487 research outputs found
Estado microbiológico do leite de cabra produzido no leste do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil
No full textO aumento do consumo de leite de cabra devido ao seu status de alimento saudável foi verificado nos últimos anos no Brasil, com o consequente aumento da produção. Esta produção deve ser realizada com medidas que garantam a inocuidade do produto em relação à transmissão de microrganismos patogênicos e este controle pode ser feito enumerando indicadores microbiológicos de higiene e bactérias potencialmente toxigênicas do gênero Staphylococcus. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade microbiológica e a segurança do leite cru de cabra produzido na região de Governador Valadares, estado de Minas Gerais. Vinte e três amostras de leite de cabra de três pontos de coleta foram analisadas para contagens de aeróbios mesófilos, coliformes totais e termotolerantes, nas placas Petrifilm AC e EC e para Staphylococcus Coagulase Positivo e Negativo (SCP e SCN) com ágar Baird Parkeradicionado com plasma fibrinogênio de coelho, incubado por 72 horas a 37°C. Cinco amostras apresentaram contagens aeróbicas mesófilos acima de 500.000 UFC/mL, o máximo permitido pela legislação nacional. Foram obtidas contagens de coliformes totais maiores que 1.000 UFC/mL em sete amostras e seis onze não apresentaram coliformes. Os coliformes termotolerantes esteve presente em apenas uma amostra no total de 100 UFC/mL. Treze amostras apresentaram SCP acima de 5.000 UFC/mL. Nove apresentaram SCN acima de 5.000 UFC/mL, enquanto que em três amostras havia ausência desse grupo microbiano. Pode-se concluir que o leite de caprino produzido na região de Governador Valadares atende, para a maioria das amostras, a legislação brasileira em relação aos indicadores microbiológicos de higiene. No entanto, embora não haja regulação da presença de SCP e SCN, micro-organismos que potencialmente produzem toxinas termotolerantes, os resultados indicam a importância de uma refrigeração adequada do leite cru de cabra até seu processamento, para evitar a proliferação desses grupos microbianos, com consequente contaminação do leite por toxinas, que não seria eliminado por ultra alta temperatura (UHT) e processos de pasteurização, o que poderia levar o consumidor final a intoxicação alimentar
Learning Curve and Wind Power
No full textThis study explores the reasons why countries have chosen subsidies to green electricity instead of implementing the more common Pigouvian tax on polluting emissions. I focus on the learning by doing effects from the production of wind power on the cost of future production as a justification for the observed policies. In doing so, I present two models that differ in the way I introduce learning. Under reasonable parameter values, the price paid to a firm for the energy produced from wind power is heterogeneous, and varies among the firms that produce energy from wind power according to the index of productivity of the firm itself. The suggested strategies of this research differ from the main price-driven schemes adopted by EU members; by comparing such results with European Union policy, the paper show that EU policy is not optimal.learning by doing, environmental policy, Pigouvian taxes, subsidies.
Temporary job protection and productivity growth in EU economies
No full textThe present study examines cross-national and sectoral differences in Total Factor Productivity (TFP) in fourteen European countries and ten sectors from 1995 to 2007. The main aim is to ascertain the role of employment protection of temporary contracts on TFP by estimating their effects with a “difference-in-difference” approach. Results show that deregulation of temporary contracts negatively influences the growth rates of TFP in European economies and that, within sectoral analysis, the role of this liberalisation is greater in industries where firms are more used to opening short-term positions. By contrast, in our observation period, restrictions on regular jobs do not cause significant effects on TFP, whereas limited regulation of product markets and higher R&D expenses positively affect efficiency growth.productivity, labour regulation.
Collaborative Asteroid Photometry from UAI: 2020 October-December
No full textPhotometric observations of five asteroids were made in
order to acquire lightcurves for shape/spin axis
modeling. The synodic period and lightcurve amplitude
were found for 102 Miriam: 23.63 ± 0.01 h, 0.14 mag;
635 Vundtia: 11.784 ± 0.004 h, 0.20 mag;
1342 Brabantia: 4.175 ± 0.001 h, 0.13 mag;
2346 Lilio: 3.0290 ± 0.0005 h, 0.18 mag;
(153201) 2000 WO107: 5.026 ± 0.001 h, 1.14 mag
Profile of the elderly population with severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 in the Health Macroregion of Eastern Minas Gerais
No full textThe purpose of this study was to examine the profile of the elderly population with
severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 in the Health Macroregion of
Eastern Minas Gerais. A descriptive and retrospective study was conducted,
analyzing data accessed through the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance
Information System. Data from 2419 notifications of severe acute respiratory
syndrome in subjects aged 60 years or older with a COVID-19 diagnosis were
analyzed from April 2020 to April 2021. The elderly subjects were characterized in
terms of general characteristics, clinical evolution of COVID-19, and the presence of
pre-existing clinical conditions. The data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially.
The majority of the elderly (73.1±0.2 years) identified as multiracial (61.6%) and lived
in urban area (88.7%). Regarding clinical evolution, 98.8% of the elderly were
hospitalized, 33.7% required intensive care unit admission, and 19.1% required
invasive ventilatory support. Regarding the presence of pre-existing clinical
conditions, 53.9% of the elderly had chronic cardiovascular diseases, 29.8% had
diabetes, 5.8% had chronic respiratory diseases, 6.7% were obese, and 4.2% had
chronic kidney disease. Death occurred in 46.5% of the elderly, and it was
significantly associated with the presence of diabetes (P=0.003) and with higher age
range (P=0.000). It is concluded that there was a high mortality rate among elderly
populations with severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 and that the
presence of diabetes and higher age range were associated with this outcome.O objetivo foi estudar o perfil da população idosa com desenvolvimento de síndrome
respiratória aguda grave devido à COVID-19 na Macrorregião de Saúde Leste de
Minas Gerais. Pesquisa descritiva e retrospectiva com análise de dados acessados
por meio do Sistema de Informação de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe. Foram
analisados os dados de 2419 notificações de síndrome respiratória aguda grave de
indivíduos com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, com diagnóstico de COVID-19, no
período de abril/2020 a abril/2021. A população idosa foi caracterizada em relação à:
características gerais; evolução clínica da COVID-19 e presença de condições
clínicas preexistentes. Os dados foram analisados de forma descritiva e inferencial.
A maioria dos idosos (73,1±0,2 anos) se declarou pardo (61,6%) e residente na zona
urbana (88,7%). Em relação à evolução clínica, 98,8% foram internados, 33,7%
necessitou de internação na unidade de terapia intensiva e 19,1% necessitou de
suporte ventilatório invasivo. Em relação às condições clínicas preexistentes, 53,9%
dos idosos apresentavam doenças cardiovasculares crônicas, 29,8% diabetes, 5,8%
doenças respiratórias crônicas, 6,7% obesidade e 4,2% doença renal crônica. A
evolução para óbito ocorreu para 46,5% e se associou de forma significante com a
presença de diabetes (P=0,003) e com a maior faixa etária (P=0,000). Conclui-se
que houve uma alta taxa de mortalidade dos idosos com desenvolvimento de
síndrome respiratória aguda grave devido à COVID-19 e que a presença de diabetes
e a maior faixa etária se associaram com esse desfecho
Hemangioblastoma of the gastrointestinal tract: A first case
No full textWe present the first documented case of hemangioblastoma located in the left colon. A 75-year-old woman undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer experienced rectal bleeding. Colonoscopy revealed a roundish mass covered with normal mucosa in the sigmoid colon. Endoscopic ultrasound showed an isoechoic lesion originating from the third layer of the intestinal wall; underlying layers were normal. Endoscopic ultrasound features were not suggestive of either cancer or malignant stromal tumor. Left hemicolectomy was subsequently performed due to repeated episodes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Grossly, a circumscribed submucosal yellowish nodule (13 mm) was observed, which was not attached to any peripheral nerve. Histologically, the lesion was composed of large, atypical cells traversed by a network of blood vessels. Immunohistochemically, the cells showed positivity for inhibin and NSE and weak positivity for S-100. A diagnosis of hemangioblastoma was made. This case highlights that hemangioblastoma of the gastrointestinal tract can also occur. © The Author(s) 2013
Clinical and neurochemical correlates of the APOE genotype in early-stage Parkinson’s disease
No full textEmerging evidence indicates that apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype may influence Parkinson's disease (PD) course, although clinical and neurochemical correlates have not been completely established. this study aimed to determine the associations of APOE genotypes (& epsilon;4 vs. non-& epsilon;4) with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurodegeneration biomarkers and clinical parameters in early-stage PD patients. one hundred and se-venty-five PD patients and 89 non-neurodegenerative controls grouped in APOE-& epsilon;4 carriers (28 PD; 12 controls) and non-APOE-& epsilon;4 carriers (147 PD; 78 controls) were enrolled. CSF levels of amyloid-& beta;-42, amyloid-& beta;-40, total and 181-phosphorylated tau, and clinical scores were compared among groups adjusting for main covariates. APOE genotypes prevalence was similar in PD and controls. PD APOE-& epsilon;4 carriers had lower amyloid-& beta;-42 CSF levels than PD non-APOE-& epsilon;4 carriers and controls, independently from age. PD APOE-& epsilon;4 carriers also had higher total and "item 5" (attention and memory) non-motor symptoms scale scores than PD non-APOE-& epsilon;4 carriers, independently from confounding factors. APOE-& epsilon;4 genotype might thus account for a more vulnerable PD subtype characterized by prominent amyloidopathy and a greater burden of non -motor symptoms in the early disease stages.data availability: data are available upon reasonable request.& COPY; 2023 the author(s). published by Elsevier Inc. this is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Labour regulation, corporate governance and varieties of capitalism
No full textThe literature aimed at exploring labor regulation and cross-country comparisons has left partly unexplored two major points: the first is the influence of employees within managerial processes, through the channel of employee representation at firm level. The second point concerns potential complementarities or substitutions between patterns of ownership or shareholder protection and labour regulation. The paper offers a critical overview of some selected studies that have started at filling these gaps by considering labour institutions for their influence on the ‘balance’ of power inside the firm, between owners, management, and employees. Firstly, it examines the literature which gives a central importance to the effects of legal origins on labour regulation and labour market outcomes. Secondly, it reviews the studies which focus on informal rules and de-facto practices and favour a stakeholder approach. A particular concern is paid to the overall consequences of the different institutional setups in the perspective of the “varieties of capitalism”, in which systems of labour regulation exert their function by strategical interactions with other institutions. Finally, it presents recent theoretical and empirical studies centring on employee investments in firm-specific human capital and on institutional devices which have the effect of tying the fortunes of the employee together with those of the firm. In the varieties of capitalism characterised by general skills and patterns of radical innovation, it is emphasized the internal governance exerted by ‘critical employees’. In economies with firm and industry specific skills, cooperation of employees with management in more shareholder value oriented firm (‘negotiated shareholder system’) are the more successful roads.Stakeholders, Corporate Governance, Varieties of Capitalism.
Qualidade e segurança microbiológica de leite de cabra na região de Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brasil
No full textO aumento do consumo de leite de cabra devido ao seu status de alimento saudável foi verificado nos últimos anos no Brasil, com o consequente aumento da produção. Esta produção deve ser realizada com medidas que garantam a inocuidade do produto em relação à transmissão de micro-organismos patogênicos e este controle pode ser feito enumerando indicadores microbiológicos de higiene e bactérias potencialmente toxigênicas do gênero Staphylococcus. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade microbiológica e a segurança do leite cru de cabra produzido na região de Governador Valadares, estado de Minas Gerais. Dezessete amostras de leite de cabra de três pontos de coleta foram analisadas para contagens de aeróbios mesófilos, coliformes totais e termotolerantes, em placas Petrifilm AC e EC e para Staphylococcus Coagulase Positivo e Negativo (SCP e SCN) com ágar Baird Parker adicionado com fibrinogênio plasma de coelho, incubado por 72 horas a 37°C. Duas amostras apresentaram contagens aeróbicas mesófilos acima de 500.000 UFC/mL, o máximo permitido pela legislação nacional. Foram obtidas contagens de coliformes totais maiores que 1.000 UFC/mL em sete amostras e seis amostras não apresentaram coliformes. Os coliformes termotolerantes estavam ausentes em todas as amostras. Sete amostras apresentaram SCP acima de 5.000 UFC/mL. Três apresentaram SCN| acima de 5.000 UFC/mL, enquanto em três amostras não havia esse grupo microbiano. Pode-se concluir que o leite de caprino produzido na região de Governador Valadares atende, para a maioria das amostras, a legislação brasileira em relação aos indicadores microbiológicos de higiene. No entanto, embora não haja regulação da presença de SCP e SCN, micro-organismos que potencialmente produzem toxinas termotolerantes, os resultados indicam a importância de uma refrigeração adequada do leite de cabra cru até seu processamento, para evitar a proliferação desses grupos microbianos, com consequente contaminação do leite por toxinas, que não seriam eliminadas por processos de pasteurização ou UHT, o que poderia levar o consumidor final a intoxicação alimentar
Influence of endogenous and exogenous sex hormones on plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor
No full textBACKGROUND: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a mediator of neuronal plasticity and influences learning, memory and cognitive behaviour. The aim of this study is to assess plasma BDNF variations according to hormonal status. METHODS: A total of 60 subjects were included: 20 fertile ovulatory women, 15 amenorrhoeic women and 25 postmenopausal women. Blood samples were collected after overnight fasting. For 5 out of the 20 fertile women, samples were collected every 2 days throughout the whole menstrual cycle. Following basal evaluation, 10 out of 25 postmenopausal women were administered a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and reevaluated after 6 months of treatment. Plasma BDNF concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In fertile women, estradiol (E2), progesterone and gonadotrophins were also assessed. RESULTS: In fertile women, luteal phase levels of plasma BDNF were significantly higher than follicular phase levels (P < 0.001). BDNF increased from early follicular phase up to Day 14 of the cycle, reaching a pre-ovulatory peak, similar to E2. A second rise took place during mid-luteal phase, with a peak on Day 24. Amenorrhoeic subjects, as well as postmenopausal women, showed significantly lower plasma BDNF levels compared with fertile females (P < 0.001). BDNF was positively correlated with E 2 and progesterone and negatively correlated with menopausal age. HRT restored BDNF levels to those present in fertile women during the follicular phase. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma BDNF levels are influenced by hormonal status. Modifications in BDNF circulating levels during the menstrual cycle suggest a potential role for gonadal sex hormones (E2 and progesterone) in regulating neurotrophin expression. © The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved
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