Promiscuity and the Evolution of Sexual Transmitted Diseases

We study the relation between different social behaviors and the onset of epidemics in a model for the dynamics of sexual transmitted diseases. The model considers the society as a system of individual sexuated agents that can be organized in couples and interact with each other. The different social behaviors are incorporated assigning what we call a promiscuity value to each individual agent. The individual promiscuity is taken from a distributions and represents the daily probability of going out to look for a sexual partner, abandoning its eventual mate. In terms of this parameter we find a threshold for the epidemic which is much lower than the classical fully mixed model prediction, i.e. $R_0$ (basic reproductive number) $= 1$. Different forms for the distribution of the population promiscuity are considered showing that the threshold is weakly sensitive to them. We study the homosexual and the heterosexual case as well.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Clinical reasoning in canine spinal disease: what combination of clinical information is useful?

Spinal disease in dogs is commonly encountered in veterinary practice. Numerous diseases may cause similar clinical signs and presenting histories. The study objective was to use statistical models to identify combinations of discrete parameters from the patient signalment, history and neurological examination that could suggest the most likely diagnoses with statistical significance. A retrospective study of 500 dogs referred to the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals before June 2012 for the investigation of spinal disease was performed. Details regarding signalment, history, physical and neurological examinations, neuroanatomical localisation and imaging data were obtained. Univariate analyses of variables (breed, age, weight, onset, deterioration, pain, asymmetry, neuroanatomical localisation) were performed, and variables were retained in a multivariate logistic regression model if P<0.05. Leading diagnoses were intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE, n=149), intervertebral disc protrusion (n=149), ischaemic myelopathy (IM, n=48) and neoplasms (n=44). Multivariate logistic regression characterised IM and acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusions as the only peracute onset, non-progressive, non-painful and asymmetrical T3-L3 myelopathies. IVDE was most commonly characterised as acute onset, often deteriorating, painful and largely symmetrical T3-L3 myelopathy. This study suggests that most spinal diseases cause distinctive combinations of presenting clinical parameters (signalment, onset, deterioration, pain, asymmetry, neuroanatomical localisation). Taking particular account of these parameters may aid decision making in a clinical setting

Sistema agroindustrial do sorgo sacarino no Brasil e a participação público-privada: oportunidades, perspectivas e desafios.

Atualmente, há uma forte demanda do setor sucroalcooleiro no Brasil por matérias-primas e processos alternativos que sustentem a expansão de cultivos e a ocupação de áreas em renovação, o aumento dos níveis de produtividade agrícola e industrial e a redução de custos de produção, em arranjos integrados com os sistemas cana-planta e cana-indústria, para fins de produção de energia (etanol, cogeração, etc.). O sorgo sacarino é uma oportunidade para complementar o sistema agroindustrial cana- etanol - um setor competitivo, profissional e demandante de inovação (incremental ou disruptiva). Os cenários, nacional e internacional, de demanda por produtos da cana-de-açúcar (especialmente açúcar e etanol), mostram uma tendência de déficit de matéria-prima para os próximos 3 a 5 anos. As três safras anteriores demonstram queda de produção e redução nos níveis de produtividade agrícola, chegando a patamares críticos de 63 toneladas por hectare de cana, em regiões tradicionais do centro-sul do país. Em curto prazo (1 a 3 anos), o setor sucroalcooleiro brasileiro irá requerer, no mínimo, soluções para dois fatores críticos visando a implantação do sorgo sacarino como cultura complementar à cana-de-açúcar: disponibilidade de material genético produtivo e adequada implantação de um sistema de produção da cultura. Contudo, as empresas fornecedoras destas tecnologias são restritas. Decididamente, variedades produtivas e manejo adequado serão buscados pelo setor sucroalcooleiro neste curto prazo, enquanto o desenvolvimento de híbridos produtivos avança com resultados competitivos. Os empreendimentos e as empresas sabem que o êxito de seus negócios está ligado ao desempenho do setor em que a empresa atua e ao posicionamento da empresa neste setor. Portanto, a Embrapa se apresenta como um dos poucos players significativos neste mercado de tecnologia e conhecimento para o sorgo sacarino, visando negócios compartilhados para saltos de competitividade. A Embrapa tem por missão desenvolver tecnologia e conhecimento para o negócio agrícola, e, além de atender às atuais demandas de mercado, busca empreender em C&T para ofertar a tecnologia dos mercados futuros. Desde o início dos anos 80, a Embrapa Milho e Sorgo selecionou variedades de sorgo sacarino. Em fins da década de 1980 as variedades e os híbridos já apresentavam rendimentos entre 2.500 a 3.500 litros de etanol por hectare. Na década de 1990, este programa de melhoramento genético foi desacelerado. Entretanto, como estas cultivares apresentavam boa produtividade e qualidade de matéria verde, estes materiais se mantiveram no mercado, comercializados como plantas forrageiras. A partir de 2008, a Embrapa deu novo impulso ao seu programa de desenvolvimento de cultivares de sorgo sacarino, com base na variabilidade genética descrita, na agregação de valor em pré-melhoramento contida no banco de germoplasma de sorgo e na experiência de seu quadro funcional. Esse background e essa bagagem acumulados pelas ações de PD&I e negócios cooperativos em curso permitem disponibilizar para os mercados de sementes e de produção de etanol, em curtíssimo prazo, materiais genéticos com boa performance produtiva e rendimentos superiores. Genética de variedades e híbridos e boas práticas de manejo dos sistemas de produção associadas aos índices industriais são o negócio da Embrapa. A dimensão e a escala deste negócio agroindustrial orientam, formalmente, para as parcerias estratégicas. E os acordos de cooperação técnica, com confidencialidade e compartilhamento de responsabilidades, de agora em diante nortearão os novos negócios. Esse é um documento-síntese da contribuição da rede de PD&I Embrapa para esta agenda positiva que interessa aos negócios competitivos.bitstream/item/68879/1/doc-138-1.pd

Comportamento produtivo de sorgo sacarino em função do arranjo de plantas, no município de Sinop-MT.

A cultura do sorgo sacarino se destaca no cenário nacional como uma interessante alternativa para a produção de etanol. Porém, para que a cultura possa expressar todo o seu potencial produtivo é necessário que o arranjo de plantas seja realizado de maneira adequada. Objetivou-se com esse trabalho avaliar o comportamento do sorgo sacarino, cultivar BRS 506, em diferentes espaçamentos e densidade de semeadura, durante duas safras agrícolas, no município de Sinop-MT. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 5x4x2, sendo cinco espaçamentos de entre linhas (0,5; 0,6; 0,7; 0,8; e1 x0,5 metros), quatro populações de planta (80.000; 100.000; 120.000; 140.000 plantas ha -1 ) e duas safras agrícolas (2011/2012 e 2012/2013), com três repetições. Os parâmetros avaliados no dia da colheita foram: massa fresca de colmos, volume de caldo e teor de sólidos solúveis totais ( o Brix). De uma maneira geral, a produtividade da massa fresca de colmos e caldo não foi influenciada pela densidade de plantas, assim como, o o Brix da cultivar. Já o espaçamento de entre linha influenciou o rendimento da cultura. Na safra 2011/2012 os menores espaçamentos entre linhas apresentaram os maiores valores de rendimento, já na safra 2012/2013 observou-se comportamento oposto. O o Brix demonstrou comportamento diferenciado em função do ano de semeadura

Ear acupressure for smoking cessation: a randomised controlled trial

This study investigated the efficacy and safety of ear acupressure (EAP) as a stand-alone intervention for smoking cessation and the feasibility of this study design. Adult smokers were randomised to receive EAP specific for smoking cessation (SSEAP) or a nonspecific EAP (NSEAP) intervention which is not typically used for smoking cessation. Participants received 8 weekly treatments and were requested to press the five pellets taped to one ear at least three times daily. Participants were followed up for three months. Primary outcome measures were a 7-day point-prevalence cessation rate confirmed by exhaled carbon monoxide and relief of nicotine withdrawal symptoms (NWS). Intention-to-treat analysis was applied. Forty-three adult smokers were randomly assigned to SSEAP (n = 20) or NSEAP (n = 23) groups. The dropout rate was high with 19 participants completing the treatments and 12 remaining at followup. One participant from the SSEAP group had confirmed cessation at week 8 and end of followup (5%), but there was no difference between groups for confirmed cessation or NWS. Adverse events were few and minor

Growing InGaAs quasi-quantum wires inside semi-rhombic shaped planar InP nanowires on exact (001) silicon

We report InGaAs quasi-quantum wires embedded in planar InP nanowires grown on (001) silicon emitting in the 1550 nm communication band. An array of highly ordered InP nanowire with semi-rhombic cross-section was obtained in pre-defined silicon V-grooves through selective-area hetero-epitaxy. The 8% lattice mismatch between InP and Si was accommodated by an ultra-thin stacking disordered InP/GaAs nucleation layer. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscope characterizations suggest excellent crystalline quality of the nanowires. By exploiting the morphological evolution of the InP and a self-limiting growth process in the V-grooves, we grew embedded InGaAs quantum-wells and quasi-quantum-wires with tunable shape and position. Room temperature analysis reveals substantially improved photoluminescence in the quasi-quantum wires as compared to the quantum-well reference, due to the reduced intrusion defects and enhanced quantum confinement. These results show great promise for integration of III-V based long wavelength nanowire lasers on the well-established (001) Si platform

Why is it difficult to implement e-health initiatives? A qualitative study

&lt;b&gt;Background&lt;/b&gt; The use of information and communication technologies in healthcare is seen as essential for high quality and cost-effective healthcare. However, implementation of e-health initiatives has often been problematic, with many failing to demonstrate predicted benefits. This study aimed to explore and understand the experiences of implementers - the senior managers and other staff charged with implementing e-health initiatives and their assessment of factors which promote or inhibit the successful implementation, embedding, and integration of e-health initiatives.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methods&lt;/b&gt; We used a case study methodology, using semi-structured interviews with implementers for data collection. Case studies were selected to provide a range of healthcare contexts (primary, secondary, community care), e-health initiatives, and degrees of normalization. The initiatives studied were Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) in secondary care, a Community Nurse Information System (CNIS) in community care, and Choose and Book (C&#38;B) across the primary-secondary care interface. Implementers were selected to provide a range of seniority, including chief executive officers, middle managers, and staff with 'on the ground' experience. Interview data were analyzed using a framework derived from Normalization Process Theory (NPT).&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results&lt;/b&gt; Twenty-three interviews were completed across the three case studies. There were wide differences in experiences of implementation and embedding across these case studies; these differences were well explained by collective action components of NPT. New technology was most likely to 'normalize' where implementers perceived that it had a positive impact on interactions between professionals and patients and between different professional groups, and fit well with the organisational goals and skill sets of existing staff. However, where implementers perceived problems in one or more of these areas, they also perceived a lower level of normalization.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions&lt;/b&gt; Implementers had rich understandings of barriers and facilitators to successful implementation of e-health initiatives, and their views should continue to be sought in future research. NPT can be used to explain observed variations in implementation processes, and may be useful in drawing planners' attention to potential problems with a view to addressing them during implementation planning