Quantification of respiratory parameters in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

Dysfunction affecting cardiac or pulmonary systems has been postulated as a major factor in sudden death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Whilst the majority of studies of cardiorespiratory function have focused on changes during seizures, here we investigate whether epilepsy influences basal respiratory parameters in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) during the interictal period. Spirometry was performed in 10 females and 10 males. Measurements of Vital Capacity (VC), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second (FEV1) and ratios of FEV1 to FVC (FEV1/FVC) were obtained, and these values were analyzed as percentages of predicted values. None of the patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and no significant alterations in respiratory function tests were found among these patients. No association between seizure frequency, antiepileptic drugs and SUDEP could be found in this study. Although the study did not identify any specific respiratory abnormality in TLE patients during the interictal period, re-evaluation of clinical data on pulmonary disorders in people with epilepsy should be better investigated

d=3 Bosonic Vector Models Coupled to Chern-Simons Gauge Theories

We study three dimensional O(N)_k and U(N)_k Chern-Simons theories coupled to a scalar field in the fundamental representation, in the large N limit. For infinite k this is just the singlet sector of the O(N) (U(N)) vector model, which is conjectured to be dual to Vasiliev's higher spin gravity theory on AdS_4. For large k and N we obtain a parity-breaking deformation of this theory, controlled by the 't Hooft coupling lambda = 4 \pi N / k. For infinite N we argue (and show explicitly at two-loop order) that the theories with finite lambda are conformally invariant, and also have an exactly marginal (\phi^2)^3 deformation. For large but finite N and small 't Hooft coupling lambda, we show that there is still a line of fixed points parameterized by the 't Hooft coupling lambda. We show that, at infinite N, the interacting non-parity-invariant theory with finite lambda has the same spectrum of primary operators as the free theory, consisting of an infinite tower of conserved higher-spin currents and a scalar operator with scaling dimension \Delta=1; however, the correlation functions of these operators do depend on lambda. Our results suggest that there should exist a family of higher spin gravity theories, parameterized by lambda, and continuously connected to Vasiliev's theory. For finite N the higher spin currents are not conserved.Comment: 34 pages, 29 figures. v2: added reference

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

A FORMAÇÃO DO ENFERMEIRO PARA A ASSISTÊNCIA DE PORTADORES DE NECESSIDADES ESPECIAIS, COM PARALISIA CEREBRAL, SUBMETIDOS À INTERNAÇÃO DOMICILIAR

This is an end of course work that has as its subject nurse training in the home care of special needs patients, particularly, of patients with cerebral paralysis. Its aim is to sensitize the nurse to the peculiarities of Attention Services at home and for patients with cerebral palsy. To direct the course of this work, we present as a study the problem of the identification of the main necessities of the patients with cerebral palsy in Attention Services at home. The general objective of this research will be to describe the training process of specialist nurses in home care and the specific objectives will be: To identify the main requirements of patients with special needs and cerebral palsy, and to describe how nurses are prepared for this type of care of patients and their family. It was opted to carry out a bibliographical research, contemplating a qualitative focus, of explorative nature, descriptive and explanatory, resulting in the following thematic categories: The perception of the importance of "being a nurse in home care" and the relevance of the knowledge of the needs of patients with cerebral palsy and their family, in regards to home internment. From its development, it was possible to perceive that the academic focus given to this type of service and to this type of patient is limited, and that a specific specialization for the peculiarities of the service of home care and the peculiarities of a patient with cerebral palsy is still restricted. We conclude that greater assessment and study of the service of home care, as well as the patient with cerebral palsy, is necessary. As much during study as after graduation because this is a service in expansion and the patient needs complete care. We hope that this study contributes to a greater interest in the subject, facilitating the assistance of patients in home care, particularly those with special needs.Este es un trabajo de finalización de curso, que tiene como tema la formación de enfermeras en la atención domiciliaria con una necesidad especial, más concretamente, para el cliente con parálisis cerebral; quiere aumentar la sensibilización, especialmente a la enfermera acerca de las peculiaridades del Servicio de Atención a domicilio y al paciente con parálisis cerebral. Para dirigir el progreso de este trabajo, se presenta como problema el estudio de la identificación de las principales necesidades presentadas por el cliente con parálisis cerebral en el servicio de cuidados en el hogar. El objetivo general de esta investigación es describir el proceso de formación de la enfermera especialista en cuidados en el hogar y los objetivos específicos: identificar las principales necesidades de la atención al cliente con necesidades especiales, con parálisis cerebral; describir cómo las enfermeras están preparadas para este tipo de asistencia a estos clientes y de su familia. Nuestra opción es realizar una búsqueda bibliográfica, se contempla un enfoque cualitativo, el carácter exploratorio, descriptivo y explicativo, por lo que en las siguientes categorías temáticas: La percepción de la importancia de "ser calificadas enfermeras en la atención a domicilio" y la importancia del conocimiento de las necesidades del cliente y de la familia del neuropata, frente al episodio de hospitalización en domicilio. A partir de su desarrollo, es posible percibir que el enfoque académico dispensado a este tipo de servicio y a ese tipo de cliente es limitada, y que está todavía limitada una especialización especifica tanto para las peculiaridades del servicio de atención domiciliaria, como las peculiaridades de un paciente neuropata. Llegamos a la conclusión de que necesitamos una mayor valoración y estudio del servicio de atención domiciliaria, así como a los clientes con parálisis cerebral, tanto durante como en la postgraduación, por el hecho de que este es un servicio en expansión y el cliente es un usuario que necesita toda la atención. Esperamos que este estudio contribuya a un mayor interés en el tema, facilitar la asistencia de los clientes sometidos a atención domiciliaria, especialmente los que tienen necesidades especiales.Trata-se de um trabalho de conclusão de curso, que tem como tema a formação do enfermeiro no atendimento domiciliar ao portador de necessidade especial, mais especificamente, ao cliente com paralisia cerebral, pretende sensibilizar, em especial ao enfermeiro quanto às peculiaridades do serviço de atendimento domiciliar e do paciente com paralisia cerebral. Para direcionar o andamento deste trabalho, apresentamos como problema de estudo a identificação das principais necessidades apresentadas pelo cliente com paralisia cerebral no serviço de atendimento domiciliar. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi descrever o processo de formação do enfermeiro especialista em atendimento domiciliar e os objetivos específicos: identificar as principais necessidades assistenciais do cliente portador de necessidades especiais com paralisia cerebral; descrever como o enfermeiro é preparado para essa assistência a esses clientes e sua família. Optou-se por realizar uma pesquisa bibliográfica, contemplando-se uma abordagem qualitativa, de natureza exploratória, descritiva e explicativa, resultando nas seguintes categorias temáticas: A percepção da importância do “ser enfermeiro capacitado em home care” e A relevância do conhecimento das necessidades do cliente e da família do neuropata, frente ao episodio de internação domiciliar. A partir do seu desenvolvimento, foi possível perceber que a abordagem acadêmica dispensada a esse tipo de serviço e a esse tipo de cliente é restrita, e que ainda é restrita também uma especialização especifica, tanto para as peculiaridades do serviço de atendimento domiciliar, como às peculiaridades de um paciente neuropata. Concluímos que é necessário maior valorização e estudo quanto ao serviço de atendimento domiciliar, assim como também ao cliente com paralisia cerebral, tanto no intra como na pós-graduação, pelo fato de que este é um serviço em expansão e esse cliente é um usuário em potencial, por ser um cliente que necessita de atenção integral. Desejamos que este estudo contribua de forma a impulsionar um maior interesse sobre o tema, facilitando a assistência de clientes submetidos à internação domiciliar, em especial àqueles que possuem necessidades especiais

The economic burden of tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis in people living with HIV in Brazil: a cost study from the patient perspective.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the direct and indirect costs of tuberculosis (TB) (active and latent TB [LTB]) and HIV co-infection from the patient perspective. STUDY DESIGN: Costing study conducted alongside a pragmatic clinical trial. METHODS: The study was conducted in Brazil in a referral service for HIV/AIDS. We applied a standardised questionnaire to collect data about out-of-pocket expenses and indirect cost. The questionnaire was applied at every patient's appointment in the referral service after TB or LTB diagnosis. We followed all patients' pathways during the prediagnosis period and treatment period. For patients on sickness benefit due to TB/HIV, income loss was calculated as the difference between an employee's wages forgone and the sickness benefit received. The monetary value of the time loss was calculated based on the Brazilian minimum wage/2015. RESULTS: Among 239 people living with HIV recruited in the first year of the trial, 31 patients were included into the costing study, 26 patients who were diagnosed and treated for TB/HIV and five patients who were diagnosed and treated for LTB/HIV. TB/HIV patients incurred higher total costs than LTB/HIV (US$1,429 vs US$ 166). The main cost component for TB/HIV was indirect costs, especially income loss (US$ 749). CONCLUSIONS: Public health policies may address ways to prevent high patients' costs through the introduction of more accurate algorithms for TB diagnosis to prevent delays in the diagnosis and treatment