hartree-Fock bases that allowed a better extraction of quantum mechanical information from the several Bω bases. But to extend these ideas for larger systems and atomic bases, it is necessary to develop criteria to build the multireference Hartree-Fock bases. In this project, we are beginning a study of the non-uniform distribution of quantum-mechanical information content of the Bω bases, searching identify the factors that allowed obtain the good results cited

Stability and Sensory Quality of Dried Papaya

Fruit dehydration is a way of supplying the population with healthy and nutritious foods. The shelf life of dried fruit can be defined by the evaluation of changes occurred in chemical characteristics during storage. This study aims to evaluate the sensory quality and the stability of papaya cv. Tainung n° 1 dehydrated by convective drying. Fresh and dried papaya were evaluated for color, moisture, pH, acidity, water activity, soluble solids, vitamin C, carotenoids, total extractable polyphenols (TEP) and antioxidant activity (ABTS). The sensorial acceptance of the dried papaya was evaluated using a structured nine-point hedonic scale. For the stability study, the analysis of moisture, pH, titratable acidity, water activity, total carotenoids and vitamin C were carried out every 30 days of storage until 120 days. During storage, the moisture content of dried papaya remained constant, but there were undesirable changes in color, increase of acidity and reduction of soluble solids. The degradation of total carotenoids and vitamin C followed the first order reaction, and the half-life time was 346 days for carotenoids, whereas for vitamin C it was only 29 days. In the sensory analysis, the dried papaya received grades between 5.0 and 6.0 for all evaluated attributes. Dried papaya is recommended to be consumed up to 30 days, since within this period a product with higher total carotenoids content, vitamin C and with satisfactory physicochemical and sensorial characteristics were obtained.

Low-Flow Polysulfone Hemodialysis Alters Lipoprotein Parameters, Paraoxonase Activity and <i>in Vitro</i>Incorporation of Phospholipids

End stage-renal-disease (ESRD) is associated with dyslipidemia and premature atherosclerosis. The study evaluates the effect of hemodialysis (HD) on HDL-remodeling between pre- and post-HD. Was conducted a cross-sectional study with 50 ESRD male patients, undergoing HD at Ana Neri Hospital, Salvador, Brazil. All individuals were on HD for at least 3 months, into a three sessions protocol for 3 - 4 hours per week, with a polysulfone low-flow basic-dialyzing-membrane and unfractionated-heparin. HDL Phospholipid-incorporation was measured by 14C-PL-scintillation-counting, expressed as %14C-PL/mL/hour. Paraoxonase (PON-1) activity was measured by spectrophotometry using paraoxon as substrate. Cardiovascular risk ratios and atherogenic index of plasma were calculated. Total cholesterol, HDL-C and non-HDL-C increased at post-HD on all age groups, but without triglycerides (TG) changes. TG/HDL-C decreased in 30 - 39 and 40 - 49 year (y) at post-HD (p 0.05). LDL-C/apoB increased in >60 y, after HD (p < 0.05). HDL-C/apo-AI increased in 40 - 49 y (p 0.05) and >60 (p 0.01). On the other hand, non-HDL-C/HDL-C reduced in 40 - 49 and >60 y, at post-HD (p 0.05). The linear-correlation between %14C-PL-incorporation and non-HDL-C/HDL-C was negative in 30 - 39 y, both at pre-HD (r = -0.90;p = 0.002) and post-HD (r = -0.78;p = 0.022). Linear-correlation between PON-1 and %14C-PL-incorporation was positive in >60 y, both at pre- (r = 0.63;p = 0.029) and post-HD (r = 0.65;p = 0.022). PON-1 activity increased at pre- (59 ± 30) and post-HD (73 ± 38) in 50 - 59 y (p 0.05). The %14C-PL-incorporation was reduced in >60 y (p 0.05), when compared to pre- and post-HD. ESRD patients undergoing HD shows important changes on lipid-profile, PON-1-activity, cardiac risk ratios and HDL-remodeling. These results demonstrate the influence of HD with a polysulfone low-flow basic-dialyzing-membrane and unfractionated-heparin on lipoprotein metabolism.

Dietary Patterns of Children during the First Year of Life: A Cohort Study <br/>—Dietary Patterns of Children

Objective: To identify the dietary patterns of children during the first year of life. Methods: This is a longitudinal study of children born between September 2004 and April 2005 residing in Diamantina, MG, Brazil. Data were collected from children who were six, nine and twelve months of age. Data were collected at their homes using a questionnaire that included a socioeconomic and demographic profile of the family. Information on diet was obtained using 24 hour food recall. Principal Component Analysis was used to identify the dietary patterns. Results: Three dietary patterns were identified and denominated “Porridge”, “Pap” and “Family Food”. The most common dietary pattern was composed of milk, sugar and fortified flour and was negatively correlated with breastfeeding. The second dietary pattern was composed of tubers, vegetables and fruits. The third dietary pattern consisted of cereal, meat, beans and tea;this pattern was repeated at different ages, with some variation at the sixth month when artificial drinks were included and meat and tea were excluded. Conclusion: There was some variation in the dietary patterns of children;however, porridge was used predominantly in all studied ages. Information on dietary patterns may be useful for evaluating and redirecting food and nutrition policies.

Self-reported participation restrictions in normal hearing individuals in thyroid ontogeny: Evidence of subclinical changes

Purpose: To verify evidence of subclinical alterations through self-reported participation restrictions in normal hearing individuals and congenital hypothyroidism patients.Methods: An analytical, quantitative, cross-sectional exploratory study with a 1:1 ratio, consisting of a convenience sample of 86 normal hearing individuals with(n = 42) and without(n = 44) congenital hypothyroidism diagnosis. All participants underwent tonal and speech audiometry, immitance and distortion product otoacoustic emissions. The researchers excluded people with hearing loss, genetic syndromes and metabolic diseases. The instrument used for evaluate of self-reported participation restrictions was the HHIE-adapted questionnaire, composed of 25 questions, 12 of which were social domain and 13 emotional domain. Student's ttest and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis at a significance level of 5%.Results: There was a significant(p < 0.001) self-reported participation restrictions in CH(61.9%), with a greater relevance for the social domain(p = 0.002). There was a greater frequency of mild/moderate(40.5%)and higher prevalence of association with clinical factors and adherence to treatment.Conclusion: The findings indicate that self-reported participation restrictions in normal hearing individuals with congenital hypothyroidism was more significant than in the non-exposed group, suggesting evidence of subclinical auditory abnormalities in this population.