Characteristic Energy of the Coulomb Interactions and the Pileup of States

Tunneling data on $\mathrm{La_{1.28}Sr_{1.72}Mn_2O_7}$ crystals confirm Coulomb interaction effects through the $\sqrt{\mathrm{E}}$ dependence of the density of states. Importantly, the data and analysis at high energy, E, show a pileup of states: most of the states removed from near the Fermi level are found between ~40 and 130 meV, from which we infer the possibility of universal behavior. The agreement of our tunneling data with recent photoemission results further confirms our analysis.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR

Updated Three-Stage Model for the Peopling of the Americas

Background: We re-assess support for our three stage model for the peopling of the Americas in light of a recent report that identified nine non-Native American mitochondrial genome sequences that should not have been included in our initial analysis. Removal of these sequences results in the elimination of an early (i.e.,40,000 years ago) expansion signal we had proposed for the proto-Amerind population. Methodology/Findings: Bayesian skyline plot analysis of a new dataset of Native American mitochondrial coding genomes confirms the absence of an early expansion signal for the proto-Amerind population and allows us to reduce the variation around our estimate of the New World founder population size. In addition, genetic variants that define New World founder haplogroups are used to estimate the amount of time required between divergence of proto-Amerinds from the Asian gene pool and expansion into the New World. Conclusions/Significance: The period of population isolation required for the generation of New World mitochondrial founder haplogroup-defining genetic variants makes the existence of three stages of colonization a logical conclusion. Thus, our three stage model remains an important and useful working hypothesis for researchers interested in the peopling of th

Depressive symptoms and harmful alcohol use in hepatitis C patients: prevalence and correlates

Introduction It is important to understand the characteristics and vulnerabilities of people who have hepatitis C because this disease is currently an important public health problem. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and harmful alcohol use in patients with hepatitis C and to study the association between these outcomes and demographic, psychosocial and clinical variables. Methods This cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study involved 82 hepatitis C patients who were being treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin at a public university hospital. The primary assessments used in the study were the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Beck Depression Inventory. Bivariate analyses were followed by logistic regression. Results The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 30.5% (n=25), and that of harmful alcohol use was 34.2% (n=28). Logistic regression analysis showed that individuals who were dissatisfied with their social support (OR=4.41; CI=1.00-19.33) and were unemployed (OR=6.31; CI=1.44-27.70) were at a higher risk for depressive symptoms, whereas harmful alcohol use was associated with the male sex (OR=6.78; CI=1.38-33.19) and the use of illicit substances (OR=7.42; CI=1.12-49.00). Conclusions High prevalence rates of depressive symptoms and harmful alcohol use were verified, indicating vulnerabilities that must be properly monitored and treated to reduce emotional suffering in this population.Universidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu Departamento de Neurologia, Psicologia e PsiquiatriaUniversidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu Departamento de Clínica MédicaUniversidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu Departamento de Neurologia, Psicologia e PsiquiatriaUniversidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu Departamento de Clínica Médic

Panorama do estado antropométrico dos escolares brasileiros

OBJETIVO: Revisar, na literatura, pesquisas que abordem o perfil antropométrico dos escolares brasileiros. FONTES DE DADOS: Buscaram-se artigos originais nas bases de dados SciELO, LILACS e MedLine, compreendidos no período entre 1985 e 2009, que avaliaram o estado antropométrico de escolares brasileiros (sete a dez anos). Foram utilizadas as palavras-chave: "escolar", "escolares", "avaliação nutricional", "antropometria", "criança", "estatura", "saúde escolar", em português e inglês. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: Foram encontrados 28 trabalhos realizados em escolas públicas e privadas de âmbito municipal, estadual e regional, com amostra variando de 86 a 50.114 indivíduos, com estudos do tipo transversal, inquérito, casos-controle e prospectivo, utilizando seis tipos diferentes de protocolo para classificar o estado antropométrico dos escolares. Os resultados mostram que, nas regiões Norte, Nordeste e nas áreas carentes há maior prevalência de desnutrição, enquanto nas regiões Sudeste, Sul e zonas mais favorecidas há maior prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade, mas coexistem as duas condições nas mesmas localidades. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar do aumento ao acesso aos alimentos, das políticas públicas contra a fome e ações governamentais e não-governamentais, ainda há a coexistência da dupla carga de doenças, desnutrição e excesso de peso que aflige a população escolar brasileira. Ações simples como medidas de peso e altura são de suma importância para classificar o estado nutricional e definir rumos de políticas públicas.OBJECTIVE: To review studies that address the anthropometric profile of Brazilian schoolchildren. DATA SOURCES: Original articles published in SciELO, LILACS and MedLine databases from 1985 to 2009, which assessed the anthropometric status in Brazilian schoolchildren (seven to ten years old). Key-words used: "school", "schoolchild", "nutritional assessment", "anthropometry", "child", "stature", "school health". DATA SYNTHESIS: Twenty eight publications were found. The studies were done in local and regional public and private schools, with samples ranging from 86 to 50,114 individuals. Cross-sectional, case-control, and prospective investigations were found, with six different types of protocol for the anthropometric status classification. The results show that there is a higher prevalence of malnutrition in the North and Northeast regions and in the deprived Brazilian areas, while in the Southeast and South regions there is a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity, but both conditions coexist in the same areas. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increased access to food, public policies against hunger and non-governmental and governmental actions, malnutrition and overweight still coexist in Brazilian schoolchildren. Simple actions such as measuring weight and height are extremely important for the nutritional status classification and for designing public policies